Our Lady's Midshipman

      A young boy, whose parents were Jews, was one daytaken by some playmates of his own age to a Catholic church in Paris. It wasthe occasion of First Communion. What passed in the heart of the youngIsraelite during that solemn hour? All we know is that this glimpse of thelight was never quenched from his memory. He even expressed his desire ofsharing in the happiness of those privileged children whom he had seencommunicating for the first time. But, doubtless, his time had not yet come;for his mother some days after placed him as a midshipman on board a vessel.This hasty determination was intended to bring to naught the new desire of thechild. At least, the mother thought so, not knowing that the Spirit of Godbreathes wheresoever it will. The ship which had the young boy on board wasassailed by a violent storm, and soon became a total wreck. Some of the sailorsfound safety in one of the boats.

     They picked up the midshipman, and all together were taken on board a ship theywere lucky enough to meet with. But their safety was not of long duration. Anew storm arose, more furious than the first, and their ship was againswallowed up. Believing that all was over for him, the poor child closed hiseyes and became unconscious. He was again saved in one of the boats and takenon board a third ship. This last was also destined to perish with its crew andcargo. In the midst of the tempest the sailors began to invoke Mary, Star ofthe Sea. Their prayer to the Blessed Virgin during the frightful hurricane madesuch an impression on the poor little fellow that he mingled his voice withthat of the servants of Mary. While they were praying, a wave swept himoverboard into the raging billows of the ocean. He never knew what became ofthe sailors. However, stunned by the shock, he soon regained his senses andswam with the energy of despair. At last, overcome with fatigue, he felt thathe was lost beyond help, when he perceived at a few yards' distance a barreltossed about by the waves. Summoning his remaining strength, he reached it andclung to it with all his might. It was his plank of safety. Once installed onhis barrel in mid-ocean, the boy began to reflect seriously. He recalled thescene of the tempest and the touching prayer of the sailors. He had learned theprayer and it rose ardently from his heart to his lips. The little Israelitesaid to the Mother of Christians: "Mary, Blessed Virgin, save me and soon, Ipromise you, I will be your child." A ship on its way back to France caughtsight of this strange buoy and rescued the midshipman. They landed at Rouen.Our young hero, who had passed through so many dangers, hastened to visit hisfamily. He reached Paris on foot and came joyously to knock at his mother'sdoor, but for him it remained closed. Wounded with sorrow and dying of hunger,he was found two days later, by a Christian child, on a bench in one of thesquares. A charitable and pious family received him for a week, and thenbrought him to us. The dear boy wished to receive holy Baptism and make hisFirst Communion. "Oh, you will see Father," he said, "that you will no longerrecognize me once I am a Christian!" Indeed, this lad, who was protected by theBlessed Virgin, is now a fervent Catholic. Who knows if the Providence thatguided him by the hand has not also other designs upon him, and is reservingfor him a post in the Bark of St. Peter? At least such is his desire and suchseems to be his vocation.