A Christian funeral is the burial of someone within particular Christian rites; in most cases, usually in a consecrated ground. Until recently, most Christians tended to avoid cremation, preferring inhumation or even burial, because it often involved some form of ceremonial act that contravened the idea of the universal resurrection of the body. However, many modern Christians have accepted cremation as part of the Christian way of life. This practice can be traced to the early Christian fathers, who wrote extensively about how the church viewed the dead. Cremation is, therefore, not only a Christian concept but also an Old Testament idea.
A Christian funeral has several different elements, which are common to most funerals. The first element is the service. Unlike the more common types of funerals, Christian service is exceptional in and of itself. Unlike the more common types of funerals, however, Christian service is particularly memorable. The hymns used, the readings and the prayers offered.
The second element that is common to all types of Christian funerals is the actual burial itself. Unlike some of the common types of burials that can take place at ground level, a Christian funeral will most likely be held at a cemetery. However, unlike the more common type of burial, a Christian funeral can be a rather elaborate affair. The reason for this is simple: to demonstrate how the deceased had wanted their body to be treated after death.
Unlike some of the more secular funerals that can take place on a person’s front lawn or in some other public area, a Christian funeral will be held in a more private area. This is done to keep any spiritual aspects from creeping into the service. This can be done in several different ways. For example, some churches use readings from the Bible or the works of a particular biblical figure to read out loud.
Another way that this can take place is through a celebration of life. There is a lot of emphasis on individual life. Some Christians believe that their soul goes directly to heaven when they die, while others think it goes to hell. In either case, they believe that their loved ones will be able to visit with them after they die by going to heaven. This can be accomplished through an elaborate eulogy given by a trusted minister or by a loved one who is present when the eulogy is being given. Some of the more common elements of a Christian funeral include:
The first element that is most common for a Christian Funeral is the use of holy water. Still, many Christians consider it essential to have such a symbol at their funeral service. The Bible and several other religious books have been used as the material for this type of vessel. A modern variation is to use a glass coffin instead of the traditional metal casket. Even though there are some differences in the symbolism attached to the holy water, both are very popular for Christian funerals.
Another common element in Christian funeral services is a form of song or prayer. Usually, these will be part of a more extensive prayer or hymn that the priest will read from a particular book before delivering the eulogy. It is important not to include any profanity or vulgar language in these passages, but it is perfectly okay to speak up during the funeral services to give your feelings. A psalm or song will often be played during the funeral services to mark specific moments in the deceased life.
Praying over the deceased during the eulogy is another important tradition. Some people do not want to be touched with their emotions while listening to the eulogy, so praying over the deceased may be done during the mass itself. This can be done through the ordinary course of the mass or by simply stopping the service and asking God if he will bring the deceased back to them when prayerfully praying. A third way to do this is by having a friend, or member of the clergy read prayers while the priest is delivering the eulogy. Doing so helps many people get in the habit of being thankful during the funeral services.
