The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-15

NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING. MARCH l5 1874.

band of heroic, self-devoted men, enrolled
under the banner of the cross, and crowned
with the glorious title of Company Of Jesus,
fghting under his orders upon every battle
field on earth. and winning whole r:tiohs to
the love and service of God.
We can easily perceive how the military idea
prevails in Loyola's mind, aud stamps itself
upon all his actions. According to the same
thought he calls himself, not Father, nor Su-
perior OF his order but simply, Generals
name dear to every soldiers heart, and sug-
gestive of that higher power from whom his
commission emanates. Thus his followers are
truly soldiers, the company enrolled under the
highest name known to human thought They
are ready at a moments notice to go where
ever sent they are poor in all worldly posses-
sions, not owning even the robe they wear /;
prepared to obey their leader at every cost,
even of life itself. s
One of this illustrious Company, in reply to
q friend who dreaded the fatal effects of addi-
tional labor upon a constitution already al
most exhausted, gave this answer: 1t is not
necessary to live, but it is necessary to obey.
Our Lord has promised to His Church that
the gates of He'll shall not prevail against her !;
we, therefore, know that when danger is most
threatening, when enemies are most formida-
BILE, He will raise up some means of safety, He
will send some powerful arm for defence. The
sixteenth century evoked the most powerful
storm, and aroused the most inveterate adver-
saries that the Faith had yet encountered.
With the light of history to re-illume those
fearful pages of the past, we see that the
Company of Jesus was the diviney appointed
shield and weapon, with which the Church
protected her own life, and dealt the death
blow to her enemy. These vigilant and daunt-
less soldiers flew to the rescue wherever error
raised it's head. Following the traces of
Lutheranism and Calvinism, they drove these
giants of heresy before them with the power
full arms of knowledge and virtue. Presenting
truth with all the charm of eloquence and all
the light of science, bearing upon their teach
ings the seal of Eternal wisdom, and rejecting
in their lives the purity of their Divine
Leader, they won back to His cause many
wandering souls, and strengthened in His
faith many wavering spirits.
The fairest portions of Italy, Germany, and
France were dim with heresy and revolt: these
gallant warriors swept away the desolating
faint and spread peace and order in its place.
Without their aid, where would Europe have
been to-day7 The reform of morals and the
impetus to learning were given by their hand.
They followed also in the wake of discoveries,
to bind and heal to teach the conqueror to be
merciful, the conquered to be Christian.
Mindful above all of the soul of man, they
taught the arts of civilization wherever they
went, and m ade discoveries for the benefit of
tho body, which we enjoy to this day.
The marvellous bark, whose properties in
H. %1,a
scourge of malaria1 fevers, was found by them
in the New World, and thence sent to Europe
where it was long known by their name
Scorning all honors of this earth, their
hearts and hands free to roam the world in
search of souls to save, we find them in every
land, struggling in the one glorious cause In
India, Xavier, alone, recalled the wonders of
st. Paul and planted the seeds of Christianity
all through tho 1and-thence few to the
shores of China only to die in sight of it's be-
nighted skies.
But death for these grand heroes was all
their joy-they worked for God-they looked
only't to Him for their reward.
Witness for them the heroic death of forty of
their members on the high seas, while on their
way to Brazil. Jacque SQUIRE, pirate and
Calvinist, having captured their vessel, vented
upon their heads all his cruelty as the one,
and all his malice as the other. After thirty
nine had been put to death, the fortieth, per-
ceiving he was spared because not recognized
as belonging to the llustrious band of vic
Tins, hastily put on the robe of one of the dead
fathers and presented himself boldly to the
pirates with the words: I" 1, too belong to the |
Company of Jesus"
1t would take too long to speak of Francis |
Borgia whose name alone evokes in every |
heart o thrill Of envious admiratien-whose |
Iifsand whose death, according TO French