Stories & Legends
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An Unexpected Confession Due to Our Lady
Our Lady is called the Gate of Heaven by the Holy Church: "Felix coeli porta" because as St. Bernard observes, just as every rescript of pardon sent by the King comes through the palace gate, so it is that through Mary comes every pardon from God. Likewise, St. Bonaventure says that Mary is called the Gate of Heaven because no one can enter Heaven if he does not pass through Mary, who is the door of it.
Now then, this example is not recorded in any book, but a priest, a companion of mine, related it to me as having happened to himself.
Whilst this priest was hearing confessions in a certain church (for sufficient reasons he did not mention the place where this occurred, although the penitent gave him leave to publish the fact), a youth stood before him, who appeared to wish and not to wish to come to confession.
The priest, after looking at him several times, at length called him and asked him if he wished to make his confession. He answered, yes; but as he required a long time for it, the confessor took him into a retired room. There the penitent began by telling him that he was a foreigner and of noble birth, but he could not believe that it was possible for God to pardon him after the life he had led.
Besides innumerable other sins he had committed of impurity, homicide, etc, he said that he had fallen entirely into despair of salvation, and so he had set about committing sins not so much for his own gratification but only to defy God and manifest the hatred he bore Him. He said that among other things, he had with him a crucifix, which he had beaten out of contempt.
He said that on that very morning, he had made a sacrilegious Communion, and for what object? That he might put under his feet the consecrated Host. In fact, he continued, he had actually received Communion and was about to put into execution this horrible intention, but was prevented by the people who might observe him.
He then consigned to the confessor the consecrated Host, wrapped in a paper, and told him that as he was passing by that church he had a great desire to enter. He could not resist this desire, and had entered. Then, he continued, he had felt great remorse of conscience, together with a certain confused and irresolute desire to make his confession. For this reason he had placed himself before the confessional, but while standing there he felt so confused and timid that he wished to go away, but it seemed as if some one had retained him by force.
This was his situation until, he said: "You, Father, called me, and now I find myself here. I find myself making my confession, but I know not how to do it."
The priest then asked him if he had practiced any act of devotion during that time – meaning towards the Most Holy Mary – for such sudden conversions only come through the powerful hands of the Virgin.
"None, Father; what devotion could I offer," answered the youth, “when I believed myself lost?"
"But try to remember more carefully," replied the priest.
"Father, nothing."
But accidentally putting his hand to his breast, he remembered that he wore the Scapular of the Seven Dolors of Mary: Maria addolorata.
"Ah, my son," said the confessor to him, "do you not see that Our Bessed Lady has bestowed this grace upon you? And know," he added, "that this church is a church of Our Blessed Lady."
Hearing this, the youth was moved to contrition, and began to weep. He confessed his sins, and his compunction increased to such a degree that, bursting into tears, he fell down, overcome with grief, as it seemed, at the feet of the priest. That priest, after having restored the youth with a cordial, finally finished by hearing his confession and absolving him with the greatest consolation, as he was entirely contrite and resolved to amend his life.
The priest sent him back to his own country after having obtained from him full liberty to preach and publish everywhere the great mercy exercised by Mary towards him.
The great sinner was moved to confess
without knowing how or why...
Whilst this priest was hearing confessions in a certain church (for sufficient reasons he did not mention the place where this occurred, although the penitent gave him leave to publish the fact), a youth stood before him, who appeared to wish and not to wish to come to confession.
The priest, after looking at him several times, at length called him and asked him if he wished to make his confession. He answered, yes; but as he required a long time for it, the confessor took him into a retired room. There the penitent began by telling him that he was a foreigner and of noble birth, but he could not believe that it was possible for God to pardon him after the life he had led.
Besides innumerable other sins he had committed of impurity, homicide, etc, he said that he had fallen entirely into despair of salvation, and so he had set about committing sins not so much for his own gratification but only to defy God and manifest the hatred he bore Him. He said that among other things, he had with him a crucifix, which he had beaten out of contempt.
He said that on that very morning, he had made a sacrilegious Communion, and for what object? That he might put under his feet the consecrated Host. In fact, he continued, he had actually received Communion and was about to put into execution this horrible intention, but was prevented by the people who might observe him.
He then consigned to the confessor the consecrated Host, wrapped in a paper, and told him that as he was passing by that church he had a great desire to enter. He could not resist this desire, and had entered. Then, he continued, he had felt great remorse of conscience, together with a certain confused and irresolute desire to make his confession. For this reason he had placed himself before the confessional, but while standing there he felt so confused and timid that he wished to go away, but it seemed as if some one had retained him by force.
Because of one small devotion
Our Lady came to his succor
The priest then asked him if he had practiced any act of devotion during that time – meaning towards the Most Holy Mary – for such sudden conversions only come through the powerful hands of the Virgin.
"None, Father; what devotion could I offer," answered the youth, “when I believed myself lost?"
"But try to remember more carefully," replied the priest.
"Father, nothing."
But accidentally putting his hand to his breast, he remembered that he wore the Scapular of the Seven Dolors of Mary: Maria addolorata.
"Ah, my son," said the confessor to him, "do you not see that Our Bessed Lady has bestowed this grace upon you? And know," he added, "that this church is a church of Our Blessed Lady."
Hearing this, the youth was moved to contrition, and began to weep. He confessed his sins, and his compunction increased to such a degree that, bursting into tears, he fell down, overcome with grief, as it seemed, at the feet of the priest. That priest, after having restored the youth with a cordial, finally finished by hearing his confession and absolving him with the greatest consolation, as he was entirely contrite and resolved to amend his life.
The priest sent him back to his own country after having obtained from him full liberty to preach and publish everywhere the great mercy exercised by Mary towards him.
The Glories of Mary, NY: P.F.Kenedy & Sons,
1888, pp. 471-73
Posted September 7, 2024
1888, pp. 471-73
Posted September 7, 2024
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