Catholic cemeteries

[Tommy999]

Hello all,
For those who don’t know me, I am a protestant inquiring into the Catholic faith.

In the hometown where I grew up in the upper Midwest (about 20,000 to 30,000 people) there are a couple of main cemeteries where anyone can buy a plot. There are also a few smaller cemeteries in the town. The city’s history goes back to the first part of the 19th century.

Some sections of those cemeteries were dedicated to families where others are individual plots. Some sections have expensive crypts, vaults, and monuments while others have simple plots with humble headstones, etc. For example, my protestant family members and relatives are pretty near each other in a certain section of one of those cemeteries.

There are a few Catholic families that I know of that chose one of the main cemeteries.

**There is also a Catholic cemetery on land adjacent to a Catholic college and church where most Catholics in that town are buried. I don’t think this cemetery is open for burial except to Catholics. **

Questions:
Do you know if it is Catholic tradition to have Catholic-only cemeteries or would this just be a local practice in my hometown?

If it is not an isolated occurrence, what are some of the reasons to have a Catholic-only cemetery? Historically, was there prejudice by non-Catholics that forced Catholics in the USA to create their own cemeteries or did Catholics just prefer to have their own?

Sorry if this is a mundane question. I realize that more important subjects than this one are discussed on CAF all the time. I was mainly just curious about this. Thanks in advance for your repliies.

 

[Allegra]

Probably the main reason is that the land for cemetaries was owned by the Church and provided for this purpose. I’m sure there are more dubious reasons as well, but that’s probably the main, logistical reason.

 

[JRKH]

Part of the answer is that Catholics should be buried in consecrated ground. A Catholic owned cemetery is consecrated by the Bishop.

 

[Tommy999]

Part of the answer is that Catholics should be buried in consecrated ground. A Catholic owned cemetery is consecrated by the Bishop.

Thanks, JRKH. I hadn’t thought of that reason. Makes sense.

When I was younger and less mature (I still have a ways to go to be as mature in the Christian faith as I need to be). I figured either that the Catholics were snobs and felt they were too good for the normal cemetery or that maybe there was persecution against them back in the 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s for there to be separate cemeteries.

I wonder if other cities are like this, too, or is my hometown an isolated case.

 

[twopekinguys]

Thanks, JRKH. I hadn’t thought of that reason. Makes sense.

When I was younger and less mature (I still have a ways to go to be as mature in the Christian faith as I need to be). I figured either that the Catholics were snobs and felt they were too good for the normal cemetery or that maybe there was persecution against them back in the 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s for there to be separate cemeteries.

I wonder if other cities are like this, too, or is my hometown an isolated case.

I think you will find it quite common in the US to find “Catholic” cemeteries. Our diocese operates several in Illinois, while the Chicago area operates and maintains 44 cemeteries.

In the area that I live in, there are numerous rural churches of various denominations that have cemeteries on the grounds.

Where Catholic cemeteries are not available, a Catholic can be buried in a regular cemetery, and the grave is blessed at the interment.

 

[Isca]

In the UK, municipal cemeteries often have a Catholic section. Increasingly, they also have a Muslim section, too.

There are some graveyards attached to Catholic churches, but these would not often be open to new burials now (simple case of lack of room to expand around old churches, we don’t have many wide open spaces in England). My own church has been allowed to create within its old graveyard a new (small) area for the burial of cremains, and I have bought a plot for myself and my husband (who isn’t Catholic, as it happens, but is a baptised Christian).

 

[Usige]

As JRKH says a Catholic should be buried in consecrated ground, but even in public/non-Catholic cemeteries the grave itself would still be consecrated before final commitment of the remains.

Another reason that Catholic cemeteries require that plots be purchased by Catholics is to ensure that the cemetery reflects the nature of Catholic beliefs about death and bodily resurrection. By that I mean that many (if not most) Catholic cemeteries are very strict on what is allowed on monuments/headstones, what can be placed on graves, etc. I know of some diocesan owned graveyards that require that a christian symbol be included on the monument. They also will not approve “inappropriate” headstones or ones that specifically reject the faith.

 

[pianistclare]

Thanks, JRKH. I hadn’t thought of that reason. Makes sense.

When I was younger and less mature (I still have a ways to go to be as mature in the Christian faith as I need to be). I figured either that the Catholics were snobs and felt they were too good for the normal cemetery or that maybe there was persecution against them back in the 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s for there to be separate cemeteries.

I wonder if other cities are like this, too, or is my hometown an isolated case.

My old parish had one on the grounds, it was really beautiful and beautifully kept. The Baptist churches around here all have their own cemeteries. It’s a big commitment for churches. That’s why there are consecrated “Catholic sections” at others.
It has to do with the ground being consecrated as others have said. Catholic must bury their dead. Even if it’s ashes in an urn, they must be properly interred(in some fashion), not scattered.
Peace!

 

[JRKH]

Thanks, JRKH. I hadn’t thought of that reason. Makes sense.

When I was younger and less mature (I still have a ways to go to be as mature in the Christian faith as I need to be). I figured either that the Catholics were snobs and felt they were too good for the normal cemetery or that maybe there was persecution against them back in the 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s for there to be separate cemeteries.

