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Much can be done for the non-Catholics
at the hour of death. The work of the
Apostolate to Assist Dying Non-
Catholics is as old as Christianity, only
the method may be new. The Apostolate
makes an attempt to prepare them for
a happy death by placing an attractive
card in their hands, which contains
all the acts necessary and sufficient
for salvation. If the patient is too sick
to read the card, the prayer can be
read for him or with him.
The soul of the work, which is by far
the most important part, is your earnest
prayer to God that, in His mercy, He
may grant to your patient or friend the
efficacious grace of really meaning
what he says, when he reads the prayer.
T
he ordinary means of salvation,
according to the Will of Christ, is the
Catholic Church, and all who believe
Her to be the true Church are under
solemn obligation to enter Her fold.
We are referring to the well-meaning
person, who wants to be saved, especially
when he sees that death is at his door.
Often, he is not baptized and never will
be. His only salvation lies in making
an act of perfect love of God or perfect
contrition. The serious question is how
do we reach this large class of people
at the most critical time of their lives,
when they are about to enter eternity?
Anyone can do this work. You can send
the card by mail, or visit your sick
friend and leave it at his bedside.
The plan is simply this: Get the card
into the hands of the one in whom
you are interested, any way you
choose, with the suggestion that they
fervently and frequently offer the
prayer. Then, you pray earnestly to
God that he may be given the light
and grace to mean all that he says
when he reads the prayer.
This soul is preparing for an eternity
of happiness or never-ending pain.
Now is the time of God’s mercy, but
this will soon pass! His eternal destiny
depends upon this last moment of life.
The prayer consists of fervent acts of
Faith, Hope, Love and Contrition. This
Apostolate is under the patronage of
St. Joseph.
In the USA alone, more than half the
patients treated in Catholic hospitals
are non-Catholics. This clearly shows
the possibilities of the work in our
Catholic hospitals, and its still greater
possibility in non-sectarian hospitals.
Some may question the method
or means used, but as long as they
are legitimate and attain the end,
even if only one soul is saved through
its efforts, the work is worthwhile.
Another type of soul who can benefit
immensely in the hour of death from
this perfect prayer is the fallen away
Catholic of good will. How great is
their number!
It can be a source of salvation for
those who are baptized in a Protestant
denomination. If at all possible and
the sick person desires it, bringing the
person into the Catholic Church
through Baptism is the ideal. But this
is not the scope of our work now for
the dying non-Catholic.