Dear Father,
I discovered your blog in April 2013. I am Catholic, but I never
learned Latin. In fact, the only good, solid catechesis I had was
first and second grade, which looking back, I believe was based on the Baltimore Cathechism. [Figures!] After that, every single year I was taught by lay people and the theme year after year was “God loves you. God is love. God is everywhere.” I got it after the first session. So I have been trying to educate myself over the last twelve years. Your blog has been great for me. But here is something amazing. After the Boston Marathon bombings, you posted a prayer about the Lord sparing us from an untimely death. [RIGHT! HERE.] I usually go to confession at least once a month and more often as needed. On the morning you posted that prayer, I prayed it. I couldn’t make it to confession the prior Saturday because I had to work in our store. But usually when that happens, I call one of our priests and go to confession during the week. The day I read the prayer, the problem was that all the priests in our diocese were at a convocation. Later that morning I drove to an outlet mall to buy some pants for my teenage son who had a growth spurt. As I was walking back to my car, I had this vision that something dangerous would happen to me. I immediately thought, I will go to the Church in this town and go to confession, but then I remembered the priest I knew was at that convocation. So as I walked to my car I confessed all my sins to the Lord. Then I said “Lord, you know how much I love you. I am ready to be with you if that is Your will. But if I stay here I will continue to evangelize.” ( I run an evangelization series at several churchs which over 2,000 people taken and we have seen hundreds and hundreds of conversions). By the time I got to my car, I was at peace. Forty five minutes later, when I was only a short distance from my home I was hit from behind by a 26 ft truck while I was sitting at a stop light. I have severe whiplash from the impack, but as soon as the accident happened in my mind all I could sing over and over again was “Thank you God for saving me.” That went on in my mind for days. I am still healing from the accident, but I am alive and evangelizing. The Lord sent His angels to protect me. I want to ask you to send me that prayer again please becuase I would like to print it out and read it and have my family read it every day.
Thank you Father Z. I read your blog every morning now.
A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROMAN UNPROVIDED DEATH
Hear us, O God of our salvation! and issue not the decree for the completion of our days before Thou forgivest us our sins; and because penance avails not in hell, and there is no room there for amendment, therefore do we humbly pray and beseech Thee here on earth, that, giving us time to pray for pardon, Thou wouldst grant us also forgiveness of our sins. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Take away, merciful Lord, all errors from Thy faithful people, avert from them the sudden destruction of the wasting pestilence; that those whose wanderings Thou dost justly chastise, Thou wouldst vouchsafe in Thy tender pity to cherish when corrected. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Antiphon: Sin no longer, O my soul! Think upon the sudden change from sin to endless woe. There, in hell, penance is not accepted, and tears profit not. Turn, then, whilst thou hast time; cry out and say: Have mercy upon me, O my God!
Antiphon: In the midst of life we are in death: whom, then, O Lord, shall we seek to be our helper, save Thee, O Lord! although Thou art indeed angry with us because of sins? O Holy Lord, holy and strong, holy and merciful Saviour! deliver us not ever to a bitter death.
V. – Lest, overtaken by the day of death, we seek time for penance, and be not able to find it.
R. – Hearken! O Lord! and have mercy on us; for we have sinned against Thee.
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, receive in Thy fatherly pity Thy people flying to Thee from Thine anger; that they who fear to be chastised by the rod of Thy Majesty in the suddenness of death, may be made worthy to rejoice in Thy gracious pardon. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, graciously to incline Thine ear to the assembly of Thy Church, and let Thy mercy prevent Thine anger in our behalf; for if Thou shouldst mark iniquities, no creature shall be able to stand before Thee: but in that marvellous charity, through which Thou didst create us, pardon us sinners, and destroy not the work of Thine own hands by sudden death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God! in Whose sight every heart trembles and every conscience is awed; show forth Thy mercy upon us Thy suppliants, that we, who trust not in the excellence of our own merit, may never know Thy judgments in the suddenness of our death, but may receive Thy pardon. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer
Most merciful Lord Jesus! by Thine agony and bloody sweat, and by Thy death, deliver me, I beseech Thee, from a sudden and unprovided death. O most gentle Lord Jesus! by Thy cruel and ignominious scourging and crowning with thorns, by Thy cross and most bitter Passion, and by Thy goodness, I humbly pray Thee, let me not die unprepared and pass from this life without the Holy Sacraments. Jesus, my best Beloved, my Lord! by all Thy labours and sorrows, by Thy precious Blood, and by Thy most holy Wounds, and by those last words spoken on the cross by Thee: “Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me?? – “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” and again: “Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum,” – “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,” most ardently I pray Thee, save me from a sudden death. Thy hands, O Redeemer! have wholly made and formed me: ah! suffer not death to take me unawares; give me, I beseech Thee, time for penance; vouchsafe that I may pass from this life happily in Thy grace, that I may love Thee with my whole heart, and praise and bless Thee forever and ever.
Amen.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be To The Father…
My dear people… dear readers… GO TO CONFESSION.
Parents of small children… teach your children their Faith and make sure they are making good confessions and good Communions. Give them a good example.
Fathers, please… go to confession and hear confessions.
