As All Souls’ Day comes near, a Catholic bishop has reminded the faithful that ashes of cremated loved ones cannot be kept at home.
In a pastoral instruction issued recently, Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila said that ashes of the dead should be kept in a sacred place, such as columbaria and cemeteries.
“I would like to remind everyone that it is not allowed for us to keep the urns containing the ashes in our homes permanently,” Pabillo said.
He warned of “great danger of desecration in the future,” especially when there is no one around to look after and care for the ashes.
“So the ashes should be laid to rest in columbaria in the cemeteries or in churches,” he said.
The bishop made the statement as he acknowledged the increasing number of dead being cremated due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2016, the Vatican affirmed that Catholics may be cremated but should not have their ashes scattered or kept in urns at home.
“Undas online” accepting prayer requests
Meanwhile, the Undas web site is back online to accept prayer requests as cemeteries across the country will be closed on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.
The media office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) revived the web site so that Filipinos can request prayers for their departed loved ones.
Now on its ninth year, the platform was originally intended for Filipino seafarers and those in other countries who had no way of celebrating Undas.
The web site initially highlighted an online facility to request for Masses for their beloved dead.
Later, it added more features that approximated a virtual experience in observing Undas.
This year when cemeteries will be closed nationwide from October 29 to November 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the web site has some new features.
“There will be live online Masses that will be streamed from different places,” said Msgr Pedro Quitorio, CBCP Media Office director.
“One can even light a candle online while praying for their dear departed,” he said.
The web site also offers audio and video reflection and catechesis on All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.
In Manila, Bishop Pabillo encouraged the faithful to observe Undas by going to church to hear Mass.
He said that more Masses will be added by parish churches in the archdioceses to accommodate churchgoers and still observe physical distancing.
“On November 1 and 2, all are encouraged to go to Church and offer Mass for our beloved dead. The Holy Eucharist is the best prayer that we can offer,” Pabillo said. CBCP News
Image credits: Manila Cathedral
2 comments
Q: What will happen if you keep the ashes in your home?
A: They will become rats and other insects when such insects and mammals eat them. Jokingly true. The ash as a material thing may be spoiled and scattered everywhere when no one will take care of them. So the catholic authorities are right in saying don’t keep it in your house. For sanitation purposes.
Q: What will happen when the ashes will be scattered everywhere, may the person’s soul found no home one day on the Judgment day?
A: God is God, He can make a brand new body. The ashes are immaterial. However, this does not mean that we scatter everywhere the ashes of one’s body. Let it be keep in the proper place, the cemetery or a sanitized place.
Legally speaking, is it allowed though? To keep ones ashes at home…safely stored in a secured location of course.