Do we undergo purification during the last moments of life?

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I will try not to be too morbid with my words so as not to be distasteful, but, I frequently attend people at their deathbeds. It seems to me that those final moments of agony are severe enough to purify us of many imperfections.
Code: 
 Since suffering is necessary for purification, is it possible that these final moments serve the puropse of burning away our imperfections?

 I knew a man who had abused his children.  He had repented and apologized and received the last rites of the Church.  This man lingered on the edge of death for over a week. It was a pitiful sight to say the least.  Others, whom I know to have lived rather sinful lives, but repented in the end, have had particularly difficult and painful deaths.  One young woman, in agony,  clung to me in desperation on her last day begging me not to let her die.  She could not accept her death, (though she had repented her sinful life,  she was a very bitter person and could not get rid of it all).  

 Were these difficulties sent by God as a mercy to purify and prepare them for the next life?  I have come to believe so.  I think  the worst thing that could happen to us is a sudden, unexpected death for which we are unprepared.  What do you think?
 
It may be possible
I believe God will do what is best for you - the One who cared for you in this life will care for you in the next 🙂
 
hi,

this is why it is so important to unite our sufferings to Christ’s.this will not only help towards our redemption, but for others as well.at the moments preceding death, we must beg for His mercy. His mercy never fails for those who ask. Jesus wants our salvation even more than we do.

God bless,

johnco
 
**I know I agree, I know I have also taken care of many in their last hours and I also have become to believe their agony is a final purification of this life.
 
certainly it is possible and probably that God works through the suffering of one who is dying to purify their soul. What is problematicaly is making some third party judgement about the sinfulness of that person and relating it to the degree of their suffering. That we cannot and should not do. For one thing we cannot ever know the condition of their soul, are in no position to judge their sinfulness, and also cannot judge beyond external appearances the depth of their suffering.
 
Ceil-1 said:
I will try not to be too morbid with my words so as not to be distasteful, but, I frequently attend people at their deathbeds. It seems to me that those final moments of agony are severe enough to purify us of many imperfections.
Code: 
 Since suffering is necessary for purification, is it possible that these final moments serve the puropse of burning away our imperfections?

 I knew a man who had abused his children.  He had repented and apologized and received the last rites of the Church.  This man lingered on the edge of death for over a week. It was a pitiful sight to say the least.  Others, whom I know to have lived rather sinful lives, but repented in the end, have had particularly difficult and painful deaths.  One young woman, in agony,  clung to me in desperation on her last day begging me not to let her die.  She could not accept her death, (though she had repented her sinful life,  she was a very bitter person and could not get rid of it all).  

 Were these difficulties sent by God as a mercy to purify and prepare them for the next life?  I have come to believe so.  I think  the worst thing that could happen to us is a sudden, unexpected death for which we are unprepared.  What do you think?
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My father led a rather objectively sinful lifestyle for many years and when he was in his late forties he developed illnesses directly related to that lifestyle. He suffered horribly for 11 years, spending most of the last few years in the hospital. I went to visit him (in another state) about a year before he died and had a few long talks with him (when he was able to talk). He specifically asked for me to not pray for physical healing for him because he felt that through his suffering he had found God, and if he were healed he was afraid he might eventually return to his old sinful lifestyle. He prefered to suffer until his death, knowing Jesus, rather than take that chance. I found that to be rather astonishing, knowing my father, but I have to conclude that my father was undergoing a purification process. He did suffer with dignity, not complaining. I complied with his wishes, and trust Jesus for the disposition of his soul.
 
puzzleannie said:
certainly it is possible and probably that God works through the suffering of one who is dying to purify their soul. What is problematicaly is making some third party judgement about the sinfulness of that person and relating it to the degree of their suffering. That we cannot and should not do. For one thing we cannot ever know the condition of their soul, are in no position to judge their sinfulness, and also cannot judge beyond external appearances the depth of their suffering.
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I agree and was not suggesting that anyone at anytime make any assumptions on the state of the soul and what the exact reason God has for permitting that person to experience a particular amount of suffering.
 
