Editorial   A Good Death. A Bad Death    
When man is born into this world, there is something else that comes into existence along with him-death. Congenital with man's birth, it follows him like a shadow. When the time ordained by God arrives, death has man in its clutches.
 
We often hear about a good death or a bad death. What is a good death? What is a bad death? If someone expires in his home or in the hospital after receiving the Sacrament of the Sick, we call it a happy death and say, "He died in the Lord." On the other hand, if someone dies by accident on the road side or elsewhere or is drowned, we sometimes describe it as a bad death.
 
According to the teaching of the Bible and the Church, a good death is one which occurs when the person concerned is in a state of grace, and a bad death when the person dies in a state of mortal sin.
 
The state of grace is specified chiefly by man's basic choice-what is most important is the decision one makes when one has the ability and the freedom to make it. Theologians call this "Fundamental option". The chief basis of being in a state of grace is the free decision one makes to revere God and obey his commandments.
 
This decision is called faith. Faith is the breath of the spirit. Just as we say that a man who breathes has life, the one who believes has eternal life (cf Jn 6:47). It is this belief that gives man courage and hope in the face of death. "Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me"(Ps 23:4). The external manifestations of this faith are prayer and the frequenting of the Sacraments. The word of God teaches that they provide remission of sin and healing (cf Jas 5:14-15). The Holy Bible also asserts that almsgiving and praying for the deceased are efficacious (cf 2 Mac 12:43-45).
 
The strongest foundation of our conviction that those who believe in Jesus, will be resurrected, is the resurrection of Jesus himself . "...since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep"(1 Thes 4:14).
 
"What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power"(1 Cor 15:42-43). God will lead them to the glorious and eternal dwelling where there is no pain or lamentation. "See , the home of God is among mortals. ....he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more."(Rev 21:3-4).
 
St Paul teaches us how to acquire the permanance, glory and power of this deathless state. "...seek the things that are above, where Christ is..."(Col 3:1).
 

-Editor

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