Where To Bury Cremated Remains?

[Jennet]

A non-Catholic friend has asked me to make sure that, after his death, his body is cremated and his ashes “disposed of” in one of his favourite places.

Now, I know that cremains cannot be scattered or kept in one’s home, but rather have to be buried or otherwise interred in a suitable container… but do they have to be interred in consecrated ground? Also, must one have any sort of ceremony to accompany the burial?

I’d be grateful for any advice!

 

[Lancer]

Must cremated remains be buried/entombed?

Yes. Burial options include a family grave in a cemetery marked with a traditional memorial stone or an urn garden, a special section in a cemetery with small, pre-dug graves for urns, or a columbarium.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles website…w/Canon Law & liturgical guidelines …a FAQ type page.

Pax Christi

archdiocese.la/prayer/cemeteries/options/cremation.html#law

 

[1ke]

but do they have to be interred in consecrated ground?

A Catholic should be buried in a Catholic cemetery. If buried in a public cemetery, the priest can consecrate the grave. This would be for a body or cremated remains.

Since your friend is a non-Catholic, he/she can have his/her cremated remains buried in whatever cemetery he/she chooses. Typically a Catholic priest would not be conducting a funeral or burial of a non-Catholic, although it is possible in some circumstances.

 

[SonCatcher]

I don’t think there is a requirement for the ground to be consecrated, but it must be a place where interment is otherwise legal. If his favorite place is a public park, for example, I’m sure there would be a prohibition.

 

[Jennet]

Thanks, everyone!