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nrrt THE LAST OF MAY. In the mystical dim of the temple. In the dream-haunted dim of the day, The sunlight spoke soft to the shadows, And said: "With my gold and your gray, Let us meet at the shrine of the Virgin, And ere her fair feast pass away, Let us weave there a mantle of glory, To deck the last evening of May." The tapers were lit on the altar, With garlands of lilies between And the steps leading up to the statue Flashed bright with the roses' red sheen The sungleams came down from the heavens And woeless, in life full of woe. Their heads wore the veil of the lily, Their brows wore the wreath of the rose. And their hearts, like their flutterless banners, Were stilled in a holy repose. Their shadowless eyes were uplifted, Whose glad gaze would never disclose That from eyes that are most like the heavens The dark rain of tears soonest flows. O wonderful prodigy! But a moment ago these men were ignorant and could not clearly understand the doc trine of their Master now they pos sess a full knowledge of the most .sublime truths. At one moment they express themselves in a weak and stammering manner the next they are filled with a marvellous eloquence. At one moment they are weak and timid even to the extent of cowardice, —they hide themselves, so as not to be involved in the misfortunes of their Master the next they come forth boldly, and fearlessly proclaim their faith and love, and this, too, before a people who load them with injuries and drag them before the trbiunals. They seem at one moment ungrateful and almost without hope the next they are devoted to the words of their Master, even unto death. Now ihey are sad and downcast all at once their hearts abound in hope and joy. What has happened? The Holy Ghost, having descended from heaven, has brought to perfection in the souls of the disciples the spirit and form of the Christian life, which until now were only in a crude, inchoative state. This is His special mission. The holy Fathers have sometimes called Him the "perfective force." Learn from this, O Christian soul! that the effusion of the Holy Spirit is as necessary for thy salvation as is the application of the blood and merits of Jesus Christ. "The end of man, which is to see God and possess Him Eternally, is be yond the powers of nature," says St. Thomas of Aquin "our reason cannot conduct us to it, if its natural move ment does not bring to its aid the instinct and motion of the Spirit of God." It is so necessary for us that without it we possess only the rudi ments of the Christian and supernat ural life. Jesus, the divine Architect, .makes Of our souls His temples, having puri fied them with His precious blood. It is the Holy Ghost who consecrates us in marking us with His character, and conferring upon us the unction of His love and the illumination ot His gifts. ITURGI Like angels, to hallow the scene, And they seemed to kneel down with the shadows That crept to the shrine of the Queen. The singers, their hearts in their voices, Had chanted the anthems of old, And the last trembling wave of the Vespers On the far shores of silence had rolled. And there—at the Queen Virgin's altar— The sun wove the mantle of gold, While the hands of the twilight were weaving A fringe for the flash of each fold. And wavelessly, in the deep silence, Three banners hung peaceful and low— They bore the bright blue of the heavens, They wore the pure white of the snow— And beneath them fair children were kneeling, Whose faces, with graces aglow, Seemed sinless, in land that is sinful, The banners were borne to the railing, Beneath them, a group from each band And they bent their bright folds for the blessing That fell from the priest's lifted hand. And he signed the three fair, silken standards, With a sign never foe could withstand. What stirred them? The breeze of the evening? Or a breath from the far angel-land? Then came, two by two, to the altar, The young, and the pure, and the fair, Their faces the mirror of Heaven, Their hands folded meekly in prayer. They came for a simple blue ribbon, For love of Christ's mother to wear And I believe, with the Children of Msury, The Angels of Mary were there. Ah, faith! simple faith of the children! You still shame the faith of the old! Ah, love! simple love of the little, You still warm the love of the cold! And the beautiful God who is wandering Far out in the world's dreary wold, Finds a home in the hearts of the children, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST. The apostles were assembled to gether in one place, awaiting in recollection and prayer the effect of the promises of Jesus, writes Father Monsabre, O. P., in his Meditations on the Rosary. Christ had said: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself that where I am you also may be And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Paraclete (comforter or advocate), that he may abide with you forever the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not nor knoweth Him but you shall know Him, because He shall abide with you and be with you" (John xiv. 3, 16, 17). Ten days after the Ascen sion of our Lord a mighty event took place. It was the fulfilment of the promise, and is thus recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak" (Acts ii). 