The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-10-26
Story of a Jesuit's Rosary.

1t was on the 10th of March, when
a religious of the Society of Jesus as
cended the scaffold in Glasgow. John
Ogilbi was his name, and his great
crime consisted in saying that the
spiritual power belonged TO the pope
and not to the king. who at the time
was James l. When he was being led
to the scaffold, a Protestant minister
came up to him and protesting great
affection and concern, spoke thus My
dear Ogilbi, l feel sorry for you and
extremely regret your obstinate reso-
luton to endure such a disgraceful
death" Father Ogilbi, feigning fear
of the gallows, answered:
What can l do? l am powerless TO
prevent it. They declare me guilty of
high treason, and therefore 1 must
die
High treason! Nothing of the
kind" replied the Protestant Swear
off your papism and you will be at
once pardoned; furthermore, you will
be overwhelmed with favors"
You are joking!"
mo, l am in earnest, and have d
right to speak thus, since the Protest
ant archbishop sent me to offer his
daughter in marriage and for a dowry
a rich prebend, if you decide to pass
into our ranks"
With>these words they arrived at the
scaffold
The Protestant insisted that the
Jesuit should consent to live. Father
Ogilbi replied that he was willing to do
so, if his honor would not be contain
mated.
Il told you already" answered the
minister, that you will be loaded with
favors and honors."
Well then, answered Father 0gil-
hi 'rpnnQt nynrl1iCn hafnra hn
crowd"
With the greatest of pleasure"
Hear me-" shouted Father Ogilbi,
turning to the people; listen to the
proposition made to me-" And the
Protestant minister spoke in a loud
voice:
4 promise to Mr.. Ogilbi life and the
daughter of the archbishop in mar
riage, with a dowry of a rich prebend,
provided he is willing to pass over into
our ranks
Are you inclined" asked Father
Ogilbi of the crowd. Ito bear witness,
if it is necessary, to this proposition
that you heard just now?"
Yes" roared the crowd, and Father
Ogilbi made ready to descend from the
scaffold.
The Catholics who were present ard
witnessed the scene endured indescrib-
able agony at the thought of the great
scandal which such an apostasy would
create in the whole Church.
I'm this case, them continued Ogilbi,
81 will not be prosecuted for high trea-
son.
NO" roared the crowd.
My crime is. therefore, solely and
alone my religion"
80 it is, only your religion
Father Ogilbi's eyes sparkled with
delight, bright smile played upon his
lips. After momentary silence he
said: VERY well, that is more than 1
asked for. l am sentenced to death
only on account of my religion. For
my religion l would give hundred
lives if l had them. l have only one,
take it; my religion you shall never
tear away from me-"
The Catholics, on hearing these
words, rejoiced exceedingly, while the
Protestants were frantic with rage.
They were caught in their meshes. Or
der was given to the executiouer to
complete his task. The executioner,
with tears in his eyes, begged pardon
of the martyr who in return embraced
him.
Before his hands were tied, Father
Ogilbi loosened his Rosary and flung
it into the crowd. 1t happened to fall
upon the breast of young Calvinist
who was at that time travelling through
Scotland, Baron John Eckersdorff, af-
forwards governor of Treves, and an
intimate friend of Archduke Leopold,
brother of Ferdinand III.
Years passed by, the governor of
Treves, already decrepid old man, re-
marked: when the Rosary of Father
Ogilbi struck my breast and the eager
Catholics snatched it before l could
take hold of it, l certainly had no mind
to change my religion; but those beds
struck my heart and from that moment
my interior peace was gone, my con-
science was even troubled and fire.
quently I asked myself: Why did those
beads strike me and no other person?
That thought haunted me for many
years, and left me no rest = and
l became Catholic. 1 ascribe my con-
version to this blessed Rosary which
today l would buy at any price, and
which once in my possession 1 would
not part with for anything on earth
From the Portuguese.