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Iftow .Are you?

“How am I?” Ellen Patley pinched her
arm and said flatly in answer to Betty's

question, “I think I'm dead. I don't feel

a thing."

“Ellen, what's got into you? You

don't take any interest in life. Don't you

care about anything at all?" pert Betty

Conroy demanded.

“Care?" There was a lost look for a

minute in Ellen's clear gray eyes behind

the modishly styled glasses. “Yes, I

suppose I care deep down inside. But it

hurts to care, so I keep suppressing my
feelings."

“But you've got everything," Betty

said. “You're so far above me, and all

the doctors think you are tops and . . ."

“All the doctors," Ellen smiled faintly,

“but you don't find any special one of

them taking an interest in me. Not that

it would need to be a doctor," Ellen

added wryly. “A bricklayer or ditch-
digger might do."

“Ellen Patley, you want to get married!"

Betty said, wide-eyed. “Then why don't
you/

“You can ask that at twenty," Ellen

said. “At twenty-nine you lose confi-

dence."

“Ellen, you ought to be pretty," Betty

said slowly, “but for some reason you just

— 1 —
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miss the mark a little. I have it. Take

off those glasses.”

Ellen took off the glasses and pushed

her dark hair back from her face. She

was slim and trim and her features were

regular. Betty shook her head though.

"It's more than the glasses, and yet you

have good skin and eyes and . .

“Let's find out what it is I don't have/'

Ellen said impatiently, wondering mean-

while why she was indulging herself in
such inane chit-chat anyway. Maybe it
was because she had a soft spot in her

heart for young Betty. Betty had the

kind of personality she admired, but had

never achieved, a sort of out-going warmth

that genuinely attracted others.

As if in echo to her own thoughts

Betty formed the word “warmth” with

her wide mouth that was usually turned

up in a gamin grin.

“Warmth,” Ellen echoed stupidly. “Yes,

maybe that's it, Betty. I told you I

don't feel a thing. I think I'm dead.”

“Here, here, who's dead this morning?”

“Oh, Father Andrew. You heard us.

I'm dead, if you must know,” and cool,

habitually composed Ellen Patley turned

and rushed down the hall with tears in

her eyes.

“Please excuse Ellen,” Betty pleaded

earnestly. “She just isn't feeling . . .”

Betty had been going to say feeling well,

but she stopped right there at feeling,

because that was the real truth, and Betty

was a painfully truthful person.

— 2



“Maybe I could help if you told me a
little more about this/' Father said

kindly. “Miss Patley is a fine young

woman, but I have often suspected some-

thing lacking in her life in the way of

happiness."

Betty did her best to describe Ellen's

undeveloped warmth of heart that for-

ever vied with the coldness she had

created by long practice as a kind of shell

to protect the tenderness inside.

“Hmm, that's bad," Father said
seriously. “First thing you know the

coldness will begin spreading inside, too.

Worst thing in the world for a person to

concentrate on herself and her own hurts

and shut herself away from the hurts of

other people. Odd that a nurse should

do that, especially a splendid nurse like

Miss Patley. I wonder if we stress the

spiritual side of nursing enough."

“The spiritual side. Father?"

“Yes, the giving of heart and soul as

well as time and labor. No one is ever
happy who merely serves with his hands.
There has to be heart behind it, heart

enough to melt the starch if needs be."

“Father Andrew, you do say the

cleverest things. Melt the starch—that's
cute."

“I am not trying to be cute, young
lady. I am in dead earnest. Tell you
what—I'll make it a point to talk to Miss
Patley some time soon myself. In the

meantime I'll be thinking of her and just

— 3



what would be the best approach to draw

her out of herself.”

“Oh, Father Andrew, here is a letter

you missed.” The young and pretty girl

at the desk brought a small, unimpressive

envelope to him. Father opened it with-

out enthusiasm. Out tumbled a selection

of three or four little cards with the title.

My Daily Prayer. Father looked inside
the one that was made in the form of a

little folder. Then he glanced at the back.

“Hmm, no Imprimatur. Prayers are
Catholic though. Let me see now. He
held up the leaflet of explanation that had

come with the cards. The Apostolate To

Assist Dying Non-Catholics—oh yes, Fve
heard of that. I believe the Imprimatur

is left off with special permission from

ecclesiastical authorities. That's all right.”

He turned a few pages. “Yes, here it says
so at the bottom of the page. You know,

it's strange we have never tried this

Apostolate here in our hospital.”

“Too busy scrubbing floors and steriliz-

ing equipment,” Betty said practically.

Father faced her sternly. “Young

woman, when scrubbing floors and steril-

izing equipment become more important

to you than your patients' souls, you are

out of balance. And come to think of it,

that may be just the trouble with Miss

Patley. She needs a little more spiritual

endeavor to balance up with the physical.”

“But Miss Patley is an exemplary

person. Everyone says so,” Betty said

almost indignantly.

— 4 —



“
"Without charity . . . tinkling

brass . . " Father was mumbling to

himself.

""What, Father?"

""Oh, nothing, Betty. You run along

now. I have some work to do, and I don't

want to keep you from yours."

""I can take a hint. Father Andrew,"

Betty said demurely, and walked away

with the crisp rustling sound peculiar to

nurses.

Father Andrew took his letter to the

reception room and dropped into a com-

fortable chair to do some thinking. Ellen

Patley. A lovely woman, in a chilly sort
of way. Just the person to take charge of

the Apostolate. It would take her mind

off herself, and maybe help her to defrost

a little. She stood a good chance of be-

coming self-centered in self-defense at this

rate.

There were many nurses who remained
single for love of God and fellow man,
and devoted their lives to duty. That

was the catch though. Somehow he

doubted that love of fellow man in Miss
Patley. She probably had it tucked away

in her inhibited mind somewhere, but

what good was love if you didn't bring it

out into the open to inspire loving service.

Service with a heart—not just an efficient
smile.

I wonder. Father mused, if Ellen is the

type for a life of single blessedness. Such

a life is either heroic or frustrated. Well,

— 5—



I can plant the seeds of the Apostolate in

her mind and see what happens.

