The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-27
Letter TO THE EDITOR
MASS IN GLACIER PARK.
Many Glacier Hotel,
Glacier National Park, Mont.
Reverend dear Father:

Reverend dear Father:
/ have just come to my room after
having served Mass and am minded
to tell you about the Church's work
here in this Rocky fastness, this sum-
mer.
When | came here from st. Paul
last spring, | was wondering what pro-
vision would be made by way of re-
ligious services. | had not long to
wonder for soon after I got here, as /
was walking about the lobby one even
ing, saw clerical looking man whom
1 knew at once was a priest of the
Church. / approached him and intro
duced myself and found Father Maur-
ice Casey of Browning. He told me he
had come to say Mass for those who
were willing to attend. True to Her
MOtherly instinct, the Church had sent
Her Messenger with Her blessing to
Her children! My heart was warmed
and inasmuch as 1 was one of the en-
ployees took it upon myself to assist
Father Casey as largely as I could in
his efforts to arrange for Mass the
next morning. Our manager was very
kindly in his reception of Father Casey
and gave orders for notices and made
arrangements for those who were de-
sirous among the employees, to attend.
Some of them helped and we arranged
an impromptu Altar and Credence,
decorated the Altar with large pots of
flowers, borrowed some candelabra,
and made ready for the coming of our
Lord. The next morning Father Casey
heard confessions in allittle room near
the altar and said Mass at eight
o'clock. About twenty came, and we
felt greatly encouraged. | need not
say how happy l was when Father
Casey asked me to serve the Mass.
| had no cassock or surplice, but-our
Lord knew with what a fiuttering, low
ing heart took my place at the altar
and did my bit of service for Him.
The collection was small and did not
begin to cover the clergyman's ex-
penses, coming and going, but-with
the true priests courage and opti-
mism, he smiled and went his way.
Before his next visit, however, we had
arranged with the management for his
expenses to be "franked."
Father Casey came twice after that,
once each month. At his second visit
he had quite a large congregation.
There was always plenty of flowers so
that we could make the altar beauti-
full. Then, too, the setting is very
beautiful. On every hand are the
mountains and lakes. And each time
when he has spoken my impression
has been that he is in very deed
speaking as the oracle of God In his
own quiet, but very effective way he
speaks to us of our duty to God and
His Church; of commingling pleasure
with service to our Divine Lord and
in such a way, too, that those in the
congregation who are non-Catholics
could feel that the message was as
much to them as to any one. His
words are spoken quietly and slowly,
but-they make their appeal.
This Mass he has just said will
be the last this season and we are
sorry to say Goodbye" but all are
deeply grateful for the privilege and
cur prayers will go out to God that He
may bless the good Father in His
work among the Indians during the
coming winter. 1t is not an easy one
| by any means There is much work
and few comforts in material way.
But-there are rewards, blessings
which only he who is pledged to the
service of the Great King knows, and
of these our summer priest" will have
in abundance.
Before | close | must tell you some
thing that happened in the dining
| room of the hotel Immediately after
the Mass at Father Casey's first visit.
We had at the time very wealthy
family staying with us. The father
| was mont Catholic but the mother and
| the rest of the members belonged to
the Church. Several members of the
| family had come to the dining room
after the Mass when the little daugh-
/ ter suddenly seemed to remember that
she had left her Rosary at home back
/ IdSI. L SdC uColU NY hO120 thO ~
quest for some money that she might
run back to the priests room and buy
a set of beads. 1t was given her, and
/ l was still at my table when she re-
turned with them. shall never for
get the look of rapture on that childs
face as. she held them up for the
mother to inspect. They were very
plain and with no pretense whatever
to material beauty. Compared to the
trinkets she, the daughter of great
wealth, was accustomed to handle
they were insignificant. And yet
since they spoke to her of her love
and devotion to her Dear Lady, the
Mother of her Lord, they were more
beautiful than the elegant valuables
to which she was used. My eyes
filled with happy tears, and my lips
gave utterance to the thought in my
heart, "Out of the mouths of babes
and sucklings, dost Thou o Lord or
dain Wisdom!" and said, God bless
her dear little heart! Oh, that all wht
scoff and laugh at us for our devotion
to the Rosary might see her souls de
light in it!
FRANCIS B. RANDALL.