of the work in which I as well as you are engaged, and I have a special reason for wishing to see you now.  I would willingly visit you at New York or anywhere in the United States, but there is no place so appropriate as my own house. . . .  I am more indebted to you for having become a Catholic than to any other man under heaven, and while you supposed I was leading you to the church, it was you who led me there.  I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay . . .  Come, if possible, and as soon as possible.”

At the Third Street house the new-comers found Father Augustine F. Hewit, a convert from the Episcopal Church, in which he had tarried for a few years on his way from Calvinism to the true religion.  He had been a secular priest for a short time previous to entering the order.  He was directed to join the newly-formed missionary band, and was destined to be more to Father Hecker than any other man, and to succeed him as superior of the Paulist community.

After more than five years’ absence Father Hecker thus finds himself in America, the land of his apostolate, a member of a missionary community whose external vocation is the preaching of penance, and the conversion of sinful Catholics to a good life.  A mission is a season of renewal of the religious life among the people of a parish.  It is a course of spiritual exercises in which the principles of religion are called forth and placed in more active control of men’s conduct, and by means of which their emotional nature is stimulated to grief for sin, love of God, yearning for eternal happiness.  The sermons and instructions are given twice, and sometimes oftener, each day, during the early mornings and in the evenings.  These exercises are conducted in the parish church, but not by the parish clergy.  The people see among them the members of a religious order, men set apart, by the interior touch of the Holy Spirit and the public approval of the church, for this particular work—­powerful preachers, confessors as indefatigable as they are patient, priests full of masterful zeal, moving in disciplined accord together against vice.  The call they address to the people is the peremptory one:  “Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Their words are given forth not from the usual pulpit, but from a platform at the communion railing, and in the presence of a high black cross set up in the sanctuary.  They wear no surplice or stole while preaching, the only insignia of their office being a crucifix on their breasts.  The bishop usually extends to them greater powers than are commonly given for reconciling sinners who have incurred ecclesiastical censures.  The Holy See empowers them to extend the most abundant spiritual favors in its gift in the form of indulgences, and the pastor informs the congregation several Sundays beforehand that he expects the entire Catholic population of his parish to attend the mission and receive the sacraments.