MOMENT OF DECISION: CHOOSE GOD, THER IS NO OTHER!
Every second, 1.8 humans die (google.com) Time waits for no man!
The thousands of ‘Life after Death experiences’ documented by Medical Doctors demonstrates there is ‘life after death and the body has an immortal soul.’
· When you die your P.O. Box changes instantly.
· When you die there will be an exit interview.
· When you die there will be final exams.
· When you die in mortal sin, you will experience global warming and climate change.
· The children taken from school to eternity by a mass shooter; the crowd of people sent to judgment by a terrorist in a truck, and on a sunny morning in early September 2001 when we saw the World Trade Center towers fall to the ground, 3000 souls changed their home address immediately.
· St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church and noted for his writings on Moral Theology, teaches that all of us will most likely die in the manner in which we have lived - What Are the Ways to Receive Forgiveness for Mortal Sin or Venial Sin? - The Fatima Center.
The Latin adage grasps reality so well, “talis vita, finis ita.” That means the way you live is the way you die. If one lives well, a good death is likely with the grace of God. Whereas those who live a sinful life are unlikely to make a last-minute conversion and die well.
Life is short, death is for sure, sin is the problem and JESUS is the cure.
A Catholic check off list, here is what you do when a Catholic family or friend is dying.
1) Get him/her a priest to give the anointing of the sick. The Priest will also (if the person is conscious), the Priest will hear their confession and give the person Holy Communion.
2) Have the Priest give him the ‘apostolic pardon.’
3) Pray the rosary around his bed in his presence daily, add the Litanies of Loretto prayers as well.
4) Pray the divine mercy around his bed in his presence daily.
5) Play sacred Catholic music softly in his room. Preferably Gregorian chant.
6) Has he been invested in the brown scapular? If Yes, then put a brown scapular around his neck. If not, have the Priest invest him with a blessed brown scapular.
7) Have him say: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59) seven times in the morning, seven times in the afternoon, seven times in the evening. 3 is the number of the Trinity and 7 is the number of God.
8) Make sure there are holy pictures and holy objects and holy statues in his bedroom. Surround him with holy Catholic images and art.
9) Have the husband or wife bless the person everyday (morning & evening) with Holy Water and signing the persons forehead with the sign of the cross.
10) Make sure everybody in the house goes to confession so that the immediate family is “in a state of grace.” When you’re in a state of Grace, your prayers are pleasing and heard by God.
Resignation to the will of God in Death – a sure means of salvation, from the writings of St Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He wrote: “Many people are tormented at death with the remembrance of their sins, and seeing that they have done no penance, are tempted to despair.” He tells us that there is a perfect remedy, namely, “to accept death and unite your death with that of Jesus Christ. And I do not at all doubt that he who is grieved for having offended God and accepts death willingly in satisfaction for his sins will immediately obtain pardon.”
(From the book “Preparation for Death” by St Alfonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) ”To accept death in order that the will of God may be fulfilled, merits for us a reward similar to that of the martyrs, because they accepted death to please God. He who dies in union with the will of God makes a holy death; and the more closely he is united to it, the more holy death he dies. The Venerable Blosius declares that an act of perfect conformity to the will of God at the hour of death not only delivers us from Hell but also from Purgatory.”
Prayer of Resignation in Death
My most sweet Jesus, I accept the death thou hast destined for me; with all the pains that may accompany it; I unite it to thy death, I offer it to thee. Thou hast died for love of me; I will die for Love of Thee and to please thee – Amen.
It is recommended that you say this prayer daily as we do not know the day of our death, and what a blessing it would be to have said it on our last day.
Act of Resignation to the Divine Will
O Lord, my God, from this moment do I accept from thy hands, with burning love and sincere contrition, with a calm and willing disposition, whatsoever death Thou shalt choose to send me, with its pains and griefs, Amen. By a special act of Pope Pius X, on March 9, 1904, a plenary indulgence to be gained at the moment of death, was attached to the following prayer, even when recited in full health long before death, after Confession and Communion (Roman Catholic Daily Missal; 1962; p.96).
When a person of faith dies, we do not grieve like the non-believers who have no hope. We did not lose that person at the moment of death; we lost you when you entered the Church at the day of your baptism. From that day on, you belonged to God. Psalm 22:11 “To you I was committed from my birth, from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Our Lord Jesus Christ did not suffer for us so that we don’t have too; He suffered for us to teach us how too! Be a good disciple, pick up your cross and follow Jesus to your own Calvary. It’s inevitable.
WORDS TO REMEMBER AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH (in order to save your soul):
Psalm 31:5 & Luke 23:46 the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ as he was dying - “into your hands O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
Luke 23:42 St Dismas the thief to the right of Our Lord – “Jesus, remember me when you enter into your kingdom.”
Acts 7:59 St Stephen the 1st martyr – “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
"If you pray well, you will live well, if you live well, you will die well; and if you die well, all will be well."- St. Augustine.