CREMATION AND CATHOLIC FUNERAL RITES

From time to time we receive questions regarding Catholic funeral rites and cremation. The following information from the Diocese of Pittsburgh is offered as a guide to answer those questions.

ARTICLES:
Why do we have ‘funeral rites’?
Why the emphasis on the human body?
Is cremation approved by the Church?
Cremation - Why the changes?
What happens to ashes after cremation?
Choosing cremation.
Procedures to follow for cremation.
Liturgical Rites at the time of death.
References

Why do we have “funeral rites”?

“In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus ... by his death and resurrection has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity.” We “offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just.” In our solidarity in the “communion of saints” we commend “the dead to God’s merciful love and plead for the forgiveness of their sins.” (Order, n. 1, 5, 6)

“The various prayers and actions of the Catholic funeral liturgy highlight important beliefs and values of the Church: We believe in the sacredness of all human life and the dignity of the individual person. Our central belief in the triumph of life over death is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ ... and of his faithful followers. The fact of death itself is an occasion to confront and embrace human mortality. At the same time we are reminded of the respect that is to be shown for the bodies of the dead, the importance of remembering the dead and offering prayers for them, and the need for the Church to provide a ministry of consolation to those who mourn.” (Reflections, pp. 13, 14).

Why the emphasis on the human body?

“The Christian faithful are unequivocally confronted by the mystery of life and death when they are faced with the presence of the body of one who has died. Moreover, the body which lies in death naturally recalls the personal story of faith, the loving family bonds, the friendships, and the words and acts of kindness of the deceased person. Indeed, the human body is inextricably associated with the human person. ... It is the body whose hands clothed the poor and embraced the sorrowing.

“The body of a deceased Catholic Christian is also the body once washed in baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the Bread of Life. Thus, the Church’s reverence for the sacredness of the human body grows out of a reverence and concern both natural and supernatural for the human person. The body of the deceased brings forcefully to mind the Church’s conviction that the human body is in Christ a temple of the Holy Spirit and is destined for future glory at the resurrection of the dead. This conviction in faith finds its expression in a sustained and insistent prayer that commends the deceased person to God’s merciful care so that his or her place in the communion of the just may be assured. A further expression is the care traditionally taken to prepare the bodies of the deceased for a burial that befits their dignity, in expectation of their final resurrection in the Lord.” (Order, pp. 411-412)

Is cremation approved by the Church?

The Catholic Church has officially allowed cremation since 1963. This change in church norms was incorporated into canon law in 1983, with the expectation that the body would be brought to church for the funeral liturgy, followed by cremation. Permission is sought from the parish priest and is granted on a case by case basis to assure that the practice is not chosen for reasons that are not compatible with Catholic teaching.

More recently, the Holy See has authorized celebration of funeral liturgies in the United States with cremated remains present, as well as celebration of the funeral liturgy when cremation and committal take place before the liturgy.

For specific details, pastors should refer to the Revised Diocesan Policy Concerning Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites, issued by the Office for Worship, Diocese of Pittsburgh, November 5, 1997.

The Church still prefers the practice of the burial of the body of the deceased. However, if cremation is chosen, it is strongly preferred that it take place after the actual funeral liturgy with the body present. The presence of the body is the clearest reminder of the life and death of the person and better expresses the values that the Church affirms in its funeral burial rites. When this is not possible, the cremation may precede the celebration of the funeral liturgy.

The Church used to prohibit the practice of cremation. Why the change?

In the early days of the Church, persecutors burned bodies in mockery of Christian belief in the resurrection. Today, the Church believes these hostile factors are no longer prevalent. Thus, the Church will permit cremation as long as it is not chosen for reasons hostile to Catholic teaching and when there are other good reasons to justify the practice.

The revised policy also takes into account the changing patterns of society and the experience of faithful members of the Church who find that “economic, geographic, ecological, or family factors on occasion make the cremation of a body the only feasible choice”
(Reflections, Appendix, p. 15).

Why be concerned about what happens to the ashes after cremation?

According to the Order of Christian Funerals, “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 or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.” (p. 417)

Choosing Cremation

Cremation may have been the choice of the deceased, or it may be selected by the family for good and spiritually sound reasons (for example, transferring the remains to a distant place).

You may be considering your own funeral plans, or you may have responsibility for preparing for the funeral of a loved one. In a prayerful spirit, think about the Christian values that are expressed in the way we respond to death and the way we treat the remains of those who die.

