I took my eleven years old bitch , Yuki down to the Vet yesterday afternoon to have her put down. She has had arthritis a while now and has become doubly incontinent. So I finally realised it was time for her to go. I have had her since she was a puppy and naturally tears streamed down my face as they gave her the last jab. I was touched that the vet and nurse were so kind about it all. It was good in the evening to get to Mass , always a source of Joy. But last night I woke up in the middle of the night to an overwhelming sense of the presence of the Mother of God. There was such a sense of Holiness I was more than a little in awe, but I got the sense she was saying, 'I have only come to see how you are'..and she smiled. Nevertheless I felt I had to pray something so I said the Hail Mary and 'O Mary Conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee!' (said to be her favorite prayer) She smiled and listened. I was still smiling at her and she me, when I fell back asleep again. It was only when I woke up this morning I understood it was just a little act of kindness on her part over the dog's death. I had another visitor three times last week. On three occasions I dreamt of my brother Colm who died when he was aged 26 over 25 years ago. I have the strongest urge to have a Mass said for his soul as he may still be in Purgatory. I must do this soon and see what happens.
Sorry for you loss Padraig. I hate when that time comes and I have to go with them to be put down. My dog is getting close to that now. What a wonderful visitor you had.
She is always a Mother. We are always her little children , no matter how old we get. I love what she said to one visionary, 'If you knew how much I love you , you would die of Joy'. My next door neighbour Anthony is in his late 50's and recently had a heart attack which nearly killed hi. He is still drinking and smoking and looking very frail. When I hear him cough I know death for him is very,very close. All this reminds me of the passingness of life. For men and dogs both.
There is also a wonderful consecration to Jesus through the Blessed Mother for one's last hours of life where she is guaranteed to come. I did this once for my grandmother, and she did indeed come to see her at the end of her life. I was in the room with her when it happened, but did not see the Blessed Mother, but my Grandmother did and was so happy and her eyes were filled with tears of joys. She kept saying to me how beautiful she was. https://consecratedhearts.com/prayers/prayer-to-the-blessed-virgin-to-obtain-a-good-death/
Yes! What a wonderful example of motherly love from Our Lady. Losing a beloved pet is like losing a child. I do not mean to imply that they are equal in intensity but the same grief is there. I know because when we lost our beloved dog Boots I was so grief stricken I couldn't look at his leash or his bowl. I was deeply deeply feeling loss. For quite awhile after I would hear his collar jingling when we were walking in the woods (as it used to when he walked with us). When we lost our oldest son the grief though much more intense seemed to be from the same well spring. To lose someone you love--whether son or parent or friend or beloved pet--the pain is so deep and so final. You learn to live with it. You don't get over it. I have learned that Mother Mary is very close to us in these events. She stood with me at my cross when my son died and literally carried me through. This grief can be a great gift to offer Our Lord especially when united to Our Blessed Lady.
I am so sorry you had to put your dog down, such a heartbreaking decision. Our Holy Mother brought you great comfort.
Padraig, this is such a heartwarming thread. I am so sorry that you have lost your beloved pet. It is a very special gift that Our Lady came to console you. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Yuki were with Our Lady right now. My beloved cat Princess died this past December. I was at Mass sometime later and the thought occurred to me that Princess was with Our Lady. I’m no theologian but I felt it. The cat would be with me when I prayed the rosary with Mother Angelica on EWTN. She listened to the music and the recitation. So peace be with you. God bless. Your other dog will feel the loss as well.
So glad that you shared your story of Princess HH. I am convinced that our pets can somehow sense the calmness that comes over us when we are in prayer. I was puppy sitting for my daughter last week while she and her family were on vacation. This little guy kept me on my toes, he woke up at 5am and took off like a rocket. He was into everything, bouncing around the house like a hurricane. I had to cover all the furniture and remove all table lamps. Turns out he was my rosary companion for the week. He was as quiet as a mouse whenever I prayed.
I'm sorry you've lost your beloved pet, Padraig. Very sweet of Mary to comfort you! She is such a good mother.
I can't imagine what it is like for a Mother to loose a Son. I have always though loved St Teresa of Avila's vision of Mary after the death of her Son, Jesus. Teresa speaks of Mary being, 'Frozen with Sorrow'. I think this is such an insightful picture. I imagine Mary as being like a block of ice. Then St Teresa speaks of Jesus appearing as the Resurrected Christ and taking His Mother in His arms to warm her up with His love. To, 'Defrost' her after the coldness of Sorrow. One time after my brother Cormac (26) his wife Teresa (26) and their little daughter Shona(2) all died in a car crash whilst driving to the airport for a holiday in New York my mother asked me a simple question, 'Why did this happen?' This is the simplest question in the world but one I think we all ask when we something hard, especially something terrible like the loss of a loved one in our lives occurs. The answer I gave was that I simply did not know. But what I did know was that God loved them , as He loved her ,as He loves us all and that whatever happened happened fro a loving reason. But I had been praying over this and thought I had at least a rough idea why they were called home. I cannot tell it here but it was not an easy one , Perhaps she may have been better now knowing it, but she was very honest woman herself so I told her what I believed to be the truth. You know I have lived in this small Parish now for over 60 years now. When people I have known from childhood or went to school with die I often get to know about it. More and more of the people I have grown up with have passed away to the life to come. It gives me such a real sense of the passingness of life, that all things pass away. This is no bad thing. When we look at the lives of the saints we often see some sign or symbol of , 'Momento Mori', 'Remember Death'. The same thing we are told on Ash Wednesday, 'Remember man that thou art dust and unto dust you shall return'. I don't find now that this is gruesome or depressing. I find it uplifting, my face is set towards heavens. Maybe this is the way it should be.
I love the way her Robes are different colours; this time it was a very dark blue, the colour of the sky just before it turns to night and spangled with Golden stars. Also her veil was heavier than you usually see, kind of billowy and framed her face on all sides a lighter colour than her dress. Beautiful. Her eyes were so warm and full of a kind concern, so large, she doesn't miss much, love informs her, she can see to the very bottom of our souls, so natural in a Mother come for a kind, concerned visit. She didn't have to go to the trouble, but I am very glad she did. I have been buried in joy and comfort every since.
