|
About thirty years ago,
during the season of Lent, the evening sermon in one of the churches of
Turin lasted so long that it became quite dark in the densely crowded
aisles. The solemn and eloquent sermon, which treated of the necessity of
repentance, seemed to have produced an extraordinary and powerful effect;
for scarcely had the preacher concluded, when, from the midst of the
crowd, the voice of a man was heard asking for permission to express
briefly what was burdening his conscience. He declared, with an expression
of the deepest contrition, that the priestly exhortation had so pierced
his heart, that he could not refrain from public confession; and without
waiting for the permission he had requested, the unseen penitent
continued:—''I confess before God and this congregation, that, as a boy
and youth, I have offended and grieved my parents by my obstinacy and
deception. I have cruelly ill-treated my wife, totally neglected my
children, deceived and plundered my clients, and trampled justice under
foot. I have indulged in many vices, and injured many persons through my
wickedness. I repent heartily of all these evil practices; and to prove
the sincerity of my repentance, and, at the same time, to humble my pride,
I state, that I live in the street of the Carmelites, that I am an
advocate by profession, and that my name is Bonaventura!" At that moment
there was heard another voice, exclaiming in a piercing accent, "Hold him
fast, the insolent liar! I am the advocate Bonaventura, and all he has
said is shameful calumny!" Bat the unknown accuser, who, according to
public opinion, had not transgressed the bounds of truth, was clever
enough to effect his escape under the cover of darkness, and who he was
has always remained a mystery.
The moral of this strange
but authentic story is not difficult to find. It is easy to know,
describe, and confess another man's sin, but very difficult to be equally
clear-sighted, humble, and penitent, in regard to ourselves. Let this be
our confession, "My sin is ever before me." |
