Over the years on various occasions when friends, colleagues or family found themselves in need I would respond by giving them a gift of the Divine Mercy Prayerbook. Usually, I say very little only that I would pray for them and that they might find the devotions and prayers in the book to be of consolation in their time of trial. I always give out new, pristine copies as they are quite beautiful little books. Today, I visited a lady, a former colleague to whom I gave one of these books when her husband suffered a severe stroke some seven years ago (she had to quit work to look after him). Her husband died a few months ago and I was at the wake and decided to do a follow up visit to see how she was getting on. This year was a real tough year for her. Her sister died first, then her husband and lately her son came out as gay and was 'married' in civil ceremony much to her annoyance and shame. She was heart broken as she fears for his soul. As we got talking it was clear to me that she has become a woman of deep faith, piety and prayer. We had a great time together and I said I would pray for the conversion of her son from the homosexual lifestyle and back to the Catholic religion. She announced to me that she knew that her son would one day be converted because she prays the 'prayer for conversion' in the Divine Mercy prayer book that Jesus promised if recited with faith would not fail. I had forgotten that I had given her a copy of the prayer book. She went into her bedroom and brought it out for me to see. It was long worn, the spine was broken from constant use and it looked decades old. She was now a devotee of Divine Mercy and it was clear that the prayer book had been used every day for the last seven years. I felt real joy that this book had brought my colleague so much comfort and had helped her faith to grow. Before I left I went to my car and brought her in a pristine copy (I always keep a few in the car just in case). She thanked me for it, took it but said she would still be using the old copy. I told her that I would pray for her son (Liam) and that I would ask others to pray for his conversion so if you are reading this please take time to say one "slow" Hail Mary for his conversion. Evangelisation does not need to be complicated or wordy. Sometimes a simple gesture, a promise to pray or the gift of a prayer book can work wonders. We merely sow the seed and God reaps the harvest!
What a touching story of that book. I will pray the flame of love Hail Mary for Liam and keep him in my prayers. View attachment 3149
Prayers going up. After my mother died I found her little prayer book. Goodness know show many years she used it, it was held togehter by tape and a prayer. But it carreid her through a very hard life. It reminded me things did not have to be compicated. I was listneing to Mother Angleica today condeming very fiercely thos who made things complicated. Of those who undermined people simple Faith. I suppose it was people like my mother she was trying to protect:
