A Deepening Life of Prayer: It is important that we spend time with the Lord in prayer (St Therese of Lisieux “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” St John Damascene “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God…”). Various vocal prayers, reading Sacred Scripture and meditating on it, silent loving adoration of the Lord before his presence in the Blessed Sacrament, and attending the highest form of prayer often, the Holy Mass, helps prepare us for eternal life. We cannot know someone we do not spend time with. When we humble ourselves and spend time with God, we open our hearts to receive His love, mercy, and truth. “…It is He who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; His asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for Him (CCC 2560).” Spending time with God in prayer helps us hear His voice in leading us to His perfect will for us and purifying ourselves from the things that keep us from having a deep and loving relationship with Him. A simple book on learning to pray by author, Dan Burke, “Into the Deep”: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/into-the-deep/ITDP.html “If you’re ready for God to transform you heart and mind, you will know the life that Jesus has promised: a life of peace and joy that cannot be taken away by the trials of this world.”
Prayers: Outside of the highest form of prayer, the Holy Mass, there are many beautiful, efficacious prayers that have been prayed through the centuries. +The most powerful one would be the Holy Rosary which has been requested to be prayed by Our Lady at almost every one of her approved appearances. Prayerful meditation on the 4 Mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, & Luminous) of the Rosary reminds us of the life of Christ from His Incarnation to His Ascension, the life of Our Lady and the early saints, and the formation of the early Church – all God has done for love of us. https://www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary +The Divine Mercy Chaplet is also beautiful prayer to help prepare us for eternal life. https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet +Prayer to St Joseph, patron saint of a holy death: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/prayer-to-st-joseph-334 +Prayer to the Holy Spirit: https://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p00360.htm +Prayers recommended by Monsignor Rosetti: https://www.catholicexorcism.org/for-the-laity +Fr Chad Ripperger’s book: “Deliverance prayers, for use by the Laity” by Sensus Traditionis Press +Also, prayers to your patron saints, the archangels, your guardian angel, and saints God draws your heart to seek.
Invoking the powerful intercession of the Mother of God: This is the most important point I need to make – where Our Lady is the devil is not. Hence, it is important to pray and ask our Lady to cover you and your loved ones journeying with you with her Blue Mantle of Protection. Our Lady is faithful! Let me say this again, Our Lady is ALWAYS FAITHFUL! She wants to help, but you need to ask her. “O whoever you may be who feel yourself on the tide of this world drifting in storms and tempests rather than treading firm ground, turn not your eyes from the effulgence of this star, unless you wish to be submerged … if she holds you, you do not fall, if she protects you, you have no fear; with her to lead you, you tire not; with her favor, you will reach your goal, conscious thus within yourself how rightly the word was spoken: ‘And the Virgin’s name was Mary.’” Bernard, Homily 2:17, Respice stellam (ante A.D. 1153).” Consider making a Consecration prayer to Our Lady, entrusting your life into her motherly care.
Seeking the intercession of St Joseph, your spiritual father: Because of his obedient, humble, and faithful response to the call to be the spouse of Virgin Mary and the foster father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, St Joseph is the greatest saint who has ever lived. He is patron of the dying, terror of demons, and protector of Holy Church. Seek his help and protection. He will help you.
Sacramentals: If you have not been enrolled in the Brown Scapular (https://www.sistersofcarmel.com/faqs-the-brown-scapular/) during your life, we encourage you to do so. You will need to get a brown scapular then have a priest or authorized deacon say the prayer of enrollment over you. Have blessed and attached to the scapular a Miraculous Medal, a small Crucifix, and a St Benedicts medal. Get a bottle of holy water and bless yourself with the sign of the Cross on rising in the morning and before going to bed. Use it if you start to become fearful, hopeless, or challenged in your faith.
