Thursday, August 9, 2012

CONFUSION AT A CONFESSIONAL

CONFUSION AT A CONFESSIONAL                           

                          St. Padre Pio (1887-1968) of Pietrelcina was a renowned saint who received the rare gift of bearing the bleeding marks of the five wounds on the crucified body of Jesus (Holy Stigmata) on his body. This gifted priest of the Franciscan Capuchin congregation could discern the state of the conscience of the sinners who came to the confessional to disclose their sins to him seeking absolution from God. He has heard the confessions of over five million sinners, spending up to nineteen hours per day at the confessional. He was canonized on 6th June, 2002.
                           One day a popular actress kneeled before him at the confessional. As she began to report her sins, the holy priest discerned that she was insincere and was pretending  contrition and concealing the corrupt  state of her sinful heart.  Padre Pio could not tolerate her sacrilege. He shouted at her and sent her away from the confessional. She felt insulted and complained to the Superior of his congregation. Padre Pio was criticized by many for publicly refusing to hear her confession. But he remained silent and spent the whole night on his knees, praying for the transformation of the sinful woman.
                           The persistent prayers and penance of the saint completely converted her and she felt the whisper of her conscience compelling her to return to the confessional and confess all her sins sincerely.
                            The next day she returned to the confessional, truly repentant and disclosed all her sins most sincerely to the priest. He recognized her sincerity, consoled her and absolved her sins. She left the confessional with a relieved heart, filled with divine grace and peace.
                            Our conscience reflects the living words of the loving Lord, our merciful Father. He offers His mercy, love and forgiveness in the Holy Sacrament of reconciliation. God says to us: "Now, let's settle this matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool" {Isaiah 1: 18}.
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© By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and  Leo. S. John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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