Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 March 2022
Thursday, 27 January 2022
Friday, 24 February 2017
Preparation for Death - St. Alphonsus Liguori
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| Death will Come to us all -- how will you greet it? |
Preparation for Death or, Considerations on
the Eternal Truths,
Useful to all as MediTations,
Serviceable to Priests for Sermons
Serviceable to Priests for Sermons
By St. Alphonsus Liguori
I am currently reading this book and it's content makes you realize the seriousness of our death and eternity... as we all shall die... and we are not certain as to when this will happen -- BUT IT WILL. It may be this hour, this day, or 30 years from now, but WE WILL ALL EXPERIENCE IT. The four Truths are Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell... It's up to us to decide where we want to land up... Heaven or Hell... FOREVER.
I have copied this meditation to share with you and advise you to read the whole book yourself.. See where you are in your life with Christ... it is eye opening. As Lent will shortly be upon us... it's a good book to contemplate and reform our lives....
CONSIDERATION VI
The Death of a Sinner
“When distress cometh upon them, they will seek for peace,
and there shall be none. Trouble shall
come upon trouble.” – Ezekiel 7:25
 |
| Death of a Sinner |
FIRST POINT
The sinner will
Seek God at Death,
but He will not
find Him
At present sinners banish the remembrance and though of
death; and thus they seek after peace, though they never find it, in the sinful
life which they lead. But when they are
found in the straits of death, on the point of entering into eternity, they
shall seek peace, there shall be none.
Then they will not be able to fly from the torture of their sinful
conscience. They will seek peace; but
what peace can be found by a soul loaded with sins that sting it like so my
vipers?
What peace can the sinner enjoy
when he sees that he must in a few moments appear before the judgment-seat of
Jesus Christ, whose law and friendship he has till then despised?
Trouble shall come upon trouble. The news of death, which has been already
announced, the thought of being obliged to take leave of everything in this
worlds, the remorse of conscience, the time lost, the want of time at present,
the rigor of the divine judgments, the unhappy eternity which awaits sinners all
these things will form a horrible tempest, which will confuse the mind, will
increase his apprehensions; and thus, full of confusion and distrust, the dying
sinner will pass to the other world.
Trusting in the divine promise, Abraham with great merit, hoped in God,
against human hope. (Romans 4:18)
But sinners, with great demerit,
hope falsely
and to their own perdition,
not only against hope but also against faith;
because they despise the menace of God
against all who are obstinate in sin.
They are afraid of a bad death,
but they fear
not to lead a wicked life.
But who has
assured them that they will not suddenly be deprived of life by a thunderbolt,
by apoplexy, or by the bursting of a blood vessel? And were they at death even allowed time for
repentance, who assures them that they will be sincerely return to God?
To conquer bad habits, St. Augustine had to
fight against them for twelve years. How
will the dying man, who has always lived in sin, be able, in the midst of the pains,
the stupefaction, and the confusion of death, to repent sincerely of all his
past iniquities?
 |
| Death is Near Your Sins are Before You! |
I say sincerely,
because it is not enough to say
and to promise
with the tongue:
it is necessary
to promise
with the heart!
O God! What terror
and confusion will seize the unhappy Christian who has led a careless life,
when he finds himself overwhelmed with sins, with the fears of judgment, of
hell and of eternity!
Oh! What confusion
will these thoughts produce when the dying sinner will find his reason gone, his
mind darkened, and his whole frame assailed by the pains of approaching
death. He will make his confession; he
will promise, weep, and seek mercy from God, but without understanding what he
does; and in this tempest of agitation, of remorse, of pains and terrors, he
will pass to the other life.
The people
shall be troubled, and they shall pass (Job 34:20) A certain author says that
the prayers, the wailings, and promises of dying sinners are like the tears and
promises of a man assailed by an enemy who points a dagger to his throat to
take away his life. Miserable the man
who takes to his bed at enmity with God, and passes from the bed of sickness to
eternity.
