The Life of St. Peter Claver, S.J; The Apostle of the Negroes (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ...he eulogized his good qualities, represented the consolation he enjoyed in the religion he had lately embraced, and, in fine, exhorted the other to share the same happiness. The Moor listened to him quietly, and was astonished at his own forbearance. The father, perceiving that he was shaken, then assumed the tone of an apostle, and suddenly presenting his crucifix to him, he commanded him to cast himself without delay into the arms of a Saviour who had done and suffered so much for him. Struck, as by a thunderbolt, the Mussulman tremblingly prostrated himself, and promised the holy man he would soon come to him again. The father, thinking he had done enough for the first interview, let him go. Many were the temptations of the devil to retain him within his grasp; but grace triumphed, and he soon received baptism with stong marks of faith and piety. Other conquests, however, often cost the Saint very dear, and the sufferings which he endured from the almost invincible obduracy of the Mussulmans are beyond description. He spent twenty-two years in trying to convert a Turkish galley-slave who only when on the threshold of death, yielded to the ardent entreaties of the saint, and received baptism. He died with these remarkable words on his lips: "There is no other law than that of Jesus Christ, in which I purpose to live and die. Cursed be the law of the false prophet Mahomet, as well as all those who follow it " He spent thirty years also contending with the obstinacy of another Turk, who belonged to the governor's household; nor was it without the help of a prodigy that he eventually triumphed. The man went to cut wood on the neighboring mountains, and thought he saw in a dream the Queen of Heaven, who pointing to Father Claver...