Before the day passed Father Andrew
managed a private talk with Ellen Patley.
He had in the meantime studied the
explanation leaflet that came with the

prayer cards, so he was prepared to

“brief her” on the history and accomplish-

ments of the great w ork started by Right

Reverend Monsignor Raphael
J. Alark-

ham.

“That Monsignor Markham/' Father

Andrew smiled at Miss Patley. “A priest
I knew quite well had the pleasure of

meeting him once. He was most astounded.
The great man for all the dignity of his
vocation and the reputation he has

achieved with his prayer cards is as simple

and cheerful as a child, always ready vTith

a little joke, never overly pious and

sanctimonious. My friend said he fairly
exudes a w^armth of spirit that is apparent

to all with whom he comes in contact.”
“Warmth,” Miss Patley repeated.

“Warmth.”

“Eh? Did you say something, Ellen?”

Ellen flushed. “I just said the wrord

warmth. Father. I admire people writh

wTarmth of personality so much. It must

be a God-given grace.”

“It can be acquired,” Father assured

her. “It isn't hard at all.”

“It's hard for people like me who keep
themselves all bottled up inside. It's easy

for you extrovert personalities to talk. It

just comes natural to you.”

6—



“I wonder,” Father said with a far-

away look in his eyes. “You know, when

I was a little boy I was most timid, and

you know what happens to timid little

boys. The other boys pick on them. Of

course that makes them more timid than

ever. A shrewd nun who taught me in
the third grade gave me a job to do for
her. That job was to be responsible for a

rather backward lad who had extreme

difficulty learning. In fact, he had

extreme difficulty in everything. He
needed special help all along the way.

You know, Ellen, I forgot all about my-

self in helping that boy who was less

fortunate than I. As soon as I forgot

about myself in service to another I got

over being timid. I made friends and my
whole life changed.”

“I thought I was giving good service

to my patients,” Ellen Patley said stiffly.
“I wait on them hand and foot. I don't

know what more I could do.”

“Now, see, Ellen? I brushed that chip

on your shoulder. You go around expect-
ing to be hurt and take everything people

say the wrong way. I was just using my-

self to get across the point. Poor taste, I

guess, but that's the egotist in me.

Always projecting myself into the story.

I can understand you, Ellen, because

fundamentally we started out with similar

personalities. The only difference is that

I was fortunate enough to come under the

control of that wise nun who taught me

— 7—



service without self—while you have
traveled alone without help."

"Yes, I have traveled alone," Ellen

said thoughtfully.

"But not from choice?"

Ellen stiffened, but there was only

kindly concern in Father's eyes, so she

didn't take offense.

Father Andrewt hurried back to the

subject of the Apostolate in order to

alleviate her embarrassment. I'm getting

to be worse than a meddling old woman,

he accused himself. To Ellen he said, "I
think you are just the person to in-

fluence the other nurses to work for the

Apostolate, and to go ahead with it your-

self. I shall order the cards for you girls,

and then you can get them from me.

Will you try it?"

Ellen nodded. "Yes, Father. And may
I have the leaflet to study? I do think it

is a wonderful work. You can count on
me to do my best."

"Yes, you always do that. That is just

what I am counting on," Father smiled.
Father Andrew mailed his order for

prayer cards to the address given on the

leaflet, and received his order promptly.

Each nurse took a hundred cards and

promised to place them in the hands of

her patients and encourage them to read

the printed prayers sincerely and devoutly

every day, even many times a day.
Ellen had tried in the past to school

herself against thinking too much about

her patients' personal lives. She had

— 8—



rendered to their physical needs and

sought to put all else out of her mind.

Mostly this was because if she let herself

go she could feel their pain and suffer

their anguish right along with them. This

was true particularly in the case of those

without God in their lives.

Now, however, she found herself seek-

ing to know more about them because she

had a definite purpose in mind of helping

them. Empty-handed it had all seemed

so futile. With a prayer card to hand to

the unfortunate and a prayer to be said

in secret—well, life was looking up for
Ellen Patley.

The very first person to whom she gave
one of the prayer cards was an old lady,

a cancer case, and hopeless. Hopeless?

Once Ellen Patley would have flinched at

the thought of a hopeless patient. Now
she knew hopeless referred only to life on

this earth. She had in her possession

little cards of hope for a life without pain,

a life-after-death.

“What is it, dear?” the frail old voice

quavered.

Ellen looked down at sunken eyes and

emaciated features. It is not a pretty

thing to watch a person die a little each

day. It is a wonderful thing though to

watch a person begin to live a little more

each day. Ellen entreated the dying

woman to take time each day to read the
prayers on the card fervently. That was

when the woman began living a little

— 9 —



more each day—after she had taken
Ellen's suggestion to heart.

Ellen prayed earnestly many times a
day for her patient. It takes but a second

to breathe an ejaculation, to whisper a

Hail Mary, to make the Sign of the Cross.
This, of course, was the very soul of the

Apostolate into which Ellen was putting

so much of herself.

“How is your patient in 301, Ellen?"
one of the interns asked about a week

after Ellen had given the woman the card.

“Oh, fine—she's just fine. Doctor!"
The intern looked at her as if she had

taken leave of her senses. “Are you feel-

ing quite well, Ellen? Everybody knows

that woman is hanging to life by a
thread . . ."

Ellen was already moving on down the

corridor. She was so busy these days she

had little time to make small talk. That

phrase “hanging to life by a thread"

remained in her mind though. Was the
woman hanging to spiritual life by a
thread, too? She certainly was praying

from her card—and her heart—with
regularity. I wonder if she has ever been

baptized, Ellen mused. If she is making

an Act of Perfect Contrition she is safe

with Baptism of Desire, but how can I be

sure she is not making just an Act of

Attrition, which would not be sufficient

to save her. I'm going to find out about

her if I have to take time out from my
other duties.

