my time is not misspent. The journeys which I have
made, the persons whom I have met on my way--these and a thousand
other things incident to my present way of life are the best of
educators for improving one's mind, for correcting one's judgments,
and for giving greater breadth to one's thoughts. . . . It seems to
me that I almost see visibly and feel palpably the blessing of divine
grace on the work of the community, in its harmony, in the success of
its missions, in the special graces to its members, in their
cheerfulness and zeal: all this, too, in my absence. My absence,
therefore, cannot be displeasing to the Divine Will; rather these
things seem to indicate the contrary, and they awake in my soul an
inexpressible consolation."

But he said to one of his brethren afterwards: "Oh, father! I was sad
all the time that I was in Europe. Why so? Well, it was because I was
away from home, away from my work, away from my companions. And that
was why I attached myself while there to those persons who felt as we
did, and were of like views, and participated in our aims and
purposes."

How he felt about his chances of recovery is shown by the following:

"I have nothing further to say about my health than that I have none.
Were I twelve hours, or six, in my former state of health, my
conscience would give me no moment of peace in my present position.
It would worry me and set me to work. As it is I am tranquil, at
peace, and doing nothing except willingly bearing feebleness and
inertia."

From Paris, June 2, 1874, he writes to George and Josephine Hecker of
a visit to Cardinal Deschamps in Brussels, where he met his old
director, Father de Buggenoms. He expressed himself fully to them
about the state of religion in Europe, and, although both were his
admirers and warm friends, it was only on the third day that he made
himself fully understood, and disabused their minds of reserves and
suspicions. But before leaving "a complete understanding, warm
sympathy, and entire approval" was the result. In one of the earlier

CHAPTERs of this Life we have adverted to Father Hecker's difficulty
in making himself understood. On this occasion he suffered much pain,
for which, he says, the joy of the final agreement amply repaid him.

He formed an intimate friendship with the Abbe Xavier Dufresne, a
devout and enlightened priest of Geneva, and with his father, Doctor
Dufresne, well known as the mainstay of all the works of chari