Are You Afraid To Die?

[Starfish]

I am not afraid, but I do know of some that are.

There is this wonderful man that I know, he is 87 years old. He is petrified of dying. He is going downhill and is scared. He tells me that he does not want to die, that he is fearful of death.

I wish that I knew what to say to him. He harbors so much hate, though…

He prays his rosary daily, but spews out hatred for the Japanese for Pearl Harbor. He prays the Our Father every night, but again, spews hatred for his only great-grandchild. (The baby is bi-racial) I could give many more examples of his hatred for this and that, but I think that you get the general idea.

What can I do for this man? He is such a great guy, but I feel that he is doomed…

Please help me! What can I do to save his soul???

 

[blacktiger057]

Please help me! What can I do to save his soul???

What makes you think the understanding, compassionate, forgiving God will send this man to eternal torture? Is not his soul already saved by Jesus, or was that just for the few ‘perfect’ people in the world?

 

[Gospel]

What makes you think the understanding, compassionate, forgiving God will send this man to eternal torture? Is not his soul already saved by Jesus, or was that just for the few ‘perfect’ people in the world?

Wow, I am guessing that you are Protestant, because no faithful Catholic would make such a statement.

Of course Jesus Redeemed us all, but that does not mean that all of us will be “saved”. Only God “kknows” for sure if this man will be saved or not. Also, we as Catholics believe that we participate in our justification.

Why not offer some sound advice instead of making snide remarks about insinuating that only "perfect people will be saved.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Can you pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with him?

 

[LDNCatholic]

Wow, I am guessing that you are Protestant, because no faithful Catholic would make such a statement.

He’s not a protestant, hes a young kid with a few odd beliefs drawn from a couple of religions, go easy on him

 

[TOP]

Can you pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with him?

Yes , I second that. WITH him. Try reading scipture revealing the passion. Then have him think about it as you two pray. When I was sick with cancer at 32, I was freaked out about dieing. It was so close. I did not have the Divine Mercy to comfort me. Talk to him about Divine Mercy and trust. I pray it goes well, Tim

 

[leonie]

I think I would talk to the priest who visits him about it. If a priest is not visiting him, I would arrange it.

Racism is rather deeply ingrained attitude of this older generation. Years ago as a child, this 87 year old man was indoctrinated with this attitude. He may not have full culpability for it.

My grandparents were racist. I could tell by little comments they would make. It would horrify and make me sad at the same time. I trully don’t think they knew any better. They were taught to be racist by their parents.

Have you prayed the divine mercy chaptlet for him?

My grandmother who is 98 and declining is also afraid of death. She is very saintly .Obviously, she’s had lots of time to prepare for it. I read somewhere that a fear of Heaven (denoting a lack of trust) is something that will have to be purified (in purgatory). So, I pray for the gift of a longing for Heaven. Perhaps you can pray this prayer with the gentleman. Perhaps I should pray it with my grandmother.

 

[LDNCatholic]

I am not afraid, but I do know of some that are.

There is this wonderful man that I know, he is 87 years old. He is petrified of dying. He is going downhill and is scared. He tells me that he does not want to die, that he is fearful of death.

I wish that I knew what to say to him. He harbors so much hate, though…

He prays his rosary daily, but spews out hatred for the Japanese for Pearl Harbor. He prays the Our Father every night, but again, spews hatred for his only great-grandchild. (The baby is bi-racial) I could give many more examples of his hatred for this and that, but I think that you get the general idea.

What can I do for this man? He is such a great guy, but I feel that he is doomed…

Please help me! What can I do to save his soul???

I will pray for this man, that God can replace his hate with love. Perhaps if the subject of death comes up again, maybe you should encourage him to think about how nice it would be to go with a loving heart? I don’t know if reminding him about hell and scaring the poor old guy is the most compassionate thing to do, so, as Joe suggested, pray with him. Maybe spend a little more time with him, remind him that the Japanese involved in Pearl Harbour are (mostly) long dead, and they kinda got more than their fair share of comeuppance with the two Atom bombs…

As I say I will keep him, and you, in my prayers.

God Bless,
Peter

 

[puzzleannie]

not really but I am afraid of spending months or years helpless from a stroke or other complications of diabetes, and even more, afraid of alzheimers.

 

[CarrieH]

I’m not so afraid of what comes after death, but the thought of what I might have to go through during the process of dying can be a bit scary at times. I worked for 13 years in an ICU, and I saw some pretty ugly deaths in that time, but I trust in God’s love and mercy to get me through whatever may come my way.

 

[TOP]

not really but I am afraid of spending months or years helpless from a stroke or other complications of diabetes, and even more, afraid of alzheimers.

My dad had MS for 8 years before he aspirated and choked to death. I would ask him a question and he would answer it the next day. He wisely sat quietly in his favorite chair and watched us do our thing, never once complaining. The grace that took still astounds me. I admire that so much now. Tim

 

[water]

Can you pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with him?

