| TITLE : The 'Hail Mary' Of a Protestant |
TEXT : : The 'Hail Mary' Of a Protestant
----
Dear Friends,
I hope that you will enjoy this inspiring story. Do visit the website at the
end of this sharing.
Regards,
John Lee
> _______________________________________________________________________
>
>
> > Subject: Fw: The 'Hail Mary' Of a Protestant
>
> > (A true story)
> >
> > A little six-year-old Protestant boy had often heard his Catholic
> > companions reciting the prayer "Hail Mary" and he liked it so much that
> he
> > copied it, memorized it and would recite it every day. "Look, Mommy,
what
> > a beautiful prayer", he said to his mother one day.
> >
> > "Never again say it," answered the mother. "It is a superstitious prayer
> of
> > Catholics who adore idols and think Mary a goddess. After all, she is a
> > woman like any other. Come on, take this Bible and read it. It contains
> > everything that we are bound to do and have to do."
> >
> > >From that day on, the little boy discontinued his daily "Hail Mary" and
> > gave himself more time to reading the Bible instead. One day, while
> > reading the Gospel, he came across the passage about the Annunciation
of
> > the Angel to Our Lady. Full of joy, the little boy ran to his mother
and
> > said: "Mommy, I have found the 'Hail Mary' in the Bible which says:
'Hail
> > full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women.'
> > Why do you call it a superstitious prayer?"
> >
> > On another occasion he found that beautiful Salutation of St Elizabeth
to
> > the Virgin Mary and the wonderful canticle MAGNIFICAT in which Mary
> > foretold that "the generations would call her blessed." He said no more
> > about it to his mother but started to recite the "Hail Mary" every day
as
> > before. He felt pleasure in addressing those charming words to the
Mother
> > of Jesus, our Savior.
> >
> > When he was fourteen, he one day heard a discussion on Our Lady among
the
> > members of his family. Every one said that Mary was a common woman like
> > any other woman. The boy, after listening to their erroneous reasoning
> > could not bear it any longer, and full of indignation, he interrupted
> them,
> > saying: "Mary is not like any other children of Adam, stained with sin.
> > No! The Angel called her FULL OF GRACE AND BLESSED AMONGST WOMEN. Mary
is
> > the Mother of Jesus Christ and consequently Mother of God. There is no
> > higher dignity to which a creature can be raised. The Gospel says that
> > the generations will proclaim her blessed and you are trying to despise
> > her and look down on her. Your spirit is not the spirit of the Gospel
or
> > of the Bible which you proclaim to be the foundation of the Christian
> > religion."
> >
> > So deep was the impression which the boy's talk had made that his mother
> > many times cried out sorrowfully: "Oh my God! I fear that this son of
> mine
> > will one day join the Catholic religion, the religion of Popes!" And
> > indeed, not very long afterwards, having made a serious study of both
> > Protestantism and Catholicism, the boy found the latter to be the only
> > true religion and embraced it and became one of its most ardent
apostles.
> >
> > Some time after his conversion, he met his married sister who rebuked
him
> > and said indignantly: "You little know how much I love my children.
> > Should any one of them desire to become a Catholic, I would sooner
pierce
> > his heart with a dagger than allow him to embrace the religion of the
> > Popes!" Her anger and temper were as furious as those of St Paul before
> > his conversion. However, she would change her ways, just as St Paul did
> > on his way to Damascus.
> >
> > It so happened that one of her sons fell dangerously ill and the doctors
> > gave up hope of recovery. Her brother then approached her and spoke to
> her
> > affectionately, saying: "My dear sister, you naturally wish to have your
> > child cured. Very well, then, do what I ask you to do. Follow me, let us
> > pray one 'Hail Mary' and promise God that, if your son recovers his
> health,
> > you would seriously study the Catholic doctrine, and should you come to
> > the conclusion that Catholicism is the only true religion, you would
> > embrace it no matter what the sacrifices may be."
> >
> > His sister was somewhat reluctant at the beginning, but as she wished
for
> > her son's recovery, she accepted her brother's proposal and recited the
> > "Hail Mary" together with him. The next day her son was completely
cured.
> >
> > The mother fulfilled her promise and she studied the Catholic doctrine.
> > After a long preparation she received Baptism together with her whole
> > family, thanking her brother for being an apostle to her.
> >
> > The story was related during a sermon given by the Rev. Fr. Tuckwell.
> > "Brethren," he went on and said, "the boy who became a Catholic and
> > converted his sister to Catholicism dedicated his whole life to the
> > service of God. He is the priest who is speaking to you now! What I
am,
> > I owe to Our Lady. You, too, my dear brethren, be entirely dedicated
also
> > to Our Lady and never let a day pass without saying the beautiful
prayer
> > of 'Hail Mary' and the Rosary.
> >
> > Ask her to enlighten the minds of Protestants who are separated from the
> > true Church of Christ founded on the Rock (Peter) and 'against whom the
> > gates of hell shall never prevail.'"
> >
> > Sincerely in Christ,
> > Our Lady of the Rosary Library
> > Pray and work for souls."
>
> > October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Please pray for the priests
who
> > provide us with the holy sacrifice of the mass. http://olrl.org
>
>
>
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