A happy death!
St. Joseph is the patron saint of a happy death.
http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htm"What's that about?"you ask.
Well, I'm no expert, but the only 2 things that I am certain of are this very moment and that one day you and I will die.
We are all sent here as pilgrims by our Heavenly Father.
As a Eucharistic people we are given a road map:Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth 5 and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
We are given sustenance : For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread,
24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
We are given a mission: Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Matthew 28:11-13
And we are given guidance.And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
17 the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18
I recently was listening to a program on NPR that told of Civil war "death bed letters". One of the soldiers in a letter to his father expresses his gratitude that " you will be DELIGHTED to know that I have had a good death." It seems that somewhere in our modern world we have forgotten the importance of preparing for our departure. I am not talking of financial affairs and funeral planning, I am talking of spiritual preparation for ever after.
Is is denial? Is it too scary to face the inevitable?
As a mother I pray for the faith of my children every day. I pray that they see the gift of their Catholic faith and baptism and I pray that they
RUN to grace with gratitude to the Holy Eucharist. I pray that they live their earthly lives in preparation for eternity in Heaven at the foot of Our Heavenly Father.
My first model mother is Mary the Mother of God, how agonizing it must have been for her to see her beloved child be rejected, persecuted and killed for obedience to Almighty God.
My second model mother is my own mother who taught me to ask Mary for prayer. She once told me that she prayed the Memorare every day.
My third model mother is the patron of our site St. Monica. By his own account, as a youth Augustine was quite a delinquent. Patricius his father was a pagan. Monica's life's work was a prayer for her loved ones. Shortly after their conversions, she died a happy, joyful death.
http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htmAs for me, I'm a work in progress. I wrestle in daily prayer for the faith of all of my loved ones.
Our Father in HeavenMay your Holy Spirit guide our footsteps on our Earthly Pilgrimage,That by following the Way of your beloved son, Jesus Christ,Through a happy death we find our life at home with you forever.Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us.Holy Angels, Pray for us.St. Joseph, Pray for Us.St. Monica, Pray for Us.AMEN.May you revel in the grace of the Holy Eucharist today.
Peace and all Good!
Lynn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjgYsHt71XE
