Mary and the Sinner

Mary and the Sinner

One day a woman came to the monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers. She was most unhappy and told one of the priests, "My husband has not been to Confession for many years. I don't know how to bring him back to Church and to the Sacraments. When I mention Confession to him, he beats me! Please help me Father. What can I do?"

The priest looked with compassion on the poor woman and handed her a little picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which had a prayer printed on it, "Give him this little picture of the Immaculate Conception."

The good woman went back home and that evening she again asked her husband to go to Confession, and he paid no attention to her as usual. She then gave him the little picture of Mary and Our Lady worked a miracle! As soon as her husband had taken the picture of Mary into his hand he told his wife, "Very well, when do you want me to go to Confession? I am willing to go!" The woman could hardly believe her ears and wept for joy at her husband's sudden change of heart.

The next morning he went to Church to make his Confession. He told the priest that it had been twenty-eight years since his last Confession.

Then the priest asked, "How is it that you were moved to come to Confession this morning?"

"I was very stubborn," the man replied, "but last night my wife gave me a picture of the Blessed Mother and I immediately felt my heart change. So much so, as a matter of fact, that last night every minute seemed like a thousand years. I could hardly wait for morning to come, so that I could see a priest." The man made a good Confession and changed his way of life. He remained a long time under the direction of this kind priest and Our Lady helped him to be a good Catholic.

Mary is very powerful; she has brought thousands and thousands of sinners back to the Catholic Faith! When we get to Heaven, we will see all the people that Mary converted from a life of sin. In Heaven we will sing beautiful songs to Jesus and Mary; thanking them for all the kindness and mercy and love which they showed to us while we were on earth.

We all need converting! Even if we are not sinners, we still need to become more perfect. We still have to gain a greater love for Jesus Our Saviour and Mary Our Dear Mother. And how can we do this? By telling Jesus and Mary we love them, by saying our Rosary devoutly every day, and by not sinning. That is how we can grow in love for Jesus and Mary!

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