What If My Loved One Was Already Cremated?
Eternal Rest: The Art of Dying Well
•
2m 13s
Cremation does not mean God cannot or will not raise that person’s body on the last day.
Traditional burial gives a fuller witness to our hope in the resurrection, and the Church recommends it over cremation. However, God does not exclude someone from the future resurrection of the body simply because he or she was cremated. The sovereignty of God is independent of any human action.
This reality offers comfort particularly to individuals who have already chosen cremation for a friend or family member. Likewise, as this video describes, laying a loved one’s cremated remains to rest can bring personal healing, even many years later.
“Maybe people think that when they die, that’s it. But in the Catholic Church, we don’t believe that—we believe that our final destination is eternal rest in heaven. We’re striving to be with our heavenly Father.”
Up Next in Eternal Rest: The Art of Dying Well
-
What Do We Do When We Visit a Cemetery?
Cemeteries can be a place of healing where we remember and pray for our deceased loved ones.
What should we say or do when we visit a grave or niche? Many people find it peaceful to walk through cemetery grounds or simply sit by the tombstone. Whether we say a decade of the rosary, offer specifi...
-
What Are Some Symbols in a Catholic F...
No part of the funeral liturgy is accidental—even the smallest components have significance.
Through the Church, God meets us in our most fundamental need. Christ, who is fully present in the liturgy, walks with us every step of the way through pain, sorrow, and grief.
“There is no more wonderf...
-
If I Do Choose Cremation What Steps S...
Choosing cremation is permissible within the Catholic Church, provided full reverence for the body is preserved, and the remains are kept together and laid to rest in a sacred space.
The Catholic Church permits cremation but still recommends traditional burial. If you do choose cremation for you...
