The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-23
IN EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSION
fMcase,s Illustrated weekly

dN La AxhASA01Nd1x SSNP C1boANNs
(McGees illustrated Weekly
One evening in Holy Week two young men,
taking q walk through the streets of Paris,
entering fashionable church. To dip the
q pger into the vase and make the sign of the
GROSS with the holy water, or to kneel and cay
o prayer, was something good enough in their
standing for Q few moments to safety idle co.
riosity at the expense of the pious who were
engaged in their various devotiona. and after
having soandalized whoever was within hear
ing Of their frivolous and worldly CONVERSE
tion, they at last turned to 60 out. just then
they caught sight Of person entering oon-
"a betp ope exclaimed
"That will 60 to confession after she comes
out"
"AIl right. What shall it bef"
"A breakfast ct the Cafe de Paris :"
every good"
The bet made and booked, they waited, and
when the lady came out, quiet and collected,
deliberately. Now this is what actually oc-
Cured: The false penitent having, at the sug-
gestion Of the confessor, recited the confteor
(for the let sops Of childhood are not easily for
gotten), he was invited to make the acknow-
ledgment of his faults. On his knees, but with
mookery on his lips, the young impairment
began II have worshiped other beings than
God.- but 1 don't care. 1 have taken the
name of God in vain, - but don't csre. I
have committed sins sgainst %odesty, but
1 don't care. I keep neither Sundays nor fes-
tivals, - but don't care. Since my first
communion have never been either to oonfes-
sion or to communion,- but don't care"
The priest had not interrupted him at ell |;
for oome sudden Inspiration suggested itself 70
the mind of Code servants, and Christian
charity found an ingenious method OF punis l.
ing the impious rsiller. When he ceased, the
priest quietly said:
"Young man, will abstain from character.
iziug as 1t deserves the sacriligious action
which you have just committed. Grace and
common seuse seem to be wanting for you to
profit by the reflections which might make
In return, however, for the indul gence with
VIII oh / am disposed to forgive what you nd
doubtedly consider only o legitiment amuse-
9rnVs and In psssyd your
10 an unpardonsbl cffense, I sEall ask of you
an act of frank acknowledgement"
The young man, dissipated es he was, knew
the disgraceful act of which he had bsen
guilty. Already ashamed of what bad been
originally but the thoughtless act of q giddy
its unworthiness, he hastened to reply :"Wbst
ackno wledgment, sir ."
"Did you not come here to fulfil some bet
1t is impossible to imagine otherwise; for at
Thus gratuitously all practices of religion"
What you say is true sir; l came here
solely to win breakfast on bet with some
friends as thoughtless as myself"
80 I imagined. Well, that your victory
may be honestly won, you must satisfy all that
is implied in the term confession; 80 L must
give you penance'
The young man turned pale but said nothing
"Do not be sfeaid, my friend; man as
brave az you are, who dsres to sffront the
anger of God for q breakfast, must not tremble
ut the thought Of little act of sstisfaction.n
This stroke went straight to the heart of the
sinner.
lips for the first time), to do what You require;
bat please make it neither long nor difficult"
1t will be very easy and very short. For
the next fortnight, beginning with this very
bed, and ssy cloud, sounding each word clear
ly: I know that am to die-bot don't care.
l know that must give an account of my life
but don't care. know that all thinking
men believe in o heaven ard hell-but don't
care for ether That is all the satisfaction I
require; but depend upon that"
The thoughtless man, who sew nothing diff
foult or troublesome in this satisfaction, ac-
oepted with the best possible grace what he
only considered o short spiritual retaliation
for his would be joke, and went out murmur-
ing sincere and even hearty excuse for his
ievity.
Bot before the fortnight was up the good
priest had new and this time genuine peni-
tent. For the conversion happened in this
young libertinee faithful to his promise
as q man Of the world, knelt and seid
aloud the expiatory words. The first time he
saying: ana to die, ne easily ss he would say, |
I am 10 go to the theatre. The next day it wss |
said q little more seriously. But the third day !
he could not avoid making certain reflections |
death is so mournful. Another day, and the |
idea of that iuexorable decree of fate which |
hangs over all men made him think of what |
awaits us beyond the tomb. When the ffth |
die" he did not dare add, "but don't care" |
When he had recited the fearful sentence, on |
the sixth evening, he struck his breast in terror,
:" Yes; knew that will die |
nd =, oh rny E40d h7f1 hdt NniII he |
come Of ne after the sentencs?" The salutary |
fear which had seized him filed his sleep with |
visions awful to imagine, and the next day, |
throw himself, in good earnest this time, St |
the feet of the priest.
PRosPECr OF A GERMAN REPUBLIC. - The |
Albany, IN. W ArgHs thinks it would be moth |
a nnrnrininn IL rannhlin nhnnld rrnW ont of |