In the last 2 weeks of November (which happens to be All Souls’), my infirm grandmother suffered a sharp decline in heath and was no longer responsive. Doctors pulled all tubes and asked our family to get ready. Days passed, and even after the oxygen support had been removed, she seemed to cling on to dear life. Her vitals were not fantastic, yet remained stable. It was painful to see her in that state - she had terrible bed sores, was unable to take any food or drink, was immobile, and unable to communicate. I was told that her blood pressure and vitals were almost certainly incompatible with life. Essentially there was little or no “life” left in her.
Despite it all, we could feel that she was somewhat reluctant to let go. We wondered if she was waiting for someone to visit - perhaps, a daughter of hers, who had unfortunately passed away. We broke the news to her many times prior but she couldn’t seem to process that, so we played a video recording of her again, hoping that could give her solace and she might pass peacefully. Not sure if that was what she was looking for. Perhaps she was waiting for a priest to drop in, or for more prayers. Either way, it was difficult to see her suffer like that. In most cases we were told that people in such a state would have passed on quickly, but not her.
On Friday 21st November, I was resting alone and had a sudden inspiration/idea to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at her bedside. It was inexplicable but I felt that she might pass after the recital of the chaplet. At 3pm, I played a sung version of the chaplet in English, courtesy of the Hallow App. Weirdly, I saw changes in her breathing and I started to get a bit anxious. It was more laboured, and her condition continued to decline in the coming hours. She was still hanging on, and we requested doctors administer painkillers to help ease any discomfort.
The next day, she didn’t look great. The death rattle was louder and her breathing was more laboured. There were more pauses between breaths. By midday her lower lip had darkened and it was a sign that she was going to pass soon - but we just didn’t know when. Once more, a recital of the Chaplet might give her some comfort. Again I had the thought that she might pass - this really gave me mixed feelings, but I thought about how much she was suffering.
This time I played a Chaplet recording in the Chinese language instead, as that was the only language my grandmother understood. My aunt led the in-person recital in Chinese whilst I kept company and listened. We played a YouTube recording at 3:05pm, and about 10 minutes later, before the recital ended, she passed. I watched closely. She wasn’t struggling at all, and I saw her take a deep breath or two - around then I dashed to gather other family members. This part was hazy but I remember this sense of peace about her that was so inexplicable.
I was mentally beating myself up for forgetting the Chaplet, having visited Krakow about a year ago. I wanted to share this testimony because I witnessed such a powerful act of mercy. My grandmother was afraid to go, and clung on at the expense of her suffering. Perhaps because of this, Christ came and picked her up, not as a Judge but as a merciful Saviour. This experience led me to read these other testimonials and I am amazed with some of the similarities in other accounts. In the days after her passing I was reflecting on how God never reneges on His promises, and wills our salvation. Even when we had all forgotten about the Chaplet, including my very religious aunt, God is so good to allow such inspirations to materialise by prompting and moving our hearts.
The most consoling part was that she passed in the hour of Great Mercy, in the midst of the recital. Above all everyone witnessed how peacefully she left. Jesus, I trust in You.
