The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-05-03

ria. He then caused to be made of wax, a
figure representing young woman, of the ap-
prnpriate aga and appearance, within which
was enclosed the precious relic. This hghre
was then plsced, in tho attitude of death,
within handsome case or theca, Of which all
the perpendicular sides are glass, and it was in
this form that the installation took place.
Notwithstanding the heavy rain on the morn
ing Of Tuesday. lasting up to within short
time Of the opening of the ceremonies, there
was, we arc told, great concourse of people
in attendance. The Nisa S;mmes left the city
for theexpress purpose of conveying number
Of our citizens to the scene of the event. During
her progress up the river, and down Bayou La
fourohe, others Joined her company, until
finally the crowd was 30 great that she had to
refuse, many who applied for passage She
brought some four hundred participants for the
solemnities as well rs an important accession
in the shape of Jaeger's splendid silver cornet
band, engaged especially by Rev. Father Me-
nard, to add splendor and efficiency to the
musical portion Of the ceremonies. Besides
her passengers, the whole country around had
sent eager spectators, until tho ample space of
the church could not contain the crowd that
accumulated.
About nine o'clock procession was formed,
composed Of tho clergy, several religious asso-
Citations, and the faithful in general, who pro-
ceeded, with solemn and bcsutiful music, to
transfer the relics from the repository where
they had been kept, to the church Hero an
elevated throne of great msgnifcenoe had been
prepared to receive the theca, within which the
figure, apparently of the martyred maiden, was
visible to the whole assemblage through its
transparent sides. solemn high mass fol-
lowed, during which the Very Rev. Abbe Perche
preached q. French sermon, of which our in
formant could give no synopsis. ~
After the last Gospel, Rev. Father Chalon
delivered in English, discourse, which, as
represented to us, must have been highly inter-
esting. But little was known, he said, of the
history of this martyr. Her youth, her vir-
ginity, her name, her heroism-that was all.
The small scroll of writing found with her
mains in the Catacombs, the bottle of blood
standing by her side-they told the simple
little history, greater and grander than the
achievements of all the Caesars. There was no
time in those days to write biographies. Dio-
cletian was raging against the Christians. The
patricians among them must all die, the pie
beians be made slaves. Christianity could not
be checked by philosophy, it must be exter-
minated by the sword. For ten years the
noblest blood of Rome ran in streams along its
streets, the silent vaults of the Catacombs be-
came populous with the dead. The noblest
and the gentlest lay there in undistinguished
| crowds. and name pinned to the blood-stained
garment was great distinction in that stern
republic of death. 1t attested either some
height of heroism in the victim more sublime
survivor, that braved even Diocletian, to pay
the last tribute to its idol. t. ...I'..
No biography was necessary, however, to
win our reverence for one who had resisted
even to blood, who had been obedient unto
death. Whether this fair young girl had won
for herself the crown of martyrdom by life of
austerity and exterior modification, or whether
her tender years had known only the watchful
ministry of loving hearts and gentle hands, her
death had set the seal of perfection on her life
Greater love than this man hath, that lie
give his life for his friends"
Father Chaion, however, took OCCASION to give
an animated sketch of the times when this
tragedy was consummated, and of the scenes
then frequently enacted. He pictured the
timid, delicate maiden, of haughtiest patrcian
blood, dragged ruthlessly from her home of
luxury and seclusion. Perhaps disappointed
pagan suitor has appeased his offended pride
by denouncing her to the authorities. Her
participation in the new and vulgar frenzy
called Christianity can be the only explanation
OF his own repulse, and her blood is the only
eNpiatlon his malignity will accept. She is
hurried before the emperor. The dignity of her
family secures for her the presence of Diocletian
himself in Judgment, though not the respect of
an excited and besotted populace.
In all the pomp and spcndor of imperial
majesty, sustained by armed cohorts, whose
eagles are fiuttering to the wind surrounded
with the beauty and chivalry, the wit and
learning of the worlds great capital, the mighty