September 4, 2011 – Catechism 1020 – 1022

Thinking about death is very sobering. There is a prayer in the Church for asking for a peaceful death or asking that it not be sudden. The reason is that there are rites and rituals that are supposed to be done as close to a person leaving this Earth as possible. When this life is over, our choice is made. These last moments, if spent in a holy state, participating in these rites, are the last vehicles of grace that can be offered to help a person leave this world in a state of grace. These opportunities are not there for someone who dies in an auto accident or a fire or other cases like that. That isn’t to say they are not in a state of grace, not at all, but just that the Church has these instruments of grace and it is beneficial for your immortal soul to take advantage of them. When dealing with your immortal soul and eternity, you should probably be looking for all the help you can get.