4 And a rest with the lambs of the fold. —Rev. Abram J. Roan. Pentecost is therefore, in the Church, a universal and perpetual festival. Our baptism is a pentecost our confirma tion is a pentecost. Besides this, as St. Thomas teaches, the divine Para clete returns constantly in His secret visits, to illuminate, strengthen, and beautify with His gifts the souls of the just. But let us hear attentively the word of God: "The Lord does not come in, times of disturbance" (3 Kings xix) We must have peace in our souls we must remove the agitation of vain thoughts and of vain desires, if we would receive the Spirit of God. Let us await His coming, like the apostles, in recollection and prayer. It is not likely that God will sur prise us by sudden visits of His light and grace in the ordinary workings of His providence He only sends His Holy Spirit to us when we say with earnest fervor: Come! Veni Sancte Spiritus! Let us invoke Him, then, in the dark night of temptation, in the agony of doubt. When, enveloped In the darkness of ignorance and drawn on by the glare of creatures, our uncer tain spirit asks for the truth to guide it and when, desirous of the knowl edge and light of faith, we desire to penetrate the divine mysteries, let us invoke the Holy Spirit, for He is in deed the "Spirit of wisdom, under standing and knowledge." When we are moved to determine and fix our vocation in life, when we are about to perform some work in which our consciences are deeply con cerned, or if it is our duty to direct souls in the ways of God, let us invoke the "Spirit of Counsel." When we feel the love of God languish in our hearts, or even when we are moved by a holy zeal and we wish to love God with good effect, let us invoke the Holy Spirit, for He is truly the "Spirit of piety." When the power of evil attacks us and the world persecutes us, when passion torments us, and when sorrow oppresses us, let us earnestly call Him to our assistance, for He is the "Spirit of fortitude." When the abyss of sin is open be fore us and ready to engulf us, let us invoke Him with all our strength, for He is the "Spirit of the fear of the Lord." In all our sufferings let us invoke Him, for He is indeed the Paraclete— the Comforter. Against the slavery of all evil habits that weigh down the will let us invoke Him, for "where the Spirit of God is, there is true liberty." Has He come? Then let us meet Him with attention, vigilance, and profound respect. Let us not "grieve the Spirit of God by oar faults and imperfections." A VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. Alone, dear Lord, with Thee, In this still morning hour How sweet it is to feel, The essence of Thy power! In holy calm I kneel, Before Thee, King of Kings, And o'er my soul there steals The vanity of earthly things. Alone dear Lord with Thee, In adoring love I bend, And ask my dearest Lord, Thy love and light to send. Fain would I linger here, Lord in Thy presence sweet, But I must leave Thee now, My daily cares to meet. Alone, dear Lord, with Thee, To praise Thee and adore, give me grace and strength To love Thee more and more. —Ada McMahon. DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART. The Holy Father Asks Prayers for the Spread of this Devotion—The Apostleship of Prayer In League With the Sacred Heart—Its History, Three Degree* Membership. Requirements for His Holiness, Pope Pius X, recom mends the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the general intention to be prayed for during the coming month of June by the mem bers of the Apostleship of Prayer. The Devotion to the Sacred Heart was made known to the world by our Blessed Lord Himself. In the Monas tery of the Visitation at Paray-le Monial, He appeared to Blessed Mar garet Mary Alacoque and, showing her His Divine Heart, commissioned her to spread the Devotion throughout the world. Today it is known to every Catholic but in spite of our Lord's request for love and consolation, many are cold and indifferent. Associates of our Apostleship of Prayer in League with the Sacred Heart practise this Devotion, as the chief incentive to fidelity. They are concerned about the interests of the Sacred Heart and one of the dearest desires of that Heart is for recogni tion and love. Hence we must strive to spread this Devotion. We must get all the world to love Him and to con sole Him. Our Lord, in His eagerness to win our hearts, holds out abundant prom ises of blessing and protection for all who practise the Devotion, but He has reserved a special place of honor for those who spread it. "Those who promote this Devotion," He said, "will have their name written in My heart, never to be blotted out." The Holy Father in recommending this month's Intention wishes us all to share in this special privilege. We can spread the Devotion by our prayers, by our sufferings and by our outward practices, by inducing others to make Communion of Reparation, to celebrate the First Friday, to attend the Holy Hour, to consecrate them selves to His Heart and to celebrate worthily the great Feast Day of the Sacred Heart. Let us exert all our