The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-04-24

is it,"
Good Friday, of course"
Joe Gleason was eighteen He was an onlv CON
lie mad three sisters. One of them was older than
he. The girls and the mother were deyout Cath
oes attending to their duties with llnfailino req
ularlty The father was travelling man and
away from home very much. The management of
the children therefore rested mainly ON the moth
er. She had never to remind the oirls WHOM tbo,
ought TO go to Communion, but with Joe il was
different. Constant seedlings or pettinps were
brought forward to make him go to confession. He
hked TO see the looks of establishment or horror
his sisters betrayed when he lightly put the rksomp
task aside from week to week as matter of small
concern.
Ever since the beginning of Lent. Mrs Gleason
had reminded Joe every Friday that he ought to
prepare Tor confession the following day but
Joe had always an excuse ready He was NOT
bad boy at heart and always pleased his mother in
other respects. but this regular reminder of his
duty by her was CALLING thorn in his home life
1t was more of a spirit of bravado than anything
else that induced him to delay matters He meant
to make his Easter duty in good time but wanted
to put off things till he felt like going
As the family sat at supper that night flip
pant remark dropped by Joe about the food on
the table prompted her to ask him the above ques-
ton
Well joe said his mother "the girls and
are going to confession tomorrow and we expect
YOU to accompany u.s.
As an escort 2" inquired Joe
Yes, and | expect you TO 90 TO confession
also
III escort you willingly enough But l am not
prepared to go to confession. The time is too
short prepare properly"
You will have plenty of time if you begin to
prepare tonight. Mary and | going to visit
a sick neighbor. You must stay at home and keep
house with the other girls while we away. I
suppose you know that to visit the sick is a cor
poral work of mercy. There is a blessing attached
10 such visits. While | am out, | shall pray for
YOU, and when | return | shall be prepared to hear
that you viii be ready to go with us tomorrow even
ing to confession"
Joe said nothing He had great respect for his
mother, and was very proud of her many good
qualities.
When Mrs. Gleason and Mary reached the
neighbor's house they found Father Reilly there,
The sick woman was an old friend of his, and he
had dropped in for few minutes he pass
ing. He was pleased to see Mrs. Gleason, and
asked, "How is your husband and Joe and the other
girls! Mary here looks pretty well"
Excuse me, Father" said Mary, her mischlev-
Gus eyes dancing ''but / very well"
Very glad to hear it, but how is JoeF
oh Joe is very well. also, but mother thinks
his spiritual health is bad"
How is that? / see him Mass regularly.
Yes but mother is trying to get HIM TO go to
confession tomorrow, and it looks as if he will
manage to put ii off. as he has been doing all
Lent"
All" was Father Reilly's comment He knew
bows. He was director of st. John Berchmans
Sanctuary Society for that reason. He was silent
The ladies turned to the sick woman and began
TO converse with her. As Father Reilly rose to
leave he asked Mrs. Gleason, "Has Joe any engage
ment for tomorrow afternoon"
Not that | know of, Father.
well we will need power of help to get the
altar in shape for Easter There's the candlestlckS
10 be polished the candles to be trimmed and htted
in the flowers to be sorted out, not counting the
load we have out in the yard from the Holy thurs
day altar. I want him to come over and lend
helping hand Do you think he can come"
ITO be sure" u
well. goodnight. and may God bless you all
Joe readily consented to go TO the church ana
assist with the altar work He liked the work and
the comuany, He was passonatey fond of flowers,
and knew that Father Reilly would have special
b,ncb 10 distribute among the helpers alter thelr
work was finished
The following afternoon Joe went to the yes
try of st. James, and was put to work sorting out
The n1an+s left over from Holy Thursday With
aF shears he made many presentable which had
bor mt aside as no longer fit for decoration and
~ bie occasional trips to the altar ne felt glow
- r,1d satisfaction as he saw the decorator had
aiken advantage of many of his suggestions
The PRIESTS we're hearing the confessions OF the
vast crowd that thronged the churcIi' ana "heu
to dcorafors declared their work finished, 1t was
almost SIX o'clock d, de
Father Reilly. on hearing that the work had been
Io,,n 60 quickly and well, much pleased Joes
tostes 1rere commended and Father Reilly made MS
usual nresent of choice cut flower to the WORKERS.
AS all stood around waiting Tor his blessing ne
suddenly said: IN ho.r oil If vour
oonfoee;ons right here and now. Are any OF you
prepared" II sides
care you. joel"