Sacred Death

Whenever there is a national tragedy such as the attacks in Nice, France, the shootings in Dallas, or the explosion at the nightclub in Orlando, symbols of affection and remembrance abound. Flowers, candles, letters of condolence, and other items are placed at or near the site of these tragedies. These tributes help to express feelings when words alone are not enough. These memorials fill several voids. They offer us the opportunity to do something when we feel powerless. They provide solace for the grieving and they honor the dead whose lives were dishonored by the harrowing ways in which they died. When dying in horrific ways seems to strip us of our dignity, rituals such as these remind us that our dignity was never lost.

The Church’s rituals make paramount the dignity of the human person no matter how he or she died.  At the beginning of the funeral rite, the body of the deceased is welcomed, sprinkled with holy water, and covered with a pall-- symbols that serve to remind us that the dead were baptized into Christ and that they share in his life both then and now. Throughout the funeral liturgy, we pray for, we remember, and we bless the dead and their family. At the end of the funeral liturgy, we incense the body and we sing a song of farewell --a sign that we entrust our loved one to the love and mercy of God.

While the Church allows cremation, it does not share the same value as the presence of the body at the funeral liturgy:

“The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites.” Order of Christian Funerals #413

 When cremains are present, they are treated with the same respect given to the 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.”  Order of Christian Funerals #417

The Church sees interring the remains of the dead in the ground or in a columbarium as more dignified and respectful than keeping those remains at home.  It is also safer because, should a house fire or burglary occur, cremains that are in the home could be lost. The guidelines help ensure the honor and dignity of the deceased, even long after they and we are gone.