Forgiveness
Penance Service Homily at DuBois Central Catholic
Editor’s Note: Fr. Ben Daghir preached this homily at the Advent Penance service to middle and high school students at DuBois Central Catholic on December 12, 2024.
In the late 1930s, a young man named Mario was born in Argentina. Mario enjoyed sports and school, most especially soccer and chemistry.
Mario grew up to work as a chemist and a technician at a food science laboratory. Unfortunately, Mario had pneumonia that almost killed him when he was just 21 years old. Shortly after suffering from this illness, Mario had a life-changing encounter.
One day while walking along the street and thinking about his life, Mario decided to stop at a Church. The confessional door was open. Something within him just knew to go to confession.
This confession changed Mario’s life. The Lord had a plan for him, a remarkable plan.
Today, Mario is 87 years old.
Do you know who Mario is? Do you know who I am talking about?
The world has come to know Mario as Pope Francis.
Pope Francis recently tweeted on December 8th, “Today is a good day to decide to make a good Confession. If you can’t go today, then do it sometime this week, before next Sunday; open your heart. The Lord forgives everything, everything, everything. And so, in Mary’s hands, we will be happier.”
Confession changed Pope Francis’s life.
At this Penance Service, allow our merciful Lord to forgive and transform you, just as He did to a young Argentinian named Mario.
Fr. Ben Daghir
