Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at the "Bedside" of the Dying

Let us go in spirit to pray at the bedside of the dying.
The Last Prayer -- Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891)

A friend forwarded the email below from a priest in Ireland. I'm adding his suggested project to my daily prayer regimen. I too read the article from a nurse about people dying alone during this pandemic. 


Many will die, not only alone, but without the consolation of the sacraments. Think of that: no anointing, no Viaticum, no papal blessing. That is truly the horror of the coronavirus! So let us become a consolation to the sick and dying through our prayers for them. They will feel our presence even if they don't know they are being prayed for. And there is statistical evidence that prayer helps healing and that medical professionals recognize that fact. Can prayer help heal the sick? Yes! It's also a spiritual work of mercy, something practical that we can do during this tragic time for the sake of a world immersed in the culture of death. 

Some people are saying the pandemic isn't a chastisement, that a loving God doesn't act in that way. Only those who don't read the Holy Scripture can make such an ignorant statement! God is a gentleman. If we tell Him to get lost, He respects our wishes. We've been flinging His gifts in His face since Adam and Eve were driven from the garden...but never as today! Our sins make Sodom and Gomorrah look good. We've flung so many of God's gifts back in His face: the gift of baby smiles, the gift of participating in the very act of creation, the gift of our sexuality and the complimentary love between a man and a woman, the gift of His church and the sacraments. And we are reaping the rotten fruits. We need to repent in metaphorical sackcloth and ashes. It's time to listen to the message of Fatima and repent! 

And here's the email from the Irish priest:

Earlier this evening I was reading a news report on the SkyNews website which, quoting a doctor in a hospital in Italy, had the headline: “Everyone Dies Alone”. It was a very sobering and tragically sad report, describing how, because they have to be isolated, those suffering and slowly dying from Covid19 meet their end without the comfort and consolation of their relatives and loved ones. The medical staff do what they can, but they are overwhelmed by the task that lies before them. When I read that headline, immediately I was stirred to begin this little project. 

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, I would like to suggest that we would each commit to praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet each day for the days ahead 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 one 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 of this virus and who are approaching their end.

Please consider taking part in this project. There is no need to sign up to anything. It is a simple movement which, please God, will bear enormous fruit for the souls for whom we pray. I would appreciate it if you were to pass this on to others you know who might be willing to take up this spiritual work of mercy. In the final weeks of Lent it would be a good spiritual practice to incorporate into our prayer routine.

Someone responded to Nancy's email with this additional request:

If I might add to this request, please remember to include those depressed and hopeless souls who harbor suicidal thoughts.  

In the wake of the coronavirus scare, anti-lifers are now ‘encouraging‘ people via ‘teledeath’ to commit suicide.  Through this means, vulnerable people are able to access the lethal drugs needed to commit suicide!

How horrifying is that! The devil never gives up prowling around the earth to see whom he can devour. The weak and vulnerable make easy targets. Pray and do acts of penance for the salvation of those who will die during this pandemic, especially those in danger of hell. Chastisement is always a gift calling us back to the One who loved us enough to suffer death for our salvation.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on us, we trust in You.