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I go to the cemetery because my son’s human body is there. The body I hugged and loved. Why wouldn’t I want to be close besides praying for his soul in heaven. RIP out sweet Billy.

My wife and I will be cremated, and our ashes will be in a columbarium in a military cemetery. As Catholics, we consider that ground as consecrated. While I know that no one will visit our "graves", we will still be remembered. And as to scattering, I wouldn't do it, but in my heart I know that God can resurrect us regardless of what happened to our mortal bodies. Those souls lost at sea, those disintegrated by explosion, those of whom no trace can be found will still be raised up by the glory of God, for Whom nothing is impossible.

I try and visit my Wife's grave every week. She was afraid that no one would visit her. The day of her burial I did not feel okay walking away until I made sure she was in the ground and covered. I go to give her updated and to pray for her.

I love cemeteries, so peaceful , a great place to walk. I always remember this one headstone, it was inscribed;" Think of this as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, you too shall be. Lord pray my friends to follow me.

❤I'm a convert from Prostestant about 30 years and I have to say that I'm eternally grateful that I found the truth. My prayer is that every person be given the grace to see the truth and beauty in univeral Catholic church.❤❤❤

My grandmother always taught me to make the sign of the cross every time I pass a cemetery. She said it was a prayer for the souls in purgatory. I have taught my children to do the same. 🙏

As a Catholic cemetery Office Manager I greatly appreciate your sharing of your knowledge and wisdom on this subject!

My parents and one brother are buried about a mile from where I USED TO LIVE. Consequently, since my dad died suddenly in 1989 and my mom in 2008, I was able to visit them often. I would place a rose on mom’s grave on her birthday and Mothers Day. Dad was a WWII Vet and his grave always had a flag….flash forward to 2014….my wife and I relocated a thousand miles away. One of the most difficult things about that move is that I no longer can visit the folks. I get home when I can and the first stop I make is at their graves. My grandma taught me to make the Sign of the Cross when I pass a cemetery. I hope someone does that when they pass my parent’s resting place.

I'm a funeral director in Chicago. St. Monica said "Do with my body what you wish. All I ask is that you remember me at the altar of God." I serve all faiths and even lack thereof. Personally, I'm Catholic, but believe God has the power to resurrect our bodies wherever they may be.

As a Protestant, I have to say that this cheerful priest does a great job of explaining . He actually is excited about the wisdom he is offering.

Father Mike’s ministry is awesome!! I’m becoming a more faithful Catholic because of him.

I felt good hearing this Fr Mike. Almost every week, I visit my son's grave, offer him flowers and light up a candle. Clean up his space and cut the grass too. Thanks for this Fr Mike. I will be more inspired and encouraged to visit my son's graveyard. What a beautiful teaching of giving respect to our departed love ones. God bless you Fr Mike. What a Gift of Wisdom you have.

Thank you…I am Catholic but feeling distant and alone and struggling in my faith. Your posts give much clarity and fill me with hope. Thank you.

As a kid I always was taken by my grandparents to visit my family's gone by, it really laid a foundation for my faith & belief in the spirit. Not to mention i could know those I never met it was profound wonderful beautiful, thanks grandma grandpa

I'm not religious but part of me found peace in this

Thanks for explaining about the dead cause I pray for all my family who have passed away 🙏 thank you father

Here in the Philippines we do not celebrate Halloween instead we visit our cemeteries and pray for our beloved departed ones during Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. It's our tradition here in our country. Families gather and celebrate at the cemetery reliving memories we had of our departed loved ones.

Thank you, Father Mike. You will probably have me excommunicated; I'm on my way out and have asked my family to have my body cremated and to scatter my ashes in a forest. God created forests and those places must truly be truly blessed by Him. I don't want to put my family through a funeral or tie them to a grave. The deer, the rabbits and me....it might not be doctrine, but it gives me peace. God bless you!!

Visiting my son's grave helps me to connect with God in a special place where I actually find healing and inspiration. Thank you for your channel. God's blessings always.

