Funeral Readings for Adults

The following are lists of Scriptures appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgies. One reading is chosen from each the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Gospels.

*Other Scripture passages can be presented to the presider for approval.

**Non-Scripture readings cannot be read in place of these readings, but could be used in the worship aides or through some other means.

Old Testament

2 Maccabees 12:43-46 "...he made atonement for the dead..."
Job 19: 1, 23-27 "...I know that my vindicator lives...."
Wisdom 3:1-9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..."
Wisdom 3:1-6,9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..."
Wisdom 4:7-14 "The Righteous One, though he die early, shall be at rest..."
Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 "...he will destroy death forever..."
Daniel 12:1-3 "...the wise shall shine brightly..."

New Testament

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins"
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36,42-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins"
Romans 5:1,5-11 "...We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son..."
Romans 5:17-21 "...through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all..."
Romans 6:3-9 "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..."
Romans 6:3-4,8-9 "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..."
Romans 8:14-23 "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God"
Romans 8:31-35,37-39 "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 14:7-9,10-12 "This is why Christ died and came to life"
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 "If there is no resurrection of the dead..."
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 "In Adam all die, so too if Christ shall all be brought to life."
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 "Death where is your victory?"
2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1 "The one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us..."
2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10 "We would rather leave the body and go home..."
Philippians 3:20-21 "He will change our lowly body..."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "If we believe that Jesus died and rose..."
2 Timothy 2:8-13 "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead..."
1 John 3:1-2 "Beloved, we are God's children now..."
1 John 3:14-16 "We know that we have passed from death to life..."
Revelation 14:13 "...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord..."
Revelation 20:11-12:1 "...The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades..."
Revelation 21:1-5a,6b-7 "...I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem..."

Gospel

Matthew 5:1-12a "The Eight Beatitudes"
Matthew 11:25-30 "come to me . . . and I will give you rest."
Matthew 25:1-13 "Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him"
Matthew 25:31-46 "Come, you whom my Father has blessed"
Mark 15:33-39 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Mark 15:33-16:6 "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last"
Luke 7:11-17 "Young man, I say to you, arise."
Luke 12:35-40 "Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,..."
Luke 23:33-43 "Today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23:44-24:6a "Father, I put my life in your hands."
Luke 23:44-49 "Father into your hands I commend my spirit"
Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..."
Luke 24:13-16,28-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..."
John 5:24-29 "Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from..."
John 6:37-40 "All who believe in the Son will have eternal life..."
John 6:51-58 "All who eat this bread will live for ever...."
John 11:17-27 "I am the resurrection and the life."
John 11:21-27 "I am the resurrection and the life."
John 11:32-45 "Lazarus, come out."
John 12:23-28 "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..."
John 12:23-26 "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..."
John 14:1-6 "There are many rooms in my Father's house."
John 17:24-26 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me..."
John 19:17-30 "Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits."