"Worth Revisiting" Wednesday - One Man's Example
Thanks to the generosity and
encouragement of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, an ever-expanding group
of Catholic bloggers take the time each week to re-post their favorite articles
on "Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays.
Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every
Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in your Faith journey.
Be sure to visit Allison at Reconciled To You and
Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb during the rest of the week.
You will find much spiritual nourishment and encouragement there.
This is my contribution:
(Originally posted on May 4, 2012)
From the inception of the Adoration Chapel in our parish and without
interruption for nearly five years until a few days before his death, this
gentleman came every Saturday morning.
Initially, he came for two hours each week – from 3 A.M. to 5 A.M. Eventually, another person lent a helping
hand by coming in a half-hour early each Saturday morning. That hour and a half was not enough for Mike –
he added another hour each week when he joined his wife in the Chapel each
Monday evening. 
Nothing kept him away – not snow, not ice, not radiation treatment, not
chemotherapy, not even a terminal illness.
Just weeks before his death, he came in at 3 AM in obvious discomfort. He was coughing and had some difficulty
breathing. But how devoutly he tried to
genuflect and bow his head before his beloved Lord. After awhile, he settled in his chair, pulled
out his favorite little meditation booklet and began to pray the Rosary.
He knew that others were willing to cover his hour and half for
him. But he did not want to “inconvenience
anyone”. Despite the cancer that was
raging through his weakened body, “there was no reason for him to give up his
hour yet,” he said, “except that he was getting a little lazy”. His fellow Adorers reminded him of all the
prayers being offered for him during this difficult time and of their desire to
be helpful to him and to his family. He
appreciated everyone’s prayers and concerns and simply told us that he did not
want to get angry with God. He never
did.
“It
was okay for you to leave,” he said to the person he was relieving. "No
need to stay. I'll be fine." Mike was at peace – one with his
heavenly Father and Mother. We should have all thanked him then for
teaching us how
to live and how to die – with absolute trust and faith in a God Who
always knew
what was best for him.
My friend spent his last hour before the Blessed Sacrament with his wife five
days before he passed away. He died at
home surrounded by his loving family and on the feast day of Our Lady of the
Rosary. How great is our God!
This simple and humble man would have been the first one to admit that there was nothing of any value that he ever did on his own. Anything of value that he did (and he did much of eternal value) was only by and through the grace of God. How abundantly willing He is to provide that grace to those who love Him!
This simple and humble man would have been the first one to admit that there was nothing of any value that he ever did on his own. Anything of value that he did (and he did much of eternal value) was only by and through the grace of God. How abundantly willing He is to provide that grace to those who love Him!
God does not promise those who love him a life here free of trials and
tribulations. Time before Him in the
Blessed Sacrament is no guaranty of a struggle free life. But He does promise
sufficient graces to carry our daily crosses and eternity with Him for
those who love Him.
Mike loved to visit Him. You will too! Our Lord is waiting for you! Please do not disappoint Him - so many who claim to be His followers have and continue to do so.
Mike loved to visit Him. You will too! Our Lord is waiting for you! Please do not disappoint Him - so many who claim to be His followers have and continue to do so.