The Art of Dying Well by Robert Bellarmine
Robert Bellarmine wrote a short book called “The Art of Dying Well” in 1619. It tries to help people prepare for their own death. Here is our study of the book.
CONTENTS
RESOURCES: Introduction, Table of Contents, Preface, Biography
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Our Introduction
Robert Bellarmine was a Jesuit priest and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. And a leading member of the Inquisition. Read our biography of Robert Bellarmine.
After he retired, Bellarmine wrote a short book called The Art of Dying Well (1619). It tries to help ordinary people prepare for their own death.
The book includes a preface plus 16 chapters.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. He Who Desires to Die Well Must Live Well
Chapter 2. To Die to the World
Chapter 3. Concerning the Three Theological Virtues
Chapter 4. Containing Three Evangelical Counsels
Chapter 5. Deceitful Error of the Rich of this World is Exposed
Chapter 6. Three Moral Virtues are Explained
Chapter 10. On the Sacrament of Baptism
Chapter 12. On the Holy Eucharist
Chapter 13. On the Sacrament of Penance
Chapter 14. On the Sacrament of Holy Orders
Chapter 16. On the Sacrament of Extreme Unction
Preface
Our Summary
Bellarmine laments that very few people try to learn the art of dying well. He thinks that is because many people are fools.
Bellarmine says after our death, we will stand before God the Father as the ultimate judge. We will be required to give account for everything we ever did. Or said. Or thought.
In the sense that death is opposed to life, it is an evil. Yet God uses death to bring about blessings. To that end, Saint Ambrose wrote a book called On the Advantages of Death.
Revelation 14:13. I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”
For a godly person, death is not horrible but sweet. Not terrible but lovely.
Philippians 1:21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
In summary: Because of sin, death is an evil. But because of Christ, death is salutary, lovely, and to be desired.
Chapter 1. He Who Desires to Die Well Must Live Well
Our Summary
Bellarmine says there is general rule that:
If you live well, you will die well
Conversely:
if you live badly, you will die badly
It is dangerous to delay your conversion from bad to good.
A good death depends upon a good life.
Chapter 2. To Die to the World
Our Summary
Bellarmine says we live for the world, we are dead to God. It is necessary to die to the world.
Bellarmine assumes only one of the following can be true:
- Either you love God and hate the world
- OR you hate God and love the world
What does it mean to love God and hate the world?
Bellarmine lists some examples:
- To live in the world, and to despise the pleasures of the world
- To see beautiful objects, and not to love them
- To taste sweet things, and not to be delighted with them
- To despise honours
- To court labours
- To willingly to occupy the lowest place
- To yield the highest to all others
- To live in the flesh as if not having flesh
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.
Chapter 3. Concerning the Three Theological Virtues
Our Summary
Bellarmine asks: after dying to the world, what is next? It is to live the life of love. We love God, and we love our neighbor.
Love is the first of the three virtues:
Regarding faith, it must be sincere. Many people profess faith but only pretend to believe. Or they do not put the faith into practice by doing it. They profess to know God, but by their works they deny him.
Regarding hope, it excites and strengthens our faith. It makes us confident.
Regarding love, it is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 4. Containing Three Evangelical Counsels
Our Summary
Bellarmine says we should be prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus at the End of Days. And we should be prepared to meet him at our own death.
Regarding our own death, none of us know when it will happen. Therefore we should always be prepared. How can we prepare?
- Virginal Chastity
- Obedience to Jesus Christ in all things
- Maintain your gaze upon the Law of God
- Examine your conscience twice a day
People who are not vigilant about these things are negligent and ignorant, blind and mad.
Chapter 5. Deceitful Error of the Rich of this World is Exposed
Our Summary
Many people imagine the money they possess is absolutely their own property. For that reason, they imagine they can do anything they want with it.
However, Bellarmine says our money is not our own. Rather, it belongs to God. We are merely the stewards of our wealth.
