A woman is trapped in the wreckage of a horrific car crash. Then a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him, arrived.

“He came up and approached the patient, and offered a prayer,” New London Fire Chief Raymond Reed told KHQA-TV. “It was a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him. A sense of calmness came over her, and it did us as well.”

Considering how many people were at the scene and interacting with the mystery faith leader, the story is a fascinating one.

“I can’t be for certain how it was said, but myself and another firefighter, we very plainly heard that we should remain calm, that our tools would now work and that we would get her out of that vehicle,” the firefighter added.

Now here’s where things get weird.

Read more

Editor’s note: These things happen way more often than most people think. Here’s another short, illustrated, real-life, personal story.

God loves you. God will provide – and that often means answering frantic prayers with just the right person, for the job. All we can do in the mean time, is try not to mess things up too badly – and/or too often – since God’s ways are not our ways – and it’s never wise to act recklessly or presumptuously.

It’s also always a good idea to say a quick prayer for anyone who you might notice, happens to be in distress, may have been injured, may be very near death, or has recently died.

One more thing … thank God for priests. The vast majority of priests are nice guys who are just trying to do God’s work, under what usually turns out to be very difficult circumstances. Priests are at their best – and are most appreciated  – when they are attending to the souls of those who are literally, staring death in the face. Those who have been there will, I am sure, agree.

James 5:14-15 Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Additional related links:

A last chance for lost souls

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

What Are “Last Rites”?

Priest’s Heroic Battle Action

Priests Prevented From Anointing Boston Marathon Bombing Victims

Three kinds of holy oil/chrism

Saint Padre Pio and the Angels

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

Catholicism has always been a very practical faith, with grace-giving sacraments and related devotions that are appropriate for every aspect of our human existence, including death.

Those who are ill, or in danger of death, greatly benefit from the sacraments of Anointing, Reconciliation, and Holy Communion, which may be accompanied by a special type of indulgence, called the Apostolic Pardon.

The Apostolic Pardon (Apostolic Blessing) is applicable only to those who are in imminent danger of death. The pardon must also be administered by a priest.

The Apostolic Pardon does not forgive sins, but it typically makes any “stay” in Purgatory unnecessary.

Many of today’s priests no longer routinely administer the Pardon, so you may need to specifically request it. I suggest you print it out and keep a copy in an easily accessible, handy place.

Here’s the text:

By the Faculty which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a plenary indulgence for the remission of all your sins, and I bless you.  In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Reception of these powerful, Catholic, end of life resources acts to help perfect one’s eternal relationship with the Almighty, by finally reconciling body and soul with God.

If death subsequently results, there need be little concern about divine judgment or eternal damnation, since the primary mission of the Church, the primary purpose of all the sacraments, and the express will of God … is salvation.

Unlike the pardon … which applies only to Catholics who are very near death … that which used to be termed “Last Rites” … the combined reception of Anointing, Holy Communion, and Reconciliation … may be repeated as often as is necessary (and/or prudent.)

Regarding the pardon ONLY … it should be noted that … if no priest is available to minister to the dying … and so long as that person has prayed, in the recent past … the provisions of the Apostolic Pardon accrue to his/her spiritual benefit … automatically. (No kidding!)

Click here for complete details

IMPORTANT NOTES from the current USCCB Official Manual of Indulgences:

12
AT THE POINT OF DEATH
§1 A priest who administers the sacraments to someone in danger of death should not fail to impart the apostolic blessing to which a plenary indulgence is attached.
§2 If a priest is unavailable, Holy Mother Church benevolently grants to the Christian faithful, who are duly disposed, a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime; in such a case, the Church supplies for the three conditions ordinarily required for a plenary indulgence.
§3 In this latter case, the use of a crucifix or a cross in obtaining the plenary indulgence is commendable.
§4 The faithful can obtain this plenary indulgence at the hour of death, even if they have already acquired a plenary indulgence on that same day.
§5 The catechetical instruction of the faithful should ensure that they are duly made aware and frequently reminded of this salutary benefaction of the Church.

Askmeaboutgod.org is the new “home” of The Catholic Treasure Chest website

I’ve lost touch with my old friend Bob Stanley,
of The Catholic Treasure Chest
and the original domain name is no longer available.

Bob’s site has been (for the last 20 years or so) one of the finest, most complete, truly Catholic websites on the planet.

According to the informal plan that Bob and I worked up together, many years ago: Should such an event occur, I was to restore the site from a comprehensive backup and get things up and running again, ASAP.

The Catholic Treasure Chest is once again, up and running
and may be accessed through available links
on this (www.AskMeAboutGod.org) site.

Click here to view

Update: Bob Stanley has passed away

Miracle story about mysterious “guardian angel” priest goes viral

Text and video

Related Link: “Fishers of Men” Video Trailer

A woman is trapped in the wreckage of a horrific car crash. Then a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him, arrived.

