Miracles of Saint Charbel, a Saint from Lebanon

 

Lebanon's Hermit

After 16 years of strict asceticism he was granted permission by his superiors to withdraw from the world and become a hermit. In a hermitage near the monastery he lived the rest of his life in prayer and contemplation, frequent fasting and manual labor.

Tradition has it that Charbel showed ample evidence of extraordinary gifts during his life. And so it was, for instance, that he was able to rescue fellow monks from a poisonous snake simply by asking the creature if it would mind going away. There are also tales of clairvoyance and healing associated with his name. Even at his death, on 24 December 1898, it was noted in the Monastery's records that he was expected to remain active after his death. In a dedication to him his obedience was described as "more angelic than human".

Grave's brightness - Miracles

The expectation that the world would be hearing more of Charbel was soon fulfilled: his grave was immediately surrounded by an "extraordinary brightness", according to a booklet produced by the Monastery about its most famous son. The light only finally faded after 45 days, unlike public interest which continued to wax brightly: pilgrims even tried to steal pieces of his remains, which gave the authorities a reason to open the grave. The body was found floating in mud but was itself completely free from signs of deterioration "as if it had been buried that same day." It was noticed that a "blood-like liquid" exuded from the body's a phenomenon which can still be seen even now. The liquid is caught in a cloth and, according to the Monastery, has over the years been responsible for many cases of healing.

In this century his grave has been opened four times, the last time being in 1955, and each time "it has been noticed that his bleeding body still has its flexibility as if it were alive".

Sister Maria Abdel Kamari

The beatification of Charbel followed the healing of a nun, Sister Maria Abdel Kamari. She suffered serious intestinal problems, could not keep food down, had been bedridden for 14 years and had already received the sacrament of extreme unction three times. In 1950 she was taken to Charbel's grave and on praying suddenly felt a powerful surge of energy and was able to stand unaided. Since then Sister Maria Abel Kamari has been completely free of her previous ailments.

Samira Hannoch

More recently, in 1992, some of Charbel's "miracles" reached the Western press. Swedish papers and the British daily, The Guardian, printed the story of 15-year-old Samira Hannoch who reported having had a vision of Charbel in her home near Stockholm. Since then oil has been pouring from a portrait of Charbel and has been associated with a number of healings.

Nouhad El Chami (operation)

A couple of months later, in January 1993, another incident occurred, this time in Lebanon, with 59-year-old Nouhad El-Chami in the main role. Nouhad, a mother of 12 children, suddenly became paralyzed as a result of a narrowing of arteries in a very advanced stage.

On 21 January 1993 Nouhad had a "dream". "Two monks came towards my bed. One of them, St Charbel, came nearer, uncovered my neck, put his hand on it and said: I have come to operate on you. I turned my head to see his face, but I couldn't, because the light coming from his body and eyes was too blinding and powerful. I was so confused, and asked him: Father, why do you want to operate on me? The doctor didn't say I need an operation. But St Charbel said: Definitely, you need an operation, and I, Father Charbel, have come to do it for you. I looked towards the statue of the Virgin, placed near me, and said: Holy Mary, please help me; how are these monks going to operate without anesthetics or sutures ? Then I realized that the Virgin's statue was standing between the monks. "Suddenly, I felt a terrible pain under Charbel's fingers, which were rubbing my neck. When St Charbel finished the operation, the other monk approached, put me in a sitting position, and placed a pillow behind my back. He reached for a glass of water, put his hand behind my head and said: Drink this water. I cannot drink without a straw, I said. He replied: We have operated on you, and now you will drink this water; then you will stand up and walk.

"I woke up and felt water running down my throat, and found myself sitting in the same position as the Father had placed me in. Suddenly I felt a burning in my neck, and unconsciously put my hand there, to find out what was happening. Then I realized that my paralyzed hand had become normal again; I felt my [paralyzed] foot moving normally under the blanket. I got out of bed in a semi-conscious state and knelt before the picture of St Charbel and the statue of the Virgin, to thank them. I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror; I saw two wounds of twelve centimeters each, at both sides of my neck. "I went to my husband's bedroom and turned on the light. My husband looked at me and shouted: Woman! How did you get here alone? Now you'll stumble and fall and a new catastrophe will be added upon another! I raised my paralyzed hand and told him: "Have no fear, St Charbel operated on me, and now I can walk."

This story, described in a second booklet published by the Monastery in which Charbel lived, has a follow-up to it: after another dream, in which Charbel appeared to her, Nouhad discovered that there was oil flowing from a portrait of the Saint. This has continued up to the present moment, as our colleague in Lebanon, Nabil Matraji, was able to verify for himself: "It is an amazing sight," he said. However, it is not only Charbel's portrait in Nouhad's home which oozes healing oil. The same phenomenon is happening with oil flowing from the portrait of a fourth century saint s the founder of the Maronite Order, St Maroun (given in the English and American reference books as St Maroun) after whom the order was named. The same Maroun, so Nouhad learned in a later dream, was the second monk who had helped in the operation which cured her.

Nadia Sader

In an article in Al-Anwar on 10 September 1996 Nadia Sader described what happened to her when she drank a brew in which oak leaves from Nouhad's tree had been soaked. Nadia's illness had progressed quickly and aggressively and within a short time she was totally paralyzed; she suffered tremendous pain and expected to die at any moment. Her mother-in-law suggested trying the oak leaves which had been blessed by St Charbel s an idea she complied with only after much persuasion.

"As I drank the hot liquid, I felt a burning inside," she told Al-Anwar. "It was horrible, indescribable. I was suffering from my chin down to my right foot. I was howling, screaming, from pain and also from fear. Suddenly I saw the most wonderful scene in my life: I saw the heart of Jesus, red like blood, beating. The heart was all surrounded by light and my children were standing around it. Then I lost consciousness… People around me saw my right foot making violent movements, rising up and falling down with an unbelievable force. I remember nothing of all of this. [Later] the gathering saw my left foot making the same violent movements as the right one had done before. It was so violent that I fell down on the floor. My foot continued its sudden movements with more power than three men were capable of restraining. I was still unconscious. I stayed in bed, weakened, till the morning of the third day, when my little child woke me up; only then did I know I had been cured, and I was able to walk again normally and serve my family."

Nadia Sader still did not know what to make of it all, wavering between belief and non-belief, even after several more appearances to her of Charbel and Jesus. "I have snatched you from your deathbed, and you still don't believe?" Jesus asked her. Nadia's home became a place of pilgrimage where icons of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St Charbel exuded oil but Nadia herself continued to swing between faith and fear, especially after a medium told her that the oil had evil origins and was the work of the devil.

Only after repeated appearances of Jesus to her did Nadia finally admit that she was convinced. She subsequently began receiving messages from St Charbel. The following are quotations from these messages: "Always ask for the healing of the soul, and don't fear the illness of the body." "Pray for the living, because most of the living are dead, and the dead are living."

