What is a funeral rosary?

The Vigil (Wake)

[FONT=arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif]The Vigil most often takes place in a funeral home nowadays, though it could take place in a home, parish church or chapel, or other place, depending on the laws of your state and the practices of your parish or chapel. The Vigil is the time when family gathers around the dead one, first of all to pray for him, and also to remember his life, and console one another. If the wake takes place in a funeral home, funeral cards, a type of holy card, are usually present (ordered through the funeral home's funeral director), with a Catholic image on one side and, on the other, a prayer, and the name, birthdate, and (pray God) Heavenly birthdate, of the dead. If the wake is not held at a funeral home, one can still order custom-made funeral cards or make one's own.

The Vigil, which may last from a few hours to two days, has the very specific purpose of attending to the soul of the dead one. At the Vigil, therefore, prayer for the dead is central, and you should ask your priest to lead the mourners in the Rosary (Glorious Mysteries) for the soul of the departed (if no priest is available, you can, of course, pray the Rosary yourself as a group). Note that the following prayer, the "Eternal Rest" prayer, is prayed for the dead after each decade of the Rosary (where the Fatima Prayer is usually prayed): [/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif]Eternal rest grant unto him/her (them), O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him/her (them). May he/she (they) rest in peace. Amen.

Latin version: Réquiem ætérnam:
Réquiem ætérnam dona ei (eis) Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat ei (eis). Requiéscat (Requiéscant) in pace. Amen. [/FONT]​

[FONT=arial, helvetica, verdana, sans-serif](The Eternal Rest Prayer is a good prayer to pray when thoughts of the dead person come to mind in the years to come; many Catholics also pray this prayer when passing a cemetery, and also on All Souls Day, and add it to their Rosaries during the month of November, which is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.)

During the Vigil, the casket is usually open, flanked by candles at both ends (one's Baptismal Candle should be used, if possible). In some Catholic cultures, mirrors are covered or turned toward the wall during this time. It is typical for Catholics to kiss their loved one goodbye, and being relic-minded and very conscious of the holiness of a Christian's body and its eternal relationship to the Christian's soul, to keep a lock of hair or some other memento which is later placed, along with funeral cards and the like, on the family altar. This will help remind them to pray for their loved one.

Flowers, as symbols of the beautifully transient, are always present, though some might request that, aside from a few representative flowers from closest family members, donations be made to selected charities instead of additional bouquets being bought. A Crucifix is, of course, always present, too, and often a Rosary will be placed in the dead person's hands[/FONT]

Click to expand...

isabella1 said:

Within my family we have always said the rosary in the funeral home the last evening of the visitation, then had the departed's body taken to church the next day for mass. So it appears it is done several different ways, in different places.

Click to expand...

BAFRIEND said:

I wish I had more time now, but I am very certain what you state is the traditional protocol as this has always been my experience.

Click to expand...