At a Catholic Funeral Mass the family usually chooses the Scripture readings from a list in the Order of Christian Funerals: one Old Testament reading, a psalm, one New Testament reading and a Gospel. These readings proclaim God’s mercy and the hope of the resurrection, and they are often read by family members or friends.
Below is the full list of funeral readings with a short description of each, the most popular passages in full (Douay-Rheims translation), and tips for choosing and reading them.
How the readings are chosen
| Reading | Who usually reads | Number |
|---|---|---|
| First reading (Old Testament; in Easter Time, Revelation may be used) | A family member or friend | One |
| Responsorial psalm | Cantor or reader | One |
| Second reading (New Testament) | A family member or friend | One |
| Gospel | The priest or deacon | One |
Meet with the priest or bereavement minister to make your choices. Your parish may give you a booklet with the texts in the current Lectionary translation.
Old Testament readings
| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Job 19:1, 23–27 | “I know that my Redeemer liveth” |
| Wisdom 3:1–9 | “The souls of the just are in the hand of God” |
| Wisdom 4:7–15 | The just who die young |
| Isaiah 25:6a, 7–9 | God will destroy death forever and wipe away tears |
| Lamentations 3:17–26 | “The mercies of the Lord… are new every morning” |
| Daniel 12:1–3 | Those who sleep in the dust will awake |
| 2 Maccabees 12:43–46 | Praying for the dead is “a holy and wholesome thought” |
Readings from Revelation (Easter Time): Revelation 14:13; 20:11–21:1; 21:1–5a, 6b–7.
Responsorial psalms
Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd”), Psalm 25, Psalm 27 (“The Lord is my light and my salvation”), Psalms 42 and 43 (“My soul is thirsting for the living God”), Psalm 63, Psalm 103 (“The Lord is kind and merciful”), Psalm 116, Psalm 122, Psalm 130 (De Profundis) and Psalm 143.
New Testament readings
| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Acts 10:34–43 | God raised Jesus; he is judge of the living and the dead |
| Romans 5:5–11 | Hope does not disappoint |
| Romans 5:17–21 | Grace abounds |
| Romans 6:3–9 | Baptized into his death, we shall rise with him |
| Romans 8:14–23 | We await the redemption of our bodies |
| Romans 8:31b–35, 37–39 | Nothing can separate us from the love of God |
| Romans 14:7–9, 10c–12 | Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s |
| 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 | Christ has been raised, the first fruits |
| 1 Corinthians 15:51–57 | “O death, where is thy victory?” |
| 2 Corinthians 4:14–5:1 | Our eternal home in heaven |
| 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6–10 | We would rather be at home with the Lord |
| Philippians 3:20–21 | Our citizenship is in heaven |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | We shall always be with the Lord |
| 2 Timothy 2:8–13 | If we have died with him, we shall live with him |
| 1 John 3:1–2 | We shall see him as he is |
| 1 John 3:14–16 | We have passed from death to life because we love |
Gospel readings
| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Matthew 5:1–12a | The Beatitudes |
| Matthew 11:25–30 | “Come to me, all you that labour” |
| Matthew 25:1–13 | The wise and foolish virgins |
| Matthew 25:31–46 | The Last Judgment |
| Mark 15:33–39; 16:1–6 | The death and resurrection of Jesus |
| Luke 7:11–17 | The widow’s son at Nain |
| Luke 12:35–40 | Be ready |
| Luke 23:33, 39–43 | “This day thou shalt be with me in paradise” |
| Luke 23:44–46, 50, 52–53; 24:1–6a | Death, burial and resurrection |
| Luke 24:13–35 | The road to Emmaus |
| John 5:24–29 | Whoever hears my word has eternal life |
| John 6:37–40 | I will raise him up on the last day |
| John 6:51–58 | The living bread |
| John 11:17–27 | “I am the resurrection and the life” |
| John 11:32–45 | The raising of Lazarus |
| John 12:23–28 | The grain of wheat |
| John 14:1–6 | “In my Father’s house there are many mansions” |
| John 17:24–26 | Father, I will that they be with me |
| John 19:17–18, 25–30 | Jesus dies on the cross |
Popular funeral readings in full
Wisdom 3:1–3
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.
In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:
And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace.
Job 19:25–27
For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.
And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God.
Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.
Psalm 22 (23): The Lord is my shepherd
A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.
He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:
He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name’s sake.
For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.
Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
Romans 8:35–39
Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword?
(As it is written: For thy sake we are put to death all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.)
But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath loved us.
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–17
For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.
For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord.
Wherefore, comfort ye one another with these words.
John 14:1–6
Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be.
And whither I go you know, and the way you know.
Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.
John 11:25–26
Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:
And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?
Tips for reading at a funeral
- Practice aloud several times, preferably in the church with the microphone.
- Read slowly, more slowly than feels natural, and pause at commas and periods.
- Look at the text, not the coffin, if emotion makes it hard; it is fine to pause and breathe.
- Begin “A reading from the Book of…” and end “The word of the Lord,” waiting for the response “Thanks be to God.”
- Do not add personal comments; the words of Scripture are enough.
Frequently asked questions
Can we choose a non-biblical reading?
Not in the Liturgy of the Word. Poems or personal writings can be read at the wake or the reception.
Is Ecclesiastes 3 (“a time to be born, and a time to die”) a funeral reading?
It is not in the official list for the Funeral Mass, but it may be used at the vigil or other services if the priest agrees.
Who reads the Gospel?
The priest or deacon always reads the Gospel.
More funeral pages
- Requiem Mass
- Catholic funeral prayer cards
- Psalm 123 (To you I lift up my eyes)
- Psalms for comfort in grief
- Psalm 25 (To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul)
- Psalm 116 (What shall I render to the Lord?)
- Psalm 42 (As the deer longs)
- Psalm 63 (My soul thirsts for you)
- Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd)
- Catholic eulogy: rules and examples
- Catholic funeral hymns
- The responsorial psalm
- Catholic Funeral Mass: order of service
- Catholic funeral prayers
- Prayers of the Faithful for a funeral Mass
- Prayers for deceased loved ones
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Wisdom 3:1–3; Job 19:25–27; Psalm 22:1–6 (Psalm 23); Romans 8:35–39; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; John 14:1–6; John 11:25–26, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- Lists of readings: Order of Christian Funerals and the Lectionary for Mass, Masses for the Dead (references only).