My Aunt Chris
is a woman of deep faith
who has great devotion
to Our Lady.

During each visit
Chris will mention, at some stage,
the Rosary beads
that she uses every day.
She’ll also talk about
the wee plastic folder
containing all of her daily prayers
(and she’ll show me
Uncle Ted’s folder, too).

Chris will also mention
the holy water font
that she keeps, filled,
by the front door
and that she instructs her grandchildren
to use –
“You know what that
holy water font is for –
use it on your way out!”

That’s my Aunt Chris –
brimming over with faith
(and determined to pass it on!)

But right now, sadly,
Aunt Chris is dying.
And as I pray for her,
I’m aware that Chris prayed
for this exact time of her life
at least 50 times every day
when she prayed her Rosary.
You see,
each time Chris said
the Hail Mary,
she said the words,
“Pray for us sinners now
and the hour of our death”.

I’m convinced
that Our Lady will be there,
right by Aunt Chris’s side,
when God calls her.

And so, this morning,
I ask Our Blessed Lady
to pray for her old friend,
my Aunt Chris,
now, and at the hour of her death.

Amen.

© Claire Murray, 6th June 2025