“He came up and approached the patient, and offered a prayer,” New London Fire Chief Raymond Reed told KHQA-TV. “It was a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him. A sense of calmness came over her, and it did us as well.”

Considering how many people were at the scene and interacting with the mystery faith leader, the story is a fascinating one.

“I can’t be for certain how it was said, but myself and another firefighter, we very plainly heard that we should remain calm, that our tools would now work and that we would get her out of that vehicle,” the firefighter added.

Now here’s where things get weird.

Read more

Editor’s note: These things happen way more often than most people think. Here’s another short, illustrated, real-life, personal story.

God loves you. God will provide – and that often means answering frantic prayers with just the right person, for the job. All we can do in the mean time, is try not to mess things up too badly – and/or too often – since God’s ways are not our ways – and it’s never wise to act recklessly or presumptuously.

It’s also always a good idea to say a quick prayer for anyone who you might notice, happens to be in distress, may have been injured, may be very near death, or has recently died.

One more thing … thank God for priests. The vast majority of priests are nice guys who are just trying to do God’s work, under what usually turns out to be very difficult circumstances. Priests are at their best – and are most appreciated  – when they are attending to the souls of those who are literally, staring death in the face. Those who have been there will, I am sure, agree.

James 5:14-15 Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Additional related links:

A last chance for lost souls

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

What Are “Last Rites”?

Priest’s Heroic Battle Action

Priests Prevented From Anointing Boston Marathon Bombing Victims

Three kinds of holy oil/chrism

Saint Padre Pio and the Angels

Father Z on the Apostolic Pardon: Why don’t more priests administer it to the dying?

The Apostolic Pardon, or Benediction, forgives temporal punishment due to our sins, not the sins themselves.  If anything remains from our lives, provided we die in the state of grace, for which we have not done adequate penance is forgiven us through the Apostolic Pardon.

This is why the Apostolic Pardon is often given after the Last Rites of sacraments of penance, anointing, and Viaticum.

Read more

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

Catholicism has always been a very practical faith, with grace-giving sacraments and related devotions that are appropriate for every aspect of our human existence, including death.

Those who are ill, or in danger of death, greatly benefit from the sacraments of Anointing, Reconciliation, and Holy Communion, which may be accompanied by a special type of indulgence, called the Apostolic Pardon.

The Apostolic Pardon (Apostolic Blessing) is applicable only to those who are in imminent danger of death. The pardon must also be administered by a priest.

The Apostolic Pardon does not forgive sins, but it typically makes any “stay” in Purgatory unnecessary.

Many of today’s priests no longer routinely administer the Pardon, so you may need to specifically request it. I suggest you print it out and keep a copy in an easily accessible, handy place.

Here’s the text:

By the Faculty which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a plenary indulgence for the remission of all your sins, and I bless you.  In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Reception of these powerful, Catholic, end of life resources acts to help perfect one’s eternal relationship with the Almighty, by finally reconciling body and soul with God.

If death subsequently results, there need be little concern about divine judgment or eternal damnation, since the primary mission of the Church, the primary purpose of all the sacraments, and the express will of God … is salvation.

Unlike the pardon … which applies only to Catholics who are very near death … that which used to be termed “Last Rites” … the combined reception of Anointing, Holy Communion, and Reconciliation … may be repeated as often as is necessary (and/or prudent.)

Regarding the pardon ONLY … it should be noted that … if no priest is available to minister to the dying … and so long as that person has prayed, in the recent past … the provisions of the Apostolic Pardon accrue to his/her spiritual benefit … automatically. (No kidding!)

Click here for complete details

Notes from the current USCCB Official Manual of Indulgences:

12
AT THE POINT OF DEATH
§1 A priest who administers the sacraments to someone in danger of death should not fail to impart the apostolic blessing to which a plenary indulgence is attached.
§2 If a priest is unavailable, Holy Mother Church benevolently grants to the Christian faithful, who are duly disposed, a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime; in such a case, the Church supplies for the three conditions ordinarily required for a plenary indulgence.
§3 In this latter case, the use of a crucifix or a cross in obtaining the plenary indulgence is commendable.
§4 The faithful can obtain this plenary indulgence at the hour of death, even if they have already acquired a plenary indulgence on that same day.
§5 The catechetical instruction of the faithful should ensure that they are duly made aware and frequently reminded of this salutary benefaction of the Church.

Catholic Priest/Chaplain describes chaos and grace in aftermath of Fort Hood shootings

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Two months into his new posting as an on-call chaplain at the United States’ largest Army base, Father Ed McCabe had the longest day of his military chaplaincy.

Father McCabe was 10 minutes into a weekly chaplain staff meeting at Fort Hood when the clergy got word of the shooting spree taking place at the base.

“We ended the staff meeting and came to the hospital and that’s where we stayed,” Father McCabe said, “because that’s where the wounded were. And then I went over to the crime scene to comfort the people who were there.”

Of the 13 who died in the shooting, Father McCabe said he anointed 11.

Read the article