Florida Catholic | Bishop Barbarito's Column

Living communion with the faithful departed

NOVEMBER 9, 2007

“As we recall with love and respect our loved ones who have gone before us, we look forward to our full union with them again in God’s kingdom.”

November is a month during which we remember in a special way those who have passed from this life.

The month began with the celebration of the feast of All Saints. On this day we celebrate the lives of those who are now with God in their eternal home. We remember those saints canonized by the church, as well as all of those holy men and women not canonized, but truly saints in heaven. The feast of All Saints reminds us that we form a communion with the saints to whom we pray and upon whose example we rely.

The next day, Nov. 2, was the commemoration of All Souls, a day when we recall those who have gone before us and wait the fullness of eternal life in a purgative manner. Purgatory is a state of preparation for heaven where the effects of sin must still be faced. We also form a communion with the souls in purgatory for whom we pray. They are “saints-to-be” and we also rely on their prayers and example.

We all have known and loved many saints and souls. Our communion with them is deepened by the reality that we will, hopefully, join them some day in God’s eternal kingdom, which is our ultimate goal.

During this month in which we are reminded of the continuing communion we share with those who have gone before us, we also reflect upon one of the ways we remain in this communion — that is by honoring their earthly remains. Someday, when God’s kingdom comes in its fullness and the earth passes away, we will be united with the physical bodies we currently leave in this world. However, death presently separates us from our bodies and so the mortal remains of our loved ones are still with us. Their remains deserve honor and respect and are a true reminder to us of the people who now live in eternal life. All Souls’ Day is one of the many days and occasions during the year when we visit the cemetery in honor of our deceased loved ones.

The human body is one of the primary gifts that God has given to us. Through it we communicate to the world and to one another. In this world it enfleshes our souls and is our constant companion. God himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, took a human body to himself and, through his Resurrection, has conquered death. The human body is a sacred gift which must always be respected.

At the end of last year, the bishops of the Province of Miami issued a statement regarding the honor and respect due to the remains of one who has passed from this world and awaits the resurrection of the body. The statement especially deals with the matter of cremation and the policy pertaining to this practice in the Province of Miami. It can be found on the Diocese of Palm Beach Web site at www.diocesepb.org.

The statement is especially helpful in clarifying many questions and misunderstandings regarding the practice of cremation. I would like to outline the main points of this policy.

The first preference for burial is always the funeral rites with the body present and its immediate burial in a cemetery. This expressed tradition of the Catholic Church remains.

Catholics, due to certain circumstances and preferences, may choose cremation, provided it in no way expresses a denial of the Catholic teaching on the dignity of the body or on its teaching on the resurrection of the dead.

The Catholic faithful are encouraged to seek the counsel of their pastor before choosing cremation.

Pastors in the Province of Miami can grant permission, on an individual basis, for cremated remains to be present at a funeral Mass using the approved liturgical rites for this situation.

The burial or entombment of the cremated remains should occur without delay, once the cremation process is completed.

Cremated remains are to be placed in an urn (or other suitable container) and either buried in the ground or at sea, or entombed in a columbarium. Each urn is to contain the cremated remains of only one person. The practice of scattering cremated remains or keeping cremated remains in someone’s home is not the proper reverence for a deceased person.

As we recall with love and respect our loved ones who have gone before us, we look forward to our full union with them again in God’s kingdom. May we strengthen our present communion with them through the unity of the church and especially through the celebration of the Eucharist. May we afford their earthly remains the honor and respect they are due as we all await the second coming of Christ and the heavenly unification of our souls and bodies.

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