Salve Maria! I would like to know the Catholic Church’s doctrine regarding cremation. Is it acceptable for a Catholic to choose cremation after death?
Marianne Farias – Recife
From its earliest days, the Catholic Church adopted the custom of burying the bodies of deceased Christians. Proof of this are the catacombs – which still exist and receive many visitors – where the faithful gathered to pray and attend Holy Mass during times of persecution.
This was done in preference to cremation, not because cremation in itself was evil, but out of respect for human sensibility, which is repelled by collaborating in the destruction of a loved one’s body. Moreover, the incineration of the corpse was a ritual act of some pagan cults, which led the Church, always zealous in defence of the Faith, to opt for burial.
Catholic doctrine in this regard, drawn up by the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is simple and clear: “The Church continues to prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased, because this shows a greater esteem towards the deceased. Nevertheless, cremation is not prohibited, unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.” (Ad resurgendum cum Christo, n.4). The Catechism of the Catholic Church also instructs: “The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body” (CCC 2301).
St. Paul teaches us in the First Letter to the Corinthians that “as by a man came death, by a Man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ” (15:21-23). And we profess the same in the Creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.”
The Liturgy, through words, but also through gestures, movements and symbols, continues to carry out the work of Jesus Christ. This is why St. Augustine points out that, by burying the bodies of the faithful departed, the Church confirms faith in the resurrection of the body (cf. De cura pro mortuis gerenda, c.3, n.5). This is what Tertullian says: “The resurrection of the dead is the faith of Christians: believing this, we are what we profess” (De resurrectione carnis, c.1, n.1).
For this reason, those who choose cremation should not be denied the sacraments or funeral rites, unless in life the person expressed a desire to be cremated for reasons contrary to the Faith. In this case, the Church’s norm is to deny the funeral rites, according to the determination of canon law (cf. CIC, canon 1184 § 1, 2º).
In fact, the choice of cremation is often accompanied by actions that contradict the teaching of Catholic doctrine regarding the resurrection, due to the way in which the ashes of the deceased are treated. For this reason, the Church has recently determined special precautions on this point, such as keeping the ashes in cemeteries or vaults, and has forbidden scattering them – whether in the air, on land or in water – or even dividing them up in different places, as well as turning them into “jewellery” and other objects.
Of course, none of this would impede the power of Christ, who at the end of time will resurrect all those who have died. But gestures like these can lead to confusion regarding the Faith, because they have the appearance of pantheistic, naturalistic or nihilistic beliefs, among others.
On the contrary, the Church teaches us that “The rite for the burial of the dead should express more clearly the paschal character of Christian death” (SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL. Sacrosanctum concilium, n.81), which is why the custom of placing the Easter Candle next to the coffin or urn containing the ashes of the deceased was introduced.
Finally, whatever rite is chosen – burial, which is more appropriate, or cremation – we must not lose sight of the goal of every Catholic, which St. Therese of the Child Jesus poetically summarized shortly before leaving this earth: “I do not die, I enter into life!”
