Lord, give us light.
How hard it is to love someone
who does not love you,
to open to one
who does not knock,
to give health to one
who enjoys being sick
who cultivates illness...
Have pity on those who have
no pity for themselves. - JF
How hard it is to love someone
who does not love you,
to open to one
who does not knock,
to give health to one
who enjoys being sick
who cultivates illness...
Have pity on those who have
no pity for themselves. - JF
Tomorrow, April 6 is the birthday of Jacques Fesch.
Jacques Fesch, was a sort of Parisian 'playboy' who bungled a robbery and shot and killed a policeman in the getaway. In prison, Fesch was converted, through the influence of St. Therese - the little saint who specializes in the conversion of sinners, 'welcoming them and eating with them' - 'at the table of sinners'. Fesch was condemned to death and guillotined for his crime. After his death people called him a saint, and eventually his cause was opened by the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris. [More information here.]
Imagine. A murderer proposed for canonization? This public sinner died with a reputation for sanctity. The French police union protest and condemn the very notion. Yet it is repentant sinners who are canonized. The Good Thief was one of the first - on the deathbed of his cross no less.
"It is only recently that I have come to understand the meaning of the cross. It is at once prodigious and atrocious: prodigious because it gives us life, and atrocious because if we do not accept to be crucified all life is denied us. This is a great mystery, and blessed are the persecuted." - Jacques Fesch
Again, you are a font of helpful information, dear T. For months now I've asked JF to be one of my saintly protectors to good effect. Got his book too. Easter blessings, Fr P
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, Terry. As you probably know, this isn't the first time St. Therese saved the soul of a convicted murderer. In her lifetime, she read something about a heartless, merciless murderer who had no remorse and was scheduled for execution.
ReplyDeleteFrom her cloistered convent, St. Therese stormed Heaven for the prisoner's conversion and that he beg forgiveness from God. Toward the very end of the prisoner's life, he did in fact have a remarkable change of heart, asked for Confession, and begged forgiveness from God and from the families of his victims. He was executed, but in a state of Grace.
St. Therese is a very powerful prayer warrior, right up there with St. Joseph, my good St. Francis, and of course, our dear Blessed Mother. God *never* abandons us, but isn't it reassuring to know we can ask the blessed saints for their intercession?!
God bless and protect you, Terry, and all here - Susan, ofs
Moses and St. Paul were murderers too.
ReplyDelete