Page images
PDF
EPUB

dark face were transformed into a power that must obtain an answer and would not be denied. Her prayers were for her husband's conversion, as unlikely an event as could possibly happen. He was sixty years of age, too old to take in an entirely new world of ideas, and so utterly opposed that he could scarcely bear the name of Catholic. It chanced, however, to the woman's great astonishment, that he offered on Christmas-day to go with her to the High Mass. She accompanied him trembling, but with a lurking joy in her heart, as she said, for she felt it could only be an inspiration from above which prompted him to this unexpected step. After Mass, there followed Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The husband, whose name was William Jones, a tall, stout, fine man, with flowing white beard, and remarkably intelligent face, with a grave, earnest expression, sat through the service immovable, his eyes fixed on the altar and priest, while his wife knelt in an agony of prayer by his side. The service over, they went home in silence, and for some days not a word passed between them on the subject; the man sat mending umbrellas (for that was his trade), grave and thoughtful, whilst the woman went about her household duties, secretly watching him, but, as she said, her heart was secretly praying all the time. One afternoon, a few days after this Christmas-day, Father Elzear chanced to pass their house, and to the old lady's astonishment, her husband went to the door and called after him, entreating him to enter. He, of course, complied; the poor man closed the door, gave him a chair, and then somewhat shyly said:

"Oh, sir, will you be so kind as to explain something that happened when I was in your church on Christmasday ?"

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Certainly, and with great pleasure," replied the Father.

'Well, sir, you took a shining thing out of that little cupboard on the altar, and lifted it high up, and put it where all the folk could see it, and when I looked up at

it I saw the figure of a beautiful little boy in the middle of it. It was the most beautiful little man I ever saw, and I'd like to know how you made that representation."

Father Elzear was much struck; he saw that the man was deeply in earnest, and felt that our Blessed Lord must have appeared to him as the Monstrance was raised on the throne for Benediction, so he took down from the shelf the well-worn Bible, and read in the Protestant version as it stood there, the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel, explaining as he went on, about the gift of the Bread of Life, and how our Lord's promise of it was fulfilled in the Blessed Sacrament. Jones listened with folded hands and with tears flowing down his cheeks. Here was what he had sought for so long, and tried one sect after the other in the vain hope that they could give it to him. There was no hesitation, no questioning, no difficulty in his full, free acceptance of the truth. The light of faith shone clear into his soul without a cloud to interrupt it. He begged at once to be instructed and received into the Church. Day after day he came, catechism in hand, and eagerly, with the simplicity of a child, drank in those holy, beautiful thoughts; he was baptized on the feast of St. Patrick, a little more than two months after his wonderful vision. His desire of receiving Holy Communion was almost overbalanced by his dread of receiving his Lord unworthily, and when the morning came that this great privilege was to be his, he approached the altar with trembling lips, his face bathed in tears of repentance and joy. It so chanced that, the same morning, a little child of ten years old made his first Communion at the same Mass, and they knelt side by side, the grey-haired man, so far advanced on life's journey, and the little child just entering it, and it was hard to say which of the two had the most childlike heart, for if ever there was one of whom it might be said, "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven," it was this convert. He lived about seven years after this the life

of a saint, and his death was such that everyone witnessing it might say, "May my last end be like his."

One pain and regret troubled his soul-that he had not known the truth sooner, and so had a longer time served his Lord instead of wandering outside the fold for so many years. One day Father Elzear told him the parable of the labourers in the vineyard-how that some were called early in the morning, others not till evening, but that all received the same reward; whereupon he raised himself up, saying eagerly—“Give me my Crucifix; give me my Crucifix!" And in rapture of devotion he kissed it again and again, repeating: "Even at the eleventh hour, even at the eleventh hour."

The wife, who had been so unwearied in her prayers for her husband's conversion, now that they were so fully answered, seemed scarcely able to understand the height of spirituality to which he had reached, and fancied the devil must be puffing him up with pride; and, therefore, all through his last sufferings, when everyone else was edified by his extreme patience and humility, she thought it her duty perpetually to warn him, and with ominous shaking of her head, reiterated again and again: "William, beware of pride."

This he answered only by a look of the greatest meekness and sweetness. Father Elzear was with him when he died. He had received the Holy Viaticum and the last Absolutions. The prayers for the dying had been said, and he lay quite calm and still, except for his laboured breathing, which grew fainter and fainter, until those around him fancied it had ceased, when suddenly he raised himself up, his face kindling and his eyes glowing, and exclaimed—” Oh, that beautiful light, that beautiful light!" sank back and expired.

For CATHOLIC TALES, apply for Catalogue (post free) to R. WASHBOURNE, 18 Paternoster Row, London.

[Advt.]

THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS.

FOR some time back there has been no prominent mention made of the Third Order in these pages. We now do all in our power to make good the want. From this month forward our readers will find the history, nature, and advantages of the Third Order laid in detail before them. May these articles, if wanting in literary polish, be at least of practical utility, the means of encouraging in the exact observance of the Rule those who are already members, and of bringing many to the more zealous service of God in the Order of Penance. First of all, a few words about the extra

ordinary man who founded this celebrated Order.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI.

The twelfth century was verging to a close when this great Saint entered upon his mortal career. He was raised up by Divine Providence to be a rampart against the numberless enemies who were waging relentless war against the Church of God.

Heresy had invaded the fairest of the Christian provinces. The Albigenses held the south of France, and spread terror and destruction far and near. Italy was writhing in the anguish of intestine war. Each town and village was split into conflicting factions, who were the cause of daily bloodshed. The very idea of authority was obsolete, and disorder and anarchy reigned supreme.

In the midst of such public excesses faith grew cold in the hearts of the people, the sacraments were no longer frequented, loud-voiced vice triumphed. The greater part of the princes and rulers of the people, and notably the German Emperors, stained with every crime and wickedness, en couraged by their example the deadly strife of the Spirit of Evil against the Church. The Popes, overcome with grief,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

were making every effort to cope with the enemy, when it pleased God to choose two men to be the instruments of a marvellous reaction in Christian society. These two were St. Dominic and St. Francis. At their preaching two new armies took up the cause of the Church, and soon, by the power of their words and by the example of their penitential life, faith was by degrees awakened, heresy overcome, and the Church once more triumphant.

Thus was realized the prophetic vision of Innocent III., in which he saw the two patriarchs supporting the walls of the Vatican Church, which were tottering under the assaults of heresy and vice.*

Assisi, in Umbria, was the birth-place of St. Francis. His birth was accompanied by many miraculous circumstances. Like his Divine Master, he was born in a stable, and his eyes' first glance fell upon the beloved poverty of which, later on, he became, according to the expression of Bossuet, the infatuated admirer.

At the time of his baptism, an unknown pilgrim asked to be given the office of god-father, and disappeared immediately after the ceremony, leaving the mark of his knee in the marble step of the font.

At an early age he was entrusted to the priests of the church of St. George, from whom he received his elementary training. He gave even then evidence of a cheerful and happy disposition. His sentiments were noble, his mind ardent and generous, his courage remarkable, his judgment clear. He was most unselfish, and gave with an unsparing hand. The sight of the poor made such an impression on him that from an early date he had resolved never to refuse what was asked of him for God's sake.

There are three prayers said in the Mass at which the pope is crowned. The first is said in honour of the Holy Ghost, the second in honour of the Blessed Virgin, and the third in honour of St. Francis, to beseech the great Patriarch to continue his mission of supporting and aiding the Church.

« PreviousContinue »