The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-05-28

With passionate devotion Sister An
gela commenced her bombardment of
the heavenly citadel for the surrender
of the Surgeons atheism. Soon the
little nun learned that behind the nom
chalant exterior of the Surgeon was an
indomitable nature, too, and one that
refused all idea of disappointment and
failure.
Il never have lost case" he said
to her one day.
"Perhaps'i it would haye been better
for you if you had," Sister Angela
replied.
II think not My reputation stands
in a great measure, if not entirely
upon my unbroken record of success.
If | should lose case would never
again have as strong faith in myself
nor would my patients"
Your faith in God would cover this
difficulty
The Surgeon did not laugh at the
| little nun, but he smiled broadly. "All
! the faith / have is bound around my
own self; when it fails me, suppose
shall have to place it elsewhere"
Il trust that it fails you," Sister
Angela said impulsively
ut won't" he replied stubbornly.
| There terminated in Sister An.
gela's mind as a result of this cCnver-
! sation the persistent idea that to lose
| case would be the best possible good
for the Surgeons soul. And despite
her knowledge of the condition of the
| paralytic patients family and it's total
dependence upon him, she forebore to
| pray for his particular need and pc
titioned heaven instead for the Sur
geon's spiritual conquest at any cost!
| The verdict of the consultation OF
the staff's physicians, however, pre-.
coded her ultimate resolution. The
| conference of doctors was called be
| cause the Surgeon was great enough
| to solicit the advice of others and be
cause he was afraid to lose patient!
Yet the death of this one was expect
| ed momentarily now by every one
The mans spine, punctured in a ter
| rifle automobile crash, had become
| totally paralyzed and the brain was
| seriously threatened with a like afflic
ton. When that occurred death
would follow instantly.
There is just one chance" was the
unanimous verdict. can operation
But it's chance in million" Not
one of the Surgeons confreres but
refused fatty to take the chance. II
would require the nerve and hand Of
master to perform the miracle.
"So?" aueried Sister Angela.
Il shall operate" said the Surgeon
calmly.
And you think that you can per
form the miracle?"
with" he hesitated, then said
abruptly, Il will try"
| The little nun had never faced quite
SO puzziing a situation. There, on the
one hand, was the. patient wonder
full soul with the perfect confidence OF
| true child of God in His all-wise and
| ADJUST ordinances, anxious to live
DESTROYS of working out full life OF
| labor and of watchfulness for the loved
| ones of his heart, but willing, too, to
| die; on the other side was the Sur.
geon, an atheist, with faith merely in
himself, relying upon his own strength
and skill to make this man live, be.
cause it was necessary for the physi
clans temporal welfare that he should
| live.
Quite a conflicting state of affairs
and one that Sister Angela finally
shelved in despair, relying upon heav.
en- to do all things for the best The
best, nevertheless, in her opinion, was
Continued on page ~ E&