Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

John 12:23–28

A Catholic funeral reading (Gospel), with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 1 minute6 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 23And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
  2. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
  3. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
  4. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
  5. 27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
  6. 28Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 23But Jesus answered them, saying: The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified.
  2. 24Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die,
  3. 25Itself remaineth alone. But if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal.
  4. 26If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.
  5. 27Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour.
  6. 28Father, glorify thy name. A voice therefore came from heaven: I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read John 12 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.