Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him.
The priest who walked through the Blue Door of Friendship House asked me to help a family in his parish. The father was a Communist, the mother a practicing Catholic. The father would not allow their seven children to attend parochial school or any of them to set foot in church. Would I go see if, with God’s help, I could do something with him? I followed the priest through the slum’s streets to a little shack, where he pointed out a man chopping wood, then left me with a whispered blessing. I approached and we began to talk amiably. But as the content of my message began to penetrate, he became furious, raised his ax, and shouted he would brain me if I mentioned God again. Gathering courage, I continued.

He lifted his ax and started for me. I ran! Past garbage cans and down alleys; then suddenly I stopped. He had to be made to see God loved him! I turned and saw him, panting, ax held high. We stood looking at each other. Fear left me, an immense pity overtook me and I wept. He asked why I was crying. I told him from sorrow and pity for what he was doing to Christ. Suddenly he fell face down in the alley and sobbed the deep-heaved tears of a strong man. Then he arose, dropped his ax, and shook my hand. Weeks later, the priest came to me to see how I had persuaded him to send the children to parochial school and the whole family—including him—to go to church! I simply said it was the pity of God, which for an instant took hold of my heart.

Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Grace in Every Season

Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896–1985), a laywoman of Russian heritage, was foundress of the Madonna House Apostolate in Combermere, Canada. Details at www.madonnahouse.org.