THE SQUABBLING PATRIDGES
                      "Bear one another's burdens and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ."

Partridges are very good to eat when they are baked in a pie. Once there was a man who made his living by catching partridges and selling them to the pie makers. He would wait until all the partridges gathered together to feed, then throw a large net over them and carry them away. The king of the partridges wondered how he could save his people from capture. He gathered all his flock together and cheeped a speech. "We get captured so much because we do not act together. The next time the man throws the net over us, each one must take a strand of the net in his beak and fly away with it all at once in the same direction."

The next time the man threw the net the king cheeped a signal, "One. Two. Three. Fly." Each bird took a strand of the net in his beak, and up went the net into the air. They all flew together and then dropped the net into a pond where the man could not find it again. But the hunter was patient. He knew all about partridges. He said to himself, "I have only to wait until they quarrel and throw another net over them." He waited for his chance. One day it came. The partridges were feeding. Two of them tried to eat the same crumb. "It's mine," said one bird. "No, it's mine," said the other. Then they began to fight. All the other birds took sides and soon there was a full-fledged quarrel going on. At this moment the man threw his new net. The king of the partridges gave his signal to lift, but the partridges on one side said, "Let the others do it." Those on the other side said, "You do it." While they were arguing the man gathered them up and sold them at a fancy profit to the pie makers.

Today's text is a good one to learn by heart. "Bear one another's burdens and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ." Children have to learn the lesson of co-operation or teamwork. What you cannot do alone, perhaps can be done if all work together. A man on a football team does not make a touchdown all by himself. He needs the help of his teammates. He needs them to punch a hole in the line and run interference for him. Working together means praying for one another, helping one another, not causing others to sin, setting good example, being kind. As a special assignment for this week, go home and just for one week, at least, see how kind you can be to your brother or sister. "Bear ye one another's burdens and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ."
                                                            Source: "Heirs of the Kingdom," Imprimatur 1949

                                                                       SEVERED FINGERS
                                                                           Holy Orders

Leaning against the rail of a ship bound for China was a middle-aged businessman. He had hard features and selfishness was written on every line of his face. A few feet away with his hands thrust into his overcoat pockets, stood a young priest. They began a conversation.

"Going to China?" asked the man. "Yes," replied the priest, "I'm a missionary." The businessman began to chide the priest for his foolishness in going to China in the service of God. He said, "Once I read about that young priest — Murphy, I think his name was — who was captured by bandits and held for ransom. For every week's delay in the payment of the money they lopped off a finger of his right hand. The ransom took three weeks to arrive and they cut off three of his fingers. For some reason that I cannot understand he asked them not to cut off the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. He still has them. He is in the States now and I don't think he will go back for any more of that. Something like that might happen to you if you don't watch out." And the man laughed. Then the dinner bell rang and they shook hands in parting. The man noticed that the priest's hand was very limp. He looked down and saw that he held only two fingers and that three fingers of the priest's hand were missing. The priest smiled, "Father Murphy is the name and I 'm going back for more."

Who can tell me, now, why the priest asked the bandits not to cut off the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. These two that I am holding up. The answer is that he wanted to say Mass with those fingers. That brings us to the next sacrament — Holy Orders. The sacrament by which bishops, priests, and other ministers of the Church are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. Perhaps there is some boy or girl this morning who has thought that he or she would like to be a priest or a nun. I f that thought is in your mind, keep thinking about it and pray over it. The priesthood and the sisterhood are the things which keep the Church alive. God works through them. Perhaps you are thinking of the foreign missions like Father Murphy or perhaps you would rather stay home in this country. No matter which, remember that Christ needs workers in His vineyard. He has said "Come, follow Me." If you follow Him you are entering the happiest life on earth.

This morning during the Consecration, when the priest holds the Host between his thumb and forefinger, think what a noble priest Father Murphy was, and pray that God may give you strength to be just as noble as he was. "The harvest indeed is great but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He send forth laborers into His vineyard."
                                                                        Source: "Heavenwords," Imprimatur 1941