Editorial

In modern American society, people seem to shy away from discussions of death and dying. We don't want to think about growing old. Instead, we glorify the young, the beautiful, and the healthy.

We keep looking for the "fountain of youth." We dye our hair, try to eliminate wrinkles, and spend lots of time and money keeping ourselves trim and fit.

There's certainly nothing wrong with taking care of ourselves and trying to stay healthy as long as possible. But for some people it becomes an obsession. They do not want to face reality - and they certainly do not want to come to grips with the fact that they will die someday.

Lack of faith. Perhaps one reason for this attitude is lack of faith in God and life after death. If someone believes that death is the end of everything, then that person will cling to life for all it's worth.

We Christians are fortunate. We believe that death is not the end but the beginning of a new life. And how we live our life on earth will determine what happens to us in eternal life.

During the month of November, we take time in the Catholic Church calendar to remember the faithful departed: All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2. Our civil society also remembers the veterans who have served our country on Veterans Day, November 11. These are all opportunities to remember in thought and prayer those who have gone before us.

Remembering the dead. It seems as if people in other cultures treat death more openly. In some countries, family members visit cemeteries together. It is almost a festive occasion with food and conversation around the tombs of their ancestors.

They may have a good idea. How often do Americans visit the graves of our relatives who have died? Do we bring our children along to visit cemeteries and talk about our grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins?

With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approaching, perhaps it might give us an opportunity to pay a visit to the graves of some of our deceased family members.

Communion of saints. We Catholics believe in the communion of saints. This includes all of those on earth joined together with those who have died. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that from the very earliest days of the Christian religion (remember the Catacombs), Christians have honored with great respect the memory of the dead. We are encouraged to pray for the dead "that they may be loosed from their sins," even to the point where "our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective."

As Catholics, we should not be afraid of death. We should value our life and take care of ourselves. But when we and our loved ones face death, we should not fear the future. If we have lived a good Christian life, we should hope in everlasting life.

We should also continue to pray for those who have died, not just at the time of the funeral but continuously. We have been assured that our prayers can have an effect on those in purgatory, so we must not forget the dead.

In return, we hope that they will remember us and pray for us on earth. It is a marvelous feeling to know that we are all joined together in this communion of saints. What a wonderful gift!

Mary C. Uhler