Update on Wendy's mom, a night of praying together, a call to come back home to the Church!

Dear friends - Wendy's mom is doing much better these past two days and has regained an ability to breathe on her own, well, oxygen yes, tube, no and her heart rate and pulse are deemed medically acceptable by the doctor's.  She is awake, alert, able to converse and even did some physical rehab this afternoon.  She asked Wendy to have me come to the hospital tonight, she wanted me decked out in alb and stole; well, at least I carried my stole.  It was a privilege, if that be the right word, to offer prayers for her, read some scripture from the Gospels, to lay hands on her and ask God, in all humility, to continue to help her, heal her if it be His holy will and give her both peace and strength.  I think that may have been the most in depth praying for a relative in this situation.  I've baptized one grandchild, married one child, celebrated an important anniversary with my wife, renewing vows, and all of these were powerful moments of prayer.  So was tonight.

In no way is this the anointing of the sick, that remains a very special Sacrament, a Sacrament of healing and administered by a Priest.  My mother-in-law was recently anointed and will be visiting with a Priest tomorrow at her request.  She did tell me when we get her home, we must get her to Mass every Sunday that she feels strong enough.  Who knows maybe we can even go to Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland in Albany where she happily returned to the robust practice of the faith.

It is always so touching to witness or simply hear of someone's return all the way home to the Church.  I cannot tell you how personally powerful it is when you witness this in loved ones.  Wendy and I have been privileged to witness this now both in her mom and my own mom, after a long time and several years before she returned home to the Lord in 2007.

It is never too late to return to the Church, the true bride of the Bridegroom, Jesus the Christ.

So tonight I share this with you thanking you for any and all prayers, asking for them to continue as Lynn faces more challenges and work to be done, pray too for my wife Wendy and in the charity of your prayers, please pray for all those, both near and far in your hearts, that need to come home to Christ in His body, Holy Mother Church!!