"If your body is building a church -- your body is in a sacred place" Fantastic soundbite.

I’m a senior woman, & I recently bought my own tombstone in a Roman Catholic cemetery that was purchased by my parents in my home town in central northeastern PA. My stone is next to my teenage son, who is right next to my folks. I pray that someday we’ll be risen up together, along with my other relatives buried there. And also in another cemetery up the “road apiece”. I’m a believer! 🙏🏼

Beautiful ending, father. I visit my niece Josie's grave often. She was five months old. And the graves of my grandparents. They remind me of where I am going, and I am what lies in store for them after the resurrection. Beautiful. Thank you.

Thank you, Father Mike. I have had this conversation several times with my husband. I hope he will bury his parents ashes, instead of spreading them as he wants. I encouraged him at least twice to watch this video. Please pray for him. 🙏

My pastor says God can scoop up every cell of our body whether we are in the sea or on the mountain or in a casket when the end time comes and then we will go to be with Him.

Thank you Fr. Mike. I usually go to the cemetery each Sunday, to water and weed the 16 graves of my family. The past few weeks were very hot, and my car was being repaired, so I didn’t go. Your video inspired me to start going again, this Sunday. God bless.🙏

I’ve seen this on headstones - “Remember man as you walk by as you are now so once was I. As I am now so you shall be. Prepare for death and follow me.” A sobering reminder we should be preparing for death every day.

Thank you Father Mike, I visit my fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers and all other relatives at least once a year. Thanks for the reminder to pray when you pass a cemetary! God bless!🌹🌹

My wife was cremated and her ashes scattered on the lake where we spent so many happy summers. When I pass, my ashes will join hers . It is my prayer that I will join her again inn the spiritual sense

My grandfather set 2 world records in skeet shooting in the 80s. When one of the guys on his team died of cancer, he wanted his ashes spread on the skeet range. Long story short, my grandfather honored his request but when my grandmother died, he needed to sell the skeet range. I have no idea who owns the land now, but I think about that now how sad that is that a person is just spread there and mostly forgotten. And everyone involved had the best of intentions. Maybe that's my call to have a mass said for him and pray for him.

WOWZERS! Thank you for this! Although, as a Catholic, I have been dedicated to our customs and traditions, I so love that Fr. Mike has applied "regular" language to this. It makes sense. It can be easily be shared and explained. Thank You!

My father's ashes were scattered on a property the family no longer owns. My mom's cremated remains were buried at the family plot. When I visit my hometown, I visit my mom's grave. It soothes me. I feel close to her. I wish my dad was with her.

Father Mike,I am so blessed to have found you! I have been struggling a little bit about cremation, being a Catholic .. I don't want to leave my boys with questions about what and how I feel about cremation. I'm afraid to have my ashes "scattered" one day.. I pray that our Lord has a long healthy life for me! I am now 65! God bless you father, I'm so thankful you!

It is a such a shame that burying or cremating our loved ones is so ridiculously expensive. I look up to the sky and into my heart to speak to my dearly departed loved ones . They are souls and angels

My parents bought an extra plot next to theirs which is located in Mom's hometown village cemetery. I had fully intended to go in the Pacific Ocean, arguing "what could possibly be more "consecrated" than the sea?" Thanks to yet another solid Fr. Mike explanation, I've now opted to take the plot. Mom was right.........again

I grew up visiting the cemetery weekly with my Nan. We would clean my grandads gravestone, place flowers and sit for a while listening to the birds chirp. Afterwards we’d go for tea and scones. My grandad died of cancer when I was 5, so I don’t have many strong memories that weren’t him lying emaciated in a hospital bed. The weekly visits helped me bond with my grandad after his death on a new level, and make up some of my favorite memories. As an adult I absolutely love cemeteries. They are the most peaceful place to be as far as I’m concerned.

Thank you Fr Mike, just what I needed to hear. I chose cremation, but, with burial, not scattering of ashes. God Bless. Claire.

