CHAPTER V.

THE YOUNG PRIEST.

One day, when the Senora de Valentino was seeking absolvence of guilt, at the confessional, the man, her holy confessor, began to question her regarding her son.

"Thou hast good reason, daughter, to be proud of the young man. How handsome he is, how daring, and what talent he possesses! Hast thou thought to what his talents shall be given? Thou dost know, daughter, that there is no higher use for talents, such as his, than the service of our Holy Church. I know thy heart, and that thou dost wish to dedicate him to such service. He is now entering manhood, and it is high time to work in preparation for such high calling."

"But, Father," faltered the woman, "his father's wish was that he should follow in his own steps."

“Ah, yes, daughter, I know that was well. But think! Little dost thou know the honor, the powers of the priesthood. Woman, let me repeat. What are the powers of priesthood?

"I. To say mass.

"II. To forgive sins.

"III. To preach the word of God, and perform other sacerdotal functions.

"In order to give to his priests the power of saying mass, our Lord Jesus Christ had to die. To redeem the world, it was not necessary that our Lord should die. A single drop of his sacred blood, a single tear, a single prayer of his, would have sufficed, but in order to establish the priesthood our Lord had to die.

"Who can forgive sins?

"There is a man on earth who can forgive sins, and that man is the Catholic priest. Yes, the priest not only declares that the sinner is forgiven, but he really forgives him.

"So great is the power of the priest that the judgments of heaven itself are subject to his decisions. The priest absolves on earth and God absolves in heaven.

"The priest is the co-operator, the assistant of God in heaven." (These words are quoted from "God the Teacher of Mankind."-Michael Muller.) "But thou dost know all this. And more-the Holy Church has need of thy son and all his talents. And to this end he must be placed in training. He must become an inmate of the Bishop's College of Training for the priesthood."

The father confessor did not add that he was aware of the growing acquaintance of the young man with the accursed Protestantism, and that this or some other step would be forced upon him to break him from such influences.

"But, Father," sobbed the broken woman, "he is my son, my only son. I need him! How can I live without him!"

"Daughter," said the man coldly, "thou dost forget that the Holy Church can more than make up to thee the sacrifice of thy son. Thy reward will be great in this life and in that to come!"

"Never for me, mother, the life of a prating priest! Never!" cried the young man, his eyes blazing and his voice trembling with wrath, when later the mother presented the subject to him.

"Not the black robe for me! Not the confessional box! My father's life for me. A soldier's life for me!"

"Yes," replied the mother sadly, "I know thy father's wish, and thou art so like him, too! But, son, to serve our Church is nobler, even, than to serve our country!"

The proud young man refused. Then followed days and weeks of entreaty from his mother, and flattery and promises from

the priest. How-he did not know-but at last he yielded, surrendered himself unwillingly to the life he hated. He said to himself he would try it for a while; he could leave it when he chose. The school of Calistro, his uncle's old home, became now his home. The little brazen crucifix, bequeathed him by his uncle, he now wore upon his bosom. His life seemed a mockery, yet as time wore on, the flattery and homage shrewdly bestowed had its effect, and he became seemingly contented, or at least unresisting.

He visited his mother, she growing sad in her loneliness and because promises for peace of mind were unfulfilled.

At such times he usually gained brief interviews with Elena.

And so the months grew into years. The life of confinement was irksome to his active temperament. He had time for reflection, for the studies were not pressing, neither did they feed mental cravings.

Readings and the committal to memory of the lives of the saints; the doctrines of the Church and the 'traditions, followed by discussions with the father instructors, or rather by lectures from them, were the principal requirements. Frequent readings of the Breviary and attendance upon the different religious exercises in the college

chapel were also required. The Bible was in the building, in three large volumes, containing full notes or expositions. These were kept under particular care, none of the younger students being allowed to open them, unless by special permission, when the priest was there to give the correct interpretations thereof.

There were times when the young priest loathed his surroundings and himself. At such times he did not fear to express his contempt, though, of course, somewhat guardedly.

The Superiors, realizing their weak hold on the youth, and realizing his value to themselves, made light of his "pretended insubordination." In the class room freedom of speech, on his part, was allowed, such as would be permitted from no other. The young man, fully aware of this toleration, took for himself all such advantages. Frequent discussions, like the following, occurred:

"Is it true, Father, that there is no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church?"

"Truth, indeed, my son!" "And why?"

"Because without divine faith no salvation is possible, and as divine faith is to