Catholicism lost one of its greatest contemporary voices today. Our loss, is Heaven's gain, as the Lord calls his servant home. One can imagine that Fr. Neuhaus had now heard, what we all long to hear, "Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant".
I was never an avid reader of First Things like my father and grandfather, but I will tell you, the intellectual and theological depth, as well as its Orthodoxy, made it an excellent publication. I was perusing another site on the web that posted the following written by Fr. Neuhaus, "Born Toward Dying" in 2000. It was published in its entirety in "Introductions to the Eternal Pity".
"We are born to die. Not that death is the purpose of our being born, but we are born toward death, and in each of our lives the work of dying is already underway. The work of dying well is, in largest part, the work of living well. Most of us are at ease in discussing what makes for a good life, but we typically become tongue-tied and nervous when the discussion turns to a good death. As children of a culture radically, even religiously, devoted to youth and health, many find it incomprehensible, indeed offensive, that the word "good" should in any way be associated with death. Death, it is thought, is an unmitigated evil, the very antithesis of all that is good."
For the complete essay please check out First Things.
I will always remember watching EWTN during the last Conclave and listening to his insightful analysis and his correct view that Cardinal Ratzinger was very likely to be the next Pope. The Church has been so very blessed to have Fr. Neuhaus for the time it did.
Rest in Peace and May Perpetual Light Shine Unto Thee
1 comment:
Thank you for the post and especially for including his words about a good death. He has earned his reward for a life well lived. I'll miss his writings greatly.
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