May 2016
May 2016
3500 Ames Blvd., Marrero, LA 70072
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Inside
Pope Francis Believes God Forgives Even If
We Only Open The Door A Crack
I have read several of Pope Francis’ books. My favorite so far
is The Name of God is Mercy. In it, the Pope uses an excerpt from yet
another book, Bruce Marshall’s novel To Every Man a Penny.
In Marshall’s novel, Father Gaston wants to hear the confession of a young German soldier whom French partisans are about to
execute. The soldier confesses he has fornicated many times. He has
slept with many, many women. Father Gaston asks the soldier whether he’s sorry. The priest explains that the soldier needs to repent. The
young man does not lie. He says, “How can I repent? It was something that I enjoyed, and if I had the chance I would do it again, even
now. How can I repent?” Father Gaston is a compassionate man. He
desperately wants to forgive the soldier’s sins. He pauses, and then he
has an inspiration. Thinking about God’s mercy, the young priest asks
the soldier, “But are you sorry that you are not sorry?” The German
soldier answers, “Yes, I am sorry that I am not sorry.” In other words,
he apologizes for not repenting. The door was opened just a crack and
Father Gaston and God’s absolution went in.
What does Pope Francis say after telling this story? Does he
say, “How shameful that Father Gaston didn’t hold the soldier’s feet to
the fire.”? No! This is what Pope Francis says, “It’s a good example
of the lengths to which God goes to enter the heart of man, to find that
small opening that will permit him to grant grace. He does not want
anyone to be lost. His mercy is infinitely greater than our sins, his
medicine is infinitely stronger than our illnesses that he has to heal.”
(Continued on page 8)
Page 1
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