Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
Your Term:
BURIAL, CHRISTIAN
Internment of a deceased person with the Church's funeral rites in consecrated ground. Since it is an honor granted by the Church, it follows that the Church may determine who is worthy of it. The general practice of the Church is to interpret certain prohibitions of Christian burial as mildly as possible. Doubtful cases are referred to a bishop. If the burial is to take place in a cemetery that has not been consecrated, the grave must be individually blessed before a Catholic person is interred.
