In 1917, God sent the Virgin Mary to earth with a message: He was tired of the way the Blesses Mother was being treated by most of mankind. The sins of the world back then were enormous and deserved the most bitter and devastating punishments. Today, even after severe chastisements including two World Wars, the world is almost infinitely worse in every way. We have not learned a thing. But Jesus was willing to be merciful if enough reparation was made for all the sins and offenses against His Most Holy Mother. The following story (taken from The Glories of Mary by Saint Alphonsus Liguori) illustrates that God means what He says.

In the revelations of St. Bridget we read that there was a rich man, as noble by birth as he was vile and sinful in his habits. He had given himself, by an express compact, as a slave to the devil; and for sixty successive years had served satan. His life was lived as may be imagined, and he never approached the sacraments. Now this prince was dying; and Jesus Christ, to show him mercy, commanded St. Bridget to tell her confessor to go and visit him and exhort him to confess his sins. The confessor went, and the sick man said that he did not require Confession, as he had often approached the sacrament of Penance (which, of course, was a lie). The priest went a second time; but this poor slave of hell persevered in his obstinate determination not to confess. Jesus again told the Saint to instruct the confessor to return. He did so; and on the third occasion the Catholic priest told the sick man the revelation that God made to the Saint. The only reason the priest had returned so many times was because our Lord, who wished to show him mercy, had so ordered. On hearing this the dying man was touched to the depths of his soul, and began to weep.

"But how," he exclaimed, "can I be saved; I, who for sixty years have served the devil as his slave, and have my soul burdened with innumerable sins?"

"My son," answered the Father, encouraging him, "doubt not; if you truly repent of them, on the part of God I promise you pardon."

Then, gaining confidence, the great sinner said to the confessor, "Father, I looked upon myself as lost, and already despaired of salvation; but now I feel a sorrow for my sins, which gives me confidence. Since God has not yet abandoned me, but has sent you to me, I will make my Confession."

In fact, he had so many sins that it took four sessions to finish making his Confession that day. By God’s grace he did so with the greatest marks of sorrow, and on the following morning received Holy Communion. On the sixth day, contrite and resigned, he died. After his death, Jesus Christ again spoke to St. Bridget and told her that that sinner was saved; that he was then in Purgatory. He further revealed that the great sinner owed his salvation to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother. The deceased, although he had led so wicked a life, had nevertheless always preserved the devotion to the Sorrows of Mary, and whenever he thought of them he pitied her.

In this simple act of reparation and consolation given to the Mother of God, who never ceases to appease Her Son and beg mercy from Him for an ungrateful and wicked world, was so generously rewarded by God Himself with mercy, grace and salvation. Should we not strive to offer similar acts of reparation and consolation to Our Lady, who so justly deserves them? And if we do, we can surely hope for the same mercy from God.