The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-07-31
THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE.

One of the silent influences for con
version is the great virtue of pa.
thence. From lack of this we some
times may actually set back a con
version. In dealing with souls-toc
early is often a worse fault than too
late. Well-intentioned persons often
fail to understand that in working
for God hurry sometimes goes before
stumble.
make not haste in the time of
clouds" (Eccl. ii, p, says the Holy
Spirit. And the divine adviser i'm
mediately adds "Wait on God with
Patience; join myself to God and en-
dure." The soul of non-Catholic is
vale darkly obscured by fogs. One
cannot risk rush, but must be con
tent with careful cropping, feeling
ones way from argument to argu
ment. ever cautious and vigilant. This
finally lands one in the heart of tho
problem, and a ray of bright light
pierces the gloom of doubt.
But this is patience and not a pre-
tense for sloth. Some say that they
are waiting on God, and as a matter
of fact God is waiting on them. Wher
the skies begin to clear we must be
bold and decisive A long time age
we knew a young Protestant lady
| whose religious difficulties extended
over several years. She was drawn
to Catholicity so strongly that she
studied it perfectly-and yet she
hung back. Her sister, a convert o.
some years standing, was patient with
her to the limit of endurance, but at
last induced her to go with her to
see a priest. A long and rambling
discussion was the sum total of re-
suits; and yet the girl dare not deny
any Catholic doctrine. AS the inter-
view was coming to it's dreary close
day was set for another conference,
two weeks in advance. And then the
Catholic sister suddenly sprang up
and exclaimed in a loud voice: 1.-TWO
weeks? Two weeks? No! Now is the
time. Not a moments delay!" I'm
mediately she started out and led
both her sister and the priest into
the Church. The reception and the
baptism and the first confession were
over in half an hour. The new con
vert was overwhelmed with joy, an6
deeply grateful to her sister for heI
prompt decision. She has persevere6
most faithfully ever since.
1t is well to be slow-sometimes
it is never well to be timorous
Quick but not headlong, that is al
Apostolic maxim. Slow but not COW
ardly, is another.
But as to just the moment wher
the virtue of waiting shall give place
to that of acting, that depends or
good sense, good taste, good advice
and sometimes the inspiration of the
moment.
Given fairly well-instructed Cath
Ollie with taste for spiritual topics
then only a little zeal for souls is
needed to complete the makeup of q
conversational missionary. y
But what if such one gains in adj
dition the heavenly boon of really
ardent zeal to make converts? The
first effect is noticed in his prayers
He soon experiences within his soul
readiness to blaze up into fiery long
ings for the spread of Gods kingdom;
especially to win persons whom he
loves. With the PsaImist he can say:
MY heart grew hot within me; and
in my meditation a fire shall flame
out" Cps. xxYiii, ~. That fire within
glows outwardly upon his coun-
tenance, lights his eye and thrills his
voice. Especially does it give him an
attractive way of presenting Catholic
truth.
In human conduct the inner life
characterizes the outer. The true man
is made by God, and Gods best work
is always. invisible. The step from
prayer to talk is the same as. that
from the altar to the platform. When
God calls one to a conversational
Apostolate he begins by leading him
apart to pray.
In bowing with reverence to what