A GOOD DEATH, said St. Robert Bellarmine, depends upon a good life. But a good life depends on dying to the world, “a business of the greatest difficulty and importance.”

Bellarmine (1542-1621), wrote The Art of Dying Well (De arte bene moriendi) in 1620 and it contains profound reflections on the world’s most neglected and most significant subject. In his second chapter, the Italian Jesuit and theologian responded to the objection that “dying to the world” is impossible. Detachment from life’s pleasures is too difficult. He wrote:

But perhaps the lovers of the world may reply, “It is very difficult to die to the world, whilst we are living in it; and to despise those good things which God has created for our enjoyment.” To these words I answer, that God does not wish us entirely and absolutely to neglect or despise the riches and honours of this world. Abraham was an especial favourite with God; and yet he possessed great riches. David also, and Ezechias, and Josias, were most powerful kings; and at the same time most pleasing to God: the same may be said of many Christian kings and emperors. The good things of this life, therefore its riches, honours, and pleasures are not entirely forbidden to Christians, but only an immoderate love of them, which is named by St. John, ” the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

Abraham certainly possessed great riches, but he not only made a moderate use of them, he was also most willing to dispose of them, when and how the Almighty willed. For he who spared not his only beloved son, how much more easily could he part with his riches, if God so wished ? Wherefore Abraham was rich, but he was richer in faith and charity; and therefore he was not of the world, but rather dead to it. The same may be said of other holy men, who, possessed of riches, power, and glory, and even kingdoms, were yet poor in spirit, dead to the world, and thus living to God alone, they learned perfectly the Art of dying well Wherefore, not abundance of riches, nor kingdoms, nor honours, make us to be of the world; but “the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which in one word is called cupidity, and is opposed to divine charity. If then we should begin, the grace of God inspiring us, to love God for His own sake and our neighbours for God’s sake, we shall then not be of this world: and as our love increaseth, our cupidity will diminish; for charity cannot increase without the other diminishing. Thus, what appeared impossible to be done, when our passions reigned within us, ” to live in this world as if we did not belong to it,” will be made most easy when love resides in our heart. What is an insupportable burden to cupidity, is sweet and light to love.

As we said above, to die to the world is no light matter, but a business of the greatest difficulty and importance. Those find it most difficult who know not the power of God’s grace, nor have tasted of the sweetness of His love, but are carnal, not having the Spirit: all carnal objects become insipid, when once we taste of the divine sweetness.

Wherefore, he who seriously desireth to learn the Art of dying well, on which his eternal salvation and all true happiness depend, must not defer quitting this world, and entirely dying to it: he cannot possibly live to the world and to God; he cannot enjoy earth and heaven. (Transl., Rev. John Dalton)

                                                             — Comments —

Jeff W. writes:

To me, dying to the world largely means getting things into the proper perspective. God truly is omnipotent, eternal, and infinitely large, and people really are very small and short-lived. It is one thing to think that, but it is another thing to feel it, to feel in one’s heart the greatness of God and the smallness of oneself.

In the midst of a seemingly limitless universe, living out our brief moments in an eternity of time, people are almost nothing at all except that God loves them. “What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4). When we know in our hearts the greatness of God, it makes it easier to give up the things of this world. Everything in this world just seems small.

“The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matt. 4:9-10).

Serving God is the only large and important thing people can do in this world, and doing that requires giving up the pursuit of this world’s very small splendors.

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