Does Anybody Here Truly Not Fear Death?

[catholicinsd]

I think that if anyone desires death, even matyrdom, they should seek help.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1130478' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:43 AM']
Yeah ... that statement is pretty much true of my take on martyrdom, and on my faith in general. Flannery O'Connor is a fricking genius when it comes to succinctly describing the state of my soul.

I do so much battle with fear and doubt and anxiety that I'm pretty sure sainthood is out for me. Maybe I could be the patron saint of those perpetually afraid of being hurt and taking risks.

My one hope at achieving any sort of special status in heaven is a quick martyrdom. I'm with toledo in the explosion thing ... as long as I didn't know about it for too long beforehand. If it were longer, God would have to seriously up the amount of grace I'd receive so I could persevere, because I don't have much natural holiness to carry me through.
[/quote]
That's the thing...we have to trust in Him to provide the grace...and when we do that...all will be well.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130485' date='Nov 28 2006, 10:51 PM']
That's the thing...we have to trust in Him to provide the grace...and when we do that...all will be well.
[/quote]
That is exactly true.

I just wish it were easier to implement stuff like that. Like the last several months, I've felt as though God threw me in the deep end of the pool with no swimming lessons or floaties. I've only recently started to figure out that if I just quit struggling so much, staying afloat is much easier. But overcoming that fear instinct to thrash about when you're afraid ... even the willingness to start doing that takes a bunch of grace.

I'm sure that relates to martyrdom somehow ...

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Sojourner' post='1130494' date='Nov 29 2006, 01:08 AM']
That is exactly true.

I just wish it were easier to implement stuff like that. Like the last several months, I've felt as though God threw me in the deep end of the pool with no swimming lessons or floaties. I've only recently started to figure out that if I just quit struggling so much, staying afloat is much easier. But overcoming that fear instinct to thrash about when you're afraid ... even the willingness to start doing that takes a bunch of grace.

I'm sure that relates to martyrdom somehow ...
[/quote]
It does relate to martyrdom.

First, I like the imagery of thrashing around to stay afloat. I've been having a very hard time spiritually here lately, too.

It relates to martyrdom because our thrashing results from our trying to keep ourselves afloat instead of letting Him keep us afloat. Human body fat accounts for some of the reason we float in water...and our breath accounts for the other part of the reason. In much the same way, we try to swing our arms around and do things our own way, reaching out to hold on to things we don't need and gasping for air instead of trusting that we'll have it...but if we trust in God and relax, we will find two things: (1) we were made to float (it's part of who we are, that is, it relates to bodyfat by analogy) and (2) God's Spirit fills us to keep us afloat.

Yes...I like that metaphor a lot.

Anyway, if we let go of the things we're trying to hold on to and trust in God to give us His spirit, I think we'll have much more confidence in Him.

[track2004]

I'm not really afraid to die, but not because I would die for the cause, just because I've watched Fight Club too many times and have adopted parts of Tyler's theory on life.

[MIKolbe]

I fear a spiritual death.. not a physical one.

[Resurrexi]

I fear death... a lot. It's one of the scariest concepts to me. I would, though, be willing to die the death of a martyr if I ever had to. If there was no-one (or One) you'd be willing to die for you must not love anyone (or One) very much.

[scardella]

To tell you the truth, yesterday morning, a bright and sunny morning if there ever was one, I found myself thinking, "I wish I would die, Lord." And I was more than half serious. The thought was simply that if I must die to reach heaven, I want to die as soon as the Lord allows. Isn't the glory of God worth more than any treasures we have on this earth?

Therese of Lisieux figured that out as a little kid. She's awesome.

[RandomProddy]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='1130404' date='Nov 29 2006, 04:47 AM']
I wouldn't mind dying for God.
But I'd hope it was quick. Like an explosion.
[/quote]

Lol, so true.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='scardella' post='1130743' date='Nov 29 2006, 08:55 AM']
To tell you the truth, yesterday morning, a bright and sunny morning if there ever was one, I found myself thinking, "I wish I would die, Lord." And I was more than half serious. The thought was simply that if I must die to reach heaven, I want to die as soon as the Lord allows. Isn't the glory of God worth more than any treasures we have on this earth?

Therese of Lisieux figured that out as a little kid. She's awesome.
[/quote]
St. Paul says something very like this in Philippians 1:
[quote name='NIV']21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.[/quote]

[Azriel]

I fear death.....I fear living more.

[Balthazor]

I don't fear death as much as I fear being a failure.

[Era Might]

I think the scariest thing about death will be the finality of it all. It's not so much that you are leaving this world, but that you are going to actually face God in judgement. That is the moment you live your whole life for. Have you done his will? Are you holding back something that he will ask an account for? Have you not forgiven someone? The only thing that is really consoling in the face of that judgement is the mercy of God which we cannot comprehend. We think we have a handle on his justice, but not so much his mercy.

