Leviticus 21:11 (WEB)
He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother.
Fathers and councils · 2
Jerome
“…as cruel, yet is necessary to faith: the high priest is forbidden to approach the dead bodies of his father and mother, of his brothers and of his children; to the end, that no grief may distract a soul engaged in offering sacrifice to God, and wholly devoted to the Divine mysteries.” — editor's note: Lev. xxi. 10–12.
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Tertullian
“…father’s obsequies, is that He may show that we are called priests by Him; (priests) whom the Law used to forbid to be present at the sepulture of parents: “Over every dead soul,” it says, “the priest shall not enter, and over his own father and over his own mother he shall not be contaminated.”” — editor's note: Lev. xxi. 11.
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