The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-17

Here, mister" he cried, heres |
what you left in the lunch room.
a second later the youngster, at no
small risk to himself, had jumped Off. |
All this was done so quickly that the
owner OF the bag hadn't recovered
enough from his surprise to do or say
anything at all AS soon, however, as
me man was able 10 speak, he eX-
claimed: What an honest lad!'
OF course, the lad was honest; he
had returned a great deal OF money
which he could have kept. For, while
the find was every dollar OF it left I'M
touched, the bag itself had been car
rled vide open into the car. Ii was
clear, therefore, that the yonngster
had looked within and knew just ex-
actly what he was returning to the
owner, even at the risk of his own life.
Now, the traveller, being a good
hearted person, was much upset by the
thought that a youngster should nave
acted toward himself so honestly With
out receiving any reward, and his one
thought was to make some suitable re-
turn as quickly as possible. But Tor
this it was necessary to find the money
finder, thing that proved more easily
planned than done. The gentleman
could only describe the lad as bright
looking fellow aof about IA, poorly
dressed, and wearing a small square
OF brown cloth ON his half-naked
breast. This description was sent
back to the station where the money
had been returned, but the youngster
to whom the description belonged was
not to be found. AS for the small
square of brown cloth, the railroad
people answered that it was worn by
neWsboys about the station, none OF
whom, however, had turned out to be
the lad wanted
The honest money finder, they said,
could not have been one of the boys
regularly about the depot, but was
some chance visitor who happened to
be on hand that particular day.
Much disappointed at this report, the
gentleman felt constantly a growing
regret for having let himself appear
lIldlAlSSS. LII ltG COulSC VI IIllIC, liz
deed, the matter weighed. on him SO
heavily that, could he have seen any
possible way of bringing his missing
young friend to light, he would willing
ly have spent in the endeavor all of
the one thousand dollars that had been
returned.
A little later the merchant, while in
q store, CHANGED upon some Of the
brown cloth articles, the, scapular, of
course, that had been worn by the
missing lad, and at once inquired CON
corning them. Learning that they
were used by Catholics, he asked for
point that would explain the prac.
tice.
Il have a book on tie Catholic re-
| ligion," answered the dealer, "but | am
not sure whether it tells about these
| particular articles or not. So saying,
| the dealer handed the buyer a large
| catechism. The inquirer read the cate.
chism through, and learned from it a
great deal about our religion, without
however, finding just what he sought
! -Allti w 10, CtJIlIIASo C<SIOtoS Il II III
| treating OF the scapulars, he learned
| that they are a simple way Of showing
| honor to the Blessed Virgin, and be-
| came much interested in reading how
the devotion began.
In the early days Of the Christian
cred On Mount Carmel, in the Holy
Land, the land where our Lord lived
and died. These men, who took upon
themselves the special duty of honor
ing the Mother of God, were called
then, as now, the Carmelite Fathers.
In the course of time people wishing
| to be connected with the Carmelites in
honoring the Blessed Virgin asked to
wear for the purpose some part OF. the
brown habit OF clothing, and were per
mitted to use that portion of the brown
habit which covers the shoulders and
is called the scapular. The scapulars
worn by the Carmelites themselves are
large enough to be considered small
cloaks, but those used by other people
were, for convenience sake, cut
smaller, as we now have them. Rest
ing on our shoulders, they make us
as being like the Carmelites, special
servants of the Blessed Virgin.
The gentleman learned further of a
belief held by the Catholics that the
Mother of our Lord had promised
those who wear the scapular a special
protection. In fact, the good man was
told by Catholic acquaintance that
if one would be of the true faith he is
obliged to believe that the promise of
special protection has certainly been
given
Now, as all of you ought to under
stand, this acquaintance was entirely
mistaken That the wearing of the
scapular wins the Blessed Virgins
special guardianship is by no means
an article of faith binding on Catho-
lies. 1t is what we cali a pious belief
something that the Church simply
permits Catholics to hold. However,
since confidence in the scapular is per-
mitted, one is clearly justified in wear
ing it with the hope that it may bring
protection while he is swimming or in
any other way exposing his life to
some danger Meanwhile, as should
be carefully noted, the great promise
the Mother Of Cod is DiouSly believed