336.
QUERY 1:
May a funeral Mass be celebrated during the octaves of Christmas and Easter?
REPLY: Yes.
The rule of the GIRM no. 336 is that of the Masses for the dead the one for a funeral
may be celebrated on any day except holy days of obligation, the Sundays of
Advent and Lent, and Easter Sunday. Therefore, it may be celebrated during the
octaves of Christmas or Easter: Not 6 (1970) 263, no. 37.
QUERY 2:
May a funeral Mass be celebrated on Holy Thursday and during the Easter
triduum?
REPLY: No.
The directives in the Roman Missal apply. On Holy Thursday morning as a rule
the chrism Mass is celebrated (MR pp. 239 - 242). In addition to the evening
Mass of the Lord's Supper "the local Ordinary may permit another Mass to
be celebrated in churches and public or semipublic oratories in the evening or,
in the case of genuine necessity, even in the morning, but exclusively for
those who cannot in any way take part in the evening Mass" (MR p. 243 RM,
Holy Thursday "Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper"]). Other
eucharistic celebrations on Holy Thursday are entirely forbidden. On Good
Friday "according to the Church's ancient tradition, the sacraments are
not celebrated" (MR p. 250 RM, Good Friday, "Celebration of the
Lord's Passion"]). "On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's
tomb,. . .and the sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated" (MR p. 265 RM,
Holy Saturday]). In the case of Easter Sunday, the GIRM no. 336 already forbids
a funeral Mass, since this is a solemnity that is of obligation: Not 10 (1974)
145 - 146, no. 3.
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