TO ADOPT A DYING SINNER WHO IS TO DIE THIS VERY DAY AND WHO HAS NOT SPIRITUALLY PROVIDED FOR LEAVING THIS WORLD FOR ETERNITY

You perhaps know of the daily practice of spiritually adopting an unknown dying soul to offer a prayer for and even make some little sacrifice, so that this person will have a repentant spirit, true contrition for his sins and all the aid he will require to die in the state of grace. Many people, although they receive the Sacraments regularly are not sufficiently prepared for death. And some people make no provision at all, death is far from their thoughts when it arrives to snatch them from time to take them into eternity. This little page is to encourage you to adopt just one such soul, bringing it to Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces and the Mother of Mercy. You do not even need a special formula, just your own words will more than suffice, provided you do not offer them hastily or distractedly. Who knows how many of these souls, who may be still in Purgatory when you die, may be praying for you as well. We can't all be missionaries, but we can gather souls like flowers to bring to the Holy Virgin, not only in the month of May, but every day of every year. For those who prefer a traditional prayers used by the Church here are a few that can be adapted: 1 Into Thy hands, O Lord, and into the hands of Thy holy Angels, I commit and entrust this day my soul, my relations, my benefactors, my friends and enemies, and all Thy Catholic people, especially the person I am spiritually adopting and who has not provided for his death this very day. Keep us, O Lord, through the day, by the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Thy Saints, from all vicious and unruly desires, from all sins and temptations of the devil, and from sudden and unprovided death and the pains of Hell. Illuminate my heart with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit; grant that I may ever be obedient to Thy Commandments; suffer me not to be separated from Thee, O God, Who livest and reignest with God the Father and the same Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen (St. Edmund). 2 From and sudden and provided death, deliver us and the adopted soul I have brought to Mary, O Lord. (The Raccolta) 3 Let intercession be made for this soul, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now, at the hour of death, before the throne of Thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by by a sword at the hour of Thy bitter Passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest world without end. Amen. Hail Mary three times. Our Lady of a Happy Death, pray for this soul. Saint Joseph, Patron of the dying, pray for us.

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