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Stations of a Catholic Funeral – Part 1: What is involved? – Funeral Facts with Deacon Marc

 Below is a transcript the the video:

Hello and welcome to funeral facts with Deacon Marc. This will be a section of a weekly blog where we talk about funeral facts from a Catholic perspective, something none of us really want to talk about but it’s important for all of us to understand because we all have to deal with it at one point or another with family, loved ones, and eventually with ourselves.

So, let us begin today. We’re talking about why do we have funerals and what is the order of Christian funerals?

The Church has had funerals since day one we can see that with Lazarus with Christ when he raised him from the dead and we throughout church history funerals have played an important role within the Catholic faith.  So, why do we have them?

I’ve asked this question to people and one of the most interesting responses I get was well we need do something with the body.

Well, yes we need do something with the body but we want do that respectfully and there are reasons why we have funerals, and really there are four primary reasons why we have funerals. We can have all these other reasons but there are four primary ones.

One, we want to worship God. We want to come together and worship Him for He gave us our lives, and He gave us that opportunity to be with that person and so we’re thanking Him and worship Him.

We’re also thanking God and remembering about His mercy that He has for us, His ultimate mercy. None of us deserve that mercy but He is merciful, loving, and we trust in His mercy and so we thank Him for that mercy.

The third reason is to fill that void of loss that we have with that person who’s no longer with us and so we come together as a community we pray with each other, we grieve with each other, and we’re filling that void with Christ and God at our center of our lives.

And then the fourth reason is probably maybe the most important reason is; we’re praying for that person on their journey. Christ told us that not everybody goes to heaven he says that the gate is narrow and the road is thin and not everybody is going to get through that and so we want to pray for that person on their journey on their journey to the heavenly Father.

Four reasons why we have Catholic funerals:

1) Worship God
2) Thank God for His mercy
3) Fill the void of loss with faith
4) Pray for the deceased

So then what does a funeral look like?

You know I can remember growing up when we had funerals it would seem like they would go on for an entire week and things have changed over the years but the one piece that has remained the same is there really are three stations to the order of Christian funerals.

First, we have the vigil, this is when the community comes together and they start remembering the person, they also start praying to God and coming together and filling that time with the love of God you know in a prayerful type of way.

The second piece is the funeral liturgy, typically this is the mass that can be a funeral liturgy outside of the mass but this is when we go to the source and summit the Eucharist and we pray for that person and we have that mass in honor and intention for that individual.

And then, finally we have the committal, and this is typically out of the grave site where we say the final prayers and we commend that individual to God and to their last lasting resting place.

And so there are those three stages and it’s interesting when you look at those three stages it really goes from the home, to the church, to the cemetery, and it’s like a procession of taking that person on a journey and we go on that journey with them. So, we’re going from the home of the vigil to the to the church with the mass and finally to the cemetery with the committal.

So, three stations we’ll be talking about those more in depth over the next couple weeks but that does for today’s issue of funeral facts with Deacon Marc.

We hope they have a blessed week!

 

Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of Colorado
A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Denver

Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery |

funeral homes in Thornton, CO
Using Art to Help Cope With Grief

Throughout history, people have turned to art to help them express their feelings and emotions. This is no different when it comes to working through and processing the grief of losing a loved one. These feelings may be intense, and you may not be sure how to handle them Through mediums such as painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and more, people have gained many benefits. As directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO., we understand how important is to handle your grief in a healthy way.

Benefits of Using Art to Cope with Grief

Other than letting your mind focus on something else and giving it a much-needed break from focusing on your loss, art provides several other benefits. One of the benefits creating provides is a sense of control. When you lose someone close to you, your whole world can feel out-of-sorts and out of control. Having an activity that is in your control can bring a little steadiness back into your life.

Another way art can help is to help get you in your “flow state”. This is when you are so immersed in an activity that you forget out everything else and achieve a sense of calmness. It is almost as if time stands still and feels very similar to when people sit and meditate. Your heart rate and stress levels lower and you simply feel “at the moment”.

How to Get Started

The good thing about using art to help cope with grief is that you don’t have to be an expert or even have ever tried anything artistic in the past. Anybody can do this. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Decide the medium – If you feel you want a peaceful, calm activity maybe select a mandala coloring book where you can sit quietly and color. If you are feeling more heightened emotions perhaps choose a big canvas and paint while standing or break tiles to create a mosaic.
  • Gather supplies – Get everything you need and have it ready to go. This will help you stay in the moment once you get started and not interrupt your flow to go and find something you forgot.
  • Let go of judgment – Take a deep breath and just start. Let go of any judgment or expectations and just letfuneral homes in Thornton, CO whatever comes up happen. This isn’t a piece of art you are trying to impress anyone with or win an award for, this piece is for you and you only.
  • Try different mediums – Don’t feel like you have to stick to just one medium. Give yourself permission to try several and see which one or ones you like and connect with the most.