— 10 —



Ellen did find out about poor dying

Mrs. Grayson. She had never been bap-

tized and knew nothing about the neces-

sity of Baptism. This was indeed the

type of person the Apostolate was seeking

to reach. Still, Ellen was of a cautious

nature. If she could get her patient to

go one step farther she would be more

sure of her eternal salvation.

Quietly, painstakingly she told her

patient all about Baptism. When she had
finished the old lady smiled tremulously.

“I wonder if you could arrange for me to
be Baptized ... all the time Tve been

praying from this card I have had a

desire for just a little more . . ."

Ellen took this statement very much to
heart. Was this the working of grace?
What wonders these little cards were! The

other nurses, too, had noted the indi-

viduality of their effect. Different patients

reacted in different degrees of spiritual

fervor. Well, the Good Lord knew what

He was doing. He knew the individual
soul.

Ellen at once arranged a time for her

patient to be baptized. As it turned out,

it was a most opportune time. The night

of the same day Mrs. Grayson drew her

last suffering breath. The one thing to

which she held fast was the little prayer

card that had led to her Baptism.

Young Doctor Mark Handley who was

with Mrs. Grayson at the last was amazed

to see how radiant Ellen Patley looked.

“You must be getting hardened to death/'

— 11 —



he said. “You act downright happy about
the whole thing. Or is it that you are

relieved to see her free of pain?”

“Oh, Doctor Mark, it's more than that,

so much more than that. She's my first
one, my very first one, and I am so sure
she will be praying for me in heaven the
rest of my life. You know about the
prayer cards, of course.''

“How could I help but know with all
the nurses buzzing about their extra-

curricular assignment, if you will pardon

my levity about such a very serious
matter!''

“Extra-curricular, Doctor Mark? I

think this Apostolate is the greatest work

we can do. Tending their sick bodies

ranks second to tending their sick souls.''

“I never noticed how pretty you were

before, Ellen. What have you done to
yourself? Have you been taking one of

those charm school courses? Oh, I read

the ads in the magazines,'' he chuckled.

“Let me see now, you haven't changed the
style of your hair, or have you?''

“As if you would notice if I had/' Ellen

teased as they walked down the corridor

together.

“Well, if I haven't noticed before I've

been a fool,'' Doctor Mark declared em-

phatically. “What color are your eyes,

Ellen? Let me see.”

“Sorry, Doctor Mark. I have a date in

the Chapel.”

“A date, Ellen?”

— 12]—



“Yes, I have a thank-you to say for a

soul saved.”

“Oh, that kind of date. Tell me, Ellen,

do you have the other kind of date? Do
you have a steady?”

“One date at a time,” Ellen smiled, and

headed for the Chapel. Once inside she

knelt in the dim light and poured out her

heart and soul. “I have found what I

needed,” she whispered to the One who is

always listening.

In the weeks that followed other nurses

reported similar success in their work for

the Apostolate. Ellen branched out in a

little experiment of her own. She gave one

of the prayer cards to the visiting wife of

one of her patients, a man who was con-
valescing from an uncomplicated appen-

dectomy.

“Oh, for me?” the very attractive

young woman exclaimed. “But why for
me

:

This was an unexpected question, and

for just a moment Ellen was taken aback.

Then the words on the back of the card

came to her mind. “Because you are a

dear child of God,” she said simply, “and

because you have been most kind to me.

To make up for this cross bear of a

husband of yours!” she added jokingly,

trying not to appear over-pious and

offensive. She hoped she had not sounded

affected using that phrase, “dear child of

God.” She could feel her face growing

hot and she was glad to leave the room.

•— 13 -

—



The young woman had not replied to the
challenge of being a dear child of God.

Well, her husband is going home day
after tomorrow, Ellen comforted herself.

Maybe I hind of stuck my neck out, but
surely nothing can be hurt by it.

Ellen considered herself quite fortunate

to be occupied elsewhere the next day

during visiting hours. When she finally
did get back to her appendectomy patient

though he informed her that his wife <vas

most disappointed not to see her.

"Oh?” And that was all Ellen said, but
she watched him out of the corner of her

eye as she fixed his stand.

"She asked that you see her tomorrow

when she comes to take me home. Some-
thing about the card you gave her . .

Ellen’s hand flew to her throat. Some-

thing about the card! She hurried through

her routine work in the man’s room and

fled to the Chapel for just a minute.

There she prayed fervently for her

patient’s pretty young wife. The prayer

said, she went back to her work, and she

made of that a prayer, too, offering it

that the woman might be given the grace
to seek knowledge of the True Church.

Ellen was on pins and needles the

next day till the man’s wife came for him.

When she finally got there she was all
dressed up for the gala occasion of taking

her practically as-good-as-new husband

home. Mmm, but she smelled nice.
"Miss Patley,” she said softly, "I’m

so glad you are here today. I had to

— 14—



thank you for that wonderful prayer card.

It is just what I have been wanting, a

brief prayer schedule, for each day, that

is really complete and all-inclusive. This

R. J. Markham whose name is on the
back of the card—is he a preacher per-
haps?”

"N-no,” Ellen said shakily. "Another

unexpected development. There was

certainly enough of the unforeseen and

unwarned of in the booklet reaction to

make working for the Apostolate a real

adventure, a mystery even!

"I just thought he might be,” the

young woman said. "What sect puts out
the card? I think without a doubt which-

ever sect it is is the one I should join.”

Ellen gulped once, and then swallowed

again—hard. "It isn't a sect,” she said.
"No? Maybe a lodge or . . .”

This had gone far enough. I am no
mouse, Ellen reminded herself severely.

"The prayers are Catholic and it is the

Right Reverend Raphael J. Markham
who is the originator of the card.”

"Catholic!” the young woman gasped.
But when she had recovered her com-

posure, she added, "I won't pretend I am
not a bit flustered by this revelation. I

am not going to let it prejudice me how-
ever. I certainly intend inquiring into the

Catholic faith. If it lives up to this

prayer card ...”

