It was 1849. The young Charles, who frequented the Oratory founded by St. John Bosco and was then fifteen years old, had fallen seriously ill and was given no hope of survival by the doctors. Appalled by the news, his parents asked him if he wanted to go to Confession. Without hesitation, the boy asked them to call Don Bosco as soon as possible.
They rushed to the Oratory, but… the Saint was not in Turin. Despite the lad’s distress, there was no other solution but to call another priest. Two days later, Charles left this life.
Returning to the Oratory and being informed of the family’s insistent requests, Don Bosco hurried to their residence.
No sooner had he arrived than he received the news of the death. However, he confined himself to saying that the boy had not died, but was only asleep. The weeping relatives insisted that the boy was already cold and stiff, to which the Saint categorically replied to the contrary.
They took him to the room where the youth was laid out and, as he slowly approached the coffin, a doubt crossed Don Bosco’s mind: had Charles made his last Confession well?
He asked everyone to leave him alone in the room, and they obliged. After praying, he blessed the young man and cried out twice:
“Charles, Charles, get up!”
With this imperative order, the boy, as if awakening from a deep sleep, got up and soon recognized Don Bosco. He began to tell the priest that he had had a terrible dream. He had seen himself on the edge of a furnace full of coal and flames. Many demons were following him and trying to seize him. As he was about to be dragged into that vortex of fire, a beautiful Lady came between him and the demons, saying: “Let him be, he has not been judged yet!”
But what was the reason for such a horrible “dream”? Out of shame, Charles had concealed a serious sin in his last Confession…
Now deeply repentant for having done so, he again declared his faults, this time in full, and with real and sincere contrition. He then asked Don Bosco to always strongly recommend sincerity in Confession.
Finally, the Saint asked him if he wanted to continue living or go to Heaven, whose doors were now open to him. Without hesitation, Charles replied that he wanted to go there. Lying down again and closing his eyes, he gave his soul to God for ever.
What a great miracle can be worked by a single Confession made with real sincerity! This loving tribunal was set up by Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is eagerly waiting to forgive those who recognize their faults with repentance and humility; how He desires to pour out all His love upon them!
Yet how many there are who, instead of embracing such mercy, despise, reject and, what is worse, misuse this priceless Sacrament of forgiveness!
For our part, may we never stray from friendship with God, but, if we have the misfortune of falling into sin, may we not hesitate to fly in haste to meet the One who, despite being Judge, welcomes with divine love those who come to Him with a contrite heart. ◊
