A friend died last night

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and they weren’t Catholic:( I was gonna try some “evangelism” at Christmas as they were against the Church.

It’s frustrating in these situations. It doesn’t make an impact to tell
most people that they’re on the road to hell because for some reason we’re all assured that we’re going to heaven. Never mind that we often can’t agree on the way there. I get cynical on the exact chances for heaven. It seems so hopeless sometimes:( But with God all things are possible:) That’s really the only hope or consolation any of us has. But it’s worthy consolation.:yup:

What do you do when someone non-Catholic dies??
 
Lament. You have to pray for their conversion while you can… the chances of heaven, you have to know your faith. Learn about catholicism from someone like mother angelica
motherangelicalive.blogspot.com/

Like the saints
saintsbookscatechisms.blogspot.com/
saintsarefamily.blogspot.com/

We can pray for our friends and loved ones’ salvation and conversion while we can, and God will never let us down. You have to lament because you missed the opportunity to pray for them…

I lament over your friend too

Try to pray for these three intentions, conversion of sinners, perseverance of the just, and relief for souls in purgatory. That way, you will not be disappointed next time because you’ve done all you can. Offer sacrifices and mortifications for them. For their conversion.

Your lamenting is good. It means you know what happened and you love them

Pray without ceasing. Here’s a guidance on prayer so that you can anticipate these things before it happens
prayerguidance.blogspot.com/
 
We can pray for God to have mercy on the person. It is in His hands and we don’t know what God will do.
 
josephback said:
What do you do when someone non-Catholic dies??
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I am very guilty of getting on a “cradle-Catholic rant” about how I KNOW who goes to Heaven or Hell. But we all have to remember (especially me… 'cause this is an issue that I have), that St. Peter is standing at the gates of Heaven. Heaven is GOD’S house. Not MY house. Therefore, it is up to God and God alone. And we won’t know until we get there (hopefully) ourselves. Only God knows what is truly in somebody’s heart.

But… I would recommend that you continue to pray for your friend. That can’t hurt!!!
 
josephback said:
and they weren’t Catholic:( I was gonna try some “evangelism” at Christmas as they were against the Church.

It’s frustrating in these situations. It doesn’t make an impact to tell
most people that they’re on the road to hell because for some reason we’re all assured that we’re going to heaven. Never mind that we often can’t agree on the way there. I get cynical on the exact chances for heaven. It seems so hopeless sometimes:( But with God all things are possible:) That’s really the only hope or consolation any of us has. But it’s worthy consolation.:yup:

What do you do when someone non-Catholic dies??
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josephback - I am sorry for your loss.

I think the Divine Mercy chaplet is the most comforting prayer for the deceased and or dying.

I have prayed it for non-Christians and for two young people that committed suicide (I did not know them but I felt soooo much better after I prayed for their souls and for God’s mercy for them).
 
I pray the Divine Mercy chaplet for non-Christian friends or relatives who have just died or who are in the process of dying and then trust in God’s mercy. I also pray for Mary to intercede at their hour of death so they may have true sorrow for their sins. When I pray for the holy souls in purgatory, I pray for them by name since their families either do not believe or assume their loved one went to heaven (even though they’re not sure they believe in it).
 
For you friend, three prayers:
  1. Lord Jesus Christ! Thou Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary, God and Man, Thou who in fear sweated blood for us on the Mount of Olives in order to bring peace, and to offer Thy Most Holy Death to God Thy Heavenly Father for the salvation of this dying person, If it be, however, that by his sins he merits eternal damnation, then may it be deflected from him. This, O Eternal Father through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Dear Son, Who lives and reigns in union with The Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
  2. Lord Jesus Christ! Thou Who meekly died on the trunk of the Cross for us, submitting Thy Will completely to Thy Heavenly Father in order to bring peace and to offer Thy most Holy Death to Thy Heavenly Father in order to free the posters friend and to hide from him what he has earned with his sins; grant this O Eternal Father! Through Our Lord, Jesus, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in union with the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
  3. Lord Jesus Christ! Thou Who remained silent to speak through the mouths of the Prophets: I have drawn Thee to me through Eternal Love, which Love drew Thee from Heaven into the body of The Virgin, which Love drew Thee from the body of The Virgin into the valley of this needful world, which Love kept Thee 33 years in this world, and as a sign of Great Love, Thou has given Thy Holy Body as True Food and Thy Holy Blood as True Drink, as a sign of Great Love, Thou has consented to be a prisoner and to be led from one judge to another, and as a sign of Great Love Thou has consented to be condemned to death, and has consented to die and to be buried and truly risen, and appeared to Thy Holy Mother and all the Holy Apostles, and as a sign of Great Love Thou has ascended, under Thy own Strength and Power, and sit at the Right Hand of God Thy Heavenly Father, and Thou has sent Thy Holy Spirit into the hearts of Thy Apostles and the hearts of all who hope and believe in Thee. Through Thy Sign of Eternal Love, open Heaven today and take this dying person friend of the poster and all his sins into the Realm of Thy Heavenly Father, that he may reign with Thee now and forever. Amen.
May God bless.
 
