My mother-in-law, Mary, was taken into the QMC in November 2020 after having a fall at home. We were very worried about her as this was her second fall within a couple of months and at 92 years of age Mary was quite frail. The consultant confirmed that she had a bleed on the brain. Given the Covid19 situation it was very difficult for all of us and particularly for Mary not being able to receive visitors and to see her family.
Unfortunately during her 2 1/2 week stay in the hospital, Mary contracted covid and on 12 November we were told that she had suffered a stroke which paralysed the left side of her body. We asked for a Catholic priest to visit Mary and were told the following day that a ‘pastor’ had visited with her so we asked again for a Catholic priest. Mary was blessed with three visits from a Catholic priest!
I am affiliated to the Little Company of Mary and of course Mary Potter holds a special place in my heart. We started to pray to Mother Potter to ask for her help and intercession for our Mary and that if it was God’s will that she die, that she would be given the grace of a peaceful and holy death. It was at this point that I realised that Mary shared the same birthday as Mother Potter, 22 November, and it was as if we were being told that Mary would be ok, that Mother Potter would look after her.
Mary died on Sunday 15 November. Vince and his brother Shaun were able to livestream the Holy Mass at her bedside earlier that day and we were all there with her up until the moment of her death, praying Rosaries and Divine Mercy Chaplets.
Some days later, I received a message from a friend asking if I had seen Fr David Palmer’s tweet. When we read it we learned that Fr David had visited Mary on Friday 13 November
Fr David wrote:
“I am disillusioned with so much in the Church, but just had a beautiful hospital call out… very “Brideshead Revisited”, 90 year old woman (who appeared to be totally unconscious) but as I gave the apostolic pardon she made the sign of the Cross…. Sort of makes it all worthwhile”
Fr David confirmed the lady’s name to be Mary Smith, Vince’s mum. How beautiful is this!
We then looked on the “Little Company of Mary” website and noticed a reflection written by Fr David Palmer. We were very touched to learn that Fr David carries a piece of Mother Mary Potter’s veil with him when visiting the sick and the dying; that Mother Potter always goes with him to those to whom she has a special care from heaven.
We are truly thankful that in these exceptionally difficult times of pandemic, when people are dying alone in hospitals, it is truly a grace from God through Mary Potter’s intercession that our mum received anointing from the priest and that we were able to be with her until the end. We believe that Mother Potter sent Fr David to minister to Mary for the connections between him and Mary Potter are amazing! We feel that this is a great testament to the reality that Venerable Mary Potter still cares for the suffering and the dying and that she will ensure a peace filled and holy death when asked for her intercession.
In Fr David’s words about Mary Potter:
“It was the Maternal Heart of Mary that inspired her ministry to accompany those who were dying, those who were suffering. On that Cross Jesus entrusted Mary to John, and John to Mary. At that moment when the sword pierced her maternal heart, she was given to be our mother too, and that maternal heart that held her there at the Cross is now directed to the Church. In our pains and travails, of which there are many at the moment, she will never abandon us, even when we feel abandoned, she remains….”
Caroline and Vince Smith
22.12.2020