Raymond Nader

Raymond Nader, a Lebanese electro-mechanical engineer, carries with him quite spectacular evidence of Charbel's activities: on one arm he has five fingerprints literally burnt into his skin. The scorched fingerprints have already renewed themselves six times.

Raymond Nader told his story earlier this year, in April 1997, in front of the TV cameras. On 9 November 1994 he spent a night in the hermitage where Charbel had lived for 23 years. He wanted to meditate and had lit five candles. It was a still, cold night. "Suddenly," he told Murr Television, "I felt warmth around me in the cold night, and a fiery, warm wind began to blow. However, to my great surprise the flames of the candles were steady and still. I tried to reason scientifically, but I thought I might be dreaming or hallucinating. Suddenly I lost my five senses. There was no more warmth or wind or flames. I was in a different world, a world bathed in light. Not the usual light we know, not white, but transparent like crystal water. The light didn't come from a specific direction, but from everywhere. It was a billion times brighter than the light of the Sun… "In that light I felt a Presence, I couldn't see it, but I was aware of it. "No, you are not dreaming, YOU ARE MORE AWAKE THAN EVER. The Voice came from nowhere and yet from everywhere. I heard it in every part of me, not with my physical ears. It expressed itself to me with no words, no sounds. The Presence presented itself to me as a "feeling" of deep peace, and joy and love. At a certain moment I felt that this experience had come to an end. I wanted this joy and peace to last for ever, and if the Presence couldn't stay, I wished at least it would take me with it; but He made me understand that He is always here."

Gradually Nader returned to normal consciousness. "I looked at the candles with astonishment: they were totally consumed. My watch indicated that four hours has passed in a blink of an eye. I left the hermitage, and on the way to my car I felt heat in my arm. I thought it might be a scratch, or an animal's sting. But the heat grew stronger. I took off my pullover, and in the light of my car saw five fingerprints on my arm, showing every detail of human fingers, including the wrinkles and the nails. It was very hot, but there was no pain at all, only itching. For five days it oozed blood and water."

Dr Nabil Hokayem, a plastic surgeon, one of the most famous surgeons in Lebanon, confirmed that it was a second-degree burn. On the occasion of the Feast Day of Charbel on 15 July in 1995, Raymond Nader had a new and extraordinary experience while visiting the Monastery of St Maroun. "On my way to Charbel's hermitage, I saw a procession ahead of me. I recognized the monks of the monastery, but at the end of the procession was a very old priest. I approached him to ask a few questions. As I came closer to him, everything around me changed. All sounds disappeared, but the old priest's voice resounded inside my head." It was then that Nader heard one of six messages which he attributes to Charbel. With each message the fingerprints on his arm were renewed.

The following are quotations from these messages:

"The Lord has created each human being to shine, to enlighten the world; you are the light of the world. Each man is a lantern meant to shine; the Lord has provided a clear and transparent glass to the lantern, to enable that light to shine and illuminate the world; but they are taking care of the glass and forgetting about the light; they are caring about the glass shape, coloring and decorating it, until it becomes thick, opaque, preventing light from shining forth, and thus is the world drowned in darkness. The Lord insists on illuminating the world. Your glass must become transparent again. You should realize the purpose for which you are born in this world."

"Christ knows what is in your hearts, and it is your hearts that he wants. Don't seek for the truth outside the Christ; when you know the Christ, you will know the Truth and you will be free. The Christ wants you to be free. Fear not, and be sure that the Christ has defeated the world."

"The Church of the Christ is a rock upon which are being shattered the waves of evil. Christ is the way. Crosses of light will flood the Earth."

A long Way from Eden ..

 

In one of his novels, the Russian writer Turgenev has a character who, somewhat exasperated by the company of some well-heeled and well-oiled babbling companions; stood up and said “This is Bedlam” and left. That is how I feel these days when I watch the news most evenings. 

If I had any doubts that we are living in Bedlam, they were laid to rest this week after reading a story on the prolife news website (Life Site) about a Film award ceremony in Holland where the video of a Dutch pop group’s song “Kill the Baby” had been nominated for one of their ‘Golden Calf’ awards (you couldn’t make this stuff up). 

The video, which I watched, is truly disturbing; beginning with an animated scene, set in the womb, where the two band members home in on the foetus in space ships and annihilate the ‘intruder’ with ‘ray-guns’. Fairly tame compared to what comes next, which uses baby dolls to demonstrate a variety of execution techniques, including setting fire to one, a mock-up of an electric chair, being mauled by a dog, thrown from a building and being shot .

 It seems that one of the band members had an abortion and this is her way of trivialising abortion and processing her feelings about that. 

Whilst the gates of Eden were shut behind us long ago; humanity has journeyed a long way in the opposite direction. I wonder how much worse it could get; how much longer before the cry of the hearts of His children are heard “Come Lord Jesus” and He Illuminates the consciences of the world.

Link to Video (Exercise discernment rather than curiosity before viewing)

Heaven and Earth are full of Your Glory

 

A couple of weeks ago I was on an island in the western Visayas region of the Philippines. There is a Balete tree there which has stood (and is still growing) for 1300 years according to Botanists. Amazing to think of all the history that has unfolded since it first sprouted from the earth. In the same town is Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano that has been spitting out rocks since Dinosaurs walked the earth; a truly magnificent sight as the sun rose and glistened on its peak and a squadron of swallows flew by and added their benediction. I am often in awe at the wonders of creation, it restores something in the heart to be immersed in it. 

But there was more glory in that town to be seen as I moved from creation to redemption. I went for coffee at Joring’s Café. Now in her 70’s her testimony is written on the wall of the café. A rebellious teenager, married at 16 and abandoned with 2 children by 21 she had a tough journey ahead of her. In 1976, with only 27 pesos (50p) and the support of loving, pious parents she started making coffee for the traders and shoppers at the local market, her children helping to serve and do the dishes. Through many hardships, and a renewed faith and trust in God, she was able to survive and thrive as has her whole family; her grandchildren are college graduates now while she finished schooling part way through high school. But there is more to her success in that she is also an example for the young, encouraging them to obey their parents and keep their values and faith intact, to not make the same mistakes as her; and even to those who do she offers hope through change of heart, faith and diligence in work. 

If we have eyes to see it, Heaven and Earth really are full of His Glory.

 

There is a way things work

A monk had a brother living in the world who was poor, and so he supplied him with all he received from his work. But the more the monk supplied, the poorer the brother became. So the monk went to tell an old man about it. The old man said to him ‘if you want my advice do not give him anything more but say to him, “Brother, when I had something I supplied you; now bring me what you get from your work” Take all he brings you and whenever you see a stranger or a poor man give him some of it, begging him to pray for him.’

