New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-15
A BISHOPS CONFESSION

Won have every SOFT VI NVuA"b~ ~
tne Ss were the words which the General OF the
r,anciscans had spoken TO the young rIYio ~
Eratber Euphrasius, when the latHr hau dpP 80
% sant as a missionary to China; ana rs tIe wv
were alone in the confessional the goOu III. J %
old man added gently nave T sbat IS 1ySy
sbanld like you to know yourself lou ar NJ I an
oriinarv monk for you were sOluier' anu oo" ~;
IraS one before joining us; but u was a 10Y uis
sp;nt,oent which drove you into the Church, ana
i6at was weakness man oil true moran Coui h;
would have remained III the woil9 t re- 80 Ich he
,oserv and do his duty IN that state Oh ne ~ M ~
hS sdonted You would have served ChIlst as
n rsIl in Tho camp as in the cloister Have you you
thought of thisi Have you ever an;tv and m
Nn Tt shirt of yindictiyeness that sent you
amongst usf r,..;,, of.or q nonso
He was kneeiing with his arms crossed ana me- Heau
~ in An attitude of the lowlicst submission
Father, he continued, making his iul confession
in a sob, Il cannot drive her out OF i"y n'iDU
That's it,. said the old man in still gentleT tone
than before. and you have been guided IN almost
oil that Won have done an now want TO DO by the
dpsiTe of being revenged ON her. You could not en-
dnre u live in the world ard see her happy, win
another You said to yourself VIII i I,aih, Ma
thorn in her breast will show her no" sle has
,sTerked nv life" Perhaps you are aspiring to the
martyrs crown, in order that hearing how you died
she NAV give back Ia you some OF the love which
nov ought 10 belong wholly 10 her husband
God forgive me: II is all true, murmnrcn 'no
Young monk in abject contruon, as he uembled IN
We'll pray God TO move You with purer spirit
said the Father 1t is but two years since YOU be
came a priest, and one only since you joined our
motherhood, and yet already the monot9ny OF elols
Ter life is beginning to pail upon you. lhe adVen-
turousness and pcrils of a missionarys lie tempt
your mind you cannot bear 10 END Your days III
ohscurity praying for yourself and for her whom
Won have lost. Yet recollect, my son. that your
love as it burns now IN your breast is dGauly SIN
II you could bear to become oontsmpuDie ~ tIe
eyes of this woman that she might never repent
having chosen your rival, If you could do some
thing 10 give her full peace at the cost OF your own
pride, then your love would he go0d muetu, anu
sweet In Gods sight, sweet in hers too; when she
came to know Of il by and by in Heaven
Il will pray for strength Father, ialtereo EuphTa
sius almost inaudibly. Then he remained on his
knees for some minutes longer, till. having received
absolution for the sins he had confessed he arose
and walked off slowly to his cell -, ..o,.
As there are many forms OF human weak,
ness so the methods Of probation must be many and
divers Some have TO be tested in the self denial OF
creature comforts some in endurance and temper,
some in physical bravery. On these points there
seemed 10 be not much need Tor trying brother
Euphrasus, who was absiemlous as an ahShoIltisii
In temper: and as regards courage, soldier VINO
had been decorated for yaor on the battlefield
Henri de GardeToX as ms name was c .e TOi tbs
French army. He had won his captains epaulets
in the Crimea; but then coming home, he had
learned that the gr to whom ne nad Psedd S
another man. The blow had well nigh driven hun
mad Angelo de Montcroix, the young lady In
and gifted in many ways. Henri would have staked
his life on her cons ancy and yet, In spite or her
yhghted troth and even as ne was nskihg Iis ne
TO him because he hoped TO lay them at her ieet,
even then she was untrue TO him and gave her hand
to man Of no great merit. all for money!
The contempt he felt for the girl who had be
trayod him did MOI serve TO cure Henri Of his love
Angelo appeared 70 be indifferent To his reproachcs.
At the one interview which they had after his TO-
turn she offered no excuses for her conduct she
told him that her love for him was dead, and she
bowed her head to his scorn but this did not wipe
ont her image from ms heart. lie lost ali pleasure
In his career and left the service 10 go and wander
IN an aimless way over the world. Whilst ON his
travels be read in the papers of Angeles marriage
10 her new lover The Baron de ROsenhcm. n banker
nearly twenty years older than herself and soon
afterward he learned that she was becoming one OF
the gayest leadcys of fashion in Paris. IhercupOn
ne returned FrSRce, capitalized his fortune. aud
entered q seminary 20 study Tor priests orders.
Angelo had been callous to the lustre OF his military
glory. he would now shame her by his remuneration
of all worldly things, and be constant TO her III the
enforced celibacy of priesthood. Such were the
thoughts uppermOSt IN ms mind when he prepared
for ordination such were the thoughts which still
inspired him when year after taking priests full
orders he gave up all he possessed TO the Franciscan
order and assumed the brown cOwl and sandals.
Truly by that time there was no more IN hlm OF
rancor as men usually understand rancCr lie
prayed morning and night that Angelo might be
happy. but the General of his order had rightly di
vined that his wound was not healed and that the
sentiments he cherished toward his faithess love,
generous they might seem TO men, would 20 the
scrutinizing eye of God appear vindictveness, and
petty vindictiyeness, too It is not enough that we
should pardon those who wrong US; we must so
pardon as 70 make the forgiveness easy and com
forting TO receive.
Brother Euphrasus understood this after the
fathery chiding he had received from his superior;
but he could not cease 10 love and 80 long as his
love retained any earthly element il must remain
mixed with human resentments.
OF course he knew nothing Of what Angelo
was doing. She had been married some years
now, and in tho secluded Norman monastery
where he resided no news of the outer world
over penetrated Euphrasius spent his days in
prayer and study. lie was permitted TO lean the
Chinese language, aud diligently did 80 but with
on. hnoMhg whether his application TO be enrolled
rs a missionary would ever tie granted The Father
Superior purposcy kept him in ignorance ON this
point whole year passed and Enphrasius did not
again prefer his request did the Father Snpernr
himself alude 10 it. But the young friar was learn
ing patience at good school, and gradually AZ he
devoted himself to his books his mind grew caimer
and his spirit was sOOthed. He began TO zee bis
position in clearer light. and, understanding that
This earthly life is short one TO feel that the other
and better life beyond this Is worth striving for at
any cost.
About eighteen months after Euphrasus bad con-
fessed himself 20 his superior as above recorded the
sather entered bis coll one day and abruptly said
Eupnraslus. are you still in the same mind about
Yes. Father. was all the young friar could say,
but he turned crimson.
~ lnen you shall go and spend arfew months at the
foreign Mission College in Paris where Won will
ve distracted IN your duties BE good servant of
tnc church. my son..
j will try, Father!
Al would not make you vain, Euphrasius' con-
unued tho old man, laying kind hand on the
!9any mans shoulder, but remember that you are
one " those to whom much has been given and of
mneni much Will be required; the trials that will be
s ns - tcst the fortudc OF other missionaries NAV
sn, no tais At all to you but you will have your
ttpssi,ions TOO God tries each according 20 his
sFs,ho ns not above his strength, recollect that
inc Nv s;. am 70 de in my work. let your bless
40 " nat NC said Euphrasius as he knelt down
s,ns ~ noS MINK yon will die, my son. said the
sics 40 wnen ne had given his blessing; preslimp
he vas. y, ma may seem that should Try 70 predict
A VIII take from Won fs for w hTs vnn ns
ses sssia .'e have presentiment that shall see