I was a 19 year old kid with a major abdominal shrapnel wound, scared, in shock and so very alone. An army chaplain comforted me and helped me overcome the fear and place my faith in Jesus. He helped me remember that what ever was to come next would be OK.
I don't know or care if he was a Catholic chaplain, or a Presbyterian, or Baptist, or Lutheran. He gave me my last rites (my dog tags said Roman Catholic), prayed with me and left me in peace when the medivac chopper took me away. I blacked out not knowing if I was letting go and dying or not. I woke up in a recovery room. Many did not.
I've seen Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists die, tragic, untimely, horrific deaths. No one dies well without God.
Thanks to both of you for your posts about being in danger of death. I’m glad you offered them and it helps me to understand many things.
I, too, have been in such a situation. In fact, I had a “near-death” experience.
It remains as clear to me this day as when it happened.
I can assure you that just because some people on this forum have described the “agonized death” of Catholic friends/relatives/etc. doesn’t make it a universal experience by ANY means. Anyone who has worked in hospice and with Catholic dying patients will refute the generalization that the typical Catholic death scene is one of agonized fear. In fact, they would be very likely to tell you that such a scenario is atypical.