Amen to gratitude. I had a very serious surgery to go through with a chance of death. I went to confession, received my anointing of the sick, and prayed with my church community. When I was entering the surgery... there was no fear as I was grateful for being able to live as a catholic. I remember praying... Into your hands, I commit my spirit... i fell asleep with a smile. And I woke from surgery with a smile... Despite all the pain...it is all okay with Christ who carries me.

My wife passed away 4 months ago after being in the hospital for over 9 months. The pain my wife was going through was also hurting me every single day, I cried and prayed every single day. I was crushed immensely when she passed. I'm still grieving and when I look back I see that there is a silver lining in all of this. God blessed me with the most beautiful woman. My wife gave me the best 13 years I can ever ask for. I became a changed man for the better in chasing after Jesus, I read the bible constantly, I prayed multiple times a day, I gave Jesus my heart and soul with faith and trust. I sit here now grateful for the life God has given me and when it is my time to pass I will be grateful and ready to be at rest and and peace finally.

I don't know how you do it Father Mike, but you speak to me at exactly the right times in my life, when I need to hear these words. Thank you, and thank God for every day I'm here on this Earth.

This made me cry. May I always remember - Everyday is a gift not owed to me, a love and life I don't deserve. I look at your wounds and they're for me. Thank you Jesus, Savior and Friend🙏🏾

I saw my mother dying at 59. She was positively happy to go. That day I knew that I wanted to live my life so I can die like her. She lived seeking the love of Christ and putting all her trust in the Blessed Mother Mary. She died happy because she was going to meet the true love of her life. She was meeting the Bridegroom and she was madly in love with Him. What bride doesn't long for the day of the wedding? Only the one who is not fully in love. That day I understood that the only things worth doing are those who make you to fall more in love with our sweet Lord Jesus. Then I could die with a smile, desiring to see His face and the tenderness of those eyes, and feeling the warmth of His loving embrace.

I started my journey watching your videos, I was baptized this easter!

I am not scared to die, but I am scared to die without guiding my son who is 3 years old now. All the hardships I had in my life is because my parents died when I was young and I would never wish that for my son. Hence, I ask God to prolong my life to be able to advise my son. Thank you fr Mike

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." -J.R.R. Tolkein

Life is a gift. That's why we call today the present.

As I get older - I'm 66 now - I think more and more about my impending death. I know that I could die a minute from now, or twenty or forty years from now. Sometimes I feel at peace about dying, and sometimes I feel fear. I want to be with my husband for many years more. The fact that we are together, that our marriage - 46 years now - survived a painful five-year separation, is a genuine miracle, a gift from God that delights and encourages all who know the story. Sometimes I fear Purgatory; sometimes I doubt its existence. I long to be in Heaven, in the presence of our Creator, our Lord and Savior, our Comforting Spirit, with our Blessed Mother and all the saints and angels, while hoping that I will share it with my husband. I hope that I will live my love of singing in praises to God, further hoping that in Heaven my voice will sound pretty. I believe that when we each get to Heaven, no matter how much we have read and heard about it, we will be surprised. I pray to St. Joseph for a happy death, to die in a state of grace. And now, thanks to the gift of this video lesson, I have another way, both mature and comforting, to approach death. Thank you, Father Mike, for being open to this wisdom from God, and for being willing to share it with us. God bless and keep you, and may all of us meet in Heaven, eternally in the presence of our Lord.

This is so timely. I lost my husband and have been buried in grief. I'm saving this to play on my darkest of days. Bless you and thank you, Fr. Mike.

I have been deeply depressed because I could not travel to my old college friend’s funeral. We were the same age and saw each other frequently during high school. She was so kind to me and later I discovered we may even be cousins. How I have cried, been irritable and lashed out. I found an old text from her and she said that we all need to just love one another. She encouraged me to stay Catholic. Watching this I realize that I am ever grateful for her presence in my life. Thank you for the reminder. They buried her today.😓

A life full of gratitude gives greater glory to God..

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift... that is why it’s called the present.” -Master Oogway 😂

God bless. Even in the midst of my sorrow, I try to see the gift of life.

At the end of my life, I pray to have the wisdom and good sense to be grateful to God for the blessings received throughout my life and for life itself. I also pray for the serenity of a happy death.

Amen, Fr. Mike! Yes, the more we have on earth (especially, possessions of materials), the less we'll be worry-free to be passing on to the next stage. And definitely, if we're having the feeling of "I deserve to live long in this life", we'll be very unsettled to let go of anything and be with full of anxiety. But if we're to live life as if (which it really is) God has gave us this opportunity to participate in His plan of Salvation, we'll feel that we can let go of anything at anytime to Him (Rest In Peace), since He's the One Who takes the call on our very lives. We all owed Him everything, and He doe not owe us anything. Live life as it's a gift from God and not like as if we're god in our own minds. God bless.

