The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-17

L
"to-morrow morning we bear yon child to her
untimely grave"
That night again the priest and the general
watched beside the dead, lconversing In low
but earnest tones. Father Paul told the
simple story of tho outGasts, and how that
after Monna's death her child dropped so that,
thinking change of scene might be beneficial
| to her, lie persuaded her to accompany some
Catholic ladies to Paris, where she had finally
entered into the holy order of the Sisters OF
the Poor, and was beloved by all till the fatal
| morning which dealt her death blow.
| Then, the good priest turned to the general
as if to hear his account of his life since his
marriage. The general had heard of poor
Monna's death through his brother, who
occasionally called on Miss Thornton to inquire
after her former inmates, in whom he ever felt
| an interest
| "Yet, general setoiued Father Paul, life
seems to have smiled upon you, for you hays
married beautiful woman who Mas brought
You fine fortune, and you have attained hiSt
military rank"
"Ab, if you could see my hearth" cried th'
81 understand" quietly said the priest
&" The world has given you all it can but ye
something is wanting: 1t cannot give tn
peace of God, which passeth all understand
ttfng' and without which all is but earthl,
dross. Speak, in confidence speak, for. non
but tho dead are near. =
The general had ordered that no peus
n should be spaxed Id tile aaat e of III
drawing room was 81 d r1ecr
The coffin was placed on raised platform
covered with velvet, in the middle OF the room
while numerous tapers shed their conccn
trated light on the tender hues of the flower
strewed around. The saloon was vast, but !
was in n distant, darkened corner that the wv
men thus strangely thrown together sat an
conversed during that dreary watch
"Ah, Father Paul." said the general, indee
l would but pardon the hesitation of prejudie
Y for, alas L have been accustomed TO thln
K those of your persuasion idolaters"
4 The presence of the dead checked the sml
c on the good priests lip; he only quiet
replied: =,
C subject of the origin of idolatryf Allow Il
J. Mt all events to read you passage out
Genesis; :" and, taking ont n small Bible iro
d his pocket, Father Paul read the followli
ii verses: .
II And Jacob .awaked ont of his sleep al
D. he said Surely the Lord is in this place; a
II knew it not. And lie was afraid, and sai
e. How dreadful is this place! Tins IS no on
II but the house of God, and this is the gate
crl ". And Jacob rose up early in the morniL
and took the stone that he had put lor
&c piloY, and set it up for pillar, and pour
e, oil up1n the top OF it,
O. Now it has always struck me that
Il respect with which Jacob naturally reSaIo
as this stone might have been misrepresented
. the neighB0rIug people, tho IlristdffS tHe ~,
of God for God Himself, and, seeing thehli
IL raised aud thus amounted, fell down beioi'
,ie |" !IS Is this the doctrine of your Churcl
lie asked the general. =
lac "By no means, it is my o%n private c
lecture. which L never Thought OF lnphrt
to anyone before yourself, and which, perm;
MAS elicitc1 by Xnur change OF Idolatry. II
.en ever, the tradition OF Jacobs dream InuSb II
,i been in great forcsr during those times,
Of even to this day We pottr oil on the stone
90 our affairs wheU> we lconsecratc our churC'
mt in memory of Bethel. But onght not I" 4
;os passed ovcr/the twelfth verse. And ne are
yas ed, and beheld "a ladder set mp on the, en-
40 and theIop of it reached to heaven, and bel
aid the angels of God ascending and descent
,ile on il" .,.. A.,
old Inquired the general, interested now IN
pbY discussion,
IA GWhy, that the saints and the angels
d / constantly ascending and DESCENDING
,os. heaven as so many celestial but unseen
,er scngers. And that we are empowered to Gu
them with prayers and messages to our Etc
the Father, from whose presence we are eNlle
om- this dark vale of sin and death. This c
'H or celestial ladder we may call the 'Commu
: of of Saints which article of faith you repe
rea- the Apostles Greed, even in your chur'
an | without attaching any dehhtte meaning I
,nd whilst tre often earnestly call to our compnI
Rev ON the other side of the grave without
re- needing your charge of idoiatry. We re1
the saints, and strive hunbly, aud ohgi
.rol strive to follow their example"
"But why" interrupted the general, dc
the ascri5e miraculous cares to them r.
sfer Because we put more faith IN IN the 81
hem of Just men made perfect than in
ca,, medical science which from its high pr
= at often quite inaccessible to the poor IL
turn, / ask. why do you limit the actiS
the Infinite Mercy Goo Is no tuSPee''l a. ",
'pse, sons, and thlhH you lo W" ,r.L s,ol,aJ
lady to the cries OF the poor ~ 1900
udly pain, and not SEND one On 3 ms S;J ItsaiS
n in healing on his wings Aue eN NJ,
tber cNye Perchance you may retnrt my own :
mon me, aud-aaI surmise that the hos
,r,ed cod or the altar of Bethel, was in an
4 NV times mistaken for God Himself so you
hone say we mistake the ssIV1,Vs % ~, -,
/ the blessed Saints, Tor the Dei'Si lei''i'
"No, l cannot look upon you as AM idol
,dy,7 Il Joined the general
ones; Maybe you Wo'i1u say 'ilN' '10 a A1'0'