Before the young couple left the

hospital Ellen arranged a meeting with

Father Andrew and left everything in his

— 15 —



capable hands. Her heart was singing a

joyous tune. She had found a new use for

the prayer cards, a wonderful use. Why
did they call it the Apostolate to Assist

Dying Non-Catholics anyway? That

limited its scope, and really there was no

limit to it at all. It could be the Apostolate

to Assist All Non-Catholics. Why, every-

where a person went she could carry a

few of the cards with her and make op-

portunities to give them to those met

along the way.

Why wait till a person is dying, Ellen
asked inside herself. Why waste all those
years. Why . . .

"Here, here, talking to yourself? That's

a bad sign, Ellen, my girl—oops! what I
said!"

"Doctor Mark! You frightened me."

"You don't look frightened. You look
—Ellen, you look wonderful! How about
that date tonight?"

"I heard that. Doctor Mark. You

never ask me for dates. It's discrimina-
tion, that's what it is, and you the hand-

somest doc in the place. Ellen Patley, I

thought you said no special one of them

took an interest in you. Fibber!" Betty

Conroy wrinkled up her nose at the two

of them and then went on her way with-

out waiting for an answer.

"What did she mean—no special one
of them took an interest in you? No
special one of what, whom, whomever . . ."

"Doctor Mark, you're crazy!" Ellen

giggled.

16—



“That's what I've been telling myself.

I've been crazy to waste all this time. I

still want to know what you have done

for yourself?"

Ellen shook her head
—

“Not for my-

self, Doctor Mark—for other people.
What a difference it can make in a life to

get the proper perspective on things."

“I'm not sure you have the proper per-

spective yet, Ellen. You give no indica-

tion of it."

“You're not making yourself very clear.

Doctor," Ellen said demurely, but not

coyly. Ellen would never be that.

Doctor Mark took a hasty look around

to make sure no one would witness his

breach of hospital etiquette. Then he put

one sensitive finger under Ellen's chin and

lifted it till her gray eyes met his. “I

mean you haven't the proper perspective

till I'm in the picture for you," he said

gravely. “Now, have you the proper per-

spective, Nurse Patley?"

Ellen took in the serious brown eyes,

the nose with the ever-so-slight bump in
the middle from an old football injury,

and the wide, humorous mouth. An ex-
trovert, she decided, but I could hit it off

with an extrovert now. “I believe I do

have the proper perspective. Doctor. But

now I must get busy."

“Tonight, Nurse Patley?"

“It's a date."

* * * *

— 17



"How am I? Fm glad you asked,
Betty/' Ellen Patley said the next morn-

ning. "I'm alive, completely alive, and

it's wonderful!"

"Hey, I pinched you and you didn't

yell ouch!" Betty chirped. "There's only

one answer to that—you're in love!"
"In love with life," Ellen admitted.

"And Doctor Mark?"

"It's a little early to tell, but there are

signs," Ellen grinned. Then she became

serious. "But, Betty, I'm not joking when

I say I'm in love with life, and helping

others to life. Do you realize how many
DP's there are?"

"Displaced persons, you mean, Ellen?"

"Yes, but not exactly what you mean,

Betty. I mean the unfortunate masses of

God's beloved children who are stranded

without hope far from their Father's

House, the One True Church. Some are

in error; some are in entire disbelief. All

are dear to God. All need our help."

"Just our help, Ellen? Do we nurses
have to do it all?"

"Well, we nurses may be in the best
position to aid more of the dying, but cer-

tainly there are plenty of people in even

better positions to recruit souls for Christ

from the hale and hearty non-Catholics

they meet in their daily endeavors."

"For instance—waitresses!"
"That is right, Betty. Why, think how

many people waitresses meet in a day.

That gives me an idea. Why don't you
and I eat at different restaurants now and

—-18



then when our pocketboohs will allow it,

and when we leave our tip we can put it

on one of the prayer cards. That way the

waitress in the establishment will get the

prayer card. She may become interested
and in turn influence other people.”

“But how would she know where to get
cards? There isn't any address on the

card,” Betty said.

“That's right. There isn't. And we
should not leave one of the instruction

leaflets because if a non-Catholic read one

of them she might be offended right at

first because it was Catholic, and because

someone was out to save her soul. It's

queer how offended people can become by

another's attempt to save their soul if the

attempt is bungled.”

“Bungled, Ellen?”

“Yes. Some people use no tact when

they try to help others. Right away they

seem over-bearing and patronizing. That's

why the prayer card is the best method.
You just give a person the card and ask
him or her to read the prayers on it. You
don't have to preach. You do your pray-
ing in secret. But—if you gave one of
the explanatory leaflets to the person you

would be bungling.”

“Then how are we going to get waitresses

to work for the apostolate? They have to

know what it is all about first. They can

be saved themselves by praying from the

card, but without the proper information

they cannot help others.”

— 19



"Nothing truly good comes easy. It is

up to us to contact a few Catholic

waitresses and get them to work for the

Apostolate. They in turn can contact

other Catholic waitresses they know. But

make no mistake, Betty, it is good just

to place the card in the hand of the non-

Catholic waitress. With the grace she

receives from praying from the card she

can be a wonderful Christ-like influence

even though she does not work in a direct

way for the Apostolate. The thing is,

don't limit the effect of the Apostolate.

Don't be content with just what has been

done. Use your own creative ability.
Think of new ways to enrich the world

with the prayer cards."

"Ellen Patley, you're not the same

girl!" Betty sighed. "You're not the same

girl at all. You have fire and imagina-

tion and . . ."

"Maybe a little more interest in the
other fellow?" Ellen smiled as she said

the words. "Oh, I have more ideas for

the Apostolate. Now that I am seeing its
potentialities outside the nursing field,

too, I can't rest until I contact others who

can spread the work. For instance, I met

a most attractive young salesman at a

friend's house last week. He was Catholic,

but I gave him a card and an instruction

leaflet. He was really enthusiastic. He

is ordering cards and will place them at

different stops he makes in his day's

work."

— 20 —



ex-"Why, that's wonderful!" Betty

claimed. "We nurses have nothing on a
salesman when it comes to getting around

and meeting people/'

"Especially healthy, vital people who

can carry the Apostolate farther and

farther. Now you take a Catholic busi-
ness man, for instance. Think how many
employes he may have working for him.
He could have one of the large cards for
framing hung on the wall in each room.

What stenographer does not stop to rest
her eyes by looking away from her work?

What if the framed card were handy and
her eyes would naturally be directed to-

ward it during rest periods?"

"Ellen, you are full of ideas. You put
the rest of us nurses to shame. You know,

I have a sister who works in a factory.

She could take cards and leave them in

the locker room. Any production worker
could do that. And if you stay at a hotel
some time you could leave cards in the

room. A hotel maid could leave a card
when she cleaned a room . . ."

"And you call me full of ideas!" Ellen
laughed. "You know, speaking of hotels,

you will find a Gideon Bible in a great

many hotel rooms. I think a prayer card
should be placed on top of that Bible. It

might lead people to truth instead of

error—with the grace of God.
"Say, think of all the tragic hotel fires

there have been in recent years, Ellen.

What a consolation those little prayer

— 21



cards would have been to people trapped

in their rooms waiting for rescue/'

“An airline stewardess would have an

opportunity to work for the Apostolate.

She could keep a supply of cards with her

always. They would be a great comfort

to passengers on their first air trip, and

to anvone in time of stormy weather,

too."

“Even to me in time of stormy weather,"
Betty admitted. “Ellen, I think Catholics

should make use of the prayer card them-

selves. The prayers are so perfect and

complete, and they take so little time.

Still they are so wonderfully effective."

“I never thought of it before, but this

is Christopher work at its best. These

little prayer cards should be taken to

every 'market place'. They are not to be

confined to churches and places where

the better people congregate. God goes

seeking for the lost, and the Apostolate

is that kind of work."

“Jane Lieter is mailing cards to soldiers.

She sends the special soldier card, of

course. It's real nice, I think, and water-

proof, too. We could all follow her
example. She has already received some

wonderful letters from boys who received

her cards. Jane says we should do all

possible to keep Christ in the minds and

hearts of our fighting men," Betty said.

“She was telling me about the ‘Breast-
plate of Saint Patrick', but I can't re-

member the words . . ."

— 22 —



"Oh, I know/' Ellen interrupted.
"
'Christ be with me, Christ before me . . .

Christ be after me, Christ within me . . .
Christ beneath me, Christ above me . . .
Christ at my right hand, Christ at my
left . . . Christ in the fort, Christ in the

chariot . . . Christ in the ship . . /—there
is more, but I forget the rest of it now.

Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Jane said something about these little

prayer cards furnishing a kind of breast-

plate for this day's soldiers. Jane has a

poetic tendency, you know. The other

night we caught her writing poetry of all

things. You'd think she'd know a nurse

must be practical . . ."

"Careful, Betty. I was too practical

once. Remember?"

"Oh, Ellen, I had almost forgotten.

You are every bit as good at nursing as
before and you have enriched your life

and the lives of others by becoming more

warm and giving."

"You know, Betty, there are plenty of

people in danger besides our fighting men.

All the men and women who have had
neither Baptism of Water nor Baptism of

Desire are in danger. This is a peacetime,

wartime, every-time endeavor. An every-
body endeavor, too."

"Bye, bye, Ellen. We'll talk later."

Betty hurried away to Ellen's astonish-

ment. Then Ellen turned, and there was

Doctor Mark.

"How are you today, Ellen?"

— 23 —



"Betty asked me that, too, and I told
her I was alive, wonderfully alive!”

"Father Andrew tells me that thanks
to the wholehearted cooperation of you

nurses in this Apostolate of the Prayer

Card a lot of other people are wonderfully

alive spiritually. Fve been talking to

Father about you, Ellen . . .”

"Oh no. Father didn't ... he wouldn't . .
."

"Wouldn't what, Ellen?''

"Oh . . . nothing.''

"Wouldn't hint a bit that a fine girl

like you would make a good wife for a
struggling young intern?''

^He didn't!”

"No, Ellen, that was entirely my own
idea. Don't blame Father Andrew for it.

But what do you think of the idea?”

"I have a date,” Ellen said abruptly.

"With whom?” Doctor Mark glowered.
"In the chapel, sir,” Ellen said de-

murely.

"Maybe we could keep this date to-
gether, and afterward . . .”

"I think He'll say yes. Oh yes. Doctor
Mark, I am very sure He will say yes!”

* * * *

We shall be back with Ellen and Doctor
Mark as soon as we take time out for a
"spiritual”-—not a commercial! May we
ask as Betty asked Ellen at the beginning

of our story
—
"How are you?” Alive?

Wonderfully alive? If not, then perhaps

it is because you have not learned the

joy of helping others for His sake. Per-

— 24—



haps just such a spiritual work as the

Apostolate of the Prayer Card is all that

is needed to bring out the best in your

personality, to help you make the most

of your life and the lives around you.

It is most desirable that we review a

little of the history of the Apostolate for

you now. To do that we must look into

the great heart of Monsignor Raphael

Markham, S.T.D., who from the early

days of priesthood felt a bitter frustra-

tion when non-Catholics passed from this

life to the next without spiritual help.

At one crucial time he sat by the bed-

side of a very dear non-Catholic friend

who was hostile to what he considered to

be the Catholic Church. Still, Monsignor

Markham knew that this man's intentions
were good, and he longed for a few minutes

alone with him so he could talk to him

about his soul. The fear in the man's

eyes haunted him.

A constant stream of the dying man's
friends came and went, falsely assuring

him he was going to get well. As Mon-

signor waited, hoping the visitors would

leave before him, and give him his chance

to help the man spiritually, he thought to
himself—oh, if only I had the necessary
Acts for salvation printed on an attractive

card in the briefest form possible. I could

leave such a card with my friend, and it
might well do more good than I can

achieve by talking with him. The way it

looks, I am not going to have a chance to
talk with him . . .

