A
CDF issues instruction on cremation, affirms Church’s strong preference for burial
- Status
E
esieffe
Guest
This is a good thing. I had an Aunt who was cremated, put in an urn and now is on my cousin’s mantle at his home. He will not inter or even scatter her ashes. I am sure he could afford to inter her, I can’t imagine how he could be comfortable keeping her on the mantle over the fireplace indefinitely. Everyone was pretty outraged about the whole thing. He alos had no funeral or memorial service…
May she rest in peace.
May she rest in peace.
M
Monte_RCMS
Guest
Our pastor gave a Sunday homily about the rites for the dead including funeral Masses.
He went into all the reasons for each step including anointing of the sick.
It was the first time I had ever heard these discussions.
He went into all the reasons for each step including anointing of the sick.
It was the first time I had ever heard these discussions.
T
Thorolfr
Guest
Apparently scattering of the ashes is also not allowed according to the new guidelines:
cbsnews.com/news/vatican-cremation-ashes-cannot-be-scattered-divvied-up-kept-at-home/
This is also kind of interesting:
Nothing new about it. Scattering has always been forbidden by the Catholic Church from the time it permitted cremation in 1963.
T
Thorolfr
Guest
It’s interesting, however, that the Church used to allow the scattering of bones of saints as relics but have now changed that practice.
S
sugarmouse
Guest
Are we confusing “scattering” with “separating”? There’s a difference between having parts of saints’ remains split up and stored separately in different churches etc, but as far as I know, the Church has never allowed their remains to be simply discarded and thrown away, as is done with scattering ashes.
Even tiny bone fragments which are first class relics are treated with great respect. For example, at our parish, we have a spot of St John Paul II’s blood (from the time he was shot, I think), and it’s kept in a gold reliquary and stored in a glass case.
As others have said, these guidelines aren’t anything new. This document is just restating the Church’s position on cremation.
T
Thorolfr
Guest
The Church apparently also does not allow for remains to be separated anymore, either (see what I quoted in #4 above).
U
Usige
Guest
From the actual instructions, the CDF explain why separating and reserving ashes outside of churches and cemeteries is forbidden
The problem is not really separating the ashes, but a lack of respect for the body of the deceased and practices that deny Christian understanding of the resurrection of the dead at the final judgement. Relics from saints are treated with the utmost reverence and are in places where they are venerated. Uncle Joe on his 3 kids’ mantles might be respected, but what about his grand kids or great grand kids? His remains would eventually be lost or forgotten and tossed in the garbage. The relics of the saints are high;y unlikely to have that happen to them.
Most of the concern is a growing Pantheistic mindset where people treat the bodies of the deceased as nothing more than the left over detritus of someone who is no here anymore and by scattering their ashes they are returning them to nature or to God. There are also many who treat separated remains as a way for their loved one to be close to them and other which does not jive with our understanding of death either (i.e. their spirit isn’t attached to their remains in the spatio temporal sense and hang out in the physical realm of their remains).
P
pianistclare
Guest
This is nothing new. Every fall our Deacons and the local funeral director instruct people on what can and cannot be done at a Catholic service, Funeral Mass and methods of interment.They also cover cremation and natural burial.
It’s very helpful fir people to know these things before it’s left up to the relatives who may not know.
It’s very helpful fir people to know these things before it’s left up to the relatives who may not know.
C
Church_Militant
Guest
U
Usige
Guest
Heck, I knew you couldn’t scatter ashes before I became Catholic. I am constantly surprised when faithful Catholics are truly unaware that contraception, scattering ashes, skipping mass and a host of other things are opposed to the faith. Before becoming Catholic I was aware of these things so I don’t know how some many are truly unaware of some fairly major teachings of the Church.
B
boomerang
Guest
I had my father on my mantle for several years. Call me a weirdo, but I found it comforting to have him there. He is now in our church, which is better, but I did like having him around the house for a while.
B
boomerang
Guest
It was necessary for the CDF to clarify what is right and wrong regarding cremation. I have a friend who said he was going to incorporate his father’s ashes into the Bondo on an old car he was restoring. I couldn’t believe my ears. I don’t know if he ever did it, but he was dead serious.
My niece asked me for some of my mother’s ashes to put them in a necklace. I told her it was against Catholic belief and she accepted that without further ado, which is good as I didn’t want to have to arm-wrestle her over the ashes.
My niece asked me for some of my mother’s ashes to put them in a necklace. I told her it was against Catholic belief and she accepted that without further ado, which is good as I didn’t want to have to arm-wrestle her over the ashes.
M
Mintaka
Guest
To be fair, the media and the entertainment industry spreads a lot of these misconceptions.
For example, there was an episode of The X-Files where it was restated that Agent Scully and her whole family were Catholic – but then, they showed the family scattering her dad’s ashes over the ocean, while playing that famous Bobby Darin hymn selection which is surely approved by the USCCB, “Beyond the Sea.”
It was supposed to be touching, but it was ridiculous. And of course they showed a priest in attendance, if I recall correctly, because that’s exactly what Catholics do! Sure!
For example, there was an episode of The X-Files where it was restated that Agent Scully and her whole family were Catholic – but then, they showed the family scattering her dad’s ashes over the ocean, while playing that famous Bobby Darin hymn selection which is surely approved by the USCCB, “Beyond the Sea.”
It was supposed to be touching, but it was ridiculous. And of course they showed a priest in attendance, if I recall correctly, because that’s exactly what Catholics do! Sure!
B
boomerang
Guest
Oh, man.
B
billy15
Guest
R
Rosebud77
Guest
Some years ago now I got chatting to and had coffee with a young American tourist… When we went back to the cars, she told me she had brought her brother;'s ashes over with her as he wanted them scattered in a certain place in Ireland…
Smuggled remains?
I know several folk who keep their pets’ ashes at home,
Smuggled remains?
I know several folk who keep their pets’ ashes at home,
Nothing of the sort. The collection of relics does not mean “divvying up” the bodies of the saints. Generally, it’s very small pieces that are obtained, but the body is for the most part intact. They are not “scattered” in any way.
The obtaining of relics from a holy person’s body is still standard practice as part of the canonization process. There is nothing remotely similar to the two practices. One completely violates the body’s overall integrity. The other does not.
E
esieffe
Guest
I don’t see anything wrong with keeping ashes around for a short period of time either. I can see where it would help with the grieving process.
I myself want to be put in a wooden coffin made by Monks, not embalmed, and buried in a “green” cemetery. No artificial colors or preservatives!
- Status