See for example, Luke 16:1-13. The parable of the dishonest manager.
If you think your money is your own, you are deceived.
Chapter 6. Three Moral Virtues are Explained
Our Summary
The three theological virtues are faith, hope, and charity.
But in Titus 2:12, Paul provides three moral virtues: godliness, justice, and sobriety.
Godliness. If we want to live well so as to die well, we will avoid even the hint of ungodliness. Our God is a jealous God.
Justice. To live justly is to avoid evil and to do good. Justice commands us to give each one his due.
Sobriety. This is the virtue of temperance or moderation. Augustine called it the Via media, or the “Middle Way.”
Chapter 7. On Prayer
Our Summary
There are three good works: prayer, fasting, and alms-deeds (see Tobit 12:8).
Regarding prayer, Bellarmine expounds three points: the necessity of prayer; the advantage of it; and the method of praying with advantage.
Necessity. The Scriptures call us to pray always.
Advantage. The “fruits” of prayer are merit, satisfaction, and imprecation. Plus many other advantages.
Method. We ask for the gift of living well; doubtless, we will receive it. Similarly, we ask to die well; doubtless, we will receive it.
But for prayer to be answered, we must fulfill five conditions:
- We must ask in faith
- We must ask with hope
- We must live justly
- We must be humble
- We must ask with devotion
Chapter 8. On Fasting
Our Summary
There are three good works: prayer, fasting, and alms-deeds (see Tobit 12:8).
Regarding fasting, Bellarmine expounds three aspects: necessity, its fruit, and the proper method.
Necessity. The Scriptures call us to fast. And so do the church fathers.
Fruit. Fasting prepares us for prayer. It tames our flesh.
Method. To fast means to eat a spare and unsavory diet. And one “full” meal per day. And to abstain from meat.
Chapter 9. On Alms-deeds
Our Summary
There are three good works: prayer, fasting, and alms-deeds (see Tobit 12:8).
Regarding alms-deeds, Bellarmine expounds three aspects: the necessity, the advantages, and the method.
Necessity. You are bound to give alms only if you have the means of doing so. It is a way of providing the things to people that are necessary for their existence.
Advantages:
- Alms-deeds free your soul from eternal death
- Alms-deeds, if given by a just person and with true charity, merit eternal life
- Alms-deeds do away both with sin and the punishment thereof
- Alms-deeds increase our confidence with God, and produce spiritual joy
- Alms-deeds benefit other people
- Alms-deeds are a disposition for receiving justifying grace
- Alms-deeds are often instrumental in increasing our own temporal goods
Method:
- We must give our alms with the pure intention of pleasing God, and not of obtaining human praise
- Our alms should be given promptly and willingly, so that they may not seem to be extorted through entreaties
- We should give our alms with joy, not with sadness
- Our alms should be given with humility
- Our alms should be given abundantly, in proportion to our means
We should consider whether we can retain our superfluous riches without sin.
Chapter 10. On the Sacrament of Baptism
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
Bellarmine sees baptism as the gateway sacrament. It is necessary before any other sacrament can be received.
To receive baptism, you must make a Profession of Faith and Renounce the Devil.
- Regarding their Profession of Faith, many people repeat the Creed with their words but not their heart.
- Regarding their Renunciation of the Devil, many people do that with their words but not their heart.
If you desire to die well, you must be careful to preserve the purity bestowed by your baptism. If you stain it by sin, you must wash it in the Blood of the Lamb.
After you are born again by baptism, you must live a life of good works.
Chapter 11. On Confirmation
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
Regarding confirmation, Bellarmine sees it as more noble than baptism.
Confirmation bestows grace and a character. It makes us a soldier of Christ to do battle with evil.
- At Pentecost, the apostles received the gifts of tongues and miracles.
- In our day, the sacrament of confirmation gives us wisdom and charity and fortitude.
