The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-08-20
A CONVERT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

accomplished with no external aid. l was a soul,
who had not asked for guidance, had never even
questioned the meaning of life. was not only
utterly Indifferent to Catholic truth but unnter-
ested in any religion. My life had been one of
intense self-indulgenoe; my law had been what
want I viii have, be it right wrong"
was one of gay party who were touring
Southern California during the winter, in which
my conversion took place. Life was for me one
long holiday. Untroubled by any thought of re-
sronsibility, ] denied myself no qualification.
Ny own people were Congregationalsts and
strongly religious. AT varying intervals had had
rDells of trying hard to be like them. But self
was strong and the spells brief l drowned my
yearning for higher things in careless living.
As Sunday evening amusement that winter, /
went ordinarily to some service in company with
a friend-it never mattered where We visited the
Salvation Army and the Spiritualists with as much
interest as the more orthodox churches.
Let US go to a Catholic Church for a change"
l suggested one evening.
why do you wish to GO there" was the reply.
.Do YOU want to become a CatholicH
you did not ask me if ! wanted to join the
Salvation Army when we attended their service"
retorted
q would rather stand by your open grave than
see YOU Catholic" he said fercely.
.Oh well, l have no interest in Catholicism
other than enjoying a variation in the Sunday
evening service"
Yet l was anxious to hear Catholic music, and
on Christmas morning l went alone to early
Nass-the first | had ever attended. l enjoyed
the music, but was not otherwise impressed. Later
the Missions Of San Gabriel and Santa Barbara
impressed me deeply, and | vaguely wondered why.
At Penteecost we were in San Francisco On
Saturday evening, while reading the different
steal programs for the morrow l decided to go to
the Cathedral. / went. Here came the mystery.
There and then Gods grace came to me. |
member not word of the sermon. | cannot
recall a single detail of the sanctuary but L know
that Faith came to me in that hour.
/ walked from the church dazed, not realizing
what had happened. Without any generalization,
asked the way to the priests house, though had
never spoken to a priest, and had regarded them
always with fear and aversion. At the door my
courage failed. | did not dare to ring the bell L
returned to the hotel and came back to the church
for Vespers that evening.
The next morning bought prayer book and
a rosary-though [ did not know the use of the
beads. Some mysterious force impelling me.
I talked for a few moments with the clerk who
served me and she advised me to go to see one of
the Jesuits. That seemed absolutely impossible
the name had terrors. So [ acted upon the clerks
second suggestion and went again to the cathedral
residence and asked for the Bishop.
The Bishop was engaged and went away again,
not knowing that there were others there who
might have given me the guidance l needed. L
tried TO put the mysterious something which had so
moved me on the preceding day entirely out of my
mind; but that was impossible. After sleepless
night 1 resolutely determined to see what it all
meant Tuesday morning l went to the Jesuit
church-St. Ignatius.
All the strange stories L had ever heard of trap
doors and similar horrors REQUIRED to me while [
waited for a priest; for there | was. My terrors
abated when the door opened and kindly eyes
looked on me, while kind voice asked:
What can [ do for you, my chldg
! J. j
told him quickly all there was to tell When had
concluded he said:
1T is the work of the Holy Ghost, my child.
Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday"
The good Jesuit Father began my instructions
in the usual way But when had explained to him
that party had completed their arrangements
for leaving San Francisco the following night for
an extended trip along the coast, and that could
not do otherwise than accompany them-as they
must know nothing of my intentions for the pres
ent-tbe Father remained in deep thought for some
time repeating aloud, "What shall l doT Then
he gave me some instructions and placed In my
hands of "Catholic Belief" marking portions to
be read and bidding me consider attentively the
simple acts of faith, hope and charity. left him
with an ever increasing realization that l was now
n Gods hands and must follow whatever might be
His viii for me.
Through the entire night I read eagerly. Early
Dawn found trunks packed for the journey and
ever might come. No around suspected
what these days and nights had brought me.
found pretext for going out for the morning, aud
at nine o'clock was again at the church
The Father continued his Instructions and
questioned me about the acts. To his surprise
aud my OWL repeated them word for word As
said q believe these and all the truths which The
Holy Church teaches" interposed "But [ do not
know them" I shall never forget the simple reply:
If you believe that Christ could teach His Church
nothing but truth, that covers all"
And it did. Since then no doubt has ever
crossed my mind, no dogma has ever troubled me.
After little further instruction, the Father
said quietly;
u have permission TO baptize you"
replied as quietly 81 am ready"
And thus it was that in twenty-four hours from
the first time had ever spoken to Catholic priest
] was baptized into the Catholic Church. strang-
or stood sponsor for me.
ooh, the goodness of the Lord! Who can com