Father Laurence, a Jesuit missionary in the far East, was one day preaching a sermon on the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

A large number of pagans went to hear him. Sadly, these people did not go in order to learn the true Faith. They did not believe that the crucified Jesus was really God. Such a belief was foolish to them, and so these unfortunate people wanted listen to Fr. Laurence, so that they could laugh at him.

But before the end of the sermon, a great change came over them. The priest related in detail all the sufferings of Our Lord: the bloody sweat, the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, the carrying the cross, and finally, the last agony and death on the Cross.

In his sermon, Fr. Laurence focused mainly on the patience of Jesus under so many cruel torments. He spoke also of Christ’s love for us poor sinners that urged Him to die for us. Finally, the good priest explained the blessings given to mankind by Christ’s death, and the happiness for eternity purchased by His sacred Blood.

Instead of interrupting the sermon with insulting laughter, the pagans listened attentively to the end. They had gone there to mock the Faith. But that simple discourse on the Passion of Jesus touched their very souls. Instead of breaking out into mockery and laughter, the pagans broke out into wailing, sighs, and tears.

The priest had not yet finished his sermon, when forty of the pagans, one after the other, cried out: “That is enough, stop! We cannot listen any longer to these terrible sufferings of the innocent Jesus. We are all anxious to become His followers. Make us Catholics at once.”

Immediately they took off certain medals from around their necks and threw them away. These medals had been given to them as relics by their pagan priests, known as bonzes.

Then these repentant pagans went to Father Laurence, so that he would baptize them. The good priest had them instructed in the Catholic Faith, so that they would know what to believe and how to live once they were baptized. And when this instruction was complete, Father Laurence had the happiness to baptize them all himself.

How infinite are the merits of Jesus' Passion! By only retelling them once in a sermon, a single priest was able to convert at least forty pagans, ones who had not come with good will but with the malicious intention of mocking him and what he preached. If such an effect can be produced in pagans, how much more benefit can Catholics obtain by meditating on the sufferings, death, and love of the crucified Redeemer.

Let us, then, think often of what sweet Jesus went through for us. Doing so will help us to love Him more and better – and return the love that caused Him to give His life for us.