Why would a dying saint plead for prayers on his behalf?
I had a recent death in my household, so I can really understand that you might be troubled, fearing perhaps that something went wrong when a Christian pleads for prayers while dying. After all, aren’t we taught that true saints die in joyful anticipation? Well, not necessarily. And it doesn’t mean that the saint is not a saint, either. Suppose you were selected to ride the Space Shuttle, wouldn’t you ask for your friends to pray for a safe journey? Dying is just a departure to another place, but it is a one-way trip and we can’t see the airplane before we board, or the airport before we land. It’s like going over the top of the roller coaster and not being able to see the track ahead—of course his heart was in his throat! I think anyone would be anxious and ask for prayers. Dying is the ultimate test of faith, even for saints. It is a very common phenomenon for the dying to ask for prayers. It is also common for people to see visions or have dreams of loved ones who have recently died
