Lord. The bait is Divine Love. The bird is the soul. O
skillful catcher of souls! O irresistible bait of Divine Love! O
pitiable victim! but most blessed soul; for in the hands of our Lord
the soul only dies to self to be transformed into God."

In all his journeyings in search of beneficial change of air or for
the use of medicinal waters, he endeavored to take in the famous
shrines; as for places noted in profane history, or the usual resorts
of tourists, there is not the least mention of them in his letters,
unless an exception be made in favor of those in Egypt and some art
galleries in Europe. But, "attracted by St. Catherine," he went back
to her relics at Genoa once more. Drawn by St. Francis de Sales, he
made a visit to Annecy which had a soothing effect upon him, for that
saint was another of his favorites. He often went out of his way to
see a friend, or to seek the acquaintance of some man or woman of
reputation in religious circles, and he was himself surprised at the
number of those who had heard of him and wished to know him. He
readily formed acquaintances, and American, English, and French
fellow-travellers could easily have his conversation and company on
condition that they would converse on religious matters, or on the
graver social and racial topics. It was not a little singular that,
although suffering from weakness of the nervous system, he could talk
abstruse philosophy by the hour without mental fatigue. Discussing
such points as the different movements of nature and grace, the
various theories of apprehending the existence of God, or how to
bring about conviction in the minds of non-Catholics on the claims of
the Church, he could tire the strong brain of a well man. It was the
things below which tired him. He illustrated his conversation by
gleams of light reflected from his past experience. When
circumstances condemn such generous souls as Father Hecker to
inactivity, a favorite solace is picking up fragments of work or
recalling high ideas from the crowded memory of their former zeal,
often with much profit to those who listen. And this was no
idle-minded or boastful trait in him, as we see from the following:

"Be assured I shall not follow my own will if I can help it. Every
dictate of prudence and wisdom will be my guide. Until the clouds
clear away I shall be quiet, waiting, watching and praying, seeking
for light wherever there is a reasonable prospect of obtaining it. In
the meanwhile