In Spain, there is a crucifix

 (I think this poem is by Fr Mateo Crawley-Boevey SSCC.)

In Spain, there is a crucifix, with one arm of Our Lord
Hanging down, not fixed thereon, they say with one accord -

It happened that a certain man fell deep in sin and shame.
He, to the priest for pardon, with deep contrition came.
The priest was loathe to give it, the man though pleaded sore,
And so the good priest pardoned him but warned, "Now sin no more!"

The sinner went off happy, but, sad it is to tell,
Into the rut of evil ways, again he weakly fell.
Back to the priest for pardon, he came with grief anew,
The priest refused it, saying, "Your sorrow is not true!"
The poor man begged and pleaded, and so the priest gave in,
But said that nevermore would he absolve such a grievous sin.

The sinner went off, full of joy, his weakness though was great,
And soon alas, he fell again, into his sinful state.
This time the priest was adamant, "I will not pardon you,
Your sorrow and repentance are shallow and untrue!"
In vain the sinner pleaded, for pardon as before.
The priest was now determined to absolve the man no more.

Suddenly they were disturbed by anguished sobs of pain,
So loud, so unmistakable, they listened once again.
It was as if the tenderest heart, with bitter grief was broken,
The sound just pierced their very souls, although no word was spoken.
They looked, the church was as before, but then they saw above
The crucifix was there alive, the sobs were those of Love.

Then Jesus to His own dear priest said tenderly, "My son,
You have not shed your blood for him, as I his Lord have done!"
Then that dear hand, transfixed by love, detached itself instead
To make a large "Sign of the Cross" over the sinner's head.

Until this day that loving Hand so often raised in blessing,
Has not returned to where it was, but now all priests addressing -
Says, "Pardon, pardon, mercy, mercy, on sinners pity take.
Ah, draw them to My loving Heart, and love them for My sake!"

Hindering mortal sin - Fr Faber

And, lastly, if you wish to press on toward the prize of Christian perfection, and to become a saint, listen to this story, listen to what happens to a man who has done no more than this, hindered two mortal sins from being consummated in outward acts. St. Paphnutius had dwelt in the desert for many a long year, and by weary penances had toiled for his sanctification. At last a strange thought came into his mind, and he ventured to express it in prayer to God. He desired to know to whom on the earth he was equal in sanctity. He asked it in simplicity and true humility, and God vouchsafed to speak to him. He told him he was now equal to a certain piper in an Egyptian village that He named. At once the saint set forth to seek him. When he came to the village he asked for the piper, and was told he was piping in the tavern for the amusement of those who were drinking there. Strange ! thought St. Paphnutius. However, he sought the piper out, led him aside, and spoke to him of his spiritual state. What good works had he done ? Good works ! rejoined the piper ; I know of nothing good that I have ever done ; but once, when I was a robber, I saved from violence a virgin consecrated to God ; and once, also, I gave money to a poor woman, who, out of poverty, was offering herself to sin. And then Paphnutius understood how God had given to that piper graces equal to his own, because for his Maker's glory he had in his rough robber-days hindered two mortal sins.

All For Jesus
(Cf. Mortal sin prevention!)

Pray for those in mortal sin

"To pray for those who are in mortal sin is the best kind of almsgiving. For the love of God, always remember such souls when you pray."

- St Teresa of Avila

Mortal sin prevention!

What a work then will it be for the interests of Jesus to prevent one mortal sin! Yet how easy! If every night, before we go to sleep, we begged our dear Lady to offer up to God the Precious Blood of her dear Son for grace to hinder one mortal sin, somewhere in the world, during that night, and then renewed the same offering in the morning for the hours of daylight, surely such an offering, and by such hands, could not fail to win the grace desired; and then each one of us might probably hinder seven hundred and thirty mortal sins every year...

So suggested Fr Faber in his book All For Jesus.

Well, it can't hurt and it's worth getting into the habit of doing!

O Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, offer, we beseech thee, to the Eternal Father, the Precious Blood of thy Divine Son to prevent at least one mortal sin from being committed somewhere in the world this day.

(Or evening, or night, etc.)

The Mark of the Beast

Having just seen another (presumably hoax) story about mandatory microchipping being on the horizon, I started pondering...

And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak; and should cause, that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast, should be slain.
And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name
- Apocalypse 13: 15-17

Fr Charles Arminjon refers to this passage in his book, The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life (available online here):

Again, St. John speaks of a strange, mysterious character which all, "both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen," will be obliged to have on their right hand or on the forehead; this mark will be a sign of apostasy, attesting that all those who bear it, whether to please the master, or to escape his wrath, have renounced the true Christ, and enlisted for ever under the banner of His enemy.

Now, it takes just one unrepented mortal sin to go to Hell.

For a mortal sin to be committed there need to be three conditions met:

1. Grave matter
2. Full knowledge
3. Deliberate consent

Yet, if everyone is obliged to bear this mark of apostasy, there is surely no real consent. But they are enlisted forever under the banner of Christ's enemy.

However, while there is life there is opportunity for repentance, so can anyone who bears this mark repent of it? Or is the character imprinted as indelible as that of Baptism? Presumably they can co-exist in a soul. I would have thought that Baptism, being of God, was stronger than the devil's effort.

Anyway, a quick google shows I'm not the first to raise this issue! Is there an authoritative answer anywhere out there though?