I was praying meditating as I tired to sleep and wondered what the subject matter could be. Somehow my thoughts drifted to Hell, but regarding the Flames, screams and angry demons I quickly did a back track out of there. In order to compensate I switched to thoughts of Heaven. But that didn't do it either. Thinking of Heaven strikes me as a little like taking a break when we should be running. Of taking things a little too easy. So I switched to my current favourite The Passion and Death of Jesus. St Paul of the Cross and numerous other saints have said this is the best of all subject matters for prayer and I believe this to be so. It is the greatest Teacher and Healing for our own wounds. Last night I thought especially of the wound on Christ's shoulder. St Padre Pio and other saints said that this was by far the most terrible of all Christ's wounds , as in fact Jesus Himself has confirmed in visions. I suppose the weigh of the Cross must have cut to the very bone . I wondered as I regarded it if the bone itself might have been broken? But no, for Isaiah tell us that they numbered all Jesus's bones none of them were broken. So bad was this wound , I believe, that it was very clearly visible by those who regarded Him from below as He lay on the Cross. It seems to me too that Jesus at one stage Jesus was hit by a very large,stick or bar. Though I do not see this recorded anywhere. It should have killed Him but did not, it was so terrible. Meditating on the Passion teaches all kinds of Wisdom. I think it teaches us compassion for ourselves and for others, something I very badly need. I have a tough old heart. Shoulder wound of Jesus - Wikipedia "O Loving Jesus, Meek Lamb of God, I, a miserable sinner, salute and worship the most Sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy Cross, which so tore Thy Flesh and laid bare Thy Bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other wound of Thy Most Blessed Body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross, to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Amen."
Interestingly enough Jim Caviezel speaks of terrible pain in his shoulder while carrying thd cross and also during the crucifixion scene. He said in one interview that I heard that he literally heard thd voice of Jesus ask him "How much of Me do you want them to see?" And he told Our Lord to let it be Him completely. To let Jim be "disappeared". And that is what happened. No wonder that movie was so powerful.
I have always loved the prayer and devotion to the shoulder wound and it's power to release souls from Purgatory. Such a wonderful veneration to help us with our mortal and venial sins and towards the path to heaven. I think I will change my avatar once again to be a daily reminder for myself to venerate this most horrible wound of our Savior, Jesus. Thanks Padraig for this reminder. It is one I had not done in many years. http://simplicityhumilitytrust.org/Prayers/Holy-Souls-02.html
Thank you for this prayer, Andy... I just said it here at my da's bedside. I'll say it regularly, that he gets out of purgatory fairly quickly. I was meant to come across that prayer, this night of all nights.
I recall, in my youth I had a devotion to he Soulder Wound of Jesus, and through that the Chaplet (or rosary) of the Holy Wounds: https://www.marypages.com/rosary-of-the-holy-wounds-en.html
I have lots of trouble with my right rotator cuff. It's so painful my whole shoulder and arm. The worst time I couldn't move my arm two inches away from my body. I think of Jesus during these times and align my pain with his. I wondered if that was part of his pain.
@jackzokay Say this one too! https://consecratedhearts.com/prayers/prayer-to-the-blessed-virgin-to-obtain-a-good-death/
I’m proxy praying this for Jack’s father and and elderly lady I know in hospice care right now. Thank you.
A bit of an update: We're in the covid ward. So these staff don't know him up here (unlike the cancer ward - where he's known as the miracle man on account of his longevity in fighting the cancer). When he caught the covid - I actually thought he'd beat it (because it's pretty mild compared to last winter). Unfortunately tho, he had simultaneously taken one of those dips that cancer patients have from time to time. And when he was being admitted - they tested him and he was covid positive. He just couldn't fight the covid and the cancer at the same time. One of his lungs collapsed (or partly collapsed) the other night. The staff here didn't expect him to get thru Monday night. Course they don't know my da. It's late Wednesday afternoon and he's still with us. He's unconscious. He's not on oxygen. He's not on morphine. No antibiotics. And the drip is removed a couple of days now. This was worrying us and I spoke to the palliative nurse. Telling her I was worried that he was starving to death - and obviously isn't taking water either. This nurse was brilliant. She told us that he is somewhere between this world and the next. That he doesn't need food anymore. He can't swallow. His body has closed down to the things of this world. And he will cross over soon. He is holding on for some reason - and they obviously can't tell when he'll let go. We're the only visitors allowed in the covid ward (no one else must be critical). And to be fair to the staff, they've been brilliant. This morning the ward Sister said covid cases are rising considerably and she will have scrutiny on comings and goings so we've to sign in and out and wear the PPE. There are 9 of us here at the minute. My ma, 3 brothers, my son, my daughter, a foster daughter my mum and dad have had since she was 3 months old (she's 21 now) and my brother's wife. Me, my daughter and two brothers stayed last night. He hasn't been left alone. So that's us. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. Sorry for the long winded text - but I find it therapeutic to write stuff out of me rather than to talk.... I bet you didn't think the forum would reach this far into people's lives, Padraig, when you were setting it up... Its good. Its very good.
He really sounds like the most remarkable man. I'd love to hear more about him, if the Spirit moves you so. Anyway, I will be remembering him and you all in prayer tonight. It sounds like he was permitted to do his Purgatory whilst on Earth a huge gift. So perhaps those Golden Gates are swinging open...
He and my mum fostered over 50 kids in 40-odd years. One of them called yesterday to see him. Others phoned asking after him. Ones still with him, at his bedside here. He was a very, very devout man. Said the rosary every single day. Never missed mass. Jesus referred to his upbringing by Our Lady and St. Joseph as, 'like growing up between two great cedars'. My da was a great cedar. My mum too. He left the house only when he had to - except for Wednesday nights. He and his two brothers enjoyed 4 or 5 pints on a Wednesday night; every Wednesday night in life. And always in the same, local bar. Apart from this, he rarely went out, except to run an errand for my mum or to give people a lift into town. Or to go to mass or adoration. He drove my mum everywhere. And never would he turn anyone down for a lift. It was a huge, huge blow when they said he couldn't drive anymore (when the cancer hit the brain) about a year ago. That was massive. But he took it in his stride. Covid meant that he rarely left the kitchen for two years. Nonetheless, everyone called seeking his advice on every issue under the sun. And he was always there for everyone. He was always an example of purity and decency. He has impeccable manners. And he is the most humble person I've ever met. He is one of the good guys. Yes, I think he's been permitted to do his purgatory here. But the Lord allowed him to keep his mind and his dignity in the way and manner he had lived his entire life.
What a shining example of responding to grace. I wish I could visit him! Cover him Mary in your mantle of maternal love!
Prayers for all of you Jack. Your dad will have a lovely home coming soon but I know how hard it is to lose your dad. Mine died in 1999 and I miss him every day.
My Dad died in 1989 of throat cancer. He told me the body is like a computer, it slowly starts shutting down.
