The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-04-27

NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 81, 1873

be forgotten by the beholder The communi-
cants were to be numbered not by tens but
| hundreds of thousands; and presented an
aggregate without precedent in our religious
| annals!
great, gigantic fact reveals itself stri king
| ly in this awe-inspiripg national event. 1t is
the inseparable mingling in the Irish heart of
tore OF God and derotion to country. The idea
that Ireland, their PROSTATE and fettered mo-
Their, was to be the object of this great and
solemn supplication-that their country was
to be served-that in the depth of her bondage
and sorrow she was to be put under the spec
ial protection of the Most Sacred Heart of our
Lord-seized upon our people with a magical
| and irresistible influence. 1t was theme in
| every Irish Catholic home; athought in every
Irish Catholic Heart.
Assuredly, it was a sight to stir thu soul to
see this people-this modern Israel-bending
en- masse in solemn appeal to the God of their
fathers to look down upon the destinies of
their nation, and placing it under the protec.
| tion OF his Adorable Son. In an age of unbe-
| lief and cynical doubt and scepticism and
| spiritual death or torpor, such spectacle is q
| benefit to the whole world. Its influence cam
~-~>NNj
Surely the spirit of religion is vital and power
ful beyond oil other Influences with this
race of Christian heroes and martyrs;
this race which has evangelical half the re-
gions of the globe, and planted the cross of
faith from the rising to the setting sun Sure
| ly nation 80 faithful to God-so unshaken
by afiiiction-so purified by suffering-is de-
stined for no ignoble or inglorious part in the
| wOrl0'S hi6tOrvt Lot do IN he
ton under which Ireland has, thank God, been
formally and specially placed. The act of
Sunday last is the precursor of our country's
triumph!
The solemn and impressive act of the Church
thus performed Throughout. Ireland supplied
the occasion of the following beautiful poem,
WHICH appeared in portion of the edition of
the Nation of last week, and is worthy of the
national and Catholic spirit of the author, our
gifted countrymau, Denis Florence MacCar-
thy
Whe1Nier beneath the Saving Rood
Tho nation kneels to pray,
| A holy bond OF brotherhood
Unites all to-day;
From north to south, from east to west,
From circling to sea,
1eIne bares her bleeding breast,
l. Sacred Heart, to Thee!
She bares her breast, which many a wound,
Which many blow made sore
What time the Martyred Mother swooned
1nsensate in her gore.
But, ali, abe coul5 not die, no no!
One germ of life had she
The love that turned through veal, throus, WOO
o Sacred Heart to Thee!
She gave her signs. she gave her tears,
| To Thee, Heart divine!
She gave her blood for countless years
| Like water or like wine;
And now that in her horoscope
| happier fate we see,
She consecrates her future hope,
| Sacred Heart to Thee!
| She coHsecrates her glorious past
| For glorious It's, though sad;
Bright, though with many cloud o'ercast;
Though gloomy, yet how glad
For through the wilde that round her spread,
How darksomo they might be,
| One light along the desert led
| o Sacred Heart to TheeI
She cOnSecrates her dark despair,
Though Frightened from above
Sho consocrates her Patrick's prayer
Her Bridget's burning love-
Her BrendAn sailing
That none hRd dared but he
These, and thousand such these,
| Sosred Heart to Theel
And even the present, though it be,
AlssI unWtssly sage
It's ioy.cold philosophy,
Its stained historic page,
Its worship Of brute force and strength
That leaves 10 impulse free
Sho hopes to cOnsecrate ct length,
Sacred Hart to Theei
But oh forgive what have said
Forgive, o Heart divine!
) lis Thou hast suffered, Thou hast bled,
And not this land Of yninoi
lis thOa hast bled fsr sins untola
That God alonS doth Soc
~ Ths fas1fta aszS, 60 rEsuinSid
, Q eassa llcark % mai