Christianity & Funerals (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

The importance of the last rites

• In Catholic Christianity, the Last Rites are sacraments given to people who are seriously ill or near death

• They include:

  • Confession
  • Anointing of the sick
  • Holy Communion(called Viaticum when given at the point of death)

• These sacraments bring peace, forgiveness and spiritual strength

• They help prepare a person’s soul for death and entry into eternal life

• A priest performs the rites, offering prayers and blessings

• The last rites include anointing with oil as a symbol of healing and God’s presence

• In Orthodox Christianity, there is less focus on the last rites, but the anointing of the sick is still an important sacrament

  • Orthodox Christians prepare for death through regular confession and communion

• Anglican churches offer similar practices called Ministry to the Sick or Commendation of the Dying

• Protestant churches may not have formal last rites but may offer prayer and support

Rituals of interment or cremation

• After death, Christians hold funeral ceremonies to remember the life of the deceased and to support those who mourn their loss

• In Catholic and Anglican funerals, a coffin is often sprinkled with holy water and covered with a white pall, symbolising baptism and resurrection

• Christian funerals usually include:

  • Bible readings
  • Hymns
  • Prayers
  • A sermon

• These are all carefully chosen to reflect Christian beliefs about the hope of life after death

  • This belief in the afterlife offers hope for the bereaved *

• A eulogy *may be included to celebrate the life of the deceased

• Funerals are followed by interment (burial) or cremation *of the body

  • In many denominations, burial is preferred because it reflects the Christian belief in the resurrection of the body

• At the graveside, a priest or minister often conducts a short prayer service before the body is committed to the ground

  • The minister or priest may say “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. These words come from the Bible and reflect belief in the resurrection of the body
  • Prayers are said for the person’s soul and for those who are grieving
  • The coffin is lowered into the ground, and **soil **may be scattered over it as a final act of farewell

• In** cremations**, the committal may take place before or after the service

  • Ashes may later be buried, scattered or kept by the family, in line with personal or church tradition

• Orthodox Christians typically require the body to be buried and include an open-casket* vigil before the funeral

• All funeral rituals:

  • Honour the memory of the deceased
  • Help the bereaved acknowledge death
  • Allow them to express grief at their loss
  • Offer comfort and hope through Christian teaching
  • Allow the Christian community to support those who are grieving

Worked Example Give two features of a Christian last rites ceremony

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

One feature is the anointing of the sick [1 mark]

Another feature is giving Holy Communion if the person is well enough to receive it [1 mark]

Exam Hint Although the last rites are often confused with the sacrament of the sick, or the anointing of the sick, they are not exactly the same thing. The last rites include the sacrament of the sick but are given when the person is considered to be close to death.