Christian Funerals

More and more families living in the Bronx, as well as those residing in neighboring communities; turn to McKeon Funeral Home for assistance when a loved one dies. Our familiarity with a wide variety of funeral traditions and practices makes us the preferred funeral home for many families who are seeking a funeral home where the underlying beliefs, as well as the many traditions within Christian funerals, are understood and respected. If your family needs immediate care for a deceased family member and desires to arrange for a Christian or Catholic funeral service, call us right away at (718) 655-6464.

Christian Ceremonial Traditions

Over the centuries, Christianity has spread and local forces have resulted in many subtle changes in specific spiritual beliefs and practices–some of which affect Christian funeral services. Amanda Graber, in the online article "Purpose of Funerals in Islam & Christianity", writes, "In Christianity, as in Islam, the funeral is a somber event, but it also holds a reminder of the promise that loved ones will be reunited for eternity in heaven."

When it comes to the performance of related traditions, a Christian ceremony begins with the recitation of this commonly-known Biblical passage (John 11:25, 26) during the early moments of Christian end-of-life services:"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;  and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. ~ The Bible, John 11:25, 26

The authors of the BBC Religions article, "Christian Funerals" write "When a Christian dies; it is seen as the end of his (or) her life on earth. And Christian funeral traditions serve, not only to comfort grieving family and friends,but also to help to cleanse the sins of the deceased so they will reside in Heaven for eternity."Other readings include psalms, such as the well-known 23rd Psalm which begins: "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..."

According to tradition, it is common to also add a mixture of personal readings and prayers, as well as time for quiet reflection and a closing commendation of the spirit of the deceased into God's care. And the committal service at the cemetery (or in the case of cremation, the crematory) will most likely feature these familiar words, spoken aloud: "We therefore commit his or her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."

Catholic Funeral Traditions

Not only are our staff members thoroughly familiar with Christian ceremonial traditions, we are also well-acquainted with all aspects of Catholic ceremonies. So, what makes these events different from other Christian funerals? According to the Wikipedia page titled "Roman Catholic Funeral", A Roman Catholic funeral is referred to in Catholic canon law as an ecclesiastical funeral.

And the purpose of an ecclesiastical funeral? That same Wikipedia page on Roman Catholic funerals goes on to say, "In Catholic funerals, the Church seeks firstly to offer the Mass for the benefit of the soul of the deceased, that the temporal effects of sin in Purgatory may be extinguished and, secondly, to provide condolence and comfort for the deceased's family and exhort them to pray, along with the Church, for the soul of the departed." Specifically, a Catholic funeral follows canons 1176–1185 of the Code of Canon Law and canons 874–879 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

McKeon Funeral Home and Christian Funerals

Catholic families living in the Bronx can find great solace in attending one of the local churches, including Saint Brendan's Church, Saint Ann's Roman Catholic Church, or the Church of the Blessed Sacrament; while Christians of the various denominations enjoy membership in religious organizations such as the Bronx Christian Church. (If you are new to the area and would like to know more about Christian or Catholic institutions in the Bronx, review the listings found on the Church Angel webpage, "Churches in Bronx, New York by Denomination".)

Whether Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, Lutheran, Orthodox, Catholic or Presbyterian; Christian families should know that we are not only familiar with, but also understand the significance of the many subtle differences in Christian and Catholic funeral traditions.

And what this means is simple: when it comes time for a Christian family to provide final care for a deceased loved one, it makes sense to call us at (718) 655-6464. Take the time to find out how McKeon Funeral Home has assisted other Christian and Catholic families living in the Bronx. Call us today at (718) 655-6464 to learn more.

Sources:

Quotation from the Bible
http://www.beliefnet.com/Prayers/Christian/Death/The-Burial-Of-The-Dead-Rite-One.aspx