A Funeral as a Musical

My dear grandmother passed away on Saturday.

Everyone has their own way of grieving. For one member of my family, that's giving a funeral that resembles a theatrical production.

For me, it's finding the funny side of other people's grieving processes.

My grandmother asked for a memorial Mass instead of a funeral. She was very stressed and overwrought by my grandfather's funeral a few years ago and she didn't want to make us go through all of that again. Apparently, some of my family doesn't know the difference between a memorial Mass and a funeral, because there doesn't seem to be any difference in the production process. There will be a rosary & viewing the night before, the casket will be in the church for the Mass, and the burial will be a couple of days later.

Yesterday, after discussing some logistics with the extended family, I started giving a narrative of the Memorial Mass for my mother, as if it were actually a theatrical production. The similarities are striking. For those not familiar with Catholic Masses, I've put the corresponding parts of the Mass in parenthesis.

1. Overture to set the tone for the upcoming play. (Prelude music)
2. The main chorus stands to sing a rousing opening number. (Entrance hymn)
3. A soliloquy, inspired by God, written by one of His humble servants, and recited by one of the principal characters of the story. (1st reading)
4. A duet, sung by two of the principal characters, inspired by God, written by an ancient musician, and interpreted by a musician from the 1970s (psalm)
5. Another soliloquy of a similar nature to the first, but less old. Recited by a different principlal character. (2nd reading)
6. All stand as the main chorus sings the alleluia.
7. A message from our sponsor, Jesus. (the Gospel)
8. Another soliloquy, based on a true story, written by a principal character. The purpose of this is three-fold: catharsis, remembrance, and to aid us in our own lives. Sometimes, but not always, tied to the message from our sponsor. (the homily)
9. Mother-daughter duet, symbolizing the relationship that was severed by death. After the cathartic soliloquy, this will likely produce tears in the main chorus. (offeratory hymn)
10.  The main action of the play (the Consecration)
11. The diva-past-her-prime will stand and sing as other principal characters are occupied by the main action of the play (Communion hymns)
12. A series of musical and poetic numbers that pay tribute to the deceased.
13. The main chorus stands again to sing a final rousing number that gives hope to all present. (Recessional hymn)