Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Wilmington is pleased to present the following videos to help answer your questions. These videos are courtesy of the Catholic Cemetery Conference.

Three Sacred Moments
(5:11) – This video is a clear description of the three-part journey of Christian burial. It explains the importance of the Vigil, the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal. The Vigil allows time for the living to tell stories about the deceased – essentially focusing on their life. The Funeral Mass focuses on the hope for the future – that our faith teaches that death has no victory – we have hope for eternal life. The Rite of Committal is the final goodbye for the loved ones and is a reminder of the importance of the reverent care of the deceased that our faith requires.

Why a Catholic Funeral Part One
(2:18) – With testimonies from priests and family members, this short video shows the importance of a Catholic funeral not only for the deceased but also for those left behind. It shows how we imitate the reverence that was shown to Jesus’ body. It also emphasizes the importance of a family taking a role in putting the funeral Mass together as a final gift to their loved one.

Why a Catholic Funeral Part Two
(1:38) – This is a short video that uses the testimony of loved ones to focus on the beauty and the healing powers of a funeral. It shows that the funeral is not only an opportunity for loved ones to express sorrow and love for the deceased, but also to express their faith in God, and to create a lasting memory of the deceased. It re-emphasizes that through our Catholic faith there is hope for a life after death.

For more helpful and informative videos, including a series entitled, “Understanding Death,” click here.