Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

Luke 23:44–46, 50, 52–53; 24:1–6a

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

Reads in about 2 minutes12 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 44And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
  2. 45And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
  3. 46And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
  4. 50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
  5. 52This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
  6. 53And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
  7. 1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
  8. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
  9. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
  10. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
  11. 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
  12. 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Douay-Rheims

  1. 44And it was almost the sixth hour: and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
  2. 45And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
  3. 46And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.
  4. 50And behold there was a man named Joseph who was a counsellor, a good and a just man,
  5. 52This man went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.
  6. 53And taking him down, he wrapped him in fine linen and laid him in a sepulchre that was hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man had been laid.
  7. 1And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
  8. 2And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre.
  9. 3And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
  10. 4And it came to pass, as they were astonished in their mind at this, behold, two men stood by them, in shining apparel.
  11. 5And as they were afraid and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: Why seek you the living with the dead?
  12. 6He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spoke unto you, when he was yet in Galilee,

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read Luke 23 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.