Think about your death
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
I appreciate the good sister’s intention, but if you go to daily Mass, say the Hail Mary, or spend a lot of time saying other Catholic prayers, you’ll be thinking about your death like half of every given day. The entire Catholic religion revolves around when you die.
M
mrsdizzyd
Guest
Here is her account. https://mobile.twitter.com/pursuedbytruth
She has gotten a lot of traction on Twitter from Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Her message is very much so needed on social media.
She has gotten a lot of traction on Twitter from Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Her message is very much so needed on social media.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
I don’t doubt it. If young people are anything now like when I was 20, they probably think about death a huge amount of the time anyway.
M
mrsdizzyd
Guest
They may think about physical death occasionally, but not necessarily about their mortality as it relates to their salvation. The social media focus is on the material and temporal above all else. Her point is that we need to focus more on our lives as an opportunity to prepare for what happens after we die. That’s what Memento Mori is all about.
In our secular society, young people have increasing lost sight of this. Even young Christians can easily fall into the social media materialistic trap.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
I guess I was just a weird Goth or art kid.
I can’t remember a time in my life since about age 17 when I wasn’t thinking about death to be honest and so were most of my friends.
I can’t remember a time in my life since about age 17 when I wasn’t thinking about death to be honest and so were most of my friends.
M
mrsdizzyd
Guest
You weren’t out of the ordinary (for someone into goth culture at least).
To think about physical death is not the same thing as thinking about how you will prepare for your death and whether or not you are living a life that will be adjudged worthy of eternal salvation.
To think about physical death is not the same thing as thinking about how you will prepare for your death and whether or not you are living a life that will be adjudged worthy of eternal salvation.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
I feel like we are talking past each other here, and this topic is a little difficult for me in view of the number of people who have died in my life lately, so I think I will just excuse myself from the thread.
I have no idea why you would think that young people don’t think about their “eternal salvation”, or that of their friends. They may not call it “eternal salvation” but it’s definitely on their minds in a huge way. The response to this nun is coming because she expressed something that is already very much on a lot of people’s minds, not because she just got them to think about it for the first time ever.
God bless.
I have no idea why you would think that young people don’t think about their “eternal salvation”, or that of their friends. They may not call it “eternal salvation” but it’s definitely on their minds in a huge way. The response to this nun is coming because she expressed something that is already very much on a lot of people’s minds, not because she just got them to think about it for the first time ever.
God bless.
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Mary888
Guest
I agree with Tis. It’s not enough to just think death or life to make people necessary have a Christian epiphany.
Life and death are talked about in so many “new” ways today in which one may become maybe too addicted to the idea of death.
The nun’s efforts are lovely but quaint. There is a war in the news every day. The whole news reading world must be thinking about death anyway.
Life and death are talked about in so many “new” ways today in which one may become maybe too addicted to the idea of death.
The nun’s efforts are lovely but quaint. There is a war in the news every day. The whole news reading world must be thinking about death anyway.
M
mrsdizzyd
Guest
We are talking past each other.
For my generation, there has been a fundamental realigning of priorities away from traditional Christian values. We tend to put career and social status ahead of things like family or even God. This misalignment is a driving force of secular culture.
In secular culture, to the extent that we think about death, it is usually in terms of “life is short, make the most of it”. There is not a lot of focus on salvation especially outside of religious circles. Instead, we focus on happiness and success in this life, but not the next. This usually means a focus on career, social status, and material possessions, even zero sum sexual liasons especially as compared with our peers. Additionally, there is a trend toward relativism ie so long as you are a nice person you’ll be fine.
The sister’s campaign is social media based. It is aimed at those who need to be reminded that we need to resist secularism, get our priorities in order (God, family, everything else), and live life according to the gospel. We need to remember that we are to be in the world and not of the world. We need to be reminded that we are not long for the world and that one day all of this will pass away and we will be judged accordingly.
For my generation, there has been a fundamental realigning of priorities away from traditional Christian values. We tend to put career and social status ahead of things like family or even God. This misalignment is a driving force of secular culture.
In secular culture, to the extent that we think about death, it is usually in terms of “life is short, make the most of it”. There is not a lot of focus on salvation especially outside of religious circles. Instead, we focus on happiness and success in this life, but not the next. This usually means a focus on career, social status, and material possessions, even zero sum sexual liasons especially as compared with our peers. Additionally, there is a trend toward relativism ie so long as you are a nice person you’ll be fine.
The sister’s campaign is social media based. It is aimed at those who need to be reminded that we need to resist secularism, get our priorities in order (God, family, everything else), and live life according to the gospel. We need to remember that we are to be in the world and not of the world. We need to be reminded that we are not long for the world and that one day all of this will pass away and we will be judged accordingly.
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Lee1
Guest
It’s a great idea, without the concept of salvation life is meaningless beyond the biological imperative.
Dwelling on the future life promised by Our Lord is a great incentive to live this life in a healthier way.
Dwelling on the future life promised by Our Lord is a great incentive to live this life in a healthier way.
J
JamalChristophr
Guest
I’ve always liked having the skull idea. I wonder if many of the saints actually had them. Probably they were just included in the rendering of a saint. But definitely makes you think.
L
Lee1
Guest
I have a friend who is dying from cancer at this time, she has a few days possibly a week to live according to the doctors. Having spoken to her family I’ve been assured that she is spiritually ready and at peace with the prospect of death very soon. She wouldn’t be so if she hadn’t prepared for many years for this time.
There’s no need to be maudlin about it, just grow faith until death loses its power and we see it as a gateway to heaven.
