Ministry to the Bereaved
Part 2 History

Chapter f30 After Vatican II [1975-2050 CE]

Secular History

Aging Populations:  As the "senior" segment of the American population grows larger, ministry to the sick, dying, and bereaved will become increasingly important in the years to come.  John L. Allen, in The Future Church (Double Day Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-0-385-52038-6. pp162-163, 168) writes:

"In the United States, the Catholic Church will have 6.8 million additional members over the age of 65 by 2030, by far the most substantial expansion of any subgroup in the Church. Inevitably, these trends mean that the Church will be pressed to invest an increasing share of its resources in ministry to the elderly. Ministries that will expand rapidly include: Chaplains in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals; Ministry to shut-ins, including the need for Eucharistic Ministers who can take the sacrament to elderly parishioners; Demand for funerals and anointing of the sick; Pastoral Programs to help people deal with bereavement and loss; Catholic nursing homes, hospitals and daycare centers."

Allen quotes Lisa Cahill:

"In her 2005 book Theological Bioethics, Boston College theologian Lisa Sowle Cahill analyzes Western approaches to aging, decline, and death in terms of three contemporary trends:  1)individualism, meaning self-determination;  2) the medicalization of social problems, such as the proper balance between independence and dependence; and 3) the refusal to accept that life has limits, resulting in frustration and despair when science, technology, and money fail to take away suffering that is inevitably part of life.

One task for a contemporary theology of aging, she writes, is to develop an alternative Catholic understanding of death and dying, one more rooted in community, in spirituality and moral discipline, and in an acceptance of the finitude of life rooted in faith about the life to come."  (John L. Allen, The Future Church. Double Day Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-0-385-52038-6. pp162-163, 168.)

Funeral Cost:  Another "secular" issue is the ever increasing cost of funerals. 

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Church History

The changes in the funeral liturgy take place in the context of the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council:  Active Participation of the faithful (vernacular, choice of readings, adaptation to pastoral circumstances, etc)

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Ministry to the Dead and Bereaved

Gradual involvement of laity in bereavement ministry.

Shortage of priests causes some bishops to request permission for deacons to perform the funeral rites.

Cremation permitted.

Opened the doors to modernity in every aspect of the life of the Church. The implementations were so vast and inclusive it has taken many years to see the changes calmly replace the old as norms. But the element of “change” was introduced and is here to stay for as far as the eye can see. Ultimately it comes back to “Pastoral” care that will guide the good into all the changes the church needs.

 Rite of Funerals 1970-1989; Order of Christian Funerals 1989. Ministry for mourners; from Dies Irae to Alleluia; Importance of commendation of the dead and faith in human destiny

OCF 1989 mandatory in U.S.  Church celebrates in the Christian funeral the paschal mystery of Christ and it is a profession of faith in the hope of sharing Jesus’ own resurrection to the fullness of life in God.  Christian community has responsibility to care for dying, pray for the dead, and comfort those who mourn.

Cultural Variations:   When I was in Kerala India, the mother of my host, Rev. Dr. Jacob Thekeparampil, had recently died.  According to the Catholic custom in India she was immediately buried.  A shrine for her spirit was set up in the home where she died -- the home of her daughter and son-in-law.  The shrine, placed in the principal room of the house, consisted of her bed, her picture, and fresh flowers.  Her spirit-person remained in the home for 40 days -- just as Jesus' spirit-person remained on earth for 40 days -- and then ascended into heaven.  On the 40th day we celebrated her funeral.  Many of her friends and relatives came (about 600 people)and there was a Mass in the parish church, a procession to the grave in adjacent cemetery, and a festive sit down meal at the home for all 600 people.  The meal was arranged by the funeral director who in India is equipped to set up the tent, tables, chairs, provide the food, waiters, etc.

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© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved.  This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.  Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own.  Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it.  This site was updated on 08/13/10 .  Your comments on this site are welcome at tomrichs@psci.net.