A young man is freed of immoral habits, Mary: Day 304

Last updated on: May 20, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

A young man is freed of immoral habits, Mary: Day 304 2016-05-14T15:41:57-05:00 Pete Socks

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A young man is freed of immoral habits

St. Alphonsus tells a story that illustrates how even a small daily habit of devotion to Mary, faithfully practiced, bears wonderful and lasting fruit.

An event recorded by Fr. Paul Segneri, in the work entitled Christian Instructed, is rightly well known. A young man of immoral habits, and laden with sins, went to Confession to Fr. Nicholas Zucchi in Rome. The confessor received him with charity.

Filled with compassion for the young man’s unfortunate state, the priest assured him that devotion to our Blessed Lady could deliver him from the accursed vice to which he was addicted. So he gave him as his penance the instruction to say a Hail Mary to the Blessed Virgin every morning and evening, when getting up and when going to bed, until his next Confession. At the same time, he was to offer her his eyes, his hands, and his whole body, begging her to preserve them as something belonging to herself. He was also to kiss the ground three times.

The young man performed the penance, but at first there was only a slight change in his habits. Fr. Zucchi, however, continued to impress on him to main- tain the new devotional practice, urging him never to abandon it. At the same time, he encouraged him to trust in the assistance of Mary.

In the meantime, the penitent left Rome with other companions, and for the next few years travelled in various parts of the world. When he returned, he once again sought out his confessor. Fr. Zucchi, to his great joy and admiration, found that the young man was entirely changed, and free from his former evil habits.

“My son,” the priest asked, “how have you obtained from God so wonderful a change?”

The young man replied: “Father, our Blessed Lady obtained this grace for me through that little devotion that you taught me.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Are there vices in my life I need to conquer? Might this simple daily devotion help me to overcome it?

CLOSING PRAYER

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. Turn my eyes away from looking at vanities, and give me life in your ways” (Ps 119:9:10).

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