The Fear of Death

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Sometimes people suffer a great deal from fear of death and because of their self indulgence. The first is a delusion the devil puts in their minds, he says, “You see that you are going to die, and that you haven't done a bit of good! So do you know where you're going? Your deeds have earned only hell!” On the other hand, he makes them feel sorry for themselves by saying, “Just think! Your body is so pampered now with worldly pleasures, but soon you will die.” We have to counter the devil's great malice by responding to these interior suggestions of his. Turning our gaze to our Creator, we should say, “I acknowledge that I am immortal, but this is a tremendous grace for me, since death will bring me to my goal, to God who is my life. I acknowledge, too, that my life indeed deserves only hell. But I have faith and trust in my Creator, in the blood of the Lamb who was slain and consumed, that he will pardon my sins and grant me grace. I will try in this present time to amend my life. But if death should overtake me before I have amended my life—that is, before I have yet done penance for my sins—I still say that I trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, because I see that there is no comparison between my sins and divine mercy. Even if all the sins that could possibly be committed or gathered together in one person, it would be like a drop of vinegar in the sea.”


ST. CATHERINE OF SIENNA Letter

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