In principle I think it would be ok to reserve the remains of a person in more than one place. Just think of the case of first class relics. It seems odd in our culture though, so I have a hard time imagining the circumstances that would lead to this decision.Talk to the priest.
I can’t imagine it being okay, but maybe I’m not being creative enough.
I think the OP is saying that the Bishop has given permission for the non-catholic individual to have a Catholic funeral. I don’t think they were saying the Bishop has given permission for the spreading of ashes. Of course, I could be compeltely wrong, so hopefully the OP will clarify.
I think the bolded part is the answer. Yes, bodies are sometimes divided for veneration of relics. But it takes very high level authority AND it must be for the good of the Church. It would seem that the same would apply to cremains.I think the OP is saying that the Bishop has given permission for the non-catholic individual to have a Catholic funeral. I don’t think they were saying the Bishop has given permission for the spreading of ashes. Of course, I could be compeltely wrong, so hopefully the OP will clarify.
In answer to the question, I do not believe that it is an acceptable practice to divide the ashes of an individual; however, I cannot find a specific prohibition among the Liturgical Norms on Cremation ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWCREMA.HTM . The Liturgical norms do say we need to treat the cremated remains **the same as we would a body. **I don’t think we would usually “divide” a person’s body to be buried in two different places; however, the Church has done exactly this with some relics…so I am totally at a loss on this one
I thought of that, too. But prior to canonization, I’d be a little wary.
The general principle behind the prohibition of scattering or separating ashes of the deceased Catholic is that it has the danger of implying a denial of the resurrection of the body(as stated in the Creed). The Church wants to be sure and safeguard that dogma by its practices. When we scatter ashes, it implies that the body, as a whole, is not integral to the personhood of the deceased. If it were not integral, then we could do whatever we want with the remains of the deceased. That idea is wrong. We are embodied souls, and our bodies will be resurrected at the General Judgement at the end of time. It also became a temple of the Holy Spirit when the person was baptized. Though the soul is now gone on to be with the Lord, the respect for the body must still remain. If we truly believe these things about the body after death, then our practices need to reflect that.
You are correct. There was a time (in the 19th century I believe) where many people were choosing to be cremated specifically to deny Christianity and the teaching on the bodily resurrection. The Church still forbids cremation if this is why the person is choosing it. But that’s almost never the case anymore.I am pretty sure that the Church allows cremation providing that the act is not religious in nature. I sure hope so, because it turns out my grandmother was cremated.
No. I’m sorry for the confusion. The Bishop has given permission for the non-Catholic to have a Catholic funeral. He knows nothing about the remains.
The bishop has allowed the funeral.
No, this is not true. It is STRICTLY forbidden to divide, scatter, keep in one’s home, etc, a person’s cremains. Out of respect for the dignity of the human being cremains are to either be buried all together, preferably in a Catholic cemetery in the case for Catholics, and likely those who are having Catholic funeral, or interred in a columbarium. Cremains are to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity, as is done in the case of the actually person’s body.
I chose not to go to the funeral today. I also suggested the person talk to a priest…end result: the remains will not be divided
Thank you.Suppose, say, the person had been in the Navy his/her whole life. Could the whole urn be buried at sea? (As opposed to scattering the ashes).