Is it wrong to pray for death? Why or why not?

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thistle said:
What you quoted were NOT teachings. Only the Church has teachings when it comes to faith and morals.
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What Church teaching you talking about? I referred the priest to CCC 364 and was told that my despising my body was not a sin.

CCC 364 The human body shares in the dignity of “the image of God”: it is a human body precisely because it is animated by a spiritual soul, and it is the whole human person that is intended to become, in the body of Christ, a temple of the Spirit: Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world. Through him they are thus brought to their highest perfection and can raise their voice in praise freely given to the Creator. For this reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up on the last day.
 
Robert_Sock said:
What Church teaching you talking about?** I referred the priest to CCC 364 and was told that my despising my body was not a sin. **

CCC 364 The human body shares in the dignity of “the image of God”: it is a human body precisely because it is animated by a spiritual soul, and it is the whole human person that is intended to become, in the body of Christ, a temple of the Spirit: Man, though made of body and soul, is a unity. Through his very bodily condition he sums up in himself the elements of the material world. Through him they are thus brought to their highest perfection and can raise their voice in praise freely given to the Creator. For this reason man may not despise his bodily life. Rather he is obliged to regard his body as good and to hold it in honor since God has created it and will raise it up on the last day.
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The you must have misheard the priest or asked him the wrong thing because what you say he told you (see your comment above that I bolded and underlined) contradicts the Church teaching in CCC 364 which states “man may not despise his bodily life”.
 
I take no pleasure in life. I just want to die in a state of grace so I can be with God as soon as possible. I feel disconnected from this life and don’t find solace in doing anything. I am restless and feel like being with God. How can this bbe a sin if even Paul felt it.
 
thistle said:
The you must have misheard the priest or asked him the wrong thing because what you say he told you (see your comment above that I bolded and underlined) contradicts the Church teaching in CCC 364 which states “man may not despise his bodily life”.
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The priest and I had good communication and I doubt that there were any misunderstandings. Sin, in the Catholic Church, is often complex and rely on other factors. Despising this body and life need not be a mortal sin.
 
Robert_Sock said:
The priest and I had good communication and I doubt that there were any misunderstandings. Sin, in the Catholic Church, is often complex and rely on other factors. Despising this body and life need not be a mortal sin.
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The thread topic is not if it is a mortal sin or not. The question is if its wrong. The answer is that it is wrong!! Wrong does not necessarily equate to mortal sin.
 
triumphguy said:
Only God should choose the moment of our death. To alter that time physically or to pray for death is arrogance.
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But God would already know the hour of the person commiting suicide before our birth anyway… Strange.
 
thistle said:
We know this is your favourite subject because in several threads you said you want to die but please refer to the Church teachings. The Church does NOT teach you its right to want to die.

CCC 2288 Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.
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Thistle, I don’t understand, the two ideas are not nearly logically incompatible. Wanting to die does not prevent one from recognizing that life and physical health are God’s precious gifts. For one thing, Death is also God’s precious gift, so that we can be more fully alive with Him in heaven. For another, a desire for death can simply be accompanied by a “not my will but your will be done” attitude. Desire to be relieved of our earthly chores does not mean we want to kill ourselves or in anyway reject God’s gift of life. In that light, his quotes are entirely relevant and illuminating (and beautiful, in my opinion).
 
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bbentrup said:
Thistle, I don’t understand, the two ideas are not nearly logically incompatible. Wanting to die does not prevent one from recognizing that life and physical health are God’s precious gifts. For one thing, Death is also God’s precious gift, so that we can be more fully alive with Him in heaven. For another, a desire for death can simply be accompanied by a “not my will but your will be done” attitude. Desire to be relieved of our earthly chores does not mean we want to kill ourselves or in anyway reject God’s gift of life. In that light, his quotes are entirely relevant and illuminating (and beautiful, in my opinion).
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I don’t see how CCC2288 is saying that “it’s not okay to want to die.” I just looked it up and here’s what it says:

"Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good.

Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment, and social assistance."
 
I voted “it depends”.

While I wont commit suicide out of fear, I will welcome death.
I had a bad stroke several years ago, and now I can’t walk without a walker, can’t drive and I cannot even groom or dress myself without help.

All my family is gone with the possiblr exception of a 1/2 brother with schizophrenia.

I have COPD that killed my mom, and I have re-taken up smoking, Camels yet, and I will welcome death with open arms when God calls me.

I’m ready, I have already made funeral arrnagements, and my niche in the church columbarium is ready and paid for.
 
I asked my spiritual director who is a priest and pastor of a large church nearby and he told me that it is not a sin to pray for death.
 
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