Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Final resting place of cremated remains	Joan	Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Question: Brother Ignatius Mary, in at least two parishes in the country where I reside, the place where they put the ashes of deceased persons to rest is, in effect, a dry well. The urns are opened and the ashes poured into these wells. This does not strike me as being the proper thing to do. Please advise me about this practice and what official documentation is available that I could, perhaps, share with the priests at these parishes. Many thanks,
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Joan: You are correct. This is not the proper thing to do, in fact it is appalling and in direct violation of Church Law. This practice needs to be stopped and stopped immediately. Show the priests the following quotation of Church law. If necessary write the bishop and quote the following in your letter: 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) I think I would contact the bishop anyway. It should be investigated as to whose remains are in this well and what to do about them. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary P.S. I will never be a bishop, but if I were, heads would roll on this one if any of my priests did this or allowed it. 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

Final resting place of cremated remains

Joan

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Question:

Brother Ignatius Mary, in at least two parishes in the country where I reside, the place where they put the ashes of deceased persons to rest is, in effect, a dry well. The urns are opened and the ashes poured into these wells.

This does not strike me as being the proper thing to do. Please advise me about this practice and what official documentation is available that I could, perhaps, share with the priests at these parishes.

Many thanks,

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Joan:

You are correct. This is not the proper thing to do, in fact it is appalling and in direct violation of Church Law. This practice needs to be stopped and stopped immediately. Show the priests the following quotation of Church law. If necessary write the bishop and quote the following in your letter:

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)

I think I would contact the bishop anyway. It should be investigated as to whose remains are in this well and what to do about them.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. I will never be a bishop, but if I were, heads would roll on this one if any of my priests did this or allowed it.

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