The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-11

lldu slllSu away, u6 CdIl1G uOWu " CD
his supper in silence and then curl
himself up in a cozy chair to indulge
in his dark reflections. He had
scarcely begun, however, when the
front door was pushed violently
open, and the children dragging
mother along burst into the room,
laughing hoisterously and painting
for breath. A sudden storm had
blown up just as they were about to
enter the woods, forcing them to
turn and make a wild dash for home.
Even before they had reached that
safety, the storm burst in great
heavy drops, splashing their cheeks
and eyes as if pursuing them and
challenging them to laughter,
1t was some moments before they
were able to settle down; and then
Rose Marie, the oldest girl, reminded
her mother of the story which had
been so rudely interrupted, begging
her to continue.
ooh, yes, my dears. But where
was 70"
why, mother, just at the part
where the man had gotten so rich,
don't you remember, that he
But Bell interrupted: ooh, no,
mother, you were past that; away
past. Why it was the middle of the
night, and he was struggling. Don't
you remember, mother, we were all
so interested that that big crash of
thunder frightened the life almost
out of us. We thought it was the
devil himself come to take the mans
soul. That's what made us run so
hard
Jean looked up from his chair. 1t
seemed interesting. He was wonder
ing how it began, when Rose Marie
came to the rescue and begged her
mother to tell the story all over
again.
She did so. And this is the tale:
1t happened in Ireland many years
ago, in one of the country towns.
A man who had been devout while
he was poor, gradually, as he grew
rich, lost his devotion and became
careless about his religious duties.
In former days it had been his de-
light to assist devoutly at an early
Mass. Later on he went in great
pomp to the High Mass, and during
the Holy Sacrifice, instead of keeping
his mind fixed upon the Sacred Mys-
teries, he was thinking rather of his
possessions; of how he should invest
his money to the greatest advantage
so that he might acquire more. Thus,
gradually, losing his love for the
Holy Mass, he began to remain away
now and then, until at length he
stopped going altogether.
The parish priest, noticing his abb
sence, admonished him again and
again. But his heart was hardened
by the love of his money and his
ease; he had lost his love for the
Divine Sacrifice, and he continued in
his neglect. To his absence from
Mass, of course, added neglect of the
Sacramento; for no one can be faith
full in going to Confession and Holy
Communion who stays away from
Mass. Thinking to arouse him to a
sense of his duty, the parish priest
often reminded him of the pains of
| hell to which he would surely be
condemned for all eternity if he were
to die in enmity with God. But the
unfortunate man promised himself
that he would make everything right
before he died.
And so matters continued until his
last illness settled upon him. Even
then the faithful priest visited him,
trying in vain to urge him to make
his peace with God before it was too
late. The man could not be con-
vinced that his hour was come. He
felt sure that he would soon be we'll
again, and so refused the ministra-
tions of the priest. One evening,
however, few days later he sud-
denly grew fearful with the realiza-
ton that he was dying. He seemed
to be struggling fiercely, and, in
great alarm, he sent for the parish
priest. The faithful priest, only too
eager to restore him to Gods grace,
made haste. But 10! when he ar
rived at the house the sick man S
spell had passed; he had returned
again to his state of obduracy and
he refused to receive the messenger
of mercy, sending him away with
curses and maledictions.
Later in the night another attack,
apparently worse than the first, came
upon this wretched sinner; and again
he was seized with desire for re-
pentance, sending off in great haste
for the priest, who, despite the treat
ment he had received from the sick
man, did not hesitate a moment to
return. The result, nevertheless,
was as bad, if not worse. Once the
terror of the attack had left him, the
sick man relapsed into his perverse-
ness, and as soon as the poor priest
approached he was ordered from the
room with threats and curses. Sad
ly he took his leave, praying for the
wretched man who had so often de-
spised the grace of God that it now
seemed powerless to touch his heart.
| The next day-it was quite late in
the night, / think-his final struggle
came. Once again, as before, he be-
sought the priest to come to him. A
messenger went in haste, but found
that the priest was absent and would
not return before nightfall of the
next day. The dying man so pleaded
| for a priest that the messenger ran