energy to advance the interests of the Heart that has loved men so much and is so little loved! In view of this general intention, a brief account of the Apostleship of Prayer in League with the Sacred Heart is of special interest at this time. Object of the Apostleship. The Apostleship of Prayer is a League of souls united in zeal and prayers with the Heart of Jesus. It is called Apostleship, because it aims at making all Christians true apostles, full of zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. It is an Apostleship of Prayer, be cause prayer is the principal, though not the only means it employs to pro mote the interests of Christ and His Church. It is in League with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, because prayer and zeal are the very life of Christ on our altars and in heaven, where He is al ways living to make intercession for us. The Apostleship aims at making His interests ours, and in uniting our prayers and worksl perpetually with His, so that we may be one in mind and heart with Christ Jesus. The beginning of this work dates from 1844, and it was at Vals, near the celebrated sanctuary of the Im maculate Virgin, Mother of God, in the French diocese of Le Puy, that it first took rise. But its astonishing develop ment only began in 1861, when the publication of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart was founded to furnish its members with the means of regular periodical inter-communication, and, like the circulation of blood in the veins, to impart to the whole organi zation the vigor and unity of life. Meantime, the work had been enriched by numerous perpetual indulgences, granted by the Holy Father, Pope Pius IX., and in 1866 its definite organiza tion was completed, when the Sacred Congregations of Bishops and Regu lars approved tits former Statutes. This organization has since been confirmed in its substance and perfected in its form by the new Statutes, which re ceived the approbation of His Holi ness, Pope Leo XIII., May 28,1879. There are three Degrees in this Apostleship .according to the different works which it undertakes to practise hence, there are three classes of Asso ciates. Three Degrees of Membership. The First Degree (essential and common to all the Associates) is com posed of those who daily offer to God, according to some regular form, all their prayers, works and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and for all those intentions for which our Lord is continually interceding and offering Himself for us in sacri fice. Hence, love and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are very proper for all Associates enrolled in the Apostleship of Prayer. For, although this devotion does not constitute the end of the Association, still it is the chief and most powerful means of in citing all the Associates, moved by the example of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to a more diligent practice of prayer, and of making that very prayer, performed in union with the Sacred Heart, more efficacious in at taining the end proposed, which is the glory of God. The Second Degree is composed of those, who, to the practices of the First Degree, that is to say, to the prayer by which they unite them selves to the Sacred Heart interced ing with the Father for the advance ment of the divine glory, add other prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to implore the aid of so powerful Mother, and obtain for themselves her THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, MAY 30, 1914. A SAINT F0B THE WEEK. 8T. PHILIP. So much did Philip shrink from be ing looked on as the founder of the Oratory that, for six long years after it was set up, he persisted in living away from it at St. Girolamo. At length, to the great joy of his sons, the Pope commanded him to take up his abode with them at Vallicella on St. Cecilia's Day, 1583. He could not avoid being chosen Superior for life but he stripped the office of all out ward distinction, and would have no other title than that of "Father." He directed that his sons should live as secular priests, without vows, bound together by the simple tie of charity and that their aim should be the con version and sanctification of souls by means of prayer, daily preaching, and frequentation of the Sacraments. He made few rules, but he would have those few perfectly kept. He had great horror of disobedience, and would keep no subject, however gifted in other respects, who did not at once gladly obey. He said, touching his forehead as he spoke, that a man's holiness lies really within the space of three fingers, meaning in the morti fication of the understanding. He was always breaking down the pride of his children, priests or laymen, by pen ances or humiliation, often small in themselves, but always severe and searching as tests. It was noted that these were adapted with exquisite dis crimination to the characters and needs of his penitents, and never fail ed of their effect. While Baronius was writing his "An nals," the Pope forced him to take a small annual sum towards the ex penses of copying manuscripts. Philip at once seized on this opportunity to give him a, lesson in obedience. He sent