The Catholic New World interviews Cardinal George for a final time while he is archbishop of Chicago. Read the entire interview, but the following part on death and dying is especially poignant. CNW: You told America magazine that you feel as if God is asking you to let go. What did you mean? Cardinal George: As one nears the end of his or her life, I think the Lord sends us signs through a transformation of desire that, finally, in the end, helps us recognize more clearly that the only thing that is important is life with God. That means letting go of a lot of other desires and desirable things — good things — and concentrating more and more on that relationship to God. I think it’s a great grace to receive that help that really prepares you for the transition from this life to the next. That’s what I meant. You can see it in the lives of the saints who start doing that very early on. The one thing that is necessary is the love of God and our relationship to God. Sometimes it starts with a sudden conversion. Sometimes it’s a more gradual thing. But the call is always there. If it’s evidently there in people’s lives, we recognize them as saints. For the rest of us, it happens perhaps in a more concise way, in less time, because we didn’t start early enough. I think to some extent God is helping me to make that transition now. CNW: Is there any fear? Even though I know there is a better place on the other side I still fear death. Cardinal George: Well, there’s no absolute guarantee there’s going to be a “better place.” It’s a question of one’s free cooperation with God’s grace. We are free. God does not force us to live with him forever. We can make other choices. That’s the great tragedy. The French novelist Leon Bloy said that, in the end, the only thing that matters is to be a saint. Am I afraid? Of course. I fear the process of dying, and I fear the unknown. No matter how much our faith assures us it is a better place if we cooperate with God — not only a better place, but an unimaginably better place — there still is the fear of the unknown. Scripture talks about approaching God with some fear and trembling. Otherwise, what are you doing? You’re saying God is just like us. A buddy. But he isn’t. He’s infinitely different. Whatever that means is unknown to us at this point. There are, then, a number of fears: the fear of suffering; the fear of the process of dying; the fear of the unknown. The more important question is: when you are afraid, who is with you in your fear? If you isolate yourself and you are afraid alone, then fear takes over your life. But if you’re with people, especially invisible people, the saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who accompany you, then you can make the journey. I believe that to be the case. Read the entire interview at catholicnewworld/cnwonline/2014/1116/18.aspx
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 15:00:00 +0000
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