Funeral without a body

In Paul Turner's Blog by Paul Turner

Q: Can a funeral mass be held without a body or cremains present as in the instance where the body was interred after death and now the family wants to have a mass.

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A: Yes, indeed. In fact, that is what should happen in this circumstance.

In the case of cremation, the appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals in the United States treats this in 423-424. It’s the second of three options.

The same could happen with a body present. Paragraph 6 of the Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals calls for a Mass after interment if one did not happen before. You’ll find the introduction in the back of that book instead of the front.