The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-29
The Annunciation.

| NE OcAuCuu1 least, occurring l89G W60.
nesday, was observed with great devotion
by the Catholics of New Orleans. Though
not holiday Of obligation, unusual solem.
mites in the various churches commemo-
rated its recurrence, and the numbers Of
communicates and worshipers at the various
masses told q the fervor of the people.
Regarded in q merely human point Of
view, this feast would present some facts
almost incomprehensible to worldly wisdom.
It tells us of fame which had not been
sought, of glory not won by ambition, OF
greatness based on humility. Where are all
the mighty monarchs who have swayed en-
pires, the generals whose names have filed
the world with terror and admiration, or the
| orators whose eloquence made them masters
point moral or adorn q period, but their
| memory has no place now in the living
heart. They struggled for Immortality and
obtained a monument; they expected to live
in their regulations but are only embalmed
in an imperishable death.
The Feast of the knnunciatiOn commence
| rates one who never mounted to eminence
upOh VA1O uCSAShAAeAOu VI OlucIbS WuOSc
achievements were not written in human
blood, whose name never called forth the
wild huzzas of a maddened populacs. 1t is
but the gentle, retiring maiden of sixteen,
espoused to an humble mechanic, lost in the
obscurity of a country village. But she was
full of grace" and she lives in our hearts,
to-day, as though she had passed from our
midst but yesterday. Augustus Caesar was
her sovereign, reigning in magnifcence over
millions of men. To-day, his name is one
of the curiosities of a dead past, while she
has become the Queen of hundreds of mil
lions in the living present. The only i'm
perishable greatness is goodness.
There is another lesson to be learned, too,
from the Annunciation,-that of freedom in
approaching Mary. This is the feast of her
obscurity. Afterward, the diadem of Queen
is placed upon her head she is the Mother
of the King. But the people cling to her in
the first capacity. If she were only the ma
jestic Mother of God, the unapproachable
Queen of all the heavenly powers, poor hu-
man nature. might shrink back, awe-struck
in her presence. AS the mild, angelic,
uAOIC tAeAh bASOAO SA1, cAC 10 StAI1 OHC VI ub,
distinguished, but not removed, by her sane
tity. No one is afraid of her.
Perhaps it was for this reason that she Sc
lected her station among the lowly ones of
the earth,-that all might approach her
without restraint. In hex greatness she does
men. The accidents of rank and education,
of refinement and intelligence make no diff
ference with her. The naughty potentate,
in purple and fine linen, is no nearer to her
than the beggar in rags. All are her dear
children. But we can scarcely realize that.
Viewing her as Queen, we are tempted to
regard as presumption any familiarity of
approach to her, any claim upon her as
" Mother"
If her rank on earth had been among the
mighty and the lordly, this feeling would
have been almost unconquerable for certain
persons. Hence, the lowliness which she
maintained through life. Entitled by de-
scent and espousal, to the highest dignity
among her people, she descended to the con-
dition of the humblest, that none of her
children might ever have their hearts chilled
by awe in their Intercourse with her. And
the gratitude of men proclaims the success
of her plan. Acknowledging her title as
Queen, they do not hesitate to address her
as Mother, and to raise their voices in bene-
diction of her. Cali generations shall call
her blessed"
There can be no possible excuse for persons
sending North or West to have work done, while
such establishment that of Messrs.
O'Rourke & Meagher exists among us. These
gentlemen are perfectly capable of executing
all orders in their line,-and that line compre-
bends every thing, from the largest boilers to