The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-01-22

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The truly grest mission e the 1:dsnp-
18th utt., and magnificent conclusion III
was in every feature Of the grand proceed
ings. The reverend gentlemen conducting !
the noble aud religious ceremony were
Father HARRISON, the Superior OF the Mis.
sion Father Jacobs, Father Bradshaw ana
Father Cameron, and it is NO exaggeration
to state that they are four names which will
live as long as life in;the hearts of the peo-
pie. They have conferred benefits on the
residents of the parish which are priceless,
and it must have been san immense salts
faction and consolation to the Fathers, IN
the midst of their trying labors, to'se the
manner in which they were appreciated by
the obedience and devotion to their every
wish or command, manifested by the thou
sands who thronged around them 1t is
fact worth recording, and which is vouched
for beyond contradiction, that at the close
of the mission there was not q Cath0lic In
the important and extensive parish under
the Very Rev. DIR. O'Shea's control, who
had not visited the Fathers, availed Them
selves of their inestimable teaching, and
profited by it at the Confessional and the
Communion rail. He should be hardened
indeed who could resist their persuasive
eloquence, beautiful in its simple reasoning
and appeals to the Catholic bosom. Their
power seems to extend by come invisible
means even to the very utmost limits OF
the district in which they may be, no mat
ter how large its Compass, and gradually
their influence spreads until every soul is
engaged in the divine work, and hurries to
share the blessings they impart. Over six
| thousand persons received Holy Commu-
MON during the brief period OF the Fathers
visit, and that was only very small por-
| ton of the results of the work. 1t was
three weeks since the mission began, and
| to go through detail of the proceedings
| since then would occupy volume in the
many details. The confessionals have been
| crowded, md the lectures, sermons and de-
vitions attended day after day, and night
after night, by vast crowds. On some oc-
fcasions the throng in the body of the
church was SO dense, the Fathers were
forced to request the people to remain
standing, even during the solemn E1posi-
ment. Even thus standing one could
easily perceive by the waving of the multi
/! tude hither and thither, that it was incon-
veniently packed and pressed. This was
more especially the case on the second
Friday Of the mission, when the sermon
was on devotion to the Blessed Virgin
1t was q touching and soul-stirring cere-
mony. The conservation of the parish and
it's inhabitants to Mary followed this SER
mon. It was, indeed, sacred deed. The
| hearts of the people were stirred to their
very depths by the rapid eloquence of the
occasion. AS devout child and client OF
Mary. he freely confessed his own devotion
to her, and began the impressive scene by
the conservation of himself anew and for
ever to the great Mother of God. Any one
who listened on that occasion can never
forget the torrent of eloquent love that
seeemed to flow straight from the soul OF
the preacher and melt the breathless audi
ence. His fervor and devotion quickly
moved the immense congregation. Loud
sobs and tears attested how their feelings
were engaged. The preacher cOnsecrated
the pastor of the parish and his curates
and afterwards the people. But, he said
| before he would cOnsecrate them to the
CREST Queen of Heaven, he should have
itheir consent to do 80. He would hear j
81 aloud, and then came the solemn, question
q People of Rathkeale, are you willing II
{ become in word and deed for evermore thu
true and faithful children of Mary :" para
5 phrased by u list of the advantages o
g Mary's Mothership," and of the feelings
$ that should animate the children of such {
Mother, in style of Oratory-possessins
. graphic lucidity and winning grace that ART
+ the characteristics of the Rev. Father, an(
show how well he understands the passioni
and affections of the human heart. Th.
y response that followed-the Eyes, yes, yes,
), was a very storm of human voices
!. church. 1t swellcd up from the thronge'
e nave. 1t was reverberated through til
crowded aisles. 1t rang out from the popu
8 lous galleries. 1t was like the might.
|. chorus of some Thousand tongued orches
:; ira, and broke like the sound of man.
( waters around the altar of Mary. Th
o preacher himself seemed inspired by til
i. enthusiasm of the scene, and again ant
again asked a renewal, and again an
t again that wave of human voices, tina
n headlong rush of divinest affection, tina
y tenderest, deepest, farthest-appealing an
s. noblest scene that ears could drink in wa
:; repeated. Indeed tears coursed unchecke
). down the faces Of old and young, and TIL
II strong man could be seen burying his fac
in his hands to hide his emotions. No on
o could resist; the barriers of all hearts wer
re removed. The preacher had touched wit
magic wand the secret caverns of the hear
d. and the wells of human sympathy howe
. freely. 1t was q beautiful sight thus to sc
re- re- a whole congregation moved by such devo
70 tion and love-and above all with devotio
Ss to Mary; that impersonation of Catholi
or love and purity; that rock of ages whic
Y heresy, in painful inconsistency with til
ID sentiments of natural affection, has eve
is assailed.
n. NEW ORLEANS MUTUAL Insurance Co.
10 eleventh annual statement of the New Orleans NJ
to- 10 lr