Death & Redemption

Fr. Dan and Richard Leider discuss the importance of a realistic and nuanced perspective on death and mortality. As Fr. John Dunne put it, “If it is that we are to die, how are we called to live?”

Integration

One way to clarify our vision of life is to keep the end of our life in mind. In this exercise, we want you to write your own eulogy. A eulogy offers words of remembrance for a person who has passed away and how they have impacted our lives. We want to focus on one question: when the last chapter of my life is written, how do I want to be remembered? Write a brief reflection on what your ideal eulogy or obituary would be.

Another way to think of this would be to consider: if I could put one epitaph on your tombstone, or a text message to the world, what would it be? We recommend that you spend some time walking around a cemetery to reflect and to examine various epitaphs. Also reflect on funerals that you have attended that had eulogies. What do you remember from them?

About the Podcast:

Meaningful conversations about the things that matter most to people: their purpose, identity, and direction in life. Hosted by Fr. Dan Groody, Vice President and Associate Provost at the University of Notre Dame.