www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Cremation or burial?

I was reading on a thread that a catholic had her spouse cremated instead of buried. That suprised me because I have always thought that the Roman Catholic Church did not approve of cremations. So what does the R.C.C. or the E.C. teach about this? I am E.O. and we only allow burial, not cremation.

The Roman Catholics allow cremation, I think; but this is recent. The tradition was burial only.

Cremations are more environmentally sound, aren't they? And yet on the dy of resurrection there will be no body to resurrect! (Though anyone worth resurrecting probably merits a miracle or two to rectify the situation)

Many of our great Saints were burned alive or cremated.


The rule against cremation was that it used to be done in defiance against the Resurrection of the Dead. Now it is usually done for, as Indigo wrote, to save space and be more "environmentally sound."

The ashes cannot be spread over the Mojave Desert or something like that, smoked (hippies! ), or put on a mantle, the ashes have to be buried.

Cremation is often cheaper than burial too . . .

. . . but I still don't like it. It seems pagan and disrespectful to the body. Trash is burned, but human bodies ? I know that some cultures do that, but must we? Also, it reminds me of the Nazi holocaust. Frankly, cremation makes me feel revulsion and fear.

But that's just my emotions, not reason. I apologize if I have offended anyone.

-- John

I know what you mean there John.

But there is also the point of view my father had - he hated seeing a neglected grave

He knew he would probably move after my Mother's death and it was obvious that I would not be in the same town.

When he died his frequently expressed wish had been that he should be cremated . My Stepmother overruled his wish and he was buried in a Churchyard where he had no connections with the area , she died and was buried in another graveyard.

I'm too far away to do any care needed - so what is the answer ?
Yes - a plan could be organised - but I have not the authority to do that and , judging from my last visit to my father's grave - no headstone , so not easy to find - my stepbrother has not done that either . Result - one neglected grave that I know about.
At least after cremation you can [ at least here ] have a bush or plant planted as a living memorial.

Glory to Jesus Christ!
I heard the story of an elderly priest in the US. Although he was not Polish, his wishes were to be buried in Poland.
There people there would come to the graveyard and pray for the souls of those departed.
He felt, perhaps rightly so, that in a US graveyard that would not be the case.
Deacon El

Thought I should weigh in since I'm involved as a professional--

The first part could not be better put. HOWEVER, PLEASE don't refer to cremated human remains as "ASHES" because they are HEAVY collections of bone, bone fragments, and bone dust. I always warn people who are about to pick up an urn in my office that they are heavy because, invariably, someone thinks they've got the equivalent of an ashtray and they almost always head for the floor because of the weight. We usually refer to what is left as "cremains" or "cremated human remains" because that is more accurate. The consistency is about the same as the bone meal my grandmother used to buy to put on her rose bushes.

The Church's preference is that they be buried, but that burial must be in consecrated ground, just as a regular burial is done.


The God that I know and love can bring together a body out of the dust of the earth. Can He not, then, bring together fragments of bone, bone dust, and bone fragment even if scattered around His creation? My answer is an unqualified "yes, He can."

BTW, I've witnessed many, many disinterments in my career. I wouldn't worry about the remains after cremation being any more or less than some of the recovered buried remains I've been asked to move from one place to another.

On another note, the permission for cremation has been in place for at least 20 years in the United States and our funeral ritual books have a separate appendix for conducting funeral rites when the body has been cremated BEFORE the funeral. While a full body is anticipated and preferred, sometimes distance, economics, or other reason make the preferred way not possible.

BOB

My apologies, BOB, for the improper terminology. Thanks for the information.

Dr. Eric, your point about the saints is well put, and since God can raise children of Abraham from stones, then he can surely raise Christ's followers from dust, bones and fragments.

My mother had my Roman Catholic grandfather cremated at his request. Granted, there was a memorial service at the funeral home rather than Mass at the Church. When my mom called and talked to the Priest, he was against cremation but referred her to a younger colleague who had no problem with cremation.

10 years later he was buried with my grandmother at her request and that priest said he should be buried.

Dr. Eric:

No apology necessary. Apart from professionals, it's rather the common terminology. Where things get tricky is when someone asks why the urn is so heavy and asks if we've put in some rocks or soemthing else.

BOB

This is what makes my job so difficult. One can find a priest who will tell you what you want to hear by just moving form priest to priest.

On another note, it's also difficult because people seem to make up their minds about these things without referring to what the Church teaches in this area and then they put everyone--clergy and funeral director in a tight spot. I've told many clergy that the time to educate their flocks about what should be done, according to the Church's teaching in this area, is not at the time of a death. It needs to be done over time and in other venues--bulletin inserts, sermons, articles in the Church press, etc. Then the anger over a death--a normal part of mourning--doesn't get directed into a defiant challenge to the clergy. As for me, I simply advise what the Church prefers and then ask the family what they want me to do. I've then done my professional duty to counsel and followed their instructions, both of which I am bound to do by statute and regulation.

BOB

My former pastor told me that in the UGCC cremation is permissible if the body is present for the the Liturgy or Parastas, whatever the custom, and then cremated afterwords.

I want to be cremated and have told my mother and sister to have it done if something happens to me. I have instructed them to get a casket from New Melleray Abbey (www.trappistcaskets.com [trappistcaskets.com]) and then have my mortal remains cremated in it.

There is a new columbarium, I think it's called in the Catholic cemetery right next to the area where most of our deceased parishioners are buried. It is like a mausoleum for cremains. Plus the Sisters of Mercy are buried on the east side of it, and the Redemptorists on the north side. Maybe they'll make good company....

For those who wish to be buried "green," there are new types of cremation urns that will dissolve within a period of time after burial or committal to a body of water. This type of urn is especially good for those who wish to be buried with their relatives but find that the family plot has no further room for interments.

BOB