Affections and Prayers
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| Christ Crucified |
O wounds of Jesus! You are my hope. I should despair of the pardon of my sins,
and of my eternal salvation, did I not behold you, the fountains of mercy and
grace, through which a God has shed all his blood, to wash my soul from the
sins which I have committed.
I adore
you, then, O holy wounds! And trust in You.
I detest a thousand times, and curse those vile pleasures by which have
displeased my Redeemer, and have miserably lost His friendship.
Looking then at Thee, I raise up my hopes, and
turn my affections to Thee. My dear
Jesus, Thou deservest to be loved by all men, and to be loved with their whole
heart. I have so grievously offended
Thee, I have despised Thy love; but, notwithstanding my sinfulness, Thou hast
bourne with me so long, and invited me to pardon with so much mercy.
Ah, my Saviour, do not permit me evermore to
offend Thee, and to merit my own damnation.
 |
| Sorrowful Mother of God |
O, God! What torture should I feel in hell at the sight of Thy blood and
of the great mercies Thou has shown me.
I love Thee, and will always love Thee.
Give me holy perseverance. Detach
my heart from all love which is not for Thee and confirm in me a true desire, a
true resolution henceforth, to love only Thee, my sovereign good.
O Mary, my Mother! Draw me to God, and obtain
for me the grace to belong entirely to him before I die.
More insight see this homily Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost by Fr. Francis Xavier
Weninger, 1877
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Divine Love
 |
| Baldwin Bishop of Canterbury |
Love is as Strong as Death
from a treatise by Baldwin, Bishop of Canterbury
Death is strong, for it can rob us of the gift of life. Love too is strong, for it can restore us to a better life.
Death is strong, for it can strip us of this robe of flesh. Love too is strong, for it an take death's spoils away and give them back o us.
Death is strong, for no man can withstand it. Love too is strong, for it can conquer death itself, soothe its sting, calm its violence, and bring its victory to naught. The time will come when death is reviled and taunted. O death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory?
Love is as strong as death because Christ's love is the very death of death. Hence it is said: I will be your death, O death! I will be your sting, O hell! Our love for Christ is also as strong as death, because it is itself a kind of death: destroying the old life, rooting out vice, and laying aside dead works.
Our love for Christ is a return, though very unequal for His love for us, and it is a likeness modeled on His. For He loved us and, through the example of love He gave us, He became a seal upon us by which we are made like Him. We lay aside the likeness of the earthly man and put on the likeness of the heavenly man; we love him as he has loved us. For in this matter he has left us as an example so that we might follow in His steps.
That is why He says: Set me as a seal upon your heart. It is as if He were saying:
"Love Me as I love you.
Keep Me in your mind and memory,
in your desires and yearnings,
in your groans and sobs.
Remember, man, the kind of being I made you; how far I set you above other creatures; the dignity I conferred upon you; how I made you only a little less than the angels and set all things under your feet. Remember not only how much I have done for you. Yet look and see: Do you not wrong Me? Do you not fail to love Me? Who loves you as I do? Who created and redeemed you but I?"
Lord, take away my heart of stone, a heart so bitter and uncircumcised, and give me a new heart, a heart of flesh, a pure heart. You cleanse the heart and love the clean heart. Take possession of my heart and dwell in it, contain it and fill it, you who are higher than the heights of my spirit and closer to me than my innermost self!
You are the pattern of all beauty and the seal of all holiness. Set the seal of your likeness upon my heart! In Your Mercy set Your seal upon my heart, God of my heart and the God who is my portion for ever! Amen.
Saturday, 15 August 2015
Only the Brave will Survive - Prepare Yourself for the Fight Ahead!
THE VORTEX—ONLY THE BRAVE WILL SURVIVE
TRANSCRIPT
Only heroic Catholics will survive.
In short, in the times that are just ahead for Catholics, only the truly dedicated will not become apostates and thereby lose Heaven. This was the opinion of Fr. John Hardon, a very holy priest who died 15 years ago in Detroit — a man who was remarkable owing to his holiness. What he said has come even sharper into focus in light of the wholesale rejection of the Faith by an overwhelming majority of the Irish last week.