Thanks Fr. Mike, I needed this today. My Dad died 3 years ago today and I don't know how many times he'd tell me he was grateful for waking up in the morning. The circumstances behind his passing was devastating (non covid related) and he was just amazing. He helped and touched so many lives, I never met anyone who disliked him. We thank God every day for my Dad. We miss him terribly but we don't want him back here. We're ready to go to God and see Dad whenever God calls us home to Him. We know that Dad's home with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mother Mary, my Nana, Poppy and the rest of our loved ones. We know he's safe. I know it's taken me a long time to come to this and my mom still has her good and bad days - they were together almost 40 years. But deep down, I know she feels the same way I do. God Bless you Father Mike.

I had a near death experience and first I was mad at God for sending be back. He told be that I need to go back for my 2 babies and to help people. At that time I was 31 yrs old with 2 babies 1yr old and 2 years old then but now I’m grateful that I was sent back to be able to take care of them.

This is helping me with the anniversary of my oldest son's death. Now looking at how grateful I am that God gave him to me for 39 years with all the ups and downs. Thank you. His birthday is April 30th - he passed October 29, 2012. Bless you for this insight.

Thank you for this reminder. It is so easy to think we are owed something, when in truth, every single thing we have, every person we love, and who loves us, is a free gift from God. His mercy, His love, His help in difficult situations, everything is a free gift. It's so important to remember that and to be grateful. God bless...

I am so grateful with my life even though I was raised in an orphanage, never knew my family physically alone but spiritually I have a Father constantly watching over me. God was so good to me I have been blessed. I am ready to die nothing can hold me in this life awaiting to be with my Father in the promised Eternal life.

It’s ALL a gift. I always feel gratitude and wonder that God has placed me with my family, in the Catholic Church in America.

Please pray I don't die until I see all my children and grandchildren are savedand on the right path

I remember I asked myself why my life is not as good as others whom I know, and I felt like Someone said to me, "And this is my life, look at my wounds, these are all for you."

As a Catholic l pray daily for those who have died. I hope they will be praying for me especially those moments before l die. I hope some day to be able to say,' Lord make me,worry of my suffering".

I just lost my father last October. I really needed this video today. Thank you, Father.

I pray we all stay close to God.

Thank you so much Fr. Mike! Life IS a GIFT from GOD. I will be eternally grateful to our Eternal Father for creating me. Thank you Heavenly Father! 💗💗💗

As a hospice nurse I experienced people who had trouble letting go of their stuff as they are dying.

The Holy Spirit burns so bright within you my Friend! May God Bless you and your family. Thank you for everything you do and to take a well-known lyric , "Don't Stop Believin'!"

G.I.F.T. (GOD IS FOREVER TRUE ) LOVE AND PRAYERS

My early life was very difficult - poor social adjustment, bipolar disorder and a lot of suffering. Even though my later years have been wonderfully comfortable, I have always had trouble thanking God for my life. That is til I realized recently that Jesus has been with me the whole way. I can thank God for my difficult life knowing I lived it in his presence, and I wasn’t just floundering on my own, as I thought I was. I came to know God later in life, after most of my difficulties had been taken care of. Father Mike, I think you have a triple dose of the Holy Spirt. I love your videos. Thank you for so much wisdom.

Thanksgiving Is The KEY to openGOD,S HEART,and THE DOOR To HEAVEN.Thank you Father!

Saint Michael Archangel, deliver me from every evil thought, every cruel word, and all anger and resentment.

My grandma taught me young that death is not punishment...this really helped me! But gratitude - that's an amazing way to look at one's life. I pray I am as grateful as I should be. Amen.

Amen to gratitude. I pray Fr. Mike you never leave this channel, you inspire me so much. Thank you , GOD BLESS

Thank you so much for this. It helped me to realise how the devil weaponises "God doesn't owe you anything" to demoralise us. If anything, the fact we're owed nothing yet are still SO RICHLY blessed is a testament to that love. A love you aren't owed but also don't need to deserve or earn. Wow. Thank you Jesus for my life and everything in it 🙏🏾

Father, such a beautiful reflection/teaching. You are an example of what good results when one cooperates with the graces that the Holy Spirit has designed for you! Thank you.

Thank u Father Mike True we must have gratitude not only for the past but also for the present and we must have hope for the future 🌻

Thank you Fr. Mike that absolutely brought me to tears, everything you said is absolutely true. Every day is a gift from God and we owe him our hearts and our salvation into the Heavenly Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mom died 10 days ago. She was loved by many. Was married to dad for 60+ years until her passing. Firm believer in our Lord. But she did suffer. Long standing health issues. Every day was a gift for us and a burden for her. She was not owed anything and yet, despite her suffering, letting go wasn't easy. She was grieving. She was scared. I am grateful for every minute she was with us and I certainly hope she is in a better place. But my faith is weak and the grieving process is not easy. Death is never good, your own or a loved one's. Such a complex topic deserves a series of videos from different perspectives. Thanks always father Mike.

