The Year of St. Joseph and "A Good Death"

In this Year of St. Joseph being celebrated in the Diocese of La Crosse we are reminded, in this month of All Souls, of the special part St. Joseph plays in the lives of those who are dying.  Because of the special grace he received dying in the arms of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and in the presence of His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph is the model for all the dying and the patron saint of the same.

As we pray this month especially for the poor souls in purgatory, we are reminded of the necessity for preparing ourselves for death, which is the doorway into eternal life.  Death can come upon us as a “thief in the night” or as He really is: our Savior, and our Friend – Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 12:35-40); but, in any case, He does and will come: will we be prepared to meet and welcome Him?

One of the prayers offered on First Wednesday, in the novena to St. Joseph, is a “prayer for a good death”.

O holy St. Joseph, who died in the arms of the Son of God and in the presence of his holy Mother, / I beseech you at my last hour to stand by me, with your immaculate Spouse, / that assisted by both your prayers, I may repent of my sins, / and breathe my last breath in an act of perfect love and confidence in my Savior, / repeating His blessed Name, exalted above every name, / and proclaiming joyfully “Lord, into your hands, I commend my spirit.”

Use this prayer as you undertake, even now, that necessary preparation for eternal life.  As we continue this month in our prayers for the poor souls, let us do that which is necessary to prepare our own souls for a quick and painless entry into the eternal joy promised for those who are sons and daughters of the Most High.