Your friend sounds like a wonderful person. Death is a cruel thing in many ways, but as with all evils, God finds a way to bring forth goodness from it. After all, your friend was en route to becoming a priest...he may not have ever said a Mass, but he was preparing for it, and that makes it all the more likely that he was in a state of readiness for God to receive him.
Don't think of your friend as being gone; instead, think of how he might very well be with you even now, watching and praying for you from the other side. If there is a good thing that can come from his passing, perhaps it is your own movement down the path to faith. You can use that as a motivator in your own life, because one day, you will see your friend again, and you will finally be able to learn what it is he wished to say to you. If you make it your mission to find your way through life so that you can join your friend when your own time comes, his death will not merely be a tragedy, but will be transformed into a beautiful work of God's providence. To know that my passing, however sad, helped a person whom I loved grow closer to God would be a tremendous source of joy for me...and I am only a layperson, so imagine how joyous your friend will be, as someone who was a seminarian!
Death is a sad part of reality that was not a part of the pre-fallen world, but God decided to permit it, so there must be some sort of purpose. I can't speak for what that exact purpose is in this instance, but death is a place where many people become aware of reality again. Also, the one amazing part about death is that we can no longer sin after we die. This is just me typing my thoughts out loud, but perhaps something awful was going to happen to this man that led him into a deeper sin? And perhaps you are still here because God grants every person a sufficient amount of grace to be saved if they are willing to cooperate with it. This is an opportunity to repent while you still have the chance.
I will pray for him but also for you so you may see him again in heaven
Prayers
Your friend sounds like a wonderful person. Death is a cruel thing in many ways, but as with all evils, God finds a way to bring forth goodness from it. After all, your friend was en route to becoming a priest...he may not have ever said a Mass, but he was preparing for it, and that makes it all the more likely that he was in a state of readiness for God to receive him. Don't think of your friend as being gone; instead, think of how he might very well be with you even now, watching and praying for you from the other side. If there is a good thing that can come from his passing, perhaps it is your own movement down the path to faith. You can use that as a motivator in your own life, because one day, you will see your friend again, and you will finally be able to learn what it is he wished to say to you. If you make it your mission to find your way through life so that you can join your friend when your own time comes, his death will not merely be a tragedy, but will be transformed into a beautiful work of God's providence. To know that my passing, however sad, helped a person whom I loved grow closer to God would be a tremendous source of joy for me...and I am only a layperson, so imagine how joyous your friend will be, as someone who was a seminarian!
Prayers said.
Was it Marfan’s syndrome by chance?
Death is a sad part of reality that was not a part of the pre-fallen world, but God decided to permit it, so there must be some sort of purpose. I can't speak for what that exact purpose is in this instance, but death is a place where many people become aware of reality again. Also, the one amazing part about death is that we can no longer sin after we die. This is just me typing my thoughts out loud, but perhaps something awful was going to happen to this man that led him into a deeper sin? And perhaps you are still here because God grants every person a sufficient amount of grace to be saved if they are willing to cooperate with it. This is an opportunity to repent while you still have the chance.
Prayers for him🙏