The Heart of a Priest

Reprinted below is the most moving sermon that I have ever heard in my life and it was given by a very caring and talented priest, Father James Seyer, in ca. 1978 when I was living in southeast Missouri. I can still vividly remember his gentle voice in the calm, quiet church surroundings as he came to the story's conclusion. I received this sermon from Father Seyer in 1991 and he authorized its publication in the Hannibal newspaper that same year. He said that he first heard this story when he was a student.

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The Heart of a Priest


About 1840, in a village in Southern France, a priest whom people simply called "Father Paul" was pastor of the local Catholic church.

Quite often an old beggar whom people knew only as "Old Tom" would be at the church door, asking for a handout. Father Paul usually obliged.

Time passed. Sometimes days would go by without an appearance of Old Tom, but never more than several weeks. It happened that Father Paul noted Old Tom's absence for a month or so, and he inquired and found out that Old Tom was ailing.

Eventually, he found out Old Tom's hangout and went in search of him.

Not only was Old Tom sick but he was actually in a dying condition. Father, ascertaining that Old Tom had not received the Sacraments in many years, encouraged him to make his peace with God and his faith.

Old Tom said he would like to, but he knew God could never forgive him for what he had done.

Father explained that no sin was so great that God's mercy was not greater and encouraged Tom to tell his story.

He did so in this way: "Fifty years ago, during the French Revolution, I was the chief servant in the home of a very wealthy family in Paris. Uncontrolled mobs started invading and attacking homes of all the wealthy, including the home of my employers.

"They hid out, but through my betrayal, they were caught and massacred--the whole family was murdered except for a little boy named Paul, whom a nurse safely hid.

"Oh, Father, they were so good to me, and yet I betrayed them. Oh, Father, Father, how could I have done this? How could God ever forgive me for what I did?"

Father Paul again explained God's great mercy and heard Tom's confession, anointed him and gave him Holy Viaticum.

Then Father Paul took Tom's hand into his hands and said kindly and gently, "Tom, as God has forgiven you, so I forgive you, for I am Paul; the little boy who escaped."

Then Tom looked into the eyes of Father Paul, bowed his head, and doubly forgiven, was dead.



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