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Mustang1971
Guest
Brother JR, my thoughts and prayers are with you, your sister and your family. You planted a seed by talking to your sister’s husband, maybe in time that seed will bear a lot of fruit. God Bless!
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JReducation
Guest
That is always my hope, to plant a seed. It is painful to remain faithful to this mission, when it strikes so close to home. But I know that God will get us through this.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Mary_Gail_36
New member
My thoughts and prayers are with you Brother JR. What a sad situation. 
L
Luigi_Daniele
Guest
Prayers offered.
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Edward_H
Guest
I’ll do the only thing that God gives me to do here, I will offer my visit to the Blessed Sacrament tonight to your sister, her husband, and your whole family.
God Bless.
God Bless.
T
Trishie
Guest
Brother J my prayers for you and your sister,
and for your intentions, including the return of Christian respect for life.
I’m glad for you both that you are going Home, but I’m sorry for all you both have to go through. I’m sure God is using your mutual sufferings to great purpose.
God bless you and your family abundantly
and for your intentions, including the return of Christian respect for life.
I’m glad for you both that you are going Home, but I’m sorry for all you both have to go through. I’m sure God is using your mutual sufferings to great purpose.
God bless you and your family abundantly
D
dixieagle
Guest
How very sad and disturbing (though not, these days, surprising). I know of several people who would consider themselves “good Catholics” who see removal of even hydration as “letting someone die”, when, in fact, it is actively ending a life.
When my dear mother-in-law was dying several years ago, there came a time at the end when she was no longer able to process/digest the nourishment she was given through her feeding tube. But NEVER was it even suggested that the hydration via IV be stopped, and it would not have been even considered by us.
I will keep you, your dear sister, and your family in my prayers, Brother.
When my dear mother-in-law was dying several years ago, there came a time at the end when she was no longer able to process/digest the nourishment she was given through her feeding tube. But NEVER was it even suggested that the hydration via IV be stopped, and it would not have been even considered by us.
I will keep you, your dear sister, and your family in my prayers, Brother.
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Neil_Anthony
Guest
Dear JR,
I’m sorry that this is happening and I’ll be praying for you and your sister. I’m sorry to hear about your cancer as well.
Neil
I’m sorry that this is happening and I’ll be praying for you and your sister. I’m sorry to hear about your cancer as well.
Neil
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Edward_H
Guest
God is the amazing converting Creator.
He can use even our dying to draw us and others closer to Him, and to each other.
He only has a supernatural outlook. He uses “every trick in the book” to draw us closer to Him. He can convert all temporal things toward supernatural ends.
I can’t get my mind around it, and it’s not all that important that I do!!!
He can use even our dying to draw us and others closer to Him, and to each other.
He only has a supernatural outlook. He uses “every trick in the book” to draw us closer to Him. He can convert all temporal things toward supernatural ends.
I can’t get my mind around it, and it’s not all that important that I do!!!
J
JReducation
Guest
God tansforms everything, if we cooperate with him. I have been asking myself some very important questions and have found some enlightening answers through the people here and others not here.
Yesterday, I went to a meeting of the Board of Advisors of Respect Life Ministry, on which I serve. I shared with everyone that I was questioning by ability to obey. When I made vows I promised to obey without murmurring, without attachment to my own feelings and opinions. Suddenly, here I am, drowned in feelings and opinions of my own. I was sure that I was being disobedient.
A friend of mine, who is a very good priest, said something that cleared my mind. “This is not God’s will. God does not will for us to accelerate someone’s death. You’re not being disobedient, because you’re questioning what is happening and because you’re unhappy about it.”
I left feeling lighter. I also realized that Christ had spoken through my friend. As you said, God uses every strategy to get us to listen, if we want to hear.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
C
Cable
Guest
Br. JR, OSF: Your sister is blessed to have a brother like you who prays for her and looks out for her. Prayers for God’s infinite grace to continue to flow to you and your sister.
J
JReducation
Guest
She didn’t think so when we were kids.
This is about the Gospel of Life. I believe that it was the Holy Spirit who moved me from my larger Franciscan community to the emerging Franciscan Brothers of Life. It’s not that the Franciscan family is not for life, just the opposite.
Few people have enjoyed life as much as our Holy Father Francis and few men have appreciated the gift of life in the depth that he did. This becomes truly visible when we read the Canticle of the Creatures, also known as The Canticle of the Sun.
Francis writes for us the Church’s Theology of Life and he bases it upon the scriptures, specifically the Book of Daniel. All life exists to give glory to God. To snuff out a life is to spit in God’s face. It is the devil’s way of taking away one more voice to proclaim the glory of God. This bothers him. He is not interested in the body and the life that is forfeited. He is interested in shutting down the voices that proclaim the glory of God.
