The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-08-07

A wo nave seen ana nave heard, and
what our hands have touched, = than
ma We arc separated from by centuries
eame And 20 the life of TReophane "
1ard, who was born in 1929, and was maj
yrea only nine ye... ago, comes home {
ee!ves. But more than this. It may b
aid Of the uncanonixed ~ Of the canonixe,
eaints that some represent to Us the super
, nssurs, 1 order and tie heights in which tn
our view, that We feel all along as we reai
mat We arc treating with an angel rattle,
t1an with man; whereas there are other,
weOee lives and characters appear to be- "a
1uu OF human nature that We love them
because they seem to be Ike one Of our.
selves - tho companion who sat beside ne
ior years % in harmony with our own
waye and thoughts and affections ia all
that We read about them.
10 some persons such q life il unapealr-
ABLY refreshing and hopeful. It inspires
shem with . new hope, and cheers them on
IN eneir struggle. They find q companion.
one who appears to come and keep their
company. He enters their company in
9eod, but 1T IL TO lift them insensibly above
themselves. Such life is eminently that
OF venard, and a. such we strongly recon-
Without entering into the det.;,s ~ Tho
brief but touching career of this vonno
Rness, who SO recently gathered the mar.
Ers crown, we may briefly indicate che
s s4ecs the perusal Of his life and letters has
Pres.ions We might add, if need we're %n the the
samilar,experience of Others Venard was
auis ana 0verhowing with human affection
sn9 human sympathies--for his parents.
;. uJ osRSscaaly ior ms sister, whom he idol
aze0. Ihe influence Of her companion shin
wen sney We're together, aud Of her letters
wnen ne WAS at college and ON the mission.
ever err read sh TS sss HSssesis record. Es have
vocation to the priesthood grew. the mans
mar In which the seedof cali to the foreirn {
mlseions was insensibly droppe1l into IL. {
nsas r. when me as little boy he read the
ha ss u h sne 1pagatlon Of the Faith whilst
0elair MS seminary life, the panes he suf-
fered as he had to break the fact of h;s 9,
apostolic calling to his tender father: the t,
courage inspired into him by Melanie; his "
correspondence recording the noble asnniras nj
tons which urged ON his generous hear ii
ana the conservation of ali his powers tn W
God-ali this and much more is woven into d,
as pathetic and instructive>a spiritual mar Sc
rative as any we have ever met with. We p,
snaIi confine ourselves to a specimen from re
LIS letters. January 90, 1861, he was con- co
lined, before martyrdom, in cage in Ton. XII
gum. ne writes thus to his aged father. tn
man that all was sweet and pleasant aronnd sp
him. He makes light of ali his sufferinos hi,
hoM MI GAGE, KECHo, Jan. 20, 1860. In,
ny dearest, much honored and much loyed an
fGther-As my sentence is still DELAYED T Pc
will send you one more word of farewell the
wnIc1 VIII probably be the last These tina
last days in my prison pass quietly all we
nose VINO surround me are civil and re- bul
'p ts ana good many love me. From cor
ne great mandarin down to the hum blest vac
private soldier, every one regrets that the Dor
avs OF the country condemn me to death the
nave not been put to the torture like my ed
'retnrea. A slight sabre cut will senarate chr
lower which the Master of the Garie5 pitt
'athers for his pleasure. We are ali Aow.
rs planted on this earth,' and which God still
athers In His own good time some n Ett1a thai
ooner, some little later. One is as the upo
inshlng rose, another the virgin lily. a tog'
bird the humble violet. Let us each trv his
please our Sovereign Lord and Master mer
ccording to the Gift and the swaatnass his
'hich He has bestowed upon us. I wish reli,
on, my dearest father, long, happy and II
old age, and that you may bear defe
le cross of life with Jesus unto the Cal view
airy OF happy death. Father and cor in q
ay we meet in paradise. I, poor little terry
oth, go first. Adieu! Your devoted and reco
1t1pi soD, THEoPHANE VENARn brac
We rive the follo,v;,. -. Cath
tier to his sister, bearing the same date grea
it ls midnight. Round my wooden cage edge
zee nothing but banners ahd long sabres. sons
one corner of the hall, where nv cage vout
placed, group of soldiers are playing at will
'ds; another group at draughts. From word
ne TO time the sentries strike the hours EXPIRE
the night on their drums or "tom- toms.D in TIN
ont two feet from my cage feeble OIL Roma
1P throws vacilating light on this sheet reads
chinese paper, and enables me to trace know
SO lew lines From day to day expect in my
sentence Perhaps tomorrow 1 shall for be
led to execution. Happy DEATH which little
ducts me to the portals of eternal life one W
'ording to all human probability. shall ly to
'eheadea glorious shame, of which such g
ven will be the pricel At this news Thi
ing sister, yoR will shed tears. bnt tbeS natura
lid be of joy! Think of your brotbeTs furthe
! the aureOle of the martyrs, and besr' to enl
in his hand the palm of victory OnIv .judgm
" short hours, and my soul will omit Church
earth-will finish her exile-will have puts 70
with the fight. shall mount upward hcially
reach our own true home. There, in reverer
abode of Gods elect, shall see what fused t.
yes of man cannot imagine hear har- and to
es which his ear cannot dream of now: history
happiness which it has never en- claims
into his heart even to conceive! But ed on
9 arriving. at all this, the grain of necessa
must be ground-the bunch Of grapes nor acc,
he trodden in the wine-press. May 1 ance.