She Desired the Eucharist

It was really cold that day.  I was visiting families in Tandil (Argentina), but no one was home.

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I came to a door that I had already tried: Should I try again? I rang the bell, and was welcomed by a young woman. She had a big smile, was full of life, and had polio from the time she was a newborn.  This was the primary concern of her life. Her difficulty walking presented problems caring for her three year old daughter.  We talked a long time about faith and hope...

When the conversation was ending (or so I thought), her sister entered the room, ready to go run errands. I greeted her and asked how she was doing. Her dry response: "In a few days I will be married." I showed more enthusiasm, "I'm so happy for you! The sacrament of marriage is such a beautiful gift of the Lord. It strengthens our weak human love with his Divine Love, the Love most excellent and source of all love."

She looked me square in the eye. "No, you know, I'm not practicing. I'm marrying in the Church only because my parents want it that way. Go figure, my cousin suggests that in a few months we marry in the evangelical church. I began reading the Bible, but I didn't understand a thing and lost it."

"How long has it been since you went to confession?" I asked.

"I've never been to confession! Mama sent me to religious ed, but I learned nothing and so I never received the Sacraments.... every once and awhile I want to receive the Eucharist, but I know I can't."

We began to talk about the faith, the Church, the Sacraments as a means of grace - the very life of God. We read the Gospel of John, where Jesus commanded his apostles to forgive sins. She listened intently, discussed it all, and wanted to believe the words. Many doubts stopped her.

"And, if the priest is a sinner... if he doesn't forgive me.... if......" She hesitated.

"Don't get lost in so many fears... TRY!  Why not go to talk to a priest?"

She burst into tears and left.

In a matter of minutes the mother of the girls entered.  Knowing that only grace can open the hearts of men and women, I proposed that we pray. Together, with faith, we prayed the Rosary. We  hadn't even finished, when the sister returned and with a firm voice said to me: "Let's go!"

"Where?" I asked. To my joy she responded with another question, "To the priest, right?"....

We said goodbye to the family, and quickly headed for the church. The priest, a good pastor, welcomed her and in the Sacrament of reconciliation she was immersed in the love and mercy of God.

In silence I waited in front of the Tabernacle and adored the Lord for his marvelous ways!