Practicing Catholics have been following a specific routine for burial for hundreds of years. The belief that the body must be respectfully interred into sacred ground is part of this ritual, but is there room for change? If a family chooses cremation services near Hayward, CA, can they still enjoy the rites and traditions of Catholic burial?
Here is what your family needs to know as you lay your loved one to rest:
Cremation is Not Burial
Cremation is a process that often precedes burial. For some people, this leads to a burial that mimics traditional burial in the ground or in a columbarium. For others, cremation precedes the remains being kept for display, creating lasting tribute items, or other options. Regardless of what your family chooses for the next step, cremation is just the preparation of the body for it.
The Church No Longer Prohibits Cremation Before Burial
Before 1963, the Catholic Church prohibited cremation. This was in line with the belief that the body should be prepared for the next life, left intact as much as possible in anticipation of this. However, many people argued that there were a variety of reasons that cremation might not only be permissible, but a better idea for some families than traditional burial. Since then, the ban has been lifted and cremation is allowed within the outlines of traditional Catholic funeral rites.
Some Traditions are Still Important
If your loved one was a practicing Catholic and was looking forward to traditional internment, remember that there are still some rules you should follow – even after cremation. These include the funerary mass and interment into a consecrated land or columbarium on holy grounds. These guidelines allow you the freedom to choose cremation and still give your loved one the traditional Catholic celebration of life everlasting.
For any additional questions you may have, be sure to speak to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery & Funeral Center, local Catholic funeral home services.
