The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current, February 12, 1987, Image 9

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The Georgia bulletin, February 12, 1987, Image 9

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Newspaper Page Text/' Page 4 • Faith Today CHILDREN'S STORY HOUR A courageous priest By Janaan Manternach NC News Service T hough he was only 16. Robert Southwell knew that he wanted to become a Jesuit priest and return to his homeland, England, as a missionary. Robert studied in France because all Catholic colleges in England were closed. A bitter persecution raged against Catholics in England then. Robert asked to join the Jesuits but they said he was still too young. So he walked all the way from Paris to Rome to talk with the Jesuit superior who was so impressed that he let the determined youth join the Jesuits. A few years later Robert was or dained a priest and told he could return to his beloved England. The young priest knew how dangerous it would be. He had heard about priests being arrested, tortured and killed. But he also knew that the English Catholics needed to have priests to celebrate the Eucharist. So he sailed for England and slipped ashore one night on a secluded area of the coast. He made his way at night to London, where a brave Catholic family hid him in their house. He celebrated the Eucharist for them and their neighbors in secret. Later Father Southwell went out into the country towns to celebrate Mass with groups of Catholics. Priest-hunters searched for him and several times almost captured him but he escaped just in time. He continued to celebrate the Eucharist for groups of Catholics who risked torture and death to receive Communion. In June 1592 a Catholic girl named Anne decided to work with the priest-hunters because of the large rewards they offered. She invited Father Southwell to come to her parents’ home. Thinking she wanted him to come to celebrate the Eucharist, Father Southwell went. But Anne was not there. He became suspicious, especially when he heard people outside the house. He hid in a secret room that Anne’s parents had built for visiting priests. But Anne had told the priest-hunters where it was. They broke into the house and captured Father Southwell. They took him to prison and tortured him, hoping to force him to name other priests. But he refused. Father Southwell was imprison ed in the Tower of London for over two years. During this time he wrote many poems, some of which are still heard today. Then he was put on trial and condemn ed. He died on the gallows at the age of 34 on Feb. 21, 1595- Pope Paul VI canonized him a saint in 1970. (Ms. Manternach is the author of catechetical works, scripture stories and original stories for children.) Your Will Can Be A Prayer Your Last Will and Testament can be more than a legal document. It offers an opportunity for serious reflection and prayer — a holy process of putting all things in order. That’s because writing a will requires more than a mere listing of possessions. It's also a time to review the feelings you have for your family, friends and the Church Doesn't it make sense that such an important document be an extension of your faith? Your will then becomes a state ment of your belief in God and His Church. Extension’s latest will planning booklet, ’’Your Will Can Be a Prayer." offers sug gestions on how you can make the draft ing of your will a simple spiritual exercise. Write today for a free copy. The Catholic Church EXTENSION Society 35 East Wacken Drive. Room 400F • Chicago, i FT 0906 Dear Father Slattery: U Please send me Extension s free booklet Your Will Can Be a Prayer. □ Please send me Extension’s free will planning kit. Rev./Sr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms Address City...... Birthdate State Zip /- . Telephone ( ) This information will be kept strictly confidential. Hidden Words Find the words hidden in the puzzle below. They may be vertical, horizontal or diagonal. All the words are found in this week's children's story. p 5 O E L 5 I E E Y E P T L T O A N G R A 5 S M E U E G L A T E I R R T A L D S N C R G E H E A K O K R A E C W W N C I R E H N H E A D S S T T C T M L D R L S S O U T H L E D D L P O E M S O S E S 5 SOUTHWELL, ENGLAND, EUCHARIST, SECRET, REWARDS, POEMS HOW ABOUT YOU? □ What dream did Robert Southwell have as a teen-ager? How did he show that his dream was no passing fancy? □ How can you tell that the Eucharist was very important to Catholics during Father Robert Southwell’s time? Children's Reading Corner Sunday’s Children by James Bitney and Suzanne Schaffhausen is a book of prayer-poems that reflect on how the Sunday Eucharist helps give meaning to our ordinary lives. The book is divided into five sets of prayer-poems including: Sunday Is a Gathering Day; Sunday Is a Storytelling Day; Sunday Is a Thanking Day; Sunday Is a Sharing Day; Sunday Shapes All Other Days. (Resource Publications Inc. 160 E. Virginia St., San Jose, Calif. 95112. 1986. Paperback, $9.95.)