At first thought meditating on your inevitable death might seem morbid, negative or unnecessary but all the saints did it.  Thomas a Kempis in the Imitation of Christ has a chapter on meditating on our death. 
 
The aim of this mediation is to cut us free from earthly cares that inhibit our loving God and God alone.

We consider how our bodily cares are transient.  St Teresa of Avila says:
"Remember that you have only one soul, that you have only one death to die, that you have only one life,  If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing."

And this is the goal of St Ignatius Loyola in this  meditation and mental prayer, that is to separate us from our attachment to family and friends and worldly paraphernalia.   This is in order to give us total freedom to know, love and serve God freely. 

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