I just finished reading a book ‘The Art of Dying’ A 13th c book on the art of dying. Scripture says call no man happy till his end death. Life is either a comedy or a tragedy that is know at the end. A person might have lived a sinful wicked life but turns to God at the end and his tragedy becomes a comedy. and a person might have lived a life of virtue but turned away from God at the end and his life is now a tragedy. Scripture says ‘call no man happy till his end.’ Death reveals the type of person we are.

St Thomas Aquinas tells us that we need to pray for the gift of perseverance. It is grace that is given but can’t be merited, that is why we need to pray for it.

At the Hospital I see holy death. I remember being awaken from a dream of St Peter and the Keys, to go to the hospital. A woman was actively dying but still never conscious and I heard her confession and she asked me for communion, I had mass in her hospital room and she died soon after.

The Book ‘The Art of Dying’ says that there a 5 temptations that we face at the end of life, 3 against Faith Hope and Charity. Meaning we need to make acts of Faith Hope and Charity, the fourth temptation is the devil makes an appeal to the sick’s person’s ‘vanity and complacency, a form of spiritual pride.’ and the fifth temptation concern avarice. There a ancient painting that see the devil demon at the bed of the dying person and the demon is tempting the person with money. As we say you can’t take it with you.

We have lost the art of dying. Dying is no longer an art. We don’t so much die but are taken off a machine. Maybe, there is something to this lost art of dying. Pope Benedict last words before he died was ‘Jesus I Love You.’ That is a holy death. And with these words he summarized his entire life.