The season of Lent provides us with new opportunities to draw closer to God, whether by adopting good Lenten resolutions or avoiding sinful habits.
For Catholics, a key Lenten practice is often a renewed commitment to the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament allows us to receive God's mercy and find a fresh start after sin. While increased confession availability is a welcome feature of Lent, it is crucial to recognize the enduring significance of this sacrament, particularly its vital role in preparing us for death.
Historically, this sacrament was a source of great strength for Catholics facing possible martyrdom, such as those in 16th and 17th century Great Britain. These Catholics were targeted for their refusal to recognize the British monarch as head of the Church of England.
Martyrs such as Saint Thomas More, Saint Edmund Campion, and the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales found consolation in this sacrament as they faced impending death.
The following story, shared by a priest, illustrates how two other men experienced similar consolation during those perilous times. It demonstrates the power of prayer, unwavering trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the crucial role of confession in preparing for death.
Here's the powerful confession story:
During the Protestant persecution of Catholics in Great Britain, a Scottish Catholic bishop was forced to seek refuge in a humble cottage. Upon entering, he saw an elderly man lying on a cart. He was dying.
"You seem to have but a few moments to live," the bishop said.
The bishop, disguised as a common layman to avoid persecution, attempted to offer words of comfort. However, the dying man responded, "I am at peace. I shall not die."
Intrigued, the bishop, still concealing his true identity, asked, "How can you be so certain? Would it not be wise to prepare, just in case?"
The man countered, "Are you a Catholic?"
"Yes," the bishop replied.
"Then I can tell you why I shall not die," the man explained. "Every day since my first communion, I have prayed to the Blessed Virgin, asking her not to let me die without a priest at my bedside. Do you think my Mother will fail to answer me? NO! SHE CANNOT! And so, I cannot die."
"How truly wonderful our Blessed Mother is," the bishop said, revealing his rank. "She has sent you not only a priest but your own bishop."
"Thank you, dear Mother," the man said. "And now, Your Grace, please hear my confession. For now, I know I will soon die.”
In this Holy Season of Lent, may we, like the bishop and elderly man, always trust in God's mercy through the Sacrament of Penance and in Mary's intercession for us. As our Holy Father Pope Francis has said often, God is always ready to forgive us, even on our deathbeds.
This Lent, let us resolve to renew our commitment to the Sacrament of Penance. As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews says,
“... let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Heb. 4:16).