In Valpariso, Chile, at the beginning of the 20th century, Fr. Mateo

Crawley-Boevey SS, CC., well known as the great Apostle of the Sacred Heart

of Jesus, was a young priest. Fr. Mateo told this story wherever he

preached and he found that where people were prepared to earn "three golden

coins" with love, many graces were obtained and many conversions followed.

He relates that one day an 8 year old girl told him that Jesus spoke to her

every time she received Holy Communion. Father was somewhat skeptical and

requested her to ask Jesus to give him proof. The proof Father requested

was the sudden conversion of a certain man who was a big sinner, a fallen

away Catholic, and enemy of the Church ... and also that this man should

come to him for Confession.

About a week later when Fr. Mateo was hearing confessions, the young girl

told him that this sinner was coming up to the church. As the priest was

leaving the confessional, the fallen away Catholic came into the church and

walked over to Fr. Mateo and asked him to help him with his confession. He

said that it was the first one since he was baptized. He did not know what

came over him that morning but he suddenly understood the necessity of

going to confession. Father realized that he had received the proof he

requested.

The young girl told the priest that Our Lord revealed to her that He would

give the graces to repent and mend his ways to this fallen away Catholic,

and also to many other souls. He said, "Always ask Me for souls and I will

give them to you, and tell Father Mateo to ask Me for souls. I will give

them to him, too, but first you must become My missionary."

She thought she was too young to be a missionary. Our Lord assured her that

He would make her His missionary and that she would have to pay a certain

price for souls. "I want you," said Jesus, "to earn three golden coins a

day." Our Lord then explained what He meant by golden coins.

    1) The first golden coin was her prayers to Him for souls.

    2) The second golden coin was her little sacrifices, especially acts

of obedience.

    3) The third golden coin was a promise: "never to miss Mass or Holy

Communion through your own fault and to visit Me often in the Blessed

Sacrament."