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“Come
to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for your selves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” ~Matthew 11:28-30
The Badge
~Excerpt taken from:
The Heart of the King by A Sister of Mercy, 1956, pp. 35-37.~
One
glorious morning, Father L. sat at his desk preparing a sermon on the mercy
of the Heart of Christ. The priest was the zealous pastor of the Sailors’
Chapel at Saint John’s.
Father L. eagerly looked forward to the arrival of each ship for it was his
life’s greatest joy to meet the sailors and bring into their checkered lives
bright rays of the love and mercy of the Heart that was pierced for us on
Calvary.
Suddenly, the telephone rang. Answering the call, he found it was from the
captain of the Majestic: “Father, we have just arrived in port and I thought
you would like to come and meet some of my men before we sail. We shall be
here for three days.” I shall be over in a little while and hope to see all
the men,” replied the priest.
When Father reached the dock he found the captain awaiting him. The men in
general gave him a hearty welcome. After greeting the crew, he asked them to
call at the little chapel across the way, where he would be ready to receive
them. Then Father urged the men to show their devotion to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus by going to Confession and receiving Holy Communion, assuring them
that He would give them the graces they needed for their lives, and that He
would protect them during their next voyage.
The men responded to the appeal with the exception of one who hid when he
heard that the priest was coming, in order to avoid him. When all were
assembled in the church, Father spoke in a very beautiful and touching
manner of the Sacred Heart. He urged the sailors to show their special
devotion to Our Lord by receiving Holy Communion.
One of his companions told the priest about this stray sheep who had not
approached the Sacraments for forty-five years. Father gave the sailor a
Sacred Heart badge and urged him to get his friend to wear it.
The next day Father L. again visited the
ship and succeeded in finding the sailor who had avoided him on the previous
day. After talking with him for five minutes the man agreed to receive the
Sacraments. The badge had accomplished its work and another soul was brought
to the feet of Christ. ■ |