Thank you Fr. Mike for preaching this sermon. Amen✝

Thank you so much for this. I lost my nephew about eight months ago and I go to the cemetery to visit him about every two weeks. I find solace there and great comfort, knowing that I can share my thoughts and pray for him. This brought great comfort to me, thankyou Father Mike!

Thank you Fr. Mike for this video. My 10 year old daughter was asking me about scattering ashes, and we both learned a lot about our faith and practice. 😊

Thank you Father Mike for this explanation. My mother and her sisters used to always take me and my cousins round the local cemetery here in Scotland to visit our dead relatives and say a prayer. It's something I still do it's special. You make me smile as I was thinking about the Church made of bones you talked previously about and then you mentioned it You are such an inspiration 🙏

My mom's ashes were buried in our little hometown cemetery with family/friends.. But prior to that, my sister and I took some of her ashes and scattered them at her families burial plot overseas. We took her home to be with them as well. ❤️❤️

Thank you father. I love your energy and passion for the faith.

Love this so much and much needed. Please help me and others understand the precious prayers of three rosary and why we should pray it often. I am lost and wish to be found.

Thank you Father Mike. When I visit my daughters grave I find it very comforting to me and I often pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet when I am there. It is Holy Ground, the Lord himself is going to bust that ground wide open some day and raise up all the dead to new bodies like unto his glorious body. What a wonderful promise.

I lost my cousin in 2020 to throat cancer, he was 40 years old. He and his sisters are my other siblings, we are all very close. It has been upsetting to know his wife is scattering his ashes all over the US. They had considered separating them and I promised him if I get a piece of him, he will be buried with me.🙏💔

At St Paul Chapel in lower Manhattan NYC, part of Trinity Church is a grave with that saying. “ See thee as you pass by. As you are now so once was I. As I am now, you soon will be. Prepare for death and follow me.” My uncle was one of many care taker of St. Paul Chapel. A church where George Washington attended.

Thank you, Father Mike Schmitz for guiding and teaching us.

Thank you, Father. I needed to hear this. Back in 2003, my Mom, RIP, passed down in N Carolina, I had her cremated and brought her back “home” to Long Island, NY. Her ashes were interred at a VA cemetery out in Long Island along with my father’s body in his grave. I was sorely tempted to scatter her ashes off Harvey's Beach, Northport, also in Suffolk County on the Long Island Sound. She LOVED this beach back in the ‘30s when she was a kid; she was a very good looking little girl and have a particular picture I have of Mom along with my Aunts and Grandmother -all taken on Harvey’s Beach, 1936. Long story short, I did not, because of the Church’s teaching, but I'm not going to lie-i wanted to. Thank you again.. -

Brilliant lecture about death. Deeply comforting. Thank you father Mike Smitz

I was the one person who arranged my mums Funeral, it was the hardest thing to do but I'd had to do the same for my Father 19yrs ago. I would take my mum with my other sister to the Cemetery. Being there made us feel peace. Other family members called it 'It's just a rock' he's not there why go there. But it was because my mum needed to go there & it was my responsibility to take her. After all she took care of me until I became an adult. Sometimes family can be very selfish in their thoughts, but what can I expect from people who don't have Gods Love in their hearts or lives.

I am so sad hearing this. 😢 My mama passed away years ago, in a house fire. We couldn’t view her during her funeral process, only her casket. I was born at the beginning of the 70’s, the only girl of triplets, with two identical brothers. I was born last, so I was always considered and treated as the youngest. We have a sister who is 4 years older. I had little to no say in the funeral plans. I do know that my mother said if she were to die, she wanted cremation. I never liked the idea, and when she did pass away, it felt so traumatizing, all of it. Two of my siblings met with a funeral director who brought up the idea of each one of us siblings having our own urn with my mom’s ashes being split up in four urns or containers of our choice. Other unique ideas were brought up, I guess, and they decided to split up her ashes. My mother was what I describe as an angel on earth.. a Roman Catholic who had a very strong faith in God. As her children, we were blessed to have such a wonderful mother, who not only made sure we were all children of God, but truly lived Gods way. My mom and all four of us went through abuse and trauma from our chronic alcoholic father, yet, she handled things with grace, got help for us kids when we needed it, never lost faith in adversity, and the toll on her mental health. She always managed to shine this light that never dimmed in all the pain. A remarkable woman who always gave more than she ever had. I have many memories of her bringing us kids along with her, visiting the elderly who lived in the neighborhood, dropping off meals for them, clothing, and just random, thoughtful gifts. She touched anyone she met with her “light up a room smile” and caring nature. A gentle, warm soul. I could go on.. but, the gist of it, is that she served God here on earth, and I have yet to meet anyone so beautiful, kind, and God loving. The ability to find strength even when she was worn down is something to be said. In explaining the situation with her funeral plans, and how she lived her life.. I believe she is in heaven with God, regardless of the way my siblings handled her ashes.

