Q: My bishop and I are revising the diocesan directions for funerals. We have a question and think we have the answer but neither of us can find the documentation.
At a funeral mass at which the urn is present instead of a casket … do you incense the urn? We both say no. Is this correct answer and what do we cite?
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A: Actually, you do incense the urn. The OCF never forbids it. What do you cite? Well, it’s hard to cite something that isn’t there. 434 says that the covering of cremated remains with a pall is omitted, but there is never a similar remark about incense.
I always incense the urn. It’s part of the respect and prayer we give the deceased.