The past two weeks I and those who have come to the funeral services for Marcie Margel and Ralph Melenson, have experienced someting that we don't see too much here at Sacred Heart Church, that being have their bodies present in a casket for viewing, visitation, the praying of the Rosary, and then the Mass of Resurrection. In both cases these two active parishioners have been sent off for the cremation and then at some point internment of the urn with their cremains AFTER the funeral Mass. I found (as the church teaches) that having their bodies present was truly a blessing for those who came to these funeral services. It allowed the family and our parish family members to grieve the loss of these two faithful and faith filled parishioners by looking at them and praying for them individually (before the Rosary and Mass) and together during these prayer times. We were able to place the white funeral pall over the casket that reminds us of their baptismal purity and innocence and in the case of Ralph, we put items on the casket (ie Rosary, prayer books, and crucifix) that spoke clearly of his faith life while on this earth. Since Ralph was a veteran (of the Army) we were able to drape the American flag on his casket after taking the funeral pall off after Mass and witness the military people take the flag off the casket so it could be folded and given to Phyllis, his widow.
While it is the case that there is an added cost to the family to have the body present for the funeral services before cremation takes place, (ie embalming, renting a casket, and transportation costs of the body being brought to and from the church), I pray that everyone who is planning for themselves or their loved one to be cremated after death, will reflect on the great value and blessing of honoring the body of the deceased that received baptism and many of the other sacraments in their faith life on this world. I know I can speak for Phyllis Melenson, who was very thankful that we did for Ralph WHAT the Church urgesus to do (in the order of Christian funerals) in most instances when cremation will be happening and utilize fully the rites and symbols used to commit the deceased person to the care of the Lord for all eternity.
While it is the case that there is an added cost to the family to have the body present for the funeral services before cremation takes place, (ie embalming, renting a casket, and transportation costs of the body being brought to and from the church), I pray that everyone who is planning for themselves or their loved one to be cremated after death, will reflect on the great value and blessing of honoring the body of the deceased that received baptism and many of the other sacraments in their faith life on this world. I know I can speak for Phyllis Melenson, who was very thankful that we did for Ralph WHAT the Church urgesus to do (in the order of Christian funerals) in most instances when cremation will be happening and utilize fully the rites and symbols used to commit the deceased person to the care of the Lord for all eternity.