You may or may not be aware that Pope Francis has recently approved and promoted instructions regarding the burial of deceased Catholics and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation. Over the next few weeks, I will try to bring out in sumary fashion, what is said in this instruction, and ask that you reflect on it and use it when planning your funeral arrangements.

The first part of the instruction summarizes and celebrates "the culminating truth of the Christian faith," the Resurrection of Jesus and the hope we have of sharing in the life of the risen Lord.  By death the soul is separated from the body, but the resurrection, God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul." (paragraph2)

"Following the most ancient Christian tradition, the Church insistently recommends that the bodies of the deceased be buried in cemeteries or other sacred places." (paragraph 3)  "By burying the bodies of the faithful, the Church confirms her faith in the resurrection of the body, and intends to show the great dignity of the human body as an integral part of the human person whose body form part of their identity." (paragraph)

The first part of this instruction focuses primarily on two things, our belief in the Resurrection of Jesus and our sharing in His risen life and the importance of burying the bodies of the faithful in a blessed place after a public ritual (normally a Mass or a Liturgy of the Word Service).

I'll keep going on this instruction in next week's Pastor's Column.