The Washington times., 1927-06-09

he I&Ik50 TO me IN y uuA14u
friendly way about ali subjects
and. above all. he listened, show
ing me not hostile, critical atti.
tude, but a comforting, consoling
one, arising from the evidence OF
heart. broad, human, understand
ing and sympathetic.
This invited my confidence,
drowned my fears, and restored
some of my faith in human friend
ship. had tried to be q good
neighbor. had helped them in times
Of sickness. But ! received no let
ter nor 3 visit from any Of them.
Twas thoroughly and acutely aware
Of the hostile attitude Of the pub
lie and / was open to any little
kindness.
Not IrreIigious or Immoral
had no definite. solid. clear-cut
religious doctrinal instruction for
one thing. and for another. no
definite moral practice. But Father
Murphy told me that he did not
think that I was either iFreligious
or immoral. He considered that
was a child Of nature with the
light Of natures God in my heart
and the sanctions of His laws in
my soul. had a natural re-
ligion, not supernatural religion.
knew the law OF God but had
had little Divine help in obeying 1t.
He tried TO enlightenme as SIM
ply as he knew how. giving the
facts of religion without sentiment
tally. He said that responded
with tremendous interest to his
teachings and seemed to absorb
them easily, and when he saw me
for the last time, 1 told him that
l intended to be baptized. 50 that
/ might die q good Catholic. ]
still hope 50.
Extreme UnctiOn Appeals
I cannot remember all that he
said. He was SO full of the sub
ject, so learned in II. l know he
win forgive me il change some
of his sentences. / Ahall try not
to change the meaning Of any OF
them.
I told him that when I die de-
sired to die q Catholic because Of
the beautiful promise in the rites
for those about to die, extreme
JUNCTION.
Extreme JUNCTION, the fifth sacra-
ment, stands at the door Of death,
to prepare us for it's fears and pains
and sometimes to save US from It.
He had an answer to my first
question. And that answer ig that
mans purpose in life 10 to know
God, to love Him and to serve Him
as Gods appointed spokesman, the
church. has these 1000 years taught
men all that they can possibly
know or need to know in this
world. She has satisfied mans
mind, represented in every grade
Of life, in every condition of society,
under all forms of government, in
all stages of intellectual develop
nent. And her teaching IL the
same for all. This unity Of teach
ing and belief is significant and
unique.
Has A Life To Impart
But the church has not only q
doctrine to offer, teaching to ex,
plain, a revelation Of God to unfold
She has life to impart, inform
correct and direct. She is both q
teacher and physician. For, life Is
not mere thought. It 10 action
Many a man knows the truth but
cannot believe it, knows the right
path but cannot keep on 1t.
My second question had to dc
with getting off the path and about
getting back on 1t.
I learned from Father Murphy
that that also is the work OF the
church-iust as 1t was Christ's
work. Not only opening mems
minds, but their eyes. He taught
and healed. Life is not only belief
it is conduct. Here comes in. the
sacramental system. Christ warned
US, without Me, you can do moth.
ing" Not a prayer may be Of
fered, not a good action performed
NOR a bad one prevented, but we
need Christ's help always. That
help came to us through the sacra.
n1ents chiefly but, of course, also
through prayer.
The Commandments are not
enough to keep US from sin. Only
grace can do that. The church of.
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