If you are not preparing yourself now, and your family now, bracing yourselves spiritually for the darkness into which civilization is descending, you will not survive. You will inherit Satan for your father. People do not suddenly decide to suffer for the Faith. They prepare themselves to suffer great hardships for the Faith, by undergoing little hardships and sacrifices in advance. You could think of it as a kind of dress rehearsal. Our Blessed Lord Himself said conversely: If you cannot be trusted in small matters, you cannot be trusted in larger ones (Luke 16:10).
Heroes do not miraculously appear. They have the stuff of heroism inside them all along, cultivated and molded and formed, waiting to emerge publicly if and when the correct circumstances arise. In the meantime, they live rather ordinary lives on the outside, perhaps even unaware themselves of the reality that they are heroes in the making.
Such was the course of countless saints — who are, after all, the heroes of the Faith. But not one of them scaled the greater heights of holiness without first mastering the lesser heights. How did they do this? By choosing a life of prayer and sacrifice: prayer to unite themselves to Heaven while still on earth, and sacrifice to unite themselves to Christ suffering. Without the conscious choosing of this route, a person will fall away when the test comes.
We sometimes have this too-nostalgic thought about the age of martyrs in the early centuries. We see the drawings of heroic Catholics standing straight moments before the lions pounced. What we do not see, what is not memorialized in art, is the vast numbers who committed apostasy before the jaws of those same lions, or those in whom the Faith had turned cold. They were more than content to offer incense to the Roman gods.
And they didn't do it necessarily out of hate toward the Church; in all probability, actually, it was just a mild indifference — just enough to get them to officially treat the Church in the same manner in which they had unofficially viewed Her. What the persecution did in them was simply concretize their ambivalence and lack of regard. Some time long before they had lost their love of the truth, but it was the case that circumstances just never prevailed upon them to make a formal announcement — something akin to the husband or wife who long since stopped loving their spouse. He or she plods along, knowing the truth down deep, but not really having any driving reason to deal with it.
And then, suddenly, along comes the lover, the one who ultimately forces the spouse's hand — the one who makes them choose; and they choose to bring into the open what has been the reality all along. And they abandon the marriage. At last, circumstances did prevail upon them — and they chose betrayal, adultery.
This is exactly the same dynamic playing out across the Catholic world right now.
Many lackluster, indifferent Catholics feeling no real love of the Church will abandon Her as soon as the right conditions present themselves. Those conditions are arriving very soon — and very soon, the choice will have to be made. Only the most dedicated, heroic Catholics will choose correctly and be saved — and their number will be very few.
Pray and sacrifice that you and those you love will be among them.
In short, in the times that are just ahead for Catholics, only the truly dedicated will not become apostates and thereby lose Heaven. This was the opinion of Fr. John Hardon, a very holy priest who died 15 years ago in Detroit — a man who was remarkable owing to his holiness. What he said has come even sharper into focus in light of the wholesale rejection of the Faith by an overwhelming majority of the Irish last week.
If you are not preparing yourself now, and your family now, bracing yourselves spiritually for the darkness into which civilization is descending, you will not survive. You will inherit Satan for your father. People do not suddenly decide to suffer for the Faith. They prepare themselves to suffer great hardships for the Faith, by undergoing little hardships and sacrifices in advance. You could think of it as a kind of dress rehearsal. Our Blessed Lord Himself said conversely: If you cannot be trusted in small matters, you cannot be trusted in larger ones (Luke 16:10).
Heroes do not miraculously appear. They have the stuff of heroism inside them all along, cultivated and molded and formed, waiting to emerge publicly if and when the correct circumstances arise. In the meantime, they live rather ordinary lives on the outside, perhaps even unaware themselves of the reality that they are heroes in the making.
