Ritual Moment III:
Rite of Committal
“The rite of committal, the conclusion of the funeral rites, is the final act of the community of faith in caring for the body of its deceased member (OCF, 204).
“At the rite of committal, the community of faith . . . is present again to help mourners in this intense and final act of leave-taking” (Smith, Facing Death, 25).
The Rite of Committal is when the Christian community commits the body to its final resting place. The community’s prayer is one of hope for the deceased who awaits the day of resurrection. This rite expresses the communion between “the Church on earth and the Church in heaven” (OCF, 206).
Rite of Committal
Invitation
(after the funeral procession has arrived)
Scripture Verse
Prayer Over the Place of Committal
Committal
Intercession
The Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Prayer Over the People
Dismissal
[Song]
[Sign or gesture if it’s customary]
Rite of Committal
with Final Commendation
[This is used when the final commendation does not take place during the funeral liturgy or when no funeral liturgy precedes the committal rite.]
Invitation
(after the funeral procession has arrived)
Scripture Verse
Prayer Over the Place of Committal
Invitation to Prayer
Silence
[Signs of Farewell]
Song of Farewell
Prayer of Commendation
Committal
Prayer Over the People
Dismissal
[Song]
[Sign or gesture if it’s customary]