About deathbed conversions

[shanishani7]

When someone got incurable diseases such as cancer, will they easily find God because God called them? does God approach them because God knows their time has come?

People around me had 2 deathbed conversions to catholic. One was my dad, the second is my friend(now my godson).

My dad was willing to baptize because one day in hospital his atheist sister suddenly asked him if he wants to get baptize (which is really unexpected), my mum asked him and he said yes.

This time, God also reminded me to ask my friend the same question, then after a few days my friend told me he also found God exist recently and wanted to baptize, one day God also told me to help him find the priest to get him baptized as soon as possible.

Both cases had the same result, that they passed away shortly after baptism. My dad passed away 2 weeks after his last rights (2mths after baptism). My friend was 1 week after baptism and eucharist.

Question is here:

1. Did they really find God exist and believe in Eternity? or just want to try a method to survive in this life?
2. Will their atheist family still not believe God exists if they saw such cases, because they think the patients died even after baptized. Then why didnt God perform miracle to cure them instead?
3. Does God usually take away one’s soul (died) shortly after baptism (in the state of grace) because of free of sins?
4. Both times my faith was shaken when they died especially after deathbed conversion because I really suspect where the soul has gone, or even suspect if human really has souls, then suspect this religion… and I dunno how to handle it…

Thank you all for the answers in advance! I would be happy to listen to any similar cases as well

 

[pulsence]

A lot of this I think comes down to the mystery of God’s plan for each of our salvation. We know from the good theft on the cross in Luke 23:42-43 that those who welcome God even at the last moments of death are welcomed into His heavenly kingdom. Personally I think that Our Lord and Lady are beside all those who are dying seeking them in their last moments to strengthen and convert all.

1. Did they really find God exist and believe in Eternity? or just want to try a method to survive in this life?

That will depend upon the individual. However, we believe that sacraments actually do something, so by the fact someone is baptized makes them a member of the body of Christ. Whether there is a full conversion is only known by God alone. I think it is safe to believe that even in the most cynical people that seek baptism at the end of life, there is the stirring of the Holy Spirit and some seed of faith planted. Otherwise they wouldn’t seek baptism. Yes, it might be for selfish reasons, but God can work with our weaknesses.

1. Will their atheist family still not believe God exists if they saw such cases, because they think the patients died even after baptized. Then why didn’t God perform miracle to cure them instead?

Depends, death is a powerful thing. To some, that could be a time of conversion seeing the grace that God bestowed upon their loved one in the moment of death. To others there could be nothing. We can hope and pray that the example of the person that passed inspires them, but it’s not an absolute.

1. Does God usually take away one’s soul (died) shortly after baptism (in the state of grace) because of free of sins?

I don’t think that there is an official answer. My intuition is that He probably does. I have heard so many stories from priest friends where people have died shortly (within hours) after they anointed them and gave them Viaticum. The stories always have the feel that the Lord was waiting for the priest to visit them and give them the sacraments before taking the person to Himself.

Fun fact: Viaticum means in latin: for the way. For us it is the giving of the Eucharist for those dying to strengthen them for their final days on their pilgrimage here on earth.

1. Both times my faith was shaken when they died especially after deathbed conversion because I really suspect where the soul has gone, or even suspect if human really has souls, then suspect this religion… and I dunno how to handle it…

What do you mean by your faith was shaken? One way to handle it is to rejoice to our God that our loved one was baptized so shortly before dying, knowing that they had time to come to the Lord and is now with Him. We can also pray for them that the Lord my hasten their purification that they might enjoy the beatific vision sooner, and we can pray to them asking for their assistance.

Being at the deathbed of someone for me is a profound experience. I am always moved to prayer for the person that they might finish the race of life well. Recently I was at a persons deathbed with some others. He had been sick recently and they knew he wasn’t going to last more than a few more days. When we visited him, he couldn’t talk and was fading in and out of being awake. We said that we were going to pray with him and he didn’t respond. So we started praying. After a few prayers we prayed the Hail Mary and he woke of and started praying it with us. After we finished he fell back asleep. It was powerful to see him awaken and pray to our Lady. A few hours after we left he was anointed and then died another couple hours later. It was powerful to see the Lord’s presence during the final hours of this man’s life.

 

[Allegra]

My uncle had a sort of death-bed reversion when he was dying of lung cancer. He had been very vocal about his disdain for the Catholic faith during his adult life. He even refused to be my Godfather because he thought it would be a lie. But when he died, he had many discussions with the hospital chaplain and he ended up returning to the Sacraments a few weeks before he passed away. His family was shocked, but he even told his wife he wanted a Catholic Mass for his funeral. I don’t know what the priest said, but it obviously made a difference. I think for a lot of people, facing death as imminent rather than something that will happen “someday”, opens their minds and hearts to God’s word.

 

[Bonnie]

A lot of this I think comes down to the mystery of God’s plan for each of our salvation.