Procedures to be Followed

If cremation seems to be the most appropriate choice:

1. Consult with your pastor and with experienced professionals (funeral directors and cemetery personnel) about arrangements that can be made in advance.
2. If you are planning your own funeral arrangements, be certain to put them in writing and keep them with other important papers. (This includes the record of the parish priest’s permission for cremation.) In addition to the elements of the funeral service that you discuss with your pastor, arrangements may include:
• choice of cemetery, decision about in-ground or above-ground burial of the cremated remains; and
• selection of an appropriate urn.
3. In the Diocese of Pittsburgh, there are several in-ground and above-ground options. Information is available through the Catholic Cemeteries Association, (412) 521-9133.

Liturgical Rites at the Time of Death

Each of the Church’s liturgical gatherings to pray for the deceased brings the Christian community together in hope and loving support to find strength in Christ’s presence. These times of prayer include Prayers after Death and Gathering in the Presence of the Body, as well as the more formal Vigil for the Deceased, the Funeral Liturgy, and the Rite of Committal. What follows is a brief discussion of the major liturgical rites.

1. It is most desirable that the Funeral Liturgy be celebrated for the deceased before the cremation takes place. This means:
• The Vigil for the Deceased (sometimes called the “wake service”) is celebrated in the presence of the body with family members and friends, often in the funeral home.
• The body is taken to the parish church for the celebration of the Funeral Mass (or Funeral Liturgy outside Mass). This service includes the “Final Commendation and Farewell.”
• After the funeral liturgy, the cremation of the body takes place.
• Finally, the cremated remains of the body are buried or entombed with the Church’s Rite of Committal.
2. If it is necessary that the cremation take place before the Funeral Liturgy:
• The Vigil for the Deceased may be celebrated whenever it is convenient.
• The cremated remains are carried in a fitting vessel to the parish church for the celebration of the Funeral Mass (or Funeral Liturgy outside Mass). In this rite:
• The family and friends of the deceased are welcomed to pray, hear the word of God, and commend their loved one to God — usually in the context of the celebration of the Eucharist.
• The cremated remains are honored with holy water and incensation.
• The “Final Commendation and Farewell” is included.
• Finally, the cremated remains of the body are buried or entombed with the Church’s Rite of Committal.
3. When, because of special needs, both the cremation and committal take place before the Funeral Liturgy:
• The cremated remains of the body are buried or entombed with the Church’s Rite of Committal (including the “Final Commendation and Farewell”).
• The Vigil for the Deceased may be celebrated if it is helpful, either before or after the committal.
• At an appropriate time soon after the death, the family and friends of the deceased join the Catholic community for the Funeral Mass (or Funeral Liturgy Outside Mass).
• Because the remains of the deceased person are not present, this service does not include the prayers or gestures referring directly to the body. The Final Commendation is omitted. The blessing is given and the people are dismissed as usual at Mass.
• Note: This has sometimes been referred to as a “Memorial Mass.” However, as the primary liturgical celebration among the Church’s various rites for the deceased, it remains the “Funeral Mass” or “Funeral Liturgy” even though neither the body nor its ashes are present.
4. Recall the concern of our church for the respectful disposition of human remains. (This is why burial of ashes in the earth or placement in a tomb or columbarium is called for.) And beyond the funeral itself, the Catholic Church desires to keep holy the burial places of the dead — and to make them places of prayer. (This is why it is always desirable to commit the remains of our loved ones in a blessed cemetery with appropriate marks of remembrance.)

References

Revised Diocesan Policy Concerning Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites, issued by the Office for Worship Diocese of Pittsburgh
November 5, 1997

Reflections on the Body Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites,
United States Catholic Conference, Inc. (USCC), 3211
Fourth Street N E Washington D C 20017 1997
Reproduced in the Order of Christian Funerals Appendix 2
Catholic Book Publishing Co., New Jersey, 1997.

Note: New editions of the Order of Christian Funerals contain the Appendix on cremation. The appendix also has been published separately:

• Catholic Book Publishing (via Diocesan Purchasing Commission).
• Liturgical Press (1-800-858-5450).

Liturgy Training Publications (1-800-933-0662) The Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Office for Worship (412-456-3041) can provide a 25 percent discount if multiple copies are purchased.

Office for Worship

Diocese of Pittsburgh
111 Boulevard of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 456-3041

The Catholic Cemeteries Association
718 Hazelwood Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2807
Phone: (412) 521-9133

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