Even though my heart is heavy, I don't know of any modern day person who has done so much to gain graces to ensure their salvation. From what I've read, Luke made the most of his last few months on this earth. What a role model! And what a blessing that God gave him time to prepare for a holy death. Prayers for Luke's family, and for Luke's soul. May God grant them all peace.
What a brave warrior our Luke was -- he displayed such fortitude -- condolences to his wife and young family. Although I am sad I am grateful we now have a warrior in heaven interceding on our behalf. Luke pray for us. Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Psalm 116:15 The LORD Has Heard My Voice …14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people. 15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. 16Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have released my bonds.… I can hope hope when my turn comes I get to die such a wonderful and holy death as Mac. On a First Saturday too; just as he wished I am not quite sure if I should be praying for him or too him. Well prayers for his soul just in case. He will be very much missed.
So perfectly said Sean. I an tearing up now as I read this God is good. Luke is home. "Well done good and faithful servant" And your words to Joe are so true. What a generous thing for him to do for us.
Prayer for Josie and Josie and Lukes children Let us pray. Father of mercies and God of all consolation, you pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life. Comfort Luke's family in their loss and sorrow. Be their refuge and their strength. , O Lord, lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of your presence. Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by dying has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life. Enable Lukes Family to therefore press on towards Him, so that, after their earthly course is run, He may reunite them with Luke, when every tear will be wiped away. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, you willingly gave yourself up to death, so that all might be saved and pass from death to life. We humbly ask you to comfort your servants in their grief and to receive Luke into the arms of your mercy. You alone are the Holy One, you alone are mercy itself; By dying you unlocked the gates of life for those who believe in you. Forgive Luke his sins, and grant him a place of happiness, light, and peace in the kingdom of your glory foreveer. Amen! So may it be.
May you rest in our Christ, brother Luke, and now continue to aid our Mother in a new and most beautiful way. You will have our continued prayers and we ask for your intercession, with the Blessed Ever Virgin Mary and through our Jesus Christ, to help guide us all home until we are one with Him and our Father, in the Love of the Holy Spirit. May the Perpetual Light shine upon you. May you rest in peace. May your soul, and the souls of all of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
May Luke RIP and thank you Luke for this journey. It has helped us all feel so much closer to God. I am on my way to First Sat. And will pray for his soul and family.
Yes. I'm so sorry for the loss of our friend Luke and although many of us never met him in person I think that we will never forget him and the positive way he has influenced our lives. He has truly been a wonderful example of a man with great Faith. My prayers will continue to be with Josephine and all of their children and I hope that they will not hesitate to reach out to the members of the forum if there is anything that we can do to help them. May God bless them always.
What a lovely picture, Carol. What beautiful posts and heartfelt sentiments and prayers from all here.
I was praying a final Chaplet of Divine Mercy for Luke at that exact time! I will continue to pray for him although I am certain he doesn’t need the prayers. I will also keep praying for Josie and the children.
As others have said, I will pray for Luke but believe he has made it! I couldn’t help but note two Psalms that were part of the Divine Office on the day of Luke’s passing: From the morning Prayer: Psalm 62 (63) Thirsting for God Simeon was an upright and devout man. He looked for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was in him. O God, you are my God, I watch for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Simeon was an upright and devout man. He looked for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was in him. And this at the 3pm hour when he passed..... Psalm 33 (34) The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Come, children, listen to me: I shall teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, who wants to live long to enjoy good things? Do not let your tongue speak evil: let your lips not utter deceit. Avoid evil, do good: seek peace and follow it. The eyes of the Lord are on the just and his ears hear their cries; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil: he wipes their memory from the earth. The just cried out, and the Lord listened and freed them from all their many troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted: the crushed in spirit he will save. Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord will free them from all of them. He will protect all their bones: not one will be broken. Their own evil destroys sinners: those who hate the just will be punished. The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: those who put their hope in him will not be punished. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Yes Carol. Well said. I too will continue the prayers and if there is a way to offer financial support-- that too.
Rest in God's peace Luke. One of my favorite finds from several years ago was Mac's beautiful post of Psalm 51 sung so gloriously that it lifted me right up to heaven. May it reach God's ears and grant Luke the joy of perfect Mercy. PSALM 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
