Preference for the Presence of the Body
Cremation and the Catholic Church
In recent years Catholic funeral practices have been impacted by the increasing popularity of cremation as a means of providing for the final disposition of the body. As a result a number of burial practices have been embraced by some Catholics which are not permitted according to the "Order of Christian Funerals." In order to help in funeral planning and allow you to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, please review the following principles regarding Cremation in the Catholic Church.
On March 21, 1997, the Holy See granted permission to the U.S. Latin-rite bishops to allow the celebration of the funeral liturgy in the presence of cremated remains. This practice was never intended to be viewed as an "equally" good alternative to the traditional funeral rites of the Church which entail the burial of the body intact. Permission to cremate and to celebrate the funeral liturgy in the presence of cremated remains was intended to be granted on a case by case basis. At SMM Church, the Pastor will determine what is appropriate in each given situation.
Whenever a family chooses cremation over traditional burial, families should be made aware of the preference to honor the body during the funeral Mass before cremation. In the Diocese of Greensburg Pastors and Parochial Vicars, for pastoral reasons, may permit the funeral liturgy to be celebrated in the presence of the cremated remains.
