Can Catholics Be Buried During Holy Week?
Holy Week—which extends from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday, the day before Easter—is the focal point of the Catholic calendar. Due to its hallowed nature, believers sometimes wonder if there are any Holy Week restrictions on burial and funeral services.
The answer to this question is multifaceted. Certainly, there is no rule directly prohibiting burial during Holy Week. And, for the early part of the week—Monday through Wednesday—there shouldn’t be any problem conducting regular memorial services.
For the remaining days of Holy Week, however, things are a little more complicated. Here it’s important to understand that there are basically three Catholic ceremonies to mark the death of a loved one. First, there is a vigil or wake. Second, there is a funeral Mass. Third is the burial service, which typically takes place immediately following the funeral Mass.
Catholicism does have rules about when a Funeral Mass can take place—specifically prohibiting them on any Sunday during Lent, which includes Palm Sunday. Additionally, funeral Mass services aren’t supposed to take place on Holy Thursday, nor on the Paschal Triduum (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday).
Because funeral Mass services cannot be held on these days, it makes sense that burials usually aren’t scheduled on these days, either—simply because the burial takes place following the Mass.
One option available to Catholics is to have a funeral liturgy in lieu of a Mass—essentially the same service, but without Communion. This is not prohibited by any Catholic doctrine, but there can be practical concerns; finding a priest available to perform a liturgy amidst the busyness of Holy Week can be a challenge.
With any additional questions about Catholic funeral and burial practices, don’t hesitate to contact me by email.
If you have a question about funerals, please email me at: AskTripp@BradshawCarter.com
BRADSHAW CARTER
MEMORIAL & FUNERAL SERVICES 1734 W Alabama • Houston • 713.521.0066
www.BradshawCarter.com