On the feast of the Assumption on Sunday, let me relate the story of Douglas Hyde, a statesman, who was a dedicated communist and former editor of Britain’s communist paper.

Douglas Hyde was converted to Catholicism through the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

* * *

As the editor of their communist paper, he began to read all about the Catholic Church with the avowed intention of tearing it down in his writings.

But something happened as he tried to gather more weapons to destroy the church. The more he read, the more intellectually convinced he became of its truthfulness and origin as a divine institution.

* * *

But he could not yet bring himself to believe. Something was holding him back.

One day, he was going to work in London on the daily commuter train. When the train arrived at the Ely Place station, he saw a sign he had seen a hundred times. It read, “St. Etheldreda’s Catholic Church.” He decided to get off the train and go to it.

* * *

When he arrived, he sat in the last pew, wondering what strange power had brought him here. Suddenly a teenage girl came in. She walked down the center aisle and went straight to a statue of Mary. As she passed, Hyde noticed the troubled look on her face.

* * *

The girl knelt at Mary’s feet for a long time. Then she got up and left the church. As she did, Hyde noticed that her troubled look was gone. She was totally at peace.

When she had gone, he decided to do what she had done. He decided to take his problem to Mary.

* * *

As he knelt down and looked up into the face of the Virgin, he wondered how one prayed to Mary. These are his exact words, written in his book titled I Believed:

“How did one pray to Our Lady? I did not know... At last I heard myself mumbling something which seem appropriate enough, when I began it, but petered out, becoming miserably inappropriate.

* * *

“But it did not matter. I knew my search was at an end... Outside the church I tried to remember the words I had said and almost laughed as I recalled them. They were those of a secular dance tune:

* * *

“O sweet and lovely lady, be good, O lady be good to me.”

Mary is indeed a sweet and lovely lady. And she will indeed be good to you – as she was to an atheist and communist Douglas Hyde.

* * *

THE LIGHTER SIDE. This being the month of the Ramadan, here’s an amusing story. Two Christians, George and Michael, were lost in the Sahara desert.

They were dying of hunger and thirst when they suddenly came upon an oasis and a mosque beside it.

* * *

Michael said to George: “Look let’s pretend we are Muslim, otherwise, these Arabs will kill us. I am going to call myself Mohammed.” George refused to change his name, he said: “My name is George, and I will not pretend to be other than but what I am.”

* * *

The Immam (priest) of the mosque received both well and asked about their names. Michael said: “My name is Mohammed.” George said: “My name is George.” The Immam turned to the helpers of the mosque and said: “Bring some food and water for George only.”

* * *

Then he turned to the other and said: “Well Mohammed, I hope you are aware that we are in the holy month of Ramadan.” (season of fasting from food and drink).

MORAL: Do not lie.

* * *

MASS FINDER. Finding Mass schedules is now just a text message away with “Mass Finder.” 1) To find Mass schedules within your vicinity: Text MASS, and send to 7000; 2) To get a whole day’s schedule of a specific church, text MASS <number of selection>, and send to 7000;

3) To get information on the location of the church, text FIND <number of selection> to 7000. 4) To find Mass schedules for a specific church: Text MASS <church name> to 7000 Ex: MASS Church of the Holy Sacrifice.