Nowe „Ordo Exsequiarum” a Paschalne Misterium Chrystusa

Abstract

Over a long period of time the Church funeral rites placed the accent on prayers for the soul of the deceased person ratver than on his resurrection, stressing fear of the judgment of God. In order to elucidate the tenets of our faith to the faithful, the Second Vatican Council reformed the rites of certain Sacraments and other liturgical services to enable the Christian to play a more active part in them. One of the first rites to undergo reforms was the funeral rite. The decrees of Vatican II aimed at bringing forth the paschal character of a Christian’s death (Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy 81). The present study tries to find an answer to the question how the new “Ordo Exequiarum” has responded to the postulates of Vatican II. The introduction explains symbols used by the new rites, showing faith in resurrection of the body and in everlasting life with God. The Paschal Mystery is clearly explained in the words of various prayers Used in the new rite. The theology of the prayers, however, is not dealt with in the present study. The rite stresses the Resurrection of Christ and its link with the eschatological future of a Christian. Although the funeral service is not a Sacrament as such, it is closely linked with the Sacraments, especially with Baptism and Holy Eucharist. The new funeral rite is, in fact, an affirmation of faith in the resurrection of a Christian. The structure of the new rite makes the faithful acquainted with the essence of the Church life, talking into account the personality of the deceased as a whole. The universal will of Salvation is expressed also in the rites concerning children who died before being baptised. According to the postulates of the Council, the whole structure of the rite stresses the paschal character of death which is shown in liturgical symbols and prayers. The latter refer to the life of the deceavsed as a total, particularly to his being incorporated to the Paschal Mystery of the Saviour and to his own faith as expressed by his receiving of other Sacraments, first of all the Eucharist as a nourishment for everlasting life.