The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-07

know by the name of America. The nations
OF Europe fatigued by the failure of the East
ern , crusades, multiplied in numbers, found no
pursuits of learning and philosophy, which
they had yet scarcely learned to understand
and which brought with it what is called
as,oiat ne t in other words the
religious and infallible Authority in teaching
concsrplng God. Bot any man who reads the
history of the close of the 18th century, will
some seeking to find foundation for their
theories on philosophical speculation most un-
sound-some in researching through relics of
mipds like Christopher Columbus and the Cas-.
thlan or That day-dreaming golden Dreams
romantic dreams Of yet undiscovered countries
and calling them by the name of Eldorado-
man appeared who united with the immeu-
sity OF his genius, remarkable meekuess. a
gentieness, a piety of manners, together with
wonderful strength Of the Catholic faith, aud
sage was thls-"I know there is far beyond
the trackless ocean land yet undiscov ered
Give me means and ! will open unto you new
few small, crazy ships, and it is remarkable
fact that the vessels which first crossed the
Atlantic were SO small, 80 badly fitted out, 80
terribly unequal to the work cut out for them
that perhaps the bravest captain or sailor of
the present day would not have courage to
Cross the Atlantic in theul-those almoss omen
boats in which Christopher Columbus and his
Thee was in the heart of Columbus a high
and glorious purpose, and that splendid light
OF faith. He never undertook this task of dis
pose Of enriohing himself bDt for the h Ppb
generous faith that was in him. He dreamed
OF lands yet undiscovered, where he would
find peoples, where he would find numerous
beings who had never heard the name of the
Christ; and the sanity Columbus had in his
heart only the deisre to find them out, in order
that be might unfurl the standard of the Cross
amongst them, and gain millions of souls to
heaven through Jesus Christ. If ever there
was land that owes it's discovery to Catholic
faith, Catholic ardor, Catholic instinct, that
land is America. If ever there was a land
Acknowledged existence from out of the MUD
and heart Of q mau who was the very type of
tho Catholic heart, that land was America
and in fact Colnntus in crossing the traekless
ocean, turIlng his prov to the west, keep
ing MS eye upon the setting sun, laying firm
hand upon bis helm, and whilst the eye track
ed long, long the setting sun on the placid
waves, the mind of the great mariner was ex-
forth from his lips. Seeing no sigE of land
appearing, going further and further on tho
OCEAN OF the ultraviolet, unknown West, his
ma, incrs los. courage aud turned to him and
sa'd Let us return to our home and our
kirdrsd.' But the great Columbus, guided by
better light than the setting sun, still went
on, until upon that glorious morning lie be-
held Hispaniola-the island of San Domingo,
ana lis first act was to plant the Cross of
Jesh. Christ He called upon the priests who
accompanied Linn to bless the land and he
Proclaimed that America, its mountains, its
r.v''s, its plains, its cities, and its peoples,
the property of God and of Spain He was
accompanied by Friars of the Domin lean and
frAnclschn orders, and with them lie was in
MS OBJECT alone for the Others who accompa-
med looked for gold, looked for wealth. Now
history tells us of the Spanish Federation in
South America. History tells us of the dep
rotations committed by the founders, the cru
generous, gentle people-but history also re-
calls to us what is very glorious, that in South
America wherever the standard of religion was
raised by the good friar, no matter how DOW
erful the natives, or how intractable the In
dams, they always found glorious protector
in the followers of st. Francis. But it is not
with south America have to deal. have come
amongst you to speak only and exclusively of
those parts of America which 1 have myself
visited, and which can speak of from per
sonal experience. Meantime, there were other
plying the Atlantic now in the wake of Col
umbus, but great event in the meantime had
happened, and here see the providence of God:
the. Reformation" Trath was no longer
to be respected. 1t was torn into a
thousand fragments. Almost all the north
ern states OF Europe started their churches
Sweden. Denmark, Germany, and a large
portion of France even; and England emphati-
cally the most prominent of all became Pro.
teetant, and separated from the Catholic
Church. The consequence was that whilst
Columbus and the Children of Spain, with
their Catholic hearts, were carrying the Truth
| and spreading il in the southern portion OF
america, The northern portion, which now CON
stitutes the United States, was discovered and
| colonized by Englishmen. They brought with
them, as Bishop spalding said, strong Religious
prejudices and bigotry, and the words of this
learned bishop are borne out, for they were the
first to Introduce religious persecution in Anne.
| RIGA. Instantly that they proclaimed Protest
antism in England that reli gion, as it is called
brought with it various scots. That was q
thing necessary to follow, because, upon their
principle, there was no certain acknowledged
religious truth revealed TO uH--that there was