*Do you fear the hour of your death, or that of a loved one?* Such fear is deeply human and understandable. Death confronts us with mystery, loss, and the unknown. But in light of our Catholic faith, death—though painful—is not the end. It is the beginning of eternal life. For the soul in the state of grace, it is the moment of being fully embraced by the merciful Heart of Christ. The Catechism reminds us that “death is the end of man’s earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers… in order to meet his definitive destiny” (CCC 1021). That “time of grace and mercy” extends to our very last breath. In fact, the Church teaches that God’s mercy often intensifies at the hour of death, a belief beautifully echoed in the Divine Mercy message given to St. Faustina: “I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person… I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior” . Far from something to dread, the hour of death can be a moment of deep hope and holy anticipation. St. Joseph, the Patron of a Happy Death, is our model here. Tradition holds that he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary—a grace we are invited to pray for ourselves and those we love. The Litany of St. Joseph even includes the petition: “St. Joseph, patron of the dying, pray for us.” Reflect, then, on your “sacred hour”—not with fear, but with trust. For Christ has gone before us, conquering death and preparing a place for each of us (cf. John 14:2–3). He desires to begin your preparation for that hour now, not through dread, but through the continual outpouring of His mercy and grace. By receiving the sacraments—especially Confession and the Eucharist—we are gradually conformed to Him, so that when the hour comes, we may pass into His arms with peace. Let the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux console your heart: “It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God.” So today, allow God’s mercy to enter your soul anew. Trust in His love. Begin now to live in such a way that your final moment will be not a fearful departure, but a glorious entrance—into the eternal embrace of the One who loves you beyond all telling. source: divinemercy.life #catholic, #catholicfaith, #catholicchurch, #catholiclife, #faith, and #catholictradition #divinemercy, #rosary, #saints