"Love and Truth" at:
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Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert
which you can use at your local church to keep up to date on what the Holy
Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009, St. Elizabeth of Hungary
2 Maccabees 6:18-31, Psalm 3:2-7, Luke 19:1-10
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/111709.shtml
PLANNING TO DIE
"By manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old
age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly
and generously for the revered and holy laws." —2 Maccabees 6:27-28
Today it is fashionable to plan ahead for old age and death. Many have
already bought their burial plots, prearranged their funerals, and made
their wills. The Lord wants us to plan ahead for old age and death.
However, He's not so concerned about the economic and medical plans as He
is about the spiritual ones.
Most people plan to live a long time and die painlessly surrounded by the
comforts of home. However, it doesn't matter how long we live as much as
for Whom we live, that is, for the Lord. It doesn't matter if we die at
home, in a nursing home, or even on the street, as long as we die in the
Lord (see 1 Thes 4:16). Whether or not we are in pain isn't the most
important aspect of our death. For instance, Eleazar suffered terrible
pain, being tortured, scourged, and beaten to death. Nonetheless,
Eleazar's death was a "happy death" pleasing to the Lord because he left
"in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue
not only for the young but for the whole nation" (2 Mc 6:31).
Plan to live your life and your old age in the Lord, to suffer and die in
the Lord. Plan to use your death as a forum for proclaiming Jesus as the
Lord of life and the Resurrection from the dead.
Prayer: Father, may my death lead hundreds, even thousands, to give their
lives to Jesus.
Promise: "Today salvation has come to this house." —Lk 19:9
Praise: St. Elizabeth never knew old age, in that she died caring for the
sick at age 24. While queen of Hungary, she built a hospital at the foot
of her castle.
(For a related teaching, order our tape on "Developing a Deep Personal
Relationship with Jesus" on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
October 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 3, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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