The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-09-06


TIN, PASTOR OF ST. AGATH1.
TRANSLATED FROM TIE FRENCH
In the most remote and unknown paI. VI
the Departemcut dies Deuf-Serres, tnere
existed in 1893 a little village of poor peas
ants. under the name and patronage VI
St Aoathy. 1t contained about forty
bonses which might more properly ne
called huts, for their roofs were composed pos.
miserable union of woodwork and clay.
There lived here, however, community
distinguished both for simplicity OF man
ners and firmness of religious principle.
Its pastor had taken his post here at the
age of twenty-five, and had ever SINCE
Shared the lows and sorrows of his flock,
living like themselves in miserable hut
satisfied with the same meagre fare, ana
doing his duty in every respect with that
faithful zeal which only deep inward
piety can stimulate. Thus he had sPeh1t,
X rs Sear fr apa had a mon tue hsarts s
declined all propositions for lettering his
position; partly from love for those under
his charge, partly from fear that no other
pastor would remain long in such poor
parish; and, therefore, he became old on
the same spot, amid the same poverty,
doing all the good he could in his narrow
sphere, for which he felt himself richly
rewarded by the childlike love of his little
flock.
AS the French Revolution broke out, the
pastor of st. Agathy began to fear that
neither he nor his little parish would he
spared from the all-visitfng storm. One
the police of the department to swear to
what was then called the civil constitution
of the clergy, or to give up Immediately his
post and quit his parish. The good man
was 80 little acquainted with political mat
tiers that he did not at first know what was
of h 1Nr,f ne f1a
constitution accompanied the orders, he
lost no time in studying its contents, and
came to the conviction that he could
neither acknowledge or swear to it. Still
less did he think himself bound to obey the
orders by leaving his parish. lie continued,
therefore, to remain at ST. Agathy, and to
perform his clerical offices rs if nothing un--
common had happened, believing himself
acting according to his duty and conscience.
Meanwhile this measure, to which many
other clcrgymen also refused to\conform,
began to create troubles, particularly in
the Department of the West. After the
authorities had forcibly removed many of
the opposing clergymen, the disconnected
parishes united themselves in formal
alliance, and prepared to defend themselves
by arms against all violence. Thus was
developed, by degrees, an insurrcction,
which from mere spark became raging
flame. The National Convention, informed
of the state of things, ordered out troops to
turbed. Commissaries We're appointed with
full powers. Such a commissary came to
Mort, the chief place of the department in
which st. Agathy was situated
This man was of n cruel nature, and be-
lieyed himself bound to act with severity
against all who resisted. He ordered all
insubordnate clergymen to be taken pris-
oners, putting q price upon the head of
such as could not be found The pastor of
st. Agathy could evidently not escape the
prescription, and one evening accordingly
the news spread that the next day COM
pany of soldiers was to come from Mort to
take him prisoner. The communal council
Immediately assembled. OF resistance there
could be no question, as it would have been
useless. Yet the worthy pastor. whose
safety was the subject of universal anxiety
could not be forsakcn. 1t was, therefore,
resolved to bring him to place of safety
which had already been found out. lie OPP
posed at first and said he would willingly
endure whatever Heaven ordained for him.
suffered himself, however, finally to be led
by his faithful parshioncrs to a coal hut in
the forest, where four armed men remained
with him, both to prevent him from de-
livering himself UP voluntarily, and to
defend him in case of necessity.
The following day eighty soldiers, with
two cannons, made their appearance at the
village, to get possession Of the weak old
man. The leader of the troops made the
inhabitants acquainted with the object of
his visit, and demanded of them, in the
name of the law, to deliver up their pastor,
without hesitation. AS the command was
not obeyed the soldiers began search.
They searched every room and corner of
the parsonage, but in vain-brollc open the
doors of the church, ravaged and desccratcd
every part of it, but found not what they
sought; and finally went again from house
to house, but all to no purpose. The priest
OF st. Agathy was now declared criminal
before the law, and the price of twenty
thousand francs set upon his head. The
whole village was then set on fire, and
amid the dcsolatlon they had produced,
marched forth the soldiers to the sound OF
the drum.