…if you are sensitive to what is going on around those who are about to pass-then you must realize that they are not alone …these special ones who bear these burdens are more blessed than they know-… fear and trepidation is what sometimes intervenes and can make it difficult-even (((Jesus))) felt this in Gethsemane…but I can assure you that the actual moment of death is one of peace ,beauty and awareness…Bless you for being there for them…(((hugs)))
 
Ceil-1 said:
I will try not to be too morbid with my words so as not to be distasteful, but, I frequently attend people at their deathbeds. It seems to me that those final moments of agony are severe enough to purify us of many imperfections.
Code: 
 Since suffering is necessary for purification, is it possible that these final moments serve the puropse of burning away our imperfections?...........
… Were these difficulties sent by God as a mercy to purify and prepare them for the next life? I have come to believe so. I think the worst thing that could happen to us is a sudden, unexpected death for which we are unprepared. What do you think?
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Not morbid at all. I’m still searching for answers after my mother’s passing last year. After months of loving/caring for her, and wanting to be her comfort at the end - whenever it came - I found being at her bedside the last day difficult to near-impossible. I still can’t remember what I said to her all day - just the panic and after-guilt of what was done right or wrong.

I still worry that I may have made alot of mistakes just prior to her passing and recall the only/last word said to me during the day in answer to a question: “No.” She tapped top of my hand - and I haven’t been sure what she was trying to tell me although I’ve guessed she tried to say not to continue the panic / fussing. A friend, who says they’ve seen people die in pain, said my mother’s face had peace. She looked like she was sleeping. (So was I next to her bed - I even missed her passing.) But while I don’t think she was physically in pain, I have no way of knowing what she was feeling and later experienced spiritually, and that has become my greatest grief. She was sleeping days before when a priest briefly annointed her, so she didn’t know he was there.

I wish I’d had a priest there her last day, so she would have known that spiritual security - and while I don’t know in what capacity you tend to the dying, I think posts like yours are extremely important for those of us seeking answers. God bless you.
 
((((conservative)))))…I am so sorry for the loss of your ((mother))-I lost my ((mother)) too a short time ago after being her caregiver for many years during her journey with alzheimer’s…it is not unusual for our loved ones to spare us in the final moments and leave the body when we stepout or look away…please do not feel you let her down in any way…angels were grouping and in particular her guardian angel was there with her surrounding her with beauty and music…it would be very important to her to let you know she’s ok- so please trust that God’s Love allows this comfort in dreams and embrace the peace in your heart this will bring…grief and fear may distort and make you doubt it is real-… but it is a gift when it happens and very real… love is God’s gift that survives death…God Bless
 
My wife was a hospice nurse, and I was a hospice volunteer for a while. One of the things we learned is, how you live is how you die.

If, you’re a grumpy miserable person in life, you’ll go to your death pretty much the same way, unless you have a life transforming event. If you’re a happy loving person in life, you’ll meet death with the same attitude.

A priest told me once, that death bed conversions are rare.

So the bottom line for me is, be close to Christ and the Blessed Mother, so that the hour of your death, you’ll have them with you.

Jim
 
I am coming slowly to believe that most any suffering we experience in this life can be applied to the remission of sin,ours or others.I do not think that Our Lord makes any distinctions between death throes or suffering incured at other times of life
Not to be silly, but when exactly do the last moments of life occur? If I remember Augustine, he makes some very enlightening discussion about life preceeding death. In a certian way, all of life leads to death,Non-morbidly.One last thing,no pun, Jesus is the one who tells us to embrace our cross if we are to follow him.I don’t recall there being an age limit.
 
This helped me understand and feel a little more at ease after my husband passed away last Christmas Eve. We struggled for 6 long months fighting for his life. After he died, I felt cheated and wondered if there was a purpose to all that suffering. I did not know THE SILVERSMITH was working with him.

I found this in wiki bible project:The Silver Refinery

“And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Malachi 3:3. One lady’s opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to Visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

“But Sir” she said, “do you sit while the work of refining is going on?”

Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith; “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.”

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; “the very hairs of your head are
all numbered.” Matthew 10:30

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that he only knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees His own image reflected in the silver.

