Amen. Although I continue to pray for a miracle, the over-riding sense I get from reading Joe's updates is that God is calling home another of his good and faithful servants. May we all be as well prepared when our time comes. Thanks to Joe, and if you keep in touch with the family afterwards, please let us know if we can help them in any way.
You are quite right Dolours. Some time ago Mac decided to stop praying for a miracle and instead focused on praying for a happy death. That prayer has been granted in superabundance. I will email you if the family needs help.
He's part of us...our little group of religious misfits. Dying with spiritual grace and dignity. Showing us how to be brave and follow our Lords footsteps. What a great Grace for all of us. And Padraig. your group of Prayer Warriors. might be evolving into a living spiritual order. Even though we might joke, argue nonsense...at the end of the day. we are here spiritually for each other. I think Mac will bring us Graces from God and make us all spiritually stronger. Such a interesting time...so sad for the family. But God has a plan...maybe its to make us all stronger. I pray for Mack but I also pray for all of us. May Gods Will be Done
Every Tuesday night at 7pm a small group meets in our church foyer to say The Rosary of Seven Sorrows. It has evolved into a prayer in which we ask nothing of Mary but simply stand by her in her sorrows. That said sometimes I bring others into this time that they too may accompany Mary through her travails. Jesus said that while he was well pleased with contemplation of His passion He found even greater consolation from contemplation of the sorrows of His Mother. Tonight I did not bring Luke onto our path of dolours but brought to mind all members of MoG. I believe The Blessed Mother has never once let go of the hand of her well beloved son, Luke, throughout his last labour. Luke spoke to me of his longing to meet her and his belief that Archangel Michael and his guardian angel will fight for him to the end. He has taken nothing for granted and feels there is still one great battle to be fought for his soul. But he believes that The Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph in his end and in his new beginning. He so looks forward to meeting all those saints to whom he has had great devotion such as St Louis de Montford. In Luke, I beleive, we will have a powerful intercessor in heaven. I for one intend to attract his attention as soon as he passes on and before he gets lost in God.
Luke was deeply devoted to St Joseph. Like St Joseph, Luke was a carpenter and a highly skilled funiture maker. His work in Rimu, a wood native to New Zealand, was especially fine. Another reason for Mary to love him specially.
I deleted an earlier post in which I clumsily tried to explain to Padraig that my use of past tense was not to put Luke in the past as if he had already died. It was simply to talk of things that pertained to his past and things of which he is no longer capable. I hope this explanation suffices to preserve my presence here for now.
Luke sent the following text to me on Dec 21. It shows he still had a good sense of humour. “Had a courtesy phone call from hospice today. They just let me know they closed for the next 2weeks . I find it a bit strange. I’ll try not to die. “
And another example of his humour “I made it to Mass yes. Just in time to hear the priest request prayers for Luke Nyssen who can no longer attend Mass..”
Another chaplet, halfway through. Just meant as encouragement, pls don't misunderstand. Iove Luke's humour
Could I ask for prayer for a good friend who undergoes surgery today for serious cancer. They have given him basically no hope. His name is Don. Unlike our beloved Luke he does not seem to have any faith. Basically unchurched. But a " man of good will" I want to talk to him about Jesus but he is a recent friend. I'm not quite sure how to approach it. So I'm just praying for Our Lady to put him under her mantle. He surely needs prayer. Thanks everyone. God bless.
The Divine Mercy chaplet might save him...I’ll offer mine for him. He’s blessed to know you...you might get him to heaven AED!
Prayers for Don through the night and at mass tomorrow. Death is nothing but a passage through a door. Eternal Death is something else entirely. Praying to Padre Pio. If he can't do it I don;t know who will.
Just got this from Josie. Sounds like Luke is overdue. I suggested we should pray to St Gerard Majella for a safe and swift delivery! With 9 children Josie knows all about this. “Josie here. Luke is still here! He is very sleepy. I don't know how much longer this can go on for? Only God knows.”
Thanks Josie. He is in no hurry to go - like an overdue child. Perhaps we should pray to St Gerard Majella that he may be quickly delivered. If there is anything you need please let me know. His online friends have made this offer to. They are all praying for you and your family.
“Thanks Joe. Please tell them we and especially Luke need all the prayers we can get. And please thank them for their kindness. I am getting exhausted staying nights with him and also trying to look after the children. We have lots of help here with our parish and family. So we are very blessed. Have a good day.”
