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

and established itsef in Delhi. Bastron
| Wlnnsboro and Columbia. All of whict
work has been mainly accomplished by
Father Gergaud within the last sixteen
years. Gigantic are his works! Remarka.
pie are Its effects now and in the future
His death is more to be depIored when VIC
| remember that he was cut off in the yery
prime OF life, and in the zenith of his use.
| fulness. The imagination can only picture
to itself the great good he would have &C.
compilshed, and the height he would have
attained In the church if the years of three
score and ten had been allotted to him.
When come to speak of Father Gergaud
personally, feel myself unable to do jas
tice to the subject. In his sarcedotal
character, he was learned, pious and brave.
Fully versed in the doctrines of the Catho-
lie Church, we'll read in a course of the
ology, IN one of the best schools of France,
ne brought to the pulpit fund of knowl-
edge rarely possessed and seldom equaled
by any one whom ever listened to. Emf
nently sensible and practical, no one ever
listened to him without going away i'm
pressed with something on his mind to
his advantage. Without being eloquent,
ne was Impressive and entertaining, and
stored the minds of his hearers with ever
lasting truths, clothed in clear and simple
language.
Father Gergaud's success, as a priest,
was chiefly owing to hislfne judgment, his
knowledge of the wants of his flock. How
many of us who may now look back and
remember the useful advice we have had
from bis lips No one of his people can say,
that they have not profited from his coun-
sci, both in their spiritual and temporal
affairs.
When say that Father Gergaud was a
plous, good man, l mean exactly what
these words convey to the mind. He did
not go about with an air of exclusiveness,
fn l<r
better than you are" But his piety was
that of man of solid nature. 1t sprung from
his convictions of right-it welled up in
his soul from the fountain head of Christ
lanlty-it partook of the cross of his Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. His piety con-
sisted in following the teachings of the
Church and keeping "my commandments"
His immortal soul, as priest and as man,
assembled to Heaven without spot or
stain His charity was unbounded. No one
Was ever turned away from his door who
sought for charity, whatever his creed or
color might have been. He was the poor
mans friend. have known him to give
the last cent he had to alleviate the wants
of those who sought at his hands for
charity. He followed literally the ipjunc-
ton of our Saviour" Give all thou hast
unto the poor and follow me-"
I said he was brave. 1 do not mean to
use this word in its common acceptance
Though he had plenty of personal courage1.
What want to convey to the mind is, that
kind of courage which rendered him emf
nently fitted to occupy the high, sacred and
most responsible of all positions-that of a
Catholic priest. When a man goes before
the altar and consecrates himself to the
service of Almighty God-and takes the
solemn vows of poverty, chastity and ODE
1ience-he becomes Catholic priest.
Clothed in the livery of the Church, he is
sent forth to battle with everything that
presents itself in the shape of an enemy to |
He has no choice of the field |
n which he is to make the fight. If it is +
With the heathens of China or Japan, the
of the Indies, or in the wilds of
Africa, or among the savages Of America.
le has no choice but to obey. With his
,reviary and cross, he turns his back upon
lome, friends and country, and devotes his
life in spreading the grand truths of Christ
anity. The path of the mi, sionary is not
trewp with flowers but, on the contrary,
nore fall heir to martyrs crown than
eturn home to be laid to rest among rels-
ives and friends.
The dangers that priests are subjected to
o notlie all in the field of the missionary.
Ie must be possessed of that kind of cour-
ge and heroic piety that, when it becomes
ecessary for him to follow the soldiers of
is country into the thickest of the battle,
nd administer to their dying wants,
mid she'll and ball, he will obey with that
difference and cheerfulness which seem to
aise itselfabove, and make til superior to any
Their kind of courage that man is possessed
f. Under such circumstances, we admire
ow wonderfully perfect virtue and assured
xpectation of eternal bliss will raise the
ne Christian above all earthly fear, and
AXE the humble priest, dressed in the
,bes of the Church, hero, claiming our
raise and admiration.
There is still another kind of danger
REST is subjected to. Sickness, plaques
I'd pestilence are common to all countries.
Re have accounts of plaques in all ages ]
I'd countries. In the early part of the
Tristan era, violent pestilence laid i
aste the greatest part of the Roman EN-
re. 1t ragged for twelve years. Five
ousand persons died with it in one day
Rome in the year A. d. 263. Earlier a
ourge visited Alexandria, and with such )
olence that there was not single house
that great city which entirely escaped +,
or which had not some dead to mourn
T. All places were filled with groans, and
g living appeared almost dead with fear.
he poisoning exhalations of carcasses, and
9 very winds which should have purified :,