Such was the course of countless saints — who are, after all, the heroes of the Faith. But not one of them scaled the greater heights of holiness without first mastering the lesser heights. How did they do this? By choosing a life of prayer and sacrifice: prayer to unite themselves to Heaven while still on earth, and sacrifice to unite themselves to Christ suffering. Without the conscious choosing of this route, a person will fall away when the test comes.
We sometimes have this too-nostalgic thought about the age of martyrs in the early centuries. We see the drawings of heroic Catholics standing straight moments before the lions pounced. What we do not see, what is not memorialized in art, is the vast numbers who committed apostasy before the jaws of those same lions, or those in whom the Faith had turned cold. They were more than content to offer incense to the Roman gods.
And they didn't do it necessarily out of hate toward the Church; in all probability, actually, it was just a mild indifference — just enough to get them to officially treat the Church in the same manner in which they had unofficially viewed Her. What the persecution did in them was simply concretize their ambivalence and lack of regard. Some time long before they had lost their love of the truth, but it was the case that circumstances just never prevailed upon them to make a formal announcement — something akin to the husband or wife who long since stopped loving their spouse. He or she plods along, knowing the truth down deep, but not really having any driving reason to deal with it.
And then, suddenly, along comes the lover, the one who ultimately forces the spouse's hand — the one who makes them choose; and they choose to bring into the open what has been the reality all along. And they abandon the marriage. At last, circumstances did prevail upon them — and they chose betrayal, adultery.
This is exactly the same dynamic playing out across the Catholic world right now.
Many lackluster, indifferent Catholics feeling no real love of the Church will abandon Her as soon as the right conditions present themselves. Those conditions are arriving very soon — and very soon, the choice will have to be made. Only the most dedicated, heroic Catholics will choose correctly and be saved — and their number will be very few.
Pray and sacrifice that you and those you love will be among them.
See Michael Voris Video here
http://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/the-vortexonly-the-brave-will-survive
Friday, 21 March 2014
Death and Christ's Promise -- Saint Anastasius sermon
Death is not the End
I work in a funeral home - death is a daily occurrence. Being Catholic I have the faith in Christ's promise. And I pray for those who pass through here... and all the dead for the Mercy of God to be upon them.
Many family (and deceased) come through the doors with no faith at all - saying that death is final and there is nothing else. What a horrible way to live thinking that there is nothing.
Today is full of unbelievers... it seems to be an epidemic. We must do all in our power to tell the Truth... to all who will listen so that we can save souls.
I wanted to share with you a sermon on the subject of the Resurrection of the Dead by a great saint. I hope it inspires you as it has me.
From a sermon by
Saint Anastasius of Antioch, bishop
Christ will change our lowly body
To this end Christ died and rose to life that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But God is not God of the dead, but of the living. That is why the dead, now under the dominion of one who has risen to life, are no longer dead but alive. Therefore life has dominion over them and, just as Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again, so too they will live and never fear death again. When they have been thus raised from the dead and freed from decay, they shall never again see death, for they will share in Christ’s resurrection just as he himself shared in their death.
This is why Christ descended into the underworld, with its
imperishable prison bars: to shatter the doors of bronze and break the bars of
iron and, from decay, to raise our life to himself by giving us freedom in
place of servitude.
But if this plan does not yet appear to be perfectly
realized — for men still die and bodies still decay in death — this should not
occasion any loss of faith. For, in receiving the firstfruits, we have already
received the pledge of all the blessings we have mentioned; with them we have
reached the heights of heaven, and we have taken our place beside him who has
raised us up with himself, as Paul says: In Christ God has raised us up with
him, and has made us sit with him in the heavenly places.
And the fulfillment will be ours on the day predetermined by
the Father, when we shall put off our childish ways and come to perfect
manhood. For this is the decree of the Father of the ages: the gift, once
given, is to be secure and no more to be rejected by a return to childish
attitudes.
There is no need to recall that the Lord rose from the dead
with a spiritual body, since Paul in speaking of our bodies bears witness that
they are sown as animal bodies and raised as spiritual bodies: that is, they
are transformed in accordance with the glorious transfiguration of Christ who
goes before us as our leader.
