Proper Catholic Funeral & Burial

[Guest adsquirrel]

My parents are preplanning their funerals and want my input, as well as my sister's. From what I've heard so far, they've both decided on cremation, and my Mom says she does not want a showing. I want to honor their wishes, but mostly I want them to have a proper Catholic funeral & burial. What is the RIGHT way to do things? Is a showing necessary? Is a vigil prayer service necessary? Should the body be at the funeral mass, before cremation? I've seen that the cremains are supposed to be buried or put into a vault, not kept at someone's home or sprinkled on the ground. Mom actually requested the sprinking on the ground, but I don't think she's really checked into any of this. There are so many variables it is boggling my brain! Help!

[Theoketos]

This matter takes careful study. Here is a good PDF on the matter.

http://www.christthekingccm.org/CTK2011/Forms_files/MslaOCF.pdf

(Maybe DusT should make a pamphlet on this.)

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Cremation is fine with in certain limits.

A showing is not necessary, but is often good for the family.

The Church prefers the body to be present at the funeral mass, but she, the Church, can work around certain necessities.

Cremated remains should reside in a consecrated cemetery if at all possible. The modern fad of sprinkling is rather trite.