The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-03-11

occasional, infrequent Communion
which was rather a bother and an an
noyance that had to be accepted. She
figured rather prominently but inter
n1ittently in church activities, espe-
cially when they were advertised ex-
tensiyely and brought her newspaper
notoriety. Her religion was like an
Hitting gown; she wore it seldom
and was never comfortable in it. She
would have thought it a gross exag-
geration to maintain that there can
not be too much real religion, as our
duty towards our God should regulate
every part of our life, though there
can be an excess, both in quality and
in quantity, if religion is thought to
consist in merely external practices.
Kathleen had great confidence in
the spiritual direction of Father Nc
Manus, the pastor of the parish, but
her watchful mother did not care to
have her pay any visits to the rec
tory. These were not frequent, for
Mrs. Collins suspected leanings in
Kathleen towards convent life: and
she rightly judged that Father Nc
Manus was not the man to discour-
age such aspirations. She noted, too,
that after these visits, Kathleen was
more silent, thoughtful and prayer
full, more regular in her frequent Com
munion and more forgetful of her own
comfort in the matter of daily Mass.
The mother could not see any attrac-
ton i'm daily Mass to induce the girl
to forego lazy morning in bed for
the sake of kneeling half hour in a
gloomy church, but there were many
things that Mrs. Collins could not see.
Her spiritual vision was short-sighted
and dull.
One evening in June, the mother
and daughter were alone on the porch
OF their cottage at Rose Bay, await
ing dinner until Mr. Collins had re-
turned from his afternoon Of fishing.
The full-blown and budding roses were
climbing along the railing of the porch
and seeming the peaceful evening air.
Kathleen, pensive and silent for a
time, at last slowly edging her chair
near her mother. said:
Il have little secret to tell you,
mother, before father comes in"
Mrs. Collins eyebrows went up;
suspecting the secret, she said, rather
icily:
"Well, what is the mystery"
Kathleen, taking her courage in
both hands, hurted out:
Mother, want to enter the con.
vent. want to become Sister of
Mercy"
Mrs. Collins, stopping the motion of
her rocking chair and looking into the
face of Kathleen, replied:
tut, tut, child. What nonsense!
Who put that foolish notion into your
head? Sister Raphael has filled you
with that idea, and am quite sure
Father McManus has encouraged you
in it,
Why, mother" exclaimed Kath-
leen. rather the contrary. Sister
Raphael has frequently warned me
not to act hastily, but to reflect long
and seriously before making up my
mind. Father McManus, to whom /
first preached the subject, told me to
be in no hurry in deciding. He babe
me pray over the matter, and not to
act impulsively, to wait while, and
God would manifest His holy will"
"Oh, dear.' sighed Mrs. Collins. IF.
| had only swallowed the advice of
Mrs. Scudder-P emberton and sent you
to Bassir for . year or two, would
not now have this trouble to sadden
my life and darken my home, but your
grandmother with her old fogy no
tions, insisted on your finishing ut, st.
Genevieye's. and now see what has
come oil it,
Mrs. Collins, rocking up and down
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