Catechism of the Catholic Church
1010 Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." 576 "The saying is sure: if we have died with him, we will also live with him. 577 What is essentially new about Christian death is this: through Baptism, the Christian has already "died with Christ" sacramentally, in order to live a new life; and if we die in Christ's grace, physical death completes this "dying with Christ" and so completes our incorporation into him in his redeeming act:
It is better for me to die in (eis) Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth. Him it is I seek - who died for us. Him it is I desire - who rose for us. I am on the point of giving birth .... Let me receive pure light; when I shall have arrived there, then shall I be a man. 578
1011 In death, God calls man to himself. Therefore the Christian can experience a desire for death like St. Paul's: "My desire is to depart and be with Christ. " 579 He can transform his own death into an act of obedience and love towards the Father, after the example of Christ: 580
My earthly desire has been crucified; . . . there is living water in me, water that murmurs and says within me: Come to the Father. 581I want to see God and, in order to see him, I must die. 582
I am not dying; I am entering life. 583
Notes:
English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.
