The recent death of my mother has led to conversations in which a number of people asked me about the church’s position on the burial of deceased. Some of these people asked questions because they heard about a recent document from the Holy See.
Indeed, the Vatican Instruction entitled Ad resurgendum cum Christo, which was issued on August 15, 2016, provides compelling reasons to encourage conventional burial of the faithful whenever possible as well as to require the appropriate reservation of cremated remains. For these reasons, I thought that I would devote my column to this subject today. The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Washington have written a very helpful pamphlet entitled “Considering Cremation of the Body?” I am going to refer to that pamphlet for much of this column. Copies of the pamphlet are available in the pamphlet rack in the Gathering Space for those who wish to read the whole thing—something that I would encourage people to do. Now let’s look at three questions from this pamphlet.
What does the Church says about the cremated body?
Since 1963, the Church allows for cremation of the body providing that those who make the decision recognize that the deceased body is not lost forever but is destined for resurrection.
Cremation quickly reduces the body into a form where the person can no longer be recognized. This can make it more difficult for family and friends to remember and hope in the person’s eternal future, body and soul. For this reason, “the Church earnestly recommends the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed. It does not, however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Catholic teaching” (Canon 1176)
What are the Church’s funeral rites when the body is to be cremated?
The Church prefers and urges that the full body be present for the funeral rites (Order of Christian Funerals, 414), since the loved ones’ experience of that person has always been through the human body. “The body that lies in death recalls the personal story of faith, the past relationships, and the continued spiritual presence of the deceased person” (Order of Christian Funerals, Reflections, p. 11).
The Church’s Vigil, Funeral and Committal rites are Christ’s gift to help bereaved families on their journey over several days through mourning, prayer, consolation and separation, in the company of friends and neighbors.
Some families make the decision to cremate the body immediately after death thinking it will move this painful journey along more quickly. In fact, grief counselors report it is easier for family and friends to confront the mystery of death with a visual experience of the deceased person who can still be recognized in love.
If the body is to be cremated after the Church’s Vigil and Funeral rites, funeral directors can provide for a simple embalming and a regular casket for rent. Purchase of a special shell or cremation casket is usually available for this same purpose.
However, if cremation must take place immediately after death prior to celebrating the sacred funeral and burial rites, the Archdiocese of Washington allows for the cremated remains to be present in the church and Funeral Mass of Christian burial.
Why does the Church insist upon burial of the cremated body?
In view of the Resurrection of the Body, the Church teaches that all reverence given to a fully body in a casket should be extended to the cremated body. Therefore, cremated bodily remains are not to be scattered, kept at home, or divided into other vessels among family members. After the cremation process, the bodily remains should be placed in a respectful vessel and reverently buried or entombed in the sacred ground of a cemetery or mausoleum immediately after the funeral (Order of Christian Funerals, Reflections, p. 15).
The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Washington has ground burial sections for cremated bodies and mausoleum niches for entombment, depending on the family’s wishes. The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Washington also warmly welcomes families who have cremated bodily remains at their homes, and are now interested in burial in the sacred ground of a cemetery.
Until next week,
Fr. John Dillon