A rich man whose name I do not know led a most sinful life; specifically, he cursed and swore heavily. His family and friends asked him often to better himself, and even his father confessor often made predictions for him. But he replied, “I’m still young and want to enjoy my life. There is time enough to better myself when I’m old.”
And so he lived for many years in sin without wanting to relent. Finally, he became ill and people told him urgently that before he dies he must repent. Otherwise, the joys of heaven will be lost to him and instead he will find his home in with the devil in hell.
The sick man answered that it was all lies, because someone sat by his head and whispered to him that he was damned beyond rescue. His father confessor then spoke, “Don’t believe him, he is a liar. As long as you are alive you can gain forgiveness if you just ask.”
But he rejected the priest with hard words so that the priest left in sadness. Soon thereafter, a woman appeared of such beauty that the sick man had never before seen. “Who are you?” he asked. “I am Mary, mother of God,” she answered. “Why did you come?” he asked further. “To show you my son,” she replied. “He sits here on my lap, but his head is beaten, his eyes have fallen from their sockets, his arms and legs are broken. Who is at fault for having done this to him?”
The sick man replied that the guilty one should receive the highest penalty that can be given. “But you are that man,” said Mary. “That’s a lie!” But Mary said, “Yes, you are the one who put my son in this condition through your curses and your sinful life. But I have prayed for you and have brought him here so that you can ask him for forgiveness.”
No, I will not do it,” said the sick man, “because I’m not worthy to be heard.” “When you are not worthy to be heard,” Jesus then said, “and give up on me I still do not give up on you; I have paid for you through my martyrdom. Therefore, only ask for forgiveness and you will receive it.”
But the sick man still refused. “Even if your mercy is willed kindly toward me,” he said, “your justice still says no. How can my life gain grace when my whole life long it has only served sin? You drive Adam and Eve from paradise only because they ate apples! He went to hell only because of one offense, but I should be pardoned in spite of my many sins! That would be against all that is natural; so I will not ask for forgiveness.”
Then Jesus reached into the wound on his side with one hand, sprinkled a few drops of his blood in the man’s face and said, “This blood will testify against you on Judgment Day that I offered you forgiveness.” With that, the Lord and his mother disappeared and the soul of the impenitent sinner was led away for eternity to hell.