Thank you Fr Mike for this video🙏. I can share this to my children and relatives ( this question just came up few days ago) .Wow! God works in His mysterious way and have heard my prayer to send this video… I pray for you Fr Mike and everyone who is listening and watching this video 🙏🙏💕

Thanks Father!! ❤️ Burying the dead is part of our duties as a Catholic.

Beautiful ending, "what you are now we were, what we are now is what you will be" AMEN

Y😇es, the soul remains alive and living just like God promised, only the body of the flesh suffers a physical death, there is no dead, have a blessed day,

Thank you Fr.Mike for taking the time to speak about burying the dead and visiting their place of rest. We loved our beloved departed on this earth and yes I always make a three hour trip weekly to visit my departed loved ones graves and say a rosary for their souls everyday The Holy Souls depends on our prayers and it’s us who can help them as they no longer can help themselves R.I.P. all holy souls.🙏🙏🙏

Thank you, Father. My two husbands predeceased me. The first was cremated with cremains buried and I will be buried there (not cremated). I used to live nearby but am now about 90 minutes away. The second was buried with his first wife, as we agreed. I visit my second husband from time to time and bring flowers for him and his first wife, but I am not a frequent visitor. Now, I understand the body/soul connection and will do more to visit both of my late husbands, plus my second husband's wife and honor them. Thank you for addressing this topic.

Thank you for explaining this to us, Father Mike. So many people I know have their loved ones remains at home and never bury them. They take them to the ocean or their favorite place and scatter them and think this is okay. As you said, It is an act of mercy.

Your knowledge on the subject is enlightening and appreciated. I grew up praying to the dead and making the sign of the cross when passing a cemetery. My mom passed away two yrs ago and was buried next to her first born in a different state. This makes it difficult for us to visit their graves because of traveling hardship. When my sister visits the graves, she spends close to 4 hours at the site praying and chatting with our mom. It helps her feel close to her.

Thank you father Mike for all the time that you give to us, answering all the questions that we have and for showing us you’re human just like us, I love your little bloopers 😂 God bless you always 🙏🏻✝️♥️ I’m praying for you please pray for me

My husband and I randomly got into the habit of strolling through cemeteries (we've happened to live close by to) on our daily walks. It really helps me ponder the concept of 'memento mori.' Often confronting, always fruitful.

My dad wanted to be cremated and then put into the same coffin with my mother when she died. So, we had the funeral, the cremation, his cremains were put into a nice stone urn, and stayed in our home with us for 8 years until mom died. Then we honored his wishes and they are together in the cemetery. For those 8 years, it was comforting to in a sense, have him around to talk to, even though we knew it was only his ashes and his soul was in purgatory or heaven.

My Grandparents asked to be scattered. Isn’t it an act of Mercy to carry out their wishes? They are in Heaven. Grandma said she was ‘Ready to go Home’. She believed our bodies are just vessels to use here while serving God. Our Souls have Everlasting Life through Christ. 🙏🏼

Thank you again Father Mike! You truly do God’s work by making these videos and educating so many! 🙏

I am not a Catholic but two of my brothers married Catholic women and changed their religion so I have respect for both followings as we all worship the same God. I already have my place of rest in a Church Yard where my daughter was married and my family members ashes are already laid to rest. I always say a prayer for my lost family at the graveyard and when visiting a church I will say a prayer and light a candle for them. I think saying a prayer gives you strength to cope with the loss of love ones as well.

