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Dear catholic.com visitors: This website from Catholic Answers, with all its many resources, is the world's largest source of explanations for Catholic beliefs and practices. A fully independent, lay-run, 501(c)(3) ministry that receives no funding from the institutional Church, we rely entirely on the generosity of everyday people like you to keep this website going with trustworthy , fresh, and relevant content. If everyone visiting this month gave just $1, catholic.com would be fully funded for an entire year. Do you find catholic.com helpful? Please make a gift today. SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR NEW MONTHLY DONATIONS! Thank you and God bless.

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Is it Required that the Bodily Remains or Cremains be Present at a Catholic Funeral?

Question:

Is it required that the bodily remains or cremains be present at a Catholic funeral?

Answer:

No, but it is good for the remains to be at the funeral if possible, because they can then be blessed. If the remains are not present at a funeral Mass, then the Mass that is offered is a memorial Mass.

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