Those of us who fight for the right to life of every human being on this earth must also remember to be joyfully aware that this life, as beautiful as it may be, is not our ultimate end. Though we fight for truth and freedom in our beloved country, it remains but an earthly dwelling place, a temporary homeland where … Read More
Facing Death With Dignity
Liz — living with advanced, incurable kidney cancer wants you to know: “The moment we label suicide an act with dignity, we’ve implied that people like me are undignified for not ending our lives, or worse, we’re a costly burden for society. What a lonely, uncharitable and fake world we live in if we think it’s somehow undignified to let people … Read More
TOB Tues: The Sign of the Dying Body
Recently came across an old article from Susan Windley-Daoust on The Sign of the Dying Body: How the Theology of the Body Helps Us to Die in Love Dying—undergoing it, or helping one who is dying—is a privileged space where we see and encounter God himself. And in dying, the ensouled body serves as a sign of gift and giving, … Read More
R.I.P. Coco Kitty
One of those little black balls of fluff is a newborn Coco Kitty in May of 1993(with sweet, sweet momma Cassie Cat): Loot at the precious!: And here she is all grown up just a few short months ago: After 19 years, it’s hard to believe that she’s really gone. Though stuffed full of boxes, shelves and power tools, the … Read More
Scared to Death of Death
Kindly requesting your prayers, gentle readers. It’s looking more and more like my precious Coco kitty is at the end of her life – and I am NOT ready to deal with this (I know, who is, right?). It’s hard to tell how close she is. She’s still eating and walking around, but she’s definitely more subdued than normal, she’s … Read More
In Memoriam, 2012
The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. –Douglas MacArthur Image: Incidents of the war. A harvest of death, Gettysburg, July, 1863 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (Jn. 15:13) For all those who … Read More
Setting the Record Straight on the Latimer Case
In 1993, Robert Latimer murdered his 12-year old disabled daughter, gassing her to death with fumes from his truck. He was convicted of second degree murder with a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 10 years. For nearly two decades, Robert has received widespread sympathy and support from the Canadian public as … Read More
Christ Teaches Us How to Die, Redux
As assisted suicide deaths rise yet again in Oregon and Switzerland and they prepare to discuss legalizing the practice in Massachusetts, over at Catholic Lane this morning, I revisited and revised a previous post from here: For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. … Read More
Dying Time Can Be Good Time
Over at Catholic Lane, Mark Pickup writes about the The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s recent statement against euthanasia. In it, he explains how euthanasia denies people of the “good time” of the “last phase of living” during which a person often reconciles with God and others. Mark’s article reminds me of something I read in Dr. Joseph … Read More
Make Every Breath Count
“Time is a treasure that melts away. It escapes from us, slipping through our fingers like water through the mountain rocks. Tomorrow will soon be another yesterday. Our lives are so very short. Yesterday has gone and today is passing by. But what a great deal can be done for the love of God in this short space of time!” … Read More