Suggested Funeral Readings

The following are lists of Scriptures appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgies. One reading is chosen from each the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Gospels.

• Other Scripture passages can be presented to the presider for approval.
• Non-Scripture readings cannot be read in place of these readings, but could be used in the worship aides or through some other means.

Old Testament

 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 "...he made atonement for the dead..."   

Job 19: 1, 23-27  "...I know that my vindicator lives...." 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15  "...A time to be born, a time to die..."  

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "...A time to be born, a time to die..." 

Wisdom 3:1-9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..."  

Wisdom 3:1-6,9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..."  

Wisdom 4:7-14 "The Righteous One, though he die early, shall be at rest..."  

Sirach 2:1-11 "...in fire gold is tested....Compassionate is the Lord..."  

Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 "...he will destroy death forever..."  

Isaiah 26:7-19 "...your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise..."  

Isaiah 35:1-10"...Here is your God, he comes with vindication..."  

Isaiah 40:1-11 "...Here is your God, Here comes with power..."  

Lamentations 3:17-26 "...My portion is the Lord, says my soul..." 

Ezekiel 37:12-14 "O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise..."  

Daniel 12:1-3 "...the wise shall shine brightly..."  

Micah 7:7-9 "...though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light..."  

 

New Testament

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins" 

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36,42-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins" 

Romans 5:1,5-11  "...We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son..."  

Romans 5:17-21 "...through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all..."  

Romans 6:3-9  "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..."  

Romans 6:3-4,8-9 "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..."  

Romans 8:1-11  "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ..."   

Romans 8:14-23 "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God" 

Romans 8:31-35,37-39 "If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

Romans 14:7-9,10-12"This is why Christ died and came to life" 

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 "Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard..."  

1 Corinthians 15:12-20  "If there is no resurrection of the dead..."

 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 "In Adam all die, so too if Christ shall all be brought to life." 

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 "Death where is your victory?" 

2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1  "The one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us..." 

2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10"We would rather leave the body and go home..."  

Philippians 3:7-14 "...I run toward the prize to which God calls me..." 

Philippians 3:20-21  "He will change our lowly body..." 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  "If we believe that Jesus died and rose..." 

2 Timothy 2:8-13 "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead..."  

2 Timothy 4:1-2,6-8 "I have competed well, I have finished the race..."  

1 John 3:1-2 "Beloved, we are God's children now..." 

1 John 3:14-16  "We know that we have passed from death to life..." 

Revelation 14:13 "...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord..." 

Revelation 20:11-12:1 "...The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades..." 

Revelation 21:1-5a,6b-7 "...I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem..."