The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-07-14

One of the most remarkable in
stances of the efficiency of prayer ever
verified is the case of Mrs. Josephine
/ Hasam of New Orleans. who, after G
year of constant devotion, both on hel
own part and on that of others in hel
behalf, had the power to walk restored
to her, after being for many years g
cripple, says the Tribune.
The extraordinary story of her cure
has been written by Mrs. Hasam her
self for this paper. 1t forms a remark
able illustration of what all truly re-
ligious people believe to be an integral
principle of the Christian faith.
The sudden impulse Ito pray tC
walk seized me on the morning OF
Ascension Thursday, 1899. Before
commencing the mass for that inten-
ton L sent to my dying old confessor
| Father De Ham, asking, will you
join me and pray for certain intentions
that l will write to you about when
get home?" The return message was
Yes" After the service was over
two strangers came to me, thinking
the sexton, Joseph, had forgotten me,
and offered to wheel my chair home.
consented, delaying a moment on the
sidewalk, when a young priest, Father
Robinson, came across from the pres
bytery, saying, what are you doing
with this lady?" They told him, and
added: More than that, father; I
stayed at the altar of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help to make my very first
prayer to walk, and 1 wish it for the
glory of God and of st. Alphonsus
Church, to whom L owe so much; do
you think it selfish and wrong?" He
answered, by no means and when
asked them to join me they willingly
did So thus the devotion commenced
with two priests, two Catholic gentle
men and myself.
A day or two afterward / spoke of it
to lovely Catholic lady, who eX-
planned to me the devotion in our Re-
demptoriSt churches to our Lady of
Perpetual Help, the many miracles
ascribed to her intercession with our
Lord. and advised burning a lamp on
her altar during the year, which a kind
brother has faithfully done.
The Sisters of the Convent of Mercy,
near St. Alphonsus church, Joined me
later in the prayers. Last summer a
kind father and the Sisters of Mercy
at Pass Christian Joined me, as well as
the Catholic ladies whom 1 met in the
hotel. Thus throughout the year, as
our Catholic friends learned of it, our
band grew larger and continued pray
ing for the intention-that 1 should re-
cover the power to walk. The last
month of the year / asked the fathers
for daily prayer in church for our
devotion. The last ten days we made
a movement in unison. The rector,
Father Weber; the young priest, Faith
er Robinson; the Sisters of Mercy and
friends made special visits to me, and
we pleasantly talked the matter over.
On Wednesday morning Father Rob
inson brought me holy communion at
my bedside. The day following, As
cension Thursday, the last day of our
year of prayer, I was wheeled to church
and Father Robinson came down the
chancel steps and gave me communion,
some of our band communing at the
rail. l was suffering locally than, and
during the last two weeks even more
than usual, occasioned by )vereXertion
in my extra devotions. ] jokad about
my way of getting we'll, and, although
suffering, l did an unusual thing for
me-went with my son and family 10 a
musicale near by on the evening of As
cension Thursday. They wheeled me
home after II p. M, and before my very
door we met Father Robinson returning
from a sick call. The occurrence i'm
pressed me deeply and 1 said: BLESS
me, father, as you pass" He an
swered, You always have my bless
ing
Being rolled within. 1 said. THAT is
strange coincidence" My children
asked. "Why?" l could not resist tell
ing them of our years prayers, and
that the young priest had commenced
then with me the first hour and ended
them with his blessing the closing hour
TO the year, and / said, 7 think it