There’s no need to be maudlin about it, just grow faith until death loses its power and we see it as a gateway to heaven.
J
Joann
Guest
I’m spiritually ready for death. I’ve been preparing for it for many years. I don’t however dwell on it, or even think about. I do pray every day and say the rosary. I’m still among the living and that’s where my focus is.
M
mrsdizzyd
Guest
No. It’s not quaint. It’s Catholic. Many saints are pictured with skulls. In the Middle Ages, especially, skulls, bones, cemeteries, etc were used in the same way. St. Jerome is associated with skulls for the same reason. Memento Mori has been around for centuries.
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po18guy
Well-known member
Since the Incarnation, “death” has been defeated. How did our Lord address the end of our earthly life? Remember the teaching about your eye, hand or foot causing you to sin? Better to pluck the eye out or cut the hand off so as to enter…
…Life!
I note here that our culture enjoys the most creature comforts, the longest life span since Old Testament times, and the best medical knowledge and care in human history. Yet, we are the most anxious culture in history! Why is this?
We, as a culture, have taken our eyes off of the “prize”, the promise, the next life, and have become horribly myopic, choosing to focus only on this short, pilgrim journey we are making. If its end seems to be approaching, we panic.
This is very obvious in the cancer world, where many, even those supposedly of faith (including pastors!) are scared of dying. I have expected to die each year since 2008, have been ready and willing to go, but have not. Therefore, I keep on living, as God apparently has profitable work for me to do.
For me, death will be a great adventure, with some trepidation certainly involved, but also great confidence in God’s mercy as I have experienced grace after grace, mercy after mercy. God is unchanging and He will show mercy at our judgment, but always - always - holds His terrible and eternal justice in His other hand, so to speak.
When we choose to be myopic, it is like driving through a heavy fog. Confusion reigns, we cannot see up ahead, many hit the brakes and literally stop living, and others end up off the road in a ditch.
As well, preaching on the last four things (death, judgment, heaven, hell) has mostly been neglected in recent decades. We “may” study things that could happen, but we “should” study that which is guaranteed to occur.
…Life!
That door at the end of our life may say “DEATH” on our side - leading many to fear it, but once it is opened, it says “LIFE” on the other side. The gap which causes fear is bridged by faith.
I note here that our culture enjoys the most creature comforts, the longest life span since Old Testament times, and the best medical knowledge and care in human history. Yet, we are the most anxious culture in history! Why is this?
We, as a culture, have taken our eyes off of the “prize”, the promise, the next life, and have become horribly myopic, choosing to focus only on this short, pilgrim journey we are making. If its end seems to be approaching, we panic.
This is very obvious in the cancer world, where many, even those supposedly of faith (including pastors!) are scared of dying. I have expected to die each year since 2008, have been ready and willing to go, but have not. Therefore, I keep on living, as God apparently has profitable work for me to do.
For me, death will be a great adventure, with some trepidation certainly involved, but also great confidence in God’s mercy as I have experienced grace after grace, mercy after mercy. God is unchanging and He will show mercy at our judgment, but always - always - holds His terrible and eternal justice in His other hand, so to speak.
When we choose to be myopic, it is like driving through a heavy fog. Confusion reigns, we cannot see up ahead, many hit the brakes and literally stop living, and others end up off the road in a ditch.
As well, preaching on the last four things (death, judgment, heaven, hell) has mostly been neglected in recent decades. We “may” study things that could happen, but we “should” study that which is guaranteed to occur.
M
mrsdizzyd
Guest
Excellent post! What you write here is what Memento Mori is about. Our secular culture has largely lost sight of this.
T
therese1998
Guest
I was neither Goth nor art, but I’ll cop to the weird
I thought about death plenty often when I was that age, as well.This fits with my experience as well, but I don’t know if it’s representative or not. It seems as if it is something we all do, and we will admit it to those we are close to, ,but it’s not exactly a popular topic of “polite” conversation.
I am sorry, @Tis_Bearself. I have experience myself with this and know how painful it is. I will add you to my prayers.
“Young people”, as we are calling them, do not reference these things in the same ways as whatever we are calling ourselves
These are heavy, difficult concepts to grapple with and expressing that struggle is hard and the skill comes with time. I believe, however, that it is on their mind more or less the same as others…it’s just not necessarily expressed in a way you are familiar with or recognize easily…In past ages, prior to the introduction of modern medicines, particularly antibiotics, people were more likely to die early or suddenly. Death was not a “when I’m in my 80’s” thing. The chances of a loved one or yourself dying, particularly the young, was much higher. They lived “closer” to death, I guess is how I see it.
Maybe we can just agree that the nun is doing a good thing and some people will be greatly inspired and some will have a different devotion.
D
DaveBj
Guest
I’m 72, and in good health, but trust me – my eventual demise is frequently on my mind.
D
D
I’m the same age as you @DaveBj .
I don’t know how long you’ve been a Catholic , but in my childhood days through rote learning we had a catechism drummed into us , and that was from 5 years of age onwards .
One question was “After your night prayers what should you do ?”
The answer was “Occupy yourself with the thoughts of death .”
It was a practice I never took up , but like you I am well aware I’m now on the last lap .
An unusual thing happened on Tuesday , New Years Day . I was at the Eucharist , and after receiving Holy Communion I was seated , meditating on the wonder of the Eucharist , when out of the blue came some words . I hadn’t been thinking about their content , but with eyes closed the words were so vivid it was as if I was reading them .
The words were " 2019 . The year you will die " .
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