Some people receive the sacrament of confirmation. But they do not receive the grace of the sacrament. They remain covetous, avaricious, passionate, impatient, and greedy.
Chapter 12. On the Holy Eucharist
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
Regarding holy Eucharist, Bellarmine sees it as the greatest of all the sacraments. That is because not only is grace given unto us, but also the author of grace is given to us.
He asks how often we ought to receive the Eucharist? He recommends a middle way, which is communion every Sunday.
How should people prepare to receive the Eucharist? We must be in a state of grace.
Chapter 13. On the Sacrament of Penance
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
Regarding penance, Bellarmine sees three conditions: contrition of heart, confession, and satisfaction.
Regarding contrition, it must be true. Words such as “I am sorry for my sins” are not enough. We must feel a deep and inward sorrow of heart. Bellarmine cites Cyprian who wrote:
We must spend all our time in tears and lamentations, lying on ashes alone, and clothed in sackcloth.
Regarding confession, many people confess negligently.
Bellarmine uses the word satisfaction as a synonym for “penances.” Some people impose severe penances upon themselves. Other people do hardly any penance at all.
Chapter 14. On the Sacrament of Holy Orders
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
In Bellarmine’s day, the Catholic church had seven stages of holy orders. There were four minor orders:
- Porter
- Reader
- Exorcist
- Acolyte
and three major orders:
- Sub-deacon
- Deacon
- Priest, which included two groups: priest, and bishop
Bellarmine explores two aspects of holy orders: the ceremony by which clerics are made, and the office that clerics exercise in the church.
Concerning the ceremony:
- Cutting the hair of the head, which symbolizes the laying aside of vain and superfluous desires. However, most clerics are neither free of vanity nor superfluous desires.
- The ceremonial donning of a white surplice, which symbolizes being innocent and without stain. However, most clerics are neither innocent nor without stain.
Concerning their office, clerics are dedicated to the ministry of the altar. However, many clerics say Mass in a hurried manner and with little devotion. This is sorrowful and deplorable.
Chapter 15. On Matrimony
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
Regarding matrimony, Bellarmine saysit has a two-fold institution:
- It is a civil contract by the Natural Law
- It is a sacrament by the law of the Gospel
Matrimony began in the Garden of Eden, when God said “It is not good for man to be alone.”
There are three blessings arising from matrimony: children, fidelity, and the grace of the sacrament.
Regarding the generation and education of children, this is the purpose of matrimony.
Regarding fidelity, sexual activity for pleasure is a most grievous sin. If spouses wish to avoid having children, they can abstain from sexual activity and spend their days in prayer and fasting.
Regarding the grace of the sacrament, it is poured into the hearts of pious married people. It helps them live with love and peace between them.
Bellarmine urges wives to be subject to their husbands.
Chapter 16. On the Sacrament of Extreme Unction
Our Summary
The Catholic church has seven Sacraments: baptism, confirmation, holy Eucharist, penance, holy orders, matrimony, and extreme unction.
Regarding extreme unction, it teaches us lessons for the whole course of our life. It anoints our five senses, through which sin can enter our lives.
If we carefully guard these gates, we shall avoid a multitude of sins, and be able to live well and die well.
Regarding the eyes, they are a gateway through which enter sins against chastity. Instead of staring at the beautiful object of your desire, look away.
Regarding our sense of hearing, Bellarmine uses it as a metaphor for speech. The tongue, unless most carefully guarded, is the cause of many evils. The remedy is to think before speaking.
Regarding our sense of smell, Bellarmine says it has little power in corrupting the soul.
Regarding our sense of taste, many people fall into the sins of gluttony or drunkenness.
Regarding our sense of touch, it can be the cause of impurity. For example, fornication, uncleanness, and immodesty.
RESOURCES: Introduction, Table of Contents, Preface, Biography
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Read online at Wikisource, or at Internet Archive. These translations are rather archaic; we do not necessarily recommend them.
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.