The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-08

other of the race, junak, or hero,
and asked If he will fight the Turk
again as he has done all his life, and
he replies, Il am only sixty-two,"
and taking his rifle by the muzzle, he
holds it at arms length. Am III
weak? May the good God let me die
in battle for have four sons to take
my place if I fall. If we fight now
will send you such men as will lose
their heads before they forsake you.
You shall see how they fight and it
will be good. But I fear it will be-
peace"
These are the manner of men who
are now fighting their hereditary
enemies, the detested Turk-men who
know not fear. The scene at cafe is
thus described: An aged man en-
ters; he is greeted with marked re-
spect, especially by the rugged veter-
ans at whose table he seats himself,
May God protect you,' says the old
man, grasping each by the hand and
kissing each twice on the lips. On
his cap he carries the insignia of
Voivoda, the highest rank after the
Prince. These same men he led to
battle in past days, for he is chief of
the Piper clan and the hero of many
deed of reckless bravery.
In Montenegro warfare the chief
leads his men to the assault, and on
his recklessness often hangs the issue.
He signs deeply. Yesterday he re-
ceived telegram telling him that his
only son lay mortally wounded in his
mountain home. AS he reads it the
man whose contempt of danger is
sung by every guslar, sat down and
wept AS I go / hear the old chief
thanking God that there may be hope
for his sons life"
Patron Saint of Montenegro.
The patron saint of Montenegro is
| st. Vasili, universally reverenced.
Ostrog is his shrine. There all classes
congregate and the poor deformed
wretches come to be cured, the blind,
lame and halt all cry out continually,
Gin the name of God and St. Vasili,
pity me-" Pilgrims come from all
parts, the richly dressed, or humbly
clad, some on foot, all fasting the
while and with continual prayer and
little window hewn out of the rock
the saint lies in wooden coffin and
covered in his robes.
Beside the shrine is a monastery
and the whole scene is thus described:
above us we cannot see, for the rock
juts out beyond; but before us and
below is sketched a panorama of
peaceful beauty The thread-like Zeta
in the valley, the lofty ridge opposite
on which nestles the lower monastery,
form an incompatible landscape which
must have ofttimes filled the soul of
st. Vasili, with that contentment
which cometh only to those who are
willing to give up the pleasures of
this world for the service of God in the
midst of his most perfect handiwork.' -
st. Vasili came from the Herzego-
vina a century ago. Legend hath it
that the spot where now stands the
little monastery in his honor and
where is his shrine was shown the
saint by miracle. But all the
written records of his life and doings
were destroyed by the Turks and his
remains nearly captured. A priest
the writer met, one Father Deda, lived
a life of retirement after an active
career. He built his tomb for himself
and tends it daily, and on it is the
inscription, "Arsenye Lazic, first lieu.
tenant of cavalry and faithful servant
of Prince Alexander H. Born in the
year 1922, and died in the year. y
81 am ready to co." he said, when
God calls me-" The writer saw him in
1904 when he visited the land
Read on the priest said, and the
pathetic inscription closed, Farewell
Montenegro. May the leaves of thy
trees turn to gold. go to my eternal
rest" He may still be living, the
good holy man, and the tomb yet
untitled, for it is only eight years ago
but a fine type of man was Father
Deda, as were all the priests the
writer met, and who are all called
Father"
The scene in Montenegro at Easter
time is truly idyllic and beautiful
The people meet each other with the
salutation, Christ is risen; Christ il
: risen indeed" In the best room Of
every house the table is covered witt
abundance of meat and wines anC
visitors in continual stream go in anC
out. Every one is dressed in theil
best; every one is happy, for the weel
before is one of rigid fast, and nov
: comes the feast in honor of the Riser
Christ"
Such are these people, simple anC
, moral, deeply religious in theil
domestic lives, but living a life O.
terror and danger outside with the
: rifle or revolver never out of the reacl
I of their hands, for they know not thu
: moment when a Turk or an Albanian
1 urged by the Turk would pounc'
. down upon them and take theil
? property or lives or their women'i
honor. But they have held their owl
J. for centuries, and now the blessed
: day of their freedom has dawned a
{ last
Through much blood they arr
reaching the goal, and please Coz
their future lives, the lives of those