Is not thy Love stronger than Death?
"Pray to the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall be your peace." - Jeremiah 29:7
Have pity on me, exclaims this loving wife who idolized thee, thou for whom I left father, mother, the house of my ancestors, gave up my native land, my home, and even my family name in exchange for thine, whose love crowned my life; thou on whom fell my last glance when leaving the world; whose name expired on my dying lips, with the sweet name of Jesus! For thee I lived, for thee I died, for thee do I suffer and expiate! Yes, I expiate my excessive affection. Formerly thou wert the depositary of all my griefs and of all the anguish of my heart, the support of my weakness. Dost thou wish to be nothing more to me? What! thou wilt abandon me, thou for whom alone I lived! Ah! pity my misfortune; be affected by my fate, by the fate of a wife to whom thou wilt always be dear, and who can never prove ungrateful to thee. Place thyself as soon as possible in the state of being useful to me by thy prayers. Pray, pray much for me: very soon in heaven I will pray for thee, so that our union may be eternal.
The Physician's Wife
The wife of the doctor attending the monastery of the Visitation, at Paray, appeared after death to Margaret Mary, asking prayers, and at the same time, bidding her warn the physician of two things which concerned justice and salvation. Sister Margaret informed the Superior of what she had seen, but this sister made light of the vision. She imposed silence on Margaret and forbade her to do what had been requested. The humble religious obeyed with simplicity, and with the same simplicity told Mother Greffier of a second entreaty made by the deceased a few days afterwards, which was again slighted by the Superior. But the following night she herself was so disturbed by the horrible noise audible in her room, that she thought she would die of fright. The assistance of some of the sisters came seasonably, as she had almost fainted. On reviving, she reproached lierself for her incredulity, and warned tiie doctor of what had been told the servant of God. He knew that this advice came from heaven, and profited by it. Mother Greffier learned by experience that if distrust is generally the wisest part, it is not necessary to carry it too far, especially where the glory of God and the good of our neighbor may be concerned.
Practice
Make some sacrifice to-day in behalf of the dead, for example, a good confession; above all, if you are backward in the accomplishment of this duty.
Prayer
My God, Thou hast taken my dear one from this world; I am resigned. Deign Thyself to replace her in my heart. I loved her, Lord, and hoped long to enjoy her presence; Thou hast arranged otherwise; may Thy holy will be accomplished in her and in me. My great consolation in this loss is the hope that Thou wilt receive her into the bosom of Thy mercy and one day reunite us. If a debt of satisfaction for sin detains her amidst suffering and deprives her of speedy union with Thee, I offer for this intention all my prayers and good works, and especially my resignation in this affliction; render it entire and worthy of Tiiee. Supreme Ruler of our fate, Absolute Master of our destinies, sovereignly dispose of us and our days; we do not belong to ourselves, but to Thee; Thou hast taken what belonged to Thee and was only lent for a time to me. Be Thou blessed and adored in all Thy providential arrangements. Amen.
Jesus, my God, I love Thee above all things.
- text taken from Month of the Dead by Father Celestin Cloquet, translated by a Sister of Mercy, with the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan, Archdiocese of New York, 18 October 1886