St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-14
her aII-powerful intercession for their

her all-powerful intercession for their
final grace.
On another page, Father Alexander
represented Eve under the eyes oil
Mary, so that one glance Of the Obse rVel
might embrace both sin and its redemp,
ton, the woman crushed to earth and
the exalted Virgin.
Father Marbode was also one oil
Mary's most devoted sons. He was con
tinually chiseling little images out OF
stone, so that his hair, beard and eye
brows were white with the dust. and
his eyes were all swollen and watery,
but heswas hale and hearty alta very ad,
vanced age-undenIably the Queen OF
Paradise protected her child's declining
years.
And, besides, they had poets in the
convent, who wrote prose and hymns
III honor OF the most glorious Virgin
Mary, and they even counted among
the miracles of Our Lady in the vulgar
tongue and in rhymed verses.
When he saw this rich harvest OF
works and heard the swelling chorus OF
praise, Barnabe was sad at heart, and
Dewaled his ignorance and simplicity.
"Alas" sighed he, as he walked alone
in the little shadeleSs garden OF the
convent, chow unhappy am L that |
cannot, like my brothers, pay worthy
homage to the Holy Mother of God, to
whom | have dedicated the whole love
of my heart. Alas! alas | am rude.
untutored boor, and can bring to your
service, Holy Virgin, neither edlfying
sermons nor scholarly treatiseS. nor fine
paintings, nor perfectly chiseled i'm
ages, nor verses counted in feet and
walking in STEP"
After this fashion he moaned and Ia
mented, and abandoned himself to the
deepest grief. One evening, when the
brothers were conversing for recreation,
he heard one OF them tell the story OF
the monk who knew 10 single thing to
recite but the Ave Maria. This good
man was deSpiSed for his ignorance dur
ing his lifetime, but III death five roses
sprang from his lips. in honor of the five
letters Of the name Marie, and thus was
his SalnthoOd made manifest.
AS he listened to this recital, Barnabe
was more than ever filled with admira-
ton for the Virgins goodness. but he
was not cOnsoled by the example of this
most blessed death, for his heart was
full of zeal, and he burned to achieve
at once something new to tine glory OF
his Lady in Heaven.
He sought long without finding the
means to accomplish his end, and day
by day he became more afflicted. At
last one morning he aWoke in joyful
mood and ran straightWay to the chapel,
where he remained more than one hour
alone. He returned there again after
the midday meal.
And from this time on he betook
himself every day to the chapel at the
hour when it was deserted, and he
spent there great part of the time that
the other monks devoted to the practice
of the liberal and mechanical arts. Con
duct so singular soon aroused the curl
osity of his companions, and the ques-
ton passed around the community why
Brother Barnabe made such frequent
retreats.
The prior, whose duty it is to acquaint
himself with every particular in the
conduct of each member of his flock, re
solved to watch Barnabe during his Sc
clusion. So, one day. when the latter
had shut himself up in the chapel as
was his wont, the prior, accompanied by
two of the oldest monks in the convent
came and took his stand at the door anG
peeped through the cracks at what went
on within.
They saw Barnabe, head downward
and feet in the air in front of the Holy
Virgins altar, juggling with six copper
balls and twelve knives.
he was performing in honor of the
Mother of God the difficult feats which
had once won for HIM the most ap
plause. Not understanding that this
simple man was thus giving all his
knowledge and talent in loving service
to the Virgin, the two old men cried Out
that sacrilege was being done.
The prior knew the innocence of Bar
nabe's heart, but he believed him to be
demented. They all three prepared tt
remove him In haste from the chapel
when they saw the folly Virgin descend
the altar steps and wipe away with her
blue mantle the pearling drops OF sweat
from the poor juggler's brow.
The prior Frustrated himself with his
face against the stones and recited these
words: BLESSED are the pure in heart
for they shall see Godr'
''Amen" responded the old men, anc
they kissed the chapel floor.