Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology and director of the Sacerdos Institute at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: At funerals, some three or four people, maybe friends or relatives or members of some organizations to which the deceased belonged, might stand around the corpse as the celebration of the Mass is going on. Is this an acceptable norm in the liturgy? Do we allow it to go on? — M.L., Sierra Leone
A: The idea of an honor guard at funerals of deceased members of the military and other groups is not unknown, although it is more common in some countries than in others.