Year of Mercy Reflection

Friday, Dec. 11, 2015

 

It was 2 p.m. when I received a frantic call from an old high school friend.

"John," he said, in a stressed voice, "my mom is dying and we would really appreciate it if you could come say some prayers for her." 

Of course I went immediately. Upon arriving at IMC hospital, I went to the room, where I found LJ, his sister and their mother. They were so distressed over the inevitable loss of their mother. Their mother was laying in the hospital bed clearly near death. Her eyes had turned gray as her body was beginning to shut down. Her stare was focused off to the side of the room at nothing in particular. 

I took out my rosary and I instructed them on how to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I knew what they could not know: I knew the promise our Lord made to St. Faustina when he told her, "When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a just Judge but as a merciful Savior.” (Diary, 1541).  

The three of us began to pray fervently for this sweet woman who lay dying before us. She laid motionless throughout the chaplet. At the end of the chaplet, I innocently said to their mother, "Mary, our Lord is here."  

At those words Mary's eyes turned slowly toward the ceiling, tears formed pools in her eyes, and she whispered the sweetest "Yes."  And with that last drawn out breath Mary passed from this life into the arms of pure mercy.

I will share this experience at every opportunity until the time comes when I am looking upon our Lord and whispering that same sweet response to Love Personified.