The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-10-17

Il
raine tactfully, III order to discover
just how much she knew Of Catholic
ity, but, smiling, she held up the lit
tie book to his view. This is all l
know" she confessed, "but it has
made We want to know more, for be-
lieving that Christ abides with the
Catholic Church, believe all else that
1t teaches. This book makes every
thing SO clear; perhaps you have read
lit?" q ~
Something of embarrassment show
ed in the, good priests face as he
glanced at the little volume, Then,
followed moments silence. "Yes,"
he said at last, 81 have read it."
There was something of reserve in
the priests tone, and Alice looked at
him uneasily. do you not like it?"
she asked anxiously. please do not
tell me that the authors views are
not in accordance with the teachings
of the Church" s. T..
@Oh, the book is all right, he has
tened to reassure her, and seeing that
she still looked uneasy, added, smil-
ing, Tin fact, wrote it myself"
She was pleased and delighted be-
yond words, and listened with deep
interest to Father D--'s ensuing in
structions, believing that the Gracious
Christ, in His beautiful human kind
ness. had sent the writer of the lit
tie book. to her as a sign of His friend
| no To
D., noting how her face frightened
whenever he spoke of the Blessed
,Sacrament, required again and again
, to that which was the keynote of
his own life, disclosing, as far as it
was possible in words, the secrets of
the King, resolving that as soon as
possible the King should come to her.
.o. When he left she lay very still and
tranquil. She had taught il a fruit
less journey this, to NJ. She had
come to seek health and forgetfulness,
and had failed. But she had found
the King. She was here, now, in
His own house. She was His guest,
and as yet she had paid Him no hon.
1 age. Rising slowly to her feet-for
she was still very weak-she present
ly reached her window, by keeping
close to the wall. Below was the
garden she loved, gray. now in the
gathering twilight. Beyond were the
lights Of the city. But her eyes
turned to a jutting wing of the con-
vent in plain view from where she
now stood. It 1t. was the chapel and
on one of the stained-glass windows
could be seen the faint, red glow of
the sanctuary lamp within. She sank
Eupon, her; knees, folding her hands
reverently my Lord and my God"
she whispered. But the red glow was
faint and far. 20 Christ and King"
4 she prayed, come to me, comfort me.
Thou Who wouldst not break the
bruised reed, help me, and teach me
Thy way, Thy love, and Thy lesson
Of forgiveness"
Alice grew much stronger during
the next few days, and received Fa-
Their D-'s instructions with eager
ness and profit At last the day came
when she and her little one were
baptized, and on the following morn
ing she was to receive her first Holy
Communion. The wonder Of the mys-
tic morning Sacrifice filled her heart
with heavenly. joy as she knelt at
Mass in the convent chapel. At the
Sursum Corda her eyes were caught
and held by a window above the al
tar, whereon was depicted the Last
Supper: And sweetly the thought
came to her-here, today, was being
offered the same Sacrifice shown
there. Then, in her imagination, the
little sanctuary was transformed. The
morning sunshine was the evening
sunset, and she stood in spirit upon
the threshold of that upper chamber
looking upon the scene wherein Christ
looking his yelled Presence to dwell
with men forever. Fair was the de
picted Christ above the altar, but
fairer, more beautiful her soul por
trayed Him, the central figure of the
banquet hall, on the first Holy Thurs
day, long ago. Before Him there were
bread and wine. Around Him, talk
ing quietly among themselves, were
the Disciples. And beside Him was
John the Beloved, who now, with ear
i nest face, was 'venturing loving words
OF remonstrance, even while leaning
close to the Heart Of his Friend. "Too
frail, theahands of men to hold this
power" he said. Even Thine angels
must needs prove unworthy of this
Gift Thou wouldst grant to men. .
Then came the low answer, spoken
to John alone: Through this Gift,
men shall become like. angels, and
holy, pure, throughout the ages shall
be the. hands that break this Bread. "
"Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus," rever-
emily the world sounded through the
little chapel, and Alice was on her
knees. Still it was as though she
knelt in. that upper room of long ago,
and heard the voice of John, sunk to
a low. whisper: yet Thou Thyself
hast told US that even among us
there shall be a traitor Did the
dear Christ pause then, did He look
upon the face of Judas, seeing there
the face of every Judas yet to be?
SorroWing, the Manhood looked down
at the. unleavened bread, and yet was
not deferred. o Love Divine, does it
repair, does it atone? For every Ju-
/ das, there shall be at least one John