My brothers and I fight for God’s right to be glorified and praised by his creation. By standing next to people like my sister, we proclaim to the world that God will be blessed and praised, regardless of the Culture of Death in which we live.
I believe that the enemy is angry. When I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, some suggested that I give up on medical treatment and allow myself to die “with dignity.” I was called selfish, because I refused to do so. My insurance company found a way of dropping my healthcare coverage. The State found a way of limitting my access to state medicaid. I could see the anger and hatred of the evil one, for what reason? Because as a Franciscan Brother of Life I refuse to destroy or allow others to destroy the voices that praise God’s greatness and I point them out unashamed.
This is my reason for posting such a personal story on this forum. People need to know that while we spend our hours distracted by other subjects and other cares, the enemy is attempting to destroy the choir of voices that praise God’s greatness and holiness. I will never forget Jesus’ comment when asked to tell the crowds to be quiet and not praise him, " if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out," (Lk 19:40).
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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crazzeto
Guest
Thank you so much for posting your stories JReduction! Truely you are preaching the Gosple through your life!
T
Trishie
Guest
Remembering in daily prayers, you and your sister, and God’s initiatives in your lives
S
severus68
Guest
Thank you Brother for sharing. I admire your courage, compassion and devotion to God. My prayers for you, your sister , brother in law and family.She didn’t think so when we were kids.
This is about the Gospel of Life. I believe that it was the Holy Spirit who moved me from my larger Franciscan community to the emerging Franciscan Brothers of Life. It’s not that the Franciscan family is not for life, just the opposite.
Few people have enjoyed life as much as our Holy Father Francis and few men have appreciated the gift of life in the depth that he did. This becomes truly visible when we read the Canticle of the Creatures, also known as The Canticle of the Sun.
Francis writes for us the Church’s Theology of Life and he bases it upon the scriptures, specifically the Book of Daniel. All life exists to give glory to God. To snuff out a life is to spit in God’s face. It is the devil’s way of taking away one more voice to proclaim the glory of God. This bothers him. He is not interested in the body and the life that is forfeited. He is interested in shutting down the voices that proclaim the glory of God.
My brothers and I fight for God’s right to be glorified and praised by his creation. By standing next to people like my sister, we proclaim to the world that God will be blessed and praised, regardless of the Culture of Death in which we live.
I believe that the enemy is angry. When I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, some suggested that I give up on medical treatment and allow myself to die “with dignity.” I was called selfish, because I refused to do so. My insurance company found a way of dropping my healthcare coverage. The State found a way of limitting my access to state medicaid. I could see the anger and hatred of the evil one, for what reason? Because as a Franciscan Brother of Life I refuse to destroy or allow others to destroy the voices that praise God’s greatness and I point them out unashamed.
This is my reason for posting such a personal story on this forum. People need to know that while we spend our hours distracted by other subjects and other cares, the enemy is attempting to destroy the choir of voices that praise God’s greatness and holiness. I will never forget Jesus’ comment when asked to tell the crowds to be quiet and not praise him, " if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out," (Lk 19:40).
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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karoleck
Guest
May St.Maximilian Kolbe interceed for your sister and to help you keep your peace of mind.The serenity prayer has a lot to offer us–Grant me the grace to accept the things that I cannot change;God loves and cares even more for your sister,so you are correct in accepting God’s permissive Will.He does not Will that your sister should be deprived of food or fluid, but He allows this to bring about a greater good.You know all of this but when you are sick and suffering yourself ,the mind can play “tricks” on us.Naturally the evil one is lurking behind the scenes to steal your peace of mind.St.Charles Boromeo prayed when afflicted this prayer "Yes,I will this with all my heart for so it seems good in Your Sight.Amen.
St.Michael the Arch Angel defend life in all it’s stages.Our Lady,health of the sick pray for us.St.Joseph,the patron of a Holy death,pray for Brother’s sister.Sacred Heart of Jesus,have mercy on us.
J
JReducation
Guest
The bold is mine. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I need them, so keep them coming. I bolded the one sentence, because I believe that I know what you want to say, but it came out differently.
God NEVER allows evil in order to bring about a greater good. God’s permissive will exists because of the greater grood, man’s freedom. That good has to be protected, even when man abuses his freedom. In addition, God can use evil to bring about good and he often does that. However, he never allows evil so that he can bring about good. That would be a case of the ends justifying the means. Do you see what I’m saying?
