Hail Mary....funny story.

Nurses Spirituality

Published

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

I had a little old lady one night, hx of severe dementia. I went in to give her nightly meds and tuck her in. After everything was almost done, she grabs my hands and stares deep into my eyes and starts to pray "Hail Mary full of grace....". I respectfully keep my hands with hers and wait for her to finish. But after another couple words she stops. I look at her, she looks at me and yells "Finish it!". I look at at her and say "Ma'am, I dont know the words, im not catholic!" She stares at me some more and says "Well, Im not either!" And we both laugh sooo hard.

:D

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I AM Catholic, and I think that's hilarious!! Cute story. =)

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Well, she may not have been Catholic, but apparently she liked that prayer! Funniest thing I've heard in weeks!

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

hail mary, full of grace.

our lord is with thee.

blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,

jesus.

holy mary, mother of god,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

amen.

this brings memories of my altar-boy days.... thank you for sharing, funny story :cool:....aloha~

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I used to say the "Hail Mary" with my best friend in nursing school right before nursing tests. I will admit it would probably be considered disrespectful by Catholics. My friend was a "back-sliden" Baptist and I was an A/G (pentecostal) kid.

We also didn't know all the words and tracked down a former Catholic school-girl to help us out. We never failed any tests and we are both still working in nursing almost 20 years later. I guess I owe Mary?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I can see this encounter happening.....thanks for the chuckle!!!:lol2:

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Many years ago, I worked in a Catholic hospital, and one day a patient asked me to say the 'Our Father' with her. So I did. But I am JEWISH and I never learned that prayer. However, every day, at 8:05 AM, a nun came over the PA system with a daily prayer, and about 4 days a week, it was the 'Our Father'. I learned it from just hearing it in the background so often!

I still remember most of it, and would gladly say it for someone who asked me to.

I was bewildered, but your story is funnier!

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When I'm old and the dementia really sets in, I wonder if I'll forget that I'm not Catholic. :)

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

my story isn't as funny but it's cute, i think.

when i was in college, my grandmother lived with us. she had advanced parkinson's disease and had some

dementia.

she was hospitalized for pneumonia on the same weekend that my dad's poker group met at our house.

two of the members were brothers. one was a catholic priest and the other was grandma's physician.

grandma, good devout methodist that she was, read her bible every morning and every night. she'd gone

to the hospital rather quickly and her bible had been forgotten until bedtime. the hospital called and father

____ answered since he was closest to the phone. he volunteered to deliver the bible right then and return

to the game.

grandma was drowsy when he arrived. she took one look at him and even though he was dressed in street

clothes, she shrieked, "you're father ____! i'm dying and you're here to give me the last rites!":eek:

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I am Catholic as well and this made me giggle!! Cute story!

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