St Stan Illustrated Story

J ohn’s mother, on the other hand, tried from his earliest years to awaken different interests in him. Her influence should not be underestimated. It was she who taught him his first prayers, she who watched over him, morning and evening, as he said them; she who initiated him into the marvelous rhythm of parochial devotions and services and who, in time, entrusted him with the task of keeping the wayside shrines supplied with fresh flowers. Small boys who assist the priest at the altar during services and devotions often imitate, in their own homes, the majesty and beauty of the actions in which they have taken part. John was no exception to this. He had his own little altar, which he tended carefully. He saw to it that it always had fresh flowers, candles, and various emblems. He tried to recall and imitate, in his own childish manner, the move- ments, gestures, and actions of the priest at the altar. He took great pleasure in organizing his own “processions,” and he never seemed to lack companions and willing youngsters anxious to follow him. The reaction of the elders to these manifestations of youthful piety were varied; some rejoiced and saw therein a clear sign of a priestly vocation; other, more superstitious, tried to stop these “processions” along the village roads and fields, seeing them as fore- shadowing some future pestilence. 20