The tradition of the Church has always been the celebration of the Mass with the body present. This is the norm and it is encouraged that all have the Funeral Mass with the body present. Christians respect and honor the body of the dead, which in Baptism became the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The Funeral Mass includes the reception of the body, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Final Commendation & Farewell. Recently the directives of the church have stated that we are to give the same respect to the remains in an urn as we do to the body in a casket. This means we welcome those families who wish the body of their loved one cremated.