Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated a Mass for All Souls’ Day at St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg Nov. 2, after which he blessed the adjacent parish cemetery.
Modern technology has developed new methods of treating human remains, many of which are incompatible with church teaching, such as “human composting” or alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation. But why is the method of burial so important?
As Catholics prepare to enter All Souls’ Month in November, diocesan priests and parishioners suggest ways to pray for the dead both in November and throughout the year.
While not always pleasant to contemplate, diocesan priests urge Catholics to spiritually prepare themselves for those final moments on earth — and beyond.