Well there WAS persecution of Catholics in the 18th and 19th centuries. The parish where I was born was started in 1919. During it’s formation, the KKK burned crosses on a hill nearby swearing there would never be a Catholic Church in that town - - - - They were wrong.

I wonder if other cities are like this, too, or is my hometown an isolated case.

Yes it’s quite common. Of course it will depend on the size of the catholic community. Where I live the community has a large Catholic presence and there are a number of Catholic cemeteries.

Peace
James

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi Tommy,

I live in a smaller town–not as small as yours–but we also have several Catholic cemeteries, too. They are affiliated with the Catholic parishes in town.

 

[Tommy999]

Thanks, everyone, for the replies. It has helped me to better understand some of the other logical reasons for having a different cemetery.

 

[tuscany]

**Hi Tommy,

Besides it being consecrated ground, at our Catholic Cemetery, we have an outdoor Mass said there every Veterans Day.

With all the political correctness now, I could just see all the offended people protesting an outdoor Catholic Mass at a regular cemetery. It’s much easier to have something you own that a whole group are like minded about, and you can do things the way you believe in.**

 

[Tommy999]

**Hi Tommy,

Besides it being consecrated ground, at our Catholic Cemetery, we have an outdoor Mass said there every Veterans Day.

With all the political correctness now, I could just see all the offended people protesting an outdoor Catholic Mass at a regular cemetery. It’s much easier to have something you own that a whole group are like minded about, and you can do things the way you believe in.**

Very reasonable points, tuscany. The example you gave about having outdoor Catholic Mass at a Catholic cemetery without fear of political correctness interfering with it makes a lot of sense to me.

I knew if I asked the question openly on this forum I would get a logical answer and I wouldn’t have to go around suspecting that Catholics were a bunch of snobs like I used to think when I was younger.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Around here, many churches have their own cemeteries. There are a couple of Jewish cemeteries, Orthodox cemeteries, Methodist, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Catholic. There is an historic Methodist cemetery nearby that was a big mess and the Methodists got together and cleaned it up and it is very beautiful now. I think generally there is a long tradition of churches of whatever denomination having cemeteries attached to them.

 

[Tommy999]

Around here, many churches have their own cemeteries. There are a couple of Jewish cemeteries, Orthodox cemeteries, Methodist, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Catholic. There is an historic Methodist cemetery nearby that was a big mess and the Methodists got together and cleaned it up and it is very beautiful now. I think generally there is a long tradition of churches of whatever denomination having cemeteries attached to them.

Wow, I didn’t realize it got that denominational in some places, CB Catholic. I guess it all depends on the population base of the area.

As I mentioned, in my hometown there were were two main cemeteries where most people were buried, and the the only exception to that was the Catholic cemetery. But then again, it was a small city.

 

[JRKH]

Wow, I didn’t realize it got that denominational in some places, CB Catholic. I guess it all depends on the population base of the area.

As I mentioned, in my hometown there were were two main cemeteries where most people were buried, and the the only exception to that was the Catholic cemetery. But then again, it was a small city.

I wonder - are you sure that the two main cemeteries were civil cemeteries and not denominational? Just wondering…

Peace
James

 

[Tommy999]

I wonder - are you sure that the two main cemeteries were civil cemeteries and not denominational? Just wondering…

Peace
James

Hi James,
I’m pretty sure they are civil because they are owned and maintained by the city itself and not by a religious denomination and have generic names that don’t point to a particular faith.

Note: I do not have an issue with the Catholics of my hometown having their own cemetery, by the way. I was just curious as to why, since they appeared to be the only religious group who had a separate one. A few private small family graveyards in the countryside outside of town exist that were erected long ago in the 1800s during the early days of settlement of the town, also, but that’s about it.

 

[pianistclare]

The History teacher from the Catholic Middle School takes the kids over to the confederate cemetery in the little town here to clean their graves. We have no idea their faiths…but the kids clean the graves, trim the grass, and do rubbings for school projects.

 

[Tommy999]

The History teacher from the Catholic Middle School takes the kids over to the confederate cemetery in the little town here to clean their graves. We have no idea their faiths…but the kids clean the graves, trim the grass, and do rubbings for school projects.

That’s very nice, pianistclare. To me, that kind of act is rare nowadays but teaches the kids to respect those who came before them and to provide their memories with a little dignity.

I also feel a little sad when I see neglected graves at the local cemetery. We try to help with some of those that are in the vicinity of my family’s graves that need TLC, also. I think that is the right thing to do regardless of their faith, as well.

 

[JRKH]

Hi James,
I’m pretty sure they are civil because they are owned and maintained by the city itself and not by a religious denomination and have generic names that don’t point to a particular faith.

Note: I do not have an issue with the Catholics of my hometown having their own cemetery, by the way. I was just curious as to why, since they appeared to be the only religious group who had a separate one. A few private small family graveyards in the countryside outside of town exist that were erected long ago in the 1800s during the early days of settlement of the town, also, but that’s about it.

Yup - obviously civil cemeteries.