The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-12-11
SILENT SERMON AND SONG.

| L ne Itutl1plOI1Sl runners from IlGll
Church of st. Alphonsus in West
Broadway, New York, sent word to the
people of the five boroughs and all
around that Father Tom Calvin could
give them a week of sermons without
words. So the deaf mutes hurried 10
St. Alphonsus yesterday afternoon to
see Father Tom preach and enjoy the
fine smile that the priest shows above
his flying fingers
They came from miles around, from
Jersey and Westchester and Staten
Island. Some hearers who watched the
deaf mutes thronging into the church
entered and went 10 the back pews.
There they sat, keeping very still, until
Father Tom had dismissed his congre-
cation.
The Redemptorist Fathers themselves
did not know how deft and skillful
Father Calvin had become in the noise
less speech of the deaf mutes He
had practiced with them a little at
their meetings in the chapter house
rehearsing himself, but they were not
prepared for the delight and apprecia-
ton the deaf mutes showed when
Father Galvin's hands began to play
up and down with grace and certainty.
The priests were going and coming
within the church upon their usual af-
fairs. Occasionally as they left the
confessionals or appeared from the
chapter house they paused at the back
of the congregation watching intently
When Father Tom in his black robe
with a golden cross swinging at his
girdle stepped into the pulpit he looked
down upon more than go men and
women who could not hear or speak
Many of them had put themselves diff
fidently far back in the church. so it
was necessary for Father Tom to ask
them to move nearer the pulpit. They
kept their eyes on him constantly. He
began to play his hands and move his
lips. He shifted whole groups from
seats at the back to seats in front
He singled out individuals who hest.
tated-bashful girls and embarrassed
young men-and brought them to the
front with gestures and a smile.
Sometimes it was an old and feeble
woman who hung back, but Father
Tom had a way with him that COM
pleteIy melted their reluctance. An
appealing gesture and friendly smile
did the trick.
The service, which was as simple as
it could be made, began with Cath
Ole hymn which was perfectly well
known. it seemed, to all the silent peo-
pie Father Tom lined it out with his
DIlSk fingers anu MS ups.
Daily, daily sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due,
Keep her feasts, her actions worship
With the hearts devotion true,
Lost in wondring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed.
Call her Mother. call her Virgin,
Happy Mother, Virgin blest.
And as Father Tom sang swiftly with
rapid fingers and moving lips the con-
gregation followed him. word for word,
sign for sign, and the church was so
still that the swishing of serge some
where away back in the gloom as
priest passed along an aisle struck hard
upon the ear. You could see how much
more adept were some of the congre-
cation than others in keeping pace with
Father Tom, for some were gesticulat-
ing a full line behind, but struggling
hard to catch up Their eyes were
cleaning with interest and they were
smiling with pleasure.
Then Father Tom began to preach.
He spent thirty minutes on the SER
mon. Now and then he grew very
stern. His eye darkened and his lips
frightened and his gestures were slow
and emphatic Now and then he
laughed without noise, his eye bright
ened and his fingers fairly flew. Some
times out of the stiffness came halt-
articulate sound. as one of the con-
gregation was stirred by point in the
sermon and expressed his feelings as
audibly as was possible. Sometimes
mirth ran around the church, and you
could hear just the ghost of laugh
ct is your soul you must be most
careful Of" Father Toms deft fingers
warned them, toward the middle OF the
eeruaon "A cat. you know. has nine
lives and may take chances with them.