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