The revised Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) for the United States, published in 1989, repeated the long-standing prohibition of eulogies at Catholic funerals. "A brief homily based on the readings should always be given at the funeral liturgy, but never any kind of eulogy." [OCF # 141] In the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal promulgated by John Paul II in 2000 (GIRM 2000), this prohibition of eulogies was again restated: "At the Funeral Mass there should, as a rule, be a short homily, but never a eulogy of any kind."

Reflections on the life of the deceased belong at the wake or other secular gathering. However,  "A member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased before the final commendation begins." (OCF # 170) This would happen at the very end of the Mass while the priest and ministers are already standing at the coffin about to begin the Final Commendation.