Dying Alone

Once in a while internet quizzes are sent around.  I noticed that a co-worker always put “dying alone,” as her greatest fear. 

I’ve thought a lot about that.  Don’t we all die alone?  We are born alone, so wouldn’t dying be done likewise?  You are born and your mother is there, hopefully a doctor, and nurses, but the newborn isn’t aware of that.  Whatever that baby is experiencing, is something only the baby knows.  That’s what I mean by we were born alone.

Maybe when we die we find ourselves welcomed by choirs of angels.  Who knows?  But we have to die ourselves first, and that’s something only we, alone, can do.

Even if one is surrounded by loved ones, emotionally and mentally, you could be alone.  Someone could be holding your hand and you may not be aware of it. 

If you die praying, you’re not alone.  God is always with us, praying or not.  I hope to remember that. 

I think I’m trying to say that dying is part of life.  We all die alone.  No one can go with us.  Let us just pray for a peaceful death.

Important Questions

Yesterday, I posted about Impossible Questions, today I'm posting about an Important Question.  August 14 is the Feast of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.  Father Lobert, in his homily, talked about martyrdom.  He taught us that martyr = witness.  He told us the story of how Saint Maximilian Kolbe gave his life for another, copying Jesus.  Then he talked how we could give witness, nowadays.

Can you give witness to your faith?  Then he called us on it.  He distributed these pins and asked us to go forth and spread the Good News.

Are you willing to be a martyr? 

Impossible Questions

How is one to answer questions like "Why do you love her?"  Any answer is unsatisfactory because it's not comprehensible to the questioner.  If one asked, "Why do you like chocolate?"  The answer, "because it taste good" would be accepted because it is true to the questioner.  But a question like "Why do you love her?", will never be satisfactory because the questioner hasn't experienced what you have.  Consequently, the questioner just doesn't understand it.

Maybe if you answered, "It's not her I love.  It's her money," they could understand that.  But not, "I love her cute lisp."

It's an impossible question.  There is no answer to a question like this one.  Why did you become a nun?  Why did you become a monk?  Why did you become a Lay Dominican?

The true answer, the most meaningful answer, is incomprehensible.  I became a Lay Dominican because as a lay person I wanted to do more for God than I was doing.  And God placed me in the Dominican family.

Why is that so impossible to accept?  Answer that question.

Freedom from "Freedom"

Two of my "cloistered" brothers have dogs.  Both are golden labradors.  Skipper is 13 months old and already a big brute of a dog.  Goldie is a little puppy of 3 months.

The breed may be the same but their behavior is not!  Skipper was living for a year with a family that didn't train him at all.  When he got too big to control, his owners gave him away.  He's a monster.  He slobbers water all out of his water bowl.  He jumps up on you when you come over to him, and he's bigger and taller than children and some adults.  It's scary.  He pulls on his leash and drags his handler all over the place.  I was talking to my brother when he grabbed the magazine I had in my hand.  I went to grab it back, but Skipper thought I was playing tug of war and held on.  When I finally did get the magazine back, it had teeth holes in it.  I thought labs had gentle mouths; that's why they're used as retrievers?  Now, every time I read my magazine I'll see teeth marks right through it.

Now Goldie is a little sweet heart.  She has been in training since she was a few weeks old.  She obeys in a second.  She sits right beside her handler; she heels; she lies down on command, and she's learning more and more, every day.

Everyone loves Goldie and thinks Skipper is a brutish idiot.

Doesn't the behavior of these two dogs remind you of people.  People who have no self discipline, who don't think laws mean them, think they're free, but they're prisoners to their passions--like Skipper.  And everyone thinks they're brutish and idiots.  They're not pleasant to be around.

Civilized people are the ones who are truly free because they're not slaves to whatever whim enters their heads.  They choose to act like they do because it makes them happy and everyone around them.

Poor Skipper has a lot to learn.  He will though.  You can teach an old dog new tricks, it just takes longer.

Synergism

Synergism, the belief that man cooperates with God regarding salvation, came to mind in the story of the priest praying for a girl who was an accident victim.  Nineteen year old Katie Lentz was in terrible pain, after a car accident.  She was conscious and was praying for help.
     
Out of nowhere, a Catholic priest appeared and anointed her.  She said her leg was in terrible pain and she asked Father to pray over it.  He did and he remained praying a Rosary until she was taken away.

The story has a happy ending.  Katie is healing very well in a hospital and the priest was identified and thanked.  Read the story yourself, here.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

It's Sunday.  That means it's time to link up with the Catholic Carnival, at This That n' the Other Thing.  And thanks to RAnn for hosting.  Here's the snippets I posted about.  Monday, I wrote a book review on the next book in Michael Stewart's "Assured Destruction Series", Script Kiddie.  "Assured Destruction" is about a teenage girl who is trying to save her mom, her business, her boyfriend, her future,and even her life.  It's young adult, but I'm a senior adult and I'm hooked.  script Kiddie is the second in the series.
 
Tuesday I wrote about bargaining with God.  When I was about ten years old, I made a bargain with God because I wanted to win a softball game. That bargain still haunts me.

Wednesday, a friend was upset because her pastor disrespected her.  She was trying to help the parish by pointing out an error in a notice.  Everyone's reaction was that it was no big deal and she was just being a jerk.  I felt for her.  All people had to say was, "You're correct."  That's all.  Validate her concern.  What would it have cost her pastor to say, "You're right.  Thanks for noticing and telling me."  Everyone needs affirmation.

Thursday was a big feast day for me.  I celebrated the Vigil of St. Dominic with my brothers.  The feast day, itself, began with Mass.  And that's the last post I wrote this week, because I've been celebrating ever since the Feast of St. Dominic.  Veritas!

Solemnity of Our Holy Father Dominic

On the grounds of Santa Sabina is an orange tree.  St. Dominic brought those seeds and planted them there.  The tree still exists and yields fruit.  So do other trees, made from graftings taken from St. Dominic's tree.  With this in mind, today you must toast, "Veritas!" with your orange juice.  Since it is a celebration for the Feast of St. Dominic, add champagne to your orange juice.

Lord,
   Let the holiness and teaching of our Father Dominic come to the aid of your Church.  May he help us now with his prayers as he once inspired people by his preaching.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever.  Amen