MARY, OUR MOTHER

CHAPTER IV: TWO HEARTS OF WIT & WISDOM

Beloved Pope John XXIII, while he was still an Archbishop, visited Paris. He was invited to an important banquet, right across from his Excellency there sat a very fastidiously dressed Mademoiselle -- only trouble was, she was mostly out than in -- certain parts of her garment were missing. So naturally, the future "his Holiness" took a double-take as he saw this vision of immodesty sitting across from him.
Said one Rev. Msgr., "Isn't it a shame at every special dinner you go to, there is always just one dressed, rather un-dressed! What will his Excellency say about this vision!"
Sure enough, at the end of the dinner it happened:
Apples and oranges were passed as a last course of the banquet. His Excellency with all dignity said to Mademoiselle:
"My daughter you must eat an apple," placing a juicy red apple in front of her plate.
Realizing that something is going wrong here, she replied, "No thank you, I have sufficient -- I don't want an apple --."
"But, my daughter you must eat an apple, it has been written . . ."
"Your Excellency, why do you insist I should eat this fruit?"
"You see my dear, it was not until Eve ate an apple, she finally realized she was immodestly dressed."
So answered the beloved future Pope John XXIII.

There are some wonderful books about Pope John XXIII, you can obtain them in most book-stores or again go to www.tanbooks.com.

Reprinted with permission by Deacon John G.