The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-06
Monsignor Capsl "on womsn's Rights"


The Feast of st. Teresa was observed at
the Carmelite church, Kensington, London,
ON the 10th ult. with great solemnity. At
the High Mass, which was sung by the
| very rev. prior and assistant clergy the
church of st. Simon Stock was crowded,
| and at the conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice
| the Right Rev. Monsignor Capel preached
on the beautiful virtue of virginity, SO
we'll exemplified in the life of the great
foundress of the Carmelite order, ST. Teresa.
He also alluded to what was termed the
"rights of womeR." Of the dignity of virgins,
that bright army of those who were re-
warded with the privilege of following the
lamb of God whithersoever He goetb, the
right rev. preacher said The Church
always proclaimed that there is something
more glorious than sensuality here on earth,
rise superior to the mere comforts of the
world, and to those pleasures which though
even. good in themselves and not marred by
sin, are ct in some sense obstacles to FER
fiction. Every thing in relation to the dignity
of virginity was specially applied by the
Church to her whom we have gathered to-
gether to honor-to st. Teresa the reformer
of great Order-to St. Teresa, the origin
ator of a new series of thoughts which she
impressed on the practical life of the
Chorch-to st. Teresa, of whom the Church
says in the collect of to- day, cher doctrines
are heavenly" While the Church 30 honors
this mighty army of heroines chosen from
among the weaker sex, it is we'll for US to
look steadily at our position in these days !;
to realize and understand how we are
placed with reference to the outer world
and study the maxims which the world
propounds. We are beset by surging sea
that is ever talking OF woman's rights and
woman's dignity: We are reminded from
time to time OF what they are pleased to
call the equality of the sexes, but which
really means their separation. We see
scheme after scheme put forward for rails
ing the moral culture or intellectual train
ing, or to give character to those who have
been spoken of heretofore as being OPP
pressed. Schemes of this kind, assertions
made in this way, have some kind of sym
pathetic chord in the souls of men there
creeps over the whole being kind of sense
that 'well after all wrong has been
done" that what has been regarded as
weakness should be looked upon as
strength or it is asserted that the delicate
perception of the mind of woman, it's readi-
ness and increased power of penetrating
into matter which elude the observation of
man-all such considerations argue that an
injustice has been done, and it is alleged
that woman can stand ON higher pedes-
tai, where she can hold not alone her own,
but be superior in certain matters to man.
Those who live in the world-we who talk
imperceptibly influenced by such asser-
tions. We are Catholics, it is true, but we
live in en- atmosphere of Professionalism or
of Rationaiism. A whole pile of theories,
a whCle series of assertions are made on
this important subject, and the RESPONSE
the principles of the Gospel of Christ. By
the teaching of God Almighty's Church we
can portray to men what their duties are,
and from such teaching will irradiate o
light that will dispel ignorance from the
minds of all. Now the Church Of God, has
raised woman to higher positions the
Church of God has proclaimed not merely
practically but in dogmatic fact the glory
and dignity which belong to her~of the
weaker sex. The Church has taken her by
the hand and used her for all kinds OF pur-
poses that are glorious in the work Of
Jesus Christ, for be it>well remembered
that when the GospeIof God was first pro-
Jesus Christ started from Palestine and
spread on every side, woman was the slave
OF man-she was looked on as his tool-she
was the mere object of his sensual desire. |
She was in bondage and the power of him
" no called himself husband extended over
her life and death. Woman was deg,aded |
in her position, Int u hen the Gospel was |
proclaimed there came one ray oflight from |
the Divine Gun that scattered on every side |
the false theories that existed. He came |
as the brother ali, knowing no distinction
either of Jew or Gentle, nor separating man
from woman, but uniting all in one mighty
brotherhood. That fraternity established
by Christ raised woman at once from her
and AFFECT position, not alone
20 being the companion him as her bus
band, but placed in joint responsibility
With him, and impaired to her a share in the
luty which God has laid on inau ard wo-
duty as regarded the bringing up
# their children.-Ihe Universe.