I conclude the summary of Pope Francis's directives on the burial of the deceased and conservation of the ashes, by quoting directly from the directive when it comes to proper care of the ashes of the faithful who have chosen cremation. "When for legitimate motives, cremation of the body has been chosen, the ashes of the faithful MUST be laid to rest in a sacred place, that is in a cemetery or, in certain cases, in a church or an area, which has been set aside for this purpose," (paragraph 5) - like our Columbarium.
"From the earliest times, Christians have desired that the faithful departed become the objects of the Christian Community's prayers and remembrance. Their tombs have become places of prayer, remembrance and reflection." (paragraph 5). The Pope is stressing the fact that the person who has died was, through the waters of Baptism, made a member of God's family, and therefore, his or her ashes should be kept in a public, sacred place (not a home) where the faithful can gather to pray for the deceased. The directives say that this prevents the faithful departed from being forgotten, or their remains from being shown a lack of respect, which eventually is possible, most especially once the immediately subsequent generation has, too, passed away. Also, it prevents any unfitting (i.e., scattering of ashes) or superstitious practices. It is clearly stated in paragraph 6 that given the reasons stated above, the conservation of the ashes in a domestic residence is NOT permitted. Only in grave and exceptional cases (with the permission of the bishop of the diocese) can this be done. In cases in which interment of ashes cannot be done immediately for various reasons (like weather and frozen ground), our Sacred Heart Columbarium committee has agreed to allow the temporary placement of cremains in one of our unsold niches for a period of time. I urge those who are, or who will, face this situation for a loved one, to talk to me about it, and we will try to accommodate the temporary storage of your loved ones cremains in our Columbarium.
"From the earliest times, Christians have desired that the faithful departed become the objects of the Christian Community's prayers and remembrance. Their tombs have become places of prayer, remembrance and reflection." (paragraph 5). The Pope is stressing the fact that the person who has died was, through the waters of Baptism, made a member of God's family, and therefore, his or her ashes should be kept in a public, sacred place (not a home) where the faithful can gather to pray for the deceased. The directives say that this prevents the faithful departed from being forgotten, or their remains from being shown a lack of respect, which eventually is possible, most especially once the immediately subsequent generation has, too, passed away. Also, it prevents any unfitting (i.e., scattering of ashes) or superstitious practices. It is clearly stated in paragraph 6 that given the reasons stated above, the conservation of the ashes in a domestic residence is NOT permitted. Only in grave and exceptional cases (with the permission of the bishop of the diocese) can this be done. In cases in which interment of ashes cannot be done immediately for various reasons (like weather and frozen ground), our Sacred Heart Columbarium committee has agreed to allow the temporary placement of cremains in one of our unsold niches for a period of time. I urge those who are, or who will, face this situation for a loved one, to talk to me about it, and we will try to accommodate the temporary storage of your loved ones cremains in our Columbarium.
This week is part two of my summary and commentary on the Instruction of Pope Francis regarding burial of deceased Catholics or conservation of ashes in cases of cremation.
While the Church has no doctrinal objections to the practice of cremation and recognizes that people make this choice because of sanitary, economic, or social considerations (paragraph 4), the Pope reaffirms that the Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased because this shows a greater esteem towards the deceased. It does say that cremation is not prohibited, "unless it is chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine." (Paragraph 4)
It seems clear at the end of this paragraph that the Church assumes that a funeral rite with the body present will take place before the cremation happens. I quote: "In the absence of motives contrary to Christian doctrine, the Church, after the celebration of the funeral rite, accompanies the choice of cremation, providing the relevant liturgical and pastoral directives, and taking care to avoid every form of scandal or the apperance of religious indifferentism." (paragraph 4)
In addition to the reality that some of the prayers of the funeral rite suppose that the body of the deceased is present, and the Church has rites including the draping of the casket with a white funeral pall as a visible reminder of when the deceased first came to church or their parents brought them to church for their baptism, having the body present for the funeral rites also allows for the family to grieve the loss of this person from the world in the way that they existed in this world, their body. Funeral homes will "rent" a casket for the funeral rites and after the funeral is over, the body is sent for cremation and the interment of the cremains in a Columbarium or in the ground happens a few days later.
More about what is permitted and forbidden when it comes to the ashes of the person after cremation will be explained in the next pastor's column.
While the Church has no doctrinal objections to the practice of cremation and recognizes that people make this choice because of sanitary, economic, or social considerations (paragraph 4), the Pope reaffirms that the Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased because this shows a greater esteem towards the deceased. It does say that cremation is not prohibited, "unless it is chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine." (Paragraph 4)
It seems clear at the end of this paragraph that the Church assumes that a funeral rite with the body present will take place before the cremation happens. I quote: "In the absence of motives contrary to Christian doctrine, the Church, after the celebration of the funeral rite, accompanies the choice of cremation, providing the relevant liturgical and pastoral directives, and taking care to avoid every form of scandal or the apperance of religious indifferentism." (paragraph 4)
In addition to the reality that some of the prayers of the funeral rite suppose that the body of the deceased is present, and the Church has rites including the draping of the casket with a white funeral pall as a visible reminder of when the deceased first came to church or their parents brought them to church for their baptism, having the body present for the funeral rites also allows for the family to grieve the loss of this person from the world in the way that they existed in this world, their body. Funeral homes will "rent" a casket for the funeral rites and after the funeral is over, the body is sent for cremation and the interment of the cremains in a Columbarium or in the ground happens a few days later.
More about what is permitted and forbidden when it comes to the ashes of the person after cremation will be explained in the next pastor's column.
You may or may not be aware that Pope Francis has recently approved and promoted instructions regarding the burial of deceased Catholics and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation. Over the next few weeks, I will try to bring out in sumary fashion, what is said in this instruction, and ask that you reflect on it and use it when planning your funeral arrangements.
The first part of the instruction summarizes and celebrates "the culminating truth of the Christian faith," the Resurrection of Jesus and the hope we have of sharing in the life of the risen Lord. By death the soul is separated from the body, but the resurrection, God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul." (paragraph2)
"Following the most ancient Christian tradition, the Church insistently recommends that the bodies of the deceased be buried in cemeteries or other sacred places." (paragraph 3) "By burying the bodies of the faithful, the Church confirms her faith in the resurrection of the body, and intends to show the great dignity of the human body as an integral part of the human person whose body form part of their identity." (paragraph)
The first part of this instruction focuses primarily on two things, our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus and our sharing in His risen life and the importance of burying the bodies of the faithful in a blessed place after a public ritual (normally a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word Service).
I'll keep going on this instruction in next week's Pastor's Column.
The first part of the instruction summarizes and celebrates "the culminating truth of the Christian faith," the Resurrection of Jesus and the hope we have of sharing in the life of the risen Lord. By death the soul is separated from the body, but the resurrection, God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul." (paragraph2)
"Following the most ancient Christian tradition, the Church insistently recommends that the bodies of the deceased be buried in cemeteries or other sacred places." (paragraph 3) "By burying the bodies of the faithful, the Church confirms her faith in the resurrection of the body, and intends to show the great dignity of the human body as an integral part of the human person whose body form part of their identity." (paragraph)
The first part of this instruction focuses primarily on two things, our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus and our sharing in His risen life and the importance of burying the bodies of the faithful in a blessed place after a public ritual (normally a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word Service).
I'll keep going on this instruction in next week's Pastor's Column.