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Catholic Keeping Ashes at Home: A Catholic Perspective

Posted by Henry Kelsey on Oct 4th 2024

 Urn for Ashes

A lot of individuals have embraced the concept of retaining the remains of deceased people in the family possessions rather than undertaking more conventional burial practices. This way, they can remember the loved one personally and with meaning. To a Catholic, this choice often has a highly emotional and even spiritual significance. It is essential to understand how to respect this decision, and a handmade urn could be a beautiful and unique solution. In this blog, we will explore the spiritual significance of keeping ashes at home and the benefits of choosing a handmade urn.

The Spiritual Significance of Keeping Ashes 

1. A Personal Connection

The urn becomes a treasured personal presence to be maintained in the home with all the good memories linked to the deceased. Perhaps it provides an avenue for attachment to the deceased as family members feel a connection to their beloved individual. In the day of grief, it could be something around which the focus could be paid.

2. Catholic Teachings Regarding Cremation

The Catholic Church allows cremation; in fact, it views the practice as legitimate and is no longer opposed to it. Though burial has been respected for centuries, the Church accepts cremation if the practice itself is not done for anti-Christian reasons. Keeping the ashes at home is acceptable from the aspect of the Church as long as they are handled with dignity and respect.

3. Preparing a Sacred Place

The urn may choose a special place in a home where photographs, mementos, and candles will be placed. That special place can become a sanctuary for prayer, reflection, and remembrance, bringing comfort and a sense of celebration over the life of the person gone.

Want to Know? Read this: What to do with the ashes of loved ones?

flower memorial urn

Choosing the Right Urn for Keeping Ashes at Home

There are numerous choices to make when one selects an custom urn for ashes. The most notable option is a handmade urn. Some reasons to consider having such one:

1. Unique Craftsmanship

Handcrafted urns are created with much detail and artistry, making them more reflective of the beloved's personality and essence. Unlike machine-generated urns, each one is unique, so it becomes a special tribute to the deceased. Artisans make use of various materials including ceramic, which would give the family the opportunity to find an urn that resonates with the loved one's style or preferences.

2. Options for Customization

Many artists offer personalization. This may include engraving names, dates, or meaningful quotes into the urn. Personalization adds another level of importance and allows families to create a long-lasting tribute that honors their loved one's memory in a very personal way.

3. Relates to Nature

A handmade urn can be a symbol of connection to nature for those who love natural attractiveness. Most artisans make use of recycled and sustainable materials, while others actually include stone or a plant in the handicraft. This can be perceived as a beautiful addition to any house and could represent the cycle of life.

4. Cultural Significance

Some cultures regard handcrafted objects as being quite personal. Sometimes, the sense is made more of sending an appropriately crafted urn, carefully designed by an artisan who knows all about the cultural traditions. That can pay homage to the heritage and beliefs of the deceased and thus add an extra touch of respect and love to the memorial.

Related Blog: Choosing the Right Urn for Your Loved One

Care of the Urn and Ashes 

Once you've chosen a handcrafted urn, it should be cared for so it will continue to be a lovely and meaningful in-home decoration. Here's how:

1. Safe Place

Find a safe and stable area in which to place the urn. It might be on a mantel, shelf, or dedicated memorial area, but ensure that it is out of the way of bangs and falls.

2. Clean Often

In addition, depending on the material of the urn, it can also need to be cleaned frequently. Ceramic types are best cleaned with a soft, dry cloth so as not to damage the finish of that type of material.

3. Add Rituals

You can also set up some traditions or rituals about the person you love. You can light a candle by the urn, pray for them, and share memories and stories. This ritual might give you comfort, and it will remind you of them.

4. Develop Relatives and Friends to Visit and Share

Invite relatives and friends to visit and share their sense of sorrow. It can bring about a collective feeling of community and comfort in the sense that everyone is accepting of the grief and their emotions are being understood.

Having ashes in the home can be an excellent way to pay tribute and remember a loved one, and this connection goes beyond one's physical life. This can resonate with Catholics because it is close to their thoughts and beliefs, giving them personal space to reflect on themselves and pray for them. A handcrafted urn will add uniqueness and will make more sense as a memorial, as it will always serve to stand as a beautiful tribute to life.

The unique urns for human ashes will capture the essence of your loved one, becoming treasured by your home. It leaves you looking after the urn and includes meaningful rituals to create a lasting legacy that keeps the memory of your loved one alive in your heart and home.

Read Helful Information: Explore the Perfect Size of an Urn for Human Ashes