Of all human evils death is the most grievous, by which human life is destroyed…”. — St. Thomas Aquinas, Compendium theologiae, lib. 1 cap. 227
Pray for the dying. We are all going to die, it’s all part of life. The biggest day of our life is the day we die. The day we enter into Eternal Life. The death bed is the front lines of the war of good VS evil. Stand with our Lord and His Holy Army.
When I lost my parents, I can look back now and say with all sincerity, I waisted so much time while they were dying, on myself. I cried, and spent most of the last hours with them thinking about what I was going to do now that they were leaving. I became lost in the selfishness rather than in the joy of their eternity. I didn’t pray much. I didn’t know how important it was. I “Assumed” God had it all under control and I was just there so they wouldn’t be alone. I can now see the role of the people left behind is to place their “feelings’ last and to place the soul on the dying person first. I was wrong. I can only see now and I beg my readers to understand a very important fact I am about to mention. Do not think I am being cold when I say this. When a person is dying, we have to remember they and WE are on the front lines of the battle of good and evil. Prayer is essential! We have to toss our worry and ourselves to the side and think ONLY of the soul leaving this world. Yes it is traumatic to lose a loved one, but it is more devastating to the person entering into eternal life, not to pray for them. Leave the painful feelings you have somplace for a later date, another time.
In all cases, we must stand with the soul leaving us, to banish the evil one who does come to confuse them. We pray and pray and never stop, until they are safe and sound, in the arms of our Lord.
A good place to start is with the Rosary, along with The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy. Pray not in silence, but in a voice the departing can hear you. Even though it may seem as if the person can not hear or understand, they most certainly can. They need protection and praying out loud is the best way.
The website Fish Eaters has a great page of prayers called “The Catholic Way of Dying”. Print it off and take it with you to the bedside of your loved ones. Never stop praying for them. Never give Satan a chance to sway them, or you over through confusion. Stay FOCUSED. Eternal life depends upon it.
One crucial point to remember is to call a Priest BEFORE the person slips into a unconcious state. That way they are able to receive the Holy Sacrament, our Lord in the Eucharist before the time comes when they no longer can eat. Far to many family’s wait until the last moment and miss this opportunity of the biggest part of Last Rites, or Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Dont wait to long.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.