The Church's Liturgy & Social Justice, part 2

One important aspect of achieving social justice is also a part of our liturgy: reconciliation. Justice is a matter of right relationship. If something is keeping us from right relationship, such as a past wrong or unfair discrimination, we must be reconciled in order to return to a right and just relationship. Reconciliation involves (1) acknowledging our faults to the offended party, (2) asking for and receiving forgiveness, and (3) making reparations and/or doing penance.

       To model that for us in our interpersonal relationships, we have the Sacrament of Penance and the Penitential Rite of the Mass by which we are reconciled with God. The Sacrament of Penance provides the fullest expression of reconciliation (as outlined above) and is our only way of reconciling serious sins against God's law. The Penitential Rite of the Mass heals the lesser offenses so that we can be properly disposed for our reception of Holy Communion.

       The challenge for us is to take these opportunities for reconciliation seriously. This Sunday, when the liturgy comes to the Penitential Rite, make a serious examination of your conscience, fervently ask God for forgiveness, and then feel the forgiveness God offers through the words of the priest.

The Funeral Rites of the Catholic Church, part 5 (Introductory Rites of the Funeral Mass)

The Funeral Mass is the central movement in the funeral rites of the Catholic Church. Just as the Mass is central during our lives, it is also central to the celebration of our hope following our death. 
       If the body is to be received into the church at the start of the Mass, then the Introductory Rites of the Mass are replaced with the reception of the body (see previous post). If the body has been previously received, then the Mass begins in the usual way with an Entrance Procession, Greeting, and Penitential Rite. In any case, the Entrance Procession has a different order than at most Masses. In a Funeral Mass, the procession is led by the cross and ministers (including the presider), then the coffin, and then the mourners. This is unlike the typical Mass, where the presider is the last one in the procession.
       The Introductory Rites then conclude with the Opening Prayer. There are numerous choices for the Opening Prayer, including those if the deceased is a bishop, someone who died suddenly, a young person, even an unbaptized infant. There are also a number of general Opening Prayers (ones that could apply to anyone). In general, a more specific prayer is favored over a general one because it personalizes the liturgy; however, it is important when selecting from any of the options in the Funeral Mass to select prayers and readings that are most appropriate for the deceased. No matter which prayer is selected, they all include the name of the deceased in the prayer.