— 25 —



He was given no time alone with his
friend. The man died before he had a
chance to help him. The good priest

never forgot. He began at once working
on the brief prayers of the prayer card.

There were other non-Catholics to be

saved. He had seen them in his visits to
hospitals, non-Catholic patients with the

nameless fear in their eyes, the desperate

appeal. He longed to assuage that fear
and to give them something to which

they could cling.

He framed in his mind prayers that
would constitute an Act of Perfect Love

of God and of Perfect Contrition. The
prayers sincerely said must constitute

Baptism of Desire, not merely desire for

Baptism. His extensive knowledge of

theology stood him in good stead. He
accomplished the “ticklish” job of fram-

ing the prayers free of theological error

and yet acceptable to well-meaning non-

Catholics.

However, printing costs were very much
against him, and the daily press of routine

duties delayed his completion of plans for

the printed prayer cards.

In 1926 then. Father Markham be-
came very ill with pneumonia. The

doctors held out no hope for him. Prayers

for the dying man were being recited. It
was a crucial moment again. Father

Markham was just conscious enough to
remember that dying friend whom he had
not been able to help. He could still
think well enough to contrast his own

— 26 —



state of "dying”, blessed with the Sacra-

ments, and that of the fearful patients

without spiritual consolation of any kind,

the people he had observed from hospital

corridors.

The awful thought came to him—if I
die who will complete the work of the

prayer cards! Why, I can't die! I have

work to do. No doctor could understand
what brought the dying man back to life
and even health and vigor. Perhaps the

Great Doctor will tell him some day that

he was brought back to health in order

to complete and distribute the prayer

cards that, with the grace of God, were to

save the souls of so many. Monsignor

Markham himself is very silent on these
matters. He does not like to talk of him-
self at all. He does not need to, because
his is the kind of work that speaks for

itself.

He prepared his little card, which quite
accidentally came to the attention of the

late Archbishop John T. McNicholas,

who was at once filled with enthusiasm

for the work. He encouraged the Apos-
tolate to Assist Dying Non-Catholics, and

did all he could to further the spread of

the work of the prayer card.

Letters by the thousands telling of

happy deaths brought about by the

prayer cards testify to the good Arch-

bishop's sound judgment when he gave

his approval to the work. It is very

appropriate that the Apostolate was placed

— 27—



under the patronage of Saint Joseph, the

patron of a happy death.

The prayer cards are now printed in

twenty-two different languages, and are

distributed all over the world. Besides

the original hand-tinted folders there are

now water-proof soldier folders, with or

without the U. S. Flag design, hand-

tinted large cards suitable for framing and

hanging on hospital or office walls, gold-

bordered cards, plain cards, folders with

extra large print for easy reading, and

those done in Braille for the blind.

Anyone may reprint the prayer in any

quantity. Its sole purpose is the saving

of souls. It is an entirely non-profit work

except for the heavenly interest that is

undoubtedly accruing to it.

From the many letters received we gain

at least some idea of the great work that

has been done, and is being done, with

dying non-Catholics. We quote from a
very few of the many received:

Hungry For Religion

'T just wanted to try the cards out, as

it was something new here, and they have

gone like wildfire. Many of our non-

Catholic patients are hungry for religion/'

(This from a good nun in charge of a

hospital.)

— 28 —



Prayer Card In Use In Masonic

Hospital!

“I am an assistant priest in a parish
located directly across from a Masonic

hospital. In caring for the Catholic

patients there, I frequently come across

non-Catholics whom I try to assist. I
know that your organized apostolate for

dying non-Catholics will be able to assist

me in my work/'

Faith Given to Fighting Men!

“I see in the Prayer Card a grand

opportunity and medium for Catholic

Action among soldiers, sailors, marines,

and air men. In over twenty months of

service, I have seen many of my closest
friends of the Protestant denominations

receive the gift of faith, and enter the

Church. I would like to give them some-

thing like the prayer card. It may be the
means of sanctification for some of my
friends who will die, and it may mean that
some of my non-Catholic brethren will
investigate everything God has taught and
revealed, and find their way into the

Church." (From a soldier.)

Looking Down Upon Us!

“I am very grateful for the prayer
cards. We are fifty miles from the nearest
Catholic Church, and as we have many
sick visits among non-Catholics, your

— 29



leaflets help very much. A few weeks ago
an old man, 92 years—in good faith, but
not a Catholic—was given one of your
leaflets, and I feel sure he is looking down

upon us now/' (From a nun.)

Enthusiastic Army Chaplain

“The soldiers will be richly benefited

by this Apostolate. I purpose to form a

society to impart instructions in this

regard. When this war is over, the

Chaplains will realize their greatest sup-

port came from such Apostolates as

yours."

Thousands Among The Living!"

“Please allow me to congratulate you

on your most praiseworthy and meri-

torious work for the salvation of souls.

Thanks to it, many among the dying

leave this world reconciled with God, and

thousands among the living make acts of

faith, hope, and charity daily." (From

a priest.)

Immortal Work!

“Monsignor Markham's Prayer Card is

certainly going to immortalize his name

and perhaps get some additional prayers

for him in the real life that begins with

death."

— 30—



Baptist Minister Uses Prayer Cards!

"How the colored people love that

prayer. One so-called Baptist minister

recites it morning, noon, and night, and

stated that it was the most beautiful

prayer he had ever seen/'

"Saved Many A Soul!"

"By all means continue to spread these

cards and to have people know about

them. As Chaptain in a hospital, I have

used them extensively, and they have

helped me and have saved many a soul."
(From a priest.)

Enclose With Christmas Cards!

"Many thanks for your lovely card
which you have produced to assist your

brother priests in bringing spiritual con-

solation and Christian help to dying non-

Catholics. The card merits our pro-

foundest praise, and I hope it will have a

great and wide distribution.

"I am asking you to send me a few more

so I may enclose them with my Christmas
cards to some of my non-Catholic friends.
This is a card which they will keep; this

is a prayer which they will recite, and

—

who knows?—its recitation may bring
them into the fold. I think no offense will

be given to any of our non-Catholic

friends if we enclose such a card with our

— 31



personal Christmas greetings. The card

is so lovely I feel they will cherish it

always!”

