Product Review

More than one million bereaved Catholic families have drawn comfort from the pastoral wisdom of Msgr. Joseph M. Champlin (1930-2008) in Through Death to Life since its original publication in 1979. This leading Catholic funeral planning resource contains all of the approved lectionary readings and other liturgical texts needed to celebrate a funeral Mass. Two distinct numbering systems in the volume coincide with official liturgical books as well as the Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal card set published for presiders by Ave Maria Press.

This easy-to-use aid is a practical tool for priests, deacons, and lay pastoral ministers as they help grieving Catholics plan the funeral of a loved one. Families can select the readings and prayers that they find most fitting for the Mass and record them on an easy-to-follow selection sheet, which is included with the book. This information is given to the presiding priest or his designate to prepare the funeral liturgy.

A comforting pastoral introduction and an appendix explaining Church teaching on the practice of cremation are included.