A story for every day...
How can I reward you?
A Hungarian general, from Prague, being ill, had a poor Sister of the hospital look after him, who devoted herself day and night, forgetting her own rest. This life of sacrifice and complete unselfishness for a foreign and unknown wounded man touched the heart of the valiant soldier and he said to the Sister: «If only I knew a way to please you a little, to reward you for all the care you give me! – Sir, replied the nun, the greatest joy you can give me is to receive the Last Sacraments.» Immediately the general had a priest called, confessed and received the holy viaticum.
To think above all of eternal goods is to have the gift of wisdom.
Emperor Otto III and Saint Nil.
In the tenth century, a learned monk named Nil lived in an Italian convent. During his expedition to Italy, Emperor Otto III went to visit him. When he saw the low, narrow huts that made up the monastery, he exclaimed, «These are indeed the tabernacles of Israel in the desert. These are the inhabitants of the kingdom of heaven; the earth is not their home, and they regard themselves there only as travelers.» Othon then offered the Saint another convent, with revenues that could provide for the monks. «He who has taken care of them up to now, replied Nil, will take even greater care of them, when I have left them. – Ask me then, as you would your son, whatever you please,» Othon continued. Saint Nil, pressing his hand on the emperor’s heart, «Think, he said to him, of the salvation of your soul, for you will one day die like any other man, and like any other you will give an account to God of your life.» These words made a deep impression on the young emperor, who soon died a hero in a foreign land.
Saint Nil, who could have asked for all kinds of goods, despised them because he knew the value of the human soul. He possessed the gift of wisdom.
