The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-02

bear the heat and burden of the day, when he
knows that there is balm in the refreshing
August nights, respite in the pleasant hours
of early dawn.
But high above the Burning days of August,
rise up the beautiful Feasts of the Church,
cheering and calming the soul with all their
earthly consultations and all their heavenly
promises.
The TRANSPORTATION of Our Lord leads Us, in
spirit to the mountain top, where for the first
and only time, the glory of His divinity was
revealed to human sight. That the radiance
of His eternal brightness may one day shine
around u., is surely hope, sweet hope, for all
the trying days Of life.
The martyrdo of St. Lawrence also speaks
it's lesson to our frail human nature, making
us remember how even on the Goals of an &C.
tual and most cruel fire, this young saint re-
freshed his soul with that celestial dew which
strepg thened him unto the happy cad.
Then on the 18th of the month, we have the
beautiful Feast of the Assumption, the
thought of which is precious to every Chris
tian heart. How the artists of Italy and Spain
loved this theme, which indeed has been an
inspiration to the poets and painters of every
age, embodying in its representation all their
faith, all their hope and all their charity |!
Suspended between Earth and Heaven. the
Blessed Virgin in this subject, holds that place
between man and God which the Catholic
Church assigns her. Belonging to our human
nature, yet exalted SO far above it by the priv
ileges conferred upon her by her Creator, we
feel that we can place our hands in hers and
ask her to lift us higher; confident that
she will never abandon us, and certain that the
way in which she leads us is straight to God !!
1t wonld take too long to mention all the
names which the Church holds up this month
for our encouragement and imitation. On this
first Sunday of August, we celebrate the Feast
of St. Peter in chains; and all through Chris
tendon Thea atholic heart will throb with one
pulse offlove and sympathy towards him who
wears ST. Peters chains to-day.
We have also the great Bishop, Confessor'
and Doctor, st. Alphonsus de LiGuori, whose
virtues still live in his Order, and bring forth
abundant fruits of holy zeal and reformation of
morals.
And August also gories in St. Dominic and
St. Bernard. In st. Philip of Beniti aud St.
Louis, King of France In st. Gregory and ST.
Augustine and host of others, whose heroic
deeds make own lives seem very mean
and pitiful. In the eyes of Mother Church,
the day of our death is the day of our true
birth and hence this month is singularly rich
in the birthdays of holy saints. Like loving
mother the Catholic Church marks with tri-
umphal records the very hour at which her
children are taken from her bosom to that of
their God. She tells us St. Augustine died on
the 25th ofAugust 430, leaving no will because
he had given all he possessed to the poor.
That King Louis died on the 25th of August,
1870, while repeating the words of the Psalm
list: Lord, will enter into thy housep That
St. Bernard expired on the goth of August,
1853; and SO on to the glorious close.
Surely We can now enter upon this month
with patience and courage, bearing its heat in
the spirit of st. Lawrence; lifting our hearts
above its tribulations, with Our Blessed Lady;
and submitting to all its Inconvenience, even
as St. Peter submitted to his chains-then may
we hope, one day, to be crowned like our
August Saints, with life of endless peace re-
pose and happiness, where amid it's blessed days
Hope shall change to glad fruiton,
Faith to sight, and prayer to piatse!