Final answer:
The funeral home must supply a casket or coffin for a Roman Catholic funeral, which is significant in the ritual and respects the deceased as per Catholic teachings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The item which the funeral home must supply for a Roman Catholic funeral is typically a casket or coffin. In a Roman Catholic funeral, the casket plays an integral role in the ceremony and serves as a vessel for the deceased's body during the mass and subsequent burial. The religious significance of the funeral service in Roman Catholic belief emphasizes respect for the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and its future resurrection. Therefore, the casket is often present in the church during the funeral service.
Reference to funerary practices in history reveals that while ceremonies and beliefs evolve, certain constants remain, such as the importance of honoring the deceased. Ancient practices, like those found in the Gregorian Etruscan Museum of the Vatican Museums, show how funerary objects can indicate the deceased's social status. The Romans, who shifted from Etruscan burial practices to cremation, also placed great importance on funerary vessels like cinerary urns. These historical insights shed light on the continuity and changes in funerary customs, including within the Roman Catholic Church.