The monk went away and did this. When his secular brother came he spoke to him as the old man had said, and the brother went sadly away. The first day, taking some vegetables from his field, he brought them to the monk. The monk took them and gave them to the old men, begging them to pray for his brother and after the blessing he returned home. In the same way, another time the brother brought the monk vegetables and 3 loaves which he took, doing as on the first occasion and having received the blessing he went away. And the secular brother came a third time bringing many provisions, some bread and fish.

Seeing this, the monk was full of wonder and he invited the poor so as to give them some refreshment. Then he said to his brother ‘do you need a little bread? ‘The other said ‘No, for when I used to receive something from you, it was like a fire coming into my house and burning it, but now that I receive nothing from you God Blesses me’ Then the monk went to tell the old man all that had happened and the old man said to him “Do you not know that the work of the monk is of fire, and where it enters it burns? It helps your brother more to do alms with what he reaps from his field and to receive the prayers of the saints and thus to be blessed’

AN EXORCISM WITH A ROSARY BEFORE A CROWD OF 12,000 PEOPLE

(By St. Dominic de Guzman) 

THIRTY-THIRD ROSE - A DIABOLICAL POSSESSION: 

WHEN SAINT DOMINIC was preaching the Rosary near Carcassone, an Albigensian was brought to him who was possessed by the devil. Saint Dominic exorcised him in the presence of a great crowd of people; it appears that over twelve thousand had come to hear him preach. The devils who were in possession of this wretched man were forced to answer Saint Dominic's questions in spite of themselves. 

They said that: 

1. There were fifteen thousand of them in the body of this poor man, because he had attacked the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary;  

2. They went on to testify that by preaching the Rosary he put fear and horror into the very depths of Hell and that he was the man they hated most throughout the whole world, because of the souls which he snatched from them through devotion to the Holy Rosary;  

3. They then revealed several other things.  

Saint Dominic put his Rosary around the Albigensian's NECK and asked the devils to tell him who, of all the Saints in Heaven, was the one they feared the most, and who should, therefore, be the most loved and revered by men. At this they let out such unearthly screams that most of the people fell to the ground, faint from fear. Then, using all their cunning, so as not to answer, the devils wept and wailed in such a pitiful way that many of the people wept also, out of purely natural pity. The devils spoke through the mouth of the Albigensian, pleading in a heartrending voice:  

"Dominic, Dominic, have mercy on us—we promise you that we will never hurt you. You have always had compassion for sinners and those in distress; have pity on us, for we are in grievous straits. We are suffering so very much already, so why do you delight in heightening our pains? Can't you be satisfied with our suffering without adding to it? Have pity on us! Have pity on us!"  

Saint Dominic was not one whit moved by the pathos of these wretched spirits and told them that he would not let them alone until they had answered his question. Then they said they would whisper the answer in such a way that only Saint Dominic would be able to hear. The latter firmly insisted upon their answering clearly and out loud. Then the devils kept quiet and refused to say another word, completely disregarding Saint Dominic's orders—so he knelt down and prayed thus to Our Lady: “Oh, powerful and wonderful Virgin Mary, I implore you by the power of the Most Holy Rosary, order these enemies of the human race to answer me.”

No sooner had he made this prayer than a glowing flame leaped out of the ears, nostrils and mouth of the Albigensian. Everyone shook with fear, but the fire did not hurt anyone. Then the devils cried:  

“Dominic, we beseech you, by the passion of Jesus Christ and by the merits of His Holy Mother and of all the Saints, let us leave the body of this man without speaking further—for the Angels will answer your question whenever you wish. After all, are we not liars? So why should you want to believe us? Please do not torture us any more; have pity on us."  

“Woe unto you wretched spirits, who do not deserve to be heard,” Saint Dominic said, and kneeling down, he prayed to Our Lady: “Oh most worthy Mother of Wisdom, I am praying for the people assembled here who have already learned how to say the Angelic Salutation properly. Please, I beg of you, force your enemies to proclaim the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, about this, here and now, before the multitude.”

Saint Dominic had hardly finished this prayer when he saw the Blessed Virgin near at hand, surrounded by a multitude of Angels. She struck the possessed man with a golden rod that she held and said: “Answer my servant Dominic at once.” Remember, the people neither saw nor heard Our Lady, but only Saint Dominic.) Then the devils started screaming: “Oh, you who are our enemy, our downfall and our destruction, why have you come from Heaven just to torture us so grievously? O Advocate of sinners, you who snatch them from the very jaws of Hell, you who are the very sure path to Heaven, must we, in spite of ourselves, tell the whole truth and confess before everyone who it is who is the cause of our shame and our ruin? Oh, woe unto us, princes of darkness: "Then listen well, you Christians: the Mother of Jesus Christ is powerful and she can save her servants from falling into Hell. She is the Sun which destroys the darkness of our wiles and subtlety. It is she who uncovers our hidden plots, breaks our snares and makes our temptations useless and ineffectual. 

“We have to say, however reluctantly, that not a single soul who has really persevered in her service has ever been damned with us; one single sigh that she offers to the Blessed Trinity is worth far more than all the prayers, desires and aspirations of all the Saints. 

“We fear her more than all the other Saints in Heaven together and we have no success with her faithful servants. Many Christians who call upon her when they are at the hour of death and who really ought to be damned according to our ordinary standards are saved by her intercession. 

“Oh, if only that Mary (it is thus in their fury that they called her) had not pitted her strength against ours and had not upset our plans, we should have conquered the Church and should have destroyed it long before this; and we would have seen to it that all the Orders in the Church fell into error and disorder.  

“Now that we are forced to speak we must also tell you this: nobody who perseveres in saying the Rosary will be damned, because she obtains for her servants the grace of true contrition for their sins and by means of this they obtain God's forgiveness and mercy.”

Then Saint Dominic had them all say the Rosary very slowly  and with great devotion, and a wonderful thing happened: at each Hail Mary that he and the people said together a large group of devils issued forth from the wretched man's body under the guise of red-hot coals.  

When the devils had all been expelled and the heretic was at last entirely free of them, Our Lady (who was still invisible) gave her blessing to the assembled company, and they were filled with joy because of this.  

A large number of heretics were converted because of this miracle and joined the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary.  

Notes: 

1. This incident is referred to by Saint Louis in his "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary" when he explains that those who love Our Lady are not lost. Cf. paragraph 42. M.B.

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A Saint is a Recycled Sinner

 

With our charity appeal we do recycling of aluminium drinks cans to raise money. So sometimes to be useful, I used to go out with a bag and collect the cans that were thrown in the street so we could sell them later; the proceeds went to school fees in India , 150 kilos of cans = 60 pounds=1 years school fee. One day as I was doing this and also praying at the same time I had this insight.


