The sixth Corporal Work of Mercy is to Bury the Dead. So how do we bury the dead. We should make sure that those who have died have a funeral. Catholics should have Funeral Masses. It should be a rare exception when a Mass is not celebrated for those who have died. We should do all that we can to make it to funerals. One of the reasons we would have wakes the night before the funeral was to help those who were not able to attend the funeral to be able to come and pray and support the family. Funerals are a great source of healing for families who have lost someone they love. The last thing is that the dead should be put in a permanent place. If someone is cremated, their ashes should be kept all together and placed in a permanent place. Too often cremated remains are not put in a permanent place. We have a Christian duty to make sure that the dead get buried and in a dignified way. Please tell your family what you would like done when you die, and please give them some details of what you would like done, because if all they hear is “Don’t do anything special and bury me in the back 40”, many times that is exactly what will be done. Funerals and burials are also to help the living with their grief. Death is never easy, but there are some things that we can do to help families and friends deal with death better. Do not be afraid to talk about it, and don’t be afraid to write down what you want your family to do. As Christians we must make sure the dead get buried with love and care!
BURY THE DEAD
Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support during difficult times. Through our prayers and actions during these times we show our respect for life, which is always a gift from God, and comfort to those who mourn.
- Send a card to someone who has recently lost a loved one. Make your own card and use some of these prayers.
- Visit the cemetery and pray for those you have lost.
- Spend time planning your own funeral Mass, read through the Order of Christian Funerals and find our hope in the Resurrection.
Excerpt of USCCB.org
Fr. Thomas P. Galarneault