_A Fortunate Mistake._
The following is related by an eye-witness of the event: 'One evening,
in December, 1855, a Priest named B---, having returned to his house
after a hard day's work, sat down and began to recite his Office, when
he heard a knock at his door. He opened it, and saw a young girl, who
asked him to go and visit a dying lady, living at No. 28, --- Street.
. . . The good Priest was ready to interrupt his prayer to follow the
little messenger, but she told him there was no hurry, provided he
went in the course of that evening; so he wrote down the address of
the sick person, and told her to say that he was coming shortly.
'After finishing his Office, the good Priest went to the street named,
and entered No. 18, thinking this was the number mentioned. It was a
wretched house, and as there was no one in charge of the door he
walked in, groped up the poor staircase, and knocked at the first door
that he came to. A man opened it, and at the sight of the
ecclesiastical dress, fell into a passion, and to the inquiry made as
to whether this were the house of the sick lady, he made an impudent
answer, and shut the door in the face of the Priest. Patient and mild,
like his Divine Master, the Priest knocked at the next door, and met
with no better reception. He then went up to the second story, where
he found a boy playing in a passage. "Can you tell me, my child," said
he, "where I can find a poor lady dangerously ill, who lives in this
house, and is called G---?" "Yes; down there, Reverend Sir; my father
said that she would not be able to live through the night; but I do
not think that you have said her name correctly." "Never mind the
name; lead me, I beg of you, to her door."
'The Priest, preceded by the child, entered the room and found a woman
in her agony; a man about fifty was sitting near her bed, and at the
sight of the Priest he immediately arose, evidently annoyed. "Are you
Mr. G?---" said the Priest; "how is your sick wife?" "No," replied the
man bluntly, "I am not; who has sent you here to meddle with other
people's affairs?" "I was requested to come," replied the Priest with
surprise. "I was told that a poor lady, named G---, was seriously ill,
and wished for the last consolations of religion. I may have mistaken
the street, or the house, or room; but undoubtedly this sick woman has
much need of my ministry. The Divine Mercy has certainly led me here,
and allowed this mistake to occur." "Yes, man of God!" murmured the
dying woman, "yes, it is God Who has led you hither." "Nothing of the
sort," said the husband angrily; "for ten years no Priest has set his
foot in my house; you shall not confess my wife. I am her master; mind
your own business." "You are much mistaken, sir," answered the Priest,
firmly and mildly; "the first Master of your wife is God, and you have
no right over her soul. If she desire, I shall hear her confession,
and I can only withdraw when she freely and of her own will refuses my
ministry." Then, approaching the sick woman, he said: "Madam, do you
desire to be reconciled with God, and die a Christian death?" The poor
woman raised her hands to heaven, and shed tears of joy, exclaiming:
"Blessed be the Divine Goodness that has allowed this mistake! for
three days I have been asking my husband for a Priest, and he has
answered me only with insults. I do truly wish to be reconciled to my
God, Who has had so much compassion on my poor soul." "Do you hear,
sir?" said the Priest to the husband; "be pleased to leave me alone
with her for a few moments." These words, pronounced with much
firmness and resolution, forced the man to retire, although he did so
grumbling.
'The dying woman then pointed to a rosary hanging over her bed, and
said: "See, this has saved me; I had the weakness to fear my husband
more than God, and to avoid disturbances and quarrels, for ten years I
have given up every practice of religion. One only thing have I
preserved--the love of the Most Holy Virgin, and confidence in her
intercession. I have recited her Rosary almost every day; it is she
alone who has led you here, and she, the true Mother of Mercy and
refuge of sinners, saves my soul." The Priest was deeply moved by this
touching narrative. He consoled the sick woman, helped her to make her
confession, and then told her to prepare to receive the Holy Viaticum
and Extreme Unction, whilst he went to give notice thereof to the
Parish Priest.
'On leaving the house he looked at the address which the little girl
had given him, and saw that the number was not 18 but 28. Blessing God
for this fortunate misunderstanding he hastened to No. 28, where he
found the sick lady expecting him. After complying with the duties of
his sacred ministry here also he immediately went to the Parish Priest
to see about the other Sacraments which the two sick persons required;
but meanwhile, the poor woman at No. 18 died. She had received the
pardon of her sins by the sacramental absolution, and the fervour of
her will would assuredly supply before the God of All Mercies for the
other succours of religion.
'The man of God, full of faith and gratitude towards the Most Holy
Virgin--the refuge of sinners and consolation of the afflicted--then
proceeded to fulfil the duties of his sacred ministry towards the
other dying lady.'
This most touching fact shows once again the treasures of benediction
that result from piety towards the Most Blessed Virgin, and the great
Mercy of Our Adorable Saviour towards those who love His Holy Mother.
_Prayer of St. Bernard._--O Mother of Mercy! even when on earth you
were deserving of our veneration and confidence; but now that you are
raised to the highest heavens your faithful servants look to you as
the help of all nations. We beseech you, then, All Holy Virgin, to
succour us by your patronage and prayers. Your prayers are more dear
to us and more valuable than all the treasures of earth; they are so
efficacious that they obtain from God the abundance of His graces; so
powerful that they suppress and bring to naught all the efforts of our
enemies, who labour for our destruction. Scatter them, O Mother of
Mercy! confound all their designs, strengthen our weakness against
their malice, and show yourself the true Mother of all the faithful
who place their confidence in you. You are all my hope, and will be so
as long as I have breath. Amen.
_Ejaculation._--I place all my confidence, after God, in you, O Mary,
my dear Mother.
_Practice._--Bear patiently, and in a spirit of penance, all the
contradictions you may meet with this day.