Sometimes the cans I found were whole, just left in the street or pavement, sometimes they were dented or crushed, sometimes flattened under the wheels of vehicles, sometimes clean and sometimes covered in mud or dirty. Where ever they were and whatever state they were in didn’t bother me at all, I picked them all up because they are sold by weight and each has exactly the same value, so each was equally important to me. My first insight was that, what I was doing with my cans was what God was doing with souls, with His children. Seeking them out, many discarded, many dented or flattened by life, some clean, some muddy but each with exactly the same value in His sight.

The other thing is that I enjoyed picking up cans, because I knew that the result was that my objective (money for school fees) was getting closer and closer to being met with each can. In fact I was delighted at each one I found even if it was squashed or muddy, it gave me joy to find each one. And similarly, it was also that way for God when he could re-gain a soul of one of His creatures. So me & God were having the same kind of day !

The next stage for me is to take them to the recycling centre. This is where the old cans are smelted. I also had an insight about this too.

They put all the cans into a smelter, where they are heated up and melted (very hot) and after a while all the molten metal is on the bottom of the container and all the impurities like paint or dirt etc floats on the top and this is skimmed off. Then the molten metal is poured into ingots and solidifies. So it is the pure metal (looks like silver). This can then be used to make anything, like new cans or an engine , even airplanes. So then I had the next insight..that after God collects souls he does the same thing, purifies them so as to re-form or re-shape them in the way he wants. An entirely new life or purpose. Instead of a furnace though He uses trials and suffering in order to purge and transform and He knows how to do it, like the man who operates the aluminium smelter. Somehow it works !

I suppose some of the process is on earth, some might be in purgatory depending on how we respond and learn from these trials here. Gradually we are transformed then, sanctified through this process back into His image and likeness.

I think our hardships are our sanctification and the souls we help will be our glory in the next life, the ones we bring with us to God and those we help with our charity too.(we can never do too much in that department).

A saint is a recycled sinner ..

Sometimes when I was collecting cans, I would bend down and pick one up, only to discover that it was not made of aluminium but steel. This was bitterly disappointing because whilst the aluminium ones have a cash value and were useful to me; the steel ones were worthless and even though I had expended the same amount of effort in gathering them up, all I could do was throw them away again. Then I had another insight..

This was the same for God too. Sometimes, despite His efforts in reaching out to souls, there will always be those who would reject Him, fail to open their hearts, remain in their ‘old ways’ and remain separated from Him by their own choice. He feels the same disappointment and grief for their loss, for them His sacrifice is wasted…

Reaching the Young

On a visit to England I attended a Mass where the children from the church schools also attended, perhaps 100+.

Apparently they were seldom seen as only a handful of their parents came to Mass and an even smaller number had their kids in the sacramental program.  

I found myself praying that God would reveal Himself to them and then remembered a couple of encouraging stories I had heard. Both are from talks by Fr Blount, an American charismatic priest and exorcist. The first was about when he spoke with elementary school children about praying for healing. He had them pray over each other and then instructed them to pray over their parents when they went home. One boy as they finished, ran home to pray over his grandmother who was on her death bed. He asked her permission and she agreed, he laid his hands on her and asked God to heal her. She leaped up from the bed, completely healed and headed off to church for thanksgiving. I am sure no one will forget that lesson ! 

Another was a retreat day Fr. Blount had for teenage boys. They had exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and he prayed that Jesus would do something a bit special for the boys during adoration to enhance the day. What followed was that from the host, the face of Jesus appeared. And It stayed. Everyone saw It and as they remained in adoration for several hours, some weeping and being transformed others greatly strengthened. 

We do live in dark days and in many ways its seems that the odds are against any great breakthrough or success in winning souls for God; information about God is not really enough; we need an encounter with the living God to catalyse a life of faith and an on-going life in Him.

Claude Newman and the Miraculous Medal

Claude Newman was a twenty-year-old African-American who, in 1943, awaited execution in a prison in Mississippi. His crime was that of ambushing and shooting a man named Sid Cook, his beloved grandmother’s abusive second husband. One day, noticing a medal hanging around the neck of a fellow prisoner, Claude asked the young man what it was. The latter responded by casting the medal to the ground with a curse saying, “Take it.”

The medal was a Miraculous Medal of Our Lady of Graces, and though knowing nothing about it or who it represented, Claude picked up the oval trinket and hung it around his neck.


The Miraculous Medal of Our Lady of Graces:

During the night, Claude was awakened by a touch on his wrist to behold a glowing vision whom he later described as “the most beautiful woman that God ever created.”

The lady calmed the frightened man and said, “If you would like me to be your mother, and you my child, send for a Priest of the Catholic Church.” And she disappeared.

“A ghost, a ghost!” screamed Claude, at the same time clamoring for a Catholic Priest.

The next morning Father Robert O’Leary, SVD, (who later wrote the story) was summoned. After listening to the extraordinary account, he found that Claude was illiterate, and knew nearly nothing about religion. So he proceeded to carefully catechize not only him but four other inmates who were deeply impressed by Claude’s account.

Occasionally, two sisters from Father O’Leary’s church joined the catechetical team. Several weeks later, when Father introduced the sacrament of confession, Claude volunteered, “Oh, I know about that! The Lady told me that when we go to confession we are kneeling down not before a priest, but before the cross of her Son. And that when we are truly sorry for our sins, and we confess our sins, the Blood He shed flows down over us and washes us free from all sins.”

The priest and nuns were stunned at this new revelation.

Seeing their surprise, Claude heartily apologized, “O, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to blurt it out!”

“The Lady told me that when we go to confession we are kneeling down not before a priest, but before the cross of her Son.”

But assuring him that he was far from angry, Father O’Leary asked Claude if he had seen the Lady again. Taking the priest aside, the young man said, “She told me that if you doubted me or showed hesitancy, I was to remind you that lying in a ditch in Holland in 1940, you made a vow to her which she’s still waiting for you to keep.”

This revelation convinced Father of Claude’s claim. In fact, during the war, O’Leary had promised to build a church in honor of the Immaculate Conception, a promise he fulfilled in 1947. This church stands to this day in Clarksdale, Mississippi. As Father and Claude returned to the class on confession, Claude told his classmates, “You should not be afraid of confession.

You’re really telling God your sins, not the priest. You know, the Lady said that confession is something like a telephone. We talk through the priest to God, and God talks back to us through the priest.”

When about a week later Father O’Leary and the sisters were preparing to teach on the Blessed Sacrament, Claude asked if he could share what the Lady had told him about the Eucharist. The catechist joyfully acquiesced, and Claude related, “The Lady told me that in

Communion, I will only see what looks like a piece of bread. But she told me that It is really and truly her Son, and that He will be with me just as He was with her Father O’Leary testified: “I’ve never seen anyone go to his death as joyfully and as happily.”

