Our Lady of Victory began a new devotion called “Holy Hour Prayers For the Dying” in the chapel from 6-6:50 PM. This weekly devotion is open to anyone who would like to gather together and pray for those who are dying all over the world, people who die suddenly, or loved ones who are currently dying. The purpose for these prayers is to aid in the saving of many souls.
These holy hours are being introduced by a member of St. Dominic Church, Fernanda Moreira, who has been promoting this devotion for 5 years at her parish, and they continue each Saturday morning following the 8:15 Mass.
Fernanda and her sister-in-law, Lourdes , first felt compelled to begin these holy hours when their sister-in-law was dying. They prayed with her and for her for 3 months. After she died, they began to consider the many people who have no one to pray for them and began to compose the holy hour in its present form. The two sisters- in -law prayed together for a period of time and soon other women began to pray with them. They decided to put the prayers in a booklet form with the help of Fernanda’s daughter. The holy hour format was reviewed by Fernanda’s pastor and finally by Fr. Joseph Binzer, who gave it the imprimatur for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She has approval to present the holy hours to the parish pastors.
Each of us knows someone with a serious illness or someone who has been involved in a life threatening accident. Please consider coming weekly for this important prayer event. There are countless people who appear to have a sudden change of heart as they are dying or have a dramatic change in their lives when they nearly die. It is no accident. God wants us to pray for each other. There is no greater moment to have prayers prayed for a person than when a person is dying. We have only this life to prepare to meet Our Father in heaven. Join together to pray for these people, those you know and do not know , because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. During these holy hours we invoke God’s merciful love for the dying. What could be more important or more rewarding? Please come even if it is for a small part of it. Every minute is precious in God’s sight.
If you know of someone dying and in need of prayers, and are unable to meet with us in the chapel on Thursday evenings, you can call Cyndy Hummer at 922-4231 (or leave a message). The group will remember that person in their prayers, to give them strength as they approach their eternal destination.