A celebração das exéquias

: da memória à celebração da vida no ritual romano

Abstract

The present research in theology concerning the Roman ritual of the exequial celebration,
carried out by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, is presented as a relational study of both
liturgy and escathology. The aim of the study is to orient christian hope towards a new vision
of the exequial celebration. On one hand, the ‘exequial’ pertains the accompanying of a
defunct by the community, in a kind of exodus path into the promise land, the new Jerusalem.
On the other, the ‘exequial celebration’ honors the journey of the departing pilgrim. In other
words, it is the process of solemnization not only of material life but also of the new life in
Christ. For this reason, the exequial celebration is grounded on the paschal mystery. It is the
divine promise come true in face of death, the gift of the resurrection. Hence, the departed is
not forgotten, nor given onto loneliness and delivered to death. Memory of him is made, he
becomes present in our life.

Date of Award	11 Sept 2017
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Isabel Pereira Varanda (Supervisor)