Caius was a very
poor boy.
His father, who
was a
bricklayer, died
in a
work-related
accident. And
his mother
worked hard to
support the
family which
consisted of him
and two younger
siblings; yet
often they would
lack food and go
to sleep on an
empty stomach.
Caius wanted to
work and earn
money to help
his mother,
however, as he
was small he
could not.
Every night
Caius prayed to
Jesus, chatting
with him and
pleading for
help for his
family:
- Jesus, I know
you were a very
poor child too,
like me.
However, Joseph,
your father, was
a carpenter and
taught you to
work with wood!
But I do not
have anyone to
help me. So I
ask you, please,
make it appear
someone to help
me! Someone to
teach me to do
something to
earn money and
buy food for my
family. I'll be
grateful for
anyone you send,
because I'm not
picky. Good
night and thank
you!
The next day,
full of
goodwill, Caius
got up early and
went to the
street to find
something to do.
Sometimes, he
would sweep Mr.
Joe's store,
other times he
would carry
dona1 Clara's
shopping or
clean her
backyard, and
thus he earned a
few coins he
used towards
what he needed.
That day, he
went to the
bakery and
bought bread.
 |
He was tired of
doing small
errands and he
decided to
change course.
Walking to the
other side of
the town he came
to a small
river. There was
a man with a
fishing rod in
hand, eyes fixed
on the little
river.
Caius got closer
and stood still,
watching the man
fish. Seeing the
boy, the man
asked:
- Do you know
how to fish,
kid?
Caius shook his
head.
|
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- Would you like
to learn? |
- Of course I
would! But I
have no rod.
- I'll get you
one. Now pay
attention.
And he explained
to the boy how
to fish. He
showed him where
to catch
earthworms to
use as bait, and
put a fishing
rod on his
hands.
- Now, you
should be quiet
to attract the
fish. Just as
you do when you
pray to Jesus,
you know?
Caius's eyes
widened in
amazement. Would
that man have
been sent by
Jesus? For sure!
Jesus'
companions were
fishermen and
Jesus went with
them to fish! -
he remember full
of happiness.
More excited, he
sat down and
began to fish.
Soon, there was
a fish on the
rod!
All content, he
said the good
man:
- Thank you. Now
I will go away
because I have
food for my
family.
Certainly my
mother and my
brothers are
hungry. You
helped me a lot
today. I even
think that you
were sent by
Jesus!
The man smiled
and waved his
hand in
farewell.
|
From that day on,
Caius' life
changed.
Learning to fish,
they never
lacked food in
his house,
because he would
sell the fish
that he got and
still bring some
home.
Caius grew up,
became a man,
but he never
forgot that, in
a time of great
need, Jesus
rescued him
through a
fisherman.
Full of
gratitude to the
Master, whenever
he could Caius
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|
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would help
others who were
in trouble, and
with that
attitude he
realized that
the blessings of
Heaven increased
exponentially in
his life. |
Opening the
Gospel, Caius
understood that
reality by
reading what
Jesus said:
Treat all men as
you would like
them to treat
you.
AUNT CELIA
1 In Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman's first
name.