This is a good parable to let God’s people know that when trials and tribulations may come our way, we are to count it all joy because the end of that trial will make us stronger and more faithful than we were before the trial. I encourage you to be strong and never let a problem or trial get you down or lose your joy. Jesus is still on the throne and still in control of every situation so never feel discouraged or defeated in Jesus mighty name I say these things to you.
:amen:
 
JimR-OCDS said:
My wife was a hospice nurse, and I was a hospice volunteer for a while. One of the things we learned is, how you live is how you die.

If, you’re a grumpy miserable person in life, you’ll go to your death pretty much the same way, unless you have a life transforming event. If you’re a happy loving person in life, you’ll meet death with the same attitude.

A priest told me once, that death bed conversions are rare.

So the bottom line for me is, be close to Christ and the Blessed Mother, so that the hour of your death, you’ll have them with you.

Jim
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sawman said:
I am coming slowly to believe that most any suffering we experience in this life can be applied to the remission of sin,ours or others.I do not think that Our Lord makes any distinctions between death throes or suffering incured at other times of life
Not to be silly, but when exactly do the last moments of life occur? ,
,One last thing,no pun, Jesus is the one who tells us to embrace our cross if we are to follow him.I don’t recall there being an age limit.
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To Both JimR and Sawman -
I agree. I don’t think - even when we’re physically “well” but have some pain to endure - that we always remember to offer it up, as we were taught - but we’re getting old / dying from the day we’re born! Offering pain up works for me every time, if I remember to do so. The pain lessens, and only God knows how He accepts it spiritually. Maybe, that’s God’s gift and perhaps the key for us to do so when in better health/more conscious state. But I’d think we have to mentally make the offering - even without saying it aloud. I don’t know how God accepts our physical sufferings without the voluntary offering since it’s our soul that needs to be purged. But He is Merciful and simply asks simply that we come to Him. I don’t know how God compensates us by reason of our physical sufferings otherwise, except for those people who, throughout their lives, don’t know/mentally unable to make such an offering - I don’t think God would penalize them - (fearing I’m assuming what God thinks here) but perhaps He loves them even more. I’m guessing in those cases God rewards not only the physically ill person but those in charge of their good care - without the offering. God sees and knows all.

My guess is questionable - unless we’re already walking saints on earth, like St. Therese, Padre Pio, etc., whether the dying are thinking of offering their sufferings up. (I would hope I’m wrong on this.) I’m saying that because of the human frailty of all of us and how that mortal element fears the unknown - probably not thinking of offering up as much as perhaps realizing we’re on the precipice of this world - unless we have the Our Lord and Our Lady present (what a supremely beautiful thought).

On a personal note, interestingly, is that my mother, in her last months (even with dementia) - was constantly talking about God and Our Lady - either telling me to go to them or asking God to protect me. Only once did she pray for herself, saying - “I’m so alone. Does God know?” ***But she also said the following - and perhaps God permitted this in advance to answer all our questions today, since I just recalled it now: “Cover yourself…and if you don’t see me… I ] offer it up to the Lord.” *** (bracketed “I” unsure if she put the sound of that word in - I know she was trying to tell me to offer it up but either way - with Dementia??? - we can only hope, speculate, pray - and offer it up - in advance.)
 
While I am not someone who can claim any “educated” knowledge in this area, I do believe I have something very worthwhile to say on the subject. I am a nurse in an ICU and I see a tremendous amount of death. There are deaths that appear to be very agonizing and you wonder why that has person (and their families and friends) have to endure it. I also have seen some deaths that are truly beautiful and from outward appearances, not all those people led the best of lives. My husband was an incredible man. Yes, he definately sinned, as we all do, but I admired the man for his goodness from the moment I met him. He had a lifelong illness and the last 10 years of his life were pure hell for him. He maintained an incredible sense of humor and dignity and I never once heard him blame God for what he went through. The last few months of his life were agonizing for him. I don’t think he deserved what he got but I have tried to put it into “God thought”. I believe he lived his purgatory here on Earth (the same as our priest later told me) and I believe that any suffering that wasn’t needed for him was not wasted. God doesn’t waste anything and that suffering has been or will be used for someone else. We truly have no idea of why things happen the way that they do but I try to place my trust in God and remember that it is part of His wonderful plan.
 
LoverofChrist said:
P.S. What did Jesus do to deserve his agonizing death?
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If we desire to imitate Christ, then we should be prepared to have an agonizing death, maybe not only for our sins but to save others.

