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}.
.......................................................................................................
© 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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