As Catholics, we believe in the afterlife, hope for heaven, and look forward to the resurrection of our glorified bodies at the end of time. However, despite this hopeful outlook, oftentimes many people still have trouble letting go of loved ones after they have died. You may have encountered someone who has held onto the cremated remains (cremains) of a loved one in their home, or preserved them in another form, such as a piece of jewelry; perhaps you have done this yourself. While the sentimentality of these practices is understandable, keeping the remains of our loved ones is strictly prohibited by the Church. Conversely, the Church simultaneously allows, and even encourages, the relics of canonized saints to be distributed for veneration amongst the faithful, which can create confusion about the proper disposition of cremains. Understanding the distinction between the cremains of the ordinary faithful at home and the distribution of saints’ relics for veneration is important and requires examination of Church teaching on the body, resurrection, and the unique role of the saints.