The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-12-01
Blind STUDENT
TO BE ORDAINED
For First Time in History Of the
Church Holy Orders Will Be Con-
ferred on Blind Man.


Church Holy Orders Will Be Con-
ferred on Blind Man.
Henry J. Wessling, Graduate of
Woodstock, Relieved of SacerdotaI
impeachment, on Account of Extraor-
binary Circumstances and Distin-
guished service-Pope Benedict's
Heart Touched by the Sad Msfor-
tune Of the Devoted Student.
Blind Jesuit to be ordained to the
PRIESTHOOD was the information con-
veyed few days ago in big headlines
of New York papers and other dailies.
The statement was true, but many
of the accompanying details and al
legged interviews were not. 1t is
deemed fitting, then, to correct any
wrong impressions which may have
been derived therefrom.
The recipient of this great favor.
Mr.. Henry J. Wessling, S. j., a native
of Boston, made his studies in the
schools of that city anil later at Boston
College. He entered the Society of
Jesus in August, 1899, and followed
the regular course of studies. After
completing his course of philosophy
at Woodstock College, Woodstock,
Nd, in 1906, he was appointed Pro-
fessor of Chemistry at Holy Cross,
Worcester. Mass, where he continued
to teach until the summer of 1908,
when he was selected to take charge
of the Department of Chemistry at
Canisius College in Buffalo. 1t was
while conducting an experiment in his
private laboratory at that institution
that the accident, which cost him his
eyesight, occurred.
The efforts and skill of a number
OF the best eye specialists in the coun-
try were enlisted in the endeavor to
bring about a restoration of vision.
Several painful and trying operations
were undergone, but to no avail. Wis
ion was not restored to the sightless
eyes and the prospect of his life's
hope, his ordination to the priesthood,
being realized, became very remote.
Total blindness is an irregularity
placing an impeachment in the way of
ordination.
Begins Study Of Theology.
Natural means failing, recourse was
had to the supernatural, and readers
of these pages may recall the world
wide fervor Of the faithful who united
In great novena in honor of Soeur
Therese, .'The Little Flower of Jesus"
Hope was strong, but God, in His wis
dom had decreed that it should be
otherwise; that the cross of darkness
should be borne for His glory.
Notwithstanding his blindness, how
ever, Mr.. Wessling returned to Wood
stock College in the summer of 1911
and began the study of theology. In
this he was ably assisted by his fell
low religious, whose generosity en-
abled him to complete with great sue
cess the four years course of dogmatic
and moral theology and canon law,
prescribed for candidates to the priest
hood.
Meanwhile an appeal to Rome had
been made for the dispensation which
it was necessary to obtain before he
could be ordained. This appeal, after
passing through the ordinary chan.
nels, was denied by the congregation
appointed to pass upon such cases.
Brings Light Of Faith to Many.
After the completion of his course
in theology, Mr.. Wessling was as
signed to the Church of st. Francis
Xavier, in New York city. There he
inaugurated series of catechetical
lectures which were we'll attended by
both Catholics and Professionals. Dur
ing this period he was also engaged
in giving instructions to prospective
converts, many of whom had already
received the grace Of baptism.
It was while engaged in this work
that he was pleasantly surprised a
short time ago by the news contained
in a cablegram from Cardinal Cas-
parri, Papal Secretary of State. The
cablegram was addressed to the Very
Rev. A. J. Mas, S. j., provincial of
the Maryland-New York Province, and
1t stated that His Holiness, Pope Ben
edict XIV, had granted the dispense
ton which was necessary in order
that Mr.. Wessling might be ordained
cablegram that script to that effect
would follow.
The case is especially interesting
because, it is understood, there is no
recorded precedent in the history of
the Church, of such privilege having
been granted. Hence it was that the
appeal made to the congregation some
years ago was denied.
Holy Father Grants Privilege.