The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-06-04
SLAVE REGINA

II was the first Sunday in May. Everything
,a. fresh green and fragrant, the late afternoon
sim reigned joyously IN the midst of sky-palace
of sauphire and snow just tingeing with the rich
moss of approaching sunset. Birds twittered mer-
r, I'M the tall trees and in the Indigenous, the shy
rrimrose and first white buds of spring were APP
nearing unexpectedly in sheltered hooks here and
there The air was cool and sweet, and the tiny
leze. that ruffed the sparrows' feathers and made
faint rpples on the surface of the pond beside the
road. seemed a gay harbniger of coming summer
lows All breathed the sweet name Mary, every
thinp flowers birds and leaves, seemed happy In
her praise.
Mrs McKenna sat by the wayside on a fallen
free trunk. unable to think further. The bright
calm beauty of the day made no impression on her.
on rather only served to intensity the keenness OF
her misery by very force of contrast. What was
i. to her that the young year budding forth
I'm JOYOUS strength into the beauty and richness
of the golden summer days-that everything spoke
of hope. endeavor and happiness when hope and
happiness had died for her! For the doctors
words so anxiously aawited, were final. Was it
not the brilliant Dublin doctor, who had been at
tending at Kilconnel House, whom kind Father
O'Cmnor had induced to visit her poor husband
and whose pronouncements upon cases of mental
ailments were universally accepted as decisive!
No. there was no hope. Doctor ks words we're
and probably die, since he could not recover either
from his wearing illness or from the Authorizations
and Illusions that possessed the once cear-headed
and sensible James McKenna. And all this ac-
count of the accident he had met with last sum-
mer iniuring his poor head which, added to the
already heavy burden of worry to how his limited
income should continue to provide for wife and
little ones, had reduced her brave, strong husband
to the POOR helpless wreck almost of both miT%
/ H.. : oh l,a foc+
And what she was to do as regards the children,
how She was to keep the little home together, God
only knew How was she to get on alone; how do
without that brave, kind heart to fall back upon
in her desoate hours; she had not the strength. 1t
seemed as though she were forsaken of God and
man: none to stretch out a helping hand, none to
lift the black darkness that appeared to have en-
veoped her utterly and hopelessly. She sat star
ing duly upon the ground, her sorrow too deep
for tears too deep for words. She was alone, ut
terlv alone.
The deep melodous sound of great bell broke
suddenly upon her almost despairing reverie She
started. scarce realizing what had recalled her
from the gloom in whcih she had been plunged.
Again and again it sounded, sweet and softened in
the distance like the call of angel voice, rails
ing from despair to hope. Duly she remembered
that it was the bell of the Friary church, then
that it was Sunday evening" and at last that it
With a sudden impulse for which she could not
accsunt--for clear thinking was at present impos
sbIc-lirs. Mckenna retraced her steps to the
house and invested herself with hat and jacket.
The children were safe for a week or two, mar
red sister of Father O'Connor's in County Galway
having gladly taken them the more willingly as
she lad ne family upon which to lavish the treas
ure of her generous heart. Poor James lay asleep,
qure worn out, in his room. Shutting the house
4 I Il H., H. Ii
Lcr way to the dear Friary church, where a white
ROBBED Father had married them ten long years ago.
1t was comparatively late when she arrived at
the chapel, the sermon on MARY, Comforter of the
Afflicted" was almost over 1nsensibly, she knelt
IN q corner, there stole over Nora McKenna's
L.s~ a gentle calm that grew and grew, she could
d.. understand why, as the service proceeded, as
the procession of Friars, each with lighted candle
in hand, Inelt during the sweet singing of the
Sare Regina, her favorite prayer, until at last
at Benedcton something that was almost rest had
taken possession of her
She knelt on in the dark near the beautiful
statue Of the Immaculate Queen of the Rosary,
sweet and compassionate. with her little Child,
that Nora's heart went "up to Her, signing, from
this valley of tears in burst of tears that
brought relief to the over-strained soul. And
She looked up again, her eyes dried, she suddenly
encountered the gentle, sympathetic glance of old,
wllitl-haired white-robed Father Dominic, who
standing beside her.
Tell me your trouble, child, perhaps l can help
you,' was the kind old Friar's invitation. And
in few moments she had confded all her woe, her
despair and her fears to his tenderhearted keeping.
Don't despair, child" came the comforting ia
tLerly counsel, it's the month of Mary, Mother
Of holy Hope I've known cases like this and
worse even, cured by prayer. Have faith in her
and in the Sacred Heart, and l believe he'll be
cured See if you can't get him to Badge,
and here, child, is a blessed Medal of Our Lady,
Miraculous Medal, remember. Put these in his
clothes, have faith and pray hard. I'll tell you
what to say-every day say one Hail. Holy Queen
for limits a prayer that has cured somewhat
similar evils often already, and is most pleasing