Author Topic: Does the SSPX support cremations? (Read 1479 times)

Änσnymσus · « **on:** May 13, 2018, 08:13:55 AM »

In one of the SSPX's Florida chapels there is a back page with advertisements and one of them is to a funeral home that offers cremation services. Does the SSPX accept this practice or are just looking at a money grab for sponsorship?

moneil · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2018, 03:10:18 PM »

In answer to the OP’s question about the SSPX and cremation, this link provides the answer, as well as an informative overview of the Church’s traditional position, and the reasons for it. It is to be noted that the prohibition against cremation was never strictly a doctrinal or theological issue, and prior to VII dispensations were occasionally given from the mandates of Canon 1203 (1917 CCL)

http://sspx.org/en/is-cremation-forbidden-by-catholic-church

Selling advertising space on the back page of the parish bulletin is also not necessarily “nontraditional”. While a very common practice in many diocesan parishes today I also note that the CMRI chapel at Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane does this, and likely many other examples could be found. While this is probably more common today than previously, I do recollect reading that it was not an unknown practice back as the 19^th Century when the Church in the U.S. was built up by a massive immigration wave. “Nativist Americans” often wouldn’t trade with immigrant owned shops, or “Nativist American” shops and tradesmen would refuse to serve immigrants. Parish bulletins would list the Catholic owned businesses so parishioners would know where to go.

Back to the funeral home topic:

As a point of reference, while I’ve worked in agriculture (mostly with dairy cows) my entire life, I once considered becoming a funeral director and have always followed trends and issues in that industry as a side interest. I “retired” from a research dairy farm a year ago to move and help care for my 96 year old mother and I currently work part time for a local funeral home as a removal technician and funeral assistant … considering getting a Mortuary Science degree and becoming licensed if I can arrange to do an internship … please say a Ave for my discernment in this matter. I only mention this as I perhaps have some “credentials” to address the topic.

As a practical matter, unless a particular funeral home serves primarily a traditional Jєωιѕн or Muslim clientele, and with some volume of business there, EVERY funeral home today offers cremation services (if they don’t have their own crematorium they have contracted with another crematorium), or they will simply and quickly go out of business. Even “back in the day” a traditional Catholic funeral home would get the occasional call from a non-Catholic family and would provide for a cremation if that was requested, without violating the Church’s Canons as they were assisting a non-Catholic family (I have researched this point).

Also, a traditional Catholic funeral … I define that, in accordance with the Church, as a Vigil Service (traditionally a Rosary in the U.S. but my overseas experience and reading indicates that a recitation of Vespers of the Office for the Dead from the Breviary is actually more universal and traditional, the custom of a Rosary was brought to the U.S by Irish immigrants, but that is certainly good) the evening before, with the casket generally open for a viewing, held at the funeral home chapel, but perhaps at the parish church if a large crowd is expected; A Requiem Mass at one’s parish church, their chapel, or again at the funeral home chapel if there isn’t a suitable traditional chapel in the area; A committal service at a cemetery … is not going to be inexpensive. Costs can be “all over the board” but depending on where one lives the funeral hone charge may range from $2,000 to $8,000 or so ($3,800 seems to be the prevailing range where I live); the casket is probable going to be in the $2,500 - $3,000 range (some firms may offer a decent cloth covered unit in the $800 -$900 range, there are certainly decent 20 gauge metal caskets available in the $1k range, one can spend up to $20,000 or more if they want to, speaking of solid mahogany wood or 48 ounce bronze at this price point); Cemetery costs will involve the plot, the grave liner or vault, the marker or tombstone, and their charges of the opening and closing of the grave, which generally also include the canopy over the internment site and 8 – 12 chairs for the immediate family.

This is just my way of saying that for those who want a traditional Catholic funeral, for themselves or for an older relative, it behooves them to do some planning ahead. I am happy to answer any questions in this regard.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2018, 05:40:07 PM »

Why is an open casket customary? It seems macabre to me.

I've told my family that when I go I want a closed casket; I want everyone to remember me the way I was the last time they saw me alive.

Nadir · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2018, 10:48:28 PM »

Isn't death itself macabre?
(One) Definition of macabre
: having death as a subject : comprising or including a personalized representation of death

Of course there's always the possibility that you may look better in death, have hopefully done with suffering.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2018, 11:44:04 PM »

Quote from: moneil on May 13, 2018, 03:10:18 PM

This is just my way of saying that for those who want a traditional Catholic funeral, for themselves or for an older relative, it behooves them to do some planning ahead. I am happy to answer any questions in this regard.

This was going to be a PM.   It is not now because I chose sacrificing privacy to bring up an issue that hasn't been front and center yet because our situation began so recently, 1958. I anyway trust that God sees all this and has compassion and love, plus all the saints are watching and working.   Reality will be felt more and more as there will be no one right way; charity will develop.

Hello. I'm looking to relocate out of Hawai'i and am surprised to find the issue of death taking a high place, lately. For example, I am considering a chapel in Boynton Beach, Florida. When I asked about what happens to parishioners who die, my contact said they hadn't thought about it. This seems to be what is going to occur in lots of mission churches in traditional Catholicism. I'm a little puzzled about it to say the least.... because I am by myself, I have to take responsibility to plan ahead.

The chapel does not appear to have a cemetery, it could be a source of income but I am not even sure the grounds would support that and in any case how strange that I would be the one to think of it... , and the clergy who serve it are quite unusually busy - coming from Norwood, Ohio (Fr. Jenkins and the priest who works with him of the SSPV).

I visualize and see the reality: priest flies in when called for last rites (I am praying and trying to live so as to deserve this blessing and others at death); priest returns later; body is transported to the church; priest officiates; priest travels to gravesite (Boynton Beach has cemeteries it seems from a search); priest officiates at mass and other possible responsibilities.  All of which take time. It just isn't realistic.  I know all the traditional clergy with mission churches will have this problem or already do have it. But my main concern to put mind at rest, pay for whatever, etc., is myself.

I would love to read your thoughts on the future - yourself, if you will be alone eventually, and what your plans may be, and any thoughts on the future of people within traditional Catholicism's mission churches (!) I'd recently thought of starting a thread myself on that, just by laying out my own situation and thoughts sometime in June if I still wanted to then. I wait and hesitate and think before posting on this site.

I'm glad I found your post using a search for Cremation. I'd done that search earlier, before your post appeared, turning up nothing conclusive except, cremation is rejected on the basis of tradition. Fr. Jenkins believes it is wrong, according to what I have learned in his catechism series, but he is very sensible... I still would like to know what a thinking person other than myself has to say about the future.... I just learned that by 2035 it is estimated that close to 80% of people will be choosing cremation.

I'd rather be buried. But, I have to plan ahead to provide! And if I am in this situation... so are others - because not everyone is in a family today or will have one to support them at death, because of the number of people being served in mission churches in remote or odd areas, or because many are in service jobs, or burdened with student loan debt even living at home with parents who themselves are not wealthy. Traditional Catholics will be among them.

Nandarani · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2018, 11:46:29 PM »

above from Nandarani who forgot to check the box

Author Topic: Does the SSPX support cremations? (Read 1479 times)

Änσnymσus

Does the SSPX support cremations?

moneil

Re: Does the SSPX support cremations?

Änσnymσus

Re: Does the SSPX support cremations?

Nadir

Re: Does the SSPX support cremations?

Änσnymσus

Re: Does the SSPX support cremations?

Nandarani

Re: Does the SSPX support cremations?