The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-10-01

which, under God, was definitely
his own establishment he was eag-
er to have some other regarded
as founder,-perhaps the sanity
Father Albertini with whom, in
his early priesthood, he had set UP
confraternity in honor of the
Precious Blood. Saint Gaspar's eff
forts were exercised so purely for
Cod and the accomplishment of the
Divine Will, that he had no time
or inclination to think of himself,
or of rights, privileges, or distinc-
tions. Thus did he manifest the
fact that living faith begets in the
believer splendid self efface-
ment and a triumphant humility.
In the holy Priesthood, Saint
Gaspar formed the richest and
most glorious of Gods gifts. His
first Mass was not the crowning
triumph of long desire and years
of ardent effort in preparation. II
was not the high peak from which,
thereafter, there wa to be a slow
descent by the path of dulling rou-
tine. Each holy Mass of Gaspar's
priestly life was offered with the
conscious effort of making it a
more devout and fervent action
than any that had preceded it.
The Priesthood widened the
scope of Saint Gaspar's efforts and
enriched their fruits, but it did
not change their character. AS in
his youth, he preached and taught,
he founded confraternities and
opened oratories, he carried the
word of God into homes, and
schools, and even into the camps
of brigands and cutthroats. He
turned plague spots of crime and
sin into decent communities of
God-fesring, penitent, pious Catho-
lie people.
Above all, Gaspar and his com
panions devoted themselves to the
preaching of missions. Indeed this
holy activity was pursued so in
tensively that the people referred
to the Congregation as the Mis-
sionaries of the Precious Blood. A
mission in those days and in the
circumstances of the times was a
vigorous spiritual activity. 1t was
not a merely parochial affair. It
was a spiritual r9juvenation of the
whole city or countryside and a
time for religious reeducation for
clergy and people alike.
For fourteen or more days the
mission was preached in the
church chosen as headquarters or
in the open public squares. Mis-
sioners and parish priests were en-.
gagged endlessly in hearing confes-
sions. Often after a mission had
been concluded, two or three mis-
sionary fathers had to stay on for
days to attend to the penitents yet
waiting the opportunity for con
fession. Spiritually these missions
were events of astounding sue.
cess.
The flame Of the Saints faith
was indeed o fire cast on the
earth, and tremendous was ths
eonflagration that II kindled. II
is not too much 70 say that in
the days OF political uphesvaI,
nationsl peril, she spread OF sec
RET antieleriesl societies, and ap-
parent weakness In The Church
itself ss Popss were dragged TO
exile and subjected 70 fhe inso-
lenee OF the Little EnnperoF,--iu
a word, in days when the minds
and hearts Of men were any.
where but on the things of God
and personal salvation - Saint
csspsr and his fellow missioners
changed the face Of Italy and
other paris Of Europe.
In the intense missionary activ
ity we have been considering, born
as it was of faith and humility and
complete dedication. we see the
meaning and the direct occasion
for the founding of the Congrega