The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-07-14
PRAYED FOR A YEAR AND
GAINED USE OF HER LIMBS
Mrs. Josephine Hasam Of New Orleans, With the Assistance
of the Prayers Of Her DeyOut Catholic Friends
Is Made to Walk Again

means something" They laughed in
credulously.
Three days after. on Sunday before
going to church to be present at con-
firmation service, I wrote a letter OF
thanks to the priests and all who had
joined me in praying during the year
saying, 81 am not disappointed in not
walking; I feel about as felt about
our Easter poem which the editor
asked me for and then did not publish
that the spiritual favors that came
to me through the composition of it
were worth more to me than its publ
cation. So likewise the blessings of
such united sympathy were worth more
to me than walking. This was at a.
m. and l was content.
The confirmation services were very
| impressive. The congregation passed
out, leaving only myself at the chancel
end of the aisle to receive the arch
/ bishops blessing; L felt 1t gave me an
impulse toward him-and think probo-
bly, l could have walked then.
But God chose best the time and
place.
Arrived home the sexton wheeled me
up my platform and into my room.
paid him, removed my hat and placed
my prayer book, etc, on the bed, put
ting my feet over the footpiece of my
chair preparatory to getting on my
| bed-when suddenly l walked off
rapidly-hands crossed on my breast.
saying, ooh, Joseph, praise be to Cod
| What does this mean?" Walking
rapidly from one room to the other,
back and forth, touching nothing, 1
sent for my nearest son, who came
speedily, with his wife: I crossed the
two rooms and met them at the door
before he could enter, and i continued
q fr6onnr1t in lE
my children and grandchildren until 9
D. m.
Monday, on the morning or the 2Sth,
of May, 1 awoke early, dressed on my
bed as usual, Weakened my family, and
prepared to watch the total eclipse,
when it occurred to me that I should
go to church and make thanksgiving
for Sundays walking before taking an
other step. sent for Joseph, we went
alone, as usual, with smoked glass
in hand, presenting it to those we met.
One gentleman and a lady said to me:
Are you not the lady mentioned in the
mornings paper? Did you walk yes
terday? II answered, Yes, 1 am now
going to church to make thanksgiving
before l try if l can walk today"
proceeded on my way, presenting it to
several passing us, for the eclipse had
already commenced, and l certainly
meant to watch it myself; but was
rolled within the church of st. Alphon-
suS, and the marvel of walking unaide
mounting and descending the four mar
BILE chancel steps and walking three
times in the aisle of Our Lady of Per-
petual Help" the length of that long
church and after my return home a
portion of every hour until night are
past all imagination, a real thing and
so far permanent.
1 have attended mass each of the two
Sundays since, walking up the aisle
with my wheel chair rolled behind me
and the crowded church people glad for
me. / am widely known and my friends
numerous, and my door has been open
to all without regard to sex, or color.
My physician and confeSsor have tried
to prohibit over-exertion, but 1 have
withstood the strain on muscle and
nerve in manner that is beyond COM
prehension or description.
Two priests from two different states
congratulated me thus the first day:
Undoubtedly your power to walk was
a gift from your deceased father con-
fessor which he gained for you in heav-
en-" And | most happily accept that
as a fact-not as an honor to myself
but as the climax to our year of pray
er; a beautiful and perfect answer sent
by him to whom l first appealed when
| commenced the devotion. To me the
gift comes through his intercession
with Our Lady of the Perpetual Help
at the throne of God. And besides
bringing us in communion with the Ho-
ly Father de Ham, it gives us a con-
firmation of heaven and hereafter
and the efficacy of prayeri
JOSEPHINE HASAM,