The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-07-19

ploaQed. IL Tor 1Our greater glory
that ask his conversion" he insisted.
You will be the loser if he be not
saved. Your glory will be robbed. l
ask in Your name for the conversion
of this man." And, as was his wont,
he turned to the Eternal Father: Il
ask it of You in the name of Jesus
and for the love OF Jesus" Then he
placed the affair in the hands of the
immaculate One, and breathed
prayer to Saint Anthony to plead for
the favor. Obtain it," he pleaded,
obtain it,
There was no light in the musty old
church, save the one that shone bril-
liantly before the Hidden Guest. Ever
and anon the boards would creak and
groan beneath the weight OF their
many years, but still Father Laden
prayed on. Il have not the slightest
intention of going to bed until You
assure me my prayer is answered,
dearest Lord" he breathed, land if
You have eternity on Your side, have
time on mine. | can plague You into
granting it, even if You do know that
[ don't deserve it."
There was silence, that sweet,
strong silence wherein Jesus and the
soul are one. 1t was then that Father
Laden knew that sacrifice-some
sacrifice was required of him.
Name it," he begged Speak,
Lord, for Thy servant heareth.' And
with a groan he listened as he real
lied the sacrifice that must be made.
That poor sinners misery deeds must
be expiated; the robbing of widows
and orphans must be atoned for be-
fore Grace would touch his heart.
But even SO, Father Laden knelt low
and kissed the dusty carpet. Then
he passed on into the house and wrote
letter to a friend of his who, while
he rested as he put it, worked for
foreign missions.
Enclosed" he wrote, please find a
check for $4,000. | wish this money
sent to some Bishop in China for five
burses for the education of young
men to the priesthood. The burses
are to be in honor of and named:
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Burse;
Blessed Sacrament Burse; lmmacu-
late Heart OF Mary Burse; Saint Jo-
seph Burse and Saint Teresa Burse.
These burses are donated in expiation
of the sins of certain person in
whose soul I am interested, and l beg
you, Father, to say prayer for the
salvation of his soul
"The money was intended for some
other purpose; but man proposes and
God disposes. Anyhow, | justify my
self in sending it because helping the
missions in the field afar has lately
become one of my favorite tricks.
Sincerely your friend,
ROBERT ]. LADDEN."
Early the next morning the tele-
phone rang Father Laden grasped
the receiver before Michael had a
chance to get near it.
Hello" said the voice at the other
end. This is Father Ewing. The
intention has been granted. l called
therein fact was called there late
last night The man wanted me sud-
denly around eleven o'clock, and he's
reconciled in the fullest sense of the
word"
Thank Cod" Father Laden shout
ed, thank God"
And say" continued the voice at
the other end, ARE you sure that it
was only for his soul you prayed?
think you must have tried some of
your art on his pocketbook, too, for
right in my presence he made an
amendment to his will. He feels that
he wants to do something in expia-
ton of the past, and so he's left hun
dred thousand in my care and am to
see that church is erected in some
section of Chicago-where the poor
congregate-andw well, you know that's
not my parish, and the only place I
can think of it's Saint Bernardine of
Sienna's. Do you know of another
place."
Father Laden gasped. The mo-
ment was too great for words.
But the voice at the other end went
on: Don't faint while l give you a
shock Have you seen the extra edi-
tons that are out? Germany has
made overtures for peace, and so after
all you may have to patch up quar-.
rel with Michael or some one if you
want to get into the thick of fight"
But Father Laden only sighed hap
PLY; then he lapsed into slang. Il
should worry" he cried, 81 should
worry! But stay in, Father, for I'm
coming right over, and / want you to
tell me all about it."
Louise NJ. Whoien. in The Maontfcat