The Remarkable Narrative of Andrew Dunn’s Conversion by Reading the New Testament
Andrew Dunn was educated a Roman Catholic, and continued till he was about forty years of age, like his neighbors,
taking for granted that everything his clergy told him was true. He was a shrewd, sensible man; but his sagacity, till
this time, had been exercised merely on the affairs of this world. About the age of forty he began to think of the Gospel
of Christ and his own ignorance upon the subject, and he determined to make some inquiries in a matter upon which the
salvation of his soul turned.
First Interview with Father Dominick. Accordingly he went to Father Dominick, the priest of his parish, and told him
that he wished to have a little conversation with his reverence. “Well, Andrew,” said his reverence, “what have you to say to
me?” “Why, please your reverence, I have been thinking for some time back that though I can strike a bargain well enough
with a neighbor, I am nearly as ignorant about the Gospel as a horse or a cow, and this I do not think becoming in me. Will
your reverence be so kind as to put me in the way of getting some knowledge in this matter?” “Why,” answered he, “Andrew,
I never missed you at confession, nor at Mass, and you are a very honest fellow; what more do you want than this?” “Why,
then, sir, to tell you the truth, if any one was to ask me why I am a member of the Catholic Church I could not tell him,
unless I was to say that my father was so before me, and this, with submission, I think a very foolish reason.” “But don’t you
know, Andrew,” replied his reverence, “that you belong to the Holy Mother Church, and that there is no other true Church,
and that all who do not belong to her communion are heretics, and will be damned?” “I have often,” said Andrew, “heard
your reverence say as much in the chapel; but, with submission, may I make bold to ask your reverence how you know all
this?” “Andrew, you are the first of my flock who ever dared to ask me such a question, and I do not understand such liberties!
However, your question is easily answered. I know it, because the Church says so.”
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"Afresh, precious, precious Jesus, I resign this body to You, for doing or suffering, for living or dying. Will You accept it? Will You use me for Your glory more than heretofore, that You may have some little return for all the benefits You have done to me? Oh, do grant this request; my heart longs for it, my spirit pleads for it; and "if You will, You can." You know the hot temptation of which I am the subject. Bring Your glory out of it, and keep me from the evil, and it shall be well." - Ruth Bryan