The Divine Art Of Dying Second Edition

The Divine Art of Dying aims to empower people who are dying to live as fully as they can until life's end. The book includes reflections from Karen Speerstra's hospice journal and essays written jointly by Speeratra and Herbert Anderson on learning to wait, letting go, giving gifts, and telling stories. Each chapter has suggestions for caregivers.

Based on the author's own experience, The Divine Art of Dying is about how we can die well and live well up to the very end of our physical existence. Combining personal stories with solid research on palliative and hospice care, the book looks at the unique moment when a person turns toward death and examines what the dying person and their caregivers can expect. Includes spiritual insights from many sources along with references from literature, movies, and current culture.

The author has tried to give the most detailed answers to specific questions through his many years of experience of independent out-of-body explorations of the Ethereal World: how to die correctly? How to learn to accept your death in time? How the transformation of subtle bodies takes place during the postmortem transition? This book, describing in the most detailed way the changing state of a person’s Consciousness during the process called «dying» and his Soul’s presence in various vibrations of the energies of the Astral, is also a kind of manual of religious therapy and eschatological psychosurgery, carried out through the most detailed texts of “Instructions” read by relatives for the dying ones or an already dead person in order to strengthen and awaken his Consciousness before the Transition to the Other World. Among other things, this book can safely be classified as one of the most detailed travel guides to the many realms and spheres of the Ethereal World, which we commonly refer to as the «afterlife».

The Medicalization of dying and the disregard for the life of the soul within contemporary health care prompt the return of the Ars moriendi, or The Art of Dying. This widely influential fifteenth-century text was designed to guide dying persons and their loved ones in Catholic religious practices at a time when access to a priest and the sacraments was similarly limited. This remarkable and inspiring work serves as a valuable resource for Catholic today, encouraging their full participation in the rich sacramental and liturgical tradition of the Church and challenging them to keep their eyes fixed on Christ and the promise of eternal life with him. This new translation includes illuminating annotations on its theological and pastoral content. A scholarly introduction examines the book's history, use, and present application. The book contains exact reproductions of the original medieval woodblock prints. Additional prayers have been incorporated from the longer version of the work, newly translated with Latin originals. The appendix presents confessions of faith, explanations of the sacraments, and guides to the examination of conscience, the rosary, and the divine mercy chaplet.

Excerpt: CHAPTER I. HE WHO DESIRES TO DIE WELL, MUST LIVE WELL I NOW commence the rules to be observed in the Art of dying well. This art I shall divide into two parts: in the first I shall speak of the precepts we must follow whilst in good health; in the other of those we should observe when we are dangerously ill, or near death's door. We shall first treat of those precepts that relate to virtue; and afterwards of those which relate to the sacraments: for, by these two we shall be especially enabled both to live well, and to die well. But the general rule, " that he who lives well, will die well," must be mentioned before all others: for since death is nothing more than the end of life, it is certain that all who live well to the end, die well; nor can he die ill, who hath never lived ill; as, on the other hand, he who hath never led a good life, cannot die a good death. The same thing is observable in many similar cases: for all that walk along the right path, are sure to arrive at the place of their destination; whilst, on the contrary, they who wander from it, will never arrive at their journey's end. They also who diligently apply to study, will soon become learned doctors; but they who do not, will be ignorant. But, perhaps, some one may mention, as an objection, the example of the good thief, who lived ill and yet died well. This was not the case; for that good thief led a holy life, and therefore died a holy death. But, even supposing he had spent the greater part of his days in wickedness, yet the other part of his life was spent so well, that he easily repented of his former sins, and gained the greatest graces. For, burning with the love of God, he openly defended our Saviour from the calumnies of His enemies; and filled with the same charity towards his neighbour, he rebuked and admonished his blaspheming companion, and endeavoured to convert him. He was yet alive when he thus addressed him, saying: "Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done no evil." (St. Luke 23:40, 41.) Neither was he dead when, confessing and calling upon Christ, he uttered these noble words: "Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom." The good thief then appeared to "have been one of those who came last into the vineyard, and yet he received a reward greater than the first." True, therefore, is the sentence, " He who lives well, dies well;" and, "He who lives ill, dies ill." We must acknowledge that it is a most dangerous thing to deter till death our conversion from sin to virtue: far more happy are they who begin to carry the yoke of the Lord "from their youth," as Jeremiah saith; and exceedingly blessed are those, "who were not defiled with women, and in whose mouth there was found no lie: for they are without spot before the throne of God. These were purchased from among men, the first-fruits to God and to the Lamb." (Apoc. 14:4, 5.) Such were Jeremias, and St. John, "more than a prophet;" and above all, the Mother of our Lord, as well as many more whom God alone knoweth. This first great truth now remains established, that a good death depends upon a good life.

The author has tried to give the most detailed answers to specific questions through his many years of experience of independent out-of-body explorations of the Ethereal World: how to die correctly? How to learn to accept your death in time? How the transformation of subtle bodies takes place during the postmortem transition? This book, describing in the most detailed way the changing state of a person’s Consciousness during the process called «dying» and his Soul’s presence in various vibrations of the energies of the Astral, is also a kind of manual of religious therapy and eschatological psychosurgery, carried out through the most detailed texts of “Instructions” read by relatives for the dying ones or an already dead person in order to strengthen and awaken his Consciousness before the Transition to the Other World. Among other things, this book can safely be classified as one of the most detailed travel guides to the many realms and spheres of the Ethereal World, which we commonly refer to as the «afterlife».

Death will come to us all, but most of us live our lives as if death did not exist. Medicine has made dying more complicated and more removed from the experience of most people. Death is partitioned off to hospital rooms, separated from our daily lives. Most of us find ourselves at a loss when death approaches. We don't know how to die well. For centuries Christians have prepared for the "good death" with particular rituals and spiritual disciplines that direct the actions of both the living and the dying. In this well-researched and pastorally sensitive book, Rob Moll explores the Christian practice of dying well. He gives guidance for those who care for the dying as well as for those who grieve. This book is a gentle companion for all who face death, whether one's own or that of a loved one. Christians can have confidence that because death is not the end, preparing to die helps us truly live. A decade after writing this book, Rob died in a hiking accident at age forty-one. This edition includes a new afterword by his wife, Clarissa Moll, reflecting on Rob's life, death, and legacy.

The author has tried to give the most detailed answers to specific questions through his many years of experience of independent out-of-body explorations of the Ethereal World: how to die correctly? How to learn to accept your death in time? How the transformation of subtle bodies takes place during the postmortem transition? This book, describing in the most detailed way the changing state of a person’s Consciousness during the process called «dying» and his Soul’s presence in various vibrations of the energies of the Astral, is also a kind of manual of religious therapy and eschatological psychosurgery, carried out through the most detailed texts of “Instructions” read by relatives for the dying ones or an already dead person in order to strengthen and awaken his Consciousness before the Transition to the Other World. Among other things, this book can safely be classified as one of the most detailed travel guides to the many realms and spheres of the Ethereal World, which we commonly refer to as the «afterlife».