Pax ET BONUM

In August 1924, Solanus was assigned to porter duties at the monastery of St. Bonaventure in Detroit, headquarters for the St. Joseph Province of the Capuchins in the United States.

He continued his notebook as people inevitably sought him out.

The entries piled up: law suits amicably settled; students recovering from nervous breakdowns; diabetes cured; suicides averted; people returning to their Faith.

On December 29, 1924, Solanus wrote: "Benedict Morvitt, forty-four, father of two was gone two weeks from family on December 24. His brother enrolled him for one year. Before two days passed Benedict came home all right, weeping and happy. When asked what had happened, answered, ‘Please don't ask me any questions.’"

 

Not all cases issued in reported cures and triumphs. "December 29," he reported, "Louis De Simeres, 39, typhoid poisoning; given up by doctors and already lamented by friends. Is enrolled second time in a week. Died in peace."

In March, 1925, the auto industry slumped. By the following Christmas, every plant in Detroit was shut down. As winter wore on, some plants reopened one or two days a week. Chevrolet, a Detroit giant, had already secret bankrupt proceedings. Fear and panic tore at workers’ hearts and homes.

John McKenna, a Chevrolet worker, visited Father Solanus. "I don't know what to do," he groaned. "I can't support a wife and family with the hours I've been working. I haven't had a full day now in two weeks. Today, I had only two hours." Suddenly, McKenna said to the priest, "Enroll the company. Enroll Chevrolet."

"That's new." Father Solanus replied. In a letter, he recorded his own inner response to the request. "But if a single holy Mass." he thought, "can help any legitimate cause, why should not five hundred daily Masses in connection with the holy foreign missions help?"

"All right, John," he said; "I'll enroll them."

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VEN Solanus Casey, OFM, Cap

This is installment 4 of the Solanus Casey story: