The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-04-20
ST. PATRICK.


Church of st. Louis, on Sherman street,
near Polk, delivered an able and elo-
quent lecture on st. Patrick, the patron
saint of Ireland, for the benefit of the
orphans of the parish of st. Louis, of
which Father Doyle is the pastor. The
church was full to OVERLOOKING, every seat
having its occupant, and every aisle filed
with eager listeners, and even the back
part of the church being crowded with
the standing.
After the celebration of high mass,
during which the choir sang in excellent
style. Bishop Foley delivered his lee
ture, of which the following is brief
abstract:
In opening, he said he had departed
from a rule that he had made, not to
speak in church when money has been
paid to get in, because he so highly re-
spected the pastor of the church, who
was working against great difficulties.
He would speak of great patron saint
of St. Patrick. The memory of him
was full of both happy and sorrowful
thoughts. Yet, though the name of ST.
Patrick brought up thoughts of sorrow
for places that no longer belonged to
them, yet it was true that there was in
virtue no nationality. Ne matter what
country might claim st. Patrick, history
could never take away this fact. and from
Ireland the credit, of Ireland having tax
en- St. Patrick as her own saint. God
had given st. Patrick to Ireland, and
Ireland had been given to st. Patrick.
He was sent by the Lord to the school
of hardship, sorrow and labor, to prepare
him for his great work; to show him
how best to perform that work and pre-
pare for every trial of his after life -by
learning self.denial, zeal, and hard study
and practice of every Christian and sacer-
dotal virtue preceded the work that he
had to perform. He sacrificed himself,
body and soul, that he might conquer
those who had tyranized over him. By
these means he obtained wonderful in
fiuence over the heather. Doubtless as
he was, he feared not to approach prin-
ces to help along his work and that
work produced rapid fruit. And in a
short time he had converted to God hun
dreds and thousands of people. Where
had been erected monuments to heather
gods, he raised affairs to the true God.
This choosing of one from the lowliest
by God should teach all that it was by
faith that the world was overcome. St.
Patrick was not satisfied to work only in
the country to which he was allotted.
Wherever he went, he founded schools
for the people, and for the education of
preachers. Everywhere he erected mon
asteries, houses Of worship, houses for
the holy Virgin. So in short time from
hill and valley a voice of prayer was rais-
ed. So famous became the schools of
Ireland that people from other lands
came to them, and ireland, as a writer
had said, sent forth swarms into other
lands of sacred teachers. Thus it was
that st. Patrick hands were multiplied.
His name became honored by ALL Affairs
were raised to him. More churches had,
perhaps, been named after him than af,
ter any other saint.
For long time the great teacher of
the word Of God, in other lands, had to
suffer the jeers, and taunts, and denials
OF heathens; to suffer injuries of all
kinds, and even to lose their lives. But
in Ireland, God seemed not only to have
furnished her with holy men to give her
the word of God, but to have prepared
her people to receive the word, so that
neither St. Patrick nor his immediate
successors had to shed their blood in the
cause of Gods word.
But ever since the foreigner had land
ed in Ireland, ireland suffered. She lad
suffered as no other nation had suffered.
She has been crushed down by dcspots,
suffered cruelty and torture, insult and
every injustice, such as no other country
had ever suffered beforeor since. But the
Irish ha dalways loved their country. They
had always sustained her religion and wor-
SHIPPED her saint. Always have they faith
iully and well supported the priesthood. 1t
has been said that Ireland was priest
ridden. But what was the truth? From
the time of St. Patrick to the present
day, the Catholic priesthood of ireland
has steadily and faithfully worked for the
people. Ever had they. against every
disadvantage, worked for their salvation
and their freedom. Brides had been
offered them, good places had been prom
lsed them, to tempt them away, but they
have Stunned the offer and the promises.
and remained faithful to the people.
Thus had grown up that close union be-
tween the people and the priesthood
which now distinguished Ireland-that
remarkable bond Of union between the
Irish and her priests that was so great
an honor to Ireland. Let the Irish al
ways treasure their love of country. for
it was heaven-inspired feeling, but
Irlshmen should ever remember the
patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. for
1T was through him that they owned
their loEe to Ireland. They must work
faithfully for their religion.
A