The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-03-27
Saved Through ST. Joseph.

ne tram was rushing fun speed on
the line from Mayence to Cologne
One of the carriages was occupied by
q priest and a man of business.
They had just passed Bonn. The
priest took out his breviary and was
going to read his office, when his atten-
ton was attracted by his neighbor
who. sitting opposite him, had folded
his hands and seemed also to be going
TO pray.
Are you Catholic" asked the priest.
Yes, replied the other with a friend
ly glance. Il am anxious to get home
today for family feast"
All, tomorrow is Saint Joseph's
feast. I suppose he is your patron
saint?"
No sir: that is not my name: my
wife is called Josephine, and that is
why the feast is dear TO me; but there
is still a greater reason why l think SO
much Of it,"
The man was silent for a moment.
evidently mastering a strong emotion.
You are evidently a grateful client of
Saint Joseph?''
"Oh. yes, indeed. but only for the few
last years: there was a time 1 did not
care an atom for him. You are a
priest. I will tell you something, all Tor
the glory Of Saint Joseph,
L was brought up a Catholic in the
beginning, but not under favorable cir
cumstances. My good mother died; my
father was a man Of the world and did
not trouble himself about my educa-
ton I became what so many young
men become now, alas, indifferent, ir-
religious: soon l left off thinking even
of any religious duty; l no longer
thought Of God. But God did not for
sake me- I think my holy mother was
praying for me in heaven. went into
bushes and God blessed all that l I'M
dertook. [ married the wife who is the
happiness of my life now, and whom
the good God had chosen to be the in
strument of my conversion. She was so
good. SO pious, she would never have
married me, if she had known me bet
Ter. But 7 made q show of religious
feelings which did not really come from
my heart l had the pftiful courage to
play a shameful comedy. A short time
after our marriage I threw off the
mask. Ny poor wife nearly died Of
grief. She begged, she implored, but in
vain l loved her and yet 1 had the
face to make fun of her when L saw
her devotions at night before a little
altar of St. Joseph and the Blessed
Virgin.
one day. It is now five years ago,
made her a handsome present for her
IedSl Gay, Inc IJLll VI MAI III. A0A4O -
cepted IT, thanking me cordially. put
she added presently, in hesitatlng
voice:
There is another gift, which, with
ont ANYTHING else. would make me hap
py above everything.
q" And what would that be-
Your soul, my dear husband.
The voice gave way and she wept
bitterly. 1 tried to comfort her, but IN
vain.
TELL me what you want me TO 40
I said. / prone you, l will do II.
Then come with me to the church
this evening. to the church of NJ. Ihere
win be a sermon and benediction.
d" II that is all you want, my DEAR
dry your tears, I viii come with you
The church was crowded. The priest
smoke well. but one thing only struck
me in his sermon. He was still young
and he spoke with an eccent Oh colNic-
ton. He said that no one had ever IN
yoked Saint Joseph without RECEIVING
sign of his powerful interceSslon. lhdl
he was perfectly certain that even an
unbejiever. a miserable sinner in DAN
ger. if he were appealed to, he wouid
come to his assistance ,,
As we were coming out of church'
my wife said to me: Dear husbdliu' you
travel so often, promise nae that III mo
ments Of danger you VIII say llis
PRAYER: Saint Joseph, pray Tor me 20
your adopted son. .,,ro
Certainly 1 promised Willingly 'here
is nothing difficult about that
a short time after, / was tfaVellIls
~, ,bis line as we are now. was re-
turning to Cologne. We were seven
persons in one compartment. Only inc
seat opposite me was empty. we W.
near this very spot when the LOCOMOTIVE
whistle gave the danger signal almost
at the same instant there was a shock S
Saint Joseph, help me, / crlea. anu
jumped from my seat. All TINS nap
pened in an instant The dead ooGies
of my six fellow travellers were Iy,ns
around. horribly mutilated' in the mas 1,1a
1niraculonsIy saved and escaped with
only q few Commissions.
Since that day have been prac'
teal Catholic for good, ana every 80,
in the month of March, 1 myself acorn
the altar of Staint Joseph with Aehts
and flowers. and with my WE ID"