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Catholic Funeral Readings

Complete approved list of Scripture readings for Catholic funeral Mass and memorial services. Choose from Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel readings that bring comfort and hope in times of loss.

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Old Testament New Testament Gospel

Old Testament Readings for Catholic Funerals

Choose one Old Testament reading for your Catholic funeral Mass. These readings offer hope in resurrection, comfort in God's eternal love, and peace in times of grief.

2 Maccabees 12:43-46
"...he made atonement for the dead..." - Prayer for the deceased, foundation for praying for the dead.
Popular
Job 19:1, 23-27
"...I know that my vindicator lives...." - Hope in resurrection and eternal life.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
"...A time to be born, a time to die..." - Everything has its season.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
"...A time to be born, a time to die..." - Extended version including God's eternal plan.
Most Popular Uplifting
Wisdom 3:1-9
"...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..." - Comfort in eternal rest.
Popular
Wisdom 3:1-6, 9
"...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..." - Shorter version focusing on peace.
Wisdom 4:7-14
"The Righteous One, though he die early, shall be at rest..." - For those who died young.
Sirach 2:1-11
"...in fire gold is tested....Compassionate is the Lord..." - Trust in God's compassion.
Uplifting
Isaiah 25:6, 7-9
"...he will destroy death forever..." - God's victory over death.
Isaiah 26:7-19
"...your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise..." - Promise of resurrection.
Isaiah 35:1-10
"...Here is your God, he comes with vindication..." - God comes to save.
Isaiah 40:1-11
"...Here is your God, Here comes with power..." - God as shepherd.
Lamentations 3:17-26
"...My portion is the Lord, says my soul..." - Hope in the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:12-14
"O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise..." - Promise of new life.
Daniel 12:1-3
"...the wise shall shine brightly..." - Eternal glory for the faithful.
Micah 7:7-9
"...though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light..." - Hope in darkness.

New Testament Readings for Catholic Funerals

Choose one New Testament reading (excluding Gospels). These readings proclaim the Christian hope in resurrection through Jesus Christ and offer comfort to those who mourn.

Acts 10:34-43
"...Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins" - Peter's testimony about Jesus.
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36, 42-43
"...Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins" - Shorter version.
Romans 5:5-11
"...We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son..." - Reconciliation through Christ.
Romans 5:17-21
"...through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all..." - Grace abounding.
Popular
Romans 6:3-9
"...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..." - Baptism and resurrection.
Romans 6:3-4, 8-9
"...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..." - Shorter version.
Romans 8:1-11
"...There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ..." - Life in the Spirit.
Uplifting
Romans 8:14-23
"...Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God" - Adoption as God's children.
Popular Uplifting
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
"...If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Nothing can separate us from God's love.
Romans 14:7-9, 10-12
"...This is why Christ died and came to life" - We belong to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
"...Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard..." - God's plan revealed.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
"If there is no resurrection of the dead..." - The foundation of Christian faith.
Traditional
1 Corinthians 15:20-28
"In Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life." - Christ the firstfruits.
Most Popular Uplifting
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
"Death where is your victory?" - Victory over death through Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1
"The one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us..." - Eternal dwelling.
2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10
"We would rather leave the body and go home..." - Longing for heaven.
Philippians 3:7-14
"...I run toward the prize to which God calls me..." - Running the race.
Philippians 3:20-21
"He will change our lowly body..." - Transformation in glory.
Popular
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
"If we believe that Jesus died and rose..." - Hope for those who have died.
2 Timothy 2:8-13
"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead..." - Faithful saying.
2 Timothy 4:1-2, 6-8
"I have competed well, I have finished the race..." - The good fight finished.
Uplifting
1 John 3:1-2
"Beloved, we are God's children now..." - We shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:14-16
"We know that we have passed from death to life..." - Love one another.
Popular
Revelation 14:13
"...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord..." - Eternal rest.
Revelation 20:11-21:1
"...The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades..." - New heaven and new earth.
Uplifting
Revelation 21:1-5, 6-7
"...I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem..." - God dwelling with his people.

Gospel Readings for Catholic Funerals

Choose one Gospel reading for your funeral Mass. These are the words of Jesus Christ bringing hope, resurrection, and eternal life.

Popular
Matthew 5:1-12
"The Eight Beatitudes" - Blessed are those who mourn.
Matthew 11:25-30
"come to me . . . and I will give you rest." - Jesus' invitation to the weary.
Matthew 25:1-13
"Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him" - Parable of the ten virgins.
Popular
Matthew 25:31-46
"Come, you whom my Father has blessed" - The judgment of the nations.
Mark 15:33-39
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Jesus' death on the cross.
Mark 15:33–16:6
"Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last" - Death and resurrection.
Luke 7:11-17
"Young man, I say to you, arise." - Jesus raises the widow's son.
Luke 12:35-40
"Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,..." - Watchful servants.
Popular
Luke 23:33, 39-43
"Today you will be with me in paradise." - The good thief.
Luke 23:44-49
"Father, I put my life in your hands." or "Father into your hands I commend my spirit"
Luke 24:13-35
"Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." - Road to Emmaus.
Luke 24:13-16, 28-35
"Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." - Shorter Emmaus version.
John 5:24-29
"Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from..." - From death to life.
Popular
John 6:37-40
"All who believe in the Son will have eternal life..." - Jesus' promise.
John 6:51-58
"All who eat this bread will live for ever...." - Bread of life.
Most Popular Uplifting
John 11:17-27
"I am the resurrection and the life." - Martha's confession of faith.
Popular
John 11:21-27
"I am the resurrection and the life." - Shorter version.
John 11:32-45
"Lazarus, come out." - Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
John 12:23-28
"If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..." - Death brings new life.
John 12:23-26
"If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..." - Shorter version.
Popular Uplifting
John 14:1-6
"There are many rooms in my Father's house." - Jesus prepares a place for us.
John 17:24-26
"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me..." - Jesus' prayer for his own.
John 19:17-18, 25-39
"Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits." - Jesus' death and burial.

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