Funeral Pall & Incense

“Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend the truth is to suppress it” - Pope St. Felix III

Note: In this report I may occasionally use bold print, Italics, dotted underline or word underlining for emphasis. This will be my personal emphasis and not that of the source that I am quoting.

Q: What is the cloth called that is put on the casket at a Catholic funeral? What is it’s meaning? Amanda

A: “When used at the funeral liturgy the term ‘pall’ refers to the cloth which is spread over the coffin at funeral Masses. This may be of the liturgical color proper to funerals, that is, black or violet, or in certain countries (such as the United States) white. In liturgical catechesis the funeral pall is often likened to the white garment one receives at Baptism. The use of the funeral pall, then, recalls being clothed in Christ at Baptism, while the funeral liturgy is understood as the sacramental completion of what was begun at Baptism.”¹

Q: Why is incense used at a Catholic funeral Mass? What does it mean? Amanda

A: “When sprinkled on glowing coals in a vessel called a censer (also known as a thurible), the incense becomes a fragrant cloud of smoke and so is used to symbolize prayer rising to God and to honor sacred persons and things in the context of liturgical worship. Incense is likewise prescribed for use at the rite of commendation and farewell which concludes the Funeral Mass. Usually during the chanting of the ‘song of farewell,’ the celebrant honors the remains of the deceased (the body which has been the temple of the Holy Spirit during life) with fragrant incense.”² “Let my prayer come like incense before you.”³ “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.”⁴

This report prepared on October 20, 2007 by Ronald Smith, 11701 Maplewood Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024-8482, E-mail: hfministry@juno.com Readers may copy and distribute this report as desired to anyone as long as the content is not altered and it is copied in its entirety. In this little ministry I do free Catholic and occult related research and answer your questions. Questions are answered in this format with detailed footnotes on all quotes. If you would like to be on my list to get a copy of all Q&A’s I do, please send me a note. If you have a question(s), please submit it to this landmail or e-mail address. Answers are usually forthcoming within one week. If you find error(s) in my report(s), please notify me immediately!

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“Faith is a supernatural gift for the intellect” – Rev. Fr. Bryce Sibley, STL