"I Promised My Sister I'd Scatter Her Ashes - What Should I Do Now?"(Father Simon Says)

Cynthia from Chicago called in with a real-life moral dilemma: her late sister asked for her ashes to be scattered in the ocean, but Cynthia’s pastor said, “Nope, can’t do it.” Cue the Catholic teaching moment! 📚   Here's Fr. Simon's response!   The Church’s Teaching: We believe in the sacredness of the body: it's not just some shell for the soul. Nope, it’s you! That’s why scattering ashes or keeping them in random places doesn’t fly. Burying or placing them in a columbarium or mausoleum shows reverence for the body, as it waits for resurrection. 🙏   “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”: Fr. Simon reminded Cynthia this phrase reflects the biblical belief that our bodies return to the ground, not water. He also pointed out how burial aligns with Jewish and Christian tradition, contrasting with pagan practices of scattering remains.   A Creative Solution: Cynthia was feeling bad about breaking her sister’s wish. Fr. Simon said, “Hey, honor her memory another way!” Maybe toss a biodegradable picture into Lake Michigan (bonus: it flows to the ocean 🌊) or something symbolic, like a figurine. 💡 Just don’t litter, y’all.   Oh, and he threw in a spooky cautionary tale about people who didn’t bury their loved ones properly and ended up with, uh, mysterious noises at night. 👻   Fr. Simon’s Mic-Drop Moment:   “A bad promise is better broken than kept.” (Thanks, Abe Lincoln.)     Big Takeaway: The Church’s rules aren’t just red tape: they’re rooted in love and respect for who we are, body and soul. Cynthia left the call feeling relieved, with a plan to honor her sister in a way that’s creative and Catholic. 🙌   Fr. Simon’s mix of humor, history, and pastoral advice? 10/10. 🏆     The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.