May 28, 2025
Always Ask God to Help You
By Karen A. Avitabile
I recited the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and others over and over again.
It was four years ago this month that I went into the hospital, with several days and illnesses leading up to this climax. I had never been in the hospital before, and I felt as if I was fighting for my life.
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name …”
Because it was an emergency situation, I had no time to prepare physically or emotionally before going into the emergency room. And without knowing what was wrong with me and why this was happening, it was very frightening.
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee …”
The root cause of my sudden illness would not reveal itself until nearly a week later, after all the test results from procedures came back.
In the hospital, the days were long and I could not do much. So I decided to spend my time praying, hoping I would make a full recovery.
“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit …”
Less than two months after I had been released from the hospital, I had to go back in with a more serious condition. This time, I reached out to Blessed Michael J. McGivney, a parish priest from the Archdiocese of Hartford, who is on his way to sainthood. I recited his prayer for canonization.
“… Through the example of his (Blessed McGivney’s) life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church …”
Life is not a free pass to avoid suffering. But no matter what kind of suffering or grief we are dealing us, there is Someone we can always rely on for help – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Trinity is a good reminder that the Resurrection is an act of God that signifies new life and complete victory over death.
“God in three persons, blessed Trinity.”
***
(Karen A. Avitabile is the editor of the Catholic Transcript magazine for the Archdiocese of Hartford.)
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