For the most part, I have thought of life as a burden rather than a gift. I express gratitude to God daily for everything I've been given, but do not feel at home here on earth and never have.

Thank you Father Mike for your insight.

Man, this is so true. It's so easy to slip into the attitude that I deserve certain things, amount of money, or even respect from other people. Every second that I am here breathing is literally a gift from God, and really helps to be reminded of and put my small worries into perspective. This makes me think of St. Anthony of the Desert. "For if we too live as though dying daily, we shall not sin. And the meaning of that saying is, that as we rise day by day we should think that we shall not abide till evening." Thanks as always Father Mike, God Bless.

I know a lot of people, including Catholics that are constantly in fear of death. They perceive it as the worst thing that could happen them. It's so sad to see all those good people, without any gratitude towards the life they are living. Honestly, I don't want people to despair when I die. I want fireworks at my funeral. :)

Fr.Mike are u telepathic?❤️ You just speak at right time whenever I need to be enlightened. God has blessed you with amazing wisdom. I'm glad he created you.

Faith Hope Love (gratitude). Why would God conquer death but for me? I will be free, purified and living in sublime love and peace. For today, Thank you God because I have not done this good day but Your Love gives it. I am never lucky, I’m blest . Bring someone to heaven with you by your example.

I love this father mike definitely need to start living with more gratitude

You are aBlessing to all who get to hear you speak….🙏 thank you 🙏

An authentc intent of selflessly serving God's kingdom, taking joy in giving fulfills a higher purpose of life.

Gratitude is one of the most amazing gifts!!! ✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️

My mom passed in 2000, my dad in 2001, my husband in 2006, my job of 17 plus years in 2009. My husband now is in home hospice! End stage COPD, and all of a sudden he can’t walk. I don’t know how to pray for him. His quality of life is nothing but the bed and tv. I love him and don’t 8:40 want him to die. On the other hand if his quality of life is over for God to take him. Then I feel guilty! I can’t stand seeing him like this. How do I pray!

I feel lonely at time as I have lost both my parents in just over the last 2 years. I lost Mum in June 2021 [a few weeks before my 63rd birthday] and Dad a little over a year later, July 2022 [a few weeks after my 64th]. May they RIP.

Fr Mike Thank you so much for helping me learn more about my relationship with Christ and the depth of where it can continue to grow. I enjoy your messages of truth that help me in my journey of faith daily, even when it's hard to understand. I am extremely grateful for my faith and for the messages that you and many others profess ❤️🙏 This message had me in tears of how grateful I am that I am able to take my next breath because Jesus holds me in existence.

Just got off the telphone with an old aged person of almost 100 and who is not a Chuch goer, I feel blessed to recieve your message to share with her more specifically, during this summer 2021, when our Old Aged folks need more comfort..on their journey to see Jesus in his glory. 🙏🏻🙂

Father Mike, i don't know if you ever go through and read comments, but the video was beautiful and, like other people who commented, very timely. Im 47 and have metastatic prostate cancer in all my lymph nodes, and im suspecting the last few weeks its in my bones now. This video made me not only teary, but made me realize how full of gratitude i am for every moment, every breath, every Mass, every person i love, every prayerful meditation, and im totally at peace with everything and appreciate my present deeply, and look forward to my future!

Our life is a gift! My children and grandchildren are my wonderful gifts from God. I now have two different types of leukemia. I never have questioned God why... “I say, why not me”. This is not our world we are just guests passing through. 💙🙏🏻

I’ve never felt the presence of god my entire life. I tried for years. I listened…only crickets. Every time.

This was wonderful. As a retired oncology nurse, my experience was similar. Amen🎚

Expect nothing; appreciate everything!

I need to listen to this every morning.

Gratitude yes! Jesus IS LIFE...and it is everlasting beyond death.

I was literally trying to learn more about this last night! Thank you Fr. Mike 😊👍

Humility and gratitude are lofty goals and very necessary

God bless you please pray for us Farther 🙏

Gratitude is the third step in Ho'oponopono. It is the one that I need to practice the most. Thank you for the reminder. I recommend Merlin Carothers books.

Man O man! Thank you God for Fr. Mike. St. Bernadette, please pray for Fr. Mike"s mom.

What a coincidence that I am being prepared for a consecration to saint joseph and the topic is a happy death 🌼🌼

Amen! Father Mike! Your the best! God Bless you!

I often find myself with wishing I had never been given the gift of life in the first place. I didn't ask to be born into this world, I didn't ask to be brought into existence. I long for the day I die, and I think my death will be a happy death, but only insofar as death removes me from this life. Even if each day is a gift, it is a gift I am ungrateful for, and I would love for God to take it away.

