Nov 06 2009
Always Welcome
A few months ago, I was in late night Eucharistic Adoration at St. Clement’s Shrine in Boston. Now, I have the 3am-4am Saturday night shift, and with the Shrine being right near the nightclub hotspots, the only things going on around the area are, as an old friend used to say, “nuthin good”.
So around 3:15 or so, I heard a very loud crash on the street outside. Another person inside the Shrine ran outside. A few moments later, there were sirens. I stayed and began to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet.
Well, I kept praying after my friend returned inside the Shrine. Suddenly, I began to be inspired to pray for all who were dying. It was so much so, that I continued the rest of the hour offering the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to the Father in the chaplet. It was so strong, I even continued til 4:30.
Praying the chaplet for the sick and dying was something that I used to do a lot more regularly, but something that I had strayed from. I don’t think I prayed it for all the sick and dying since the days I was volunteering in the hospital.
Well, after I left, I went by outside to see the accident scene. A car had been driving pretty fast and missed the curve. It went directly into the side of a building. I looked around at the bits of debris and noticed guaze packages strewn about. My heart sank. It was serious, I thought.
Later that day I received a phone call from my cousin who I had just gotten in touch with. Two weeks earlier I finally made it around to visit his parents in the nursing home. My uncle was suffering from serious dimentia, but in the last visit I was able to speak with him and he seemed very happy to see me. “You are always welcome. Always welcome. Good good good.”
So in the phone call, my cousin shared with me the news: my uncle had died. He had been rushed to the hospital suddenly for unexpected complications on Friday morning. I asked him when he passed. In the very early hours of Sunday morning.
About an hour after I had finished praying the chaplet.
“Truly, truly I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me.” (Jn 13:20)
How awesome is the infinite Mercy of the Heart of Jesus! Who will give themselves to Him? Who will be sent?
Will it be you?
Behold I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (Ps 40:7-8)
[...] A few months ago, I was in late night Eucharistic Adoration at St. Clement’s Shrine in Boston. Now, I have the 3am-4am Saturday night shift, and with the Shrine being right near the nightclub hotspots, the only things going on around the area are, as an old friend used to say, “nuthin good”. So around [...] Read more… [...]