Holy Acceptance of Death as a Means of Avoiding Purgatory
and Advancing in the Degree of Glory We Will Enjoy in Heaven

In this class we learned that suffering is meant to increase our Faith, Hope and Love. We learned that Faith is the theological virtue that enables us to see things from God's perspective. One of the effects of this is that our vision of earthly realities like suffering is elevated and greatly enriched. For example, when a person is dying and we see that they are suffering greatly, we may feel anxious and wish that his or her suffering would end as soon as possible and we might even be tempted to consent to giving him/her pain medication that would put him/her into a coma like state. This is because our view of suffering is only at a natural level and needs to be elevated to a supernatural level by the gift of Faith. It would be a mistake to give into this temptation. Yes, we should try to relieve their pain as much as possible but not to the point where he/she loses consciousness. Instead, this is a time to help them to submit to God's will in order to be purified of sin and to gain great merit for eternal life.

In fact the Church teaches us the following very important truth: The humble and submissive acceptance of death in expiation of our sins is a generous act, by which we make a sacrifice of our life to God, in union with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the "old man" and to put on the "new man"(Eph 4:22,24).

Here is a true story that shows how important this is:

Sister Mary of St. Joseph, one of the first four Carmelites to embrace the reform of St. Teresa, was a Religious of great virtue. The end of her life approached, and Our Lord, wishing that she should be received into Heaven in triumph on breathing her last sigh, purified and adorned her soul by the sufferings which marked the end of her life.

During the four last days which she passed upon earth, she lost her speech and the use of her senses; she was a prey to frightful agony, and her Religious sisters were heartbroken to see her in that state. Mother Isabella of St. Dominic, Prioress of the convent, approached the sick Religious, and suggested to her to make many acts of resignation, and total abandonment of herself into the hands of God. Sister Mary of Joseph heard her, and made these acts interiorly, but without being able to give any sign of it exteriorly.

She died in these holy dispositions, and, on the very day of her death, while Mother Isabella was hearing Mass and praying for the repose of her soul, Our Lord showed her the soul of His faithful spouse crowned in glory, and said, “She is of the number of those who follow the Lamb.” Sister Mary of St. Joseph, on her part, thanked Mother Isabella for all the good she had procured for her at the hour of death. She added that the acts of resignation which she had suggested to her had merited for her great glory in Paradise and had exempted her from the pains of Purgatory (Life of Mother Isabella, lib. 3, c. 7).

What happiness to leave this miserable life, to enter the only true and blessed one! We all may enjoy this happiness, if we employ the means which Jesus Christ has given us for making satisfaction in this world, and for preparing our souls perfectly to appear in His presence.