So true. People who have an attachment to things, people, and even life itself will probably have a greater death agony. For those who have suffered much in this life perhaps death won’t be so bitter.

I already grieve for my wasted life. God gave me so much and I failed in every way. God gave me chance after chance gift after gift love that I certainly didn't deserve. I am a wretched sinner and find it hard to know why God loves me. Terrified of dying yet can't see why Jesus would save me.

A good reminder Father Mike that every day I live is a gift from God and I thank him for all the gifts he gives me especially that of life.

Thank you, Father Mike! Exactly what I neededto hear and you said it so beautifully! God Bless you! ❤

Wow 🤩 Father Mike 😊,, I am 45 years old, and I look older than you .. Great message

I didn't get the part about "Feeling like I'm owed something". Just couldn't imagine myself with that mind set that my life is owed to me. Then I thought about it and realized that every time I think of someone older than me that may not have taken as good as care of their earthly body as well as I have and think I should be able to at least live as long as that person, I am in a sense envying that person and feeling like I deserve to live longer than that person. Or as Father Mike pointed out I am in fact feeling like "my life is owed to me". Now I just have to figure out how to get out of that mindset and realize that EVERY moment in this life is truly a gift from God and just because my grandfather lived to be 96 doesn't mean I have another day promised to me. May God bless you Father Mike for sharing your faith with so many others....

I have no wealth to leave for my loved ones except wisdom to apply in their lives. I am a senior, still helping others, thanking God for good health , to be able to attend mass everyday, 🙏🙏

Thank you. I struggle with being ungrateful, and I need to remember to do better.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

God gives each one of us a certain amount of years of heartbeats...We must enjoy the gifts from God the years of heartbeats💓

I am rediscovering God right now and these videos of Father Mike help me reestablish my relationship with God. Thank you God for sending people like Father Mike to help us understand and openly acknowledge and follow your Will. Thank you for the gift of life.

When I got diagnosed with cancer the first thing I said was I know that i am going to see mother Mary again. Then I got angry because of lack of support in friends. I had to let go of that life in friends , to get God's will. Then I got help from god 🙌 🙏 😌 and it's the same help all of us have . That gods only son suffered and died for us so that we may live .it is also the gift of a mother's love and the gift of a fathers love . It is right in saying that to let go of this life , is gratitude itself. Thank you for this Fr Mike I will say a prayer for you today. 🙏

Also back in 2000 my dad passed away at the age of 54. Well my bff her dad passed in July 2000 then my dad sept 2000 then my ex-husbands dad oct 2000. It amazed me at how much a difference our faith made in that situation. I knew my dad was going to be just fine and was blessed to get a sign that he got home ok. Awesome experience there is and was no ? It was from our Father. I’ve been blessed my whole life with signs from Our Father. So yes everyday is a gift. Even though we all forget that a lot including me. So it’s nice to be reminded of how to look at our lives. Our blessings really do add up pretty quick. God Bless

Wow, a priest who actually says something wise. It is about being grateful.

Fr Mike, you sure hit home with this, thank you, and God bless you, 🙏🏻

To have have everything you want ,want what you have

From my experience of dealing with my grief and the loss of my mother, I felt that there is so much more for being prepared for death and dying that we shall live a eternal life in heaven. Your money and material possession are protected by law keep your mind, heart, and soul with Your Spiritual Estate of gratitude! I learned we are at a constant state that can be built up or torn down by your gratitude. Give thanks to the mind of the Hole! Keep Your Faith and Gratitude! Much Love! Thank you Fr. Mike.

Thanks for sharing. Now I see gratitude in a different light.

I always think God has put me in a situation where he wants me to learn from it or help someone

wow! oh how I wish I could speak like Father, so profound and beautiful!! THANK YOU!

"Part of a love that you didn't deserve ...." Sometimes what you talk of borders on heresy. God is eternal. God is infinite love, compassion and mercy. We are ALL going to heaven eventually. By virtue of being something created by God, we definitely deserve all God wants to bestow on us.

So humbling 🙏🏽

Thank you Jesus for everyday & everything you have given to us!

Powerful words 🔥 Thank you Jesus! Thank you Fr. Mike.

We are all so lucky that God gave you your voice. Thank you Father Mike, Thank you God.

Father Mike I love you! You always have the right words! God Bless you Father! 🙏🏻❤️

Very Catholic, Father. Very Catholic. God bless you for preaching our Faith when so many who should don’t.

Amen 🙏 thanks Superman 💯🙏💯🙏💯🙏💪🩸🇺🇸🌹☘️☝️

Wait, did Fr. Mike just say he was 46 years old or did I misunderstand him? Surely he’s not 46!! Oh, great talk as usual. Fr. Mike is always on point! ✝️