幾年前，兩位仁愛會的修女訪問緬因州綜合醫院。她們探望了病房裡的所有的病人後正要離去時，一位護士告訴她們前一天車禍的事：三位年青人喝醉酒、吵架，其中一位被推出車門外，正好被過來的一輛車子輾過，他的頭蓋骨破碎，還有其他的傷害，已經沒有恢復的機會了。護士講完後就說：

「他是一位天主教徒，但我沒有請神父來，我覺得於事無補，因為他已無知覺了。」

修女告訴他應該請神父來，有時，病人比我們想像的更有知覺，可以領受有條件的赦罪和病人聖事。護士問修女是否願意去看這位病人，修女答應了。

當他們一進病房，修女認出這位年輕人，他是他們以前任教的天主教學校的學生，是一位奉獻給耶穌聖心的人。修女向耶穌聖心作了簡短的祈禱，記起了耶穌聖心的許諾，然後，俯身向青年人清晰的重覆這禱詞：

   「仁義的耶穌！」病人沒有反應。

再一次，修女說：「喔！我的天主，請您原諒！」

在靜默中，他們等待著。沒多久，奇蹟出現了，這年輕人的嘴唇動了，祈禱說：

   「仁義的耶穌！喔！我的天主，請您赦免我的罪過。」

護士馬上就派人請神父來，這年輕人遂得以領受到病人傅油聖事。

修女請護士說明這病人有反應的事實，但她無言以對。

修女的結論是：「這是很明顯的證據－耶穌聖心忠於祂的許諾。」

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19.The Promises of Sacred Heart of Jesus

     A few years ago two Sisters of Mercy were visiting the Maine General Hospital.   They had spoken to all patients in the wards and were about to leave, when a nurse came and told them of an accident case who had been brought in on the previous day.   Three young men had been drinking and, in a quarrel, one was pushed out of a door and had fallen under the wheels of a passing car.  His skull was fractured and, as he had received several other injuries, there was no chance of recovery.   The nurse finished her narrative by saying,  “He is a Catholic, but I did not send for the priest as I thought it was useless; he is unconscious.”   The Sister told her that a priest should always be called.  Sometimes the patient is more conscious than we suppose and in any case may receive conditional absolution and the Anointing of the Sick.  The nurse asked the Sisters if they would like to see the patient, and they said that they would.

        When they entered the room, one of them recognized the young man.  As a child he had attended a Catholic school where she taught, and she remembered that he had been devoted to the Sacred Heart.   Sister said a short prayer to the Heart of mercy, reminding Him of His promise, and then, bending over the young man, distinctly repeated the words,  “My Jesus, mercy!”  No response came from the patient.  Again she spoke, saying,  “O my God, I am sorry!”  In silence they stood and waited for some time, when, to the amazement of all, the young man’s lips moved in prayer,  “My Jesus, mercy! Oh my God, I am sorry for all my sins.”   The priest was immediately summoned and the boy received the last sacraments.

        The Sister asked the nurse if she could account for the fact that the patient had responded, but she could find no explanation.  The Sister’s gentle conclusion was:  “This is a striking evidence that the Sacred Heart is faithful to His promise.”