God is Long-Suffering

He often delays punishing the sinner, in order to give him time to repent.

"The Lord waits," says Isaias, “that he may show mercy to you." For this reason it is that God prevents the devil from killing the sinner and dragging him into hell. He forbids the earth to open under his feet. He preserves his life often, even miraculously, amidst the greatest dangers. He delays his punishments as long as possible, that the poor ungrateful sinner may repent, and at last return to His friendship. And, when obliged to punish, when He can delay no longer, He does it with such slowness that He discharges His anger little by little, to oblige the sinner to repent of his sins, and to arrest the arm of His vengeance.

God might have destroyed the city of Jericho in one instant, yet He spent seven days in destroying it. In the like manner, He might have destroyed the world by water in one moment, yet He spent forty days in this work. Why ? In order that those who were destroyed might have time for doing penance, and so be saved.

There are many whom their Heavenly Father has been following, calling, and inviting for thirty, forty, and even sixty years.

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 over, by an express compact, as a slave to the devil, and for sixty years had served him, leading such a life as may be imagined, and never approaching the sacraments. This prince at last came to die, and Jesus Christ, to show him mercy, appeared to St. Bridget, and commanded her 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 was not in need of confession, as he had often approached the sacrament of penance. The priest went a second time; but the poor slave of hell persevered in his obstinate determination not to confess. Jesus again appeared to St. Bridget, and told her to request her confessor to return. He did so. On this occasion the priest said to the sick man: "I suppose you do not know who has sent me to you three times to hear your confession? It is Jesus Christ himself, for He appeared three times to His great servant, and each time requested me, through her, to exhort you to make your confession, as He wished to show you mercy."

On hearing this, the dying man was touched and began to weep. "But how can I be saved," he exclaimed, "I, who for sixty years have served the devil as his slave, and have committed innumerable sins?"

"My son," answered the priest, encouraging him, "do not doubt: if you repent of them, on the part of God, I promise you pardon."

Then, gaining confidence, he 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, and since God has not yet abandoned me, I will make my confession."

And he made his confession four times on that day, with the greatest marks of sorrow, and on the following morning received communion. On the sixth day, contrite and resigned, he died.

After his death, Jesus Christ again appeared to St. Bridget, and told her that the sinner was saved, but that he was then in purgatory and that she should pray for his delivery from its flames.

The Lord, therefore, is a forgiving God, gracious and merciful, long-suffering and full of compassion. (Exod. 34:6)

Source:

God Teacher of Mankind

Original 1878 Publication

Fr. Michael Muller, 1825 - 1899

CSSR or the Redemptorists founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori​​​​​​