Catholic children -- Juvenile fiction; Families -- Juvenile fiction
Bolax accompanied his mother to all the chapels and shrines in the
neighborhood. They went up the Holy Stairs on their knees, at the top
was a figure of Pilate, and one of Christ standing, both life-size. In
other Chapels were representations of the different stages of our Lord's
passion; all the figures were life-size and so realistic as to startle
one, who came upon them unawares. In a tiny room with barred windows,
resembling a prison, Bolax came upon the statue of Christ as He is being
crowned with thorns. The God-man sits with His Garments torn from His
limbs, which are covered with wounds; streams of blood flow from the
divine face; a soldier is in the act of spitting on Him, another driving
the thorns into the sacred head. On seeing this, the boy burst into
tears, he felt as though he was really in the presence of his suffering
Redeemer. Knowing the effect such a pitiful sight would have on his
mother, he went with her everywhere, carefully avoiding the distressing
image.
One day while watching the sailboats landing the pilgrims, Bo heard his
name called, looking around he saw Leon Casgrainie, his mother and
sister, from L'Islet; they were so glad to meet again. Bo introduced his
mother. Madame Casgrainie embraced Mrs. Allen as if she had been an old
friend, for these Canadians are so full of hearty friendliness. In a few
days the ladies were almost on intimate terms.
The day appointed for Mr. Allen's reception into the Church was August
thirty-first. Madame Casgrainie expressed a wish to be present, so Mrs.
Allen invited her and the children to the ceremony, which was to take
place at the seven o'clock Mass, in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart.
The altar was a blaze of light; tiny electric lamps of all colors were
placed in every available position, and full-blown roses shed sweet
perfume over all.
The Abbot celebrated Mass. Just before the Offertory, he read the
prayers admitting a catechumen to Holy Baptism. Mr. Allen bowed his head
in all humility while the Priest poured upon him the saving water which
made him a child of God and heir to Heaven. Immediately after this the
Abbot placed a white cope over the newly baptized, emblematic of the
purity with which his soul was adorned by this most Holy Sacrament.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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