The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-05-26

friend of the princess. The two Span.
ish ladies, despite their difference in
age, understood each other SO we'll.
The princess is a poetess and writes
beautiful Spanish lyrics, many of
which her husband, who is not only a
skilled physician, but also an accom-.
plished musician and composer. set to
music. And Maria sang these songs
to the accompaniment of the harm es-
pecially in those hours when their
souls were filled with longing for their
native land. One of these, entitled:
La despedia" (The FarewelD. was
written by the princess to her brother
Alfonso, and when they sang that,
Maria Angelica thought of her own
brother Alfonso, whom it seemed to
fit quite as much.
The year that Maria had spent in
the Bavarian convent had been a most
happy one filled with faithful work
that was interrupted only by pilgrim.
ages to some of the numerous local
shrines and undertakings of charity.
Most of the following year she spent
travelling with her parents who thus
wanted to broaden her views and
knowledge. With the eyes of a child
she gazed at the wonders of nature
and was impressed by their magnifi-
cence. Despite great difficulties she
remained faithful to all her religious
practices especially to the practice of
frequent and almost daily Communion.
At last her parents settled definitely
in Madrid but still spent a part of
every year in Seville. At that city
Maria joined the Children of Mary, all
former pupils of Castilleja, who had
a reunion at the convent every month,
worked for various charitable purposes
and listened to an eXhortation.
Maria's last contribution for the
poor was exceptionally rich All liked
her for her cheerfulness and kindly
disposition. Her cheerfulness did not
even cease when certain fatigue be-
gan to make her regular attendance at
those reunions impossible. She felt
sick but would not alarm her people
and said nothing. But after an excur-
sion she returned home with high
fever. The best physicians were con-
suited and they could not help declar-
ing that there were indications of lung
trouble. The mother at once took her
beloved daughter to Leysin in SWitzer.
land, to prolong her life in the idyllic
region of the lakes. Maria was salts
fed with any arrangements made for
her well-being. Despite the most low
ing care her condition soon became
hopeless. The mother hoped against
hope, but still she often thought of the
words of her darling on the day of her
first Holy Communion.
All the guests of the hotel in which
they lived spoke of the pious young
duchess and many asked for the favor
of being permitted to see her. 1t gave
her pain but still she was so patient
and grateful for any little service and
mark of affection.
With trembling hands she wrote a
last letter to her brother Alfonso. His
heart bled when he received it, but
his duties did not allow him to hurry
to the sick bed of his sister. Two sis
tiers and younger brother we're able
to come and also her grandmother
the dear old Marquise de San Juan
and her friend the princess Ludwig
Ferdinand.
On a beautiful day late in August
Maria asked to be carried once more
n tho Unran6o of tho hnfp1 An
preston of mild sadness lay on hel
face when she looked over once more
to the lake, the forests in their sum
mer splendor, the green valleys, the
clear blue sky. Suddenly she asked
for her harp. 1t was brought out anC
softly like a low evening breeze the
notes trembled on the strings and still
more softly she sang the words of the
Communion hymns she had learned
when she was a child: Jesus, Jesus
come to me.
All that saw and heard her were
moved to tears. Maria Angelica trieC
to console all. She was carried back
to her room, and grew weaker every
hour. She asked for the Viaticum
She also expressed the wish that hel
room be decorated with flowers, that
she be dressed in white, and the blue
ribbon of her Sodality be given her
| At little intervals she kissed the little
crucifix in her hand. She knew it was
to be her last Holy Communion. The
priest who brought her the Viaticun
was visibly moved by the angelic piety
of the dying girl. When he had gone
she folded her arms over her breast
| and closed her eyes and remained
quiet for while. At last she began te
speak again, said farewell to all, es
pecially her mother and requested
| them to give her love to the dear ones
in far-away Spain.
When the sun cast it's last. faint rays
, into the room, when from the noun
| tains far and wide the church bells
| rang out the Angelus, sweet smile
| began to play about her face. Fare
| well, FAREWELL" she whispered, It'll
| we meet again in Heaven" Like {
| slumbering angel she looked.
Maria Angelica, the faithful child O
Mary, had gone home to sit at the fee
of her heavenly queen and mother fol
| ever.
| -Chytstidn FdmflD.