“August 2.—­Penance! joy! unbounded love!  Sweet Jesus, Thy love is infinite!  Blessed faith! sweet love!  I possess an internal glory, a glowing flame of love!  Let my whole life be one act of penance!  O dear Jesus, the life-giver!  Oh, what a sweet thing it is to be in the way of loveful grace!  Jesus, keep me near Thee!  Oh, how great a condescension, Jesus is my Friend!  Oh! who has the conception of Jesus being his Friend? O ancient faith, how dear, how good is God in giving us sinners thee!  Blessed is the grace of God that leadeth sinners to thee!  Oh, how thou hast comforted the soul!  It would turn from thee, but thou strengthenest it.  The cup was bitter, but infinitely more sweet is the joy thou givest.  My soul is clothed in brightness; its youth is restored.  O blessed, ever-blessed, unfathomable, divine faith!  O faith of apostles, martyrs, confessors, and saints!  Holy Mother of Jesus, thou art my mother.  I feel in my heart thy tender love.  O holy Mother, thou hast beheld me!  Bless me, Virgin Mother of Jesus!”

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CHAPTER XVIII

NEW INFLUENCES

BISHOP McCLOSKEY, afterwards the first American Cardinal, was coadjutor to Bishop Hughes from 1844 to 1847.  He was living at the old Cathedral when Isaac Hecker first called upon him.  He was still a young man, less than ten years separating him from the youthful catechumen.  In temperament they were very different.  The bishop, a man of routine in method and of no original views of principles, was so, nevertheless, by mental predisposition rather than by positive choice.  He was a man of finished education; a dignified speaker, whose words read as impressively as they sounded.  Although the two men were so unlike, the bishop could, at least after brief hesitation, fully appreciate Isaac Hecker; nay, could love him, could further his plans, and stand by him in his difficulties.  Before we are done with this Life, the reader will see this more in detail.

Nor was Bishop McCloskey without light as a judge in spiritual matters.  By nature calm and self-poised, and readily obedient to reason, the grace of his high office, his wide knowledge of men, his extensive reading, were doubtless supplemented by a special infusion of heavenly wisdom, due to his upright purpose and his spotless life.  Though not timid, he was not conspicuous for courage; his refuge in difficulty was a high order of prudence, never cowardice; nor did he err either by precipitancy, by cruelty, or by rigidity of adherence to abstract rules of law.  Father Hecker knew him thoroughly well, and admired him; more, he profited by his guidance, and that not only at this earliest period of their intercourse.  It was by him that Isaac Hecker’s vocation was, though not revealed, yet most wisely directed.  Brownson told the young man that he ought to devote himself to the Germans in this country; Bishop Hughes advised him to go to St. Sulpice and study for the secular priesthood; Bishop McCloskey told him to become a religious.