When I or any priest talks about the importance of preparing for ones' funeral, the one thing we normally take for granted is that there will be a funeral for every baptized person, and "normally" there is. I hope everyone who is reading this pastor's column agrees with "the Church" that the funeral rites that the Church provides, though varied in their form (Vigil or no vigil service, funeral Mass or funeral liturgy outside of Mass) it is presumed that there will be a public gathering for prayer for the sake of the deceased, the family, and the faithful (brothers and sisters in Christ) and anyone who wishes to be there. There are certainly instances and opportunities for gathering before or after a funeral liturgy to have a "Celebration of Life" of a person who has died to remember the person through descriptions and stories. In some (hopefully very few) instances, such a gathering might, in fact, be the only gathering of family, and friends for the person who has died. For the baptized believer, however, who "went into the tomb with Jesus, through the waters of baptism, with the pledge and promise that he or she might live in this world AND BEYOND with Christ, a faith-filled and faith-focused gathering is stronly encouraged and revered. "At the death of a Christian, whoe life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites, with the comforting Word of God and the sacrament of the Eucharist." (Order of Christian funerals #4). Immediately following, it states that "Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ's death and resurrection, is the principal celebrations of teh Christian funeral." (Order of Christian funerals #5). It seems clear that the funeral rites, in addition to being of benefit to the baptized believer who has died, commending the dead to God's merciful love and pleading for their foooorgiveness of sins (Order of Christian funerals #6), also for the living as it brings conslation and hope to them (#7). I hope you would agree with me that it is appropriate (and for some who die without much if any biological family and/or friends, practical) that we offer a Mass for some of the deceased at one of our regularly scheduled times for Mass, for the Church says in these gatherings (or those at other times) each member fo Christ's Body rightly participates in the "ministry of consolation"; to pray  for the dead and comfort those who mourn. I will continue to encourage everyone in our faith community to join me in our funeral liturgies whether you personally knew the person who died or not. As I (and I hope others) invite and encourage all of you to respond to your baptismal call to service according to your gifts and talents (and interests), the ministry of consolation which is best shown at funeral liturgies is something for "ALL OF US" to do for our deceased brothers and sisters in Christ and for their families (and also for the blessings it brings to us) as such liturgies look beyond what we see to what we can't see, but that exists for eternal happiness and peace with Christ for all his chosen ones!!