On Angels And Men, and Papa's Handwritten Prayer

Each of the "little families" within the one Gresher family received a volume of "The Liturgy of the Hours" the four text book of prayers, reflections, and readings that is obligatory reading and meditation as part of an ordained deacon's duties in the Catholic Church.

I had never seen the inside of one until Papa died. It wasn't that I couldn't. He always kept the book sitting on his desk in his bedroom. It's that I wouldn't have. Even when he would ask me to get it for him.

I went through the one we received with a strange kind of wonderment, happy not to have known what I would find until after he was gone. Something of him left for me to discover.

And I did, I found this prayer. Papa's own, written in his hand, between texts and prayers on angles and men. I'm including only one, very small prayer to accompany Papa's from that daily portion of "The Liturgy of the Hours."

It is worth noting that he probably wrote these words when he was full of cancer.

During his four times with cancer and three times facing cancer with chemotherapy, it was very difficult for him to have the energy each day to simply sit and read, to really focus on the readings, the prayers, the meditations, but he did.

I would be sitting on the sofa visiting with him when he'd get up from his recliner and head for the family room door.

"Where are you going?" I'd call out.

"I'm going to do my hours."

On the worse days, he broke it up into pieces because it was impossible to accomplish in one sitting.

So sometimes it was "I'm going to finish my hours."

On the worst days, he did not do the hours at all.

I am putting his words in bold then the formal prayer he merged with his words below. Humbling for me to read. And moving.

May the sick feel true companionship with the suffering Christ. And know that they will enjoy his eternal consolation.

Receive the souls of the dead, Lord. Grant them your favor and the gift of eternal life.

God, our Father,
in a wonderful way you guide the work of angels and men. May those who serve you constantly in heaven keep our lives safe from all harm on earth.

Amen.