Immaculata Academy - Lilium Convallium Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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LILIUM CONVALLIUM 27 satisfied until it was removed. She arranged the flowers in artistic bouquets. Their beauty and sweet symbolism charmed her and she longed like them to remain quite near her Beloved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Every day Imelda's desire for Holy Communion became more intense. On the eve of the Ascension in 1333, she was consumed with an overpowering longing for her God. Alone in the choir, she tried to subdue her ardent de- sire by thinking of her unworthiness. She gazed at the tabernacleg suddenly a ray of light came towards her, in it a Sacred Host hovered. She held out her arms entreatingly and parted her lips, but our Lord did not come to her. She dropped her hands and closed her lipsg the thought of her own nothingness dismayed her. Once more she looked at her Spouse lovingly and hope again awakened within her. The sacristan, seeing the heavenly light, called the Chaplain and the other Sisters. The priest came and seeing God's manifest desire, gave the Sacred I-lost to the child, who received It with unspeakable joy. Later when one of the Sisters returned, at the request of the Prioress to call her, she found Imelda in an attitude of profound prayer. Nothing could disturb her ecstasy of love and gratitude. At length it became clear that angels had borne her innocent soul to complete her thanksgiving in heaven. The Sisters then remembered her frequent question, How can anyone receive Jesus and not die of joy? for which she had never received an answer that satisfied her. -ADELINE VANDERBECK, 'z6. Imelda is Soul A lily, pure as those, the most select, Witli which she loved the altar to adorn, She wished to beg all sin she ever scorned. She strove her love for Jesus to perfect, XVhilst she must wait for Him, the Guest elect. XVith longing for her God her soul was torn, Wlmile she her tender years did sadly mourn, And angels did her lily-soul protect. Can we then wonder that our Lord Divine Should wish to come to this sweet holy one? Since she could not approach the Feast sublime, Our Savior found her worthy that He come To her Himself. Then joy her heart so stressed, Her soul took flight to its eternal rest. -ADELINE VANDERBECK, 'z6.

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26 'LILIUM CONVALLIUM Blessed Imelda An angelic child was born at Bologna, Italy, in 1322, to the wealthy Lambertini family. She looked so delicate and seemed so much more fit for heaven than earth, that her parents feared she would not live long. However this sweet daughter, whom they named Imelda, was spared to them for a decade of years, and was seldom ill. As soon as she could lisp the prayers her mother taught her, she would forsake her playmates in order to find a spot where she could pray alone. The names of Jesus and Mary never failed to bring a smile to her face, although tears might have been in her eyes before they were uttered. She was not satisfied with worldly or vain instructions and always longed for religious teaching. Her governess was unable to answer the questions she asked concerning the Holy Scriptures. The mother then requested the Dominican Sisters to give Imelda special religious instructions. The little girl listened eagerly to the Sisters' words, and found it very difficult to leave the convent where she felt nearer to her beloved Jesus. At the age of ten she begged permission to enter the convent. It was reluctantly granted, because her parents felt that they could not live without her, their dearest child. When she received the habit, she became still sweeter. She now felt that she was nearer to Jesus, but she could not yet receive Him in Holy Communion. At that time first communicants had to be fourteen years old and she was only eleven. She was a zealous, faithful religious, delighting especially in her work in the sanctuary, where she was allowed to help the sacristan. She always thought her work imperfect. If she left a speck of dust on the altar, she was dis-

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28 LILIUM CONVALLIUM A Trip to Timlouctoo Under the shade of a rare group of oak trees that provide shelter for the weary traveler of Utah, on a sultry day in mid-summer, Millacent sat and looked dreamily about her. At her side lay a well-worn volume of the Arabian Nightsn and in her hands she loosely clasped an open book of Tenny- son's poems. Glancing down she quoted half audibly, I stood upon the Mountain which o'erlooks The narrow seas, whose rapid interval Parts Africa from green Europe- How often I have wished that I might be carried to Timbuctoo and stand there on the hill with the poet admiring the city. Perhaps some day I may. Today, will be that 'some day'. Millacent, looking up, was astonished to see the owner of the low voice that had taken her so unawares. Before her on an elaborate oriental carpet stood a dark, squatty, little man. The turban sur- mounting his broad, smiling face matched his vari-colored costume of jacket, high collared waist, bloomers that reached to his ankles, and shoes with tips that touched his knees. He read perplexity in her face and hastened to explain his mission. You are to come on this rug to Algiers, where you will transfer to a swift aeroplane that will take you over the Sahara Desert to Timbuctoo. Are you prepared to go immediately? With a cry of delight the girl assented and jumped onto the soft carpet. At a word of magic from the chubby pilot, the rug soared into the blue vault of heaven. Millacent saw from her elevated position all the country with which she was familiar, but as they mounted higher and sailed faster, she lost sight of the dot that marked her home. As she sat gazing up at the firmament, she felt a little regret that she had come, though the end of her journey held a cherished delight. To begin conversation she asked her companion his name. My name, he announced readily, is Ahmed. After a pause he exclaimed, Ah, see to the north flows the Yellowstone River. A remarkable production of nature, is it not? As they sped on he continued, Oh, look to the east, that is the Big Horn River and now we shall come to the mountains of the same name. Of Wyoming state I am particularly fond. Whenever I travel to the West, I make it my aim to come here for I enjoy the scenery immensely. I ventured farther today. Expecting to find an oasis in that clump of trees, I landed and, hearing the name of one of my chief posts, I wished to become acquainted with the speaker who so longed to see itf' You wanted water, then? Millacent inquired. No, oh no, I forgot myself for the time and thought I was traveling over the Sahara, where one usually makes an oasis his goal. How our little flyer does go todayg we are already above the wide corn fieldsf, Silently the two gazed down upon the waving corn that stretched over vast fields. In vain did Millacent search for a new topic to discuss, for her partner became suddenly mute and ceased to talk as quickly as he had begun. At length, as they floated over Tennessee, her companion found his tongue. And now we come to 'Sunny Tennessee'. I-Ie spoke less rapidly than he had done before. Look at the small cotton field yonder. Now we are passing a peanut field. The girl looked absently downward. Her guide became silent again. She thought he was hurt by her lack of enthusiasm in commenting on the scenery and hurriedly exclaimed, This section is very picturesque!