Cathy, you courage and faith continues to inspire. I will offer up my mass this morning for you, your father and your family. I read a nice story about Padre Pio last week. He was being attacked and badly beaten by the devil and prayed for his guardian angel to help but the angel had done a disappearing act. When after much prayer the angel did show up he flew overhead singing hymns while poor Padre Pio was having the life beat out of him. Of course when the beating was over Padre Pio gave off to his angle guardian in no uncertain terms. The angel in reply told him that his sufferings were permitted by God to bring grace to the world. I think events in our own lives are so similiar. I read last week in the Catholic Catechism a beautiful section on , 'Unanswered prayer'. I. PRAYER OF PETITION 2629 The vocabulary of supplication in the New Testament is rich in shades of meaning: ask, beseech, plead, invoke, entreat, cry out, even "struggle in prayer."102 Its most usual form, because the most spontaneous, is petition: by prayer of petition we express awareness of our relationship with God. We are creatures who are not our own beginning, not the masters of adversity, not our own last end. We are sinners who as Christians know that we have turned away from our Father. Our petition is already a turning back to him. 2630 The New Testament contains scarcely any prayers of lamentation, so frequent in the Old Testament. In the risen Christ the Church's petition is buoyed by hope, even if we still wait in a state of expectation and must be converted anew every day. Christian petition, what St. Paul calls {"groaning," arises from another depth, that of creation "in labor pains" and that of ourselves "as we wait for the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved."103 In the end, however, "with sighs too deep for words" the Holy Spirit "helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."104 2631 The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"105 It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that "we receive from him whatever we ask."106 Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer. 2632 Christian petition is centered on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come, in keeping with the teaching of Christ.107 There is a hierarchy in these petitions: we pray first for the Kingdom, then for what is necessary to welcome it and cooperate with its coming. This collaboration with the mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit, which is now that of the Church, is the object of the prayer of the apostolic community.108 It is the prayer of Paul, the apostle par excellence, which reveals to us how the divine solicitude for all the churches ought to inspire Christian prayer.109 By prayer every baptized person works for the coming of the Kingdom. 2633 When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all things in order to redeem all things, is glorified by what we ask the Father in his name.110 It is with this confidence that St. James and St. Paul exhort us to pray at all times.111 But this whole beautiful section on prayer is well worth reading. So scriptural.
My Dad's been in the hospital going over 4 weeks now I think (I've lost track). He's hung in there with no complaints but has been going downhill as the list of issues keeps growing and the doctors believe he only has about 2 - 3 days left. He's such a fighter he'll probably hang in there longer...but any prayers for a gentle passing would be appreciated. Thanks!
Potatosack, I will offer the Chaplet for your Dad. Chaplet for the Sick and Dying Our Lord’s words to St. Faustina regarding the chaplet for the sick and dying: “My daughter, help Me to save a certain dying sinner. Say the chaplet that I have taught you for him.” (Diary 1565). “When I began to say the chaplet, I saw the man dying in the midst of terrible torment and struggle. His Guardian Angel was defending him, but he was, as it were, powerless against the enormity of the soul's misery. A multitude of devils was waiting for the soul. But while I was saying the chaplet, I saw Jesus just as He is depicted in the image. The rays which issued from Jesus' Heart enveloped the sick man, and the powers of darkness fled in panic. The sick man peacefully breathed his last. When I came to myself, I understood how very important the chaplet was for the dying. It appeases the anger of God.”" (Diary 1565). Our Lord’s Promise regarding the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the dying “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you (1541) . . . “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death” (Diary 687) . . . “When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just judge, but as the merciful Savior” (Diary 1541) . . . “Pray as much as you can for the dying. By your entreaties [that is, insistent prayers], obtain for them trust in My mercy, because they have most need of trust, and have it the least. Be assured that the grace of eternal salvation for certain souls in their final moment depends on your prayer. You know the whole abyss of My mercy, so draw upon it for yourself and especially for poor sinners. Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul” (Diary 1777) . . . “Every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same” (Diary, 811).
