Funeral Service: Absolution at the Coffin

After the Mass, the Priest takes off his chasuble and maniple, and the clergy, led by the subdeacon bearing the Cross, proceed to the coffin, the Priest and Deacon closing the procession. The subdeacon stands at the head of the corpse, with an acolyte holding a taper on each side, and the Priest at the foot with acolytes bearing a censer and holy water. Then the priest continues:

ENTER not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, for in thy sight shall no man be justified, unless through thee remission of all his sins be granted unto him. Let not, therefore, we beseech thee, the sentence of thy judgment weigh upon him, whom the true supplication of Christian faith doth commend unto thee: but by the succor of thy grace, may he merit to escape the judgment of vengeance, who, while he lived, was marked with the seal of the Holy Trinity: who livest and reignest for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

Then, a chorister beginning, the clergy standing round chant the following Response:

DELIVER me, O Lord, from eternal death, in that tremendous day: when the heavens shall be moved, and the earth: when thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

V. I am in fear and trembling, until the trial cometh, and the wrath to come.

R. When the heavens shall be moved, and the earth: when thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

V. That day, a day of wrath, calamity, and misery; a day great and very bitter.

R. When thou shalt come to judge the world by fire. Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

V. Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death, in that tremendous day: When the heavens shall be moved, and the earth: When thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

While it is said, the Priest sprinkles the corpse with holy water, and then incenses it.

V. And lead us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

V. From the gate of hell.

R. Deliver his soul, O Lord.

V. May he rest in peace.

R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O GOD, whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech thee for the soul of thy servant N., which thou hast this day commanded to depart out of this world: that thou deliver it not into the hands of the enemy, nor forget it unto the end; but command it to be received by the holy angels and conducted into Paradise, our true country; that, as it trusted and believed in thee, it may not suffer the pains of hell, but attain unto everlasting joys.

R. Amen.

The body is then borne out, the choir chanting: