Last night was another wonderful parish event. Known in these parts as “SOUP & BREAD”, on select Lenten evenings many people come to be nourished in body and soul.
Towards the end of dinner, my reflections on Saint Thérèse focused on ways her suffering was really a powerful force of loving. Just as Jesus took upon Himself our sins and sufferings, our sickness and illnessess, our discouragements and our abandonments so, too, did Saint Therese imitate Our Lord Jesus in this way. She dared to take upon herself the physical, emotional and spiritual sufferings of others. Her prayers and acts of penance expressly were completed on behalf of others, known and unknown.
Saint Thérèse was not seeking to save her own soul as much as she was trying to save the souls of others, acting on their behalf, giving voice for them to the Heavenly Father.
Just 14 years old at the time, Thérèse felt compelled to intercede on behalf of a notorious murderer named Pranzini. She was alarmed by reports of his unrepentance. As she recounts in her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, she stormed Heaven for a man many thought beyond redemption:
“Everything led to the belief that he would die impenitent. I wanted at all costs to keep him from falling into hell, and to succeed I employed all means imaginable, feeling that of myself I could do nothing. I offered to God all the infinite merits of Our Lord.”
As Pranzini’s fate approached, Thérèse increased her prayers until he was brought before the guillotine. The next day, Thérèse read in the paper that as he was about to put his head into the device something astonishing happened: “He turned, took hold of the crucifix the priest was holding out to him, and kissed the sacred wounds three times! Then his soul went to receive the merciful sentence of Him who declares that in heaven there will be more joy over one sinner who does penance than over ninety-nine who have no need of repentance!”
Thérèse was convinced her prayers had helped save Pranzini from damnation. Thereafter, she was emboldened to intercede for those in most need of divine love and mercy.
So, too, are our prayers along with the daily living of our faith to be completed in such a splendid manner that many souls will be saved.
Please join in next Monday, March 16 for the final SOUP & BREAD beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the O’Grady Community Room. We are glad to make this free and open to everyone.
