Rachel Evans
The Catholic Church permits cremation, but it is not preferred over the burial of the body. The Church teaches that cremated remains should be treated with the same respect given to the human body and buried in sacred ground or placed in a mausoleum or columbarium. A columbarium is a group of niches, typically within a wall, that contains the cremated remains of the departed in a worthy vessel. The Rite of Committal is used at the time of inurnment, which can be incorporated into the Sunday Mass with a final procession to the columbarium.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's preference | Burial over cremation |
| Cremation allowed since | May 1963 |
| Ashes | Should be treated with the same respect as the human body |
| Ashes | Should not be spread over the ocean |
| Ashes | Should not be used as fertilizer |
| Ashes | Should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium |
| Columbarium | A group of niches, typically within a wall of brick, stone, granite, marble or other materials, that contains the cremated remains of the departed in a “worthy vessel” |
| Rite of Committal | Performed when the ashes are returned to the family and they are buried or placed in the columbarium niche |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church permits cremation after the funeral liturgy
The Catholic Church has permitted cremation after the funeral liturgy since 1963, when it withdrew its longstanding prohibition. In 1969, the Church made formal provision in the Order of Christian Funerals for the committal or entombment of cremated remains, but not for their presence at a funeral liturgy.
In 1997, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued an indult for the presence of cremated remains at funeral liturgies in the United States, providing an appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals for such occasions. The Holy See tolerates the possibility of a funeral Mass with the cremated remains present, but it is the prerogative of each diocesan bishop to judge whether he will allow the practice in his diocese.
The Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased, as cremation is considered to show less esteem towards the deceased. The Church teaches that the body of the deceased should be present for the funeral rites, as the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the funeral rites affirm. The Church's teachings on the treatment of cremated remains correspond with the Christian's foundational belief in the resurrection of the body and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
When cremation is chosen, the Church teaches that the ashes of the faithful must be laid to rest in a sacred place, such as a cemetery, church, or columbarium. The conservation of the ashes of the departed in a domestic residence is not permitted, except in exceptional cases dependent on cultural conditions of a localized nature. The Church also forbids the scattering of ashes, as this can be contrary to Christian beliefs about death and the resurrection of the body.
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Ashes must be buried in sacred ground or entombed in a columbarium
The Catholic Church has specific guidelines for the burial of cremated remains or 'cremains'. While the Church expresses a preference for burials, it has permitted cremation since 1963, when the Vatican's Holy Office lifted the ban. The Church teaches that the ashes of the deceased should be buried in sacred ground or entombed in a columbarium.
A columbarium is a structure for the reverential and usually public storage of funerary urns holding cremated remains. The term comes from the Latin 'columba' (dove) and originally referred to compartmentalized housing for doves and pigeons. Today, columbaria can be free-standing units or part of a mausoleum or another building, such as a church. Many modern crematoria have columbaria.
The Church's guidelines stipulate that the ashes of the dead must be laid to rest in a sacred place, such as a church or graveyard, and not kept at home. This is because cremated remains should be treated with the same reverence as the body of a deceased person. The Church's 2016 instruction, 'Ad resurgendum cum Christo' ('To Rise with Christ'), emphasised the Catholic Church's recommendation to follow "the most ancient Christian tradition" of burying the dead in cemeteries or other sacred places.
In recent years, cremation with interment of the cremated remains has become more common, as it is a more economical and dignified way to address the rising cost of funerals. It also allows the remains of the deceased to remain at the church that played an important part in their lives. The Church's Rite of Committal is performed when the remains are committed to the cemetery or columbarium.
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Ashes should not be scattered or kept at home
The Catholic Church teaches that the ashes of the deceased should be buried in sacred ground or entombed in a columbarium, but not scattered or kept at home. This is because the Church believes that cremated remains should be treated with the same reverence as the body of a deceased person. The Church's Code of Canon Law expresses a preference for burial over cremation, as it more clearly expresses the Christian belief in the eventual resurrection of the body and soul.
In 2016, the Vatican issued an instruction regarding burial practices for Catholics, stating that ashes should not be scattered in the air, on land, at sea, or in any other way. They also stated that ashes should not be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewellery, or other objects. This is to avoid any appearance of pantheism, naturalism, or nihilism. The Vatican's instruction states that cremated remains should be placed in a worthy vessel and cared for in the same way as one would care for a dead body.