Yes , I second that. WITH him. Try reading scipture revealing the passion. Then have him think about it as you two pray. When I was sick with cancer at 32, I was freaked out about dieing. It was so close. I did not have the Divine Mercy to comfort me. Talk to him about Divine Mercy and trust. I pray it goes well, Tim

absolutely, offer this praying for him as often as you could.

 

[quiet52]

Hi Starfish,
Have you asked this man what it is about dying that he’s afraid of? Sometimes people have doubts (about God and the afterlife). Sometimes they have no doubt whatsoever but fear God hasn’t forgiven them. Sometimes they fear for others they’re leaving behind. etcetera. Maybe he needs someone to talk it out with him.
Has a priest given him the Anointing of the Sick? Has he confessed his sins? Does someone visit him to bring him Holy Communion? Does someone pray with him daily?
Don’t judge what he says. Just listen, give comfort when you can, and pray with him, and for him.
You’re a blessing for him.

 

[snowfly]

Please help me! What can I do to save his soul???

Jesus told Saint Faustina to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the dying, so say it near him or at least say it in private if he don’t agree that you pray it near him, or say it so quietly that he don’t hear you.

And don’t just say it once and leave it, say it as often as is possible.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I am not at all afraid of death. If fear should intervene as to my manner of death, my Faith tells me that The Lord will never send more than one can bear and that His Grace will be with me…and I am in Peace again.

I will keep this elderly man in prayer. He is of advanced age indeed at 87yrs and I doubt all his brain cells are still kicking in enabling him to make reasoned decision that may render him entirely culpable at this very late point in his life. May The Mercy I hope to receive visit him as I am entirely confident it will. That is my hope and my life for all souls. Jesus to St. Faustina “the greatest sinner has the most right to My Mercy”. We pray in the Fatima prayer an extremely beautiful prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of Hell and bring all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Your Mercy.

God’s Blessings and His Peace…Barb

There is a beautiful text (the Opening Post)worth reading on:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=2786831#post2786831

 

[agangbern]

Death is a necessity that must occur if one has to have a new life.
A seed must fall to the ground and cease being a seed if it has to grow into a tree. Indeed, human existence consists of life and death, and one is a necessity for the other.

Therefore, there is really no reason to fear.

 

[Starfish]

What makes you think the understanding, compassionate, forgiving God will send this man to eternal torture? Is not his soul already saved by Jesus, or was that just for the few ‘perfect’ people in the world?

Did I even once suggest that I or anyone else is perfect? Thanks a heap.

I’ve had a chance now to read what everyone else has said. Thanks for your calm and reassuring concern. This man is so wonderful, but he harbors so much hate. He’s been like that for years. He will pray his rosary over and over, and the minute he puts it down, he’s back to his hate. I asked him once before when he prays “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”, if he even realizes what it means. He lashed out at me, saying that he doesn’t want to hear that. He feels totally justified in hating the Japanese and the Germans, and any other race that he doesn’t care for.

I continue to pray for him. Thank you, all.

 

[LDNCatholic]

Did I even once suggest that I or anyone else is perfect? Thanks a heap.

I’ve had a chance now to read what everyone else has said. Thanks for your calm and reassuring concern. This man is so wonderful, but he harbors so much hate. He’s been like that for years. He will pray his rosary over and over, and the minute he puts it down, he’s back to his hate. I asked him once before when he prays “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”, if he even realizes what it means. He lashed out at me, saying that he doesn’t want to hear that. He feels totally justified in hating the Japanese and the Germans, and any other race that he doesn’t care for.

I continue to pray for him. Thank you, all.

As another poster mentioned. He may not be completely at fault for those beliefs. He would have been around at a time of propaganda, in which it was deemed necessary to create animosity between the people of certain nations. It may be so deeply ingrained into his psyche now that it would be almost impossible to remove. Therefore I don’t believe it would be counted as his sin. And even so, Purgatory will purify him for Heaven.

And go easy on blacktiger, hes young and knows very little about Catholicism but he means well. In his own misguided way he was trying to say that he thinks everyone goes to heaven, so he was trying to put your mind at ease.

 

[Starfish]

LDN, thanks for your comments. His hate carries over into so many other things. When he’s in a car, he’ll “shoot” Japanese or German cars, calls them &%#^ cars, he really, really sounds like Archie Bunker most of the time, putting a label on everyone. It’s not the “so ‘n’ so” show on the TV, it is that “spic so ‘n’ so” show on TV.

Just a question here and please, do NOT blast me for asking this, folks! Does God hear the prayers of those that pray with so much hate?

 

[agangbern]

Just a question here and please, do NOT blast me for asking this, folks! Does God hear the prayers of those that pray with so much hate?

Hatred causes spiritual death. What then if a person is spiritually dead? It is written, “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Mark 12:27) Furthermore, "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will." (John 9:31)