Hi all! Just wanted to let you know about an article I wrote for my favorite magazine. Its available on line at this link:
The article includes a pain relief meditative prayer, suggestions on how to help loved ones in pain, and information on when to get help.
Most of us suffer pain at some point in our lives, so even if the article doesn’t apply to you, you probably know someone to whom it does. Please share if you think it might help!
And thank you Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine for making this message available to so many people!
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. God bless you.
thanks you for reading!
Colleen-
My in laws have been giving us St Anthony Messenger as our Christmas present for decades. Your article was a divine message to me. My glorious Mother (of 11!) was near the top of the list of holy women. For 97 years we heard “offer it up for the poor souls in purgatory.” She said many daily rosaries and one just for the souls in purgatory.
Unfortunately, last year, after 96 years and 8 months of unbelievable great health, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 6 months later. It was a rough 6 months. Yet, never did she claim to suffer. Never did she complain. Never did she say she was in pain. She was. We knew it. She offered it up. And she said there was no pain that she experienced that Jesus didn’t voluntarily take on and experience too. For her and each of us.
My Mom and I had many conversations about purgatory and the path she was on. I read and brought her many articles about redemptive suffering. I think my Mom thought at a much higher level than me. She understood it. She lived it. She offered it.
As I struggle with her passing, I do not have the bandwidth she had to understand it all. Upon reading your article, I was given the grace of better understanding and how to think about it. My Mom lived acceptance, distraction, and gratitude. Her life came to and end for us, but she was beautiful and committed to the end. Your article helped me process and feel better about her passing. Thank you for sharing your great thoughts.
Rick, thank you for your message. It sounds like your Mom was an amazing woman. I am glad God sppke to you through the article and that you found some peace in reading it. God bless you!
Colleen
Very insightful and powerful message, especially viewing the article through the lens of emotional pain or mental trauma, which you recognize in the second paragraph. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Dawn, I think the message is helpful for all us – if we aren’t hurting we know someone who is. Thanks for reading!