New Vatican Instruction, To Rise With Christ, on the Care of Cremated Remains

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Recently, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an Instruction, To Rise With Christ, on the burial rites involving ashes / cremated remains of the deceased.

In issuing this Instruction, the Congregation noted that…

“the practice of cremation has notably increased in many countries, but simultaneously new ideas contrary to the Church’s faith have also become widespread.”

Because of this, the Instruction is intended to emphasize the…

“pastoral reasons for the preference of the burial of the remains of the faithful and to set out norms pertaining to the conservation of ashes in the case of cremation.”

The rules that govern cremation after death for the Catholic Church are actually not changing! Since 1963 the Church has allowed cremation and since early 1997 it has allowed a funeral liturgy in the presence of cremated remains. Even with these concessions, the Church has always stressed the importance of burying the remains of the faithful, either the body or the cremated remains.

Today we are confronted with requests, nay, demands, that the cremated remains be divided and distributed among family members.  This treats the body as a talisman, a piece of jewelry, or an ornament, and fails to show the proper respect to the body’s integrity or sacred nature. ~Pastor Emeritus Julian Harris

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DIVIDING THE ASHES

In recent times, the practice of cremation has notably increased in many countries. Simultaneously, new and sometimes puzzling ideas contrary to the Church’s vision of Christian burial have redirected the focus of Christian death (for example, cremated remains being used to make jewelry or other mementos).

Thus, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has deemed opportune the publication of a new Instruction, with the intention of underlining, or re-emphasizing the doctrinal and pastoral reasons for the preference of the burial of the remains of the faithful and to set out norms for the conservation of cremated remains.

 

SCATTERING OF THE ASHES

KEEPING THE ASHES IN HOMES

The prohibition of scattering ashes or keeping them in the home is not new. What the Instruction is emphasizing is the Church’s ancient tradition of preferring that the bodies of the deceased be buried. Noting that there are reasons one might choose to be cremated, the Church holds to that tradition of burying remains, because of what we believe about the Resurrection – that one day, Christ will return in glory and our bodies and souls will be reunited but will be remade on that last day, sharing the Glory of the Risen Christ. Because of this, it is inconsistent with this belief to scatter the cremated remains of our deceased (into the air, on the ground, or in bodies of water) or to divide them, or to keep them in homes.

 

FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE ASHES

Then what are to be done with the cremated remains of a deceased loved one? The Instruction notes that

“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…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. The faithful departed remain part of the Church who believes ‘in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church’.”

Our Lady Queen of Peace is the only Catholic Cemetery in the Diocese of Palm Beach, and the staff there is always ready to assist families who are dealing with the death of a loved one. If cremation has been chosen, the Cemetery is able to provide options for burial or internment of the cremated remains.

 

 

BURIAL IN NON-CATHOLIC CEMETERIES

We encourage families to use our St. Thomas More Funeral Planning Guide to prepare for a Funeral Mass, Memorial Mass, Funeral Home Service and burial for your loved one. There are many public cemeteries in Palm Beach County, and many families work with local funeral homes that provide services for the Mass, memorial service and burial.

The Clergy at St. Thomas More Church are prepared to offer funeral Masses and services with the body present in a casket or as cremated remains in an urn or other suitable vessel that honors the human dignity and sacred nature of the body.  We expect the final disposition of the body or cremated remains to be interred in a worthy vessel in blessed ground.

 

St. Thomas More Church and Clergy will not participate in the division of the cremated remains among family members, scattering in bodies of water or seashore or consent to taking the cremains to private homes. Timely burial of the body in sacred, blessed ground or a niche must be included from the outset.  Public Cemeteries are not sacred ground, and must be blessed by a deacon or priest at the time of the final committal.

 

Rev. Alex Vargas, Pastor