The Inculturation of “Pasahat Ulos Saput” in the Death Tradition of “Saur Matua” of the Batak Toba Tribe in the Catholic Church’s Blessing of the Body

This article analyses one of the death traditions in Indonesian society, specifically the Saur Matua death tradition of the Batak Toba tribe. It explores a particular ritual as an entry point for inculturation within the Catholic Church’s funeral rites. A qualitative, ethnographic approach was employed, involving in-depth interviews with four informants recognised by the Batak Toba community as experts in Batak culture (known as Raja Parhata, ceremonial public speakers). Interview data were enriched with insights from books and scholarly articles. The analysis yields several conclusions regarding possible inculturation. Firstly, the Church may include the ritual “Pasahat Ulos Pucca as Ulos Saput” as an inculturated element within the Blessing of the Body. The ritual shares the same intention as the funeral service, seeking God’s blessing for the deceased. The Church prays for and blesses the body by sprinkling holy water; Tulang or Hula-hula blesses the body by bestowing “Ulos Pucca as Ulos Saput.” Secondly, after blessing the earth and flowers as symbols of Christian hope for the dead, the Church may also bless the Sijagaron, a distinctive symbol in the Saur Matua ceremony. The overall aim is to enable Batak Toba Catholics to appreciate the Saur Matua tradition as a celebration of faith so that traditional elements can be carried out reverently.