The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-09-29
MARIE WAlURlenT's
CONVERSION TO Faith
Continued from Page ~

W.
Christmas, Good Friday and Easter
Sunday. know now, however, that
the fact of my attending Mass on
these days was always more as a
sentiment and in remembrance of
my convent sojourn than from any
real yearning Of my inner spirit to
find the truth.
From Neutral to Firm Believer.
remained in this neutral state, or
might say in status quo, until year
ago. Then l became aware of the
great spiritual emptiness in my life
that nothing seemed to fill, and be-
gan to read about all sorts of complex
religions, and their promoters, from
Buddha and Confucins to Mrs. Eddy
of Christian Science fame, with the
result of becoming only more and
more bewildered. At last I turned to
the New Testament and then and
there realized that it was Christ and
Christ only needed. l must say here
that had never been an agnostic or
an atheist. have always believed
in Supreme Being, that Christ is
the Son of God and was sent to earth
for our redemption-that seemed the
beginning and end of my faith. But
He had always appeared too far away.
too hard to reach. One day, in speak
ing to an old friend (who was a devout
Roman Catholic) on the subject of
my desire to reach some foothold in
religion, I said: Il feel the need of
Christ but am at loss how l can
come close to Him. Then she an
swered me by asking me this ques-
ton: "Do you think mothers sup
plication would affect son? If so,
how much more must the prayers of
our Blessed Mother reach the tender,
loving heart of Our Lord"
Her Son! Those few words of my
friend were my first step toward con-
version, and what simple, child-like
stepping stone it was. And so, on and
on, just as child, began with fall
tering feet to climb the Great White
Way. Then, as my mind grew and
broadened under the teachings, elo-
quence and the profound knowledge of
one who is now my beloved pastor in
New York City, light was set before
me, and my vision that had been for
too long obscured and darkened by
the narrowness and bigotry of the Pro
testant Church, suddenly burst open
with the effulgent light of the only
true and lasting faith.
UP to this point it had all come
so easily, so entirely within the grasp
,f oil hn 0f fh0
tire ritual appeal to me. Then for
the first time in the course of my con-
version struck my one and only great
stumbling block-confession 1t was
such mountain in my path that at
one time it seemed to me l could go
no further on the road. l know now
that it was the 'ego" in me that re-
belled. How could confess myself,
lay bare my soul, my heart, my mind
to a mere man! Yet it was placed
before me in the plainest possible way
that could not receive the Body and
Blood of Our Lord unless laid all
my sins, all my weaknesses at His
feet with sincere and contrite heart.
All these doubts and fears and
i
was baptized. Oh, the horror and
dread of the first confession! Thank
God, it lasted only few moments,
for the kindness and the sympathy of
the sanity old man before whom
knelt encouraged and guided me. Then,
in that little confessional in that dark
ening church knew had come
OF ocf-
and leaving with meekness my sins
to my Savior.
When 1 received the priests admoni-
ton and absolution, and left him,
felt the birth of new day in my
soul. And now know no more rest
full, helpful place when one is weary
and worn with the cares of this world
and ones sins seem all too heavy to
bear, than to take it all to Christ, and
through His priest, if one is truly re-
pentant, receive forgiveness.
I have in my career as an artist
been called upon to enact most of
the noble women in Shakespeare's i'm
mortal plays, and also many classic
roles from the French, German, Itali-
OH e1uu 01COh W11LcISs WY
life has covered a period of twenty
five years and l have again and again
felt my heart swell with triumph at
the plaudits the audience. when knew
that my work had earned it's appro-
baton and applause. But when l ap-
preached the table of Our Lord-here
then was my greatest triumph-my
sublimest role-for it seemed to me
the angels themselves bent down and
rejoiced. F..
Then, another great satisfaction my
conversion has brought me is the fact
that have been able to adapt my re-
ligion to my everyday life-and ii
has been of the greatest assistance
and comfort to me in my theatrical
profession. Whereas said in the be
ginning of this article that Christ
seemed so far away, SO inaccessible
Now He is with me in every step OF