The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-01
Continued from page g.
MY NEW CONVERT.

Ill IuS OIdtC, ANU III IdSCS CNCl WAOAS
in life The difficulty of selecting one
of two interpretations has often pre-
scented itself to ME. l looked to the
Good Book, and believing in its in
spiration, felt that same inspiration
was given to me that l might see the
truth l confess there are as many
interpretations among us as there are
beliefs, and 1 feel the force of your
argument However, | will think on
what you have said, and We will talk
on the matter when you visit us
again"
Read the chapters of your Church
History" 1 said, land you will see the
various interpretations of Luther, Me-
lancthon, Calvin and the other reform
ers, especially in their treatment OF
the Holy Eucharist. They were all
Protestant; they all agreed on one
thing. That was to throw away the
authority of the Church, and on every
other matter of religion they agreed
to disagree"
closed our conversation on the sub
ject for the night with these words,
and my host and l parted to retire.
Next morning when leaving, had for
gotten to take a catechism | had been
using for the children. So upon my
return visit, was hailed by my friend,
| thus:
"Well, Father, I know it all. You
we're right that night, and | see now
the philosophy of your argument. |
have studied that little book you left
behind you, and l am ready to be bap-
TIED"
mot SO soon, my friend" I said.
You know you cannot be baptized at
once. This enthusiasm you now feel
may soon pass away, SO it is better
that you should wait a while"
mo, am anxious to become Cath
Ollie. | know your little book from
cover to cover, and l feel now is the
time to enter your Church. But,
Father, there is one thing do not UNI
derstand, though | believe it as firmly
as you do. That is Christs presence
in the Holy Sacrament"
"Well, you cannot understand that,
nor can any other human being. 1t is
one of Gods great mysteries, and only
| by faith can we appreciate it. GOD
will guide you, since He knows you
are sincere"
My friend, who now became my cate
chumen, knew that little catechism
perfectly, and it seemed the grace of
God had entered his soul and given
him clear understanding OF that lit
tie book, the guide of SO many to the
only way. Three months afterwards.
on the feast of Our Lady of Good
| Counsel, | baptized my friend John
Pine. His first Communion he re-
ceived few days later. On the feast
of Our Lady of Consolation he was
confirmed. l had not prearranged in
any way these dates, but | have often
thought Mary never forgot that act of
John Pine, when he defended her
against that minister's harangues.
| My new convert was model CathO'
lie. His life was the life of saint.
He loved Mary, because he loved her
Son. His favorite devotion was the
Rosary, which he said daily with in
tense piety. About the eighth of
August l received a despatch to come
at once to lakewood, telling me Mr..
Pine was very i'll. ] hurried out there,
and found my friend quite low. The
great, strong man had fallen away i'll
few days, and | saw the end was not
/ far distant.
"Well, Father, think our Mother
Mary is going to call me to herself, "
was his greeting to me.
| l answered.: my dear man, you
know that long ago you became child
of Mary, and she may want to have
you near her and her dear Son, Jesus.
''Well, | am willing to go, Father"
he said, "and wish you to prepare me.
| wish you could stay with me till
die"
l told him | could not remain that
| day, but would return the day follow
| ing. | heard his confession, anointed
him, and gave him, in the Eucharist,
his Christ whom he loved SO much.
After a short prayer l left, but re-
| turned every day till the fifteenth of
August, when / said Mass, at which
Mr.. Pine, his wife, and two children
received Holy Communion. He would
insist on kneeling during most-of the
service, and this, even with the assist
ance given him, was great strain.
shall never forget his devotion on
that morning. | shall always remem-
Der the brilliancy of his face when
IChrist entered his heart for what was
to be the last time on this earth. |
remained all day with him, and at the
hour between twilight and dark, my
spiritual child was nearing the other
shore. He called all his family, kissed
each one, babe them kneel and pray
for him, and lastly calling me, begged
that would stay with him, and let
him rest his head on my arm; that
i | who had brought him to God, as he
said, might give him to that same
God as an Offering. The quiet of the
room became intense. The features
| of the patient seemed to grow stronger
but the calm consciousness remained
and repeatedly the Our Father and
the Hail Mary passed from the lips
LOT the dying one. Closely he held the
crucifix to his lips; and tightly he
entwined in his fingers the Rosary OF
his beloved, the Virgin Mother. Just
as darkness set in, my friend turned
to me and said. Goodbye, Father