The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-01

Orleans, and carried Off thousands of theiy
| citizens. During all these times Christian
priests have been found ready and willing
to sacrifice their lives to relieve tie wants
of their fellow man.
The same spirit exists to day in the
Christian Church, and we have priests
brave enough to meet such occasions.
The body of one lies before US, cloth
ed in the habiliments of the dead. We
are ready to consign him to martyrs
grave.
In the early part of the month of Sep
TENDER last the news reached Monroe that
fearful epidemic had broken out in eur
neighboring city of Shreveport. Out of a
small population, from twenty or thirty
were dying in one day one half were
sick with the terrible disease others were
dying IN their houses unattended, without a
soul to close their eyes or to wipe the sweat
of death from their ferebeads, or give them a
word of consolation in their last moments.
Those who could get away were fleeing for
their lives; friends were abandoning friends,
relatives abandoning relatives death was
IN almost every house, claiming its victims
without regard to age or sex, rich or poor,
high or low, whatever their condition,
were subject to this unaccountable scOurge.
Aid was called for in the shape of money
and provisions, and responded TO in a
spirit that did honor to the American peo-
pie. The Parish Priest, Father Pierre,
was dead and his assistant was Frustrated
with the mortal pestilence.
When Father Gergaud received q dis
patch, that another priest was needed,
preparations wee hastily made and the
next stage bore him to the place from
whence all who could were fleeing! We
spared him among the sick and dying be-
fore the fell monster Frustrated his form,
and claimed him also as one of the nOblest
victims! We remember the surprise and
regret of this community on his departure
to this fold of danger. My fellows citizens,
the character and duties of pries.. He
knew that the post of danger was the post
of duty. He knew that if, By sacrificing
his own life, he could give comfort, con-
ISOLATION and the hope of Heaven to one
soul, his mission on earth would be well
ended, because it was in the service of .his
God.
The ancient poet has said "Du1ce est
pro pahia mo,i''-"It is sweet to die for
ones country" But it is sweeter still to
die in the service of God; to die allevia-
ting the sufferings of our fellow man to
die a martyr; to die in obedience to the
obligations imposed on one who assumes
the character of priest SO our friend
died! And we have brought him back to
this place he loved so well, to Law his NOR
tai remains in the spot chosen by himself
for their last resting place.
The cold sod will soon cover the earthly
remains of Father Gergaud. Flowers,
cultivated by the hands of those whom he
loved and called his children, will spring
up over his grave, to keep fresh his mem
DRY. monument will be placed here to
mark the spot where reposes one who died
in obedience to the law of charity, and to
which men in all stations of life may re-
sort to be reminded of the truth-that the
noblest act they can perform would be to
sacrifice their lives in the performance of
their duty.