Well because I believe in the after life and I say I believe in it, but I pray to believe in it. I pray for the grace to believe in it. I pray for a deepening of faith all the time. Well, I say all the time, but I mean that is what I do when I pray, which is not nearly as much as I should do. But I pray for the trust and belief that this life is a prelude to the after life and that the after life is what counts.
Do you think that helps you, and other people who feel like... that have a more accepting, positive attitude to serious illness and the prospect of dying?
Yes, yes, absolutely.
Can you explain that a bit more?
Well if one believes, and one has to pray for this belief because none of our belief is, except for saints, as strong as it should be, and as trusting as it should be, but if you accept that there is an almighty God who created the heavens and earth and everything in it, and that almighty God is a loving God and loves each one of us and that his son came down to this earth and redeemed us all and rose again so that we should have eternal life then one prays for the belief that one should accept and learn to trust and, and have joy in the love of God and that his will is what is best for all of us.
Do you think that can help people who have got that kind of belief to feel less fearful when they have a serious illness?
Yes, yes, yes I think it can, but as I was saying, I think we all need to pray more for the grace to have no fear.
I mean, of course, it's natural that we should have fear and that's why one needs to pray more. Hand everything over. |
