Recently I learned that a distant relative died back in July. I haven’t seen her in over ten years. This news has caused me to reflect on many things, most especially, “Did she have a happy death?” Although some deaths are easier than others, a happy death in the Catholic tradition has less to do with our bodily needs and everything to do with our spiritual ones.

I found this lovely definition by Judy Roberts, “For those who embrace the Catholic faith, dying a good death means being spiritually ready and in the good graces of the Church. Ideally, such preparation occurs daily and spans a lifetime, involving regular attendance at Mass, receiving the sacraments, and being reconciled with others.” In the same article, Fr. Christopher Monturo, writes, “All Catholics can prepare for such a death simply by attending Mass each week. Every Mass, every liturgy, in a very real way brings our attention to those ‘four last things’ — death, judgment, heaven, and hell. If you listen carefully and enter into the prayers of the Mass, especially the eucharistic prayer, but also the prayer of the faithful, the readings, and very often the music, all our liturgy comes together to really direct our attention from the world to eternity.”

The Catholic Church is trying to prepare us for our inevitable transition from this world to the next. Consider the Hail Mary prayer that we say so regularly. It appeals to Our Blessed Mother to, “…pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” I have heard many stories of dying people who see Jesus, Mary, saints and angels at their bedsides. I have to believe that the joy of those visions must supersede any pain the person might be feeling.

Seeing a priest at the end and receiving the last sacraments is essential. When my mother died, she was not able to talk or swallow, so she couldn’t give her confession or receive Communion, but she was anointed. After that sacrament, the priest told my sister and I that her soul was as clean as a newborn baby. She was a faithful woman, but it is very comforting to hear those words. Unfortunately, my recently deceased relative was not Catholic and would not have had the opportunity to receive final graces from the Last Rites. Let us be grateful for the sacraments that Jesus gave the Catholic Church and take full advantage of them now and at the hour of our death.

Scripture: Read Joshua 1:9. What stands out?

Call to Action: St. Joseph is the Patron of a Happy Death. Pray for his intercession that your death will be happy too.