THE CRAFT OF LIVING AND DYING WELL

This book is a theological and pastoral reflection on how the wisdom of the Ars Moriendi can guide us in modern hospice and pastoral care. As a hospice chaplain and pastor for nearly four decades, I have accompanied hundreds of individuals and families through the sacred passage of death. I have learned that we still need a way to die well—a craft formed by hope, humility, and faith. In hospice settings, the chaplain is not simply a religious figure—he or she is a presence. A hand to hold. A witness to suffering. A voice of prayer in the silence. The Ars Moriendi teaches us that the dying need more than medication and comfort—they need guidance, meaning, and blessing. I have learned that people do not fear death as much as they fear dying alone, in spiritual confusion or unresolved grief. Sometimes the best ministry is not to offer answers, but to embody peace. To sit quietly in a darkened room, listening, praying, waiting. This ministry is deeply shaped by the spirit of the Ars Moriendi. Like the medieval priest at the bedside, today’s chaplain walks with the dying through their spiritual temptations and struggles. We speak words of hope, remind them of God's love, and help them release what they cannot take with them. Hospice is one of the few places in our culture where death is not hidden. It is acknowledged, named, and even embraced as part of life. Yet many in hospice care—patients and staff alike—struggle to speak of death in spiritual terms. Recovering the Ars Moriendi gives us a language for this sacred work. It reminds caregivers that they are not just managing symptoms—they are participating in holy accompaniment. That holding a hand, whispering a prayer, or playing a favorite hymn is not peripheral, but central to dying well. To die well is to die loved, not alone. It is to die reconciled—to God, to others, and to oneself. The Ars Moriendi tradition helps restore the dignity and theological weight of these moments. This book is not just about how to die well. It is also about how to live well—because the two are inseparable. The person who lives each day in the light of eternity is better prepared to face death with hope and courage. The medieval Christians who penned the Ars Moriendi knew suffering, war, and plague. Yet they also knew the profound peace of faith in Christ. Their wisdom is not outdated—it is urgently needed. May this work help revive that sacred wisdom for our time—so that we, and those we serve, may learn not only how to die, but how to live… fully, faithfully, and well.