Taste in music varies quite drastically from person to person, but we have seen a common theme to the funeral hymns people have tended to select over the years. Although the occasional unusual choice appears, it seems that most families prefer a traditional approach. This list includes some of the most popular Catholic hymns and Irish Catholic hymns. If you’re trying to decide on the right hymn to play to say farewell, we have some suggestions for you.
Top 10 Catholic Hymns for a Funeral Services
- Amazing Grace – One of the best known and best-loved hymns in the world delivers a comforting message that God always walks with us.
- The Lord Is My Shepherd – Many people know this psalm, the 23rd Psalm, by heart, even if they don’t see themselves as particularly religious. It reminds us that we don’t walk alone.
- Here I Am, Lord – This is a tender, modern song first published in 1981. Catholics may also know it by its first line, “I, the Lord of Sky and Sea.”
- Lord of All Hopefulness – This song from the 1930s is very well known, and many people find it very comforting. It speaks of the peace that God can bring us.
- Abide with Me – This moving song reminds us that God can be a very present comfort at even the saddest times.
- Be Not Afraid – Bob Dufford, S.J. wrote this modern hymn in 1972 to help us navigate life transitions.
- Dear Lord and Father of Mankind – The lyrics to this well-loved hymn are from American Poet John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem of the same name.
- On Eagle’s Wings – Michael Joncas wrote this song in the 1970s in response to his friend’s fathers’ death.
- You Are Mine – This is another modern hymn written by David Haas in the 1990s. The composer has said that the “you” refers to people both as individuals and as a group.
- How Great Thou Art – This hymn has been played and sung in various versions since the 1880s. Many find it to be uplifting.
Choosing a suitable selection is not always easy. But if you look at our list of what we consider to be the most popular Catholic funeral hymns, it will give you a good place to start. You can use most of the hymns below for any part of the service, although it is more common to use a psalm for the responsorial psalm.
Make Your Choices but Always Consult Your Priest
Even though you are the one doing the choosing, it is your parish priest who has the final say on what music and/or hymns you can use. You must consult with your priest and get his blessing on your choices.
Some priests are very modern, especially younger ones, and will permit a secular music choice. Others, and probably the majority, are far more traditional and will not permit anything that isn’t traditionally religious. In either case, your priest will only allow a choice that they deem appropriate.
How to Select a Hymn
When you select a hymn, you want attendees to sing along. It is best to choose hymns that they know. You’ll also have a few parts in the funeral that require a hymn. For a Catholic service, you’ll have several different sections. The service generally has a processional, a responsorial psalm, presentation of the gifts, communion, and the recessional.
Of course, many bereaved families choose to have a soloist sing instead if they are fortunate to know one, can bring one in, or if the church choir has one. If this is the case, the soloist will perform the hymn rather than the congregation.
Top 8 Funeral Hymns for Soloists
Many choirs will have a soloist, or if not, the family or church will bring one in. Here are eight popular funeral hymns for soloists to sing.
- Ave Maria (Schubert) – This beautiful solo is challenging to perform well, but it is a touching piece.
- Panis Angelicus – Panis Angelicus is Latin for “Bread of Angels.” It is from the hymn “Sacris Solemnis” written by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
- Time to Say Goodbye – A modern offering, “Time to Say Goodbye” was made famous by Andrea Bocelli and British soprano Sarah Brightman when it topped the charts in 1996.
- Ave Verum Corpus – “Ave Verum corpus” is a Eucharistic chant dating back to the 14th century.
- May the Choirs of Angels Come to Greet You – More correctly known as the “Song of Farewell,” English Roman Catholic priest and composer Ernest Sands wrote this hymn specifically for funerals.
- Pie Jesu – Made famous by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the lyrics to this hymn is the final couplet of “Dies Irae.”
- Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) – A different arrangement of the same classic mentioned above. It is an unbelievably moving piece when performed well.
- The Lord’s Prayer (Malotte) – This sung version of the spoken prayer has become increasingly popular.
Your Funeral Hymn Choices Are Personal
Any hymn you choose for a Catholic funeral service is always a very personal choice. Sometimes a hymn will suggest itself because it was a favourite of the person who has passed. When that is not the case, then most people choose what they feel is the most appropriate. If you’re still unsure, the priest can help you find one that fits perfectly.