F. Bozio to tell him that he must now begin to contribute towards the expenses of the house. Baroniils felt this keenly he said the money was not his own, it was given for a special purpose and that, rather than divert it to any other, he would leave the Congregation. "Tell him," said the Saint, "that he must contribute or go God has no need for men." By F. Bozio's advice Baronius went to Philip, knelt before him, asked par don for his hesitation, and offered him self, all that he had and all that he might ever have. "That is enough," said the Saint "now go I do not want your money only learn another time to obey at once." assistance in this pious work of pro curing the salvation of souls. These Associates recite once a day one Our Father and ten Hail Marys for the In tention which is proposed to them, with the approbation of the Roman Pontiff, at the beginning of each month. They must not, however, on this account be considered as enrolled in the pious work of the Living Rosary, nor bound by the laws which govern it, and which require its members while praying to meditate upon some mystery assigned them by lot, and to be distributed into bands composed of fifteen members. The Third Degree is composed of those who, performing the duties at least of the First Degree, endeavor besides to remove the obstacles, which might prevent our prayers to God for the salvation of souls from being fruitful. For this end, every month, or every week, according to the tenor of the Brief, dated February 10, 1882, they make the Communion of Repara tion by which they strive to appease the Sacred Heart of Jesus, provoked to wrath by the sins of men, and to render Him propitious to our prayers. Therefore, all those who are enrolled in the Third Degree, and make the aforesaid Communion according to the rules of the Pious Work of the Com munion of Reparation, are constituted members of this Association and gain its indulgences. To Become a Member. To be admitted as an Associate it is required: To consent to have one's name en tered on register kept by the Director of a duly aggregated parish, community or other Centre. This is the only essential requisite. Usually the new member receives a Certificate of Admission. This Certificate need be received but once it need not be replaced when lost, nor renewed when Associates are transferred from one Local Centre to another. It should be received from a Local Director, or from one whom he may appoint to give it, and who is called a Promoter. It can be sent by mail or by mes senger, when it is not feasible to give it in person. Ordinarily it is received from one who is acting as a Promoter of the work. No other requirement in the way of special ceremony or form of prayer is needed, to entitle one to the indulgences and privileges of membership but, when it is pos sible, a solemn public reception of Associates is held. 4 To become an Associate in the Apostleship of Prayer, in League with the Sacred Heart, apply at your parish rectory, and if it be established in the church, you will be directed to a Promoter who will receive you. If it is not established in your parish, and if you do not know of any neighboring parish in which it exists, write to the office of The Apostleship of Prayer, 801 West 181st Street, New York, giv ing with the names of your diocese, parish, city, or postoffice, your name, so that the officers may be able to direct you to whom to apply. QUEEN OF THE SEASONS. O Mary, all months and all days are thine own, In thee lasts their joyousness, when they are gone And we give to thee May, not because it is best, But because it comes first and is pledge of the rest. It must be —Cardinal Nmmwwn. admitted that to those who have endured a great sorrow it is permitted to grasp the lesser consola tions of life, to seek peace where joy once reigned. a HIS OWN WAY. "It does not concern me in the small est degree, what you think of me or my religious opinions. I am going to do what I think proper in the matter, and I do not propose to be a party to any quarrel you may arrange for me. i If you intend to cut my acquaintance because I do not go to church or con fession, I shall be sorry for .you and for myself but I had rather lose your I friendship than stultify myself. I can hardly think your liberality is so con strained, however, and I hope to count you among my friends in spite of my resolution I just told you of. Now, Jerry, do not be foolish we can have lots of things in common without re ligion." "You will pardon me, Eugene, for my foolish display of temper in speak ing. You know how I get sometimes, so forgive for I am sorry." "All right, old man, but—" "Not only am I not going to quar rel with you, Eugene, but I am resolv ed to be a better friend to you than ever. We have been friends since we were children, and have been to gether in troubles, scrapes and joys, up to this very day. You have just told me of your resolution regarding religion. Let me tell you of one that I have made. I shall stick closer to it, now you have given it up. But I shall never speak of it to you, Eu gene, until the day comes when you come to me to have some conversa tion on the subject. This silence you have made the price of