COVID-19: Pray for the dying.

Divine Mercy has broken through all barriers.

I was stunned and disappointed this morning when a friend on FB informed me that her son, a priest, was unable to get into the hospital to annoint a dying patient.  He had been trained for the correct use of PPE and was ready to go.  Hospital staff refused him entrance.  The priest was saddened and deeply concerned.  Her comment on one of my posts moved me deeply.

I have been praying the Divine Mercy novena for all of those suffering from COVID-19, and most especially the dying.  I hope to pray even more for the dying - especially those dying without access to the sacraments.

I have learned over the years, from monks and nuns, that our prayer is not bound by time and space.  Like the saints, we too can ask our angels to go here or there.  In extreme cases, I ask Our Lady, Queen of Angels to permit my angel to attend to those I pray for.  I have learned to always unite my prayer with others - the entire Church, to be correct.  S. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross wrote that all prayer is united to the prayer of the Church.  I believe it is especially so when we unite our prayer to the silent, loving action of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist - while all our intentions and actions are bound to the offering of Himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  My point here is to explain that we can be at the side of the dying in spirit, through prayer and uniting our prayer to Christ.  Catherine of Siena wrote something of how even while we are alone, we can recollect senses, our soul and become as it were, that 2 or 3 gathered, which Christ promised to be in the midest of.  Hence we are not alone in our prayer and its reach is not limited.  It's best not over think it, just believe the Holy Spirit makes our every prayer efficacious.  (Remember I'm not a theologian, so my abilities to explain this are limited.)

The point is to pray for the dying - those most in need of mercy, as Our Lady taught at Fatima, recommending the addition of that particular prayer to the rosary.  Likewise, our Lord promised a special efficacy to the prayers of the DM chaplet - especially in the presence of the dying.  (Which is why I placed so much emphasis on how we can be present in spirit to those dying alone, without the sacraments.)  I will continue to pray the rosary and the chaplet for the dying, even after Divine Mercy Sunday - I hope many people will do so.

If we can't perform works of charity, or visit the sick, we can pray and offer spiritual care, depending solely upon the merits of our Lord who is greater than the sacraments.  As St. Paul tells us, His power at work in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

Links: 
The Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Prayers for the Dying