The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-07-10
1895, some $4,000 departures from the
Authorized Version have been esti-
mated.
CLOSE up OF MEXICAN HORRORS
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Continued from page ~
, which often resulted in new martyrs
of Jesus Christ, some communities of
Sisters were subjected, Mother Elias
said, to sufferings and outrages nu-
| sp4akably worse, in which their one
virtue valued above all other was
desecrated, and they were subjected to
an uncomfortable slavery as the help
less, innocent victims of human
demons. These Sisters were as the
helpless lamb when the devouring
wolf springs upon it, as the dove when
the swoop;ng hawk attacks. In some
cases they seemed to be safe during
the day, bit at night the demoniacal
revolutionary soldiers would climb the
roof of convent, enter and carry off
the Sisters.
The Little Flower.
Mother Elias own community suf-
fered very much. although no physical
harm came. through the mercy of God
to any of the Sisters. MY daily
prayer was, on, my God, do not let
the men harm these, thy virgins
said Mother Elias, and at this point
in the interview it was difficult to ask
the dear, noble, greathearted religious
other questions, SO frightful was the
picture conjured up in the writer's
mind.
1t was for this, especially, that
Mnth EN1ioc hnr Nv
prayed to the Little Flower of Jesus,
to obtain this favor for them beyond
any other hardship. Souer Therese
heard their ungent plea and for this
the Carmel of Buffalo is especially
placed under the protection of the
Little Flower.
Story of Flight.
This is the thrilling and wonderful
story of miraculous intervention as re-
lated by Mother Elias:
Our Carmelites lost their convent
entirely and all means of income from
their dOwries. They were notified to
leave the country within "a hours, and
without money even to buy piece of
bread, so they had to go, disguised as
seculars. and live among friendly fam
lilies. Later little assistance came
and our Sisters rented two rooms for
% persons, but even at that, the dan
ger was so acute it was necessary for
all to sleep in one room, while the
superior (brave Mother Elias) kept
watch at the door every night for
three weeks.
Then they were denounced to the
soldiers. and word came the scound-
rels would descend upon the place that
night, and they had to fly to another
house. This repeated itself time after
time, until finally, thrice in one
day, they were obliged to change from
one house to another. Meantime, they
were totally deprived of all spiritual
consultations, as Mass and communion
were out of the question. They had no
means of subsistence but an occasion
al aims people were able to give them,
and what they could obtain by ventur-
ing to go out and from house to house
beg the charity of bit of bread. And
it was true charity when they received
it, for conditions were so bad that
even a small loaf of bread sold for
two dollars"
Flee to Cuba.
Finally Mother Elias succeeded in
obtaining money from families of the
nuns sufficient to take a number of
the eviCtod community to Cuba. For
those who were left behind refuge
was found in a house behind convent
school surrounded with a high wall
and with an entrance on the ground
about foot and half square through
which the nuns could crawl to hear
Mass and pass the necessary food
Here they remained for two months,
in hourly danger of their lives, as
we'll as that of the Sisters who safe
guarded them. These Sisters were
disguised as lay teachers.
Thrilling Ordeal.
Now comes the crucial part in
Mother Elias story and the evidence
of the Little Flowers loving concern
for her community in peril. Return
ing from Cuba. where Mother Elias
and her sad little group of refugees
were befriended and helped by Mgr.
Kelley of the Extension Society, and
from whom she received sufficient
money to return and bring back the
rest of the evicted Sisters, she was
taken from the train, prisoner.
Imagine the sorrow, the cruel dis
appointment. After months of weari-
ness and watching, after losing hope
of reconstructing her community. and
then to have the means at hand for
saving the aged nuns for whose safety
she SO justly feared, to have all hopes
frustrated when only one days Jour-
ney from her goal! a#
Flung into prison with her Sister
companion, Mother Elias was sum-
moned at midnight to divulge where
the Sisters in Mexico were hidden.
She remained silent. Three times she
was called out and questioned. Cues
tons were succeeded by threats, and
| threat by abuse. On the third day
| she was summoned, and with her
companion, made to kneel down and
their hands were tied behind their
backs. ''This is your last chance;
tell us where are the Sisters?" shout