Impression On The Soul

"These cards are indeed beautiful in

design, and on that account should appeal

to the heart of every non-Catholic who is
endowed with any hind of sense of the

spiritual and beautiful. Difficult as it

seems to reach the minds and hearts of

non-Catholics in spiritual things, these

cards are so cleverly arranged that the

constant perusal of them must make an

impression on the soul and lead it away

from the captivity of the senses, which are

in all of us the real obstacles to the opera-

tion of divine and supernatural grace.

"These ought to teach non-Catholics

the significance and necessity of real and

true repentance, which does not seem to

be properly emphasized in their various

forms of religion. Their false notion of

justification leads many of them into the

belief that repentance, in the Catholic

sense, is not all necessary, and that sal-

vation may be acquired in other ways.

What they need is light and grace pre-

sented to them so as to cause them to

sincerely contribute something toward the

salvation of their souls. These cards, I

believe, will contribute much in this direc-

tion.” (From a priest.)

— 32—



All The Attractions— And
Fundamentals, Tool

"The beautiful card has all the attrac-

tions—psychological and aesthetic—which
you claim for it, and, in addition, it

supplies those fundamentals which we

have so often wished to have briefly ex-

pressed.” (From a nun in charge of a

hospital.)

Approaching The Non-Catholic

"In truth I must say this card fills a

long-felt want. It is a splendid way of

approaching the non-Catholic and win-

ning his confidence.” (From a nun in

charge of a hospital.)

Card Helps Convert Whole Family!

"Your Excellency will be pleased to

learn that a whole family has come into

the Church, the happy result of placing a

little card in the hands of a dying woman.

It all came about in this manner: I gave

some of my cards to a nun, and she in
turn gave one to a dying woman. The

woman read and admired it, then became
interested. She really made the Acts.

Sister, of course, prayed earnestly for her.

She received all the Sacraments in one

day, dying a happy death. The children

were baptized, and the father is now
receiving instructions. Two of the children
are in a parochial school. Either six or

— 33—



seven people were brought to the true

faith. I earnestly hope God will allow me
to do a little to promote this lovely mis-

sionary work as long as I live.” (From

a housewife.)

"Not The Card Alone!”

“The prayer to assist the dying non-

Catholic is one whose need has been felt

for many years. Thus far, in the few

years of my priestly work I tried, as other
Fathers do, to do my best in converting
the non-Catholic party before its depar-

ture from this world. At times results

were pleasing, but in the majority of

cases great difficulties have been ex-

perienced.

"The beautiful prayers and the classical

decorations of the card which you mailed

me, and for which I wish to express my
sincerest thanks, have done more good in

one week in dealing with such people than

anything else of which I know. Surely,

not the card alone, but the prayers of the

priest for the one to be converted bring

gratifying results.” (From a priest.)

A Fisher Of Men!

"These cards might prove to be good

bait, and I am going to cast a few of them
in strange waters, or where warning signs

say no (Catholic) fishing allowed'!” (From

a priest with a sense of humor.)

— 34—



For Our Own Flock!

“I am interested in your splendid work

on behalf of dying non-Catholics. These

cards should likewise serve for members

of our own flock whose faith at times is

so watery and weak!" (From a priest.)

Two Happy Deaths!

“You will be pleased to hear that we

had two happy deaths here due to your

cards—two men sick with tuberculosis,
one a Christian Scientist, the other never

baptized. Both were with us only a short

time. They were given the cards about

two weeks before they died. They read

them every day, and were baptized and

annointed before they died. Thank God

for His goodness and mercy!" (From a

nun in charge of a hospital.)

Taking Instructions!

“I would like to tell you about two

cases in the County Hospital. One man
very sick made an Act of Contrition, and

repeated the prayers on the card. He
recovered enough to have an operation

which was successful, and is now taking

instructions."

Archbishop Approves!

“I beg of every priest in the Arch-

diocese to enter enthusiastically into this

— 35 —



Apostolate to Aid the Dying. Thousands

of non-Catholics, through our efforts, may
acknowledge the supreme Dominion of

God and the Divinity of Christ, beg
pardon for their sins and implore Divine

Mercy. My suggestion is, that every
pastor and assistant pastor be as resource-

ful as their gifts of mind and heart permit

them in placing as many cards as possible
into the hands of the non-Catholics of

their parishes.”

(Signed: John T. McNicholas,

Archbishop of Cincinnati)

Wins Favor With Franciscans!

"It is a very worthy apostolate, and

one that fits in splendidly with Tertiary

and Franciscan ideals.” (Third Order

Forum.)

In Three Days!

"The first definite report concerning the

work of a particular card came to my
attention this week. A young secular
priest whom I had been furnishing the
cards visited the City Hospital. He gave
a man one of the cards, and in Three Days

the man asked for a priest and said, T

want the priest who gave me the prayer

card". Father went. The man made his

profession of faith from the card, was

baptized, read the prayer over and over

as long as he could see, and finally died

— 36—



with the card on his chest. Father said

in relating the incident: "I am not senti-
mental, but I sobbed!' Think of the work

done in the space of just Three Daysi

[

This

makes a parallel case of the thief on the

Cross—with reference to the three hours
Christ hung there dying for souls."

He Clung To Prayer Card!

“1 can still see an old man, somewhat

over fifty years, clutching one of those

cards. He came to us some time ago,
suffering from a heart and asthmatic

trouble, with many complications. He
belonged to the very poor, had little

education, and would hear nothing of the

Catholic religion, much less of Baptism.

But, when given a card, he immediately

took a liking to those prayers. In every

severe heart or asthma attack, no matter

how he suffered, he clung with both hands

to the card, and he died with one lying

close to him." (From a nun.)

