The Swinford Funeral, Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957), 1918, oil on fabric. The Walters Art Museum / Wikimedia Commons.

Sudden Death Without Preparation

What happens when a loved one dies unexpectedly? Perhaps they were completely fallen from the Faith or did not receive their final Sacraments. Do not fear for these souls, but pray fervently for them! Read on for spiritual counsel on unexpected deaths.


Those Who Died Suddenly

How worthy of compassion is the lot of those who are suddenly called out of life to the dread tribunal of God’s Justice, who are summoned to meet the Bridegroom when they least expect it; for, though clothed in the wedding garment of grace, its whiteness may just then be tarnished; though provided with the oil of charity to feed their lamps, it may burn somewhat dimly. Let us pray fervently for such souls today.

Our Natural Worry

Is there anything more painful than to see a beloved friend, brother, and even perhaps a parent, die without the last Sacraments, unprepared and unrepentant? What bitterness, what terrible anguish of mind, what a wound for the poor heart! The dearly-loved one thus lost to us forever! Never, we imagine, shall we see him again; all during eternity no call will ever reach him, no answer will ever come, or, rather, from the terrible abyss moans and cries of despair will be heard. O God! What unutterable suffering! In the light of faith nothing could be more bitter. He whom I so justly loved, whose salvation was as dear to me as my own, death has suddenly seized: he did not frequent the Sacraments, and was not in a state of grace. Behold now all is over forever. Nothing remains but to weep eternally, and it almost seems as if death itself will not be able to make good his loss to me, for how taste of its sweetness, remembering him who suffers eternally, and for whom I would have given my life?

The Abyss of God’s Mercy

These forebodings are, alas, only too natural! But let us be careful not to exaggerate them. The mercy of God, like His greatness, is an abyss. We do not know, and we have no right to say, that such a person is damned, no matter how he died. His feet, it is true, were in the road to perdition, and he exposed himself to the terrible sentence, this is quite certain; but still the mysteries of the last moment, and especially those of Divine Goodness, are hidden from us. 

An illustrious bishop once said: “Between the last sight of a dying person and eternity there is an abyss of mercy, especially if some pious persons have been praying for him.” God knows what is for the best, and in His own good time may have granted the prayers which we thought unheard.

How to Prepare for Our Own Soul

This consideration, however, should not encourage the sinner to put off his conversion and penance under pretence that God will pardon him at the last moment; for does not Our Lord say, “Watch and pray, for death will come like a thief in the night,” and that judgment will depend upon the light and grace we have received? But the deceased for whom we are justly alarmed—had he all the spiritual advantages which we enjoy? Will not God take into account his ignorance, the bad example he received, the impetuosity of a passionate nature, want, perhaps, of intelligence and judgment, the corrupt surroundings in which his lot was cast? Who knows but that your future prayers known to God have had some influence on the Divine mercy? 

And here a word of advice to parents to carefully watch over the Christian education and training of their children may not be out of place. He who has no religion follows, perhaps, with tears the body of a cherished father, mother, or brother to the grave, but when all is over he strives to banish from his mind the sad memory. . . . Never does he offer a prayer, never does he perform a good work for those souls who may, on his account, be now suffering the torments of Purgatory. Think well on this, you fathers and mothers, and do not neglect a duty which so nearly concerns you!

Well, then, let us pray much, let us pray often, let us pray always for our loved departed ones. At each one’s death, at the tribunal of God, the Saviour of men will say: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Placed under the law of hope, no less than that of faith and love, the thought of the infinite goodness of our Divine Redeemer should encourage us in our trials. 

Let us, then, never cease to hope and address humble and persevering prayers to the Lord, for we know not where they will be granted. Great Saints and learned Doctors have written most consoling things on the powerful efficacy of prayer for those cherished souls, whatever may have been their end. One day we shall know the ineffable wonders of Divine mercy. We should therefore never fail to implore it with great confidence.

This article is taken from a chapter in Stories About Purgatory and What They Reveal: 30 Days for the Holy Souls compiled by various sources (An Ursuline Nun of Sligo, Ireland) which is available from TAN Books

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