Why Christians don’t cremate dead?
While there are many denominations within Christianity that hold differing views, many Christians believe that Jesus Christ was both the son of God and the personification of God, put on Earth to offer salvation to all who believe in Him. Christ’s death on the cross is understood by many Christians as an act of sacrifice by God, offering atonement for the sins of all humanity. Many Christians believe that through loving Christ and accepting the salvation offered by Christ on the cross, human souls be saved from eternal punishment in Hell after death and instead be delivered to Heaven, where they will live in the presence of God forever.
Funeral services are often steeped in the religious culture of the Deceased. All major religions provide guidelines about how funerals should be conducted. The United States is home to a very diverse population and as a result, many world religions are practiced there.
Christian funerals generally share a few common traits: the funeral is conducted as soon as possible after death with the exception of Christian holidays including Sundays, there is often visitation or wake, the Priest or clergy leads the funeral and there is a ceremony at the grave or final resting place. Some faiths discourage cremation, others allow it. Most Christian funerals will be followed by some sort of reception. Often, it takes place at the house of the Deceased or their close family. It is traditional to bring food to share.
Catholic Funerals
Only those who are baptized can have a Catholic burial. The last rites performed by the Catholic Church are generally deemed a sign of respect and they might be denied to those the church views as undeserving. Most of the groups the church would deny last rites to are historically situated and might not apply to modern situations. For example, those who die in a duel are not deserving of a Catholic burial, but modern life has seen that tradition fall by the wayside, so it doesn’t generally apply. Conversely, those who commit suicide are not technically allowed a Catholic burial unless they were considered incompetent or showed signs of repentance, though some parishes do give Catholic funerals to victims of suicide. The particulars of who can and cannot have a Catholic burial are ultimately up to your local parish. There are generally three parts to a Catholic funeral:
• The rites performed at the house of the Deceased and in transit to the funeral,
• The funeral liturgy, and
• Ceremony at the graveside.
Various churches and families may choose to conduct each of these parts differently. Typically, the Priest and clergy will have specific prayers to recite after death and before the body is moved to the Church, and the family and friends will often gather for a vigil or wake the day before the funeral. There might be a processional from the home or funeral home to the church, with family and friends following behind the hearse and the clergy. The funeral, or funeral liturgy, typically takes place in the church and is somewhat formal. Some churches prefer to have the funeral take place during mass, but it is more common in the U.S. that it takes place outside mass. The family and clergy generally choose which readings and hymns will be part of the funeral. The casket is usually draped with a white pall to symbolize Baptism in Christ. Flowers are often brought into the church. The Easter Candle is placed near the casket to symbolize faith that the Deceased may rise again with Christ. The Priest will say the homily, which is an address based on scripture that offers consolation and comfort to the family. Eulogies in Catholic funerals are traditionally given during the vigil/wake, during the Committal or at a reception rather than during the funeral liturgy.
The Committal generally takes place at the Deceased’s grave. There is often a processional from the church to the gravesite, in which all attendees follow the hearse, usually accompanied by police escorts. Prayers are offered at the grave site or final resting place of the remains and address the hope for resurrection. Music during the services is common, sometimes provided by the Church’s choir or organist. There is typically a suggested donation to help cover funeral costs for the church called a stole fee, though it is not required. If the Deceased or family wishes to have the remains cremated, cremating is usually performed after the funeral liturgy. Some families rent caskets for use during the funeral rather than purchasing one and then have the Deceased cremated in a simple container.
Protestant Funerals
A Protestant denomination is any non-Catholic Christian religion. Major Protestant religions include Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and many others. Each church, religion and community will likely have some of their own funeral traditions, but they do have some common traits. The funeral usually takes place as soon as possible after the death, often in a church or at a funeral home, and flowers and food are the most common ways for attendees to contribute something to the family. Some families will choose to have a wake or visitation prior to the funeral, but not always. Protestant funerals are usually very quiet, solemn affairs, though some churches with a musical or more boisterous tradition of worship do incorporate those traditions in funerals.
Many churches have a tradition to emphasize a community feeling at funerals, by inviting attendees to speak about the Deceased in combination with traditional readings from Scripture. Sometimes the Deceased’s favorite music will be played and photos will be displayed. There is also sometimes a traditional liturgy, as with the Catholic Church, and sometimes not; it varies greatly among denominations and communities. Often the burial will be attended only by the family rather than all of the attendees at the funeral. It is common for a reception to be held after the funeral, either at the church or at the home of the family where people share food and stories.
Stages of burial
When a member of the faithful has died the Church identifies three stations, or time periods, for the celebration of the rite of Christian burial: • The Vigil (Wake) – usually held on the night before the funeral
• The celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) – on the day of the funeral
• The Committal (the place of internment, burial and mourning) – immediately following the funeral.
Vigil Service: The Vigil for the deceased, commonly known as the Wake, is the initial rite celebrated by the Christian community at the time following death and before the funeral liturgy and the rite of committal. The Vigil usually takes place in a funeral home. It may also take place in the family home or in the parish church, as local custom dictates. The celebration of the Vigil is the time for the Christian community to offer both prayer and consolation to the members of the bereaved family; to read and reflect on the Word of God; to call upon our God of Mercy through intercessory prayer; and to provide an opportunity for family and friends to recall the memory of their loved one. Other prayers, such as the Rosary, are also encouraged since they help us to reflect upon the Paschal Mystery and so lead us to a greater sense of hope at this time of grief. However, the Rosary should normally be prayed outside of the Vigil service for ecumenical purposes.
Mass of Christian Burial: For Catholics the celebration of the Mass is both the source and the summit of our faith. Hence, when we celebrate the Mass at the time of death it is seen as the fullest expression of our faith in God’s abundant mercy, our hope in the resurrection of the dead, and the love that God has for us, which is not extinguished even by death. As an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ we actively participate in the Funeral Mass. Family members may choose the Scripture reading for the Mass, cover the casket with the pall, place Christian symbols on the casket (crucifix, bible), present the bread and wine at the preparation rite, and help select hymns for the community to sing. Members of the parish community also participate in the funeral liturgy and join with the bereaved family in the celebration of the funeral rites by proclaiming the Word, leading the faithful in song, serving at the altar and if needed, helping with the distribution of communion. A priest or deacon preach at the Funeral Mass. By preaching on Jesus Christ, who conquered death by His victory on the cross, our faith offers consolation to the family in their loss and challenges the community to live more faithful lives. A eulogy differs from a homily and consists of a reflection on the life of the deceased and how this person touched the lives of others. The sharing of memories with Christian charity, good discretion, and warm humor are appropriate elements for a eulogy. Eulogies may be shared at the Vigil. However, if the parish pastor agrees, a family member or friend may share one brief written eulogy not more than five minutes after the communion rite at Mass. Please review our Guidelines for Eulogies.
Rite of Committal: The Rite of Committal is celebrated at the place of burial. In the committal of the body to its place of rest, we express our hope that the deceased will experience the glory of the resurrection. The committal must always be celebrated immediately following the funeral, unless a good pastoral reason dictates otherwise, such as travel to a distant cemetery. In the case of cremation, the cremated remains of the deceased must always be immediately interred in a consecrated burial site.
What is Special About Catholic Cemeteries?
Since the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church has always set aside ground that is blessed and consecrated by God for the specific purpose of providing Christians with a dignified and holy resting place. The sacred nature of cemeteries is directly related to the Church’s belief in the resurrection of the body and the final consummation of the world.
