Thank you for this. Cremation is abominable m, and the approval of it has quickly led to the decrease in funeral masses, “celebrations of life” and other horrors. As an historian, I can also attest to the mess it’s creates for future genealogists
I have specified for my end of life a traditional Requiem Mass and a burial in a pine coffin, and have drawn up what should be noted on my headstone. I used to live near an old pioneer cemetery and spent time almost every day there walking my dog and scrutinizing the headstones. It is still being used for recently deceased people. I became quite familiar with many of the “inhabitants,” and having them beneath my feet always compelled me to pray for the souls I walked by. Sometimes I looked up their names and found out about some of them. It was always surprising what I learned. The most poignant burials were the little ones who lived a very short time. I can say that I was moved to pray and deeply enriched by “getting to know” these buried individuals and it became a daily visit that edified me and gave me peace. And food for thought about my own limited existence. I miss this place but am grateful for what this cemetery gave me. But ashes are ~ gone!
All true, but oxidation, slow or fast, is oxidation. And caskets in America are absurdly expensive as are the vaults they go in. If we're going to bury the dead, we should bury them not seal them in hermetically sealed containers.
Having recently buried my husband in a coffin which was lowered into the ground, there to stay until the Resurrection of the Dead, I became aware of the pagan mentality of Catholics who viewed it as an archaic practice.
Having been taught as a child in Catholic school that cremation was only allowed during times of plague or a disaster which would not allow for the right process of burial, not to mention that in addition to being pagan, it is a masonic practice, daring God to resurrect those ashes, I am appalled at the blatant abuse of a deceased body created by God.
The prelude to cremation is the dumping of loved ones into a godless facility, there to be neglected and abused, hastening the time when they can be burnt as garbage to be disposed.
"'He lies within,' said Denethor, 'burning, already burning. They have set a fire in his flesh. But soon all shall be burned. The West has failed. It shall go up in a great fire, and all shall be ended. Ash! Ash and smoke blown away on the wind!'" Thus the words of despair from The Return of the King. Cremation seems to bespeak that same despair.
Thank you for this beautiful essay. I had an agonizing disagreement with my sister and older brother when our youngest brother died unexpectedly at the age of 55. Although we were all baptized in the Catholic faith, they did not understand the theological reasons for burial you've presented here. Their reasons for cremation were based in emotion. Our mother died when we were all teenagers. They were both horrified at seeing our mother's body lowered into the earth. (I don't know why I did not experience that event in the way they did.) After much prayer and efforts to persuade them not cremate our brother, we came to a "compromise." Our brother's body now rests in a mausoleum that is located in a Catholic cemetery -- about 20 feet above ground. His body will never return to the soil that nourished him. I admit, I was so happy that my brother was not cremated that I never explored whether internment is consistent with Catholic theology. Can you please direct me so that I can be better prepared for future conversations?
Interment is also quite traditional, as one can see in countless marble tombs throughout Europe contained in churches. It was done especially for the higher-ranking figures (kings, princes, bishops, and the like). While it lacks some of the symbolism mentioned in this article, it retains the most important aspects.
What a wonderful explanation for the reason for burial! I have always detested the idea of cremation, especially if we are created in the image and likeness of God.
Agreed. When I have time, I should reply to the article in length and in detail.
But let me quickly make a few points:
(1) Most people, and very apparently the author, have ZERO clue what is involved in modern embalming. I encourage the author and others to view a video of embalming. It's a sickening and disgusting procedure. The actually PHYSICAL violence done to the body/corpse for funeral preparation is stunningly horrible if not an outright desecration.
(2) Modern embalming is simply an effort to present the body (via chemical infusions and cosmetic cover-up) in a form that softens the hard and harsh reality of death for an unbelieving generation ("Johnny has died, but let's make him pretty").
(3) With the exception of very arid or cold climates, even bones will decompose in most environments over the years, decades, or centuries. In such cases, the result is the same as cremation.
Again, I encourage Catholics to view a video of modern embalming. Perhaps your reaction will be the same as mine:
"No way! Please cremate me -- but yes, follow the laws of the Church, in that the remains be kept intact and buried in a holy place."
Brothers and sisters, we will all pass through the FIRE anyway:
"Each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, RSV-CE)
Finally:
"... till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;
you are DUST, and to DUST you shall return.”
(Genesis 3:19, RSV-CE)
So, eventually, yours, mine, and the author's remains will all crumble to DUST. (Unless, of course you are one of the incorruptibles).
