The Father Willie Doyle Association

Father Willie Doyle Association

Official site for the canonisation cause of the Servant of God Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Official site for the canonisation cause of the Servant of God Fr Willie Doyle SJ

Father Willie Doyle

Association

Thoughts for October 14 from Fr Willie Doyle

Death is the end of all things here, the end of time, of merit, of pain and mortification, of a hard life. It is the commencement of an eternal life of happiness and joy. “God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Rev. 21, 4.) In this light, life is short indeed and penance sweet. I thought if I knew I had only one year to live, how fervently I would spend it, how each moment would be utilised. Yet I know well I may not live a week more – do I really believe this?

COMMENT: It is normal to meditate on the four last things – death, judgement, heaven and hell – in any many retreats. The four last things play an important part in the meditations one makes in the first week of the Spiritual Exercises, and Fr Doyle wrote these reflections on death at some stage during his retreat, 115 years ago this week.

Death is a reality that we cannot escape from. The image above come from the remarkable Capuchin Crypt on the Via Veneto in Rome. There are numerous chapels in this crypt, each with piles of thousands of bones, often arranged decoratively. Towards the exit of the crypt is an inscription with these words:

What you are
we once were,
what we are
you will be.

Death is the one thing we all have in common, and each time we attend a funeral we should reflect that one day, perhaps sooner than we think, we shall end up in a coffin ourselves. That is why funerals are an important evangelical opportunity to remind us of our last end.

Of course, constantly thinking of death is not a great idea, but neither is the habit of ignoring it altogether. As always we need a balanced approach. Our occasional reflections on death should fill us with a ready determination to live our lives with fervour and utilise every moment in God’s service. Our ultimate destination after death depends on our use of time.

Let us pray for the grace of final perseverance for ourselves and for all those facing an imminent, and unprepared, death.

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October 14, 2024

1 Comment

on Thoughts for October 14 from Fr Willie Doyle.
  1. Sister M. Michele S.C.M.C.
    -

    Yes, Eternal life is real, and it means leaving this life in order to enjoy the real life God wants to share with us. Living with this thought, we ought to remember, too, that there are loved ones, as well as saints, angels, even souls we might not know who are praying for us so we can unite with them and enjoy the Presence of Almighty God, our Father, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Our Lady, and good Saint Joseph. We don’t travel alone, and we will never be left alone in those moments of entering into our new life. Father Doyle, we pray that you will guide us continually through this life as we journey to our Heavenly home. Please give us the courage you had to not fear danger or any enemy,placing our soul and body into the secure and loving Hands of God.

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