29 Oct “Had a better day today.I supervised the big girls putting up the swimming pool. They will be able to do it without me next year.” And part of a short exchange: I think the first part came from Fr Gaitley’s consecration to the Immaculate Heart published here on MoG by Sam. I wrote: “Perhaps what most attracted St. Maximilian to Mary is her beauty: the beauty of the deep and unfathomable mystery of her Immaculate Conception, and the beauty of her spotless purity throughout the entirety of her earthly life, which now radiates forth in heaven. St. Bernadette gives witness to this when, describing the apparitions at Lourdes, she says of Our Lady: "She is so beautiful, that one would be willing to die to see her again." “Beauty awakens the soul to act” Dante. That is how Mary’s beauty affected me in Akita. But at first I was content to sit with her for hours in the chapel. The hours felt like minutes. And yet it was only the start - and I had very far to go. Without a miracle of healing you will soon be shown The Beauty of Our Blessed Mother. May all your dreams come true Luke. Sleep well.“
“Josie and I were just talking about all the interesting people I hope to meet. Adam, Noah , Moses.wow. A priest long ago once said in class when we get to heaven we will meet some people we did not expect to meet.And some people we did expect to meet will not be there.” Luke wrote this on Oct 24
Luke and I enjoyed long exchanges - no surprises to my friends here that my part was longer - but I have tried to keep the best - his part - for here.
Even in these last days Luke has continued to work for God’s kingdom. My friend Terry has been battling cancer for 20 years but recently it nearly finished him. He has lost one ear and a large part of his face muscle. He is a Protestant of Ulster extraction. Luke suggested I buy him a Miraculous medal and tell about it and to wear it at all times.,Terry was deeply moved by this and indeed carries it with him at all times. He too is still with us. One dayvI hooked the two of them up on messenger video. It was a privilege to witness that. I also have a Methodist friend. As a result of this I also bought a medal for a staunch Methodist friend. Yesterday she told me she was thinking of taking instruction in the Catholic faith.
Dear Jesus and Mary, Thank you for the grace of faithfulness and friendship as we witness here between Luke and Joe. Bless them both! Sirach 6:14 A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure. 15 Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity. 16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him. 17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
I have printed out this post and I will keep it in my shirt pocket. To confront death is to gain wisdom. Luke says that he had known better but kicked the can down the road. So have I! REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
How wonderfully God works through our suffering--,linking souls together in His Grace. These are wonderful posts Joe.
My friend Don's diagnosis is "worse than we thought" according to his wife. I told her that I had asked all of you for prayers for him. She seemed very moved by that and said she would tell him. He seems reluctant to speak about it. Still coming to terms with his diagnosis. I just want to thank all of you again for your prayers may God bless you.
Thanks again Joe for all of the missives. And thanks to all here who have and continue to pray for Luke and family. Though I don't want him to go, if it is to happen I pray it will be on First Saturday as he hopes, but as Padraig says we should still pray for a miracle if it is within God's Will.
Will be praying for Don! Just did the novena to Our Lady of Good Success and a rosary for my family and Luke and his family and realized it is already First Friday in New Zealand. And silly me, I just realized what that title meant. Our Lady of Good Success From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Our Lady of the Good Event of the Purification (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso de la Purificación; Filipino: Ina ng Mabubuting Pangyayari), the “good” (or great) event in her title refers directly to the Purification or the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas) in which Jesus was first offered to God the Father by the hands of the Blessed Virgin, foreshadowing His self-offering on the Cross and revealing Mary’s role as Co-Redemptrix Time in New Zealand Blessed First Friday to Luke and his family!
Just got this from Josie “Luke has made it through another night but he was very restless. He received viaticum yesterday... I don't know if it will be possible today or not, we will see. He has made it to the First Friday! God bless”
Luke remains resigned to Gods will but Luke said that he had decided to pray for a happy death rather than a cure. He even went so far as to say that he would find it very hard to face the hardships of life back on earth so well prepared was he for heaven. He joked that he was sad he had missed the opportunity of retirement. He said he could not imagine being better prepared. Except for the very early days he always emphasised his desire for a good death over a desire for a cure. Last night Josie says he was restless. It sure is good to pray for a miracle but at this stage I pray that for the sake of Josie and the girls that his passing is peaceful. I lost a wonderful old friend, Herbie on August 16. Herbie was a very active and happy 90 year old farmer with a large family. His infant great grand daughter was on the point of death and Herbie offered God his life in exchange for hers and God, it seems, accepted his offer. This offer and acceptance inspired me. I was not going to share this but almost as soon as Luke was diagnosed I asked God to take me rather than him. I am single with no children. Later on as part of many novenas I told Luke of this. His response was one of gratitude and he said God may well take me up on that offer. Well, it seems that to date God has decided it is not much of a swap. Luke is a far better candidate for heaven. But the offer is still open. I will try to get to confession tomorrow. I told my priest, Fr Tom, of this offer after a confession. He is a very holy man who lost his brother at an even younger age than Luke to a very painful death. His brother was also a priest. Fr Tom thought for a moment - it was like he was asking the Holy Spirit for guidance - and said “It does not work like that but no harm will come to his family.” He assured me of his prayers for Luke. Luke’s cousin who is a priest has promised him a Gregorian of masses on his death. This cousin travelled from America so he could see Luke before he died. Luke is determined to have as short a purgatory as possible. I cannot see it any other way.
Omnipotens Aeterne Deus, qui prodígio bonitatis et clemente volens salve omnes homines, gloriosíssimum Archángelum Sanctum Míchael, Príncipem Ecclesia Tua constituisti, fac nos dignos, te rogamus, liberare eius praesidio potente, adversáriis cunctiis, ne nos vexent, in hora mortis nostrae, sed nos perducti simus ab eo in praeséntiam augustam divinae maiestatis tuae. Hoc oremus méritis Jesu Christi, Domini nostri. Amen. Almighty and Everlasting God, who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered from all our enemies that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
