The
Patriarch Archbishop of Venice learned that one of his priests was
leading a rather irregular life and had been frequenting a place where
no priest should be seen. The Archbishop could have suspended the priest
from his ministry; he could have used all the force of his authority
and dismissed him with his power. But what did he do instead? He waited
one day outside that place which the priest was
accustomed to frequent. When the priest saw him, he grew pale, but the
Patriarch took him by the arm and, as if nothing were amiss, gently
requested him to go with him to the palace.
When they reached his studyroom, the Archbishop knelt down before the priest and asked him: "Please, Father, hear my confession!" And the Patriarch did it all with great humility and kindness.
When the priest had absolved him, the Patriarch put his arm around his shoulder and said to him: "My son, I would like you to meditate on the marvelous gift that God has given you of forgiving sins, even those of your own Archbishop. May this encourage you to avoid sin as far as possible in your life out of gratitude to Christ."
In 1958, that Archbishop of Venice was elected Pope and is thereafter known as Pope John XXIII.
When they reached his studyroom, the Archbishop knelt down before the priest and asked him: "Please, Father, hear my confession!" And the Patriarch did it all with great humility and kindness.
When the priest had absolved him, the Patriarch put his arm around his shoulder and said to him: "My son, I would like you to meditate on the marvelous gift that God has given you of forgiving sins, even those of your own Archbishop. May this encourage you to avoid sin as far as possible in your life out of gratitude to Christ."
In 1958, that Archbishop of Venice was elected Pope and is thereafter known as Pope John XXIII.
taken from 100% katolikong pinoy : )
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