thanks everyone for the prayers! Funny you should post what you did on the DM chaplet. I had been thinking about what he is experiencing, given all the posts on many threads regarding what happens to us during our last hours. Every night for the first 3 weeks in the hospital his fever would rage at night with night sweats. He always described his nights as the time the goblins come out. He would say stuff like the goblins visit me every night...they start around 10pm. This is when he was really coherent and before his condition got a lot worse so it wasn't babble but is description when we asked how his night was. We always just thought it was a bad night with the fevers...but I suppose he could have meant it in a literal way too...given what some people describe here on the forum. A few nights ago his condition worsened because he had a stroke. I was thinking when I got home wow, what a cross he carries and immediately the words "sanctifying grace" was put on my heart. Trust me, I would not have thought that on my own, as I had to google it to know what it really meant, as I've heard the term, but did not truly understand it. But it's good to know this experience is making my Dad more holy and ready to meet God.
My Dad passed away in 96,..I was the last one called to the hospital as he lay dying,..he was in renal failure and his eyes were not focused nor could he speak,.. his breathing labored,. Everyone stood around his bed in silence,..the grandchildren,.. my brothers, sisters,..Mom,..all sad. I gave my Dad a hug, told him I loved him and that he was going to be OK. I remembered him telling me once how the nuns took him when he was young to a furnace to show the youth the flames in order to remind them of hell. I think my Dad was struggling with that along with other demons,..that was my sense. I looked at everyone and said,..we need to pray for Dad. So I took out my beads and lead them in the DM Chaplet. Then I said goodbye to him along with my sisters and Mom.The final thing I did for him was to wash his face and comb his hair,..and after that is when he gave up his spirit,..but before he did,..he was looking straight up,..his eyes were focused and I knew he was looking at his merciful Savior.. I will continue to offer the Chaplet for your Dad,..Jesus has given us a great gift. God Bless you PS
Beautiful Sunburst. When my dad died it was a great comfort to me ,in his final week he wore and died in the scapular.He was a good Catholic all his life , but had an aversion to wearing it.Which bothered me. But he died with it on. As a good priest once said to me, 'The Catholic Faith is a difficult faith to live in , but a great faith to die in.'
That's the essence of all our prayers: the abiding life of the Holy Trinity in our souls...May that word to you by the Holy Spirit simply mean your Dad will be going home. The words of Jesus: Where I am there will be my servant, also! Praying...
Cathy, Oh, yes! A holy coincidence! When I had just finished typing, "Praying..." above, I scrolled up and saw the 3pm video and decided to pray along for your Dad, not realizing the approximate time. The prayer and video ended just at 3pm on the East coast! Va-va-voom! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
Dad finally passed yesterday morning. The hospital called the family to come in early Sunday morning, but Dad & God had other plans and he hung on until Wednesday. We were keeping vigil since Sunday and I slept on a cot in his room on Tuesday night. I woke at 7am, heard him breathing, and dropped back to sleep until I woke at 8am and the room was silent. He must have just passed, because he was still very warm, but no longer breathing. I'm glad I was with him...but I was asleep...some night watchman (woman) I make! But he's at peace now, thank God! Thank you all for your prayers. There are not many pray-ers in my family, so the prayers from this forum I'm sure really sustained him. I know a lot of the suffering he experienced was for his own soul, but I wouldn't be surprised if maybe he suffered longer for his children who do not believe. I have no idea of course. But we were all amazed at how long he hung on for no apparent reason. He knew he would not get better and we assured him over and over that we would take care of Mom. We will never know. But I know your prayers helped him. I also know I awoke at 3am on several occasions (and I never wake up once I fall asleep), including the night before he died. Lots of DM chaplets going up at that point. That night I was praying it off and on as I fell asleep, woke up again, fell asleep, etc. I'm not sure I finished it, but regardless my dad was finished with his cross. He's not suffering anymore...thanks be to God!
My deepest sympathy Cathy… “To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter.” Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou, O Lord, shalt observe iniquities; Lord, who shall endure it? For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all her iniquities. Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Let us pray. O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through our pious supplication they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
