SA国际传媒

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

During his catechesis at the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the special devotion the faithful have always had for Saint Joseph as the patron saint of a good death 鈥� a devotion born of the thought that he died with the assistance of Our Lady and Jesus.

Through St. Joseph to Mary to Jesus

Pope Francis notes that Pope Benedict XV, a century ago, wrote that 鈥渢hrough Joseph we go directly to Mary, and through Mary to the origin of all holiness, Jesus.鈥�

In this regard, Benedict XV encouraged pious practices in honour of the Saint, recommending that since he is considered as the most effective protector of the dying, it is the concern of the Pastors to encourage the pious associations that have been established to implore St. Joseph on behalf of the dying such as those of the 鈥楪ood Death鈥�, of the 鈥楾ransit of Saint Joseph鈥� and 鈥榝or the Dying鈥�.

Our relationship with death is about the present

Our relationship with death is 鈥渘ever about the past, but always about the present,鈥� Pope Francis said, noting that some people perhaps think that this language and theme are 鈥渁 legacy of the past.鈥�

More so, the so-called 鈥渇eel-good鈥� culture tries to remove the reality of death, but the coronavirus pandemic has brought it into focus in a dramatic way with many people dying without loved ones being able to be near them, making death 鈥渉arder to accept and process.鈥�

He highlights that though 鈥渨e try in every way to banish the thought of our finite existence, deluding ourselves into believing that we can remove the power of death and dispel fear.鈥� The Christian faith, he notes, is 鈥渘ot a way of exorcising the fear of death, rather, it helps us to face it.鈥�

Facing death through faith in resurrection

It is only through faith in resurrection that we can face the abyss of death without being overwhelmed by fear, the Pope says, because 鈥渢he true light that illuminates the mystery of death comes from the resurrection of Christ.鈥� In a sense, thinking about death enlightened by the mystery of Christ, helps us to look at all life through fresh eyes.

He advises against empty accumulation of possessions if one day we will die. Rather, what we must accumulate is charity, the ability to share, not to remain indifferent to the needs of others.

The Holy Father then reminds us that the Gospel tells us that death comes like a thief, in spite of however much we try to keep its arrival under control or plan for it. It remains an event we must reckon with, and before which we must make choices.

鈥淲hat is the point of arguing with a brother, with a sister鈥�?鈥� he asks. 鈥淏efore death, many issues are brought down to size. It is good to die reconciled, without grudges and without regrets!鈥�

Two considerations for Christians

For Christians, the Pope proposes two considerations: first, that we cannot avoid death, and for this reason, after having done everything humanly possible to cure the sick, 鈥渋t is immoral to engage in futile treatment.鈥�

The second consideration, concerning the quality of death, including pain and suffering, is that we must be grateful for all the help medicine gives through so-called palliative care, but we must be careful not to confuse this help with 鈥渦nacceptable drifts towards euthanasia.鈥�

Stressing that 鈥渨e must accompany people towards death but not provoke death or facilitate assisted suicide,鈥� the Holy Father calls for prioritizing the right to care and treatment for all, particularly the weak, the eldest and the sick. He further warns against isolating and accelerating the death of the elderly.

鈥淟ife is a right, not death, which must be welcomed not administered,鈥� he says, adding that this ethical principle applies to everyone, not just Christians and believers.

鈥淗ail Mary鈥�

Concluding, the Pope implores the intercession of St. Joseph to help us live the mystery of death in the best possible way, because, for a Christian, 鈥渢he good death is an experience of the mercy of God, who comes close to us even in the last moment of our life.鈥�

He ends his catechesis by inviting all present to pray a 鈥淗ail Mary鈥� for the dying and those experiencing bereavement, because in that same prayer, we pray for Our Lady to be close to us 鈥渁t the hour of our death.鈥