As a child in Germany, after Sunday morning Mass, we visited the cemetery to pray for the dead. To this day I make a sign of the cross when I pass a cemetery or a church.

I did send that question to Fr. Mike back in 2017, after my mother's death. I now have the answer I had long sought. Thank you!!

Father, I lost my spouse to Suicide 5 years ago, at first, I had a friend separate his ashes so I could have some for a bead to wear on me, I felt comfort. At work, someone mentioned it was against my religion. I panicked, had friend put the ashes back, then went on to the burial with my local priest. I do visit grave. Thank you for some insight into my struggles.

Serious question- how do we reconcile this with the fact that bits and pieces of Saints' bodies are all over the world?

Fr your teachings are balsam to the soul. I pray for you every day that the Holy Spirit keeps shining upon you . 🙏

My friends 2 year old perished in a house fire! 😢 I love the graves. The earth has provided for me & my family and I feel grateful to give my whole body back to the earth. . I love your adhd zest for the lord 🤍🔑🕊

This comes back to the answer to every question. We are creatures of the Father. Created to live by His will, not the whims of society or the individual. Burying the dead and praying for them is what we are told to do. Pray for the souls in purgatory, no prayer is ever wasted. If the soul has made it to Heaven our prayer will be applied to another soul. And all this in great hopes that our passed loved ones are praying for us, cuz man, we need it!

Fr. Mike. thank you for referring to the remains as “Cremains” or cremated remains. If we look at that line alone it tells us why we shouldn’t scatter. Cremains are still human remains in a different form and should be treated as a complete human being.

I’m a 76 year old catholic female. I’ve always planned on being cremated. Now at my age when I’m pretty much alone, my sister lives far away and I no longer have friends, I have arrangements to have my body donated to science afterwards they will cremate me and keep the ashes somewhere as there will be no one to take them.

Thank you Father . All my family are buried in Catholic sacred grounds. And I believe we are granted plenary indulgence on certain special days when we visit our loved ones. ♥️🥀

Thank you for reinforcing our prayers for those who have physically died this earthly life and visiting & praying for them is a loving act. God bless 🙏. May all the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God Rest In Peace, Amen.🙏

Thank you! Feeling up lifted with your words. I live in the UK and I am planning to visit my Mum & Dad`s graves in Italy in the next couple of months. It has been five years since my last visit and the delay was because of Covid-19. I just know I will be be over whelmed when I see their graves but will remember your words Fr. Mike. Because there is always going to be a distance for visiting their graves - Prayer is all I have and do daily. So other things I do to remember them is to have a Mass for them on each of their anniversaries. On Christmas day I send them a balloon from my garden with a personal message and pray they will catch it and also share it.

Im Catholic. Im being cremated and my ashes spread in a area special to me.Along with my furbabies. You dont have to pray for someone at a grave. You can pray for someone anytime any place. Funerals and grave sites are for the living. I dont want to be stuck on a mantle or in a china cabinet. I want my body to be free!

Thank you for this. Our son died 17 years ago. It was a deep and agonizing act of love to bury him. We always visit his grave and the grave of his friend that died 11 months before him. It is a sacred task. I pour Holy Water that I bring home from Easter Vigil on his grave each Holy Saturday night right after Mass. I also always pray for others there, visiting graves of pioneers buried there, so many families that lost children, and are now buried next to their children. I stand in the midst of the cemetery on All Souls day and pray out loud.

Thank you Fr Mike, I love to visit my late husbands grave together with my family on Christmas Day , Birthdays and Anniversaries

This video was made perfectly for me at the time my dad has been cremated. Thank you God.

3/4 of my husband's ashes are buried in Holy Ground and the other 1/4 are either in mini urns that I have and his sister and our granddaughter has and I spread some at his favorite 3 beaches at Cape Cod - but most are at the cemetery but I've moved 14 hours away from him so glad I have some of his ashes with me still.

