Inspired by news that people suffering from COVID-19 are dying separated from family and friends due to severe quarantine restrictions, a Catholic priest sent out an appeal to believers to daily “spiritually place ourselves beside one of the poor unfortunate men and women who are dying alone in hospitals all over the world because of this virus.” The families of the dying cannot say goodbye, hold their loved ones’ hands, or pray with them because everyone is quarantined. Throughout the world, thousands are dying alone and scared in their final hours.
LifeSiteNews was forwarded a touching proposal conceived by Fr. Philip Kemmy, a priest in Ireland, who suggests that we each commit to praying the
Divine Mercy Chaplet each day with a very specific intention in mind. Inspired by a scene in the Diary of St. Faustina, where she was spiritually transported by the Lord in order to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the bedside of a dying man she did not know, Fr. Kemmy suggests we commit to praying the
Divine Mercy Chaplet each day to spiritually place ourselves beside one of the poor unfortunate men and women who are dying alone in hospitals all over the world because of this virus — some of whom are perhaps not well-prepared spiritually for their earthly end. If families were to pray it, then several dying persons would be spiritually adopted with the prayer of the Chaplet.
Praying the Chaplet for the dying, we will petition Jesus to enfold them in His Merciful Love in their final hours and grant them a strong experience of His consoling presence before they take their leave of this life. This would be a great act of mercy and love for those who are victims and who are approaching their end. (In the Diary of St. Faustina, it states that Jesus said:
“When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between my Father and the dying person, not as the just judge, but as the merciful Savior.”) You can
pull up the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song by visiting YouTube, or you can
recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet by using the rosary. Thank you for uniting in prayer for all our brothers and sisters who are dying alone!