The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-01-26

The following incident, from to: . PEI; OF o.

The following incident, from the pen Of
the celebrated ecclesiastical historian
Abbc Roulbacher, sis one that has oeen sell
dom seen by the general reader, and WIZ
Grove of sreat interest to the Catholic, as
it at once contradicts the absurd ana irreii-
aious stories that have been clrculateo IN
reference to the death of Napoleon Bona
parte., by certain class of historians
"We have seen q man who, In the history
Of the world, walked in the steps of MIN
rod, Cyrus. Alexander, Caesar, and Charlie
mango. We have seen Napoleon, the
modern incarnation of military and politi1 |
cal geaius, we have seen him turn ms dy-
ing eyes toward Rome, and ask OF hef "
Catholic priest to receive his last confession
and to eanctify his last moments on the
rock of St. Helena. On the 9th OF April,
1921, he found himselfirremediabiy attack-
ed by the maady of which his father oied.
From this moment, he only occupied nun
self with the duties OF p'esS, am ana pins. n,
Of Vignati was almost constantly ~fth MN.
Il was born in the Catholic religion, ne
said. at different times Il wish to fuinit
ali the duties which it imposes ana receive
all the assistance which hope for from IT..
One of the companions of his captivity, the
Count Mon toi,lop, adds: 'On the 29eh OF
April, I had passed my thirty-p'ne n,gh1s
at the bed side of the Emperor, without
HID Allowing me to be replaced 10 this ploas
and fiiial servi ice when, i'll the nighS, oet-
ween the 10Th and Goth OF April, ne ap,
peared to be concerned for the fatigue l
was suffering, and begged me to let Able
Vignali take my place. His persistence
proved to me that he spoke under the pre-
occupation foreign to the thought he ex-
pressed to me. He permitted me to SPEAK
had conprehended he answered without
hesitation YES, it is the priest l ask
for take care that am left alone
with him, and cay nothing 1 o6eyed'
and brought directly the Able Yignaii,
whom warned Of the no,y m.Si .a Han no
leon, the priest ful6lled all the duties
of bis Office After having humbiy confess
cd this Emperor, formerly 30 proud, re-
| ceived the viaticuns and extreme JUNCTION,
and passed tho whole night in prayer, IN
touching and sincere acts Of piety.. In the
morning when Gen. MontholOn arrived, ne
said to him, in an afectionate tone Of voice,
| and full Of satisfaction - General, l Am
happy have fulfilled all my religious
| duties I wish you, at your death, tue same
ian; child ofrank Of Corsica; The sound
Of the bell Affects ne-the sight Of priest
| siyes me pleasure. wished to make myst-
sry Of ali this, but that would not be right,
I ought, will render glory to God. L
think He will not be pleased to restore me
| to health but give your orders, General !;
let an altar be prepared ia the next room /;
let the Blessed Sacrament be exposed, and
let the forty hours prayer be said. The
Count Montbolon was going out to execute
the order, when Napoleon called him back.
Mo- he said, you have many enemies as
q noble, they will impute the arranging Of
fthis= TO You, and they will say that my
senses were wandering. l will give the
orders myself And, from the orders give.
by Napoleon himself, an altar was arrapged
in the adjoining room, where the BLESSED
Sacrament was exposed, and forty hours
prayers were said. The Emperor had still
; some lucid moments, and he called to mind
, the good he had done in his life for religion
, 'At least he said, Il have re-established
religion. 1t is service of which no one
can calculate the consequence; what woalt
, men become without religisnP Then h
, added: There is nething terrible in death
, it has been the companion Of my pillow
) during the last three weeks, and now it i.
on the point Of selling upon me forever.
should have been glad to have seen m!
wife aud son again; bat the will of God b.
done.' On the Sd day of May he received
q second time, the holy viaticHn., and ate
q having said adieH to his generals, he pre-
y nounced these words. Il am at peac'
with all mankind He then Joined handa
n saying. my God y aud expired on tn
9 5tR of May, at six at night"