It's so hard to say goodbye to someone we love. But scattering the ashes of a loved one—or finding a final resting place for their ashes, which is known as interment—can offer us a deeply meaningful moment of connection in the midst of our grief.
Once you have scattered will probably feel different, a sense completion, not necessarily closure. Grief is a journey, there are no way of fast forwarding to the end where the pain goes away. Scattering the ashes of loved one will not take away the pain but it may well move you on to a different part of the journey.
Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.
It Symbolizes “Letting Go”
The spreading of ashes is symbolic of the physical and emotional aspects of letting go of a loved one. It can help those who are grieving better let go of their sorrow.
However, it's important to remember that the Bible does not explicitly prohibit or endorse cremation or the keeping of ashes. Ultimately, the decision of what to do with the ashes of a loved one is a personal one, and should be made based on what feels right for the family.
You might also decide that it is best to part with the ashes sooner. Holding on to the ashes can prologue the grieving process and make it harder to accept your loss. It could be that scattering the ashes provide the closure you need to move on, while still giving you a place you can visit to remember them.
Ashes are blessed and distributed on Ash Wednesday, often during Mass or a prayer service. People walk up to the altar using the same process as Communion.
Your loved one's ashes don't have to stay together either. Families can choose to split the ashes of the deceased among the wider family, where the individual families can choose what they want to do with them.
Cremation occurs at such a hot temperature all micro-organisms are destroyed, and the remaining ashes are inert. After cremation there are no public health risks associated with handling ashes.
You can read more about the superstitious aspects of urns and ashes, but with few exceptions in special cases, nothing scary happens when you open an urn. Most likely, it won't even be messy because the ashes should be sealed in a protective plastic bag within the urn.
For many people, the act of scattering a loved one's ashes brings peace and closure. It can symbolize the return of the individual to nature, or the release of their spirit to heaven.
Losing anyone close to the heart is emotionally draining. You are just left with memories and a feeling that you will never see the person ever after. By keeping ashes or remains of your loved ones at home, you are not only treasuring their memories but making them an eternal part of your lives.
Some people find it comforting to keep ashes close by. You might keep them in an urn or box, have them made into jewellery, or bury them along with trees or flowers in the garden.
The newest guidelines from the Vatican state that Catholic people can be cremated, but their ashes should not be scattered at sea, and the urn should not be kept in the home.
This may still be the case for many superstitious individuals; but for most, keeping ashes at home is a normal and quite common thing. The main reason people think it's bad luck to keep ashes at home stems from an ancient ruling made by the Vatican which forbade Catholics from keeping ashes in their homes.
During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments. Teeth usually burn during cremation, but not entirely.
While you may wish to scatter cremated remains in a location that is meaningful to you or your loved one who has passed away, it may not be the best decision over the long-term. There are more than a few reasons why it's a better idea to make cemeteries the final resting place for cremated remains.
Keeping ashes in the home can be a comforting and meaningful way to still feel connected to a loved one for many people. The key point to remember is that you decide what feels right for you; there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Therefore, no two cremated remains are the same. In order for something to decompose, it must have organic substances in it. Since all of the organic matter is burned away during cremation, this is why ashes can last (almost) forever - or at least for our entire lifetime.
The Vatican decreed that the ashes of loved ones have no place in the home, and certainly not in jewelry. It urged that cremated remains be preserved in cemeteries or other approved sacred places.
Lord, we scatter these ashes not just so that we can fulfill the wishes of our loved one, but also as a symbol of acceptance of your will over his life. We wanted him (her) to continue living, but God, you called him (her) back home according to your will.
Items that are not safe for the water or marine life are not permitted. What happens to ashes scattered at sea? Human ashes are like sand and they do not float. They will not dissolve in the water; instead, they will descend into the ocean until they hit the floor.