In the span of one month this past winter, three people I care very much about lost their fathers unexpectedly. The degree to which each was prepared for death varied greatly. Being spiritually prepared for our own or for a loved one’s death is not … Continue readingRemember Your Death
When I was a little girl, I loved funerals. Death meant family time, good food, and prayer. What more was there? Catholics have a special relationship with death because, in a way, we still get to know people after they die. … Continue readingFunerals, Their Charm, & Praying for the Dead
Only when I came back to the Church a few years ago did I hear the phrase, “Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord; and, may Your Perpetual Light shine upon them.” It was a confusing prayer and I wasn’t quite sure why it was used. However, in the past few years, I have learned a little more about the teaching of the Church, and spent time pondering this short prayer. … Continue readingGod’s Final Act of Mercy: A Reminder to Remember the Faithful Departed This November
A string of recent celebrity demises has struck many fans profoundly. It is shocking, tragic, and downright sad when we think that icons of secular society are human just like the rest of us. Their talent was inspiring and imagining the world deprived of their … Continue readingFear of Mortality
In Part 1 of this two part series entitled Linking Confession and Purgatory, I explained the nature of the soul, one’s will, and how Confession impacts the will, stopping short of discussing Purgatory. Now, let me tie this discussion back in to Purgatory, as the … Continue readingLinking Confession and Purgatory [Part 2]