The Catholic funeral rite considers the body of the deceased, or their ashes, as the most important symbol of the person. Therefore, the ashes are to be honoured and respected. The Rite of Committal is a liturgical practice in which the ashes are returned to the family and then buried or placed in a columbarium niche. This rite is split into two parts: the reverent disposal of the body and the establishment of a sacred memorial of the person's earthly remains.
Some Catholics have expressed a desire to keep the ashes of their loved ones at home, either in a special place or divided among family members. However, the Church's instruction is that ashes should be kept in a sacred space, such as a cemetery or columbarium, so that the faithful can remember and pray for their departed loved ones. Keeping the remains in one place allows the person to remain in the memory of the Church.
While some people may wish to scatter the ashes of their loved ones in meaningful locations, this practice is not permitted by the Catholic Church. Instead, the Church encourages the burial of cremated remains in a cemetery or their placement in a mausoleum or columbarium, a structure designed for urns. By doing so, Catholics can show honour and respect for the deceased and provide a sacred space for remembrance and prayer.
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The columbarium rite takes on a communal focus
The Catholic Church permits cremation for its followers, but it is not the preferred option. The Church's Code of Canon Law expresses a preference for burial over cremation because the presence of the body better represents the Christian belief in the resurrection and reunion of body and soul.
Despite this preference, many Catholic churches have established columbaria to receive the ashes of the deceased in or near the church. The columbarium is a communal space, usually a group of niches within a wall, that contains the cremated remains of the departed in a "worthy vessel". The vessel must be buried in a grave, placed in a mausoleum, or put in a columbarium. This is because the Church teaches that ashes from cremation should be treated with the same reverence as the body of a deceased person and should be buried in sacred ground.
The columbarium rite, therefore, takes on a communal focus. The deceased could be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer, and the family included in the general intercessions. Family members would hold the ashes during a prayer at the end of Mass, and the prayer of committal could be prayed upon arrival at the columbarium in the presence of some or all of the parish community. This rite of committal can be incorporated into the Sunday Mass with a final procession to the columbarium.
The columbarium also allows families to continue the churchyard burial tradition, as cemeteries are not often visited, especially when they are not located nearby.
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The Rite of Committal takes place after cremation
The Catholic Church has allowed cremation since 1963, but it still maintains that burial is the norm. When cremation is chosen, the Catholic Church requires that the ashes be buried in a suitable container in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. This is because cremated remains should be treated with the same respect as a human body, and burial in a sacred place allows for the Rite of Committal to take place.
The Rite of Committal is the final act performed by the Catholic community for the deceased and signifies the end of a Catholic funeral. It is customary whenever a member of the faith passes on, but it requires the presence of a body to lay to rest. If there is no body, or if the disposition of the body does not meet Catholic requirements, there can be no Rite of Committal. In the case of cremation, the Rite of Committal can take place at the cemetery or columbarium after the Funeral Liturgy. The ceremony is led by a priest or deacon, who begins with the "Invitation", addressing the community with words such as:
> We gather here to commend our brother (or sister) to God our Father and to commit their body to the earth. In the spirit of faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, let us raise our voices in song and offer our prayers for them.
The priest or deacon will then read from scripture, with passages dealing with the passing of a loved one and the promise of resurrection after death through belief in Jesus. The Rite of Committal concludes with a prayer to bless the place of burial if it has not already been sanctified.
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic columbarium is a group of niches, typically within a wall of brick, stone, granite, marble or other materials, that contain the cremated remains of the departed in a "worthy vessel". Many churches have established a columbarium to receive the ashes of the deceased in or near the church.
The Rite of Committal is a Catholic funeral liturgy that is celebrated when the body is cremated before the funeral. The Rite of Committal then takes place after cremation. The remains are committed to the cemetery or columbarium with the Church’s Rite of Committal.
During the Rite of Committal, the deceased could be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer and the family included in the general intercessions. Family members would hold the ashes during a prayer at the end of Mass and the prayer of committal could be prayed upon arrival at the columbarium in the presence of some or all of the parish community.