Before He was born in Bethlehem. She told me that I should spend my time like she did during her lifetime with Him, in loving Him, adoring Him, thanking Him, praising Him, and asking Him for blessings. I shouldn’t be distracted or bothered by anybody else or anything else, but I should spend those few minutes in my thoughts alone with Him.” Finally, the catechumens were received into the Church. The baptismal records of St. Mary’s parish (Vicksburg) record Claude’s baptismal day as January 16, 1944. He was scheduled for execution on January 20th.

As Sheriff Williamson asked Claude if he had a last request, he couldn’t believe the answer:

“Well, all my friends are all shook up. The jailer is all shook up. But you don’t understand. I’m not going to die; only this body is. I’m going to be with Her. So, then, I would like to have a party.”

And so, he had his party with cake and ice cream and his fellow inmates were allowed to attend. On the morning of execution, Claude was full of joy.

As he prepared with Father O’Leary, Sheriff Williamson rushed in shouting that the governor had granted a two-week reprieve. To his amazement, Claude broke down in sobs with inconsolable crying: “But you don’t understand! If you ever saw her face, and looked into her eyes, you wouldn’t want to live another day! What have I done wrong these past weeks that God would refuse me my going home? Why, Father? Why must I still remain here for two weeks?”

Then Father O’Leary had an inspiration. There was a prisoner, James Hughs, who, despite having been raised Catholic, had led a horribly immoral life, and was also on death row for murder. James had a particular hatred for Claude, and all priests as well. Father O’Leary then proposed that Claude offer his disappointment on not being executed that day for Hughs conversion, which Claude did, generously offering his prayers and last two weeks for the salvation of his fellow inmate. Finally, Claude was executed on February 4 1944.

Padre Pio diverts a bombing Mission

 

"Pictured, Father Pio and North American Protestant pilots who converted to Catholicism after seeing the Saint fly alongside his planes." · “When the planes were near the target, they saw a monk in the sky with his hands raised, diverting the planes. Like bombs dropped, they fell into the woods, far from the village. Without any explanation, the planes had changed their course.”. Everyone wondered who was that monk the planes obeyed. Someone told the general that in San Giovanni Rotondo there was a monk who performed miracles. Then he decided, as soon as the war ended, to verify who was the monk they had seen in Heaven. After the war, the General went to the Capuchin Convent with some pilots. Upon entering the sacrament, he met several monks and among them he immediately recognized that the monk who had stopped his planes was Father Pio. The priest approached and when he approached, he said, "So were you the one who wanted to kill us all?" "Enlightened by the eyes and the words of the Father, the General knelt before him." Everyone was in awe, and the General and his fellow pilots. They were protestors, converted to Catholicism"

Ready for Change ?

I knelt in the bathroom this morning; not in prayer exactly, I was scrubbing the floor and had cause to reflect on the condition of my kingdom (small ‘k’). 

I have seen many changes in life; as a young man I sought to build my own ‘kingdom’. I worked very hard, studied simultaneously. I was ambitious, focused, hungry for success and driven. I achieved moderate success, and for a while enjoyed its benefits. I was also godless, arrogant, ruthless and fearful: - it was in many ways an appalling way to live. 

Many years have passed during which time God has taken me on a journey; which has led to diminishment in status, loss of career, reduction in finance, life-threatening conditions, betrayals, humiliations and battles. Whatever I built needed to be demolished and rebuilt on a new foundation of sonship rather than as an orphan-spirited man scrambling in my own power. The gift of faith or conversion brings with it a new dignity, regardless of an outward appearance of failure in the world’s eyes and that is the true core of our being and a true success.

It is hard to comprehend what is in store if we permit transformation of the heart, mind and character. If we ‘go deep’ there will be fruit. It will be a long and painful process. If we stay superficial, that too will be revealed in time. 

The instruction given to Adam in the garden was to Rule or in modern language ‘call the shots.’ A good king rules his kingdom, in marriage for example, out of the anointing as husband and head, he takes care of those in his domain. With bad kings it is seen in their inaction. Some are passive or disengaged from their role and responsibility, worse still some abdicate entirely and hand over the reins to their wives and chaos ensues: - exhausted women, insecure children, every poor decision and lifestyle choice feeding into the next crisis…it grieves the heart to watch it replayed again and again. 

As I stood back and inspected the bathroom floor, I was content with it and proceeded to walk the ramparts of our small condo castle, checked its gates and secured its borders or boundaries... It is a small kingdom now, fitted to the season and soul’s capacity. And those who live in it do so in harmony with each other, in peace and security and a unity of purpose...worth fighting for. 

Ready for change ?  Start here :-  https://wildatheart.org/events/wild-at-heart-boot-camp

Forgive our Enemies

I wondered what those who knew me in my youth would find more unlikely, that I would ever write about forgiving enemies or that Hannibal Lector would pen a vegetarian cookbook... definitely the former. 

 And yet here we are. I want to share the deepest insight I have heard on the subject so far. It was described by Fr. Blount, a charismatic American exorcist whose testimonies keep you on the edge of your seat. (His numerous videos on YouTube are well worth a look.) He described what he received from God on the topic of forgiving enemies. The process at first seemed familiar, the decision or act of one’s will regardless of feeling forgiving. 

The next step he described was to ask God to bless your enemy, not grudgingly but lavishly and sincerely with joy in life; and then added that we should pray that they become saints; and also that they are given a higher degree of glory than us in heaven. How God accomplishes this is to be left up to Him. 

The next step though was a much deeper cut. To thank God for whatever happened to you. In his own family story, Fr. Blount had one sister who had been raped, an uncle and cousin shot and murdered and more than a few hard experiences in his own life. And yet this step is essential, without exception. 

The reason given was that whatever wounds we have taken in life from the evil one, or his allies or those around us have been permitted by God; His permissive will. That is not to say that he approves of any evil thing as that would be impossible as He is entirely good and holy. More than that as he described it, the angels of God protect us from the arrows of evil (more than we know) but sometimes He instructs them to let one through, to allow us to be wounded, sometimes severely. This is not to give the enemy of our soul’s victory in his objective, by no means, but whatever wound we take will flatten us, humble us, cause to cry out, bring about change in line with His purposes eventually. And so if a particular wound leads to our sanctification or salvation, would that not be reason to rejoice over it and thank God for transforming what was intended to destroy us, into a gain? It is the hard things in life that produce the most growth. 

 Often our sufferings, at the hands of others, can be misinterpreted as God’s seemingly lack of intervention. He risks the fact that we can be angry, resentful and even hate Him for allowing such things, or doubt His goodness as a consequence, in order to complete His work in us in the longer run; He has the big picture, our eternal good in mind. 

 And if you can make it this far, only one thing remains: to surrender it all to God and receive His healing of our wounded heart.

War in Heaven

Good Friday .. Video 5480

I AM ..... (Chapter 6) Passion of Christ from maxtmh on GodTube.