your friend ship. Very well, let it be so." "I thought so, Jerry. You speak now like a man. We will go on as friends for the future as we have done in the past I have chosen my own way and you have chosen yours. I won't disturb you. You will leave me alone. In our common pursuit in life we can advance on the same road together. I knew this news would make you feel badly, but I was sure I should keep your friendship in spite of it." Eugene Mayer and Jerry Sloan had been chums from boyhood in the wil derness of the great metropolis of the country. Together they had wan dered up to "Mount Tom" in the days of Shanty Town, to take their first natatory exercise in the waters of the North River. Side by side they sat in school, learning the same lessons yet lessons very different. They went to the same Catchism every Sunday and Wednesday and made each of them his first Confession, and Holy Communion. Hand in hand they walk ed up before the Archbishop the day of their Confirmation. Where Jerry was in playtime, there was "Geney" as everyone called him. If Sloan pitched, Geney had to be be hind the bat. And if Mayer was caught in any childish prank, Jerry was sure to have been in it with him. Yet there were cords which were drawing them apart though they knew it not and only today had the facts become known to one of them at least, that there was a departure from one another in their lives. It was the first difference of a seri ous nature the friends had ever had, and Jerry had made up his mind not to let it seperate them. To show his wisdom in this matter, shall be the end of the chapter from the life of Eugene Mayer, which was told to the old or gan a few months ago from one who knew all about it. The two friends went to school to gether and graduated from college, the one a devout Catholic, and the other a careless one. The reasons may be easily found when shown why Jerry and Eugene were that they were in their views of the Catholic Faith. The secret lay in their par ents, and the home life. It is there in the home that religion must be taught to children by practical ex ample. As the father is the child is as the mother so the son. Lessons taught in school, and not enforced in the home, have little if anything oi practical value for the poor child whc is forced to learn them. He runs a great danger of becoming a little knave, or a little cunning hypocrite. Eugene had become a careless Cath olic for the past four or five years. The example of his father who sel dom if ever went to Mass, and that of a mother who haunted the Church, and let many a household duty go in consequence, did not have the best effect in the world on the poor child's piety. Neither did the quarrels at table between his parents, heighten his love for religion, any more than the knowledge that his mother's re ligion was to a large degree on the surface, and was confined to the church, seldom invading the home circle. Jerry Sloan had on the other hand a father and mother who were model Catholics. Never absent from Mass, and taking their religion home with them, they had a family of good chil dren, because they themselves set a good example for the little ones to follow. So side by side these two boys grew up to manhood, the one a devout and well instructed Catholic the other a careless half instructed Catholic, and now a professed infidel. Eugene Mayer was handsome, and half the young ladies who knew him, would have jumped at a proposal from him. But he was critical, and it was not every one whom he saw that made an impression on him. Jerry had been married for three years at the time our story opens but Eu gene had been deliberating all this time as to whom he should ask to be his wife, out of a large circle of ladies whom he admired. He had discovered lately that there was one whom he loved. How he knew it, he could not tell of course, because that is a secret which no man or woman may tell ex cept to those they love. So he deter mined. to pursue his quest at once, un til he was rewarded with acceptance, or sent about his business with "the mitten." Mary Underwood was the only daughter of rich and influential par ents, so that every one who moved in their set, considered her a "great catch." Dr. Mayer had been very at tentive to her on the "Lit's" excur sion, to Iona Island in fact when the two came on board together, and it was seen how "Doc" wanted to have {Cartinmd on pife) 1631 Pi Ji 'i ST. HARKS PARISH SCHOOL ST. PAUL, niNNESOTA Built by Paul Steenberg Construction Co. Laurel Avenue, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA CONTRACTORS for the NEW CATHEDRAL SCHOOL now uncfer Construction John M. Gleason Jtatttral Itmtar ati& £mbalm*r 111 SOUTH NINTH ST. MINNEAPOLIS MINN. Catalog Metal Beds and Sanitary Bsding OF EVERY DESCRIPTION For Dormitories, Hospitals and Institution! Special Patterns far Hospital use te suit any requirement and condition b? OPTICIAN 358-360 St. Peter Street SAINT PAUL The Lighting THE E. HACKNER CO. Designers, Manufacturers and Importers ALTARS, STATUARY Wood*-- Marble Church Furniture, Etc, Second and Division Sts. LACROSSE WISCONSIN Minneapolis Office and School Furniture Go. 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