Bishop John Joseph Hornyold, who was, from 1752-1778, Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District (what is now the Archdiocese of Birmingham in England) personally witnessed and recorded an event which is only one of so many similar events down through the ages, that show the extraordinary Mercy of God.

In the early spring of 1760, Bishop Hornyold had set out from Derby to Higfields, were he intended to make a brief episcopal visit. The route he was taking would pass through the city of Leicester. He was traveling alone on horseback, at an easy pace.

Twilight was falling as the good bishop approached a crossroad. Suddenly, his docile horse sprinted forward and began racing down the road – but the wrong one! Instead of Leicester, the poor man was now heading for “Wittelsford” and nothing it seemed, could steer his horse from its course. It seemed to be making for a nearby forest, and once horse and rider reached the trees, the beast came to a complete halt.

Finding himself in the middle of nowhere, the prelate tried to stir his horse to move on. But all his attempts were useless. And so, the bishop dismounted and tethered his steed to a nearby tree. As he searched around for a suitable spot to set up camp for the night, he became aware that someone was moaning nearby. Following the sound, he most distinctly heard the words: "Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me."

On the moonlit ground, he discovered an old man, pale and weak, and most certainly near death. Raising the man up a little, the Bishop attempted to revive the stranger by giving him a sip of wine from his flask. Upon opening his eyes, the dying man immediately cried out: “Get me a priest!”

Reassuring him, Bishop Hornyold told him that he was a priest, and proceeded to hear the man's confession. After that, he anointed the dying man and gave him the Holy Viaticum; for, by the Providence of God, the Bishop always carried the Blessed Sacrament with him on all of his journeys. After receiving the Last Sacraments, the old stranger whispered "O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I thank You." He continued to say this often, his eyes closed, and his soul ready for death. Finally, he opened his eyes for what would be the last time.

"In my youth,” he told the bishop, “I was very pious, but as soon as I became a soldier, I went from bad to worse, and committed all kinds of sins. But in spite of my wickedness, I never forgot the promise I made to my mother in her dying moments to repeat daily, 'Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me,' and now the Lord has taken pity on me and sent me a priest. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I thank You!"

And with that, the old soldier breathed his last, and gave up his soul to God.

Bishop Hornyold understood now why his docile horse had suddenly become so stubborn, and had brought him to this unfamiliar place. As he continued once more on his journey, he thanked the good Jesus profoundly for having been so generous to that irreligious soldier, who had invoked His Mercy through His Most Sacred Heart.

In the archives at the church in Leicester where the event has been chronicled, Bishop Hornyold concluded this account with these words, “Heart of Jesus, Thou alone art good and sincere in consolation and in generosity."