救護車尖銳的號笛聲使護士趕緊到電梯門口去接新病人，護士安頓好病人以後，就去取病歷來填寫資料：「你信什麼宗教？」

他說：「我信天主教，但我不願神父來煩我。」這位護士建議，倘若他病得很嚴重，最好與天主和好。

他說：「那是我自己的事。」

   第二天，駐院的神父來探望病人，護士告訴他新病人的事。

神父笑著說：「妳不是派我去他那兒，我正好要去看他。」神父進了病房，認出躺在那兒的病人正是他童年的玩伴。

一提起這件事，病人就說：「我記得你經常玩的詭計。」他們兩個就放聲大笑。

神父發現這個病人很快樂，很幽默，就乘機告訴他應該領聖事，但是此刻他卻說：「歡迎神父你來看我，但永遠不要跟我講宗教的事。」

「好吧！我要向耶穌聖心祈禱，你不反對我這麼做吧？」神父笑著說，這病人笑一笑，什麼也沒說。

   幾天以後，兩位仁愛會的修女來醫院探訪病人，其中一位修女認識這個病人是他父親幾年前的雇員，他們談到這件事，也談別的事，都沒有談起宗教的事。最後，修女提出令病人感到厭惡的問題，他聽了拒絕去辨告解。修女建議他唸一遍聖母經，他做了，也同意修女給他帶上耶穌聖心聖牌。

他看著聖牌，就想起母親告訴他的事：

「假如你帶著聖心聖牌，絕對不會受到任何傷害。」

修女說：「你母親現在在天堂上為你轉求耶穌聖心，讓你如她在天堂相見」。

   修女為他祈禱很多，求主賜他和天主和好，她們的祈禱沒有落空。幾天以後，他求見駐院神父，並領了聖事。那天晚上，他死了，我們的主再一次守信，罪人會在祂的聖心內找到避難所。

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15.The Trustworthiness of Sacred Heart of Jesus

     The shrill siren of the ambulance brought the nurse to the elevator door to meet the new patient for her ward.   After making him as comfortable as possible, she came to get the history of the case.   When she asked the man what his religion was, he said,  “I am a Catholic, but I do not wish to be bothered with a priest.”   The nurse suggested that if he were very ill, it would be a good thing to make his peace with God, but he replied that he knew his own business.

        The following day when the chaplain made his rounds, the nurse told him about the new patient.   The priest smiled and said “You are not sending me to him but I am going just the same.”   Father entered the room where the sick man lay and recognized in him a boyhood playmate.   At mention of the fact the man remarked, I remember the tricks you used to play,” and they both laughed heartily at the recollection of them.

        The priest, finding the man in such a pleasant humor, attempted to speak of the necessity of approaching the sacraments, but the moment he mentioned this matter the patient replied,  “Father, you are welcome to visit me but never let me hear any talk of religion.”  “Well, I shall pray to the Sacred Heart for you.   You cannot object to my doing that,” laughed the priest.   The man smiled but made no answer.

        Two Sisters of Mercy visited the hospital a few days later.   One of the Sisters knew the man, as he had been employed by her father some years previously.   They spoke of this and of other matters without touching on the subject of religion.   At last the Sister broached the question do repugnant to the patient.   He listened but said that he did not want to go to confession.   At the Sister’s suggestion, he promised to say one “Hail Mary” and allowed her to pin a Sacred Heart badge over his heart.   As he looked at it, he remarked that his mother had told him that if he wore the badge no harm would come to him.  “Your mother is pleading with the Sacred Heart for you now in heaven and she wants to meet you there.”  said the Sister.

        Many prayers were offered by the Sisters that this soul would make his peace with God, and their pleading was not in vain.   A few days later he asked for the chaplain and received the sacraments.   That night he died.   Again our Lord had kept His promise that sinners would find a refuge in His Heart!