And, just because the pagans practiced cremation CENTURIES ago for reasons contrary to Christianity, well then ...
I guess will should not decorate Christmas trees at home either, since (oh my gosh!) the Germanic PAGANS originated this practice.
Or, let us tear down the Pantheon in Rome, which originally was a Roman PAGAN temple, but now, since A.D. 609, it is a Catholic church called the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
We could go on and on with the "because the pagans once did it or used it".
My dear Christian Catholic brothers and sisters, do not fear cremation if it is done with hope in the Resurrection and in accord with the laws of the Church. Just keep the remains WHOLE and TOGETHER (no sprinkling!) and NOT on your mantel, but buried in a holy place (or placed in a columbarium, if you prefer).
I cremated both my mother and father. They are buried in the same plot in the earth at our local Catholic cemetery. I visit and pray at their gravesite every Sunday after Mass.
When I saw the physical cremated REMAINS of my parents, it hit home more that any of the many "beautified" corpses (prepared by a professional mortician) that I have seen at funerals down through the years.
We all will turn to DUST, one way or the other.
The question is, "What are we doing DAILY for the glory of God and to SERVE our neighbor and to WIN others for Christ? Are you salt (Matthew 5:13)?"
I have instructed my family to cremate me when my Day arrives. I absolutely do NOT want a moritician poking, prodding, and violating my corpse with metal intruments and chemicals.
Again, I encourage all Christians to watch an embalming video.
Don't listen to these Pharisees who without charity intimate that you are somehow comprising your Catholic faith through the practice of cremation.
I would not defend modern embalming. On the contrary, it strikes me the same way as it does you. A lower-cost alternative is to bury the body directly in the earth or in a simple casket, which can be about the same price or less than cremation. This requires people being less attached to the modern funeral home expectations of a long delay before burial and so forth.
Thank you for this. Cremation is abominable m, and the approval of it has quickly led to the decrease in funeral masses, “celebrations of life” and other horrors. As an historian, I can also attest to the mess it’s creates for future genealogists
I have specified for my end of life a traditional Requiem Mass and a burial in a pine coffin, and have drawn up what should be noted on my headstone. I used to live near an old pioneer cemetery and spent time almost every day there walking my dog and scrutinizing the headstones. It is still being used for recently deceased people. I became quite familiar with many of the “inhabitants,” and having them beneath my feet always compelled me to pray for the souls I walked by. Sometimes I looked up their names and found out about some of them. It was always surprising what I learned. The most poignant burials were the little ones who lived a very short time. I can say that I was moved to pray and deeply enriched by “getting to know” these buried individuals and it became a daily visit that edified me and gave me peace. And food for thought about my own limited existence. I miss this place but am grateful for what this cemetery gave me. But ashes are ~ gone!
All true, but oxidation, slow or fast, is oxidation. And caskets in America are absurdly expensive as are the vaults they go in. If we're going to bury the dead, we should bury them not seal them in hermetically sealed containers.
I agree with this!
If one looks, there are simple wooden caskets available for much less than the fancy ones:
https://trappistcaskets.com/caskets/#csksmpl
https://titancasket.com/products/eco-pine-box-casket
https://arkwoodcaskets.com/product/order/
Sadly, these are often marketed as "eco-friendly" or as Jewish, showing that Catholics have dropped the ball in this area (as in so many others).
Having recently buried my husband in a coffin which was lowered into the ground, there to stay until the Resurrection of the Dead, I became aware of the pagan mentality of Catholics who viewed it as an archaic practice.
Having been taught as a child in Catholic school that cremation was only allowed during times of plague or a disaster which would not allow for the right process of burial, not to mention that in addition to being pagan, it is a masonic practice, daring God to resurrect those ashes, I am appalled at the blatant abuse of a deceased body created by God.
The prelude to cremation is the dumping of loved ones into a godless facility, there to be neglected and abused, hastening the time when they can be burnt as garbage to be disposed.
I think you are right to see this phenomenon as a symptom of the "disposal" society.
"'He lies within,' said Denethor, 'burning, already burning. They have set a fire in his flesh. But soon all shall be burned. The West has failed. It shall go up in a great fire, and all shall be ended. Ash! Ash and smoke blown away on the wind!'" Thus the words of despair from The Return of the King. Cremation seems to bespeak that same despair.
Very apt quotation, thank you!
