t was at the time with bishops and priests, he obtained
leave to do so in his own rooms. He made little pilgrimages to the
great shrines of the Holy City, especially those of the Apostles and
the typical martyrs, not forgetting, of course, his favorite modern
saints, Philip Neri and Ignatius Loyola. The following are extracts
from letters home telling of his celebration of St. Paul's Conversion
and of the martyrdom of St. Agnes. The reader will remember that the
"association of women" here mentioned was one of his earliest ideas,
and one of the many whose realization Providence has given over, let
us hope, to some souls especially favored by Father Hecker's gifts:

"I pray much for each member of the community, and for light to guide
it in the way of God. Within a short period much light has been given
to me, and the importance of our work and its greatness have
impressed me greatly, more than ever before. Yesterday I went to the
Basilica of St. Paul, being the feast of his conversion, especially
to invoke his aid. I felt that my visit was not in vain. . . . I
forgot no one of our dear community. . . . On the 21st I said Mass in
the catacombs of St. Agnes; it was the day of her feast. More than
twenty persons were present, friends and acquaintances. I gave eleven
communions, and made a little discourse at the close of the Holy
Sacrifice. The scene was most solemn and affecting.

"What did I pray for? [during my Mass in St. Agnes's Catacomb]. For
you all, especially for the future. What future? How shall I name it?
The association of women in our country to aid the work of God
through the Holy Church for its conversion. My convictions become
fixed, and my determination to begin the enterprise consecrated.

"At the close of the Mass I made a short discourse. Think of it,
preaching once more in the Catacombs, surrounded with the tombs where
the martyrs are laid and where the voice of the martyrs had spoken!
You can imagine that the impression was profound and solemn on us
all. It was a piece of foolhardiness on my part to open my lips and
speak, when everything around us spoke so impressively and solemnly
to our heads. I will attempt to interpret this speech: In the days of
Agnes, Christians were called upon to resist and conquer physical
persecution. In our day we are called upon to overcome intellectual
and social opposition. They conquered! We shall conquer! Agnes tells
us there is no excuse for cowardice. Agnes was y