Angelo Stagnaro on Remembering that We Will Die

". . . In ancient Rome, triumphant Roman generals would command a slave to whisper in his ear the phrase, 'Memento mori. Remember you will die' as the general received the adulations of the crowds. The practice kept the general humbled and grounded. The phrase is meant to remind Christians of their own mortality with a strong emphasis on death, Divine Judgment, Heaven, Hell and the salvation of the soul. To the Christian, the prospect of death serves to emphasize the vapid and ephemeral nature of earthly pleasures, luxuries, titles and achievements. By so keeping one's mortality and the uncertainty of the time of one's death in mind, it thus becomes an invitation to focus on the afterlife. As Scripture teaches us:

"Whatever you do, remember that someday you must die. As long as you keep this in mind, you will never sin. (Sirach 7:36)."

In a recent commentary, writer Angelo Stagnaro reflected on the need to plan well for our deaths by living Christ-centered lives.

To access Mr. Stagnaro's complete post, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Blogs: Angelo Stagnaro: Memento Mori - Remember You Will Die (9 NOV 18)