The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-11-01

WIN thee, behoidlng more clearly that
blessed and adorable Trinity, which now
we see in dark manner, we may put
final close to all our wishes; and receive
the reward Of the labors we have borne"
Beautiful and consoling as is the doc
trine OF the invocation of saints to those
who believe in it, how especially touch.
ing is it to hear friends addressing those
with whom they have been intimate in
this life, and who have left it for that
better and eternal one, and begging
them, in the language of affection and
friendship, to still remember them in
their prayers and asking them, as they
are now admitted into the presence of
God, not to forget those whom they
have left behind them, and who arc still
struggling against the dangers and temp.
tations Of life. How consoling must it
not have been to them to think, that,
though all the saints were their friends,
still they had those among the blessed,
whom they could address in the intimate
language Of affection, and on whom they
could, with the gentle vehemence of re-
ligion, urge their claims and their de-
sires Ne have another example of
this in the language which st. Gregory
of Nyssa, the brother of St. Basil, uses
in his discourse on the martyr Theodo.
rus: He says: Invincible though
thou art, come as friend to them that
honor thee; come and behold this sol.
emn feast. We stand in need of many
tavors; be thou our envoy for thy coun-
try before our common King and Lord.
The country of the martyr is the place
of his suffering; his citizens, his broth
els, his relations, are they who possess,
who guard, who honor him. We are in
fear Of affections we look Tor dangers
the Scythians approach us with dreadful
war. Thou, indeed, hast overcome the
world but thou knowest the feelings
and the wants of our nature. Beg for
US the continuance of peace. that these
our public meetings be not dissolved
that the wicked and raging barbarian
overthrow not our temples and our al
tars that he tread not under foot thy
holy places. That hitherto we have
lived in safety, we owe to thy favor
we implore thy protection for the days
that are to come and if host of pray.
ers be necessary, assemble the choirs of
your brother martyrs, and supplieate al.
together for us. The united prayers of
so many just will cover the sins of the
people. Admonish Peter, solicit Paul,
call John, the beloved desciple, and let
them intercede for the churches, which
they themselves have founded" Here
ST Gregory not only invokes the aid of
TheOdorus, but invokes it in temporal
matters. He tells him to " come as
friend" to act as the "envoy of his
country" he tells him that they are
" in fear Of Affections" that they " look
for eangers;" they fear war and its
dreadful consequences, and he begs the
martyr to pray for the continuance of
peace " he tells him that it is owing to
his favor that they have hitherto lived
in peace, and begs his protection Z" for
the days that are to come," and finally,
that If his prayers are not sufficient, to
call his brother martyrs to his assistance,
and to solicit the aid of Peter, of Paul,
AID of John, the beloved desciple
Surely, men occupying the position,
which these Fathers of the church did,
in the earliest and purest, as we'll as the
most rigid, days of christianity, would
not thus strongly invoke the assistance
OF the saints, did they not feel confident
that their prayers would he both heard
and answered. To think otherwise, is
to :mpute the grossest folly aud igno-
rance to those, whom as men OF sanctity
and learning, we have always respected
and venerated. Here is a passage from
ST. Ambrose Peter and Andrew in
terccded for the widow, Luke ". 38v).
1t we're well if we could obtain so speedy
an intercession but surely those who
implored the Lord for their relation can
do the same for us. You see, that she,
who was sinner, was little fitting TO
pray for herself or at least to obtain
what she asked. Other intercessors to
the Physician were, therefore, necessa.
ry. The angels who are appointed to be
our guardians, must be invoked and
the martyrs likewise, whose bodies seem
to be a pledge for their patronage.
They, who in their blood, washed away
every stain of sin, can implore forgive
ness for US they are our guides, aud the
beholders of our lives and actions to
them, therefore, we should not blush to
have recourse"
The last quotation which l shall make
in this letter, will be one from st. Au-
gustine, showing the distinction which
the church makes between the honor
given to God, and the honor given to
the saints. He says; "The christian
people celebrate the memories of the
martyrs with a religious solemnity, in
order that they may learn to initiate
them, aud may be associated to their
merits, and may be aided by their pray
ersj but to no martyr-to the God
alone of MARTYRS. in memory of them