Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ...The Bishop and the "laughing missionary," as he called Bouchet, were closeted for more than an hour. What took place between them has never been revealed, but one thing is certain, a few days later Deacon Bouchet cancelled his entrance to the Seminary of the Society for Foreign Missions, and in three weeks was on his way to Kentucky. Besides him, Bishop Spalding had secured eight other volunteers. They were Fathers Bekkers, Luytelaar, Wuyts, Van Deutekom, Chazal, Van Emstrede, De Vries and Bax. The party sailed for America from Havre, France, April 25, 1853, on one of the first transatlantic steamers, and reached New York in twelve days, quick time for those days. From New York they went to Cincinnati, where Archbishop Purcell received them and acted as their host during a few days' visit in that city. Deacon Bouchet was sent at once to old St. Thomas' Seminary, near Bardstown, to study English and complete his preparation for the priesthood. On Ember Saturday, September 24, 1853, along with the Rev. Martin Chazal, he was raised to the holy priesthood by Bishop Spalding. Burning with zeal for souls, he joyfully went on his first mission to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Union county, in the extreme Western section of Kentucky. There he became the assistant to the far-famed Father Durbin, who, at one time, was the oldest priest in point of service in the United States. His duties were the most arduous and often times he had to travel on horseback for a hundred miles to attend the spiritual needs of the scattered Catholics. Three years later he was sent to St. Gregory's Church in Nelson county. While there he endeared himself to the good but poor people of the' congregation by his interest in their temporal, as well as spiritual good....