Funerals, Cemeteries, & Cremation

Order of Christian Funerals

Catholic Cemetery Tradition

Catholic cemeteries trace their roots back to the Jewish practice of providing separate burial grounds for community members. The early Christians continued this practice, both because it was a familiar tradition, and also because it was a statement of faith about the dignity of the human body in death and the reality of Jesus' resurrection.

At death we focus on Baptism and the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, nourished at the Eucharistic table. Rooted in that recognition, we remember our beloved and give thanks for the life we shared. When we visit the burial sites of our loved ones, we experience the same Eucharistic dynamic. Oftentimes we recognize the need for reconciliation with our beloved dead and prayer at the cemetery is an effective approach toward healing.

Catholic cemeteries manifest the “now/not yet” status of the Kingdom of God. We are now a people of history, a people redeemed but still in pain and sorrow. This is why we pray as Jesus did, “Thy Kingdom come…”

We are a people who visit our cemeteries to be reminded of our history, our Catholic beliefs and practices, and our community in the various parishes of the Divine Mercy Area Faith Community. We, as a community, profess our beliefs and value system ... even in the silence of the grave.

In the Catholic cemeteries of the Divine Mercy Area Faith Community, our deceased relatives and friends are laid to rest among members of the same faith community who preceded them into eternal life and professed the same sure conviction that one day the body will be reunited with the soul in glory to be with the Risen Lord. Then the kingdom of God will be fully realized.

Painful as it might be, family and friends are encouraged to return to the burial places to find there, in the presence of those mortal remains, people joined with the communion of saints. The church invites you to unite in prayer for their eternal rest. In the stillness of the cemetery, may you connect with that great prayer of the early Church, “Marana tha!” “Lord Jesus, come!”

Cremation in the Catholic Tradition

In the 1983 revised Code of Canon Law the church articulated a new position on cremation for Catholics: “The church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burial be retained; but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching.” Cremation may be chosen for good reason. This might include hygienic, economic or reasons of a public or private nature. Some examples might include the transfer of the remains to a distant place, the avoidance of considerable expense, an ethnic tradition/custom, or a severe fear of earth burial. The selection of cremation should be the specific choice of the individual before death; and the wishes and concerns of family members must be considered.

While cremation is an acceptable alternative, if at all possible, the various elements of the church's Order of Christian Funerals, i.e. the Vigil or Wake Service, the Funeral Mass with the body present, the Committal Service at the Catholic cemetery, should be conducted in the usual way. Although all three elements or stations of the Order of Christian Funerals have importance, priority is given to the celebration of the Funeral Mass with the body present. If this cannot be done, there is provision to celebrate the Funeral Mass with the cremated remains (ashes) present.

Nowhere is the need for careful advance planning of funeral and burial rites more important than when an individual has reviewed church tradition and teaching and concluded that cremation is appropriate. Pre-planning is critical for a number of reasons, including:

• The opportunity to raise the question with other family members and discuss their comfort with this selection.
  
  
• The need to research the impact of the cremation option on the celebration of the church's Order of Christian Funerals.
  
  
• The need to fully understand what is being selected and what obligations remain to be satisfied.

We are accustomed to making our own decisions about daily life and future plans. We exert control over the final distribution of our assets and care for our survivors through a will and provision of life insurance policies. The care and attention given to these decisions should also be extended to the decision about cremation.

If giving serious consideration to cremation, what are the appropriate steps to take? The following recommendations are appropriate:

• Understand the teachings and traditions of our faith community.
  
  
• Discuss the matter with those closest to you and make sure they can accept cremation should you pre-decease them.
  
  
• Consult with experienced professionals about arrangements that can be made in advance. Such selections would include choice of cemetery, decision about in-ground or above-ground inurnment of the cremated remains, selection of an appropriate urn, and provision for payment in advance of all items that can be secured in this fashion.
  
  
• Understand the variety of rites contained in the Order of Christian Funerals that are provided for the benefit of you and your survivors, rites that traditionally include the Vigil, Celebration of the Funeral Mass with the body present, and Committal Service at the cemetery.
  
  
• Take into account the time necessary to perform the cremation and develop a workable sequence of events that is faithful to both personal requirements and the church's rituals. This will be especially important when the decision for cremation is based on a desire to be buried at a considerable distance from the place of death.

People do different things with cremated remains. Some scatter the remains; some keep them at home. Some leave the remains at the crematorium or funeral home. Some choose burial or inurnment in a cemetery. Because cremated remains can be divided, some choose a combination of these alternatives. The Catholic church rejects scattering, division, and use of cremated remains to fashion jewelry or pottery and earnestly commends burial or inurnment of cremated remains as a mark of respect for the human body which was a temple of the Holy Spirit, was nourished at the Eucharistic Table, and one day will share in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic church also values memorialization.

Memorials provide a visible history of our faith community in a particular place and time. They give survivors a focal point for the expression of grief and a place of comfort as they go through the grieving process. Finally, the Catholic cemetery provides a place of prayer, of reconciliation, and of hope for future reunion with Jesus Christ and loved ones who are now members of the communion of saints.