For Spiritual Welfare Of Nation

"I am especially interested in one of

the secondary effects of your movement

—

that of getting non-Catholics to pray,

especially to make acts necessary by

necessity of means for salvation. The

number of Americans who never pray

must be appalling. If every American

— 37—



could be gotten to say these prayers, I

believe the spiritual welfare of the nation

could be secured.” (From a priest.)

Trimming For Mixed Marriages!

“I thought you would be interested in

seeing a 'My Daily Prayer' card used by

one of our priests in this parish. He uses
it as a 'trimming' for a mixed marriage,

having both people say it with him as a

preliminary to the actual service. It is

well received.'' (From a priest.)

Enthusiastic Home Missioner

“The reason I am so enthusiastic is that
I am the only priest in five counties. The
population of this territory is over 125,000.

About 100 people make their Easter duty.

Thus you can see that I have a lot of

missionary work to do. The conversion of

these folks seems out of the question at

present. If I can get them to say the

prayer, I feel that I have done what I
ft

can.

Family Conversion

“My mother received one of your
prayer cards, and she became Catholic a

few days before her death. Since then

three more in our family have become

Catholic.''

* * * *

— 38—



There are so many letters—thousands
of them—from Bishops and other Church
dignitaries, from workers in foreign coun-

tries who use the cards in different lan-

guages, but there is not space here to use

more than enough for example. We have
tried to give a cross-section of ideas on

the use of the card rather than use letters

that add most to the prestige of the

Apostolate. Monsignor Markham has
never permitted any vain-glory in con-

nection with his work. His Apostolate is

for the glory of God alone.

The prayer cards are real weapons of

love for Christian soldiers. The Sacra-

ment of Confirmation made us Christian

soldiers. This world is engaged in a

spiritual war between the forces of good

and the forces of evil. Men and women
must fight side by side in the battle to

save souls. A woman can carry a prayer
card. So can a man. There is dignity of

purpose in this great work.

In any “army” food and clothing are

most important. Soldiers of Christ should

partake of the Blessed Banquet as often

as possible. They should be clothed in

grace. Then God will multiply their

slightest effort for Him.

An army needs inspiration. There is

always a feminine ideal. The Christian

soldier has the Mother of God for his. She

will inspire him with her own burning

desire to save souls from hell.

— 39 —



Remember, the Apostolate to Assist

Dying Non-Catholics is also the Aposto-

late to Assist the Living. The same

prayer card is your ally. The difference is

whether the victory is early or late.

It is well to remember that the soldier

who fights with a gun to save his country

also fights to save “his own skin.” With

the spiritual soldier it is the same. He
fights to save the displaced persons (those

outside the fold), but in doing so he also

fights to save his own soul. A multitude
of sins are covered by causing one sinner

to repent of his wrong-doing, in Jesus'

Holy Name. We, the multitude of sinners,

can hardly pass up this opportunity to

join in an Apostolate that is the means

of repentance for many sinners. But
above everything else, let us do the work

of the Apostolate for the greater glory of

God, our all-kind, all-good, and all-

merciful Father.

Needed: An army of men and women
fortified with strong faith in the mercy of

God, and armed with prayer cards designed

to save displaced persons from eternal dis-

aster! Order all “army” equipment from

the brief, but complete catalogue in the

back of this booklet.

If you are really alive spiritually, you

will want to do all in your power to help

your non-Catholic neighbor “come alive”,

too. The next time someone asks “how

are you?”—stop and think. How are you
spiritually? And the next time you ask

— 40—



another, “how are you?”—stop and think.
How is he spiritually? If you make a
practice of the “how are you?” greeting,

addressed to acquaintances and strangers

alike, and always add mentally the word

“spiritually”, you will soon be busy

handing out prayer cards and giving new

life to old living.

* * * *

What you want to know, of course,
(now that our “spiritual” is finished), is

how are Ellen Patley and Doctor Mark?

We did leave them sort of hanging in mid-
air, didn’t we? Up in the clouds, anyway!

Well, when Ellen first said “yes” to

Doctor Mark’s proposal of marriage, he

was so elated he could not think beyond

Ellen and himself. He even resented it
once or twice when Ellen was late in keep-

ing an appointment with him because of

some work she was doing for the Aposto-

late.

Ellen, ever on the alert for new fields

for the Apostolate, took a firm grip on

her fiance’s arms and faced him squarely

after he had protested her tardiness.

“Doctors!” she exclaimed. “Why haven’t

I thought of it before? I am going to

order 100 cards each for you and Doctor

Bryson and Doctor Clevinger and Doc-

tor . . .”

Doctor Mark interrupted with a com-

ment about his already crowded schedule.

— 41 —



but "you'll find time!" Ellen said con-

fidently.

""Even if other things have to take

second place?" Doctor Mark asked
shrewdly. Ellen nodded gravely. ""Even

if you have to take second place?" he

persisted.

""That's the way it has to be, darling!

God first, earthly loves second. Besides,
if it had not been for this wonderful

Apostolate you and I might still be pass-

ing each other in the corridor with a

sterile "good morning. Nurse Patley' . . ."

""Instead of a nasty old germ-laden

good-night kiss when I deposit you on the

doorstep of the nurses' home of evenings,"

Doctor Mark teased. ""You win, Ellen.
From now on the Apostolate has a doctor

on the case—or should I say cases? And
how are you now

,
Nurse Patley?" he

asked tenderly.

""I just pinched myself, doctor, and I

find I'm wonderfully, gloriously alive at

last!"

— 42—



Further information about the Apostotate to

Assist Dying Non-Cathotics and copies of the

prayer card may be obtained from:

A. Rt. Rev. R. J. Markham, S.T.D., Compton
Road, Hartwell, Cincinnati 15, Ohio

B. Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, St. Clare

Convent, Hartwell, Cincinnati 15, Ohio

C. Sister Mary Carmelita, R.S.M., Convent of
Mercy, 1409 Freeman Avenue, Cincinnati 14,
Ohio

Prayer cards are available in English (different

styles and Braille), Bohemian, Chinese, Croatian,

Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hun-

garian, Italian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Norwegian,

Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian,

Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.