The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-09-27

closed their commons, as well as to
resist the collection of rates for a
church whose teachings and minis
tration they did not accept.
Thus Father Sheehy found things
on his return, and with what the great
historian, DR.. Curry, called "a quiX
otto cast of mind towards relieving all
those within his district whom he
fancied to be injured or oppressed"
he spoke out against the horrid
crimes against justice and humanity
that he daily witnessed. This made
the priest-hunters long to get Father
Sheehy within their clutches.
No welcome could be more reveren-
tial nor more generous in its hospital
ity, than the poor hunted priest re-
ceived; and, indeed, no ambassador
could have brought with him tidings
of greater joy than did Father Sheehy.
He had already sent word to his par
ishioners in the glen that, next morn
ing, in a cave high up the mountain
he would celebrate Mass, he himself
bringing word to this cabin wherein
he sought shelter till morning.
Early next morning, as early as day
break, through the furze and bracken
on the mountain, from many lane
way and boreen, the people crept, in
ones and twos, as noiselessly as ghost
ly visitants, to the cave where Mass
was to be celebrated. The cave was a
oh ,iI Of no t.;v
closed with stunted bushes and fern,
and vending farther into the hills
than mere mortal cared to go. Ma
ture, as if knowing that it would one
day do duty as a house of God, had
placed in the cave a large table
used as an altar, as similar rocks were
used, then and after by the perse-
cuted priests all through Ireland.
There's hardly a district all through
the mountainous paths of Ireland
where the enquirinS stranger may not
be shown the MasS-rock of the penal
days.
A motley gathering it was that con-
gregated in the cave, on the side of
knockmaOldown, that May morning in
1862. Young and old were there;
some so old that they could hardly
expect to ever see the "soggarth
aroon' in this world, or be. present at
the Sacrifice of the Cross again
Others there were so young that yet
around their souls hung the fragrance
no
knelt on the bare, hard floor Of the
cave, and told their beads with all the
fervor of their souls, although, now
and again, look as of hunted deer
passed over most of the placid faces
and was gone. Father Sheehy soon
was vested for Mass, and in his strong,
manly voice the Latin mingled with
the fervent Gaelic of the worshippers.
At the stolen secret Masses through
the mountains it was customary to
place sentries outside the place where
Mass was being said, to watch for the
yeomen, but, somehow or another, this
very necessary precauton was forgot
ten at Father Sheehy's Mass in the
cave on Knockmaoldown. The cere-
mony took long time, for at that
part of the Mass, after the first Cos
pei, when the priest breaches, Father
Sheehy addressed his prosecuted
flock.
In words of burning eloquence he
spoke to the sea of earnest faces be-
fore him. He besought them to bear
hot, Il ~
painting for them in language most
pathetic the journey to Calvary. He
spoke to them of their beloved Erin,
the island of saints and scholars, the
queen of learning and virtue, now
downtrodden, broken, and bleeding
from many wound. He implored
them to suffer death rather than yield
one particle of the precious heritage
St. Patrick bequeathed them; promis-
ing them that for all the darkness of
the night the morning yet would come
with all its sp!endor; and every word
he uttered went, like red-hot iron in
wood, deep in the hearts of the hear
ers.
When Mass was over the congrega-
ton did not move, but watched the
priest, as Investing, he prayed. Then
they turned to leave, as they had
come, in ones and twos. when 10. a
figure appeared before them, the fig
ure of the Blessed Virgin. with a look
of warning on her face. For d mo-
ment only did the vision remain but
no one needed to ask its meaning.
All knew that there was danger
abroad. The good priest absolutely
knew no fear, and pushing his way
through the frightened people, he
gained the mouth of the cave, where
the thick bushwood concealed him.
The hoarse cries and clanking of sa-
bres soon told him that the soldiery
were abroad. The sounds soon be-
| came fainter, and yenturing outside,
| Father Sheehy saw company of yeo-
men marching across the mountain
side on one of their daily excursions
of murder and dissertation. They had
| just passed the Cave-mouth and but
for the warming from heaven. the PEG.
| pie would have emerged into their
very path, which, of course, meant
death for all.
Father Sheehy went back to the con.
gregation, blaming himself for having
forgotten to post sentries, and at the
| same time thanking the Mother OF
| God for her protection After an hour