We have a retired Priest at my parish who recently underwent two serious surgeries. He was recovering at home and seemed to be doing well, when he got an infection and had to be hospitalized again. When he was released and able to say Mass again, he shared with the congregation that during his hospital stay, he "crashed" and they (and he) thought he might die. He told us that during this time, he was in a brutal battle with the devil. He said Jesus and the devil were fighting for his soul and how badly the devil wanted it. He said he couldn't do anything about it. He said he never lost his faith though and wanted to thank us all for our prayers, as he is certain our prayers got him through it. He told me that he isn't asking Jesus for healing and he doesn't want people to pray for his healing. He feels he can't offer anything to Our Lord right now, so he wants to offer his suffering to Him. What a wonderful Priest! We are so blessed to have him in our lives.
What a beautiful post Shae. What a good priest. How generous of him to share his experience in that terrible struggle. May Our Lady protect him.
What a holy priest. Can I request your prayers for a retired parish priest in my parish. He fell in his house some months ago and spent some time in hospital. He has recovered but has been placed in a nursing home within the parish. He would be fine with that but he is not allowed to leave and go to church. He never gets to say Mass and is heartbroken. The priest who replaced him in the parish does not want to know and I think the lady who is parish sacristan actively opposes any effort to allow him to come to the church and say Mass. It's a very sad situation and this retired priest is very holy but now he is deeply upset. Please pray for a solution and for hearts to be softened.
He saw what we cannot and with his vision we see. Satan fights for all our souls. Our Messed Lady, Grant that Satan be disma. May God grant this priest ealing, long life and a wonderful Apostolate.
That the devil fights hardest for our souls when we are on the brink of death used to be a fairly common belief. It doesn't seem to be so common now but I still believe it. Fr. Calloway reminds us that when we say the Hail Mary we're asking Our Lady to pray for us now and at the hour of our death and that if we pray the daily Rosary most people will have lodged many thousands of prayer requests with Our Lady before the hour of their death. I'll say a Hail Mary or two for your priest.
That's so sad. Is there anywhere in the nursing home where he could say Mass for the residents? Some nursing homes have a room that can be used for prayer gatherings. I recall such rooms being packed with residents for Sunday Mass.
He is a very pious and traditional priest. They have a table in his room but he is not happy with it as it is next to the toilet. Also not allowed to light candles. Fire hazard. He has mild dementia for some years. He is 89 but was saying Mass every day in the parish. He is losing heart. I'm so upset for him.
That's so sad. Concerns about the fire hazard make sense but it doesn't seem an insurmountable problem. Surely they could arrange for a staff member or visitor to light the candles and remain in the room while he offers Mass. Nowadays everyone's too busy to care.
