The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-03-13
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
xEw ORLEANS. sUNDAY, MAscH 10. ls7o:
The Priest and the People.

. Inc tunoIal OratlOn OF the new. amer " NelH |
over the bodies of the unfortunates who fell
victims to the panic at st. Joseph's Church,
is strikingly beautiful in thought
and Language. The affectionate, symDathizing /.
and paternal love which marked every word,
and which tended to assuage the sorrows still
fresh, must have been most consolpg to the
surviving relatives and friends. The heroic
conduct of the clergy on that night, when so
many were suddenly borne into eternity, has
been the theme of universal praise-the Pro-
testaut press leading The result of their
efforts was, that out of nearly 1000 in>the
church, not more than about 300 rushed OUT
The priests could not be sure that they were
not themselves in danger, but, as became min
listers of the Shepherd who gave his life for his
flock, they were evidently prepared to make
the sacrifice of even life itself, if, by doing,
they could save those entrusted to their care.
The London Unirerse makes this the occasion of
some remarks, which are so appropriately
eloquent that we thank the editors for affording
ms an opportunity of transferring them to our
columns:
The event is which calls mp many
thoughts. Who can peruse the thrilling mar
rative without feeling the scene to be q picture
Of the strenuous efforts of our devoted clergy
to protect their focks, no matter what may be
The hazard to themselves Memory takes wing
and carries the Catholic back to distant times
~hen many a priest who mi CHIT. had he wished
it, have remained ON the Continent in the
necurity which Catholic States afforded him,
preferred to cross over to these islands in all
Inc horrors of the penal times, and to EXPOSE
himself to the risk Of the fortunes of the rack,
-and the cruel butchery of the scaffold, SO that
he might be able, even for short time, to give
the consultations of religion to the flock which
gallantIy stroye to keep the lamp of faith
fnrninr amidst surrounding darkness. How
the mind travels back to those days in Ireland
han If the state and when the solemn mys-
taries of religion we're celebrated in some dark
Snnter " (as the minions of the rersecution
we're colled) was on the track of the holy and
Tavout men. who so often gave their lives for
th.;r nennIet Men have called tho,e DAYS
evil and an in one sense thew were for it, is sad
tn think how often the rude hand of the per
secntor must have torn away the pasto; who
was hrcnkinp bread to the little ones of Gods
Church But we cannot look back upon suc,,
days without feeling that thew did more thar
nr4sneritv could do to cement the affectionate
r,n;o,, icb should olwavs exist between the
n.stnr and the flock: and that the suff.rinos
1wh;ch nriests and neople endured .torether
she1 n iustre ON the history eff the Church.
We come To later times and still we SEQ the
nriest STRUGGLING to save his people. The
; Chains which once hung over our affairs hal G
been thank God removed. but the self-samc
sn;r;t of devotcdness marks our.clerrv At one
time we see them iourneyino TO far off lands Ia
strive To win soulS to the faith and in doing q,
thay confront tortures and death. At another
fiGnn Sna q g.
Ieavor' amidst the crash and roar of battle +,
L;ndla soul-saying contrition in some hear,
inna estranaeJ from religion and rs the1amr
of Fife is tiiekering low, to Indie up that holy
hone whicl, snrinss from renentance. But we
Ill not ro tp the scenes offnre;wn missionor1
martvrdom. or to the battle field for illustra
+;nns of the d,yote1ness of onr CLERGY w.
%owa onlv r. look aronna ms and wa can 90,
+%"t thayy have to wave n dcadiv war even IN
%mr ,n;Sst How com,ss IL that ;,o c.n a,cb ~
ma recall, the memory of some voune priest
~h" n few Years 400 left his COLLEGE and enter
ed ON the dufics Of his sacred ministry in nj
the strength of vigorous health, but who now
snrIa M more among uss A brief limo in j
rangsnaner to the effect that he died from n fe
[ver ia nerhans ali TINT we learn. And vet in
that word ..fsvery there nav be n Volume con
fa;neJ II often snenks of IenTtbcned visits te
IT, Moor fsvered Inmates az soma wretched
. rarret or of some damn cellar. where the fon
sir Is poisoned with the deadly eiements O.
cnnta aian and ON this battle field the nriest i
Oe.nm sty;cl.en Down in his early nrme IN nj
onr cities and large towns orr Clergy have. il
4heir etforts to save immortal sonls to fipl,t :
Man cannot reward this zeal. One alone car
give the crown. But man can do much Il
cheer the labor of the priest while he toll