Anointing of the Sick: It is important to call and make an appointment with your pastor or a priest for the Anointing the Sick. “The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life” (CCC 1532). Ask you pastor how often you should receive this blessed sacrament. https://www.catholic.com/tract/anointing-of-the-sick https://www.archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/catholic-faith/what-is-anointing-of-the-sick-why-is-it-important/
Attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist: As we know, the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is his Sacred Heart. In receiving the Eucharist, Jesus tells us in John 6:54, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” If possible, it would be nourishing for your soul to attend Mass often to receive the Eucharistic Lord. If you are unable to do so due to your health condition, Holy Mass is offered online to watch from parishes locally and around the world. You can call your parish office to ask if someone could come bring you the Eucharist to receive. “By this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood to form a single body.” (CCC 1331).
Offering Holy Masses for yourself before death: Last point, but so very important to know, is the offering of Holy Masses for yourself. Again, Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer. There is no other prayer that gives more graces to a soul than Holy Mass. Hence, if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness consider having Masses offered for yourself to receive the many graces you will need to journey through this trial. This link explains this well. https://catholicbooks.net/99-9-of-catholics-do-not-know-these-facts-about-the-mass/
Frequent Confession: Although the Sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation) is only required by the Catholic Church once a year, it is better to take advantage of this healing sacrament and go more often. There are many examinations of conscience guides to help a person prepare for Confession. Going often helps us to be more conscious of our repeated falls to sin and the power of God’s grace given to help us overcome them in the future. You become more aware of how the Lord is helping you with His grace to become the saint He has called you to be. https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience
Offering a Plenary Indulgence for yourself: This is a great gift given by God through his Church for our souls. “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasure of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” (CCC 1471) https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/conditions-13362
Ask God to lead you to acts of charity he wants you to fulfill: Jesus said, “… love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) In focusing on giving to others, giving yourself away in loving acts to the needs of others, and in being Christ to the needy, you will find a joy that cannot be explained. Selfless acts of love are following in the footsteps of the Lord who gave his whole life for our salvation. For Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.” Matthew 16:24
Unite any personal sufferings with Christ crucified: Sufferings that come with aging and illness are opportunities to sanctify your own soul and the souls of others. Offering up our emotional, physical, and other sufferings with Christ crucified that come from losing our independence from growing old or from terminal illness is redemptive. https://dmsbcatholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Redemptive-Suffering.pdf
Help your loved ones by setting your funeral plans: It’s helpful to make all the necessary plans for your vigil rosary service, funeral Mass, and committal service ahead of time. Choosing a funeral home, a cemetery and making all necessary plans (who you want to do the readings, pall bearers, lead the rosary, the priest for the Mass, chosen Scriptures and music, etc) helps your loved ones to maintain as much peace as possible under a very emotional time of losing you. You may consider having them involved in doing the planning with you. https://holyrosarychurchmphs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Holy-Rosary-Funeral-Planning-2021-3.pdf
Questions on this document: call 210-822-8044, leave a message and we will get back to you when we can.
Prayer: Jesus, our Good Shepherd, our Savior and our King, help me to live each day with the fullness of the faith, hope, and charity you gave me at my baptism. Give me all the graces to be a true disciple as you asked: to deny myself, pick up my cross daily, and follow after you. Help me to remember that to accept, carry, and embrace the crosses you have allowed in my life, especially the frailties of growing old, the pains of terminal illness, or accepting the things I cannot change, are part of your permissive plan to purify my soul and bring me to a deeper and more intimate relationship with you. Help me to remember that I am never alone. You promised to always be with me when I seek you. Help me to see your presence in every event of my life. Help me to remember that you have a perfect time for me to run Home into your arms. Grant me final perseverance in the faith, the blessings of the Sacraments, the love of my family around me, the presence of our Lady and St Joseph at my bedside, the powerful prayers of the saints, and total confidence in all you have promised me! Amen. Our Lady, our dear and faithful Mother, be with me, protect me, and intercede for me “now and at the hour of (my) death. Amen“.