Agreed. I’ve known 2 people who had almost deathbed conversions. Both knew they were dying. In the case of my father-in-law, it was a priest visiting the nursing home who happened to ask, at just the right time, if he wanted to go to confession. He said yes. Years earlier, he had become a Catholic only to marry my mother-in-law - he didn’t believe. But all those years of being with his Catholic wife & kids brought him to that moment where he said yes.

 

[Memaw]

When someone got incurable diseases such as cancer, will they easily find God because God called them? does God approach them because God knows their time has come?

People around me had 2 deathbed conversions to catholic. One was my dad, the second is my friend(now my godson).

My dad was willing to baptize because one day in hospital his atheist sister suddenly asked him if he wants to get baptize (which is really unexpected), my mum asked him and he said yes.

This time, God also reminded me to ask my friend the same question, then after a few days my friend told me he also found God exist recently and wanted to baptize, one day God also told me to help him find the priest to get him baptized as soon as possible.

Both cases had the same result, that they passed away shortly after baptism. My dad passed away 2 weeks after his last rights (2mths after baptism). My friend was 1 week after baptism and eucharist.

Question is here:

1. Did they really find God exist and believe in Eternity? or just want to try a method to survive in this life?
2. Will their atheist family still not believe God exists if they saw such cases, because they think the patients died even after baptized. Then why didnt God perform miracle to cure them instead?
3. Does God usually take away one’s soul (died) shortly after baptism (in the state of grace) because of free of sins?
4. Both times my faith was shaken when they died especially after deathbed conversion because I really suspect where the soul has gone, or even suspect if human really has souls, then suspect this religion… and I dunno how to handle it…

Thank you all for the answers in advance! I would be happy to listen to any similar cases as well

Thank God for the “miracles of Grace” and TRUST HIM !!! I have had similar experiences in my family. and I am so thankful for them. In fact my nephew just died last Thurs. He hasn’t practiced his faith for most of his life but after he found out he had stage 4 cancer and spreading, he asked me questions and my son started to talk to him and help him return to the Faith. My son had the same kind of cancer but his had not spread. My son is a strong Catholic and he and Dan were always friends, so I asked him to help Dan. I thank God. God Bless, Memaw

 

[kingston1]

We are given “actual grace” but we must respond to it. Those on their deathbed face their mortality in a more real way which causes their ego to diminish and fosters a response to the grace given.

 

[USMC_Convert]

First I’m sorry for your loss, and I pray that God brings you peace.

Second, I don’t think there is anyone that can really answer your questions fully.

That being said, here is what I can tell you. God takes our souls when it is most advantageous for us. God thinks about eternity, not the next few months, or years. What may be important or needed to us is not necessarily that way to God.

 

[shanishani7]

Thank you for the long reply. It was absolutely the grace given by God for the salvation of his soul. I hope the people who witness this and who knew it will believe in God one day, and will recognise it was God’s Plan.

A lot of this I think comes down to the mystery of God’s plan for each of our salvation. We know from the good theft on the cross in Luke 23:42-43 that those who welcome God even at the last moments of death are welcomed into His heavenly kingdom. Personally I think that Our Lord and Lady are beside all those who are dying seeking them in their last moments to strengthen and convert all.

That will depend upon the individual. However, we believe that sacraments actually do something, so by the fact someone is baptized makes them a member of the body of Christ. Whether there is a full conversion is only known by God alone. I think it is safe to believe that even in the most cynical people that seek baptism at the end of life, there is the stirring of the Holy Spirit and some seed of faith planted. Otherwise they wouldn’t seek baptism. Yes, it might be for selfish reasons, but God can work with our weaknesses.

Depends, death is a powerful thing. To some, that could be a time of conversion seeing the grace that God bestowed upon their loved one in the moment of death. To others there could be nothing. We can hope and pray that the example of the person that passed inspires them, but it’s not an absolute.

I don’t think that there is an official answer. My intuition is that He probably does. I have heard so many stories from priest friends where people have died shortly (within hours) after they anointed them and gave them Viaticum. The stories always have the feel that the Lord was waiting for the priest to visit them and give them the sacraments before taking the person to Himself.

Fun fact: Viaticum means in latin: for the way. For us it is the giving of the Eucharist for those dying to strengthen them for their final days on their pilgrimage here on earth.

What do you mean by your faith was shaken? One way to handle it is to rejoice to our God that our loved one was baptized so shortly before dying, knowing that they had time to come to the Lord and is now with Him. We can also pray for them that the Lord my hasten their purification that they might enjoy the beatific vision sooner, and we can pray to them asking for their assistance.

Being at the deathbed of someone for me is a profound experience. I am always moved to prayer for the person that they might finish the race of life well. Recently I was at a persons deathbed with some others. He had been sick recently and they knew he wasn’t going to last more than a few more days. When we visited him, he couldn’t talk and was fading in and out of being awake. We said that we were going to pray with him and he didn’t respond. So we started praying. After a few prayers we prayed the Hail Mary and he woke of and started praying it with us. After we finished he fell back asleep. It was powerful to see him awaken and pray to our Lady. A few hours after we left he was anointed and then died another couple hours later. It was powerful to see the Lord’s presence during the final hours of this man’s life.