(testimony of a peaceful death)
On Sunday evening, my sister, who was caring for the elderly, ill priest Father František in a nearby parish, called me to say that Father was slowly passing away. I promised her my prayers, and my husband and I began to pray the rosary. During the prayer, it struck me as odd why my sister had called me specifically. Given that we had a car and I also drive, the question arose whether she actually wanted me to come. I called her, offered to be with them, and went.
When I arrived there, Father František was no longer aware. He was breathing heavily but was calm. We prayed the rosary by his side. Then my sister, who had been awake with him for the previous two nights, took advantage of my presence and went to rest for a while.
My nephew and I sat by Father and prayed the rosary. Then it occurred to me that Father probably hadn't prayed the breviary that evening. I knew he always prayed the daily prayers of the Church very diligently. Even when his eyesight weakened in old age, he got a tablet so he could enlarge the font and continue praying. So we began to pray the evening praises. (It was the fourth Sunday of the psalter.) Father’s breathing grew calmer during the praises, until it discreetly ceased. Before the short reading, I noticed that Father was probably no longer breathing. At that moment, my nephew was just reading a short passage:
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22–24).
I listened to what he was reading, while watching Father. I saw that he truly was no longer breathing, and it dawned on me that this reading directly pertained to Father František at that moment. It deeply affected me—I saw the greatness of God in it! Our earthly time had merged with eternity here!
Father passed away very calmly and quietly. For me, it was a very strong and positive experience. I can’t express it all very well, but I am very grateful to God for the gift of being able to witness Father František's departure so closely. It showed me: this is how the Lord is faithful to His servant!
We finished praying the breviary in peace and then I went to get my sister. When I told her that Father had died very quietly, she replied that he had lived exactly the same way. Yes, exactly so. He was very non-confrontational, kind. But the parishioners at the funeral mentioned that he could also be assertive. He was dear to me as an ordinary person with a lively interest in the events around him. He cared about the lives of the children, parents, and also the grandparents. He prayed very much for his parishioners. With his fatherly heart, he encompassed the entire parish. He had gangrene, and since surgery was not possible, the hospice care sisters prepared him for a swift departure from this world. He was at peace with death and with God, which is why he left so peacefully.
At the funeral, not only his parish gathered but also many people from the surrounding area. I saw that even young people were crying. The grain of his life did not remain alone; it fell to the ground and produced much fruit (John 12:24).
-jp-
