I remember a significant event that happened at the Imperia Plains in June a few years ago and which highlights the great mercy of Fra Elia, that mercy, which translates into an act of love or consolation toward suffering Christians, whom Fra Elias feels he “must” bring back into the great arms of the Church. The Lord does not look at our sins, but at our sincere hearts and the faith of His Church, and with just one one of his word, our souls can be healed. As always, we arrived at our destination late Friday afternoon. The pastor’s house was just across the street from the church, so that before going upstairs, Fra Elia wanted to say a prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. I, tired and hot, followed him, but stood by the side of the front door.
In the deserted church I could only notice three people, a lady who must have been the mother of a young woman not far away and a child, whom she held by the hand. I understood that they had recognized Fra Elia and, not wanting to disturb him, hurried to the doorway, waiting, perhaps, to greet him. In the half-light, I stood behind them, and when Fra Elia retraced his steps, he did not see me, but he noticed the young woman, who was crying, indeed, almost sobbing.
Why are you crying?” he asked her softly, looking at her with a radiant face. But the girl couldn’t stop crying and rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief already profusely soaked in tears. “Tell them, why are you crying!” urged her mother sternly. But she, just could not utter a word. Then Fra Elia, as if he had read her heart, began his monologue: “He doesn’t want to marry you?…” and without waiting for an answer he continued, ”but you went to live with him! Don’t cry! You did, because you wanted to give him proof of love, despite your firm intention to love only in marriage… You didn’t want to lose him…” So now you cry, because things don’t change… But he loves you too and will marry you soon, you’ll see!”
And as he told her these words of consolation, Fra Elia smiled, walking toward the exit, while the girl continued to cry and I, facing them, saw the scene and listened. In reporting these incidents, I wish to emphasize that Fra Elia certainly does not approve of the now famous “de facto unions” either with married lovers, much less between young people and so on. Fra Elia only conceives of the Christian family, which knows how to live in God’s grace, but he also knows that the ways of the Lord are infinite and above all that the lost sheep, who seek help, should be listened to and consoled.