Thank you for this beautiful essay. I had an agonizing disagreement with my sister and older brother when our youngest brother died unexpectedly at the age of 55. Although we were all baptized in the Catholic faith, they did not understand the theological reasons for burial you've presented here. Their reasons for cremation were based in emotion. Our mother died when we were all teenagers. They were both horrified at seeing our mother's body lowered into the earth. (I don't know why I did not experience that event in the way they did.) After much prayer and efforts to persuade them not cremate our brother, we came to a "compromise." Our brother's body now rests in a mausoleum that is located in a Catholic cemetery -- about 20 feet above ground. His body will never return to the soil that nourished him. I admit, I was so happy that my brother was not cremated that I never explored whether internment is consistent with Catholic theology. Can you please direct me so that I can be better prepared for future conversations?
Interment is also quite traditional, as one can see in countless marble tombs throughout Europe contained in churches. It was done especially for the higher-ranking figures (kings, princes, bishops, and the like). While it lacks some of the symbolism mentioned in this article, it retains the most important aspects.
What a wonderful explanation for the reason for burial! I have always detested the idea of cremation, especially if we are created in the image and likeness of God.
For many people cremation is the only option due to financial circumstances.
Every diocese in the country would offer assistance to bury the dead. It’s one of the works of mercy.
Agreed. When I have time, I should reply to the article in length and in detail.
But let me quickly make a few points:
(1) Most people, and very apparently the author, have ZERO clue what is involved in modern embalming. I encourage the author and others to view a video of embalming. It's a sickening and disgusting procedure. The actually PHYSICAL violence done to the body/corpse for funeral preparation is stunningly horrible if not an outright desecration.
(2) Modern embalming is simply an effort to present the body (via chemical infusions and cosmetic cover-up) in a form that softens the hard and harsh reality of death for an unbelieving generation ("Johnny has died, but let's make him pretty").
(3) With the exception of very arid or cold climates, even bones will decompose in most environments over the years, decades, or centuries. In such cases, the result is the same as cremation.
Again, I encourage Catholics to view a video of modern embalming. Perhaps your reaction will be the same as mine:
"No way! Please cremate me -- but yes, follow the laws of the Church, in that the remains be kept intact and buried in a holy place."
Brothers and sisters, we will all pass through the FIRE anyway:
"Each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, RSV-CE)
Finally:
"... till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;
you are DUST, and to DUST you shall return.”
(Genesis 3:19, RSV-CE)
So, eventually, yours, mine, and the author's remains will all crumble to DUST. (Unless, of course you are one of the incorruptibles).
And, just because the pagans practiced cremation CENTURIES ago for reasons contrary to Christianity, well then ...
I guess will should not decorate Christmas trees at home either, since (oh my gosh!) the Germanic PAGANS originated this practice.
Or, let us tear down the Pantheon in Rome, which originally was a Roman PAGAN temple, but now, since A.D. 609, it is a Catholic church called the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs.
We could go on and on with the "because the pagans once did it or used it".
My dear Christian Catholic brothers and sisters, do not fear cremation if it is done with hope in the Resurrection and in accord with the laws of the Church. Just keep the remains WHOLE and TOGETHER (no sprinkling!) and NOT on your mantel, but buried in a holy place (or placed in a columbarium, if you prefer).
I cremated both my mother and father. They are buried in the same plot in the earth at our local Catholic cemetery. I visit and pray at their gravesite every Sunday after Mass.
When I saw the physical cremated REMAINS of my parents, it hit home more that any of the many "beautified" corpses (prepared by a professional mortician) that I have seen at funerals down through the years.
We all will turn to DUST, one way or the other.
The question is, "What are we doing DAILY for the glory of God and to SERVE our neighbor and to WIN others for Christ? Are you salt (Matthew 5:13)?"
I have instructed my family to cremate me when my Day arrives. I absolutely do NOT want a moritician poking, prodding, and violating my corpse with metal intruments and chemicals.
Again, I encourage all Christians to watch an embalming video.
Don't listen to these Pharisees who without charity intimate that you are somehow comprising your Catholic faith through the practice of cremation.
I would not defend modern embalming. On the contrary, it strikes me the same way as it does you. A lower-cost alternative is to bury the body directly in the earth or in a simple casket, which can be about the same price or less than cremation. This requires people being less attached to the modern funeral home expectations of a long delay before burial and so forth.
Agree. I have specified “no embalming” for my body.
We had made arrangements for a natural funeral as you describe when we lived in another state. Where we live now, it is sadly illegal.
That's a crime!
How many states make it illegal?
You may choose not to be embalmed, at least in Oregon. However, the body must be interred within a short time.
It's almost like... it's an entirely different and opposite church...