I pray God forgives me for scattering my uncle's ashes. I'm Catholic but i didn't know and he was a lapsed Catholic. Please forgive us Lord and have mercy on my and uncle Joe's souls.

We have a cemetery on our church property. Maintenance of the grounds is a wonderful corporeal work of mercy

Thanks for explaining this. Never understood why people dedicated a mass to deceased loved ones. Now I understand. God bless!

Your Soul is your Mind, Will and Emotions

i think you are blessed with explaining things Father Mike. I like listening to you coz you know how to intricately connect each word, each thing, each scenario together to reveal the perfect explanation. God bless.

I never realized until maybe a few years ago how I as a Catholic, Celebrate similar as to The Day of the Dead. We celebrate my grandma’s birthday by having her favorite meal and listening to Spanish music. When I lived in Florida, and when we visit, we visit my grandma and grandpa, my stepdad and my great uncle. It’s good to keep their memory alive with my daughter and my cousins kids. And it’s good to pray for them. When I lived closer, we would visit all the time. I will have a talk with my grandpa and grandma. Tell them what’s going on in my life. Do some prayers. And we bring Holy Water and sprinkle it around on all the graves as we pass by to visit our loved ones. I feel my loved ones presence as we pray and talk to them and visit. I think it’s good and healthy to keep that spiritual connection with our loved ones. That’s me but that’s how I feel. ♥️

Fr. Mike, although as a faithful Catholic, I love the traditional Mass, but outside the traditional Mass, I love the way you have conversations with us on a personal level. You speak so beautifully and with such “common like logic”. Your presentation is as though we are having a conversation together, as individuals. I am really just trying to compliment you for being so real and your messages from any question, no matter how obscure, you’re able to make sense of them and reply so openly, honestly, and in a way which makes absolute sense. Thank You Fr. Mike, you’re a really great guy and I would love to be a member of your congregation, albeit via live stream to Melbourne, Australia. I would link up with your Church, if I knew where it is. I don’t know if you are able to reply to our comments??🙏🕊✝️🕊🛐🕊🙏

Thank you Father Mike!

Thank you Father.

Thank you. This has been a discussion in our family and you put it so well.

Great conversation. I go to cemetarys all the time. It is a very long family tradition in outer family. Cemetarys across the country too. It is very important for me to go and pray and remember. I even go to pray at the resting place for the priest that married us. All Souls is my favorite Day at the cemetary. 😊 🙏

Thanks for sharing, since I had planned to scatter my ashes when I die, and didn't know this topic. A complete change to my decision when I die

I did not know this!!!! OH NO GOD FORGIVE ME!!!!! I had my mom cremated and scattered... I did not know I could not have her scattered. And, I even kept some of her ashes in a reliquary. I have to go to confession.

An act of mercy. A chance to pray for them. I’m having a hard time understanding why I can’t pray for them every day from anywhere, especially for their soul which lives on.

“Have a great week!” Father Mike take care.

I was raised catholic and am now non denominational .. since carrying for my dad for last 3 weeks rapid brain cancer I’m drawn back to Catholicism after getting an awesome glimpse of the afterlife … and for some reason I was adamant about not separating his ashes

Does anyone consider that most of us can't afford to pay thousands of dollars for a funeral, nor do we have loving children that would want us to have a proper burial and make sure we are taken care of as a final request. We all took care of my parents, they both wanted a funeral, and we made sure it happened, it was very important to them, but it has never been important for me and I wouldn't expect anyone I know to pitch in a few thousand to give me a proper funeral. I understand where most people plan their funeral and they have already paid for most of it, but I personally don't want to think about it until the time comes, and even then, just give the money that I would receive to animal shelters and St. Jude or Shriners for Children where it will be used for a good cause and not a funeral parlor that doesn't care about the dead, it is merely a business to them. I am a Catholic, but final rights has always bothered me. If anything, a celebration of life would be the closest thing to a funeral and that's why so many people I know have chosen that route.