- Feb 5, 2002
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Cemeteries are the front line of defense against society’s increasing secularism and fear of death and suffering, said Peter Nobes, director of Catholic Cemeteries in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
“In every age, Christ shows us the way to our heavenly home,” he told The B.C. Catholic. “But modern Western culture historically represses the experience of death and dialogue on its meaning.”
As a culture’s religious awareness decreases and secularization increases, humanity becomes more and more afraid of discussing death, he said. Great effort then needs to be made to encourage people to speak about death and plan for the inevitable.
The emphasis on death as a medical event needs to be re-presented with the Christian truth that death is the passage to eternal life, Nobes added.
“Fear of death is an existential issue,” he said. “Jesus Christ is our model and the key to existential meaning. He transforms death for believers,” making it not just tolerable but hopeful.
Continued below.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
“In every age, Christ shows us the way to our heavenly home,” he told The B.C. Catholic. “But modern Western culture historically represses the experience of death and dialogue on its meaning.”
As a culture’s religious awareness decreases and secularization increases, humanity becomes more and more afraid of discussing death, he said. Great effort then needs to be made to encourage people to speak about death and plan for the inevitable.
The emphasis on death as a medical event needs to be re-presented with the Christian truth that death is the passage to eternal life, Nobes added.
“Fear of death is an existential issue,” he said. “Jesus Christ is our model and the key to existential meaning. He transforms death for believers,” making it not just tolerable but hopeful.
Continued below.
Catholic cemeteries on the front line against secular fear of death
Cemeteries are the front line of defense against society’s secularism and fear of death and suffering, said the director of Catholic Cemeteries in Vancouver.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
