Catholic Burial Pre-Vatican II

[rben20]

Hello Catholics,

I was wondering what you all had to say about the way Catholic burials were done back before the council. Apparently, if the person had committed suicide a Catholic burial would be automatically denied. Why the sudden change of heart in the Church which now allows burials for those who committed suicide?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hello Catholics,

I was wondering what you all had to say about the way Catholic burials were done back before the council. Apparently, if the person had committed suicide a Catholic burial would be automatically denied. Why the sudden change of heart in the Church which now allows burials for those who committed suicide?

I think this might go to the acknowledgement that most, if not all, suicides are due to mental illness or impairment and therefore not the mortal sin that was once believed to be.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Hello Catholics,

I was wondering what you all had to say about the way Catholic burials were done back before the council. Apparently, if the person had committed suicide a Catholic burial would be automatically denied. Why the sudden change of heart in the Church which now allows burials for those who committed suicide?

Part of it is modern advances in psychology. Since sin relies a lot on ones intention, psychology has evidence that many who kill themselves are overcome by extreme grief and desperation that perhaps they’ve lost complete control of themselves and lost clear reasoning. Thus they may not be culpable for such a grave sin.

I think its the right way. Lets do what we can to pray for the sinner, and leave the salvation or condemnation up to God for He is the judge and the only one who should judge.

 

[rben20]

Thank you. Very comfortable with your responses.

 

[Shin]

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:
1º notorious apostates, heretics, and schismatics;
2º those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith;
3º other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.
§2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed.

Can. 1185 Any funeral Mass must also be denied a person who is excluded from ecclesiastical funerals.

• Code of Canon Law, 1983

Can. 1212. Besides a blessed cemetery, there should be another place, if this is possible, [also] closed and guarded, where those are buried who were not granted ecclesiastical burial.

Canon 1240. Unless they gave before death a sign of repentance, the following are deprived of ecclesiastical burial.

3º “Those who killed themselves by deliberate counsel;”
6º “Other public and manifest sinners.”

• Code of Canon Law, 1917

 

[ConstantineTG]

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:

Hard to see this given that most who commit suicide do so in a private space. And also as mentioned above, those who have lost reasoning won’t be able to show repentance.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Can. 1184 …
2º those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith;
3º other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.
§2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed.
. …

I think in the case of suicide a manifest sinner refers to one who advocates euthanasia, e.g. Hemlock Society. That seems to be the way it is applied at this time.

Most suicides suffer from a mental problem or heavy burdens. They may well lack the full, free, consent necessary to make a grave sin mortal. If there is any doubt as to their full capability to consent to the sin, they must be given the benefit of the doubt.