Death and Dying

According to Kubler-Ross' theory, there are 5 different stages of grief. These are more commonly known as: DABDA. 

(I don't wanna open my book anymore regarding Kubler-Ross' theory; so I'd just get stuffs from wikipedia just to give my point and my blog substance. Click here for more in wikipedia.)

DENIAL — "I feel fine."; "This can't be happening, not to me."

Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of possessions and individuals that will be left behind after death.

ANGER — "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"

Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy.

BARGAINING — "I'll do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."

The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, "I understand I will die, but if I could just do something to buy more time..."

DEPRESSION  — "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon so what's the point... What's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?"

During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.

ACCEPTANCE — "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it."

In this last stage, individuals begin to come to terms with their mortality, or that of a loved one, or other tragic event.

(My thoughts start from this point.)

It is not necessary that a person undergoes the stages chronologically like, Denial first, Anger second, and so on. One may be on the Denial stage, and is also Bargaining. It is also not necessary that a person has to undergo everything of the DABDA stages, as one may not go through Depression. As I remember, for sure, Acceptance go last.

With due respect to Kubler-Ross, I would like to propose two more stages. Let's make it DABDATH. I agree and would not alter DABDA as Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance; for these are natural and human responses to death and dying. And as human as we are, these additions are, as well, essential.

First off, TRUST. Trust in the Lord that this is His wisdom. We maybe losing our earthly life, or the life of our loved one, but, let us trust God that this is His will. This is God's perfect timing. We may not be able to understand it now, yet we are assured of His love. 

Last proposal, HOPE. Hope that the Lord is up to something good. Romans 82:8 says, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." Let us hope that in the end we will all enjoy eternity with God in his Heavenly Kingdom.

We believe in the communion of saints.

We believe in the resurrection of the dead.

We believe in life everlasting.

Amen.

May the souls of tito Felix, lolo Ato, lolo Ardie, lola Basi, tito Rory, and tito Ellie, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

And here's a song for all of us...

In pain or in happiness

In abundance or in absence

I will praise Your Name

In triumph of defeat

In sickness or in health

I will praise Your Name

For You said, You know well the plans You have for me

Plans for my welfare and not for my woe

Plans You give to me a future full of hope

When I pray to You, You listen to me

I cling to Your promise, my God


*Bible verses in here are from the New American Bible.

Day 1

I've attended this assembly-thing at the very first day of the year 2012. Yes, I just have the time to blog it just now. Anyway, we've been to this non-Catholic assembly, (for blogging purposes let's call this event Day 1 because I've been their on January 1). What they did was they pray through songs. After that was a dance performance of kids. After that was a talk led by one of them, he was not introduced anymore, so I think he is their so-called "pastor".

I'm doing this blog just to give my observations, points, maybe some rebuttal, and some questions.
Here it goes...

1. At the beginning of their assembly, they had this worship thing. Wherein their prayer is through the songs. Well, in the community where I belong (CFC FFL, a Catholic community), we also do worship. So I have been exposed to this, and what they did was no-shocker to me. I just get to appreciate more the praising and singing we're doing in CFC FFL.

In the community, CFC FFL, we have a worship leader, who exhorts us in the beginning of worship. He leads the people into a community, who praises God. Well, in Day 1, maybe they have a leader--the guy with the guitar--but I didn't see him acting as one. What I saw is a concert--a band. In CFC FFL, if you're part of the music ministry, you stay at the very back of the stage or at its side.

By the way, CFC FFL is not an offshoot religion from Catholicism. CFC FFL is a Catholic community in obedience to and part of the Catholic Church.

2. Their so-called pastor tackled one of Saint Peter's letters. I forgot if it's the first or the second. I think it's the first. He said that Peter could never be the foundation of the Church because it is founded on Christ. He further said that "Peter" in Greek is "Petros", meaning "Stone", therefore he could not be the "Rock".

Jesus said to [Simon] in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:17-19, NAB)

Jesus could not have talked to Peter, then to himself, then to Peter again, like: "You will be Peter." "I will be the rock." "I will give you [Peter] the keys to the kingdom."

But beyond the Greek, we must go back to Aramaic, the spoken language of Jesus. In Aramaic, rock is Kephas. And we can see it in the Pauline letters, where Peter is referred to as Kephas.
Click here, to know and understand more.

3. Also, the so-called pastor said, "There is no hope in the Pope. There is no hope in religion." I bet he wants to say this knowing that Catholics where there, definitely that is us. Well, the moment this words came out his mouth and reached my ear, I wanna shout it out in declaration: "VIVA EL PAPA!" (Actually, I was near to shouting.)

He says that there is Hope only in Jesus and not in the Pope nor Religion. Well, I do not contradict his first few words. Jesus is really our Hope, no doubt in that. But to say that there is no hope in the Pope nor religion, would also mean that there is no hope in him as pastor or whatever he is. Who gave you authority to stand there and preach anyway?

Jesus gave hope in the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church because Jesus Himself established it. The Catholic Church does not claim these--One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic--on its own, like self-labeling. But that we are, because He is. (cf. CCC 811)

And this discussion would lead us back to point #2. Click here, it's a different link.

4. And I want to remind as well that the Holy Spirit is the third persona of the Holy Trinity. God is One in three Divine Persons, all equal to one another: God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. Therefore that the Holy Spirit is God, then the Holy Spirit is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I forgot what the so-called pastor said that made me write that in my notes. I think he said something like that the Spirit then, is different from the Spirit now.

There are a lot of other things which I have observed and heard, which I have already forgotten. This is the problem with blogging too late.

And lastly, Dad asked, "Was that it?" I answered, "Most probably."

If this is what they are doing every Sunday--reading the Bible (a Catholic compiled book), hearing their pastor's own interpretation of it, attacking Catholics (maybe), adhering to sola scriptura leading to self-submission--I just thought, how about this:

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20, NAB) 

You can also check 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

Well, there it is. We have to love our neighbor by telling them the Truth.
I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.
GOD LOVES US THE MOST.
AMDG