Cremazione: e poi? Una nuova sfida pastorale

Abstract

This paper acknowledges, first and foremost, the significant change of men-tality which has come about also among practicing Catholics regarding cre-mation and above all the successive dealing with the ashes, observing the increase in the tendency to conserve these ashes at home or of scattering them in areas not always intended for such a purpose. After giving a brief historical background, which shows the passage from a clear cut refusal of cremation on the part of the Catholic Church, the true meaning of Christian burial is highlighted with a resulting distancing from choices which, even though civilly allowed, cannot and must not be accepted by those who claim to belong to the Church. The appreciation from a pastoral point of view of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s Instruction “Ad resurgen-dum cum Christo” which is cited in the Archdiocese of Milan’s Directory for the celebration of funerals, to which the paper gives particular attention, is oriented towards renewing the formation of Christians in this area and find-ing solutions which encourage the entombment of cinerary urns.