The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-11

! Nativity whereBOever ~ occurs ," and
with these words he disappeared.
/ Even as he did SO the tempest subsided,
| the sea became calm and smooth, and the
moon, breaking through the clouds, cast q
clear and Joyous light upon the waters, SO
that the mariners could see both to guide
their vessel and to repair the damage it had
Sustained. And so, a favorable wind spring
without further danger or difficulty, and all
landed, with great joy and gratitude, on
the shores they had so lately despaired of
AS to Helsinus, he did not forget his
promise he went about through all parts
publishing what had happened, SO that the
story of his deliveraDce, and the Divine
command he received, were soon familiar
things in the mouths of the English people;
and in many of the churches Of the island
the Feast Of the Conception was celebrated
on the day and in the manner prescribed
by the messenger of Mary. In the mon
astery of Rheims, where Helsinus bore the
chief rule, it was from that time kept with
extraordinary solemnity and " to the day
of his DEATH" says Blessed James, "he
carefully watched that it should be SO kept
with the utmost devotion"
This is the story which St. Anselm gives
in one of his letters, and which Blessed
James has copied from that authority /; he
adds another, as being also told by some as
the origin of the celebration of the feast in
France. We can scarce do better than give
it in his own words:
- At the time of the illustrious Charles,
king of France, there lived certain noble,
relative of the King of Hungary, who had
| the most lively devotion towards the
Mother of God, and who regularly every
day recited her office. Now, by the advice
| of his parents, he was about to espouse a
certain lady of admirable beauty and
when they had received the nuptial bene-
diction, he suddenly remembered that he
had forgotten that day to recite the office of
the Virgin; iI.Ieiure, sending his bride
home to his house, and causing all the COM
pany to leave the church, he himself re-
manned behind in prayer at the foot Of the
altar; and while he was praying and sing
ing the praises of the Mother of God, when
he came to the Anthem, Thou art all fair,
herself stood before him, having at her side
two angels, one of whom held her right
hand and the other her left; and she said
to him, If am fair, why, then, do you
renounce me aud seek another spouse am
1 not lovelier far than she 7 and is there
any who surpass me in beauty?' Then he,
being filled with wonder, answered, say
else that is in the world, and thou art
raised above all the choirs of the angels,
and above the heaven of heavens; what
wilt thou therefore that l should do p
And she replied: 'lf thou shalt consent to
renounce the spouse thou hast just taken
thou shalt have me for thy spouse in the
kingdom of heaven; and if each year thou
shalt celebrate the feast Of my Conception
with great solemnity on the sixth of the
Ides Of December, thou shalt be crowned
with me in the kingdom of my Son. And
| having said these words she disappeared.
Then he determined not to return to his
house; bnt without sending any word
thereof to his friends and family, he retired
into a certain abbey in distant country,
and there took the monastic habit; and a
little while after he was elected Bishop and
Patriarch of Aguila; and SO long as he
lived, he caused the Feast of the Concep-
ton Of the Blessed Virgin to be celebrated
with it's octave, and every where constant
ly recommended the keeping of the same
| 1t is perhaps unnecessary to remind our
! readers that the sixth of the Ides 1.-THE Sth
day. of December corresponds to the day
on which the feast has constantly been
celebrated throughout the whole Church,
and that the office indicated to the Abbot
Helsinus is that which is still in use in the
Dominican order.-Young Crusader.