Final Thoughts

As directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO. we understand how important it is to handle your grief in a healthy way. While art may be a wonderful outlet for some, others may handle their grief better in other ways such as working out or journaling. If you would like more resources on grief support please reach out to us anytime as we are always here and available to help.

funeral homes in Thornton, CO
Casket Wraps: Creating a One-of-a-Kind Casket

Caskets today come in a variety of materials as well as styles. This is such a wonderful opportunity for families to choose options that truly reflect their loved one’s style and tastes. Another, newer option that is catching on is personalizing the deceased’s casket with a casket wrap. If you aren’t familiar with the customization option, directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO. share what you need to know.

What is a Casket Wrap?

A casket wrap is a piece of vinyl that has been designed with a pattern, logo, portrait of the deceased, or any other image the family requests. The piece of vinyl is then applied to the casket with a process that gives the illusion of the actual casket itself being printed with the image. With the wrap being able to be so personalized, it is a very effective way to make the casket truly unique to your loved one.

Why Choose a Casket Wrap?

One reason that families may choose to have their loved one’s casket adorned with a vinyl wrap is that it can allow the family to create a truly one-of-a-kind casket for their loved one. With just about any image being able to apply, one family could have a casket that has a background pattern of flowers while another family may choose to have an image of a flag covering the casket.

And although there is the cost of the vinyl wrap, families may also be able to save a little money. They can do this by choosing a less expensive material for the casket since it will be covered by the wrap.

How Does the Process Work?funeral homes in Thornton, CO

While you can purchase casket wraps from a number of various dealers, the process for designing and installing them is fairly the same. The typical order will go something like this:

  • Communication – Contacting the company and talking with them about things like the date and location of the service is an important first step as it ensures the wrap can be designed and delivered on time.
  • Placing Your Order – Once you and the provider have agreed on the timeframe and any other issues, you will place your order either online or over the phone with them.
  • Design – Most providers will have options of stock images and designs you can use as well as offer customized designs. You will work with the provider and create the design. You may need to provide digital images or photographs to the provider.
  • Printing – The provider will then print the casket wrap on the vinyl material.
  • Shipping – If the provider is not local, they will then ship the wrap to your location.
  • Installing – Local providers will then apply the wrap to the casket. If the provider is not local, they will typically have a local 3rd party installer apply the wrap.

Final Thoughts

Vinyl wraps are not new as you have most likely seen them being used on commercial vans and cars. However, casket wraps are a newer and growing trend. With the ability to truly create a one-of-a-kind casket for your loved one, it is no wonder these wraps are so popular. Directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO. can help you learn more about these wraps and if it is a good choice for your loved one’s casket.

funeral homes in Thornton, CO
Remembering Your Loved One: 8 DIY Upcycling Ideas

Feeling close to a loved one after they pass is a wonderful way to find comfort. This can be done in many ways but one way that is growing in popularity is upcycling an old item of your loved one. If you are not familiar with the term “upcycling”, it simply means taking an old, unused item, and transforming it into a new one that is used in a different way. Keep reading as directors of funeral homes in Thornton, CO. share eight DIY upcycling ideas.

1. Tea Cup Candles

Did your loved one have a teacup they loved or a collection? If so, taking these tea cups and making candles out of them is a wonderful way to upcycle this item. You can then use the candle as part of a memorial or simply pretty décor for your home or office.

2. Vinyl Record Clock

If your loved one was a music fan, why not take one of their old vinyl records and turn it into a clock? There are several DIY videos on YouTube as well as other online tutorials on how to complete this project.

3. Bicycle Planter

Add a touch of your loved one to your garden by making a planter out of their old bicycle. This is not a difficult project and will add a wonderful personal touch to your garden.

4. Make a Quilt

By using some of your loved one’s old clothes, you can make a beautiful memorial quilt. There are tutorials on how to do this or you could take the pieces of clothing to a professional and have them create the quilt.

5. Spoon Windchimes

Taking some of your loved one’s old silverware and creating a windchime is an easy afternoon DIY project. You could use only one type of silverware such as all spoons, or all forks, or get creative and mix it up.

6. Create a Pillowfuneral homes in Thornton, CO

A very easy and wonderful way to feel close to your loved one is to create a pillow out of one of their old t-shirts. There are instructions online on how to do this with or without sewing. Having this pillow to snuggle with can be a great way to feel comforted by your loved one.

7. Transform Furniture

If your loved one had an old dresser, there are ways to take the drawers and create a brand new side table. You can use this side table next to your bed, in your living room beside your couch, or any other place where you want to be reminded of your loved one. Finding these instructions online is easily done by performing a Google search.

8. Transform a Piece of Jewelry

A piece of jewelry can be transformed into several different new items. From using pieces to turn into hair clips to keychains, there are a ton of DIY videos to help guide you through whichever project you choose.

After your loved one’s services from funeral homes in Thornton, CO. finding ways to feel connected to them can go a long way in helping you to heal. Creating something new from something old also reminds us that even though they may be gone from this world, their spirit lives on in the next.

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