Plan 75 .. a few thoughts on Euthanasia

 

There was a TV series years ago called Logan’s Run set in a dystopian society where the people lived until 30 and then had to ‘make room’ for the next generation and were forcibly Euthanized:- of course in those days Euthanasia, Doctor assisted dying or assisted suicide were still quite unthinkable; preposterous. 

There was an interview recently given by a Canadian doctor who had herself dispatched 300 people so far under the Doctor assisted dying program in Canada, which has the most liberal laws in the world with respect to Euthanasia. No serial killer or mass murderer can get near such a tally without being apprehended. But she found her work to be quite satisfying- the state bestowing its compassion on the vulnerable sectors of the population. 

Others in Canada, particularly the old, disabled and infirm are finding the policies lacking. One chap, who was a veteran and in need of a ramp to leave his house in his wheelchair was offered Euthanasia as an alternative. Others too who had run up large medical bills or were taking up bed-space in hospitals are also frequently nudged in that direction. So a combination of withholding the assistance needed for a good quality of life or the pressure to not become a financial burden has sent many to an early grave under the veil of ‘state compassion’. 

Last year there was a movie by a Japanese film-maker that really nailed the subject as he took a peek into the near ‘possible’ future. It was called ‘Plan 75’ – a government initiative to deal with the problem of an ageing population and low birth rate. In it the elderly, who were often neglected and struggling to survive, often alone, were offered a euthanasia package (by good looking, youthful sales reps and call center agents) whereby they can receive a government grant of $1000 to spend as they wish (could be for a party or inheritance to their descendants) in exchange for being euthanized. A further benefit could be obtained – a free cremation and burial if they agreed to a mass cremation/burial as it was more efficient. This may sound familiar as was the method of their death, by being gassed. 

Often as people age or are afflicted with illness or disability their external identity diminishes. This is due to loss of jobs, finances, or apparent usefulness. Their roles shrink as their families grow-up and leave and they retire, perhaps alone when spouses die. And a God-less society is not capable of seeing true worth or dignity anymore. But the reality is so far from this as we know as believers. Because despite the losses we take in life, despite deterioration of body and mind we are and will always be children of God, sons and daughters, co-heirs of the kingdom of God, We have immortal souls with a dignity far greater than we can possibly imagine; destined to an eternity of joy and bliss should we choose it. Our old age is often a time of the greatest growth as human beings, and our sufferings are that final purification to ready us to meet a Holy God. 

We are not garbage to be thrown out, nor meat to be butchered. To truly die with dignity is to do so in the manner and time that God provides for, regardless of how it looks to anyone else.

Lent ... Fr Blount

 

The Winning Factor ... Fr Blount

 

Gratitude

 

After Mass last week I got to thinking about what produces gratitude and its different levels that we feel and experience. 

The more casual occasions are frequent and easy to identify, like when you are in traffic and someone lets you in when you want to change lane or make a turn; or where someone providing a service goes beyond what is expected. We can feel a momentary appreciation and typically respond with thanksgiving, grateful for the courtesy shown. 

Where a situation is more critical, we tend to have a deeper gratitude, when someone saves your life with timely CPR during a heart attack or more so, when the assistance is sacrificial as when a relative donates a kidney to extend his loved one’s life. 

And yet, in the most crucial drama imaginable we tend to be quite aloof and unappreciative. When God created us and breathed life into our immortal souls, inviting us into fellowship with the Trinity and the offer of eternal bliss should we choose it ...you would think that would elicit gratitude. That Jesus came into the world and sacrificed himself to save us from sin and the damnation we would otherwise receive… still a distinct lack of gratitude. And then the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we received and can avail of every day to keep us on the straight path ... we should be dancing in the streets with joy and thanksgiving. 

Maybe we are myopic and insensitive to these incredible gifts or undervalue what is holy and eternal in favour of the material in the present moment. 

Perhaps for lent we could begin to be grateful for what has been given by God, to thank Him daily, to appreciate what we cannot see or is yet to be realised, as well as the many tangible gifts and blessings we have already received.

Healing Service Fr Blount Feb 18th

 

Divine Mercy Conference ... Fr Blount Feb 18th

 

Divine Mercy Conference Ireland .. Fr Blount Feb 17th

 

Healing Service ...Ireland .. Fr Blount

 

Fr Blount .... Father Wound

 

Playlist of Fr Blount Videos on youtube

Playlist

SAINT DON BOSCO VISION OF THE TWO PILLARS IN THE SEA

(Original Source: Biographical Memoirs, Vol. VII, Ch. 18, page 169 ff, Later reproduced in chapter 40 of the book “FORTY DREAMS OF ST. JOHN BOSCO")

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On May 14, 1862, Don Bosco had the joy of receiving the first religious professions of twenty-two members of the Sale­sian Society just constituted.

Then among the rest he told the newly professed that he had sure proofs that the Salesian Society, by God's will, would prosper. And in speaking to them, he manifested an extraor­dinary satisfaction.

Some days later, on the 30th of May, he narrated the fol­lowing dream. It concerns the battles of the Church against many adversaries, the sufferings of the Pope and the final tri­umph through devotion to the Holy Eucharist and to Our Lady, Help of Christians.

I want to tell you a dream. It is true that he who is dream­ing is not reasoning; anyway I—who would even tell you my sins if I were not afraid that they would make you all run away and make the house tumble down—will tell you this for your spiritual profit. I had the dream some days ago.

The Dream

Imagine yourselves to be with me on the seashore, or bet­ter, on an isolated rock and not to see any patch of land other than what is under your feet. On the whole of that vast sheet of water you see an innumerable fleet of ships in battle array. The prows of the ships are formed into sharp, spearlike points so that wherever they are thrust they pierce and completely destroy. These ships are armed with cannons, with lots of rifles, with incendiary materials, with other arms of all kinds, and also with books, and they advance against a ship very much bigger and higher than themselves and try to dash against it with the prows or to burn it or in some way to do it every possible harm.

The Ship of the Church

As escorts to that majestic fully equipped ship, there are many smaller ships, which receive commands by signal from it and carry out movements to defend themselves from the opposing fleet.

The Two Columns

In the midst of the immense expanse of sea, two mighty columns of great height arise a little distance the one from the other. On the top of one, there is the statue of the Immac­ulate Virgin, from whose feet hangs a large placard with this inscription: Auxilium Christianorum—"Help of Christians"; on the other, which is much higher and bigger, stands a Host of great size proportionate to the column and beneath is another placard with the words: Salus Credentium—"Salva­tion of the Faithful."

The Holy Father

The supreme commander on the big ship is the Sovereign Pontiff. He, on seeing the fury of the enemies and the evils among which his faithful find themselves, determines to sum­mon around himself the captains of the smaller ships to hold a council and decide on what is to be done.

