The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-18
nNa 81 m ANb ESSENGER SUNDAY 1 1870.

q 81 k Ab yATHOLIC LES
aesas zss,ias = France.
a. cSxF respondent, writing from 81. Ser
van 10 the London Idblet--the same town in
which the "Ldttle Sisters of the Poor !"
originated, says: 81
Here in the Catholic province of Brittany
think / may venture to say that the re-
presents itself chiefly to the masses of the |
people of all classes. The war is regarded
as being waged for two great principles,
the balance of power threatened by the
grasping avarice of Prussia; the status OF
the Catholic Church, menaced by willy |
who has plainly declared his
antipathy to the Faith, and by coalition
of Professionalism, Freemasonry and Revoiu-
tion. What has struck chill to all Ca
tholic hearts, has been tho base, Infamous
and short-sighted policy OF the recall OF
the small French force from Rome. How
little this is the act of Francois proved by
the rallying about the feet of the throne of
our Holy Father of the heroic little band
of French Zouaves, limited now, alas by
the cali of duty at home. Would that we
could bring ourselves to hope that the
ranks would be closed up by the English
volunteers in answer to your spirit stirring
appeal Of last week. However, we must,
and can trust in Catholic Holland and Can-
ada; the nobleand devoted youths of these
countries will not be wanting in their duty,
and will not prefer their selfish ease or per-
sonaI advantages to the security of Chyist's
Vicar, and the Possible crown OF the mar
tyr.
To day, the feast-day of the glorious pa
troness Of France, has been here, as am
sure it will have been in many other places,
essentially religious celebration. The
association of the Napoleonic feteShas dis
appeared, and France addresses herself,
through her faithful priests, aud With all
the earnestness of her great Catholic heart,
to /" NOtre Dame de France" All Satur-
day the church was crowded, and this
morning at every Mass hundreds thronged
to Holy Communion. The streets are gay
with orifiammes of blue and white, banners
| inscribed with prayers to Mary for France
and for her soldiers, wreaths of bay, tri-
umphai arches, and every here and there
! in omen places statues of Our Lady on eX-
temporized pedestais. At O'Clock, after
Vespers, the peal Of bells broke ont INTO
solemn cadence, and the procession le1t the
church. The orphans first, then severai
confraternities bearing statues and DALI
ners, young people and old, rich and poor,
men and women. Then came representa-
tives of the religious orders of the town,
Seurs Crises, Seurs de St. Thomas de
Villeneuve, and, not least, the Petites
oRucS OcS fauVrcS, nero IuOSU uOIuc
where the glorious and heroic Institute was
1 founded in the humble garnet of a humble
house, not couple of hundred yards from
where write. After these charming and
original group, Les Marins de la Bonnie
Vierge," a number of little boys all dressed
In sailors costume, but in blue and white,
bearing models of ships of various sizes,
dressed in their colors, and finally statue
of Our Lady, on a rock covered with sea
weed, and q wrecked vessel at her feet
THE Sapenrs, the town band, and the ex-
cellent clergy of the parish headed by theil
devoted cure, closed the procession, be;
4 tween two files of Sapeurs Pompiers in all
the splendor of their gala costume. Behind
in dense and continuous throng streamet
the pious population Of the town, mostly
4 all carrying their Rosary. A characteristic
incident was the passing of q company o
the Seth. Regiment in full campaignin:
trim-tente d'abri, pain de munition, etc.
new shoes and couteau strapped to thei
knapsacks. As they passed before tri
umphal arch, the frieze of which was in
scribed, /" Sainte Marie, benissez les armies
de France" and from the summit of which
statue Of Our Lady looked down, man.
Of the men uncovered. May Our Lad!
bring them safely through the risks, boil
to soul and body, of war and the battle
, field! Apropos, one of the officers of TIL
t now famous Turcos has just written her
t to his family, to say he has escaped with
r out O scratch from the 1eafful OOOS ant
2 heroic struggle of the field of Wissembourg
. He is q Christian, as faithful to the Blessed
! Mother of God as he is gallant soldier
j, and his escape is ascribed here to he
q special protection nor is he by any mean
f a solitary exception in the French army
g Immense numbers of military of all rank
4 have attended their religious duties pre-
: viously to marching from the frontier.
t is a matter of immense consolation to knoy
! that in both armies such ample opportuni
Q ties are offered to the soldiers on the feel
8 and in hospital for their religious consola
g tion-thanks to the generous devotion {
+ innumerable priests and religious womel
: No, the devil has wrought great evil, an
y terrible wrong is still, we may fear, to Il
+ avenged but all is not lost. Hundred
If and thousands of souls will escape from til
q tolls of Freemasonry and secret societie
: on the bloody field of fight, or in the ho
b pital wards, pressing the blessed Cross
J. Christ to their pale lips, and passing to II
IF Eternal Presence with the saving words
1T absolution on their souls, who were hec'
q less or worse just now. Let us at lea
lie sink prejudice and passion before. the
= solemn sights, and pray for all that SUITE
t. HOME LEGISLATION FOR lRELAND.-Il
New York Times does not often go out
y it's way to say word in favor Of lrelar
ne or Irishmen. In late issue it is compl
s, cent enough to say that there is nothii
~ unreasonable in the demand Of the Dubl