Thursday, September 17, 2009 Eulogies Not Permitted at Funerals Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) for the United States. The long-standing prohibition of eulogies at Catholic Funerals was again upheld and restated. “A brief homily based on the readings should always be given at the funeral liturgy, but never any kind of eulogy.” [OCF # 141] In the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal promulgated by John Paul II in year 2000 (GIRM 2000), this prohibition of eulogies was again restated: “At the Funeral Mass there should, as a rule, be a short homily, but never a eulogy of any kind.” Order of Christian Funerals: “A member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased before the final commendation begins.” (OCF # 170) If such a person does speak at all, the ritual envisions it happening at the very end of the Mass while the priest and ministers are already standing at the coffin about to begin the Final Commendation. The words are to be very brief, highlighting an aspect of the deceased’s life of faith. In short, what often happens at the end of the Funeral Mass is not what the Church permits. Even here at Blessed Sacrament we give the family or friend very specific guidelines about what is proper and how it is to be done. Our experience, however, is that our guidance is rarely followed.