A few days ago I was in Dublin. As I haven’t lived there for quite some time I was a bit lost. As I walked by the canal I noticed two men that looked as though they might be homeless. I felt to ask them for directions!

I was quickly introduced to Ben and Gerry. One wore a rosary around his neck with long hair, a beard and a terrible cut accross his eye (actually he looked like Jesus). He asked me to guess his age. Fortunately he told me that he was 36 before I said 55!! I could not believe I was only 2 years younger than him. No doubt he had a very hard life.

I told him that I had been to Padre Pio’s shrine in italy. He corrected me saying ‘Saint Padre Pio’. He then went on to speak of His faith which I found most inspiring as I continued to gaze at the cut!

He continued to recite to me an alternative ‘Hail Mary’. This one being

Hail Mary Full of Grace
…
..
..
Holy Mary mother of God
Pray for our sainthood
Now and forevermore
Amen

I didn’t argue, it was clearly from the heart and I’m sure went straight up.

We finished with a prayer. This encounter showed me once again not to judge and also not to be afraid. By asking those men for directions I was also giving them their dignity and breaking down a barrier between rich and poor, standing on the common platform of being human!

Blessed are the poor…