MSI Press Blog

  When Carl was dying from cancer of unknown primary, he was reluctant to face his own mortality. He would not tall about it with anyone except our priest, Fr. Ed. When Fr. Ed arrived to give last rites, Carl had been mostly near-comatose for two days, but when Fr. Ed spoke his eyes flew open, he listened intently, and he even laughed at Fr. Ed's humor.  The following morning at 7:30 a.m., Carl passed away peacefully, surrounded by all his children and all his cats -- and of course, his wife. It was as if Fr. Ed's words, the last rites, or the presence that surrounded that encounter at last brought acceptance and peace. The vulnerable of someone approaching death, their apprehension, and their unwillingness to talk about it can be disconcerting for family members who not then know how to approach any of the realities of life at the moment. It appears that Spirit is quite important as this note I found somewhere online says: The Spirit A person’s spirituality is unique and per...

  Today's Caturday cat stories come from Mission San Antonio de Padua in Jolon, California. Anyone for miles around Jolon know these heartwarming stories, but they have not been shared as widely as their message deserves.  Rosario was named after retrieving a rosary for a grieving parishioner. An amazing story, worth reading, worth sharing. And not fair just to summarize it in a blog post. Read the beautifully illustrated story of "The Cat of Mission San Antonio de Padua" posted by The Written Palette HERE . Rosario had a wife, Spirit. You can read about the Mission cats, Rosario and Spirit, and learn about their niece and nephew, Hope and Joy, at the Mission's website HERE . Read both posts and start today's Caturday with a big smile and warmed heart! They are quick reads -- don't miss them, the stories will linger long after the reading is over.