April 4, 2016

HAPPY  DEATH

Not two words heard too often.

“Happy Death….” Yet we were often told

in the past - to pray for a Happy Death.

Oh I’ve heard people say, “I want

to die with my boots on.” Translation:

“I don’t want to be a burden!” or “I

don’t want to have to  spend 3 years

in a nursing home with a walker or

be in a wheelchair or have dementia

or Alzheimer’s and be a PITA.”

Saint Alphonsus - patron of a Happy

Death - wrote a whole book on the faith

and prayerful side of preparing for death.
It’s entitled, Preparation for Death [1757]

and then he spent his last few years in a

wheel chair - with a body plagued by

severe arthritis.

So pray this prayer:

“Hey, Saint Alphonsus,

help me to live today full of grace.

And when I’m with Jesus Christ

on my cross, whether it’s made of

wheelchair or plastic tubes or what

have you, be with me and bring Mary

too, as well as all the Saints, now

and at the hour of my death. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2016

STATUE OF SAINT ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI IN A WHEEL CHAIR

SAN ALFONSO RETREAT HOUSE,  WEST END NEW JERSEY