The next day was the Sabbath, and Catherine as usual attended church. She felt deeply the need of religious consolation. Her spirit hungered, thirsted, failed and fainted for the feeding, refreshing, strengthening ministrations of the gospel. The old, sad, unanswered problem of unmerited suffering perplexed her. She felt herself sinking into that sad and nearly hopeless state of mind, induced by great and singular trials to be borne perforce alone and in secret—when, wanting human sympathy and failing of divine comfort, the soul loses sight of the Merciful Father in the Omnipotent Creator, or in other words, of especial Providence in general Providence, and falls sadly, despairingly back upon its helpless self, and says that the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, the Governor of countless millions of suns and systems, never stoops to care for a poor, lost atom like itself. She needed to hear the gospel message of love and hope again. But when she entered her pew, and raised her eyes to the pulpit, she was disappointed in missing from his place the mild and venerable face and form of the parish clergyman, whose teachings every Sabbath morning sent her home with renewed love, and sustained her through the week, and she was pained to see in his stead a young man, a mere youth in seeming, some student newly ordained, she supposed, and she sank back in her seat, saddened with the thought that she would not get the greatly needed spiritual help from him; for what could a student in his youth know of life’s dread trials? of the heart’s mournful experiences, or the spirit’s deep needs? She felt sure he could not help her, and she sank back, resigning herself with a deep sigh. The opening hymn was given out—
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform,
He plants His footsteps on the sea.
And rides upon the storm.
Ye fearful souls, fresh courage take,
The cloud ye so much dread
Is big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
The first words of this hymn fell upon Catherine’s surprised ear, filling her soul with awe—for it seemed a direct answer to her thought. And all that hymn, every stanza, every line, was filled with meaning for her, and powerful in its effect upon her mind, in its peculiar state of experience. She listened in penitent, grateful, reverent silence, folding her hands meekly, and saying within her heart—