She died saying, "Padre, perdónalos. Viva Christo Rey!" (Father, forgive them. Long live Christ the King!)*
Sponsored
Catholic365 is sponsored by
Road to Purity
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
If you are Catholic and have not been to Mass or Confession in thirty years or more you might think that forgiveness is beyond your grasp and that there is "no hope" for you. You might even think that if you walked into a church you would turn into a pillar of salt. Well, here is the deal. All of that negative, " I'm too bad to be forgiven" or "It's too late for me" stuff is bunk. It is what is known as a "cop-out". But there is great news for all of us, wicked sinners included.
You see, a Perfect Storm is approaching. This might even be a once in a lifetime occurrence. During the upcoming days, Holy Week, Easter Sunday and the Holy Year of Mercy will converge into a spiritual tsunami ready to wash us all with its unrivaled, avalanche of Love., Forgiveness and Mercy.
Even if you have been the most self-centered, egotistical, s.o.b. since Caligula busied himself ravaging Rome, it does not matter. We all have an opportunity to run into this storm, open our arms wide, and embrace the deluge of unconditional love and mercy that God will be pouring down upon us. There is a catch. We have to want it and ask for it. That's all there is to it. That seems simple enough but for so many it is so hard to do.
Recently I wrote about Dutch Schultz. Dutch was one of the most feared and brutal murderers in the bootlegging business in the 1930s. He ruled the Bronx and, as he lay dying after being gunned down in Newark, N.J., had his confession heard, asked for and received Anointing of the Sick and received Holy Viaticum (last Communion). Was Dutch turned away and told he did not qualify for mercy? NO.
Let us look at another fellow who makes Dutch Schultz look like a "goody-two-shoes". His name was Rudolf Hoess *. This man was Kommandant at Auschwitz, the deadliest and most efficient of the German death camps. Hoess designed the extermination processes that were implemented there and was responsible for the murders of over two and a half million people.
Every day, Rudolf Hoess kissed his wife and kids good-bye and went to work. While at work he supervised the killings and torturing of countless men, women and children. After work he went home, kissed his wife hello, ate dinner with his family, read a book to his children and then tucked them into bed. What a guy. What a dad, what a husband. He also can lay claim to the title, Greatest Mass Murderer in History.
Here is something not too many people are aware of. Hoess had ordered the execution of a group of Jesuits, including their Superior, Father Wladyslaw Lohn. The priests were all herded out together to be killed but, ironically, Father Lohn was not with the others. The priest was somehow "absent" for his execution.
Rudolf Hoess was raised in a strict Catholic household but rebelled against his faith as a teenager. Right before his execution he asked for a priest. It was Father Lohn who was sent to him. It was Father Lohn who heard his Confession, anointed him and gave him his final Holy Communion. Then Hoess was sent to the gallows.
Isn't it amazing but, no matter how evil any of us has been, as long as we have a breath left in us God will hear our cries for mercy. All we have to do is ask. Even a monster such as Rudolf Hoess was given a chance at forgiveness. (There is what is known as temporal punishment due after forgiveness. It was not a "free ride" for Rudolf).
The point is this. Love, Forgiveness and Mercy are ours for the asking. And now, as Holy Week and Easter Sunday join The Holy Year of Mercy, a Perfect Storm is about to blow across our world, a storm that you will want to be sucked up in and transported to another spiritual dimension. No matter what you have done, it is never too late. God waits with open arms for all of his children. Some will seize the opportunity, swallow their pride and ASK for forgiveness and mercy. Others will never do it. We all have a choice. We can embrace the storm or hide from it.
Rudolf Hoess* should not be confused with Rudolf Hess, who was Deputy Fuhrer under Hitler
©Larry Peterson 2016 All Rights Reserved
Larry Peterson, a former reinforcing Iron-Worker from NYC, is a Catholic/Christian blogger and posts commentary weekly. His work has appeared in such publications as Aleteia, Zenit from Rome, New Evangelists, Top Catholic Blogs, Big Pulpit, Catholic365.com, and others.
His first children's picture book, "Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes" was published in 2011. In 2012, his full-length novel, "The Priest and the Peaches" was released. His second novel, "The Demons of Abadon," was released in the spring of 2016
Larry's latest novel, "Horizon Homeless," was released in ebook format in May of 2017, and the paperback followed on July 27, 2017.
Larry belongs to the Catholic Writer's Guild, The Catholic Writer's Society, The Knights of Columbus, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He has been an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for over twenty years bringing communion to the homebound and hospitalized.
You can find more at https://cradlingcatholic.com/ or larrypeterson-author.com www.slipperywillie.blogspot.com or contact Larry at petersonlarry6@gmail.com
