The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-01-09

> bat He returned in a short time, aud ap
. preached Lndovco's bed, said, Console your
I self; he has died in peace, has forgiven you
and hoped for your forgiveness" At thes'
, words the soul of Ludovico was tiled with re
morse and sorrow. "And the other 7" asked
he anxiously.
The other had ex pired before arrived"
In the meantime the avenues and environs Of
the convent swarmed with people; the officers
OF justice arrived, dispersed the crowd, and
placed themse1vesin ambush at q short distance
from the gates SO that one could pass
through them unobserved brother of the
deceased and some OF bis family appeared in
full armor with a large attendance of bravoes
aud surrounded the place, watching with q
threatening aspect the bystanders. who did
not dare say, he is safe, but they had it written
| on their faces.
Scarcely had Ludovico recalled his scattered
thought when he asked for father copfessor,
prayed him to seek out the widow of Christie
pher, to ask forgiveness in his name for having
been (however involuntarily J the cause of her
am ctioD, and to assure her that he would take
| the care of her family on himself. Rejecting
| further on his own situation, his determination
| was made to become a friar. 1t seemed as if
God himself had willed it, by placing him in q
convent at such a conjunctnre. He imme
diately sent for the superior of the monastery,
and expressed to him his in ntention. He replied
| to him, that he should be careful not to form a
resolution preci pitateiy, but that if he per-
sisted, he would be accepted. Ludovico then
sent for a notary, and made a donation of all
his estate to the widow and family of Christie
pher.
The resolution of Ludovico happened oppor-
tunely for his hosts who felt themselves en-
barrsssed concerning him. To send him from
the monastery, and thus expose him to justice
and the vengeance of his enemies, was not to
be thought of moment; it would be the same
as a remuneration OF their privileges, a dis
credltlng OF the convent amongst tue people;
and they would draw upon themselves the
anlmadversion of all the capuchins of the uni
verse for this relirqnishment of the rights of
the order, this defiance of the ecclesl astical
authorities, who then considered themselves
the guardians of these rights. On the other
hand. the family of the. deceased, rich and
powerful in adherents were determined on
vengeance, and disposed to consider as enemies
whoever should place obstacles TO its accom-
plishment. History declares, not that they !
grleved much for the dead, or that a single |
tear was shed for him amongst his whole race, |
but that they were urged on by scenting the |
blood OF his opponent. But Lndovico, by as |
Stunning the habit of a capuchin, removed all |
difficulties; to a certain degree he made atone |
ment; imposed on himself penitence; con- |
tessed his fault; withdrew from the contest I;
he was in short an enemy who laid down his |
arms. The relations of the deceased could if |
they pleased. believe and boast that he had
become friar through despair and dread of
man to dispossess himself of his wealth, to
shave MS head, to walk barefooted, TO sleep
on straw, and TO i've on aims, might appear i
punishment competenG to the offence.
Inc superior presented himself before the
brother OF the deceased with an air of humility: |
after thousand protestations of respect for
his lllustrious house, and of desire to comply
with Its wishes as far was practicable |
he spoke of the repentance and resolu-
tion of Ludovico, politely hoping that the
family would grant their accordance and then
lnslnuatlng, mildly and dexterously, that,
. agreeable or not agreeable. the thing would
take place. After some little vaporinq, he
agreed to it on one condition; that the mur-
derer of his brother should depart immediately
from the city. To this the capucbin assented,
as if in obedience to the wishes of the family |
although it had been already SO determined.
The affair was thus concluded to the satisfac-
tion of the illustrious house, of the capuchin
brotherhood, of the popular feeling, and above
all, OF our generous penitent himself. Thus,
at thirty years OF age, Ludovico bade farewell /
tom, to change his name, he took one which
would continually recall to him his crime
thus he became Friar Christopher!
Hardly was the ceremony of Assuming the
habit completed, when the superior IN formed
him he must depart on the morrow to perform
his novitlate at -, sixty miles distance. The
n noVlce bowed subm iesively. Permit me-
flther," said he, IS before leave the scene of
my crime, to do all that rests with me now to
to repair the evil; permit me to go to the
house of the brother of him whom 1 have mnr-
dered, TO acknowledge my fault, and ask for
glveness; perhaps God will take away his but
too just resentment" e.
1t appeared to the superior that such al act,
besides being praiseworthy in itself, would
serve still more to reconcile the family to the
monastery. He therefore bore the reouest
himself to the brother of the murdered man a
P'oPOS"A |
mixture of scorn and conplacency. Let him
come come tomorrow" said he, aud appointed the :
nour' ne superior returned to Father Christie
pher with the desired permission. :
The gentleman reelected that the more solemn
and public the apology was, the more it would
enhance his credit with the family and the
world; he made known in haste to the mem
oers OF the family, that on the following day
Iney should assemble at his house to receive a | .
common satisfaction. AT md day the palace ,
'warmed with nobility of either sex there was
NNI.l
heavy moJion of starched and crlsped bands i
confused entanGliUg of embroidered trains
L ne ante-chanibeTs, the courts, and the street. -.
we're crowded with servants, pages, and :
Jravoes.
Father Christopher experienced a momentary ,
agitation at behOlding all this preparation,
5ut recovering himself, said, - 1t is Well; the
Iced vas committed in public, the reparaton
'houd 6e public" Then, with his eyes bent to
he earth, he crossed the court amidst a :
'rowd who eyed him with unceremonious
uLioslty he entered, ascended the stairs \
ords', who made way for him at his ap-