Questions & Answers

Question: Is it wrong to look forward to death? not in a suicidal way but as in a reuniting with God way?
Answer: No, it is not wrong to look forward to your death. However, we need to be careful that we look forward to it because we love God and want to be with Him forever in heaven, not because we are looking for an escape from this world, because God has a plan for us in this world, and our desire to be with Him in heaven should not be greater than our desire to do what His will is for our lives while on this Earth. St. Paul struggled with this same question and this is what he said about it, “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.” (1 Philippians 1: 21-24)
So as you can see, you are in good company. The suffering we encounter and experience in this life should cause us to long for heaven. But our desire should be to conform to the will of God, which may be that we are to stay here a little while longer so that God can bring about some kind of good in our lives for others. All of us should want to go home, and our true home is heaven, but as long as God thinks we have we have work still to do in this life, we should be resigned to His will with humility, patience and joy.
Christian singer and songwriter Andrew Peterson sings, “This life isn’t long, but it’s hard” in one of his songs. Sometimes I think for many of us that we find life hard and long. But God’s love and grace are with us and if we live in that reality, no matter how long or how hard, our lives will be fruitful.

Question: Why does a Benedictine cross have to have an exorcism on it and what type of protection is it suppose to have?
Answer: For an answer to both of your questions, please go to the official Order of St. Benedict website that explains all aspects of the medal at: www.osb.org/gen/medal.html.

Question: Is the prophecy on the Three Days of Darkness accepted by the church? Could you explain it and what it really means?
Answer: The Three Days of Darkness is a private revelation and should hold no more weight in our hearts and minds than that. Too many people get caught up in all sorts of mystical, private revelations and experiences and then live in fear or confusion. The Three Days of darkness deal with events occurring around the time of the return of Christ. I wouldn't take much stock in these kinds of things. Let's remember what is actually important: if you are right with Christ (meaning: in as sate of sanctifying grace) when the end comes, then you will be saved. it doesn't really matter whether that "end" is the end of all time on Earth at the Second Coming, or if you get hit by a bus today and killed. So live for Christ each day and be focused on His grace and guidance for today and don't worry about what might happen at "the end". As Jesus told us in Matthew 6: 34 "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."