TCA Question & Answer of the Day

Each weekday, you'll find a new question and answer. Check back for the new question and scroll down to see previous day's entries! Let us know what you think - - or question! -- by emailing us at tcanswer@osv.com.

For the Week of Nov. 9-13, 2009

Question of the Day for Friday, November 13, 2009

Mementos on caskets?

Q. At a recent funeral of the son of a neighbor, the family placed a soccer shirt and ski goggles on top of the casket. This seemed odd to me, but I did not know if there are rules about what may be placed on a casket. What is your opinion?

-- Name and address withheld

A. Here’s a reply from OSV columnist Msgr. M. Francis Mannion:

On the occasion of a funeral, certain flexibility is appropriate in dealing with the desire of a family to personalize the memory of the deceased. On occasion, people do place seemingly odd things on top of or near caskets, but usually some kind of appropriate compromise can be met so that liturgical propriety can be maintained. However, a funeral is never a good time for the priest and parish staff to get into arguments with families.

My own pastoral practice when such situations arise is to suggest that nonliturgical symbols be used in the funeral home around the time of the vigil service, but that they not be used at Mass as there are liturgical symbols that take precedence. Most people seem to understand the reasonableness of this position.

The symbols that are properly used on top of a casket during a funeral Mass are the pall, which is a reminder of the white garment given at baptism; a Book of the Gospels, which signifies the call of all the baptized to live according to the word of God; and a cross, which reminds us that our whole lives lead up to the moment of death and that Christ is the one who saves us from final death.

The general regulation of the Church on the matter of symbols that may be used on caskets during funerals is found in the Order of Christian Funerals, which states:

"Only Christian symbols may rest on or be placed near the coffin during the funeral liturgy. Any other symbols, for example, national flags or flags or insignia of associations, have no place in the funeral liturgy" (No. 38).

If people insist on having non-liturgical symbols at the funeral Mass, it is best if these are made part of a display of mementos of the deceased and placed, perhaps, in the vestibule or wherever the family is greeting those attending the funeral. Usually good compromises can be found between the liturgical norms and the desire of the family to personalize the memory of the deceased.

Question of the Day for Thursday, November 12, 2009

God Parents and Sponsors: Who Qualifies?

Q. I would like to know the exact qualifications required for godparents or confirmation sponsors.

Chesterine Kalish, via e-mail

A. Here’s a reply from TCA columnist Father Francis Hoffman, J.C.D.:

The answer is in the Code of Canon Law. Canon 874 tells us that a sponsor should be (1) at least 16, unless the bishop or pastor makes an exception; (2) a practicing Catholic who has already been confirmed and made his first Communion; (3) free of any canonical penalty; and (4) neither the father nor mother of the person to be baptized.

The same criteria apply for confirmation sponsors. In my opinion, the most important criterion is that the sponsor be a good practicing Catholic.

Question of the Day for Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Salvation for the Non-Baptized?

Q. We are all born with original sin (except Our Lord and His Blessed Mother). So how are people of other faiths that don't have baptism -- Jews, for example -- saved?

Carmine Alfaro, Smithtown, N.Y.

A. Here’s a reply from TCA columnist Father Ray Ryland, Ph.D., J.D:

Without access to the fullness of Christ's truth and His nourishing sacraments, it is not possible for a person to attain to the fullness of earthly life for which he or she is created. But those persons who through no fault of their own have not had that access -- that is, those who are "inculpably ignorant" of the Gospel -- can still be saved.

Note that I said such a person can be saved, not necessarily will be saved. The Church teaches that if such a person has loved and served God to the best of his or her ability, on the basis of the best information he or she has, then salvation is possible. However, only God knows which individuals without access to the truth and the sacraments have in fact served God in such a way; we can't assume that the salvation of them all is guaranteed.
For that reason, evangelization remains an inherent part of the Church's mission. The Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity (Ad Gentes) states clearly:

"Though God in ways known to himself can lead those inculpably ignorant of the gospel to that faith without which it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6), yet a necessity lies upon the Church (cf. 1 Cor 9:16), and at the same time a sacred duty, to preach the Gospel. Hence missionary activity, today as always, retains its power and necessity" (No. 7).

Question of the Day for Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Is the World Ending?

Q. I am sure that you have heard or read about the legend  that the world will end or be changed radically on Dec. 21, 2012.  Can you comment on this?

-- Name and address withheld

A. Here’s a reply from Father Reginald Martin:

Jesus is very clear that no one knows “of that day or that hour” the world will end.  Thus, he urges us, “Take heed, watch, for you do not know when the time will come.”  The world may end on December 21, 2012 (when an ancient calendar apparently runs out) but it might as easily end tomorrow – bad news, indeed, for someone who has decided to put off repentance until December 20, 2012.

History records numerous unsuccessful attempts to predict the end of the world; common sense suggests this one will prove equally inaccurate.  More to the point, however, is Jesus’ warning to “take heed.”  The Church teaches that God’s Kingdom is among us now, to be revealed fully, and gloriously, at the end of time.  Meanwhile, we must cultivate the Kingdom as we find it.  Vatican II’s Gaudium et Spes, warns that not knowing when the world will end is no invitation to complacency.  “Far from diminishing our concern to develop this earth, the expectancy of a new earth should spur us on, for it is here that the body of a new human family grows, foreshadowing in some way the age which is to come” (39.2). 

Question of the Day for Monday, November 9, 2009

Communion Qualifications?

Q. When someone gets married without the blessing of the church, are they supposed to stop going to Communion?  It was my understanding that as a Catholic you needed your marriage to be either blessed or sacramental to be able to receive communion without being disrespectful to the precious body and blood of our Lord.  Can you give me directions on where to look for this answer?

 Kathy Labrum

A. Here’s a reply from Father Reginald Martin:

Our Catechism is a good place to begin a study of this question.  No. 1355 includes a quote from St. Justin, who wrote (late in the 2nd Century) “no one may take part in [the Eucharist] unless he believes that what we teach is true….”  Presenting oneself for Communion is a public witness, by which an individual expresses belief not only in the Eucharist, but in the whole body of Catholic teaching, including the Church’s teaching on marriage.  Unmarried couples “living together,” and couples who (for any reason) have married outside the Church, are not witnessing the Church’s teaching on marriage, so they should not receive Communion. 

No. 1651 of the Catechism addresses the specific question of Communion and those not married according to Church norms.  It encourages the couple to participate in the prayer life of the Church as fully as possible (although not to receive communion), and urges the faithful to be compassionate to these individuals, offering whatever spiritual support they can.