"Father Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville, South Carolina, had left his rectory and the television coverage of the Pope's death to go over to his church and hear Saturday afternoon confessions. Some time later, he called a friend and reported that he'd just had 'the most remarkable three hours of my priesthood'. Six people who hadn't been to confession in between thirty and forty years had come to St Mary's to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. After welcoming them home, Father Newman asked each penitent why they had picked that moment to return. In each case, it was the death of the Pope. As Father Newman put it, 'it's only been four hourse since he died, and the grace is already pouring out."
(George Weigel, God's Choice, pp 155-156)
