Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Here in the Easter Season it struck me as a good time to address a question that I often receive about cremation. Is it permissible? In a simple word yes, with a caveat that it must not be chosen as a sign of denial of the Resurrection. The recent history of cremation is that in the 1917 code of canon law, it was expressly forbidden. However, as interest in cremation grew in the western world, a concession was granted in 1963 which was incorporated into the 1983 (and still current) code of canon law. [Canon Law = Catholic Church law]. Canon 1176 reads:

“The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.”

Because we firmly believe that our bodies will one day share in the resurrection of Our Lord, we must treat them with respect, reverence, and due care. Yes, at the final resurrection, God will resurrect the bodies of everyone who has ever lived and died, whether they were cremated or not, whether any mortal remains still exist or even if every trace of their remains has disappeared.

One very important element is that cremated remains deserve the same respect, reverence, and due care as bodies which are not cremated. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner

in which they are carried, appropriate placement and transport, and given final disposition in a earthen tomb, mausoleum, columbarium or common grave in a cemetery. It is important to bury such a vessel as soon as possible, no longer than a year after death,

in order to complete the Corporal Work of Mercy, of burying our loved ones. “The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on
the ground, or in keeping cremated remains in the home of a friend or relative of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.” (Liturgical Norms on Cremation, 417).

The Church does express a strong preference for the burial of the body rather than cremation. It most clearly brings to mind the life and death of the beloved one, and clearly expresses the loss experienced by every friend, relative, and loved one of the deceased. While Holy Mother Church expresses this strong preference she also wishes to assist her children who chose the option of cremation for a variety of reasons.

Hence the insistence on reverent treatment and burialof cremated remains. All of the faithful benefit from the witness to our faith in the resurrection and the beautiful ability to visit the graves of our loved ones.

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in King George and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Colonial Beach have created a Catholic section within the existing Historyland Memorial Park in King George. The Catholic section will include an altar facing east with a large wrought iron gate bearing the Latin inscription “Coemeterium Sanctae Elisabeth et Sancti Antonii” (Cemetery of St. Elizabeth &
St. Anthony). Plots are being sold now. If you are interested in this option or have questions, contact Shelley Buckles at stanthony@va.metrocast.net or 540-848-4785.

May each of us, immersed in the Paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of the Lord, take great hope that this too is our future!

Pax,

Fr. Mosimann

From Our Pastor

May 8, 2021 St Mary Fred

Dear Folks,

Happy Mother’s Day! We owe such a debt of gratitude and prayer to our mothers! May the Lord protect them and keep them always in His loving heart!

Which reminds me: we need to thank our heavenly mother! So May Crowning next Sunday… remember this from prior to the pandemic?

This year we will try something different: at the end of each Mass, all (in church and PLC too) will be invited to process out to the outdoor statue where we can place a flower offering and sing a song in honor of Our Lady.

At its heart, a may crowning is a simple act of love for our heavenly mother. Today we are honoring our mothers with flowers or breakfast in bed or even doing the dishes without complaining! Does any mother refuse such acts of tenderness? Once I gave my mother eight very small flowers that I brought back from a pilgrimage to a Marian Shrine. One flower for each of her eight children. Mom treasured this gift.

But imagine if you gave mom flowers by just tossing them at her feet and then going about business as if it were just another day. An external act, if it is not also internalized, is meaningless. So much of our Catholic way of liturgy finds itself at this nexus. The external is not itself the meaning, but it gives expression to and forms the internal. Show me how you pray, and I will show you how you believe.

So next weekend all (but especially the young) are invited to bring a flower for Our Lady. And If you forget to bring one, don’t panic… we will have some extras for you. May the flowers at the feet of Our Lady, be an external manifestation of the many more acts of Love we place in her hands for her to give to Jesus.

pax,
fr mosimann

Scam Email

May 3, 2021 St Mary Fred

There is once again a scam email go around asking for gift cards or a favor. This is a scam. Father will never contact you for gift cards or money over email. Never.

From Our Pastor

May 1, 2021 St Mary Fred

Dear Folks,

Thank you for your gracious support of the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. We hit our annual goal with more than $400k pledged to supporting so many excellent causes, of which the first in my mind is the training of future priests. I know that some folks are still sending in pledges, as we always like as many families as possible to participate. Thank you for your generosity!

Do you ever read the accounts in the scriptures and wonder why we don’t regularly see such miraculous happenings? I usually think of two possible reasons: God doesn’t want it or we don’t want it. Why would God not want such miraculous events to be an everyday occurrence? Miracles are given to bolster our faith. When God intervenes in the natural order it is done for our benefit, so that we might believe in His Son. Consistently in the Scriptures, miracles lead to professions of faith in Christ as the Messiah. Our Lord also says to “Doubting Thomas” after the resurrection, “Blessed are those who believe and do not see.” This is because it is more difficult to believe without being an eyewitness. One possibility is that we don’t regularly see miracles because God is blessing us and strengthening our faith in this mature way.

The other possibility is that God is desiring but we are not open to the gifts He wants to give us. God never shoves his love down our throat, and if he is ignored and left on the fringes, He will not do parlor tricks to get our attention. The recipients of the miracles in the Gospel are really striving to know Him. They are opening holes in roofs to be lowered down in front of Him, pressing through crowds just to touch the hem of His garment. What can we do? Ask for miracles, long for them, and seek God with more fervor. That longing, striving, and overcoming difficulty is a great expression of faith. However, it runs counter to our immediate gratification culture, and we are tempted to give up. Know that God is with you, and never give up. His love endures forever.

And know that miracles do happen. I know a priest who after anointing someone in an airport got a letter from the cop on the scene who said, “I don’t know what you did, but I know that guy was dead before you did it, and then he came back to life.” I know of people who have been healed of illness. But most of all I know of many souls brought back to God by the forgiveness of their sins. I certainly long for more miracles, but unfortunately I can’t say why they don’t happen in specific cases. I just hope that our faith is sufficient that the Lord can work in, through, and for each of us as He truly desires.

pax,

Father Mosimann