The Apostle, affirming something he clearly knew, also said
that this would happen to all mankind through Christ, who will change our lowly
body to make it like his glorious body.
If this transformation is a change into a spiritual body and
one, furthermore, like the glorious body of Christ, then Christ rose with a
spiritual body, a body that was sown in dishonor, but the very body that was
transformed in glory.
Having brought this body to the Father as the first-fruits
of our nature, he will also bring the whole body to fulfillment. For he
promised this when he said: I, when I am lifted up, will draw all men to
myself.
taken from the Liturgy of the Hours
If you don't have the books go on the web
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Television is Mind Control!
How Satan controls Christians
"The Devil once said to his demons below,
our work is progressing entirely too slow.
Those holiness people now stand in our way,
since they don't believe in the show or the play.
They obey the Lord Jesus and repented from sin,
proclaiming God's son to be Lord they will win.
Saying, "Drunkenness, smoking, these things are all wrong";
these Christians don't follow the ungodly throng.
They say that they owe their whole lives to the Lord,
they seek so to please Him in deed and in word.
They're quick to condemn everything that we do,
to cause unbelievers to be quite a few.
They claim many nice sins are all of the devil;
that true Christians live on a much higher level.
Now fellows, their teaching, while perfectly true,
is blocking the work we are trying to do.
We'll have to get busy and figure a plan,
that will change these high standards as fast as we can.
Now I have a vision of just what to do;
My plan of deception I'll now tell to you.
We'll find us a wise but degenerate man,
whose skill I can use to help work out this plan.
There's nothing so real as the things you can see,
the eyes and the heart and the mind all agree.
"The Devil once said to his demons below,
our work is progressing entirely too slow.
Those holiness people now stand in our way,
since they don't believe in the show or the play.
They obey the Lord Jesus and repented from sin,
proclaiming God's son to be Lord they will win.
Saying, "Drunkenness, smoking, these things are all wrong";
these Christians don't follow the ungodly throng.
They say that they owe their whole lives to the Lord,
they seek so to please Him in deed and in word.
They're quick to condemn everything that we do,
to cause unbelievers to be quite a few.
They claim many nice sins are all of the devil;
that true Christians live on a much higher level.
Now fellows, their teaching, while perfectly true,
is blocking the work we are trying to do.
We'll have to get busy and figure a plan,
that will change these high standards as fast as we can.
Now I have a vision of just what to do;
My plan of deception I'll now tell to you.
We'll find us a wise but degenerate man,
whose skill I can use to help work out this plan.
There's nothing so real as the things you can see,
the eyes and the heart and the mind all agree.
I'll give them the ultimate idol to view!
I say it will work, and convince quite a few!
Yes through it I'll teach them my self seeking way,
and make them forget to believe means obey.
The home is the place for this subtle device;
the people, deceived, will soon think it quite nice.
The whole world will want one, we'll cast such a spell,
that Christians wont know it was thought up in hell.
We'll sell them with pictures of the latest news,
and while they're still looking we'll advertise booze.
Yes we'll give them some gospel that isn't too strong,
and a few nature shows just to string them along.
I'll fill it up half with the knowledge of good,
so the other half's fruit will be misunderstood.
Then I'll cause them to wonder if God's Word is true,
making them feel like gods as scenes zoom into view.
They'll take in the ads with the latest of fashions;
soon watching the parts that will stir evil passions.
At first it will shock them, but while they still gaze;
I'll harden their hearts while they sit in a daze.
Murder and sex scenes they will soon behold,
until their soft conscience and love become cold.
We'll keep the real Jesus and His truth out of sight,
Never showing a lifestyle that's holy and right.
The old family altar that once held such charm,
will soon lose it's place without any alarm.
Their praying in secret will also be lost,
as they stare at our death screen, not counting the cost.
Compromise preachers who don't take their stand,
will embrace our new vision while building on sand.
They'll help fool the people and lead them to sin,
saying only,"Be careful" while soaking it in.
will soon lose it's place without any alarm.
