There was once a young soldier who had been raised Catholic. But sadly, he changed for the worse by going out with bad companions. Among the other wicked things they taught him was the bad habit of swearing and taking God’s Holy Name in vain.

But he was not completely corrupted. His conscience told him he was doing wrong. God was always there, gently working, so that this poor soldier would love Him again, as he had done in his childhood.

One day, the young man happened to hear a sermon which inspired him to go right away to Confession. He humbly accused himself of his great sin, and he promised never to do it again.

“Father,” he said to the priest, “tell me what I must do to overcome that bad habit.”

“My child,” the good priest answered, “whenever you use a bad word, or take God’s Name in vain, bow your head towards the ground, as if to kiss the footprints of our dear Lord. And as you bow, say this prayer: O Lord, have mercy on me.”

The soldier promised to do as the priest advised him. And by God’s grace, in a very short time, he almost entirely overcame his bad habit.

One day, this soldier had to go to fight against the enemy. It was a fierce battle, and many of his comrades were killed at his side.

In the midst of the fight, his sword fell from his hand. This so unnerved him that, without thinking, he instantly took God’s Name in vain.

As soon as he did this, he remembered it was wrong. So he immediately followed his good habit of reparation. He bowed his head towards the ground, and said his usual prayer: “O Lord, have mercy on me.”

During this short prayer, a bullet fired from an enemy’s gun flew over his head. If his head had not been bowed, the bullet would certainly have hit him, and very likely killed him on the spot.

This marvelous escape from death made a lasting impression on him. In his gratitude to God for saving him, he became more and more careful of his words. And for the rest of his life, he did his part to prevent others from falling into this bad habit of taking the Holy Name of God in vain.