A Nigerian Catholic priest has sparked a significant conversation online by challenging a common prayer practice among many believers. Father Kelvin Ugwu has firmly stated that the widespread act of praying against "untimely" or "premature" death is not aligned with Christian or biblical teachings.
A Direct Challenge to Common Practice
In a detailed post on his official Facebook page, Fr Ugwu presented a theological argument against this practice. He emphasized that the Catholic Church does not promote such prayers. Instead, he clarified, the core teaching of the Church is to guide the faithful in preparing for what is termed a "happy death."
He directed attention to scripture, which repeatedly urges Christians to stay awake, alert, and watchful, precisely because the hour of death is unknown. For Fr Ugwu, the concept of a death being "untimely" contradicts this fundamental biblical principle of readiness at all times.
Biblical and Saintly Examples of Early Deaths
To bolster his argument, the priest listed several key religious figures who died at what many would consider a young age. His most poignant example was Jesus Christ, who was crucified at the age of 33.
He further provided a catalogue of saints and martyrs:
- St. Kizito, the youngest of the Uganda Martyrs, was only 14 years old.
- St. Lucy and St. Carlo Acutis, a modern saint, died at 20 and 15 years old respectively.
- John the Baptist and St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, were both killed in their 30s.
"They did not even have wives or children," Fr Ugwu noted, pointing out that by contemporary societal standards, their deaths could be labeled premature.
A Call for Theological Reflection
Fr Ugwu concluded his post with a series of probing questions aimed at his audience. He challenged the very framework of the prayer, asking, "Which death is premature, which one is matured, and which one is over-mature death?"
His post, shared on January 4, 2026, ends with the word "cowantiate," a Nigerian Pidgin English term urging people to deeply contemplate or reason critically on the issue. This call has ignited discussions among Nigerian Christians online, forcing many to re-examine the basis of a prayer point that has become almost standard in many congregations and personal devotions.
The priest's stance highlights a tension between popular folk religiosity, which often seeks divine protection from early death, and a more classical theological perspective that emphasizes spiritual preparedness regardless of life's length.
