The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-11-15

was already at the Offertory. Noise
lessly she took her place and, like
the pious men and women about her,
began to say the chaplet of Our Lady
Many prayer she said for the soul
of her departed husband, for her seven
sons, and especially for James, the
pride of her life.
Mass over, James met his mother
and the two started home together.
ooh, mother!" said James, when
they we're alone on the road, II have
such news for you this morning that
you will scarcely be able to believe it,.
Perhaps should have told you sooner
mother, but"
"Wisha and what is it, my dear?"
Il am to be priest, mother "a
Dominican. Father Casey has written
to Uncle Tom and he has answered
saying that he will be glad to see me
member of the order which he loves
so much and of which he is now Pro
vincial. But. mother, don't know
where am to study"
Tears stood in his mothers eyes.
The thought that her son should one
day stand at the altar and offer up the
Holy Sacrifice seemed above all real
ization Often had the thought come
to her that James might be a priest,
often had she prayed that God would
send one of her sons the priestly call,
but the present news was too much
for her.
James walked along in silence. The
secret that had been hidden in his
heart for many months was disclosed.
He would have been glad had his
mother spoken, but she could not Her
thoughts we're all her own. She was
to be the mother of priest. Those
tiny lips which she had once taught
to lisp the Holy Names, were one day
to pronounce the solemn words of
conservation. Those tiny hands she
had so often clasped with mothers
tender love, we're one day to hold the
Body of her Lord and God. What
grander thought for Catholic mother
a son a priest! Not word escaped
her lips the rest of their journey.
II.
Five years later Mrs. Mcclure was
sitting before the little turf fire in
her cottage thinking Of her son James,
wonder what would become of him
now that he had gone to study in
Dublin. Her heart was crushed. Her
fondest hopes were to remain unreal
lied. For James had given up all idea
of becoming priest
The first few years spent at the
preparatory college, we're indeed hap
Ply ones for him. But gradually his
love for his vocation waned. Could
he but become famous lawyer or a
learned professor he felt that he would
be satisfied. The idea was in his mind
and no one could rid him of it.
ct shall go to Dublin" he had told
his confessor, "and there I shall study
law at Trinity College. Then some
day you shall hear of the far-famed
lawyer, James Mcclure"
His confessor had pleaded with him
''My child, this is temptation" he
had said, "and you shall rue the day
you leave this college," But the lad
was determined. So he had left the
college and was already in his second
year in Dublin
No wonder that his dear old mother,
as she sat at the fire that night,
worried and fretted about him. Dublin
was large city and the college to
which James had gone, was non-Cath-
Ole. The dangers of large city, the
evil influence of non-Catholic and in
f1del COMPREHENSIVE understood all.
So many others had fallen that she
had reason to fear for her son.
Jesus and Mary protect him!" she
whispered again and again. "Jesus
and Mary help and guide him. Tears
unbidden filed the good old lady
eyes. 'But must be getting the boys
meal ready" she said to herself as
she arose from her easy chair. "It
won't do for me to be looking sad
when the boys come in. IT'S for me
to be cheering them after their hard
days work"
Scarcely had she finished when she
heard heavy tread on the pathway
| DIG lOOhSu OuI IuO lIIIIC WluUOW. IL
was Michael. her eldest son.
God save you, mother!" he ex.
claimed as he entered.
God save you kindly asthore!'
said his mother returning the greet.
ing ''You are early today Has any.
thing happened?"
mo, mother. Only the seas are bad
today and the fog is becoming heavy
But nave news for you mother Hero
is letter from James"
| A letter from James! 1t was the
first for many months. With trem.
bling hand she took the letter and
eagerly broke the SEAL
Sure Michael and l knew James
wouldn't forget his old mother. He's
studying hard these days and has no
time to be writing to the likes of us. -
But the letter was short-a mere
note It ran:
Dear Mother:
No doubt you have been awaiting
a letter from me, for many months
/ have elapsed since nv last. But I