Joshua Bennett
Catholics bury their dead in the anticipation of the resurrection of the body on the Last Day, when their mortal bodies will share in the glory of the Risen Christ. The Catholic Church encourages bodily burial over cremation, as the body is believed to be an essential part of human identity, a vessel for immortal souls. Burial also allows for the Catholic tradition of praying for the dead. While cremation is permitted, the Church forbids the scattering of ashes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burial type | Bodily burial is preferred, but cremation is also permitted. |
| Burial location | Catholic cemeteries are preferred, but other options such as green burials and tree burial pods are sometimes considered acceptable. |
| Treatment of remains | Remains must be treated with respect and not scattered or kept at home. |
| Burial rites | The Catholic Church has special rites for the blessing of cemeteries and individual graves. |
| Burial symbolism | Burial allows for the preservation of relics and provides a place for people to pray for the deceased. |
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What You'll Learn
Burial vs. cremation
Burial and cremation are both acceptable in the Catholic faith. However, burial is considered the most fitting way to express faith and hope in the resurrection of the body.
Burial
Traditionally, Catholics have buried their dead in cemeteries immediately after the funeral. Some Catholic families still prefer this method as it can be comforting to visit and tend a grave. Burial is considered the most fitting way to express faith and hope in the resurrection of the body. The Catholic Church dictates that the body must be buried, cremated or not, and that the body of the deceased be present at the funeral. Burial is also considered a way to show respect for the body, which is holy to God.
Cremation
Catholics are allowed to be cremated as their final disposition, although the Church prefers that cremation takes place after the funeral. The Church believes in the sanctity of the body and that cremated remains may not be separated or scattered. Ashes should be buried or entombed, and some cemeteries have sections for cremated remains that comply with the Catholic Church's guidelines. Cremation is a popular choice as it is cheaper and considered more practical.
The choice between burial and cremation is a personal one, and both options are acceptable within the Catholic faith. However, it is important to consider the Church's teachings and preferences when making a decision.
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Respect for the body
The Catholic Church places great emphasis on respecting the body of the deceased, reflecting its belief in the resurrection of the body and its unity with the soul. This belief is encapsulated in the Apostle's Creed: "I believe... the third day He (Jesus Christ) rose again from the dead" and "I believe... the Resurrection of the body...".
Catholics consider the body to be a vessel for the immortal soul, and thus, it deserves respect even after death. This respect is demonstrated through burial or cremation, with burial being strongly preferred. The body is laid to rest in consecrated ground, usually within Catholic cemeteries or designated sections of public cemeteries, ensuring the body is safeguarded and treated with dignity.
The Church teaches that the body should be present at the funeral, and if cremation is chosen, it should occur after the service. The Church permits cremation as long as it does not deny the resurrection of the dead, and the scattering of ashes is forbidden. The Church emphasizes that the body is sacred, having received the Body of Christ during life and expecting to receive Him again after resurrection.
The physical remains of the deceased are important as they allow for prayers and remembrances. Catholics believe that burial provides a final resting place for the body, reflecting their faith in the resurrection and the reunification of body and soul at the end of time. This belief in the resurrection of the flesh is fundamental to Catholic doctrine, and the proper treatment of the body is seen as an expression of this faith.
While cremation is increasingly popular, the Church encourages respect for the body through burial, reflecting its belief in the sanctity and resurrection of the physical form.
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Scattering of ashes
The Catholic Church accepts cremation as an option for the deceased, but it forbids the scattering of ashes. The Church maintains that the scattering of ashes is an irreverent treatment of the human body. This is because the Church believes in the resurrection of the body, and that each individual is created by God and called by God. The Church also forbids the growing practice of keeping cremated remains at home. Instead, the Church upholds that the ashes of the deceased must be preserved in a sacred place, such as a cemetery, and clearly marked with the name of the deceased. This ensures that the deceased is not forgotten and is remembered in the prayers of their family and the Christian community.
The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith has addressed concerns about the increasing number of people who desire to scatter the ashes of the deceased in nature. In response, the Dicastery has upheld a rule mandating that the ashes of the deceased be preserved in a consecrated place. However, the Dicastery also stated that family members could request to keep a small part of the ashes in a sacred place of significance for the deceased. This authorization can be given as long as the place has a sacred nature and every type of pantheistic, naturalistic, or nihilistic misunderstanding is ruled out.
The Catholic Church's preference for bodily burial over cremation stems from its faith in the Resurrection of Christ. Baptized into Christ, Catholics believe that their dead bodies will be raised up like His. This belief is also reflected in the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed, which state that Jesus Christ's physical body rose from the dead. As such, Catholics view bodily burial as a way to show respect for the body and treat it with the understanding that it will be raised from the dead.
While the Church encourages the presence of the body of the deceased at the funeral, it permits cremation to take place after the funeral in certain pastoral circumstances. This permission was officially granted by the bishops of the United States on August 15, 1997, and incorporated into the Code of Canon Law in 1983. However, the Church emphasizes that cremation should not be chosen at the cost of losing respect for the person's body.
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Green burials
The Catholic Church encourages bodily burial over cremation, based on the belief in the resurrection of Christ and the expectation that the bodies of the faithful will be resurrected. The Church teaches reverence for the body, which is considered the temple of the Holy Spirit.
In a green burial, the body is not embalmed with chemicals or placed in a typical casket. Instead, it is wrapped in a natural-fiber shroud or placed in a biodegradable container made of unfinished wood, wicker, bamboo, or other materials that will decompose. The body is then buried at a dedicated green burial site, often in a section of a Catholic cemetery that has been blessed and set aside for this purpose.
The clothing and burial garments must be free of plastics and metals, and only made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, or silk. Jewelry and other non-biodegradable items are also not permitted to be buried with the deceased.
The cost of a green burial is similar to that of a conventional burial, and it provides a way for Catholics to honour their loved ones while also caring for the environment and reducing the use of resources.
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Catholic cemeteries
The Catholic Church encourages the burial of the dead, which is considered one of the seven great corporal works of mercy. Burial is preferred over cremation because Catholics believe that, just as Christ's physical body rose from the dead, their own bodies will also be resurrected on the Last Day. Burial in consecrated ground is seen as a way to honour the unity of body and soul, and to safeguard the body against disrespect or discarding.
The Church has a special rite for the blessing of a cemetery, and church law requires that, when possible, Catholic cemeteries are maintained for burials. In the United States, a growing number of Catholic cemeteries have set aside sections for "green burials", where bodies are placed in simple wooden caskets that will eventually biodegrade.
Although cremation is now also permitted by the Catholic Church, the scattering of ashes is forbidden, as it is considered incompatible with the Christian faith. Ashes must be treated with the same dignity as a traditional burial, and kept in a designated sacred space, such as a Catholic cemetery.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church accepts cremation as an option, but it prefers bodily burial. The Church forbids the scattering of ashes and keeping cremated remains at home.
Catholics believe that the body is an essential part of human identity and that the body and soul will be reunited at the end of time. Therefore, the body must be treated with respect and buried in consecrated ground.
Some common reasons people choose cremation are cost, discomfort with seeing the deceased, and convenience.
A Catholic funeral involves a celebration of the Funeral Mass or Funeral Liturgy with the body of the deceased present, followed by the body being interred or entombed.
Burying the dead expresses the Catholic belief in the victory over everlasting death won by Jesus Christ through his Death and Resurrection. It also allows for the Catholic tradition of praying for the dead.
