The Vatican, in a recent directive, has offered new guidance on the handling of cremation ashes.
Cardinal Víctor Fernández, head of the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, announced modifications to the 2016 instructions regarding the preservation of cremains. The changes, approved by Pope Francis, come as a response to the growing preference for cremation over traditional burial.
Under the revised guidelines, Catholic families are now permitted to retain a “minimal part of the ashes” of a deceased loved one in a location of personal significance. It is said to accommodate the individualized memories and connections families have with their departed. However, this is subject to the condition that “every type of pantheistic, naturalistic or nihilistic misunderstanding is ruled out,” ensuring that the ashes are treated with the due sacred respect.
Furthermore, the Dicastery has sanctioned the establishment of communal sacred spaces for the collective preservation of ashes. These spaces will serve as dedicated areas for the cremains of multiple individuals, akin to ossuaries, where names and identities of the deceased are respectfully preserved.
This new provision stems from a letter by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, addressing economic and practical concerns regarding cremation and the scattering of ashes. The Church emphasizes the importance of a sacred final resting place to maintain the dignity of the deceased and to ensure they remain part of the community’s prayers and remembrance.
As Cardinal Fernández notes, “The ashes of the deceased person … come from the material remains that were part of the person’s historical journey.”
Let’s pray for our deceased loved ones!
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