Catholic Funeral Readings
About Catholic Funeral Readings
The Catholic funeral liturgy follows a specific structure with designated readings chosen from approved scripture. The Mass of Christian Burial typically includes an Old Testament reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a Second Reading from the New Testament, and a Gospel proclaimed by the priest or deacon.
Featured Catholic Funeral Readings
These established catholic funeral readings are practical starting points for a service. Check the wording, length, and any faith or venue requirements before making a final choice.
“Psalm 23” — Responsorial Psalm
The responsorial psalm most chosen for Catholic funeral Masses. Often sung by the cantor with congregational response.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
“John 14:1-3” — Gospel Reading
The most selected Gospel reading for Catholic funerals. "In my Father's house are many mansions" is proclaimed by the priest or deacon.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions.
“Wisdom 3:1-9” — Old Testament Reading
"The souls of the just are in the hand of God." An Old Testament reading approved for the Catholic funeral liturgy that affirms the righteous are at peace.
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead.
“Romans 8:35-39” — Second Reading
The most popular Second Reading for Catholic funerals. Read by a family member or lector.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
“1 Corinthians 15:55-57” — Second Reading
"Where, O death, is your victory?" A triumphant Second Reading option for the Mass of Christian Burial.
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
All Catholic Funeral Readings (19)
Browse every catholic funeral readings in our collection, sorted by popularity.
Psalm 23
Biblical
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
— Biblical, KJV
The most beloved psalm — a shepherd's promise of comfort, guidance and eternal dwelling in God's house.
Best moment: Read during the service, graveside, or printed in order of service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Abide With Me
John 14:1-3
Biblical
Let not your hearts be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
— Biblical, KJV
Jesus's comforting promise that heaven has room for all — 'in my Father's house are many mansions' — and he goes ahead to prepare a place.
Best moment: Read during a Christian funeral service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
John 11:25-26
Biblical
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
— Biblical, KJV
Jesus's declaration that he is the resurrection and the life — whoever believes in him will never truly die.
Best moment: Read at the beginning of a Christian funeral service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Abide With Me
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Biblical
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
— Biblical, NIV
Paul's famous definition of love — patient, kind, enduring — culminating in the promise that love never fails.
Best moment: Read during the service for a spouse or partner
Pairs with: Hallelujah, Ave Maria
Romans 8:35-39
Biblical
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Biblical, KJV
Paul's soaring declaration that nothing — not even death — can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Best moment: Read during the service, especially for a spouse
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
Revelation 21:4
Biblical
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
— Biblical, KJV
The vision of heaven where God wipes every tear and death, sorrow and pain are no more.
Best moment: Read during the service or at the graveside
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
John 3:16
Biblical
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
— Biblical, KJV
The most famous verse in the Bible — God's love was so great that he gave his Son so that believers would have eternal life.
Best moment: Printed in order of service or on headstones
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Biblical
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Biblical, KJV
Paul's triumphant taunt at death itself — where is your sting, where is your victory? God gives us the victory through Christ.
Best moment: Read as the closing reading at a celebration of life
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
Isaiah 41:10
Biblical
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
— Biblical, KJV
God's direct promise of presence and strength — do not fear, I am with you, I will uphold you.
Best moment: Read during the service or at the graveside
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, Abide With Me
Matthew 5:4
Biblical
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
— Biblical, KJV
Jesus's beatitude promising that those who mourn will be comforted — grief itself is blessed and will be met with consolation.
Best moment: Printed in order of service or on memorial cards
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, Abide With Me
Philippians 4:7
Biblical
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
— Biblical, KJV
Paul's promise of a peace that transcends human understanding — a peace that guards hearts and minds in Christ.
Best moment: Read during the service or as the closing blessing
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, Ave Maria
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Biblical
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
— Biblical, KJV
Paul's teaching on Christian hope — we grieve, but not without hope, because we believe in the resurrection.
Best moment: Read during the service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
John 14:27
Biblical
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
— Biblical, KJV
Jesus's farewell gift to his disciples — a peace unlike anything the world can offer, which stills the troubled heart.
Best moment: Read during the service or as a closing blessing
Pairs with: Ave Maria, Abide With Me
Psalm 46:1
Biblical
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
— Biblical, KJV
A single verse of absolute assurance — God is our refuge, our strength, and very present in our time of trouble.
Best moment: Printed on memorial cards, headstones, or in order of service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
Psalm 34:18
Biblical
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
— Biblical, KJV
A promise that God draws especially close to the brokenhearted — exactly when we need him most, he is nearest.
Best moment: Read during the service, especially after a sudden loss
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, Abide With Me
Lamentations 3:22-23
Biblical
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
— Biblical, KJV
A promise from the Book of Lamentations — even in deepest sorrow, God's mercies are new every morning and his faithfulness never fails.
Best moment: Read during the service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Biblical
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
— Biblical, KJV
Paul's teaching that God comforts us so we can comfort others — our suffering becomes a source of strength for those around us.
Best moment: Read during the service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, Abide With Me
1 Peter 5:7
Biblical
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
— Biblical, KJV
A simple invitation to surrender worry and grief to God, who cares deeply for each of us.
Best moment: Printed in order of service or read during the service
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, Abide With Me
Romans 14:8
Biblical
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
— Biblical, KJV
Paul's simple truth — in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. Death does not change our relationship with God.
Best moment: Read during the service or at the graveside
Pairs with: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the structure of readings at a Catholic funeral Mass?
A Catholic funeral Mass typically includes four scripture readings: an Old Testament reading (read by a family member or lector), a Responsorial Psalm (usually sung by the cantor), a Second Reading from the New Testament epistles (read by a family member or lector), and a Gospel reading (proclaimed by the priest or deacon). The priest then delivers the homily.
Who reads the readings at a Catholic funeral?
The Old Testament and Second (New Testament) readings are typically read by family members, friends, or the parish lector. The Responsorial Psalm is usually sung by the cantor with the congregation responding. The Gospel is always proclaimed by the priest or deacon. Family members who wish to read should coordinate with the parish before the service.
Can you choose your own readings for a Catholic funeral?
Readings must be chosen from the approved lectionary for the Order of Christian Funerals. The parish priest or funeral coordinator will provide the approved list. While personal poems or non-scriptural readings are not permitted during the Mass itself, they may be shared at the vigil (wake) service or at the committal at the cemetery.
How many readings are there at a Catholic funeral Mass?
A full Catholic funeral Mass includes four scripture readings: one Old Testament reading, one Responsorial Psalm, one Second Reading (New Testament epistle), and one Gospel reading. For a shorter funeral liturgy outside of Mass, fewer readings may be used -- typically a minimum of one reading and a Gospel.
What is the difference between vigil and funeral Mass readings?
The vigil (wake) service held the evening before allows more flexibility -- families can include personal poems, non-scriptural readings, and eulogies alongside scripture. The funeral Mass itself requires readings chosen from the approved lectionary. The committal service at the cemetery is briefer, typically including one short scripture reading and prayers.