Page:Purgatory00scho.djvu/109

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gatory, we will here relate an instance of more recent occurrence.

Father Philip Schoofs, of the Company of Jesus, who died in Louvain in 1878, related the following fact, which happened in Antwerp during the first years of his ministry in that city. He had just preached a mission, and had returned to the College of Notre Dame, then situated in the Rue l'Empereur, when he was told some one asked for him in the parlour. Descending immediately, he found there two young men in the flower of their age, with a pale and sickly child of about ten years. " Father," said they, " here is a poor child that we have adopted, and who deserves our protection because he is good and pious. We feed and educate him, and, for more than a year that he has formed part of our family, he has been happy and enjoyed good health. It is only for the last few weeks that he has commenced to grow thin and pine away, as you now see him." "What is the cause of this change?" asked the Father. " It is fright," they replied; " the child is awaked every night by apparitions. A man, he assures us, presents himself before him, and he sees him as distinctly as he sees us in full daylight. This is the cause of his continual fear and uneasiness. We come, Father, to ask of you some remedy." " My friends," replied Father Schoofs, " with God there is a remedy for all things. Begin, both of you, by making a good confession and Communion, beg God to deliver you from all evil, and fear nothing. As for you, my child, say your prayers well, then sleep so soundly that no ghost can awake you." He then dismissed them, telling them to return in case anything more should happen. Two weeks passed, and they again returned. " Father," said they, "we have followed your orders, and yet the apparitions continue as before. The child always sees the same man appear." " From this evening," said Father Schoofs, " watch at the door of the child's room, provided with paper and ink with which to write the answers. When he warns