Catholic Funeral Hymns — Approved Sacred Music for Every Part of the Mass

The Rule That Catches Most Families Off Guard

You cannot play "My Way" at a Catholic Funeral Mass. Or "Wind Beneath My Wings." Or any other secular song, no matter how meaningful it was to the person who died.

All music during the Mass must be sacred, liturgical, and aligned with Catholic theology. This is not a suggestion — it is a firm rule that pastors enforce. Secular songs, recorded pop tracks, and slideshow background music are reserved for the Vigil (wake) or the post-burial reception. The church building itself is liturgical space, and only sacred music enters it.

Approved Hymns by Placement in the Mass

Catholic funeral music follows a specific structure. Each moment in the liturgy calls for a hymn that serves a particular theological purpose.

Processional / Gathering Hymns (played as the casket enters the church):

• "Amazing Grace"
• "Be Not Afraid"
• "On Eagle's Wings" — composed in 1976 by Father Michael Joncas, this remains one of the most requested funeral hymns in the English-speaking Catholic world
• "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"

Offertory / Preparation of the Gifts:

• "Ave Maria" (Schubert or Gounod settings)
• "The Prayer of St. Francis" ("Make Me a Channel of Your Peace")

Communion Hymns:

• "I Am the Bread of Life"
• "One Bread, One Body"
• "Taste and See"

Song of Farewell (Final Commendation) — the musical high point of the liturgy, sung as the priest incenses the casket:

• "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"
• "May Flights of Angels"

Recessional Hymns (as the casket leaves the church):

• "In Paradisum" — traditionally chanted in Latin, this ancient text is one of the oldest funeral hymns in Christianity
• "How Great Thou Art"
• "O God Beyond All Praising"

The Gregorian Chant Question

A growing traditionalist movement within the Church has led some pastors to prefer — or even require — Gregorian chant and Latin polyphony over the folk-style hymns that became popular after Vatican II. If your parish priest favors traditional sacred music, hymns like "On Eagle's Wings" or "Be Not Afraid" may be gently redirected toward Latin alternatives.

This catches families off guard, especially when they have already printed funeral programs listing specific songs. Check with your parish music director early — ideally during your first planning call — to confirm which hymns are approved at that specific church.

What About Live Musicians?

Most parishes have a cantor and organist available for funeral Masses. Some allow additional musicians (a violinist, a harpist), but amplified instruments like drums or electric guitars are not permitted. Overly loud amplification of any kind is discouraged within the sacred space.

If you want to hire outside musicians, coordinate through the parish music director rather than arranging independently. The parish needs to approve both the performers and their repertoire.

Where to Play Secular Favorites

The Vigil service is the appropriate venue for personal, secular music. If the deceased loved Frank Sinatra or a particular folk song, the wake or viewing is where those tracks belong. The post-burial reception or mercy meal is another option. These settings allow families to celebrate the person's full personality without conflicting with liturgical rules.

Making the Decision Easier

Choosing funeral music while grieving is overwhelming, especially when you discover that some of your planned selections are not permitted. The Catholic Funeral Guide includes a music selection matrix organized by placement in the Mass, with brief descriptions of each hymn's theological focus, so you can make confident choices without scrambling at the last minute.