Funeral Question

[1ke]

A recent statement has clarified this and cremated remains may not eceive a funeral Mass.

Can you provide a source for this?

The only documents I can find indicate that although it is not the preferred option, cremated remains may be present at the funeral liturgy.

 

[cameron_lansing]

A recent statement has clarified this and cremated remains may not eceive a funeral Mass.

The indult for the US (usccb.org/liturgy/current/cremation.shtml) does authorize the local ordinary (read generally as diocesan bishop) to make such a determination:

“. . .local Ordinaries are authorized in the individual cases which are brought to their attention to permit that the funeral liturgy, including where appropriate the celebration of the Eucharist, be celebrated in the presence of the cremated remains instead of the natural body.”

No. 415 from “Appendix 2: Cremation” in the “Order of Christian Funerals” also urges sensitivity in these cases and should not be interpreted as a restriction against the Funeral Mass but an argument for generosity of application.

“Sometimes, however, it is not possible for the body to be present for the Funeral Mass. When extraordinary circumstances make the cremation of a body the only feasible choice, pastoral sensitivity must be exercised by priests, deacons, and others who minister to the family of the deceased.”

But I am not aware of anything more recent and do not know if you are referring to another episcopal conference. Perhaps I’ve missed it and would appreciate learning of this.

Particular law in the various dioceses might address this further.

 

[rciadan]

Please, link to the following statement by the Florida Confernece of Catholic Bishops:
miamiarchdiocese.org/Atimo_s/news/Cremation12-06.pdf

Accordingly, cremation should only be allowed when it is “the only feasable choice.” How often is that the case?

Yes I did mistate the allowance for cremated remains at funreal Mass. Please fogive.

Also according to the statement, if cremation is chosen, it should, if at all possible, be done **after **the body has been present at the funeral Mass, not before.

It is also evident from this statement that the faithful must* ask* for permission to cremate and that the pastors and Bishops may (not “will” or “must”) grant permission on a case by case basis. It is not to be the norm, and it must not be presuppossed that if you cremate before the funeral Mass that the priest must allow a funeral Mass (as opposed to a memorial Mass) to take place!

 

[cameron_lansing]

Thank you, Rciadan!

This illustrates how “Particular law in the various dioceses might address this further” but in this case, apparently by a collective decision from the bishops in a province.

This is particular law within the diocese of that ecclesiastical province, and of course, is not binding outside of that province. There obviously can be particular law in other dioceses which addresses the matter.

The Florida material is interesting in several regards since it illustrates the generosity of application I mentioned from the Appendix.

The linked document states first:“When a doubt arises for the priest or deacon as to the proper motivations of the deceased or of the family for cremation, favor should be given to the request unless contrary indications are clear.”

Second, it also appears to extend the compentence for granting permission to pastors in that provide, whereas the indult only gives it to local ordinaries (at least in the USCCB version: " B. Funeral Rites 1. Pastors in the Province of Miami can grant permission on an individual basis for cremated remains to be present at a Funeral Mass." It makes the possibility of extending permission more widespread by such an extension.

Third it reiterates the Appendix: “However, “when extraordinary circumstances make the cremation of a body the only feasible choice, pastoral sensitivity must be exercised by all who minister to the family of the deceased.” (OCF, 415)”

It is to be carefully observed, as mentioned, that this is not the preference of the Church, and while permission is not to be assumed, pastoral sensitivity “must be exercised.” The reasons for preferring burial of the natural body, and in the case of cremation, for preferring its delay until after funeral, are found in the documents, of course.

From its context in the document (Florida) the matter of determining feasibility pertains to the family since its context is in the section titled “The Decision for Cremation” but with the caveat that “The Catholic faithful are encouraged [rather than required] to seek the counsel of their pastor before choosing cremation.” But indeed, cremation is clearly not envisioned as the ordinary situation.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Why is cremation wrong?? I mean we all turn to dust anyway:shrug: I never knew there were any laws about this.

 

[1ke]

Why is cremation wrong??

It’s not “wrong” per se. However, burial of the body is preferred. This is because our Lord was buried, and rose from the tomb. We will one day rise as well. Therefore, burial is symbolic of our belief in the bodily resurrection.

Burial has been the tradition of Christianity from the beginning, building on the tradition of the Jewish people.

In fact, the pagans cremated the remains of martyred Christians in order to desecrate them. It’s sort of a slap in the face to the martyrs to voluntarily be cremated.

I mean we all turn to dust anyway:shrug: I never knew there were any laws about this.

Christians have always buried the dead. Pagans cremated their dead. And, the Freemasons are the ones who in modern times got secular legislation passed legalizing cremation. And, this was from a pagan, materialist perspective-- denying the afterlife and resurrection.

Because those seeking cremation were doing so for this reason, the Church’s canon law was revised to forbid cremation.

The current canon law allows for it. Cremation is not, in the modern day, always associated with denial of the Faith. Sometimes it is now due to space issues, cost, ecology, etc.

So, as long as the person does not desire to be cremated as a denial of the resurrection, they may be cremated. However, their ashes must be interred, not kept on the mantel by Uncle Bob nor scattered.

The Church has never taught that cremation is incompatible with the resurrection of the body. The reasons behind its prohibition had to do with ensuring people were not lured into heretical belief about the afterlife and resurrection.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

It’s not “wrong” per se. However, burial of the body is preferred. This is because our Lord was buried, and rose from the tomb. We will one day rise as well. Therefore, burial is symbolic of our belief in the bodily resurrection.

Burial has been the tradition of Christianity from the beginning, building on the tradition of the Jewish people.

In fact, the pagans cremated the remains of martyred Christians in order to desecrate them. It’s sort of a slap in the face to the martyrs to voluntarily be cremated.

Christians have always buried the dead. Pagans cremated their dead. And, the Freemasons are the ones who in modern times got secular legislation passed legalizing cremation. And, this was from a pagan, materialist perspective-- denying the afterlife and resurrection.

Because those seeking cremation were doing so for this reason, the Church’s canon law was revised to forbid cremation.

The current canon law allows for it. Cremation is not, in the modern day, always associated with denial of the Faith. Sometimes it is now due to space issues, cost, ecology, etc.

So, as long as the person does not desire to be cremated as a denial of the resurrection, they may be cremated. However, their ashes must be interred, not kept on the mantel by Uncle Bob nor scattered.

The Church has never taught that cremation is incompatible with the resurrection of the body. The reasons behind its prohibition had to do with ensuring people were not lured into heretical belief about the afterlife and resurrection.

Thank you for the history lesson. Makes sense:thumbsup:

 

[VAC]

I agree with the poster who said that funerals are for the living. It’s really the surviving family that ends up making the decisions and arrangements, in my experience…

My Jewish husband once asked our priest (without me present) if anything happened to him, and I requested it, would they give him a Catholic funeral? The answer was ‘yes’ if I requested it, because I am Catholic and very involved with the church.