And to josephback - My condolences on the loss of your friend. Prayers for you.
 
Comment by josephback
What do you do when someone non-Catholic dies??

Hi,
It is hard. I had a neighbor of some 37 years pass away 2 months ago and we were good friends. Everytime I look over at his house I think of him and say a prayer. I’m not sure he had any christian faith. I longed to tell him about so much but I felt it would be received badly. I hope I wasn’t wrong. I miss him all the time.

I’ve even at times had this strong inner sense of him crying out to me for my prayers to relieve his sufferings. At times I’ve had this inner deep sense of him thanking me. I know. Is it or isn’t it? Nobody knows for sure in this type of situation, but it sure seems real. I do know one thing for absolutely positively for sure, the communion of saints, who hear, answer, and communicate. We are a lot closer to the other world than we give God credit for. It takes faith, storng faith, huge faith, to know this, and accept God’s word for this thru his church.

I am very much encouraged in a particular way by my Catholic faith. Mary was saved by her own Son on the sacred cross. But the saving was applied to her in her mother’s womb and not after the fact. There is a teaching in the church that says that since God knows everything before it happens, that He may apply our prayers for a person in a similar way. That is, our prayers after a person’s death are applied to that person before they pass away. Time is not an obsticle with God and this seems very reasonable.
So Our Saviour sees us praying from all eternity for that person, and applies the goodness of those prayers all before the person dies.

Maybe God is all merciful to us for not revealing certain things to us. Blessed be his holy name forever!

If there is someone who dosen’t find goodness in praying for those going before you, please reconsider seriously. Those whom you loved may benefit greatly by the prayers you offer to God. For their sake please think about it. I’m not asking you to do it immediately, but what is the harm of asking the Holy Spirit for the truth, and for His guidance and thought. We can all learn from each other but especially the Holy Spirit Who we profess.​

For many are we, and broken we’ve come, but we will become one. Song
 
josephback said:
What do you do when someone non-Catholic dies??
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I honestly don’t really think anything of it, but then again, I am not really a “true” Catholic. I have had non-Catholic friends, some of which were Christians and some of which were not, die during my 33 years of life. In fact, one of my best friends in college, who happened to be an atheist, died in a car wreck three weeks before our graduation. Yes, of course I was sad and extremely upset, but the afterlife thing has never really clicked with me, so I didn’t think anything of that aspect of his death. I was just worried about his other friends and his family, the people who loved him, and how they reacted to his death. It was a very hard time for us, but I am, and others, are here today to tell about it. He was a great man.

Jack
 
OhioanJack said:
I honestly don’t really think anything of it, but then again, I am not really a “true” Catholic. I have had non-Catholic friends, some of which were Christians and some of which were not, die during my 33 years of life. In fact, one of my best friends in college, who happened to be an atheist, died in a car wreck three weeks before our graduation. Yes, of course I was sad and extremely upset, but the afterlife thing has never really clicked with me, so I didn’t think anything of that aspect of his death. I was just worried about his other friends and his family, the people who loved him, and how they reacted to his death. It was a very hard time for us, but I am, and others, are here today to tell about it. He was a great man.

Jack
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Hi Jack,
Have you ever considered attending RCIA to learn more?
 
fred_conty said:
Hi Jack,
Have you ever considered attending RCIA to learn more?
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There would be no point in attending RCIA. It would be absolutely pointless for me, mostly because I’ve been involved with the Catholic Church for over thirty years, so I know everything that a normal, practicing Catholic knows. I could teach RCIA, if asked of me. There’s nothing else that I honestly want to know about the Church and if I have any questions, I’ll ask.

Jack
 
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