Growing Up Catholic in a Small Texas Town:
Complications, Stipulations, and Restrictions
Sometimes, I’m annoyed with the internet, but when I have questions about almost anything, that’s my go-to source. Within 10 seconds, I was able to learn how many people existed. Did you know that since the dawn of Homo sapiens, more than 300,00 years ago, almost 117 billion people have inhabited the earth? This question came to mind as I contemplated the upcoming Easter Season and what’s involved in the Resurrection, not only Jesus’s, but all the good people who have died. I believe that most of those souls will be at the gate when St. Peter throws it open at the end of the world. After all, rumor has it that when Al Capone was on his deathbed, he repented for all the bad things he’d done and asked for God’s forgiveness.
While I was imagining 117 billion souls rising up from the dirt, I was reminded that my husband and I haven’t purchased cemetery plots because we just figured we’d be cremated, save some money, and make it easy on our loved ones. Then I realized I didn’t know if the Catholic church approved of cremation. Back to the internet. Right away, I learned that the church does approve. Whew! Then, I read more and realized there were stipulations. I should have known there are always stipulations. The Catholic church does not make things so easy. I could live to…
