The timelessness of prayer: The conversion of Bishop William Ketteler  

For God, past, present, and future are one. Time has no restriction on Him; after all, He created it. The 19^th century German Bishop Ketteler experienced this first hand in God working out his conversion.

Last Friday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Saturday was the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The feasts are back-to-back representing the close union of their two hearts that persists for eternity. The entire month of June, however, is dedicated to devotion of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Perhaps few stories give us as much awe of God, meaning for our suffering, and hope for our future as does that of Bishop William Ketteler.

This story isn’t an Internet myth nor AI generated. It was given to us by our Vatican Congregation for the Clergy in 2007.

Bishop Ketteler was born in Germany in 1811. He received proper education culminating in a law degree, and by early adulthood was focused on worldly success. His eyes were set on “honor, prestige, and wealth” (p. 26). One day alone in his room, as he thought about fame and fortune he had a vision. Jesus showed him His Sacred Heart and a nun who kneeled before Him praying. Jesus told the young William Ketteler that this poor nun was praying unceasingly for him. “It shook me to the depths of my being” (p. 26). Having an ordinary appearance with the red calloused hands of hard work, her traits were marked indelibly on his memory. He immediately decided to give up all his aspirations and become a priest. He met with his confessor, took a retreat at a monastery, and enrolled in theology studies at age 30.

Fast forward 33 years to the time this story takes place, the now-Bishop is visiting with another Bishop and relays the backstory to his own vocation. Little did either know they would experience the unveiling of the remaining details to this story.

Bishop Ketteler made a visitation to a convent, beginning with Holy Mass. In distributing Holy Communion, he saw her: it was the nun in his vision. Can you imagine how stunned he must have been? When the liturgy was finished, he and his Bishop-host had breakfast with the nuns. Thereafter, he asked the Mother Superior to gather all the sisters so that he could greet them. But the poor nun with the red calloused hands was not among them. She was in the barn working. So Mother called her forth.

Meeting with her privately later, he asked if she knew him. She had never seen him before. Have you every prayed for or done a good deed for me? No she has never heard of him before. “Do you have a particular devotion that you like?” Yes, it was devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! He commented that she has the most difficult work in the convent, to which she refuted “no”. She approaches hard work with joy out of love for God. She offers all her sufferings, as well as her nightly prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for one soul, whatever soul He chooses. She had been taught to do so as a school girl, to offer sufferings for the one soul in danger of being lost and trust in Jesus to distribute the grace. “I have always believed God would find the right soul.” (p. 27)

The Bishop asked her age and date of birth. Age 33, born on the day of his vision and conversion! But rather than revealing himself, he wisely asked her if she knew if her prayers had been efficacious, and did she want to know? She replied no to both. “Our dear God knows when something good happens, and that is enough” (p. 28). He then instructed her to continue with her work, prayers, and sacrifices, and gave her his blessing.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season (Psalm 145:15)

Bishop Ketteler told his host-Bishop, “On the day she first saw the light of the world, God worked my conversion accepting in advance her future prayers and works.” … “when a small and lowly task appears of little value to me, then I will also remember the fact: what this maid does in humble obedience to God, making a sacrifice by overcoming herself, is so valuable before the Lord Our God that her merits have given rise to a bishop for the Church.” (p. 28).

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

It is almost like a Cinderella story except she had found the true Love of all of creation. And it began with having learned, as a school girl, the truth and power of devoting oneself to Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Certainly, had Bishop Ketteler revealed himself to her, she would have been overjoyed at God’s use of her sacrifices. But by not knowing, her continued sacrifices for the world are more efficacious. She has nothing except pure belief, pure love to fuel her efforts.

Never doubt how powerful your suffering is in God’s hands. Be glad to join Christ on His cross, as even His mother Mary had to carry her cross before she could be crowned Queen in Heaven. The more fervent the prayer, the more efficacious it is. We don’t need to know the outcome of our prayer. We simply must know God. Throughout Christian history, people anonymous to us have offered their sufferings to God, and each of us has benefitted from those prayers.

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.  (James 1:2-4, 9; 5:16)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 😊

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Humes, Claudio Cardinal (2007). Eucharistic Adoration For The Sanctification

Of Priests And Spiritual Maternity. Congregation for the Clergy. (pp 26-28) https://www.usccb.org/resources/spiritual-maternity-congregation-fo-clergy

(Images from the publication)