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Appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals for Cremation
On August 22, 1997, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, President, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, announced that the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments had confirmed the appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals for the celebration of the Funeral Liturgy in the presence of the cremated remains of a body. These texts, which were approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on November 13,1996, were submitted to the Congregation on April 21, 1997, following reception of an indult from the Congregation permitting the presence of the cremated remains of a body at the Funeral Liturgy (March 21, 1997: Prot. 1589/96/L). The Appendix was confirmed in a Decree dated July 30, 1997. The text of the decree follows:
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS Prot. 1589/96/L
This Decree, by which the requested approval is granted by the Apostolic See, is to be included in its entirety within the published text. Two copies of this same text referred to above are to be sent to this Congregation. All things to the contrary notwithstanding. From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 30 July 1997.
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The three publishers who have previously produced complete editions of the Order of Christian Funerals have informed the Secretariat for the Liturgy of their intention to publish an addendum to this ritual book including this Appendix. Future editions of the Order of Christian Funerals will include this appendix as a part of the full edition.
In a decree dated August 15, 1997, Bishop Pilla granted permission for the use of the texts from the feast of Saint Francis of Assist on October 4, 1997. The use of these texts is mandatory from the feast of All Souls Day, November 2, 1997. The text of Bishop Pilla's decree follows:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECREE
The 1989 edition of the Order of Christian Funerals did not make provision for the presence of the cremated remains of a body at the Funeral Liturgy. In response to pastoral considerations and the numerous requests and concerns made known to them, the members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, on August 6, 1996, requested from the Apostolic See an indult to permit the diocesan bishop to allow the presence of the cremated remains of a body at the Funeral Liturgy in dioceses of the United States. This indult was granted by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on March 21, 1997 (Prot. N. CD 1589/96/L). In light of the special pastoral circumstances presented by the presence of the cremated remains of a body at the Funeral Liturgy, texts and ritual adaptations for the celebration of the funeral rites were prepared as an appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals. This appendix was approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in plenary assembly on November 12, 1996, and subsequently confirmed by decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on July 30, 1997 (Prot. 1589/96/L). On the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, October 4, 1997, this appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals may be published and used in funeral rites in the presence of the cremated remains of a body. From All Souls Day, November 2, 1997, its use is mandatory. From that date forward, no other English version of these texts may be used for these liturgical rites and circumstances in the dioceses of the United States of America. Given at the General Secretariat of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC, on August 15, 1997, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
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The Committee on the Liturgy and its staff are grateful to all who contributed to the development of the texts of this Appendix as well as to the NCCB statement Reflections on the Body, Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites, which was designed to serve as a basic catechetical tool for introduction of this rite. This statement (ISBN 1-57455-033-0) is available from the USCC Office of Publishing and Promotion Services (1-800-235-8722).
The August newsletter also contains news regarding:
The June Plenary Assembly of the NCCB
Advisors to the Committee on the Liturgy, including the appointment of Ms. Anne E. Grycz for a three year term
A Position Opening for Director of the Office of Sacred Worship in the Diocese of LaCrosse
Liturgy Workshops in the Archdiocese of Miami