The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-22
FUN ERALS.

The Church has the greatest solicit
them is shown in the loving benedic-
ton in which they are. held and the
prayers offered in their behalf. The
solemn rites. of her burial services
are chanted for the repose Of their
souls, and their remains are placed
in consecrated ground. To gather
the dead close to her, it has long been
customary when possible to have
their last resting place around or
near the church edif1ce. How signifi-
cant is this custom of selecting the
ground around the Church for a GEM
etery! The Church is watching over
the dead. She gathers them close to
her and is constantly praying for
them. The people hear Mass on Sun
days and then go out into the church
yard" and kneeling down by the little
mounds pray for their departed
friends and relatives. In cities, es-
pecially the large ones, this custom
cannot be put in force.
AS the Sacrifice of the Altar is most
beneficial to the departed, it should,
if in any way possible, be celebrated
at the funerals of all adults or those
who have reached the use of reason
Even the remains of little children
who have not reached the age of rea'
son should be brought to the Church
and funeral services held over them
The funeral services should take place
Sch nhIYToh pnfNrn
nouncing the time and place of these
services the pastor must be seen and
full arrangements made with him.
If this be not done, serious incon'
venience may result. There may be
two funerals on the same day; the
laws of the Church may forbid Mass
to be said on the day selected; OF
the party to be buried, about to be
placed in consecrated ground, must
have a right to such privilege. The
privilege of receiving Catholic burial
must be denied to those who die in
infidelity, heresy or schism; to those
who are accommodated and die
evidently impenitent; to those who
unless deprived of their reason, take
their own lives and die without re
penting; to those who die in due
even though they repent before death;
and also to unbaptized children.
All others should be buried in
Catholic cemetery, if there be one II
the place, otherwise they cannot be
buried with the rites of their Church
except in the case Of convert whose
relatives have lot in a non-Cathol1t
cemetery and they wish to bury hin
in it, and the same exception extends
to Catholics who had lot in a non
Catholic cemetery previous to 1853 OF
who have since acquired one without
any intention of violating the eccle
siastical law. To determine who
should receive Catholic burial, per
NIT must in all cases be issued b!
the pastor.
When full arrangements have beer
made as to the time and manner
services, the funeral should be OF
hand punctually at the time specified
Funerals should not be held on Sun
days or holy days of obligation, II they
can in any way be avoided. Ii helt
on such days, Mass cannot be said
except where there are many priests
and the funeral Mass will not in an!
way interfere with the Masses for thu
people. Such thing can rarely hap
pen in our churches.
The casket should not be opened il
the Church. Regalia of societies for
hidden by the Church should net b.
worn. It is against the spirit OF tn
Church to decorate the casket witt
flowers. Simplicity and reverence ar
recommended instead of expensive
outlay or extravagant show.