Hello Everyone,
I’m feeling great today
My mother is still dying of course, but an incredible thing occurred yesterday. Both my sister Elizabeth and I were praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary at either side of her bed. The right side of my mother’s face was resting on the pillow, which meant she was facing towards my side of the bed. My left hand was resting gently on my mother’s forehead and crown, my right hand held a Rosary ring. As we prayed audibly I looked at her face and noticed though her eyes were partially opened they looked dull and lifeless. But suddenly I detected some movement of her pupils as she fixed her gaze upon my face and then her eyes lit up, and she broke into a massive, broad grin. I was still reciting the Rosary with my sister Elizabeth and didn’t want to stop, but she (my sister) couldn’t see what was going on from her side of the bed. So I stopped for a few moments and said “Look, she’s smiling” my sister then stood up, leaned over and she too was delighted with what she saw. My mother then tried desperately hard to speak, but she couldn’t utter any words at all. Nevertheless, she continued smiling for a little while and all the stress and strain I detected previously had vanished completely from her face, and I’m absolutely sure she was thanking all of us for rallying around her in her hour of great need.
This certainly doesn’t mean we should slacken off, no, certainly not, if anything we should increase our efforts. I thank you all again most sincerely, and I will continue to pray for all of you (every day) especially at Mass. And again I would strongly recommend the Rosary to one and all. I know from personal experience, that next to the Mass, it is indeed the Prayer Par Excellence.
“The Rosary constitutes the most excellent form of private prayer and the most efficacious means to achieve eternal life. In the supreme hour the devotees of the Rosary will be consoled by the maternal tenderness of the Virgin Mary and will be gently put to sleep in her bosom”. Pope Leo XIII
John 19:27
Eddy Barry
3 Reasons Why St. Joseph is the Patron of the Dying
- He is the foster father of the Eternal Judge, Who can refuse him no request.
- He is terrible to the demons; the Church calls him the Terror of demons and Conqueror of Hell.
- His own death was most beautiful, for he died in the arms of Jesus and Mary; this is the principal reason why he is the patron of a happy death; in death no other Saint was so happy, so glorious. St. Francis de Sales was of the opinion that St. Joseph died of the love of God; St. Alphonsus Liguori considered this most reasonable.
**The Special Prayer of the Pious Union of St. Joseph
**
O St. Joseph, foster father of the Child Jesus and true spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us and for the dying of this day (or this night). Amen.
Prayer for the Agonizing
O St. Joseph, protector of those in agony, take pity on those who at this very moment when I pray to thee are engaged in their last combat.
O blessed Joseph, take pity on my soul too when the hour of the final battle shall arrive for me. Then, O my holy patron, do not abandon me, but grant me thine assistance; show that thou art my good father, and obtain that my Divine Savior may receive me with mercy into that abode where the elect enjoy a life that shall never end. Amen.
**Prayer for the Souls in the Agony of Death
**
Eternal Father, by the love Thou bearest toward St. Joseph, who was chosen by Thee from among all men to exercise Thy divine fatherhood over the Thy Son made Man, have mercy on us and upon all poor souls who are in their agony.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be . . .
Eternal Son of God, by the love Thou bearest toward St. Joseph, who was Thy most faithful guardian upon earth, have mercy on us and upon all poor souls who are in their agony.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be . . .
Eternal Spirit of God, by the love Thou bearest toward St. Joseph, who guarded with such tender care most holy Mary, Thy beloved spouse, have mercy on us and upon all poor souls who are in their agony.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be
Prayer for a Good Death
O Jesus, while I adore Your dying breath, I beg You to receive mine. Since I do not know whether I shall have command of my senses when I depart from this world, I offer You even now my last agony and all the sorrows of my passing. I give my soul into Your hands for You are my Father and my Savior. Grant that the last beat of my heart may be an act of perfect love for You. Amen.
