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Many years ago outside a small town in Italy there was a Friary and within lived a young Friar named Peter. Peter did many jobs inside the Friary but his favourite work was to help the poor by begging for alms within the town. He enjoyed this because he liked to meet the people. Each month Peter would do the rounds calling upon houses asking for food or money for the poor. At one of the houses that he visited lived a very wealthy man named Agostino. It was the largest property in the area and many people worked there on the land. Agostino was very proud of all that he had accomplished. Each time that Peter called at the house Agostino would come to meet him personally, he did this not because he loved to give to the poor but because he loved to see Peter and show off his wealth to the young Friar. "Come in and see the new room I have decorated Fr Peter, come and see my new silver cups Fr Peter, look at my beautiful wife Fr Peter, do you see the new clothes I have bought her?"
Every month it was the same, and then Agostino would tell Fr Peter to go down into kitchen and ask the staff for scraps of food for the poor, he never once gave any money to Fr Peter. Fr Peter was worried about the state of Agostino's soul, but he did not know how to approach the subject. Agostino often went to church; he would assist at mass, make confession and say his prayers, but when it came to helping and loving his neighbour he was blind and his love of wealth had spoilt his whole character.
The next time Fr Peter visited, he came up with an idea to help Agostino to find some perspective on life. Agostino came to meet Fr Peter at the door as usual and as usual had some precious new objects to show off to Fr Peter. After they had finished speaking Fr Peter asked Agostino to do him a favour. "I have a very precious object that I would like you to look after for me, Agostino." Said Fr Peter. "Of course I will do this for you," replied Agostino. Fr Peter put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a very small wooden cross. "Is that it?" Agostino asked surprisingly. "Yes," said Fr Peter "I know it does not have any real value, but it is very dear to me and I want to entrust it into your keeping because I know it will be safe in your care. It was given to me by someone very special and it is my prized possession." Agostino's pride began to swell within him. "I am most honoured that you would choose me for this important task Fr Peter." "I want you to treasure it Agostino and keep it safe for as long as you live. Then when we are together again in heaven you can return it to me." "Thank you Fr Peter, I will do as you ask." Replied Agostino. Fr Peter left and Agostino was so proud he immediately ran to tell his wife about the important task that he had been given.
Upon hearing Agostino's special mission his wife laughed and said, "Agostino, how will you take this little cross with you to heaven so that you may return it to Fr Peter?" Agostino was stuck, he had not thought to ask this of Fr Peter, and so he ran down the road to ask him. Fr Peter was just coming out of a neighbour's house when Agostino ran into him. "Fr Peter, Fr Peter, I am so glad that I caught you, there is something that you forgot to tell me. How do I take this little cross with me to heaven so that I may return it to you?" Fr Peter placed his hand on Agostino's shoulder and gave him a warm smile. "Agostino, my dear friend, if you cannot take this small wooden cross with you into heaven, how will you take with you all your other precious possessions when you die?" Agostino's face dropped, he immediately knew that the young Friar had tricked him. The stark reality of his situation dawned on him and he felt a bit of a fool. He walked home slowly giving much thought to what he had learnt.
The following month Agostino was once again at the door to meet the young Friar, but this time it was not to boast about any new possessions that he had bought - but to give away some old ones!
As someone once said, 'a burial shroud has no pockets.' Whatever we wish to take to Jesus must be carried within our hearts.
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