This was his reply “Just finished novena to Her. Our lady is everything to me in these times/days Joe. Trust in her makes everything easy when it should be hard. We are so lucky to have such a mother.”
From Mac Jan 18 “Felt a bit better today. Good meds thank goodness. Still things are going down hill pretty quickly. Can't be long now . I reckon a week . Was hoping tonight for sabbatine privilege.”
And later on Jan 18 “I'm glad for more time for prayer. I will give it everything. Praying for final perseverance and to not despair,and to find true sorrow for my sins. Still a great battle to come.”
Again, thank you Joe. These messages to you are so very personal but provide the rest of us with such inspiration for a holy death.
Another example of Mac’s humour - I am very overweight. On Oct 3 I wrote to him: “One of my patients has just brought me a big bag of pork crackling.” He replied. “Lol, he's trying to kill you.”
Received this a few minutes ago from Josie “Luke is extremely sleepy now. Hopefully he will be able to receive viaticum again this morning when Fr. comes. God bless”
This is how Luke first told me of his illness on Sept 14. He faced it and immediately began to make preparation. “I havent been feeling well the last couple of weeks Joe.I went to the hospital yesterday for a check up.Time to prepare for death it seems.I have advanced cancer spread everywhere.Nothing they can do.So I am at home and will receive the last rites next week.”
Praying for Luke.. ACT OF LOVE Saint John Marie Vianney Cure of Ars I love You, O my God and my sole desire is to love You until the last breath of my life. I love You, O infinitely lovable God and I prefer to die loving You than live one instant without loving You. I love You, O my God, and I do not desire anything but heaven so as to have the joy of loving You perfectly. I love You, O my God, and I fear hell, because there will not be the sweet consolation of loving You. O my God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to say it in every beat. Allow me the grace to suffer loving You, to love you suffering and one day to die loving You and feeling that I love You. And as I approach my end, I beg you to increase and perfect my love of You.
A beautiful prayer, QuD, said in the name of Mac and of course completely in line with his spirituality.
Reading these messages is incredibly inspiring. One could only hope to have such grace when we each face the end of this life. Thank you for posting these messages.
There truly is nothing else we need. What a beautiful message, especially when facing an illness or tragedy. Our Lord gave us the most incredible gift and deepest comfort when he gave to us His Mother. She truly is miraculous. I wish that all could know this but I am glad that someday the rest will come along as well. What a happy day that will be.
Still praying for a miracle. Still praying. No miracle would ever happen if we did not ask. Still asking.
Scary that the disease sneaked up on him so quickly and quietly. He seems so courageous throughout all his texts. Thanks for sharing them, Joe. Such a sweet picture. I'd forgotten that I used to have my dolls and stuffed animals kneel to pray with me when I was young too.
This was part of an exchange we had just after his diagnosis. "Thanks joe.before the last rites I will make a general confession of my whole life. That's a long nasty list but I want it done." "Way to go Luke but I wish you were staying." "So do I."
another bit of humour early on in the piece: L: I will try to sleep a while in the lazyboy J: Not ideal but if it helps go for it. Sometimes I fall asleep on the couch watching tv. Hows the appetite - any better? I have had the same 10 bottles of beer sitting in the fridge for most of the year. I think I will have one now and some crackers and cream cheese. That may help me sleep ha ha. L: Lol,it use to work for me. J: It says best before 30/08/18 on the bottle! It tastes fine. Cheers L: Now you have to drink all of them J: I’ll try L:Your a trooper
on 12 Oct from Luke "I'm kinda getting use to the idea of dying Joe. Focusing on heaven rather than where I deserve to go has been very helpful."
Thank you Joe for sharing all of this. I am just catching on all of the posts now. They really show the courage that he has had throughout this whole ordeal. You have been a great friend to Luke and family. Thank you so much for that. I pray that Luke will make it to First Saturday if that is his wish.
