Holy Fathers Francis and Dominic

Monday, October 27, 2014

Good bye, Dad.

My dear father, David, passed away. He had baldder cancer that spread throught his poor body. Having cancer coupled with sepsis, he had a rare gift from God: knowing Our Lord would call him soon.

A little miracle happen that I would like to share with you. After my dad stopped taking a very toxic antibiotic at the hospital to keep his full body infection down, the illness really affected his mental capacity. He came home under the care of hospice and immediatly got worse. After a few days with no sign of improvement the doctor said we could possibly have entered a 72 hour window. His family was on their way to be what was certainly his last few days. Dad said very little the passed few days, but mumbled for Holy Communion. The next day we dressed up and sat in the living room awaiting Our Lord to come to us. The priest walked in and unveiled the Blessed Sacrament. He said confidently, "Mr. Walker,  would you like your confession heard." I was surprisedd that little weak man said yes and I was happy to excuse myself. Whether there were specific sins or a general "I am sorry" it os not for me to know, but I came back in when I heard a knock. There was my father in his chair, looking very contemplative. The priest asked me to start the Confiteor. As I began, who should join me in Latin, but the man who taught me the prayer 15 years before. He finished the last Mea Culpa, and let his son take over. Father let us behold the Lamb of God Who takest away the sinsnof the world, and then we received Holy Communion. Then the priest begins the Apostolic Blessing to the dying and tells my father to think of his sins and tell Jesus he was sorry. I then took the picture that will stay with me for a long, long time.

After rallying some strength, my father gave his best for two weeks. We took a shot of whisky, went down to the river and said our prayers.

Then God called my father,  His servent, to be judged. I pray the Lord had mercy on my father, a poor sinner. Please join me in praying for the repose of his soul.