This was my initial reaction to Luke's news on Sept 14 and his reponse: Joe "Oh Luke what a dreadful shock for you and your family. Thank you for telling me. Have you told anyone on MoG? They could all fast and pray for you and your loved ones. In any case I will start fasting and praying for you immediately. My friend Terry up here is in a similar position. He is non Catholic. Be as brave as you can and don't give yourself a hard time if your courage fails now and then. You are a good man and hopefully the Good Lord can still do lots for you. I will visit our Lady of Perpetual Succor tonight for you and pray at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima." Luke "Thanks Joe, will talk later"
"I hope for a miracle,for Josie and the kids. I don't want to leave them behind." From Back in September
From Luke Dec 1 - he had a long way to go. "I made Mass late as I dont feel so good. Pretty sure that was my last first saturday. I made the meditation early this morning and rosary. Just confession to go.I really have made an effort in the last few years to embrace this devotion.Ive tried to make it and work on having the intention of making reparation rather than trying to gain the promises.It is a real consolation to me now.https://youtu.be/0lvqOIUfkQs"
Dec 5 Luke: "I still have pain, just feel mentally well. My plans to to depart on December 8 aren't looking so good.might have to stick around for Christmas" Joe; Ah well I hope it does not get too bad - maybe thats your purgatory. The first person mum and me nursed to to the end with cancer was our old doctor and neighbour, Doctor O'Connor - I was very young - Thats how he saw his pain - a good trade for heaven - his cancer came out as a lump out on his chest. You may meet him too! Would be very nice to have you here for Christmas. Luke: Purgatory on Earth sounds great.just what I want Joe. Definitely
Oct 4 Luke: "The specialist was very nice. He gave us much information. But the bottom line is I'm toast. And likely quite soon. My prayers will now be focusing on a happy death rather than a cure." Luke had so many novenas said for him that he said if he was cured he would not know which saint would get the credit.
Joe: "In confession I was told to ask God the truth about all my problems - to be shown the times I did not look or listen or do the right thing. The times I disobeyed and disregarded the directions." 17/11/2018, 00:23 Luke: "I've had that grace, to see the times I disobeyed and disregarded promptings.Our Lady will save me regardless, I have just taken the hard way instead of the easy way." 17/11/2018, 08:31 Joe: "Among my murmurings I have denied the efficacy of The Memorare saying that my confidence has been all but destroyed because of unanswered prayer. The truth is that I have placed my confidence in ineffective things such as myself and money and success all of which have proved to be worthless. I have ignored the whisperings of heaven. One by one my weapons of self destruction are being prized from my hands as a parent carefully removes a sharp knife from the hands of a child. The great deceiver is good at his job. And yet, in the end, I have no one to blame except my self for my wrong choices and their consequences. I am no longer a child. I am responsible but still childish more than child-like. I see now, despite lengthy in depth examinations and confessions, I have never really faced this even though I have understood this to be true. So many ways of running from the truth. Nothing much has changed with us humans since the fall insofar as our shortcomings and defects are concerned. Left to our own devices we are utterly lost. But as the the hymn goes - “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. “ That “amazing grace” has been given to you. I too believe that Our Lady will come to our rescue. “Henceforth all ages will call me Blessed” especially those of us who belong to this age. “Those who place their confidence in me will be saved.” And so it shall be." 2 17/11/2018, 15:42 Luke "I feel the same on all you have written here."
AED, just catching up on all these posts. Don will be added to my intentions moving forward. May by the grace of God he finds hope, may by the tug of our mother Mary he finds Jesus, may by the Holy Spirit he feels life anew and may by the compassion of our Lord Jesus he finds the way, the truth and the love.
...But I wish you were staying So do I. My heart aches to read this. So do I. 3 tiny words holding a depth of pain beyond many of us to comprehend fully. The pain of a father. The pain of a husband. The pain of one who loves.
Honestly it could break your heart. The only way to live through it is to stand with Mary at the foot of the cross. That is what I learned when we went through this with our son. Only Mary can get us through it.
I had spoken to Luke about the support given to him on MoG in his desire to go on Dec 8 - he replied after he had enjoyed a brief reprieve. It reminded me of St Faustina’s vision of Our Lady and St Michael visiting the Holy Souls to give them consolation. “Very good support from mog members indeed. God bless them. I actually had a lovely evening last night. Even ate some KFC , watched home alone with the family and felt quite well for many hours. I will go to the 730am Mass this morning with some girls.Yes Im in very good spirits today.Hope it lasts awhile.”
Then on Dec 5 he wrote “I still have pain, just feel mentally well. My plans to to depart on December 8 aren't looking so good.might have to stick around for Christmas”
And a little more Dec 5 “I had a large picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe dropped off today. So Josie and I will add a novena under that title as well. I have never had a devotion to this title really ,but it is a great image for sure.Worth a novena.”
Although he was very well prepared Luke, like St Paul, knew he still had not finished the race: “Thanks Joe. I am well prepared. Still have a fear of the particular judgement though.. To see the truth, the reality, the sins. Knowing I have a merciful judge is great,but He is also just.” His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him.
Just before my Christmas visit to Luke. He is about 5 hours away but a beautiful drive. “It would be nice to see you one last time. A visit Christmas evening or boxing day would be nice.” He wanted some time with me but to relish his last Christmas day with his family.
On Dec 20 “Hi Joe, just off too Mass now. I have been having a wee Baileys in the evenings. Not suppose too.” And he continued to enjoy his ciggies.
“Hopefully it must count as a good part of purgatory.That is consoling.And I are still enjoying my time with the family very much.” This was in reference to his impatience to see God.
Dec 9 “A little disappointed to still be here. I will try to make the most of my time given. I have no other dates in mind. A first Saturday would be nice I guess.”
In response to my question how Josie and the girls were doing: “They are all coping. I dont really know, all seems well. We just have to keep praying. This dying thing is taking longer than I thought, Probably for the best. I really want a very short purgatory.”