In Conclave

All the captains come aboard and gather around the Pope. They hold a meeting, but meanwhile the wind and the waves gather in storm, so they are sent back to control their own ships.

There comes a short lull; for a second time the Pope gath­ers the captains together around him, while the flag-ship goes on its course. But the frightful storm returns.

The Pope stands at the helm and all his energies are directed to steering the ship towards those two columns, from the top of which and from every side of which are hanging numer­ous anchors and big hooks, fastened to chains.

The Battle

All the enemy ships move to attack it, and they try in every way to stop it and to sink it: some with writings or books or inflammable materials, of which they are full; others with guns, with rifles and with rams. The battle rages ever more relentlessly.

The enemy prows (battering rams on the front of the ships) thrust violently, but their efforts and impact prove useless. They make attempts in vain and waste all their labor and ammunition; the big ship goes safely and smoothly on its way. Sometimes it happens that, struck by formidable blows, it gets large, deep gaps in its sides; but no sooner is the harm done than a gentle breeze blows from the two columns and the cracks close up and the gaps are stopped immediately.

Destruction of the Enemy

Meanwhile, the guns of the assailants are blown up, the rifles and other arms and prows are broken; many ships are shattered and sink into the sea. Then, the frenzied enemies strive to fight hand to hand, with fists, with blows, with blas­phemy and with curses.

All at once the Pope falls gravely wounded. Immediately, those who are with him run to help him and they lift him up. A second time the Pope is struck, he falls again and dies. A shout of victory and of joy rings out amongst the enemies; from their ships an unspeakable mockery arises.

A New Pope

But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another Pope takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adver­saries begin to lose courage.

Haven of Rest

The new Pope, putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging from the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin.

Rout of the Enemy

Then a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope's ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns.

Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the bat­tle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the bro­ken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and, having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and there they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea there reigns a great calm.

Don Bosco Explains

At this point Don Bosco asked Don Rua: "What do you think of the story?" Don Rua answered: "It seems to me that the Pope's ship might mean the Church, of which he is the head: the ships, men; the sea, this world. Those who defend the big ship are the good, lovingly attached to the Holy See; the others are her enemies, who try with every kind of weapon to annihi­late her. The two columns of salvation seem to be devotion to Mary Most Holy and to the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist."

Don Rua did not speak of the Pope who fell and died, and Don Bosco also was silent about him. He simply added: "You are right! Only I ought to correct one expression. The enemy ships are persecutions. The most serious trials for the Church are near at hand. That which has been so far is almost noth­ing in the face of that which must befall. Her enemies are represented by the ships that tried to sink the principal ship if they could.

Only two means are left to save her amidst so much confusion: DEVOTION TO MARY MOST HOLY and FREQUENT COMMUNION, making use of every means and doing our best to practice them and having them practiced everywhere and by everybody."

(Don Bosco did not give any other explanations about this dream)

St. John Bosco's Vision of Hell

Don Bosco, as he was known, dedicated his priestly life to the welfare of wayward boys. A visionary and mystic, he was given a series of “dreams,” rather mystical visions, for the spiritual welfare of the boys of his “Oratory.”

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One such vision was that of Hell. Stark, terrifying, it ultimately represented to Don Bosco’s boys the same outreach of Mercy that the Scrooge of fiction received–with the difference that what Don Bosco penned was no fiction, but Scriptural, dogmatic truth enhanced by experience.

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After each “dream” Don Bosco gathered his boys and told them what he had been shown. He also left us a lengthy, detailed account. We publish a summary of his vision of Hell.

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The Snares, the Demon, and the Weapons

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After several nights awoken by an angelic visitor, Don Bosco was exhausted.

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“Lest I should fall asleep and start dreaming, I set my pillow upright…and practically sat up, but soon, exhausted, I fell asleep. Immediately the same person of the night before appeared at my beside.”

“Get up and follow me!” he said.

Reluctantly, the saint followed and found himself in a desolate, desert-like place. As guide and guided trudged through the dismal valley, a delightful, green, flowery road opened before them. Don Bosco eagerly took to the path, but as he walked, realized it gently sloped downward.

He then saw that his boys and others were passing him left and right. Suddenly, one of them fell violently backwards, legs in the air, and as if pulled by an invisible snag, disappeared over a distant cliff. Several of the boys met with the same fate.

On closer inspection, Don Bosco realized that there were lassos on the ground made of such filmy fiber they were hardly detectable. They have spread cords for a net; by the wayside they have laid snares for me – Psalms 139:6.

“Do you know what this is?” the priest asked his guide.

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“A mere nothing,” he answered. “Just plain human respect.”

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At the guide’s bidding, Don Bosco picked up a snare, and began to pull.

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“…I immediately felt resistance. I pulled harder only to feel …that I was being pulled down myself…and soon was at the mouth of a frightful cave…I kept tugging, and after a long while a huge, hideous monster emerged, clutching a rope to which all…the snares were tied.”

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Letting go, Don Bosco turned to the guide who said,

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“Now you know who he is.”

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“I surely do, the devil himself!”

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Now Don Bosco began to inspect the snares. Each bore an inscription: Pride, Disobedience, Envy, Impurity, Theft, Gluttony, Sloth, Anger and so on. He realized that the sins that trapped most boys were those of impurity, disobedience, and pride, though others caught them as well. Those of “human respect” pulled them down swiftly.

As he looked even closer, he spotted knives among the snares placed there by a helping hand. These had inscriptions on them as well: meditation, attentive spiritual reading. There were also swords that read: devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, frequent Holy Communion, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Louis Gonzaga, and other saints. There were also hammers symbolizing Confession. The boys that made use of these weapons were able to cut themselves free.

The Place of No Return

As guide and priest continued, the road became ever steeper and increasingly devoid of vegetation and flowers. At a certain point it was so vertical Don Bosco could hardly stay upright.

“…at the bottom of this precipice, at the entrance of a dark valley, an enormous building loomed into sight, its towering portal tightly locked facing our road. When I finally arrived at the bottom, I felt smothered by a suffocating heat, while a greasy-greenish smoke, and flashes of scarlet flames rose behind those enormous walls that loomed higher than mountains.”

As Don Bosco looked up, he read a sign over the massive gates: The Place of No Return–and he knew they were at the gates of Hell.

Suddenly, the guide pointed to the distance, and Don Bosco saw a boy racing down the path at an uncontrollable speed. As he approached, the horrified priest recognized one of his boys. The boy’s hair stood on end, his eyes bulged, and his arms flayed like those of one drowning.

“Let’s help him! Let’s stop him,” I shouted.”

“Leave him alone,” the guide replied.

“Why?!”

“Do you think you can restrain one who is fleeing from God’s just wrath?”

As the boy crashed into the portal, it sprang open with a roar, and instantly a thousand inner portals opened with a deafening clamor as if struck by a body propelled by an irresistible gale.

