Gospel Matters: “The Art of Dying”

By Dr Christine Wood, Director of the Office of Evangelisation & Catechesis

I recently read a book by Nicolas Diat entitled A Time to Die: Monks on the Threshold of Eternal Life, in which the author tells of his visits to dying monks who have spent their lives preparing for the passage of death to eternal life. Diat describes deeply human experiences of these holy men – men who have spent years in prayer and labour for the Lord.

Some of these men had struggled with years of physical or mental illness, while others suffered the onset of acute terminal disease. All personally confronted death in the context of the mystery of Christ.

Some monks manifested fear of what lies beyond death, while others passed from this life in profound peace. Common to all these stories was the fact that they were surrounded by a community of believers who helped to carry them by prayer and personal presence. I was struck by the serenity of the monks providing palliative care to their brothers. Nothing was too difficult for them since they had dedicated their lives to serve their brothers in love.

In stark contrast to the stories related by Diat, we’re confronted by the reality of death in the modern, secular world. It’s often a lonely experience, isolated from family and friends, and associated with a desperate fear of the unknown. Diat’s monks live and died recently in a very different manner. As their contemporaries, the contrast is striking. We are faced with a culture that knows little of the Christian art of dying.

A generation ago, families would surround their loved ones with tender care, whether at home or hospitalised. Everything was done to ensure no one would die alone. Family members would often camp out at the hospital, surrounding them in prayer and helping to make critical medical decisions, in order to ensure their loved one would transit safely from this world to meet the Lord in the next.

Afterwards, the Christian family would continue to support their loved ones with prayers for their repose, knowing that no one is a shoe-in for immediate entry into eternal happiness. Prayers were offered to ensure the swift passage through purgatory into eternal life.

November is a time dedicated to prayer for the “Holy Souls” in purgatory. We remember our family and friends who have passed through death, and out of love, we offer prayers and sacrifices to the Lord on their behalf. We hope to be reunited again with them in heaven.