Actually the Catholic Church dissuades cremation. However, in those instances where the individual has chosen cremation, the funeral mass is to take place before the cremation, not afterwards.
While the Church still prefers full body burial or entombment, after the manner of Christ's own burial, out of respect for the human body and belief in the Resurrection, cremation may be chosen in exceptional circumstances for "sufficient reason." Here are some general considerations to keep in mind when facing the question of cremation:
Cremation may be requested for hygienic, economic or other reasons of a public or private nature. Some examples would be: transfer of the remains to a distant place, possible avoidance of considerable expense, national tradition or custom, a severe psychological or pathological fear of burial in the ground or a tomb.
The selection of cremation must have been the specific choice of the individual before death.
Cremation, however, may also be requested by the family of the deceased for what also might be determined good and/or pastoral reasons that can be accommodated. (An obvious instance would be the case of a family's desire to transfer the remains to a distant place.)
According to current guidelines of the Archdiocese of Seattle, the priest, whose responsibility it is to perform the funeral, must determine that the reasons for choosing cremation are within those recognized by the Church.
When cremation is seen as an acceptable alternative to the normal manner of Catholic burial, the various elements of the funeral rite should be conducted in the usual way and, normally, with the body present.
The ordinary practice of Christian burial includes the Vigil Service, the celebration of the Funeral Mass at the Church, and the Rite of Committal at the cemetery.
Although all the elements of the Funeral Rite have importance, priority should be given to the celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy with the body of the deceased present.
In March 1997 the Vatican granted the dioceses of the United States an indult – that is, an exception for pastoral reasons – to permit the cremated remains of the body to be present at the Funeral Mass. Guidelines in the Archdiocese of Seattle leave the decision to allow cremated remains at the Funeral Mass to the individual pastor.
What does thathave to do with Resurrection and respect for the human body? The biblical imagery of bodies being given up at the Judgment Day by the earth and the sea (cf Rev 20:13) seems to ignore some physical realities that happen to the bodies of the deceased.
FACTS tell us that the body will fall apart regardless, and turn into dust, in some cases with nothing remaining, not even the skeleton.
Why, then, would anyone prefer to rot away slowly, instead of being turned into ashes quickly and cleanly?
Thanks. That info on cremations was helpful.