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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re:Bringing flowers to public park where ashes were scattered	Renee	Saturday, June 14, 2008
Question: Dear Brother Ignatius Thank you for your answer. God answered my prayer for help by leading me to your website. I do have a couple of follow-up questions arising from my mother's response to my refusal. First she asked "what rules say it has to be a cemetary". In her mind she did not throw away and disrespect my father's remains. The only reference I could find is in the Catechism: 2300 and it doesn't specify where the burial is to be done. Secondly, she has this notion of "We want to be free when we die; not stuck 6 feet in the ground or in a cement wall" which sounds strange to me but I lack the knowledge to reply to this idea of hers. Sadly, this issue is developing into a rift, as you had forewarned it might.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Renee: The Church treats us as adults. As such the Church expects us to use common sense. The term "burial" means by definition "placing a body in a grave or tomb." Scattering ashes about the park is NOT burial -- obviously. Also in the use of the word "burial" is presumed a "proper" burial, that is, in a grave or tomb normally in a designated cemetery. The only exception would be in a case where burial in a cemetery is not possible, such as on the battle field. Then the burial may be wherever it must be according to the circumstances, but it is still a BURIAL, not a scattering. If there us any doubt, here is the quote from Church law, (from the Order of Christian Funerals): 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. Whenever possible, appropriate means for recording with dignity the memory of the deceased should be adopted, such as a plaque or stone which records the name of the deceased." (Order of Christian Funerals, Appendix No. 417) On tour mother's notion of being free when she dies is quite odd. Our souls are set free at death. Our souls leave our bodies. Later, at the end of the age, our bodies are resurrected and reunited with our souls. Thus, there is no enslavement in the grave. One's soul does not go into the grave, only the body. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Re:Bringing flowers to public park where ashes were scattered

Renee

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Question:

Dear Brother Ignatius
Thank you for your answer. God answered my prayer for help by leading me to your website. I do have a couple of follow-up questions arising from my mother's response to my refusal.

First she asked "what rules say it has to be a cemetary". In her mind she did not throw away and disrespect my father's remains. The only reference I could find is in the Catechism: 2300 and it doesn't specify where the burial is to be done.

Secondly, she has this notion of "We want to be free when we die; not stuck 6 feet in the ground or in a cement wall" which sounds strange to me but I lack the knowledge to reply to this idea of hers.

Sadly, this issue is developing into a rift, as you had forewarned it might.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Renee:

The Church treats us as adults. As such the Church expects us to use common sense. The term "burial" means by definition "placing a body in a grave or tomb." Scattering ashes about the park is NOT burial -- obviously.

Also in the use of the word "burial" is presumed a "proper" burial, that is, in a grave or tomb normally in a designated cemetery. The only exception would be in a case where burial in a cemetery is not possible, such as on the battle field. Then the burial may be wherever it must be according to the circumstances, but it is still a BURIAL, not a scattering.

If there us any doubt, here is the quote from Church law, (from the Order of Christian Funerals):

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. Whenever possible, appropriate means for recording with dignity the memory of the deceased should be adopted, such as a plaque or stone which records the name of the deceased." (Order of Christian Funerals, Appendix No. 417)

On tour mother's notion of being free when she dies is quite odd. Our souls are set free at death. Our souls leave our bodies. Later, at the end of the age, our bodies are resurrected and reunited with our souls. Thus, there is no enslavement in the grave. One's soul does not go into the grave, only the body.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum