That, therefore, my vocation was to labor for the conversion of my non-Catholic fellow-countrymen.
This work, it seemed to me at first, was to be accomplished by means of acquired science, but now it had been made plain that God would have it done principally by the aid of His grace, and if (I were) left to study at such moments as my mind was free, it would not take a long time for me to acquire sufficient knowledge to be ordained a priest.

This plan was adopted." A more explicit statement of the supernatural influences by means of which God informed him of his mission was made in after years to various persons, singly and in common.

It was to the effect that the Holy Spirit gave him a distinct and unmistakable intimation that he was set apart to undertake, in some leading and conspicuous way, the conversion of this country.

That this intimation came to him while he was at Wittem is also certain; but it is equally so that he had premonitions of it during the novitiate.

It was the incongruity of such a persuasion being united to a helpless inactivity of mind in matters of study that made Isaac Hecker a puzzle to his very self, to say nothing of those who had to decide his place in the order.