Doesn’t Satan try to snatch us away at our deathbeds? Isn’t that why we ask St. Joseph to guard our deaths?

I think those with dementia are also redeemed by their suffering or are redeeming others. The suffering of innocents is always redeeming, isn’t it?
 
The one unforgivable sin, according to Holy Scripture, is “…blaspheming the Holy Spirit…” – which is a scriptural way of saying “…denying the mercy of God.”

God so wants our souls to be with Him in Heaven that He hands us His mercy on a golden platter (so-to-speak). All that we have to do is accept it. That’s all. Just accept it.

He created us all with a free will, and God is a great respecter of that will. He will not force His forgiveness upon us. He offers…and…we accept (or deny) it.

Due to pride, or it’s fruits (stubbornness, greed, deceit, etc.) hearts are often times hardened to accepting mercy from anyone, especially from God, who is ‘above’ them in stature.

At the moment of our death follows our personal judgment. A heart that is hardened would have a difficult time accepting God’s mercy – even at that time. At worst, he/she would say “I lived my life MY WAY, and I have nothing to apologize for!” At best, they might say “I know what a waste my life has been. I know that you could NEVER forgive me. Go away and let me receive what is my due!” Those poor souls find their way to hell. They tie God’s hands – they will not allow Him to dispense His mercy upon them.

Perhaps, the suffering that we undergo just prior to our demise is redemptive suffering for our sins…or perhaps it is God’s way of “softening us up” so that we might be more disposed to accepting His mercy when it will be shortly offered to us.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (“The Little Flower”) once wrote that she believed we would get whatever we asked for at death. If we were too ashamed of our sins, and we approached God with the attitude that we didn’t deserve mercy – but punishment instead – then, that’s just what we will get: Purgatory…or hell. However, she said, if we approached God – fully acknowledging our sinful past, but all the same, asking for His mercy and forgiveness – we may very well end up bypassing Purgatory altogether and take the express route to Heaven! She reminds us of the good thief on the cross next to Jesus…“This day you will be with Me in Paradise!”

Only God truly knows the inner workings of the human heart, and only He is privy to why we each, individually, suffer…during life, or just before death.

But is this ‘suffering’ that we experience in our lives God’s way of punishing us? No. He does not want to see us suffer…EVER. We are His children. No matter how badly we behave sometimes (or all times, in some cases), He wants only one thing for us…and that is: to be with Him for all eternity. He loves us to folly! It doesn’t make sense. But it’s true, never the less. Why? Simply because we are His.

So, suffering…no matter when it occurs…is an act of love from God. He does not take joy in watching us suffer. His heart aches to see us in pain. Yet, as only the very best of fathers would do, Our Father takes steps to make sure that we will reach Him some day. And one of those types of steps is called “suffering”.🙂
 
LoverofChrist said:
While I am not someone who can claim any “educated” knowledge in this area, I do believe I have something very worthwhile to say on the subject. I am a nurse in an ICU and I see a tremendous amount of death. There are deaths that appear to be very agonizing and you wonder why that has person …have to endure it. I also have seen some deaths that are truly beautiful and from outward appearances, not all those people led the best of lives. My husband was an incredible man. Yes, he definately sinned, as we all do, but I admired the man for his goodness from the moment I met him. He had a lifelong illness and the last 10 years of his life were pure hell for him…
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Thanks for those words. As an ICU nurse, ***you are “educated” ***on the subject. I’ve heard all too many people talk about the facial expressions at the moment of death being an indicator…but who knows but God?
 
Yesterday’s reading in the Office of Readings,was from Exodus17about Massah and Meribah, And Psalm 95 encourages us to not be stubborn like our fathers did in the wilderness when at Meribah and Massah they challenged Me and provoked Me,although they had seen all My works. How easy it is for me to complain when I am in the wilderness of suffering although I have seen His mighty works in me.I can feel justified that there is no water here! what is up? It is too easy for me to have a sinnful attitude,a provoking attitude toword Him.It can be so hard to hear His voice. I think suffering in our last moments can be very much like this for us. I fear very much for those who don’t appear to ever bother with suffering or hardship in life. They are heading to their end without any practice in suffering. God have mercy on us all.
 
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