Catholic customs and death

[greenmoon07]

Hi everybody, i’m new to this forum so I’m not really sure if my post is really in the right place. I’ve recently had this really big interest in my catholic faith and find myself more in depth trying to understand and follow the right path. My eyes are more open to things I’ve never paid attention to and find myself constantly thinking of my faith. I find it amusing at some point since I am in my mid 20’s and until now has my interest for my faith finally sparked. Anyways what brought me here today is because I have a question about catholic customs regarding death. Just this past week a family member in central america who is catholic passed. She was 82, there was a big commotion around my house waiting for that call letting us know that she had died. Well around 6 in the evening we received a call that she had asked to be laid on the floor (she was no longer conscious, very weak, and her breathing was severely faint). My family started to pray since they said it was a sign that her passing was very near. Needless to say 40-50 minutes later we received a call that she had passed away. I have not been able to get that out of my head, I found it interesting and peculiar. I asked my grandma and mom about this and they both said that when my great grandparents died both asked to be laid on the floor and died shortly after that. I find this “custom” intriguing and was wondering if there is a reason as to why these agonizing souls ask to be laid on the floor?? Could there be a reason for this? my grandma says she thinks it might be God asking them to do it as a last form of penance. I’m very very curious about this and would love some (name removed by moderator)ut. At first I though its just a family custom but later remembered that while working at a hospital in California a patient was asking the nurses to lay him on the floor, the nurses ignored him, he was very ill and weak. His son got there and he asked his son to lay him on the floor, he was reluctant at first but seeing the despair in his fathers eyes he went ahead and laid him on the floor. the nurses made a big commotion but the elderly mad died a few minutes later. Could this be God asking them to do this as a penance or even reverence towards him (sort of like when we kneel)??

 

[CB_Catholic]

Hi everybody, i’m new to this forum so I’m not really sure if my post is really in the right place. I’ve recently had this really big interest in my catholic faith and find myself more in depth trying to understand and follow the right path. My eyes are more open to things I’ve never paid attention to and find myself constantly thinking of my faith. I find it amusing at some point since I am in my mid 20’s and until now has my interest for my faith finally sparked. Anyways what brought me here today is because I have a question about catholic customs regarding death. Just this past week a family member in central america who is catholic passed. She was 82, there was a big commotion around my house waiting for that call letting us know that she had died. Well around 6 in the evening we received a call that she had asked to be laid on the floor (she was no longer conscious, very weak, and her breathing was severely faint). My family started to pray since they said it was a sign that her passing was very near. Needless to say 40-50 minutes later we received a call that she had passed away. I have not been able to get that out of my head, I found it interesting and peculiar. I asked my grandma and mom about this and they both said that when my great grandparents died both asked to be laid on the floor and died shortly after that. I find this “custom” intriguing and was wondering if there is a reason as to why these agonizing souls ask to be laid on the floor?? Could there be a reason for this? my grandma says she thinks it might be God asking them to do it as a last form of penance. I’m very very curious about this and would love some (name removed by moderator)ut. At first I though its just a family custom but later remembered that while working at a hospital in California a patient was asking the nurses to lay him on the floor, the nurses ignored him, he was very ill and weak. His son got there and he asked his son to lay him on the floor, he was reluctant at first but seeing the despair in his fathers eyes he went ahead and laid him on the floor. the nurses made a big commotion but the elderly mad died a few minutes later. Could this be God asking them to do this as a penance or even reverence towards him (sort of like when we kneel)??

This is not a Catholic custom, more like a regional or cultural custom. All of my Catholic relatives have passed in their beds and I have never heard of this before. I don’t know the significance of this, maybe someone else does. It is rather interesting.

You will find many different customs among various peoples, but just because the people do them does not mean they are done throughout the whole Church and are “Catholic” customs.
It just happens that the people doing them are Catholic.

 

[maryjk]

Neither of my parents asked to be put on the floor.

I have never heard of anyone requesting it.

 

[holyfamily1]

I have never heard of this. But, when I am about to die I think it would be significant to make the cross with my arms; as to signify dying with Christ.

 

[SweetLambs]

St. Francis asked to be placed on the floor before he died, and a number of saints have imitated this. It’s a final act of poverty before God- as we came into the world with nothing, so shall we leave it.

 

[greenmoon07]

SweetLambs thanks for that info!! I will read up on Saint Francis. This could help me understand this peculiar request on behalf of some agonizing souls. I’ve had close relatives die but none have ever made this request whilst dying. I told a friend from work about this, she is German and she said the day her mother passed she also asked to be laid on the floor and an hour later passed away. that info on St. Francis can maybe bring some better understanding on this topic for me. Once again thank you so much.