THE BOY WHO WAS HANGED THREE TIMES

We are in Palestine, the homeland of Jesus, where the first Mass was celebrated and where the Apostles made their first Communion…

And what is Palestine today? A land of desolation, of Mohammedans, schismatics, Jews, and few Catholics.

A schismatic boy of eight years began to feel attracted to the Catholic religion, to its chants and feasts, about which his companions spoke to him.

One day he wished to go and see. With great secrecy, for fear of his parents, he attended Mass in a chapel.

He was delighted. After Mass, he remained there with the catechism children. When the ceremony ended, the priest, who did not know him, approached him to greet him kindly.

His heart was won, and the boy, in secret, continued to attend Mass every Sunday. One day, however, his father discovered it and asked him:

— Have you been with those accursed Catholics?
— Yes, father.
— Did I not forbid you?
— Yes, sir.
— Swear to me that you will not go back there.
— I cannot, for in my heart I am Catholic.
— Then you will not swear?
— No, sir.
— I will hang you…
— You may hang me.

The barbarous man passed a rope over a beam in the ceiling, placed the noose around his son’s neck, and hoisted him up. When the little feet of the child ceased to move, the father lowered him, loosened the noose, and seeing that he was still alive, said:

— Now will you promise me not to go to those accursed people?
— No, father, I cannot.

A second and a third time the cruel father repeated the torture, but he could not change the boy’s resolve. Then, disguising his anger, the barbarous father tried other means.

Taking the exhausted body of the poor child in his arms, he said:

— But, my son, do you not love me?
— I love you, father.
— How is it, then, that you do not want to obey me?
— It is because I love my soul more than my father.

Little by little the boy recovered his strength and soon had himself baptized, becoming a Catholic.

His father and mother died of typhus the following year, and not long afterward the little martyr died the death of a saint