Jeffrey Kirby S.T.L. - We Are the Lords: A Catholic Guide to Difficult End-of-Life Questions

The Help You Need

Are you in a dilemma and have to make a pressing end-of-life decision? Are you or a loved one in intense pain or in the dying process? Are you confused or emotionally drained and unsure of how to answer questions about medical treatment? If you find yourself in these situations, my heart goes out to you. This book was written specifically to help with the moral challenges that arise toward the end of life. I pray it brings you helpful information and a sense of peace and comfort during your most difficult moments.

Urgent Questions?

If you have urgent questions, please go directly to ). There you will find a series of rapid questions and answers about specific medical issues that are meant to be a quick reference and help to those in pressing situations.

Principles and Guidance

If you have a little more time, please attempt to read through the whole book as each chapter develops and explains biblical wisdom and principles of discernment. These explanations can help expand your moral horizons and give you a strong outline from which you can discern moral questions and find holy and good answers.

Children of the Light

While we all die, the process of dying has never been particularly easy. The path of transitioning from this life to the next is a difficult one, but it doesnt have to be a distressing one. Distress is caused by uncertainty, which festers into dilemmas. But we were not made for such darkness. We are the children of God. We have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, who conquered death. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. And so, for the believer, distress is overcome by truth. The darkness of dilemma is scattered by light. We have been shown the way.

Divine Wisdom

The pages of this book, therefore, are drawn from divine wisdom, as contained in Sacred Tradition and in the Sacred Scriptures. This heavenly teaching has been given to us by our loving Father, who is well pleased with us. He sent us his Son, Jesus Christ, who accompanies us through life and death. The Lord Jesus desires to show us the fullness of life, as well as the path to a happy and holy death.

In order to be consistent with the light of divine wisdom, this book is written in complete fidelity to the teaching office, called the magisterium, of the Catholic Church. It readily acknowledges the promise of the Lord Jesus upon his Church; namely, that it shall not err in matters relating to faith and morals.

On occasion, when the magisterium of the Catholic Church has not given a specific teaching on a moral question, then the book will acknowledge that neutrality (or on-going discernment) of the Church. After this indication, however, the book will seek to provide an opinion and explain it theologically.

Context and Perspective

As the author of this book, I write with the precision demanded of theology. I hold a doctorate in moral theology from the Holy Cross University in Rome, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and a Masters in Bioethics from the Queen of Apostles Athenaeum in Rome. My writing, however, also reflects the compassion demanded of a loving shepherd. Im currently the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, and an adjunct professor of theology at Belmont Abbey College and at Pontifex University. These pastoral positions help me to accompany people in their sufferings and in the dilemmas of life and death.

Of course, theological teachings and pastoral practice complement each other. Theyre two sides of the same coin. The heart softens the mind, while the mind elevates the heart. In life, we need both. This book seeks to provide insights for each.

And so, lets begin.