A Story from St. Anthony Mary Claret

[Shin]

'One afternoon, as I was walking along a street in one of the larger cities of Spain, a little boy came up to me, kissed my hand, and asked me for a holy card, which I gave him. Very early the following day I went, as was my custom, to celebrate Mass in the church, after
which I would ordinarily have taken my place in the confessional because there was always a large crowd waiting.
 
After Mass, I knelt in the sanctuary to make my thanksgiving. I hadn't been there long, when a tall, heavy-set man with a large mustache and full beard approached me. He was holding his cape together with his hands, so that the only features I could make out were his nose and forehead.
 
His eyes were closed and the rest of his face was covered by his eyebrows, mustache, and beard, as well as by the high fur collar of his cape. In a trembling, hoarse voice, he asked me whether I would be so good as to hear his confession. I told him that I would, and asked him to go and wait for me in the sacristy, where I would join him after I finished my thanksgiving.
 
Although there were other men and women waiting in line for confession, something told me that I should hear him apart from the rest because, from his appearance, I felt that it was the right thing to do; and as things turned out, it was.
 
I went to the sacristy where there was no one but the two of us and, even so, led him over to the farthest corner of the room. I sat down and he knelt before me and began to cry so disconsolately that I didn't know what to say to quiet him. I asked him a number of questions to try to find out the cause of his suffering, and finally, amid tears, sighs, and sobs he told me: "Father, yesterday you were walking along the street where I live, and as you were passing by the door of the house where I am staying, a little boy ran out and kissed your hand. He asked you for a holy card, and you gave it to him.
 
The boy walked away with it, very content, and after he held it for awhile, he put it down on a table and ran off to play with the other boys. I was at home alone, watching all this, and my curiosity got the better of me. To pass the time, I picked up the card and read it. Father, I just cannot tell you what I felt. It was like an arrow shot through me. It was then and there I made up my mind to go to confession.
 
"I thought to myself, Since God chose to use that good man to give you a true knowledge of yourself, you should make your confession to him." I have spent the whole night crying and examining my conscience and now here I am, waiting to confess my sins. Father, I am a big sinner. I am 50 years old and have not been to confession since I was a child. I have been the ringleader of a very bad gang. Father, is there any hope of pardon for people like me?
 
"Yes Sir!" I said. "Yes indeed! Have courage and trust in God's goodness and mercy. The good God has called you because He wants tosave you, and you have done well not to harden your heart. You have carried out your resolution to make a good confession." He made his confession, I absolved him, and he was so happy he could not speak.
 
Well then, if all the pamphlets and cards resulted in just this one conversion, I would have thought the time well spent and I would have been satisfied for all the effort and money put into printing them. However, this was by no means the only case of someone's being converted by reading the pamphlets I have published.
 
In Villafranca del Panades, four condemned convicts had refused to go to confession after three days, of being brought to chapel; but after reading a pamphlet I had given each of them, they thought it over, went to confession, received Viaticum, and died an edifying death. Many, very many, have been converted by reading a pamphlet. My God, how good Thou art! Thou dost find a way in all circumstances to shower Thy mercies on poor sinners. Mayest Thou be blessed forever. Amen.'

Thanks to Our Lady of the Rosary Library

[martin]

That's a very interesting and encouraging story Shin.
While at Knock on Sunday I went to confessions. There's a small chapel there with a tabernacle in the sanctuary and a large depiction of the crucifixion . All round the the circumference of the chapel are confessionals and the chapel is used solely for the purpose of hearing confessions.
Well, having gone to confession done my penance, I got up and went towards the door of the chapel.  On my way out, a small table near the door caught my eye, and on it were some small cards, so i lifted one up and read it. Here's what was written on it;

You shall not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.

              JESUS

By Your grace I will never again abuse Your Holy Name.

...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...
Philip. 2. 10

On the reverse side of the card there is a picture of the Sacred Heart and the words;

Always give the utmost respect to the Holy Name of Jesus.

When you hear someone abusing or swearing by the Holy name ask them courteously not to do so, and apologise to Jesus for the offence caused to Him, e.g. "I'm sorry Jesus, for the offence caused to You by this abuse of Your Holy Name. I ask your forgiveness for this person.


What an appropriate place I thought to have such cards, reminding those who are coming from confession of the sacredness of the name of Jesus.
I took about 10 of the cards with me and since Sunday I've had occasion to hand out 4 of them at work. It is a great way of correcting someone without preaching and the people I gave them to were quite embarrassed for having unwittingly taken the Holy Name in vain and apologised.

I'm getting a few hundred printed and will be leaving them at the back of churches as well as keeping some in my pocket for handing out when needed.

Little cards and leaflets can do so much good with very little effort. 

[odhiambo]

That "Story from St. Anthony Mary Claret" is really heartwarming Shin. God does work in mysterious ways.
Martin, that is a wonderful thing you are doing. We are all witnesses to the rampant abuse of the Lord's Name and much too often, at least on my part, social restrictions make it difficult to just march to the offender and correct him on the spot. I  end up just saying a little prayer to offset the offence and the offender, oblivious to the fact, continues to use the Lord's Name in vain. Handing out such a card is much more tactful. Way to go 

[Shin]

Martin I wish all of our family had some of those cards to hand out! I would like some myself!

It's quite moving to read your story! Thanks be to God, for the ability to do His work!

You know looking at so many old holy cards, truly nothing has been untouched and destroyed, it's so hard to find truly good ones these days. But people still know beauty and holiness when they see it, even if fewer people are crafting them!

May the holy name of Jesus be ever blessed, and ever upon our lips!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. . .

[Patricia]

I discovered that my church store has the traditional looking holy cards.  Let me know if any of you want some of those.