Cremation and burial procedures

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katiebelle08

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My aunt wants to take a table spoon or so of my great-great-great grandmothers cremated ashes who died almost 2 years ago, whom has not yet been buried because of legal disagreements over property money ext., and I am trying to hold to Catholic Teachings and find in The Code of Canon Law, the Catholic Catechism or on the Vatican’s website to prove to her that it is against Catholic teachings and laws.

I know that a cremated body must be buried, and all of that but what the question really comes down to is, can the ashes be separated? As long as all are buried? Also within Catholic Teachings if they can be separated as long all is buried can they be buried on your own property or must they be buried in a cemetery?
 
I think I will start off by saying the Catechism says:

#2301: “The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body.”

Again the catechism #2300 indicates that the body of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection.

I also found a couple web links Father Pat’s Place, and Catholic Update which discusses Cremation. You may find some answers there.

I also searched The Faith Database - Catholic Encyclopedia and it contains several paragraphs Catholic Encyclopedia, I don’t think they answer any of your questions but I’ll let you be the judge of that.

I hope this helps:)
 
katiebelle08 said:
My aunt wants to take a table spoon or so of my great-great-great grandmothers cremated ashes who died almost 2 years ago, whom has not yet been buried because of legal disagreements over property money ext., and I am trying to hold to Catholic Teachings and find in The Code of Canon Law, the Catholic Catechism or on the Vatican’s website to prove to her that it is against Catholic teachings and laws.

I know that a cremated body must be buried, and all of that but what the question really comes down to is, can the ashes be separated? As long as all are buried? Also within Catholic Teachings if they can be separated as long all is buried can they be buried on your own property or must they be buried in a cemetery?
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Would you chop off your aunts little finger and give it to her to keep?

Where is a matter of local law.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Would you chop off your aunts little finger and give it to her to keep?

Where is a matter of local law.
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Br. Rich,

I’m not so sure I understand where you are taking this? Were you being sacastic with this comment? And what do you mean where is a matter of local law?
 
SMHW said:
My guess is that he means that there are probably civil and diocesan laws about how cremains must be handled.
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Church law dictates that cremated remains must be contained (urn, etc) and buried in the ground, at sea or in a columbarium. It allows for the burial of the remains to be in a family cemetery.

Municipal law usually dictates where human remains (cremated or not) may be buried. It also usually forbids sprinkling of ashes in areas not designed for that (parks, etc.). But I’ve known people to just take the ashes in their coat pocket and sprinkle them wherever they wanted with no one the wiser.

We had one person have a funeral Mass at our church and we had to request that they not announce that the cremated remains were going to be scattered from a helicopter at a later date. We knew it was going to happen but to announce it during the funeral would have been implying that it was OK with the Church when, in fact, such an action is forbidden. There was nothing we could do about the family’s decision to scatter the ashes as requested by the deceased.
 
katiebelle08 said:
Br. Rich,

I’m not so sure I understand where you are taking this? Were you being sacastic with this comment? And what do you mean where is a matter of local law?
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Dismembering a persons remains (whole or in the form of ashes) for personal sentimental reasons is against the dignity of the person.

Where human remains can be buried is determined by local laws.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Dismembering a persons remains (whole or in the form of ashes) for personal sentimental reasons is against the dignity of the person.

Where human remains can be buried is determined by local laws.
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Although, interestingly, we often do dismember the remains of those we believe to be saints.
 
katiebelle08 said:
My aunt wants to take a table spoon or so of my great-great-great grandmothers cremated ashes who died almost 2 years ago, whom has not yet been buried because of legal disagreements over property money ext., and I am trying to hold to Catholic Teachings and find in The Code of Canon Law, the Catholic Catechism or on the Vatican’s website to prove to her that it is against Catholic teachings and laws.

I know that a cremated body must be buried, and all of that but what the question really comes down to is, can the ashes be separated? As long as all are buried? Also within Catholic Teachings if they can be separated as long all is buried can they be buried on your own property or must they be buried in a cemetery?
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Your aunt sounds a bit eccentric, to say the least.

You will find your answer on this website: www.stjohncc.com/curnews.pdf You’ll find it under guideline # 3.

Encourage your aunt to keep your 3x grandmother’s ashes intact.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Please read the careful wording of my response.
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I did catch the wording. However, I’ve always wondered why saintliness is considered an appropriate reason to divide a body. At the time of the division, the deceased is usually not yet canonized.
 
JulianN said:
I did catch the wording. However, I’ve always wondered why saintliness is considered an appropriate reason to divide a body. At the time of the division, the deceased is usually not yet canonized.
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1st class relics are not for personal or sentimental use but public veneration by the Church.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
1st class relics are not for personal or sentimental use but public veneration by the Church.
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Yes, I understand that. I’m just saying that I’ve always wondered why we decided that was appropriate. Also, at the time of the division of the body, the person is usually not yet canonized as a saint. Merely a point of curiosity.
 
JulianN said:
Yes, I understand that. I’m just saying that I’ve always wondered why we decided that was appropriate. Also, at the time of the division of the body, the person is usually not yet canonized as a saint. Merely a point of curiosity.
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“…the person is usually not yet canonized as a saint.” I don’t believe that is correct.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
“…the person is usually not yet canonized as a saint.” I don’t believe that is correct.
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Yes, I believe it is correct. The exhumation and the body inspection is required before the person is beatified. The relics are taken then and held in a safe place for presentation to the Pope and reservation by the Apostolic Sacristy ( I think). Care is taken to not mutilate the body.
 
Seatuck said:
Yes, I believe it is correct. The exhumation and the body inspection is required before the person is beatified. The relics are taken then and held in a safe place for presentation to the Pope and reservation by the Apostolic Sacristy ( I think). Care is taken to not mutilate the body.
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Are first class relics distributed to the greater Church before Canonization??? I know 2nd and Third are.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Are first class relics distributed to the greater Church before Canonization??? I know 2nd and Third are.
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I don’t know about distribution. I’ll look later if I have time. I just know that they are taken from the body before canonization .I imagine the cause must look pretty solid to get to that point of reserving the body relics. The Bishop must give permission and observe I think.
 
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