Contemplating One's Own Death

  • Thread starter Thread starter goodcatholic
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

goodcatholic

Guest
Is this narcissistic? To think at least a few minutes every day, on what our last hour of life will be like. Fearing the inability to cope with pain and suffering.
Should I say the Hail Mary more often? “now and at the hour of our death Amen”.
 
No, in fact, you are participating in a form of mental prayer. It is good and commendable to meditate and contemplate one’s death, in holy hope, for a good death. Pray often, and remember your mortality. It’s far from narcissistic. Remember, God knows our beginning and our end. You’re only considering His gifts.
 
No, I think we should very often contemplate our death.
Scripture says he who remembers his end should not sin, to paraphrase.

Some songs I like about this, Johnny Cash’s cover of Hurt, and Dust in the Wind by Kansas
 
I should say the same to you!

May I suggest a book that I think would also be beneficial? The Imitation of Christ is a great work, and if you don’t feel like reading you can also listen to an audio book version, even for free some places (pretty sure legally). It’s been called the 5th gospel, and it indeed tells us to contemplate on our deaths, among an absolute wealth of spiritual knowledge!
 
Develop a devotion to St. Joseph, the patron of Happy Deaths! Ask him to obtain for you a good death. It’s not narcissistic at all to think about something that will surely happen to us.
 
Narcissistic? Actually if you’re older, I’d say it’s pretty normal. If you’re young, it could be a lot of things like anxiety, an unresolved issue, etc.

Hey saying the Hail Mary more often can only help! If these thoughts help you by reminding you to pray, receive the Sacraments, behave in a Christian manner, then fine. But if they truly disturb you, please see someone.

Maybe this will help:

Prayer of Consecration of the Last Two Hours of Life to the Our Blessed Mother

Prostrated at thy feet and humiliated by my sins, but full of confidence in thee, O Mary! I beg thee to accept the petition my heart is going to make. It is for my last moments, Dear Mother. I wish to request thy protection and maternal love so that in the decisive instant thou wilt do all thy love can suggest in my behalf.

To thee, O Mother of my soul, I consecrate the last two hours of my life. Come to my side to receive my last breath and when death has cut the thread of my days, tell Jesus, presenting Him my soul, “I love it!” That word alone will be enough to procure for me the benediction of my God and the happiness of seeing thee for all eternity.

I put my trust in thee, my Mother, and hope it will not be in vain.

O Mary! Pray for thy child and lead him/her to Jesus!

Amen!
 
We are strongly encouraged by Holy Mother Church to mediate often on the 4 last things: Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.

These will help to keep us on the right path in life.
 
Last edited:
The Assumption of Mary is a good devotion since her death was the most happy of them all.
 
I would think meditating on our death would be extremely healthy for us instead of avoiding the inevitable.
 
I too, had been thinking on this topic in the last few days. Planning all sorts of things for my future, then remembered my age and thought that my future ( here on earth ) is limited .
Remembering a prayer I learned as a child.
"Jesus Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me now and in my last agony
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. Amen "

Some years ago the sister of a friend of mine was taken ill. When she realised that she was not likely to survive her illness she said " I can’t die now, - I’ve got too much to do "
 
Contemplating ones own death is perhaps the holiest meditation in which we can engage. For it is equally a contemplation of life.
 
goodcatholic said:
Is this narcissistic?
Click to expand...
An interesting question. The consensus seems to be that it is not narcissistic, which strongly makes me want to speak up for the contrary opinion. So yes, it is narcissistic, self-centered, and fruitless, or it easily could be. 💥
goodcatholic said:
I thought we were supposed to be thinking about others. How can I help so and so?
Click to expand...
I think this is the key to answering the original question. Jesus taught us that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love one another. Contemplation of our own death could be good if it is ordered toward fulfilling these commandments. For example, I might examine myself and ask “What do I need to do (for God, for others, to make myself holy) before I die?”

One problem with phrasing the question that way is that it is all in the future. It’s about expectations, plans, and some other time – and it lends itself to procrastination. If you are like me, you tend to say “Right now I’m busy, so I’ll get back to striving for holiness tomorrow, or next week, next month, next year, …”

It’s better, at any moment throughout the day, to ask “What should I do right now? How can I give my attention, thoughts, and works at this moment to God and to others.”

That is not to say we shouldn’t contemplate the future. I am a firm believer in thinking through plans and intentions. To make it effective, though, we have to connect it to the present moment.

I like the metaphor of the journey. Let’s say we are hiking up the mountain. We want to go to the summit. We gaze upon the summit and dream about being there, but right now we have to put one foot in front of the other. We need to avoid tripping over that root. Then we need to walk around that muddy patch. When we come to a crossroads, that’s a new opportunity to contemplate our goal. Which way leads to the summit?

So yes, it is okay to contemplate death, but don’t just stand there. Keep moving toward that day.
 
Last edited:
I’ve never meditated about my death (probably because I’m only 24 years old) but sounds like a good spiritual exercise.
We never know when the Lord will call us…
 
Random
Thanks for your reply. You really took me seriously. I don’t deserve it.
It was helpful though…
 
I think for some, it is a problematic thing to ponder because of a strong fear of death which is a natural disposition to hold.

Nonethelese, scripture has this to say:

In all you do, remember the end of your life,
and then you will never sin. -Sirach 7:36
 
Last edited:
But yes, how you are phrasising it specifically is problematic and not in keeping with Catholic tradition. We have no need to fear death at all or worry about one’s imagined inability to cope with pain and suffering. That would be a worldly way to look at our life and death, and outside the lens of Faith.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top