Their praying in secret will also be lost,
as they stare at our death screen, not counting the cost.
Compromise preachers who don't take their stand,
will embrace our new vision while building on sand.
They'll help fool the people and lead them to sin,
saying only,"Be careful" while soaking it in.
"Only news, documentaries, weather and sports;
We watch only good" will become their retorts.
And so thru the good shows we'll funnel our lies,
I'm sure they'll ignore any weak warning cries.
We'll feed them the fruit of our teachings from hell,
they'll love it so much it will easily sell!
Divorce will sky-rocket, sex crimes will abound,
much innocent blood will be spilled on the ground.
Their homes will be cursed in short order I say,
When these sermons of mine are received every day.
It wont take too long, we'll be able to tell,
that these visions of mine will help populate hell.
Get busy my cohorts, and put this thing out;
we'll see if the church can continue to shout.
The holiness people who stand in our way,
will soon hush their crying against show and play.
We'll have such success so that our greatest weapon,
will be compromised Christians who keep on back steppin'.
They'll argue and lie, they'll excuse and defend,
until those holy preachers will soon have to bend.
“Everybody is doing it”, each one will think,
more and more getting used to their spiritual stink.
Science fiction, then monsters, now aliens too,
by the time they see my face they wont have a clue.
We watch only good" will become their retorts.
And so thru the good shows we'll funnel our lies,
I'm sure they'll ignore any weak warning cries.
We'll feed them the fruit of our teachings from hell,
they'll love it so much it will easily sell!
Divorce will sky-rocket, sex crimes will abound,
much innocent blood will be spilled on the ground.
Their homes will be cursed in short order I say,
When these sermons of mine are received every day.
It wont take too long, we'll be able to tell,
that these visions of mine will help populate hell.
Get busy my cohorts, and put this thing out;
we'll see if the church can continue to shout.
The holiness people who stand in our way,
will soon hush their crying against show and play.
We'll have such success so that our greatest weapon,
will be compromised Christians who keep on back steppin'.
They'll argue and lie, they'll excuse and defend,
until those holy preachers will soon have to bend.
“Everybody is doing it”, each one will think,
more and more getting used to their spiritual stink.
Science fiction, then monsters, now aliens too,
by the time they see my face they wont have a clue.
“We'll still go to heaven" will be what they say,
loving darkness and evil until Judgement Day.
Often laughing at evil, even lusting within,
yes they'll all become hypocrites hiding their sin.
They'll really believe that they're getting a treat,
till my Anti-Christ comes to take over his seat.
He'll dazzle the world while his viewers behold,
the face of The Beast who from us they were sold.
We'll win through deception, no this plan cannot fail,
though the few who believe will not bow knee to Baal.
Tell them “a little is okay”, and God surely knows,
We will win them all back as their love for God goes.
Monday, 22 October 2012
Dying Man's words to save OUR souls
"Herbert Broome had a message he had received from God that he
wanted to send to the world before he died.
He died of cancer within hours after this video
was made. These are his last words..."
I did not know this man--but his story is one that needs to be shared with the world as he wished..
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Please watch this video...
May all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace.
May the Lord's Mercy be upon you, Mr. Bloome, for sharing this with us...
Youtube video
http://youtu.be/TeE2xg3REtA
Friday, 21 September 2012
Death and the Afterlife Catholic Beliefs
1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to
either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.592
The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul--a destiny which can be different for some and for others.593
The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul--a destiny which can be different for some and for others.593
1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his
immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that
refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of
heaven-through a purification (purgatory)594 or immediately, (heaven)595 -- or immediate and
everlasting damnation (hell).596
At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.597
Taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church Second
Edition
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick-Last Rites
The sacrament was called last rites because it was (at least until recent years) usually administered when the person receiving the sacrament was in grave danger of dying. The term is sometimes more broadly used to refer to the reception of all of the Last Sacraments—Confession, Holy Communion, and the Anointing of the Sick.
More on Purgatory, Heaven, Hell, Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be added on separate pages....
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