The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-16

stubborn" the priest replied with a
puzzled look. ITO all my entreaties,
he responds: Don't ask me, Father;
cannot When I questioned him as
to the reason why he would not con-
fide it to me, and asked what object
he had in sacrificing his liberty and
good name for one who had disobeyed
the laws of God and man, his only
answer was that he was willing to suf-
grace"
Nothing, then, can move him?"
The girl spoke disconsolately, bowed
her head in her hands and wept bitter
tears.
The sight of the girl in tears was
too much for the kind, sympathetic
heart of Father German, but he was
at loss for words to console her. He
knew Alice Collins from the day she
entered the parochial school of st.
Agnes. He had instructed her for her
first confession, as well as for her first
Communion, and he was her pastor
when the Bishop administered the
OnO4 VI OOA141 4n0I1Ous 110 hu0W
that her life was an exemplary one,
that she lived according to the ideals
imbibed from her holy religion; and
it wounded him sorely to see her in
tears, weeping for Tom Passen whom
she loved so dearly.
Were the young man unworthy of
these tears, Father German would
have experienced no difficulty in con-
soling the girl; but the priest knew
the young man, and in those four
years of acquaintance, since Tom Pas
sen became member of the parish
of st. Agnes, the venerable man could
find nothing to censure in the conduct
of the other.
A member of the Holy Name Socie-
ty, Tom was never known to have
taken the Lords name in vain, was
never heard to express himself in
language offensive to decent ears.
With that valiant body of men, de-
tenders of the pure sweet name of
Jesus, Tom Passen regularly approach
ed the sacraments; and even on other
occasions, when not obliged by the
rules of this society, he was seen at
the rail partaking of the Bread of
Life.
Among his associates and compan.
| ions Tom was reputed for his honesty
and sobriety. Beyond the good char.
acter and excellent disposition for
which he was favored by all acquaint.
ed with him, little was known Of his
past, except that he was a native of a
Western city, and had come to the
metropolis to seek work; that his
home now was furnished room in a
clearinghouse conducted by a pious
Catholic woman.
Bearing in mind all these facts, Fa-
Their German was at loss how to com.
fort the girl. That the young man
was innocent, he firmly believed, for
Tom had sworn to that, and surely he
would not take false oath. The cir
cumstances, however, pointed to his
guilt.
The rich Mr.. Thornley, had testified
that the man he found looting his home
Passen. When the burglar, upon be
ing interrupted, turned to flee, the
rich man gave chase but lost sight of
the culprit after blocks pursuit
The police, upon being summoned
joined in the chase, and several
blocks from where Mr. Thornley, lost
sight of him the burglar was seen
ceeded in boarding the car he was
caught, identified by the rich man and
locked up.
"He has not listened to your sup
plications, he will not hear my en-
treaties" the priest said in trying to
console the girl. Turn, then, to the
Mother of God, to Mary, Mother Of
the afflicted. She is the help of Chris
tians, and most merciful Mother tc
us who dearly love and venerate her.
While Tom Passen fingered in jai
J awaiting the day of his trial, Alice
J Collins, his sweetheart, was following
the instructions of the good priest. Or
! the feast of the Seven Dolors of the
Blessed Mother of God she began 6
: novena in honor of Our Lady of Ran
: som. 1t cost her many privations and
sacrifices to attend Holy Mass and tt
receive the Sacred Body of her Lore
: in the Blessed Sacrament on the nine
consecutive days. But, nothing daunt
: ed, Alice continued her daily devo
tons, in spite of the fact that on sew
eral mornings she was obliged to fore
go breakfast in order to be at he1
: machine in the factory when the
whistle blew to begin work.
Toms trial was set on the calendar
to begin on the oath of September
Alice was we'll aware that on this day
the Queen of Heaven is especially hon
ored and venerated as the Mother Of
Mercy. With a heart purified from
sin, she received her Divine Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament, and implored
the Mother of Mercy to assist her in
her sufferings and distress, to bring
about the release of him who was also
a devoted child of the Queen of Heav
en-. AS fervently and devoutly as she
prayed, Alice found difficulty in ban
ishing the doubts that assailed her
The thought would ever recur that
she was asking favor contrary to
Gods wishes.
Did not Tom admit that he knew the
culprit? Did he not refuse to divulge
this knowledge or suspicion? Why
then, should she ask God and His
Mother to bring about Toms release
and acquittal when he could, by speak