I am Catholic. What does my church say about cremation, spreading ashes at sea and full-body burials at sea?
According to the Committee on the Liturgy, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Catholic Conference regarding Cremation and Burial at Sea – July 1999, while cremation and sea burial of a body is now permitted, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body. A body or cremated remains of the body maybe properly buried at sea in the urn, coffin, or other container in which they have been carried to the place of committal. When a body or the cremated remains of a body are buried at sea, the following Committal Prayer is used: Lord God, by the power of your Word you stilled the chaos of the primeval seas, you made the raging waters of the Flood subside, and calmed the storm on the sea of Galilee. As we commit the body (earthly remains) of our brother/sister [name] to the deep, grant him/her peace and tranquility until that day when he/she and all who believe in you will be raised to the glory of a new life promised in the waters of baptism. We ask this through Chr
