The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-18
SERMON BY REV. A. J.n'REILLY.


The Rev. A. j. O'Reilly came to thi.
country few months ago and is fast rising
to celebrity. He was Missionary Apostolic
in South Africa for several years, and con.
tributed To the establishment OF a new mIs.
sion amongst the tribes of that district. He
seems IA young man, not yet being thirty
three years Of age, was born in Dublin and
is the stamp of a thorough Irishman.
He has gained some laurels in the field of
literature. being the anthor of the celebrated
work entitled the Martyrs of the Coli
scum" which has passed into several lam
guages, has been approved of by the Holy
Father, and by the English press uni:er,
sally put side by side with the inimitable
Fabiola, of Cardinal Wiseman.
Father O'Rei.ly spoke as follows:
Ny Lords, Rev. Fathers and Dearly beloved
Brethren-Ths touching scene of Plus TX.
kneeling amongSt his cardinals aud prelates N.
the affairs Of the Catacombs seems to rs to
have more than u passing analogy with the
majestic celebration of the second centenary of
this venerable Basilica in which we see the
prelates and jealous missionaries of the vast
continent of America kneeling with reveren CO
and gratitude around the first affairs of their
faith.
Doubtless tho faithful band of Martyrs who
gathered in the sombre caverns beneath the
pagan Capital of the world knew that long
and many would DO the struggles of truth
against the pride and prejudice of the pagan
world, yet it would have been q consol alton to
tneuf III tue dark nOur OF their trial, II the
vision of Cathoicity of to-day were shown to
them-her 2C0o00,000 of suhiects-her cross in
the crown of kinge-her laws in the hearts and
cabinets of nations aud her influence felt in
lands never darkeped by the invincible eagle
OF the Legions. Not otherwise would it have
been consolat ion to the brave pioneers of
Christianity In this land. who built up in this
grand old City of Quebec the first affairs of
the faith, if they were permitted to contem-
plato the scene that is now the Joy and con-
graduation of this august assem- bly.-Before
them were vast prairies and interminabie
forests, lakes like seas, and torrents of stupend-
ous volume such as were never seen in the old
world, broadcast over the land roamed the
swartby children of indomitable and idoia
irons tribes; now the vast continent is q gar
den of produce md wealth thousand cities
bask in the sunshine where yesterday was
Forest happy aud generous people have
sprung into the power and numbers of q
mighty nation. In 1890, scarce q century ago,
there were but 81 priests in the whole of
America and now there are 4. 800 priests under
81 bishops, ministering to the Eve aud a half
millions of people at 900 affairs.
All hail! venerable affairs of Quebec, tho
children of the Catholic Church Of America
kneel at thy steps to-day to thank the great
giver of all good gifts for the blessing of Chris
tianity-to breathe the grateful recognition
OF tho Roy al Psalmist-"Hon fecit taliter omni
nationD
MOI tho least remarkable feature in this cell
ebratiou 10 the rapid increase of the American
Church. All tho works of God grow into per.
lection according to defined laws of develop
uoub LEOu- INC iuEVa ADO CnEySOlS 10 the
sect of gaudy perfection, from tho bud to the
flower, from the child to tho man. In the
vaster fields of nature the startling theories of
development are neither impossible. 'Tis said
that all matter was created in the commence
mont ~ "a crude mass, struck with motion and
bade uaaer defined secondary laws to find it's
own equilibrium thus worlds are said to have
Deen gradually gliding into systems aud to-
day attnr the lapse OF q fabulous period of
time, have but completed q small arc in The
stuPendous orbit of their evolutions. THE
p1blic MUD bas become gradually tolerant OF
the idea that not for six tho"sand years but
for ions embracing untold millions of years
this world has been the theatre of life aud
death. The mysteries of the rocks have been
read by the geologist, the keen vision of
scientific analysis has measured the age and
strength of matter from the subcambriau
depths TO the roll of untold centuries in the
dark and impenetrable caverns of the ocean. |
On the leaves of a stone book are stamped the
characters, palmer and more intelligible |
than those formed by the ink of history, car
Eying the mind far back into the abyss of time |
giving the Biblical periods but a fgurAtive |
terminology TO express duration before the
mind of God"
Thus too in the moral order: 1.-THE kingdom
Of heaven is like q grain of mustard seed
which IL the least of all seede, but whom il is
grown mp it is greater than all herbs and be-
cometh = tree, SO that the birds of the air
come aud dwell in the branches thereof" Matt.
ID christianity did not come on the world as
she burst of lightning or the sunshine, but like
inc seed gradually developing itself into full
approaching llho EIpplcS WIuenlnR
,ircles on the ocean of time, breaking on the
hores Of the most distant lands.
Ny Lords, Rev. Fathers aud Dearly Beloved
5rethreD, the most casual observer can trace
he rise and rapid development of the Ameri-
an Church to a we'll known fact in the his
DRY of the last two hundred years. The Com
lemoration nf the second Centenary of the es-
ablish thenE OF the American Church, celebrated |
nth snch betting spendor in this grand old
asilica. Is inseparabie from Teverential allu-
ion to the history at green Island away in 4
no East, Once DatiOn and still nation in r
40 fidelity OF its patriotism aud in it's aspira-
ons for Independence, but through its geo. Z
rapaical position graVitated into the greater !
nd stronger power that Overshadowcd her.
10 was the arrangement of an all wise Provi- y
ence, that when England, blinded with z
r1lent religious fasa'icism, pressed with an =
on hand on her sisttr land, Is refuge for the 4
He'd ohilaren Of lrnl.ul ahnlild be onaned In q