Letter from the Pastor
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July 14, 2022Whenever I hear someone comment “Isn’t it great that they brought this or that thing back!” My first reaction is always, why did they stop it in the first place? One of those “things” is cremation.
Cremation has been around since the Stone Ages. It was a common method in Greece by 800 BC and in Rome by the year 600 BC. The Romans cremated their dead due to their belief that there is no afterlife. As Christianity grew and became the official religion of the Empire, the Christian belief of the resurrection of the body, and the example of our Lord being buried in the earth became the norm and the law. Cremation then became associated with the pagan religions of the north. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, cremation disappeared from Europe before the 7th Century AD.
Throughout history the Church did allow cremation only in times of plague, disaster, or other situations that necessitated a quick disposal of the body. Then in 1963 the Church changed its policy and lifted the ban on cremating due to, overcrowded cemeteries, a more sanitized way of disposing bodies, and for financial reasons. Like many things that changed during the 60’s, the people never got the whole story. They just read the headlines, “Church Now Allows Cremation.” The Church allowed cremation under certain circumstances. Firstly, Catholics have the right and privilege of having a funeral Mass offered for their souls. It should not be an option.
It is encouraged that the Mass should have the body present, and then the cremation takes place after the funeral Mass; however, the Church realizes there are special instances that are the exception. When the family receives the ashes back, the ashes must be buried, never scattered, or divided, and certainly, not the macabre practice of making the ashes into jewelry, cremation rocks, cremation art, lockets or any other method of display. In addition, ashes are not to be kept in the home. One must treat the ashes with the same respect as the bodily remains. One certainly wouldn’t divide the body into parts, so not with the ashes either. Since 1997 funerals may be offered in the presence of the ashes. After years of abuses in 2016, the Vatican issued definitive guidelines concerning cremation.
The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom (i.e. full body burial) be retained, but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons, which are contrary to Christian teaching.
If the family insists that the ashes, or the deceased person prior decided to have their ashes scattered or by other methods that are contrary to the Catholic faith then a Catholic funeral would be denied to that person.
Make pre-arrangements for your funeral. Write down your wishes concerning the funeral Mass, the cemetery etc. Sadly, today families are denying their loved ones the graces of a Catholic Mass. We cannot let the culture of the day influence our thinking. Our bodies are sacred; we have been anointed and consecrated. We are the Temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us since our baptism. At the end of the world, at the Final Judgment, we will become one again when our immortal souls will receive our glorified and perfected bodies.
As in life, so in death
we must treat the body with great reverence and respect.