Other boys now came hurtling down the path, screaming in terror, arms outstretched. Some came down alone, others arm in arm, one boy being pushed by another. Each had his particular sin written on his forehead. Don Bosco recognized them as they crashed into the portal to be sucked into the endless corridor amid a long-drawn, fading, infernal echo. He called to them in anguish, but they did not hear him. As the gates stood momentarily open, Don Bosco caught a glimpse of something like furnace jaws spouting fiery balls.

“Bad friends, bad books and bad habits,” spoke the guide, “are mainly responsible for so many eternally lost.”

“If so many of our boys end up this way, we are working in vain. How can we prevent such tragedies?”, asked Don Bosco.

“This is their present state,” answered the guide, “and that is where they would go were they to die now.”

Into the Gates

Another group of boys came hurtling down, and the portals momentarily opened.

“Let’s go in,” the guide said, as Don Bosco pulled back in horror.

“Come. You’ll learn much.”

“We entered that narrow, horrible corridor and whizzed through it with lightning speed. Threatening inscriptions shone eerily over all the inner gateways. The last one opened into a vast, grim courtyard with a large, forbidding entrance at the far end.”

“From here on,” said the guide, “no one may have a helpful companion, a comforting friend, a loving heart, a compassionate glance, or a benevolent word; all that is gone forever. Do you just want to see or would you rather experience these things yourself?”

“I only want to see!” answered Don Bosco readily.

Stepping through the forbidding gate, the guide took Don Bosco down a corridor to an observation platform behind a great glass wall. Gripped by an indescribable terror, Don Bosco beheld an immense cave sunk into the bowels of the mountains.

“The cave was ablaze, but not with an earthly fire with leaping tongues of flames. The entire cave, walls, ceiling, floor, iron, stones, wood, and coal…glowed white at temperatures of thousands of degrees…”

As he watched, with shrilling screams a few boys were plunged into the white heat as into a cauldron of liquid bronze. Instantly they too became incandescent and perfectly motionless.

A Terrible Choice

More frightened than ever Don Bosco asked,

“When these boys come dashing into this cave, don’t they know where they are going?”

“They surely do,” explained the guide, “They have been warned a thousand times, but they still choose to rush into the fire because they do not detest sin and are loath to forsake it. Furthermore, they despise and reject God’s incessant, merciful invitations to do penance. “

The guide then bid the priest look closer and he saw those poor wretches savagely striking at each other like mad dogs. Others clawed their own faces and hands, tearing their own flesh and spitefully throwing it about. Just then the entire ceiling of the cave became transparent as crystal and revealed a patch of heaven and their radiant companions safe for all eternity.

The poor wretches fumed with envy and burned with rage because they had once ridiculed the good. The wicked shall see and shall be angry. He shall gnash his teeth and pine away–Psalms 111:10

“Pressing my ear to the crystal window, I heard screams and sobs, blasphemies and imprecations against the saints.”

The guide then led Don Bosco into a lower cavern above which was written, Their worm shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched – Isaiah 66:24.

In this lower cave Don Bosco again beheld boys from the Oratory.

“…I drew closer…and noticed that they were covered with worms and vermin which gnawed at their vitals, hearts, eyes, hands, legs, and entire bodies so ferociously as to defy description. Helpless and motionless, they were prey to every kind of torment…”

Don Bosco again tried to talk to them but no one even looked at him or spoke to him. The guide then explained that the damned are totally deprived of freedom. Each must endure his punishment with no possible reprieve.

As he watched these wretched boys, again Don Bosco turned to his guide.

“How can these boys be damned? Last night they were still alive at the Oratory!”

“The boys you see here,” retorted the guide, “are all dead to God’s grace. Were they to die now or persist in their evil ways, they would indeed be damned.”

Don Bosco was also shown the atrocious remorse of those who had been pupils in his schools. What a torment to remember the innumerable favors, blessings, warnings and graces they had received at the Oratory, especially graces from the Blessed Virgin Mary. What torture to think that they could have been saved so easily if they only had kept their good resolutions. Indeed, Hell is paved with good intentions!

Sexual Sins

Lastly, Don Bosco was shown the damage that the sin of impurity causes, which is the sin that abuses the sacred gift of our sexuality which God meant to be legitimately used to unite a man and a woman and to procreate children.

Our Lord teaches that such sins are already sinful in accepted thoughts, in deliberate looks and, of course, in actions that are the result of impure thoughts and looks.

Don Bosco saw an entrance above which was written, The Sixth Commandment. The guide exclaimed,

“Transgressions of this commandment caused the eternal ruin of many boys.”

“Didn’t they go to Confession?” asked Don Bosco.

“They did, but they either omitted or insufficiently confessed the sins against the beautiful virtue of purity. Other boys may have fallen into that sin but once in their childhood, and, through shame, never confessed it or did so insufficiently. Others were not truly sorry or sincere in their resolve to avoid it in the future. There were some who, rather than examine their conscience, spent their time trying to figure out how best to deceive their confessor. Anyone dying in this frame of mind chooses to be among the damned, and so he is doomed for all eternity. Only those who die truly repentant shall be eternally happy.

Now, do you want to see why our merciful God brought you here? “

And the guide showed Don Bosco a group of boys whom he knew well who were in Hell because of this sin. Among them were some whose conduct seemed good. Don Bosco begged to be allowed to jot down their names so as to warn them. But the guide said it was not necessary.

“Always preach against immodesty. Bear in mind that even if you did admonish them individually, they would promise, but not always in earnest. For a firm resolution to avoid the sin of impurity one needs God’s grace, which will not be denied to your boys if they pray. God’s power is specially manifested through mercy and forgiveness. On your part, pray and offer sacrifices. As for the boys, let them listen to your admonitions and consult their consciences. They will know what to do.”

And the guide continued,

“Keep telling them that by obeying God, the church, their parents, and their superiors, even in little things, they will be saved. Warn them against idleness. Tell them to keep busy at all times, because the devil will not then have a chance to tempt them.”

On the Way Out

Now it was finally time to leave that place of dread. Don Bosco could hardly stand up, so the guide held him up gently and in no time at all they had retraced their steps through the terrible corridor. But as soon as they had stepped across the last portal, the guide said,

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“Now that you have seen what others suffer, you too must experience a touch of hell.”

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“No, no!” Don Bosco cried in terror.

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“Look at this wall,” said the guide. “There are a thousand walls between this and the real fire of hell.”

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When he said this, Don Bosco instinctively pulled back, but seizing his hand the guide touched it to the last wall of Hell.

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“The sensation was so utterly excruciating that I leaped back with a scream and found myself sitting up in bed. My hand was stinging and I kept rubbing it to ease the pain. Next morning I noticed that it was swollen. Later the skin of my palm peeled off.”