By David Warren, The Catholic Thing - Death, for modern man, comes usually by surprise, for we have received no preparation from “happy clappy” Church figures, who avoid what they see as morbidity. Even when the doctors have given us formal warning, and death comes with or without bells clanging, it comes suddenly even when it is smooth... But there are also good priests, and traditional churches, and even though the Church may appear to be passing through a spiritual vacuum, there are 10,000s of them and they can’t all be utterly broken. Among such company one may speak of “a good death,” and find people who won’t be offended, because they know what you mean.