This conversation reminded me of a passage in Anne of the Island where her friend Ruby Gillis is facing imminent death from tuberculosis and is very afraid to die and thus refuses to acknowledge it except in one conversation with Anne. “What had once been silly or amusing was gruesome now; it was death peering through a willful mask of life,” and Ruby says, “Heaven must be very beautiful, of course, the Bible says so — but, Anne, it won’t be what I’m used to.” This changes Anne: “When she came to the end of one life it must not be to face the next with the shrinking terror of something wholly different—something for which accustomed thought and ideal and aspiration had unfitted her. … The life of heaven must be begun here on earth.”
I think most people have Ruby’s fear of death and losing the things they love of earth, even if they believe in some way in heaven; but the Christian is called to start living in a way now in such a way that death won’t be (only) a rupture but the fulfillment of everything we’ve done, as we are able to fully enter into God’s presence.
Thank you for this. Can I ask what your response would be to Christians who have been brought up from infancy with the idea that they are unlikely to go to heaven or purgatory when they die: so death or the end of the world is for them synonymous with going to hell? The comfort of seeing Our Lord or loved ones is then not there.
Well, first thought would be that purgatory is heaven. It’s like the mudroom of eternal life, where God cleans us up and prepares us to fully receive the Beatific Vision. Purgatory isn’t something to be scared of. It’s something to be grateful for, like a hot shower when we’ve come in from the rain and mud. Beyond that, I would encourage them to spend more time learning about and contemplating God’s mercy. Reading the diaries of Saint Faustina and praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet would be a great place to start. Also, just time getting to know Jesus and building a relationship with him. Reading the Gospels, listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, or reading Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth series are all helpful. The more your faith is rooted in a relationship with Him, the healthier and more hopeful it becomes.
This conversation reminded me of a passage in Anne of the Island where her friend Ruby Gillis is facing imminent death from tuberculosis and is very afraid to die and thus refuses to acknowledge it except in one conversation with Anne. “What had once been silly or amusing was gruesome now; it was death peering through a willful mask of life,” and Ruby says, “Heaven must be very beautiful, of course, the Bible says so — but, Anne, it won’t be what I’m used to.” This changes Anne: “When she came to the end of one life it must not be to face the next with the shrinking terror of something wholly different—something for which accustomed thought and ideal and aspiration had unfitted her. … The life of heaven must be begun here on earth.”
I think most people have Ruby’s fear of death and losing the things they love of earth, even if they believe in some way in heaven; but the Christian is called to start living in a way now in such a way that death won’t be (only) a rupture but the fulfillment of everything we’ve done, as we are able to fully enter into God’s presence.
Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is my ringtone. Glad to hear he’s finding his way to the Light.
Thank you for this. Can I ask what your response would be to Christians who have been brought up from infancy with the idea that they are unlikely to go to heaven or purgatory when they die: so death or the end of the world is for them synonymous with going to hell? The comfort of seeing Our Lord or loved ones is then not there.
Well, first thought would be that purgatory is heaven. It’s like the mudroom of eternal life, where God cleans us up and prepares us to fully receive the Beatific Vision. Purgatory isn’t something to be scared of. It’s something to be grateful for, like a hot shower when we’ve come in from the rain and mud. Beyond that, I would encourage them to spend more time learning about and contemplating God’s mercy. Reading the diaries of Saint Faustina and praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet would be a great place to start. Also, just time getting to know Jesus and building a relationship with him. Reading the Gospels, listening to the Bible in a Year podcast, or reading Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth series are all helpful. The more your faith is rooted in a relationship with Him, the healthier and more hopeful it becomes.
Thank you, that's very helpful. I found your confidence in Christ when you were discussing death very beautiful and encouraging.