Following the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Church refrained from imposing rigid uniformity and affirmed the legitimacy of diversity and inculturation based on local cultures and customs. Among the various liturgical rites, the...
Following the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Church refrained from imposing rigid uniformity and affirmed the legitimacy of diversity and inculturation based on local cultures and customs. Among the various liturgical rites, the funeral rite has traditionally incorporated broader expressions of ethnic, regional, and cultural identity. This is because, as the final rite of passage dealing with the sensitive reality of a person’s death, it inevitably reflects the sensibilities of the community.
Since the introduction of Catholicism to Korea, the Korean Catholic funeral rite has developed by embracing traditional ritual sensibilities while eliminating superstitious elements. Following the publication of the post-Vatican II new Latin typical edition of the Order of Christian Funerals, Ordo Exsequiarum, the Korean Church translated it into the vernacular for use in the Funeral Mass. However, surrounding rites—those before and after the Funeral Mass—have continued to be celebrated through a distinct liturgical book, Sangjang Yesik. This integration of the universal liturgical spirit with indigenous Korean elements has had a positive pastoral and missionary impact not only on the faithful but also on non-believers.
This paper examines the historical development and characteristics of the Catholic funeral rite over the centuries, and explores how these rites have been applied in the Korean Church and society. Particular attention is given to the actual use of the Ordo Exsequiarum and Sangjang Yesik within the Korean Church, culminating in several proposals for enhancing the celebration of funeral liturgies in Korea.
Early Christianity did not immediately formulate its funeral rituals, but began by adopting the customs of the surrounding culture, while excluding superstitious elements contrary to Christian doctrine. As in other liturgical celebrations, the funeral rite retained a clear Paschal character, expressing participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. However, over the medieval period, this paschal hope was overshadowed by a fear of judgment and a sense of obligation to alleviate the sufferings of souls in purgatory, rather than rejoicing in the communion of saints. The Second Vatican Council called for restoring the Paschal character of the funeral rite. The revised Ordo Exsequiarum, resulting from post-conciliar liturgical reform, significantly restored the original nature of the Christian funeral and secured flexibility to adapt to local customs, moving away from rigid uniformity.
The Korean Church has produced its funeral liturgical texts, beginning with the prayer book Cheonju Sunggyeo Gonggwa (1864), followed by the Seonggyo Yegyu, and culminating in the Sangjang Yesik, published with the approval of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea in 2003. The Sangjang Yesik supplements the details, not fully encompassed by the Ordo Exsequiarum, from the moment of death to burial. However, it falls short in expressing the Paschal and eschatological hope restored in the revised Ordo Exsequiarum. This paper suggests that pastoral attention to funeral confraternities and ongoing efforts in liturgical inculturation will contribute to further enrichment of the Korean Catholic funeral rites.