must and you will succeed. . . .  I am sure that you know and feel this as well as I do (for we have been, marvellously of the same way of thinking on nearly all points), but as I feel I must write to you, as it may be, perchance, of some consolation to you in your troubles, I thought it better to say it over again. . . .  If a letter or anything else from me could be of any service, I need not tell you that I am still on hand and only anxious to be employed. (Here follows his address in Paris and Liverpool.) With all good wishes for your success, and with the hope of hearing the happy tidings from your own hand before I leave Europe, I am, Reverend dear Sir,

“Very faithfully yours in Christ,

“+ THOMAS L. CONNOLLY,

“Bishop of St. John’s, N.B.”

From what has been so far communicated to the reader, it will be seen that Father Hecker’s case had the strength of friendship to assist it.  But he was himself his best advocate.  His traits of character were lovable, and the very incongruity of such a man forced to plead against the direst penalty known to a religious, was a singularly strong argument.  His cheerful demeanor while fighting for his life; his puzzling questions on social and philosophical points; his mingled mysticism and practical judgment; his utterance of political sentiments which, as he truly said in one of his letters, if spoken by any one but an American would elicit instant reproof; his total lack of obsequiousness united to entire submission to lawful authority, all helped to make for himself and his cause friends in every direction.

The unanimous adhesion of the American Redemptorist missionaries was a powerful element in his favor, and a priceless boon for his own consolation.  He was continually in receipt of such words as these:  “We all desire you to consider us fully identified with you and to act in our name.”  “We have the utmost confidence in your discretion, and your conservative views are quite to our mind.”  His whole heart went out in response to these greetings.  On October 24 he writes to the Fathers: 

“The contents of your note were what I had a right to expect from you:  sympathy, confidence, and reliance on Divine Providence.  How much these trials will endear us to each other!  If we keep together as one man and regard only God, defeat is impossible.  Do not forget to offer up continually prayers for me.  How much I see the hand of Providence in all our difficulties!  And the end will, I trust, make it evident as the sun.”

But where he placed his entire trust is shown by the following, a part of the same letter: