He had repeatedly had to spend many months in various hospitals with the most serious illnesses and had often jumped from the jaws of death. Once again he was struggling with complications, so that hope threatened to leave him. One afternoon I was able to visit him. We talked and were silent together for a long time. We were given the gift of a deep and lively time. I was blessed to meet a man who tried to give himself to God in every moment and to anchor himself in God in the darkest moments when doubts nagged at his heart. In this way, hope was born anew moment by moment by his love out of everything that was difficult. When we said goodbye, he let me know: "I definitely want to come to Mass with you on Christmas Eve! That's my goal now. And I will make it!" We parted in deep peace and with a quiet joy.
