The Seven Last Words (with Supplemental Reading: A Brief Life of Christ) [Illustrated] by Rev. Fr. Christopher Rengers O.F.M. Cap

Author:Rev. Fr. Christopher Rengers O.F.M. Cap [Rengers O.F.M. Cap, Rev. Fr. Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Subject Value
ISBN: 9781618903259
Publisher: TAN Books
Published: 2013-08-01T05:00:00+00:00

It Is Unjust to Deceive a Dying Person

Needless to say, people who are dying should have the opportunity of freely offering the priceless gift of their life. They should not be allowed to go blindly into eternity by not being told they are dying. To try to deceive a dying person, even a child who has the use of reason, is cruelty. It is injustice.

There are a number of reasons for saying this. It may be that only the knowledge of approaching death will lead a person to true contrition. Even one who seems to be close to God may have been keeping something on his conscience that only the thought of death will lead him to confess. But aside from this, a person should be given the opportunity to die as Christ did, with full acceptance of the will of God. In all things we are to be imitators of Christ; therefore, we should be imitators of Him in this too. A person should not be denied the opportunity of making this final offering of life, which is so pleasing to God.

Yet, sad to say, there exists in many people a false sort of charity and a foolish softheartedness that tries to “kid” a sick person along, even through the portals of eternity. We should, of course, be optimistic and stir up the hope of living as long as there is hope. But when the danger is grave and the balance swings to the side of approaching death, then we should let the sick person know. He should not be permitted to back into eternity, but should go forward, and with his eyes open.

Well-meaning relatives sometimes try to keep all knowledge of a grave sickness from the dying person. They may even be unwilling to ask the priest to administer the “Last Rites” (Confession, Last Anointing, Communion), fearing that these may upset the sick person. But is this not misdirected affection? Is it not sentimentality instead of mercy? Certainly death is a hard fact; to be in the proximate danger of death is not a pleasant fact. But not to hear about it is not going to prevent it. To know about it in advance may be the means of a great grace, giving the dying person the opportunity to repent or the opportunity to offer his life to God.

When a person is in an accident or overcome suddenly by some sickness, the tendency among medical people is to be too hasty with the sedative needle. The doctor or hospital attendant gives a massive sedative to quiet the patient. There is a place for sedatives, but they should not be given so soon that the patient does not at least have the chance to make an act of contrition. He may not think of this himself. If you are present, you can offer to recite the Act of Contrition, asking him to pray along silently. You do not have to shock the person. Just tell him you are going to say the Act of Contrition with him “for safety sake,” or something similar.

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