Cremation and Catholic Funerals
 |
Photo courtesy of Michael Alexander, The Georgia Bulletin |
While the Catholic Church has always embraced the practice of burying the bodies of her departed members as the best way of expressing her faith in the resurrection, she does not exclude the practice of cremation when it is not intended to deny that faith. Individuals considering cremation may want to speak with their priest as they balance the value of the burial of the body against the practical considerations that sometimes favor cremation. Cremation should not be chosen as a way of avoiding the acknowledgment of the reality of death which is so important to our grief process. Neither should it be chosen as a denial of the belief that the departed individual has a unique soul, created to dwell in God's presence, which death has separated from the body, but which awaits the day of resurrection when it will be joined to its body again. However, while cremation “does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body,”1 it may be chosen when compelling factors require it.
Cremation following the Funeral
When the body of the deceased is to be cremated, this is ordinarily done following the Funeral Liturgy. In this case, the vigil and the funeral itself are celebrated as normal, with the body present. Following the funeral, the body is cremated, and the remains of the individual are then buried or entombed using a form of the Rite of Committal. This permits the presence of the body at the funeral which is so important for the process of grieving and “saying good-bye.” It is also serves as a Christian expression of the sanctity of the body of the deceased and the hope of the resurrection.
Cremation and Committal before the Funeral
When required by circumstances, cremation and committal can take place before the funeral. In this case, the rite of committal may be celebrated when the remains are buried. As the remains have already been buried, the funeral simply recalls the deceased, and raises up prayers for them. The various rites associated with the presence of the body, such as the incensing of the casket or the sprinkling with holy water, are omitted.
 |
Photo courtesy of Michael Alexander, |
Funerals in the Presence of Cremated Remains
With the permission of the local ordinary, (in Atlanta, Archbishop Gregory) a funeral may be celebrated in the presence of cremated remains.2 This option may be chosen when “extraordinary circumstances make the cremation of a body the only feasible choice,”3 for example, when the difficulty of transporting the body would make it otherwise impossible for an individual's remains to be present. When this permission is given, there are some variations in the funeral rite. While the remains are still greeted at the door of the church, and sprinkled with holy water, they are not covered by a pall. The remains may still be carried into the church, and placed on a table in the position that would otherwise be occupied by the casket. Alternately, they may be placed in that location before the funeral begins. The funeral continues as normal, after which the remains are brought to the place of burial, and laid to rest with the Rite of Committal.
Burial of Cremated Remains
“The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative of friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. Whenever possible, appropriate means for recording with dignity the memory of the deceased should be adopted, such as a plaque or stone which records the name of the deceased.”4
Footnotes
For more information, contact your local parish or:
The Office of Divine Worship
Archdiocese of Atlanta
404-751-2398
Go to the Guide to Catholic Funerals 