God does not allow an evil in order to bring about a good. What he does is that in his infinite mercy he transforms the result of the evil into a good, but the evil he does not transform. For example, the murder of the martyrs never ceased to be murder to this day. But God used the result of those murders to strengthen the faith of those who survived.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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vera_dicere
Guest
I’ll will offer prayers for you and your sister, and family, and in particular the doctors and nurses that care for her.
While removal of antibotics is quite usual for hospice care, to remove hydration and feeding tubes is really quite nasty. Hydration can really assist with the comfort of the dying person, and they should be allowed food if they can take it, but also allowed a feeding tube.
If the person is truly terminal, allowing them to eat and drink, or be nourished via feeding tubes or sub cut fluids isn’t going to make matters worse. Sometimes, its the only comfort these people have.
The medical and nursing professions have truly been infiltrated by the culture of death.
While removal of antibotics is quite usual for hospice care, to remove hydration and feeding tubes is really quite nasty. Hydration can really assist with the comfort of the dying person, and they should be allowed food if they can take it, but also allowed a feeding tube.
If the person is truly terminal, allowing them to eat and drink, or be nourished via feeding tubes or sub cut fluids isn’t going to make matters worse. Sometimes, its the only comfort these people have.
The medical and nursing professions have truly been infiltrated by the culture of death.
Q
Questionhaver
Guest
I must say, Brother, your story moved me dearly, just as your efforts in preserving human life - however futile they turned out in your sister’s case - impressed me.I just came back from spending two days with my sister who is in hospice. I was in awe and greatly saddened by her situation. One is always saddened by the imminent death of a loved one, but more when others take it upon themselves to accelerate a person’s passing. When I arrived, I was expecting to see my sister in a weakened state because of her illness. What I did not expect was to see that her feeding tube, hydration and antibiotics had been removed.
I quickly asked why this had been done and was told that the doctors had informed her husband that there was nothing else that they could do to preserve her life. Unfortunately, her husband, who seems not to understand the concept of “death with dignity” authorized the removal of life support systems that are ordinary: water, food, and medication. After serious attempts to reason with him about the immorality of this choice, I found that I was talking to myself. When I inquired about the legality of this measure, I found out that the state considers such measures extraordinary and that the next of kin or the guardian appointed by the patient has the legal authority to authorize the removal of feeding tubes, water and medication. There is no legal recourse.
We live in a society that has clouded our judgment concerning the dignity of life and the dignity of the terminally ill and redefined “death with dignity.” One no longer dies with the dignity of sons and daughters of God. One dies according to an arbitrary definition of dignity that is based on our fear of suffering and our desire not to deal with pain, forgetting all along that suffering and pain are as much a part of life as are joy and pleasure.
When I founded the Brothers of Life I never thought that I would be having this discussion and debate within my family; but here I am. The devastating blow of the Culture of Death has permeated every family, from the pagan to the Christian family. Men are no longer consumed with the search for the Will of God, but the search for escape from suffering. More than ever do we need men who will protect and stand as prophetic voices that cry out in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord of Life.
I am reminded of the Gospels. It is interesting to note that there is no single story in the Gospel where Jesus allows someone to die, except himself. Even this was not an acceleration of the events. He died at the time and in the manner determined by his Father from all eternity. Throughout the Scriptures we see Jesus raise the dying, healing the sick and calling the dead out of their tombs.
As Franciscan Brother of Life I have faith in what is presented to us in Scripture. It is never our call to accelerate the death of a person, even in the hope of relieving their pain and suffering. Christ calls us to do as he did, to relieve the pain and suffering of the sick and the dying by treating them with dignity and doing all that is within our power to protect their lives. Christ is the eternal Son of the Father. He had the power to heal and to raise the death. We may not have that power, but we have the power of Truth and of prayer.
Let us join together to proclaim the Gospel of Life within our families and to the world. Let no man perish because he believes that he is a burden. The only human burden is sin, but Christ relieves us of that burden through contrition and absolution.
When all medical intervention fails, let us bring to the sick the medicine of charity and solidarity.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Rest assured that I will remember both, you and your sister, as well as your family as a whole in my prayers.
However, “death with dignity” as you understand it is not quite as widespread where I live (or at least not with the people I forgather). Yet most people I know never understood the cessation of life preserving measures as actually shortening any lives. Some even recommend it, stating that keeping a person alive, even though death is imminent, is actually a selfish desire with which you’d force that suffering person to stay, simply because you don’t want him to die, whereas ceasing the measures allows for what would otherwisely naturally happen to proceed and thereby grants the tortured soul the possibility to pass away in peace and dignity and be with Him whom every soul belongs with.
Recognizing you as somebody fervently opposing this idea, I should like to ask you what you would say to a person stating the above.
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