Choosing Readings for a Catholic Funeral Mass

Planning a Catholic funeral is hard, and most families are doing it for the first time. The Church makes one piece easier: there is a set list of 41 approved scripture readings for a funeral Mass, and any of them will fit. You don't have to pick "perfectly." You just have to pick.

Below are the four slots (First Reading, Psalm, Second Reading, and Gospel) with notes on what each passage says and how bereaved families often choose. The full list of approved funeral readings has the scripture text for every option.

The First Reading: from the Old Testament

Seven options. The First Reading sets the emotional tenor of the funeral, whether hope, lament, or praise of a life lived.

• Wisdom 3:1-9 — "The souls of the just are in the hand of God." Gentle and consoling; a common choice.
• Job 19:1, 23-27a — "I know that my Vindicator lives." Powerful for someone of strong, tested faith.
• Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 — "He will destroy death forever." Eschatological and hopeful.
• 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 — The explicit biblical warrant for praying for the dead; traditional and fitting for a Catholic funeral.

The Responsorial Psalm

Nine options, many of them beloved:

• Psalm 23 — "The Lord is my shepherd." The most familiar psalm in English. Many families choose this without hesitation.
• Psalm 27 — "The Lord is my light and my salvation."
• Psalm 130 — "Out of the depths I cry to you." The oldest of the Church's funeral psalms, a prayer of mourning and trust.

The Second Reading: from the New Testament

Eleven options, most from Paul's letters. These explicitly proclaim the Christian hope that death has been conquered through Christ.

• Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 — "Nothing will separate us from the love of God." One of the most quoted funeral passages in scripture.
• 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 — "Death is swallowed up in victory."
• Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7 — "There shall be no more death." Especially fitting at a funeral where the family wants the emphasis on hope rather than grief.

The Gospel

Fourteen options, the largest slot. The Gospel proclamation is the heart of the Liturgy of the Word.

• John 14:1-6 — "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places." Almost universally chosen; gentle and reassuring.
• John 11:17-27 — "I am the resurrection and the life." Christ's raising of Lazarus; theologically central.
• Luke 23:33, 39-43 — "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Short, direct, and deeply consoling.
• Matthew 25:31-46 — The Final Judgment. A sober choice appropriate for someone known for their works of mercy.

Practical pastoral notes

• You don't have to pick all four slots yourself. Most funeral homes and parishes will work with you; many families pick the Gospel and the Psalm and let the priest choose the First and Second.
• Avoid readings that don't fit the person. A lifelong gardener probably doesn't need Matthew 25's harsh imagery; a person of quiet faith might prefer Wisdom 3 to Job 19.
• Asking readers is a gift. Grandchildren, nieces, and nephews are often grateful to have a specific role to carry them through the service.

Next steps

Read the full text of every approved funeral reading. When you're ready, create a print-ready funeral program. The generator is simple enough to use during a difficult week.