Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-22
PREPARING TO DIE.
Father Mollinger Returns From the
East to Retire to His Room.
he MAY NEVER LEAVE 1T AGAIN,
CompleteteIy Resigned to His Fate and
Hourly Growing Weaker.
THE CONTINUATION OF HIS GOOD WORK


| Name Church, Allegheny, has returned
| from the seashore, where he went about a
month since to recuperate his health. He
is again dangerously sick at his home on
| Troy Hill. AS soon as he returned he was
| forced to retire to his bed. He is almost
hourly growing worse, and it is now feared
that Father Mollinger will never again be
able to leave his room well man.
Father Mollinger has been ailing for five
years. The first symptoms of his lingering
| sickness was in the shape OF inhammatory
| rheumatism, which from time to time de-
veloped into other diseases, and during his
long suffering hesspplied to the best medical
skill in the world. He also visited great
many places, yet hissickness did not become
alarming until few days after the celebra-
ton of the last feast of St. Anthony, when
he had to retire to his room, and in few
days all hopes of his ultimate recovery were
then given up. At that time priest said
to DISPATCH reporter that Father Mol
linger would hardly live until fall. When
he was forced to his room he became so
severely afflicted with asthma that he had to
be removed to an easy chair, and few days
later there were such symptoms of dropsy
that the doctors then thought an operation
would soon have to be performed, but Father
Moilinger managed to get away East, but
only to return with no change for the better
Since Father Mollinger has been confined
to his bed again another consultation has
been held among the doctors, for the purpose
of performing an operation. This may be
decided in few days, but it is feared that
he will not be able to endure it. Several
nurses are at his bedside day and night. He
is regularly visited by his own doctor. and
priests only are now permitted to the room.
PREPARING FOR DEATH.
Father Mollinger fully realizes his posi-
tion, and is preparing himself for the grim
messengers call. Before he left on his trip
East he expressed a great desire to
see his new chapel completed, but
since his return he does not speak
very much OF anything. His many patients
were anxiously awaiting his return, and
when they learned that he was again at
home, all went to the shrine of ST. Anthony,
to receive the blessing and treatment of the
famous priest, but when it was learned that
he may never again be seen celebrating mass
in the Most Holy Name Church, there was
profound sorrow everywhere. There are
hundreds of letters from all over the coun-
try directed to Father Mollinger, received
in his absence, that have not yet been
opened, and to which no doubt many are
anxiously awaiting a reply from him as to
his health. The church is yet considerably
thronged every morning, but the absence of
the priest, who is still in their midst, casts
a gloom over the whole community.
For the last five years Father Mollinger's
assistant was priest from the Order of the
Holy Ghost, and many are the rumors now
as to his successor, and. furthermore, will
the work of Father Mollinger be continued
alter his death? This was question yes
terday asked a priest, but which he could
not answer. There is no doubt as to the
visits of the faithful being continued, the
same as now, and with fervent belief and
blessing, it is thought the same good work
may be effected with one priest the same as
with another. Father Molliuger claims
nothing in his treatment but with his work
and penance. He asks all his patients to
pray to Almighty God and invoke St.
Anthony for his intercesslon to the Heavenly
Father.
HAS NO SUPERIOR.
Father Mollinger belongs to no religious
order in the Church. He is what is known
as secular" priest. He is nearly 20 years
old. He was ordained about 35 years ago,
and for % years has been pastor of the con-
gregation of the Most Holy Name, on Troy
Hill. In his spiritual work and devotion,
in and out of the Church, he was unceasing
in the invocation of st. Anthony's aid.
The "relic" of the Saint which Father Mol
linger obtained in Rome many years ago, is
continually with him.
Father Mollinger's new chapel in honor
of st. Anthony is not surpassed by any
Catholic edifce of similar size in the
world. 1t will cost, when finished, over
500, 900, and the sacred repositories in it
contain relics of nearly 1000 Saints,
some of whom lived more than a
thousand years ago. Some of these relics
are bones or flesh from the saints, and all
repose in separate cases, made of the finest
gold and silver. While some are of an
ordinary size, there are others scarcely dis
cernable to the naked eye. In the rear of
the repositories, on each side OF his'elegant
chapel, are two saints lying in life-size, in
the position in which they sacrificed their
lives at the hands of Christian warriors.
Father Mollinger was always a personal
guardian of his chapel. which was quite
small before the new addition was built.
Adnittance was usually granted to the
faithful every Sunday afternoon and eve
ming, only, and notably on the feast day of
St. Anthony. but it was seldom that one
could gain admittance at any other time.
The old chapel was not more than 25x2O
feet, with seating capacity for 40 persons.