[scardella]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1130846' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:48 PM']
I think the scariest thing about death will be the finality of it all. It's not so much that you are leaving this world, but that you are going to actually face God in judgement. That is the moment you live your whole life for. Have you done his will? Are you holding back something that he will ask an account for? Have you not forgiven someone? The only thing that is really consoling in the face of that judgement is the mercy of God which we cannot comprehend. We think we have a handle on his justice, but not so much his mercy.
[/quote]

I think you get a much better sense of both as you become holier.

[mulls]

[quote]I just wish it were easier to implement stuff like that. Like the last several months, I've felt as though God threw me in the deep end of the pool with no swimming lessons or floaties. I've only recently started to figure out that if I just quit struggling so much, staying afloat is much easier. But overcoming that fear instinct to thrash about when you're afraid ... even the willingness to start doing that takes a bunch of grace.[/quote]


[quote]First, I like the imagery of thrashing around to stay afloat. I've been having a very hard time spiritually here lately, too.

It relates to martyrdom because our thrashing results from our trying to keep ourselves afloat instead of letting Him keep us afloat. Human body fat accounts for some of the reason we float in water...and our breath accounts for the other part of the reason. In much the same way, we try to swing our arms around and do things our own way, reaching out to hold on to things we don't need and gasping for air instead of trusting that we'll have it...but if we trust in God and relax, we will find two things: (1) we were made to float (it's part of who we are, that is, it relates to bodyfat by analogy) and (2) God's Spirit fills us to keep us afloat.[/quote]


preach it....amen....ditto....etc.

[Quietfire]

If I had to die for God, I'd pray for the strength to die well.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1130846' date='Nov 29 2006, 10:48 AM']I think the scariest thing about death will be the finality of it all. It's not so much that you are leaving this world, but that you are going to actually face God in judgement. That is the moment you live your whole life for. Have you done his will? Are you holding back something that he will ask an account for? Have you not forgiven someone? The only thing that is really consoling in the face of that judgement is the mercy of God which we cannot comprehend. We think we have a handle on his justice, but not so much his mercy.[/quote]i think you pretty much summed it up for me,

[Groo the Wanderer]

I am only afreiad to die if it has been too long since Reconciliation. Other than that ..no.

2 days ago, I had a big scare. Chest pains, cold sweats, left arm numb...thought I was having a heart attack. I wasn't afraid at all if I were to die. I was only very sad that my baby girl (11) would not have a father to help her finish growing up.

Good news though - the ER said I did not have a heart attack, but they do want me to get a stress test. Definitely made up my mind to do something about this belly though...gonna lose about 40 pounds muy pronto....

[DangerBoy]

[quote name='Raphael' post='1130396' date='Nov 28 2006, 11:39 PM']
Keeping in mind that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, I would say that I am willing to die for my faith and, more importantly, for my God.

However, we should keep in mind that even St. Joan of Arc wavered before she was martyred...and many others with her. It's hard to put ourselves in the situation, but I am willing to die for God.
[/quote]


We all die it is just a matter of when and how. I trust that whatever way and whenever that is it is in the Lords hands.

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='catholicinsd' post='1130481' date='Nov 29 2006, 12:45 AM']I think that if anyone desires death, even matyrdom, they should seek help.[/quote]Seek the help of whom?

Quoting St. Alphonsus de Ligouri ([url="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/alphonsus/uniformity.viii.html"]link[/url]):[quote name='Uniformity with God's Will--Chapter 6']St. John of Avila was convinced that every right-minded person should desire death on account of living in peril of losing divine grace. What can be more pleasant or desirable than by dying a good death, to have the assurance of no longer being able to lose the grace of God? Perhaps you will answer that you have as yet done nothing to deserve this reward. If it were God’s will that your life should end now, what would you be doing, living on here against his will? Who knows, you might fall into sin and be lost! Even if you escaped mortal sin, you could not live free from all sin. “Why are we so tenacious of life,” exclaims St. Bernard, “when the longer we live, the more we sin?” A single venial sin is more displeasing to God than all the good works we can perform.

Moreover, the person who has little desire for heaven shows he has little love for God. The true lover desires to be with his beloved. We cannot see God while we remain here on earth; [b]hence the saints have yearned for death so that they might go and behold their beloved Lord, face to face[/b]. “Oh, that I might die and behold thy beautiful face!” sighed St. Augustine. And St. Paul: “Having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ.” “When shall I come and appear before the face of God?”exclaimed the psalmist.

A hunter one day heard the voice of a man singing most sweetly in the forest. Following the sound, he came upon a leper horribly disfigured by the ravages of his disease. Addressing him he said: “How can you sing when you are so terribly afflicted and your death is so near at hand?” And the leper: “Friend, my poor body is a crumbling wall and it is the only thing that separates me from my God. When it falls I shall go forth to God. Time for me is indeed fast running out, so every day I show my happiness by lifting my voice in song.”[/quote]