When someone dies, families often gather to remember them. In many funerals, people give eulogies—short speeches about the person’s life. But in Catholic funerals, this does not usually happen. Why? Let’s look at some reasons.
The Focus Is on God, Not the Person
In a Catholic funeral, the main focus is the Mass. Catholics believ the funeral is a time to pray for the soul of the one who has died. The Church wants people to ask God to forgive sins and give peace. The Mass is not a time to talk about how great someone was.
Father John, a priest in Chicago, said, “The Mass is about Jesus’s death and new life. We pray for the dead and for ourselves. It is not the right time for long stories.”
Eulogies Can Distract from the Prayer
Eulogies often include jokes, long stories, or sad memories. These may make people cry or laugh. But the Church wants a quiet, holy mood. Too much talking can make the Mass feel more like a party or a show.
Mrs. Linda Thompson, who lost her husbnd last year, said, “At my husband’s Mass, I felt calm. The priest talked about God’s love. I liked that it was not full of people talking for a long time.”
The Church Does Allow Some Words—At the End
The Church doesn’t totally ban eulogies. It lets one person speak for a short time at the end of the service. But this is not like a full eulogy at other funerals. The words must be short and kind. No long tales or jokes.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “A brief words of thanks or remembrance may be spoken after the rite.” This rule helps keep the focus on prayer.
Other Times for Sharing Stories
Catholics can still share stories. But they do it at other times, like at the wake or meal after the funeral. This helps keep the Mass as a time for prayer and the other events as times for memories.
Tommy’s aunt, Mary, said, “We told fun stories about Tommy at the lunch after. The church time felt holy. The meal felt like a time to laugh and cry together.”
It’s About Faith and Tradition
The Catholic Church has followed these rules for a long time. They belive this is the best way to honor the dead and help the living.
Even if it feels a bit cold to some people, many Catholics find peace in the simple, prayerful Mass. They trust that praying for the soul is more helpful than talking about them.
So next time you go to a Catholic funeral, don’t expec long eulogies. You may still hear kind words—but the heart of the Mass is prayer.
