The last prayer of the day in the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer book of the Church, reads: May almighty God grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Not every death is peaceful. We read in the Book of Tobit how both Tobit and his future daughter-in-law, Sarah, prayed for death but not in a peaceful way. They were hurting and in pain so they prayed for death as a relief. Contrast that with the death of the martyrs who, even when going through terrible tortures, do not look on death as going from this life as much as going toward the next life. Our prayer is a “practice” for death when we experience ourselves as loved and embraced by God.
JUNE72017
By Church Staff