Story Time!

I recently found an article written by a Catholic Priest in which he shared this story....

Once upon a time... (OK - it really didn't start that way but I like a good fairy tale!)

Once upon a time there was a successful businessman who finally decided that he had better return to his religious duties. After thinking it over, he decided that his sins were so great that only the Pope could absolve him. So he went to Rome and the Holy Father agreed to hear his confession.

After the confession, the Holy Father said to him: "You have broken every one of God's Commandments, and I must give you a very salutary penance. For your penance, I want you to go to Mass every morning for six months." But, the man didn't like this idea and said, "Father, I am a very busy businessman. I won't have time to go to Mass every morning. Will you please give me some other penance?"

"All right, said the Holy Father, "for your penance I ask you to fast every day for three months." Again the man pleaded that his hard life in the business world would not permit such a severe penance. Then the Holy Father said, "For your penance you may read one chapter from the Holy Bible each day for a year."

This time the businessman pleased that he had poor eye-sight and could not read in the evening under artificial light. The Holy Father then handed him a ring and said, "For your penance I want you to wear this ring and every day I want you to read the inscription on it: MOMENTO MORI - remember death."

The man took the ring and read the inscription every day. Within a few months his neighbors noticed that he went to Mass on weekdays, and were told by his servant that he fasted three days every week, and that he read a chapter of the Bible every day.

There is a lesson for all of us in this story, and it shows the true meaning of Lent: "In all thy works, O Man, remember thy last end, and thou shall never sin."


You may be wondering why I would take the time to share this particular story about a business man who took his problem to a middle man. Please don't be distracted by the business man, the Priest, Mass, or the Holy Father... just see the message of the story.

If we daily remember His death and what He endured, we will have a strong desire to spend time with Him each day; to read His Word each day; to give up worldly pleasures that distract us from His plans for us; and it will keep us mindful that it was our sins that nailed Him to the cross.

If we think of our own death, it will motivate us to live with a Heavenly perspective and not an earthly one. We will treat others more kindly; sin less; love more.

I certainly will not overlook His life and the example He gives us throughout the New Testament of how to live a Christ-like life. But... I also want to remember His death and what it means to me, personally.

My sisters... what does His death mean to you? How will remembering His death prepare you for Easter as we go through the season of Lent?

Sweet Blessings,
LeAnn