The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-05
NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY MORNING. APRIL S IN

NE w U1GLGdNOS ~ NDh i
tabled Midas, SO every thought and every as
piration crystalised into the purest form be-
meath Savonarola's influence. 1t is this fact,
so notorious and SO beautiful, that made us
select his name as the subject of our sketch ;
and upon it we wish to dwell at length.
The Impression made by his heroic mind upon
the artists of his day, both in their lives and
in the productions of their pencil, is one Of
those grand triumphs of virtue over vice, of
Christianity over Paganism, which Justly be-
long to the Faith.
So many artists had sold their honor to tho
Medicean patronage, that art, whether in its
soulptured or painted development, showed
only the features Of the Vile, the False,
the Lewd ssvonarola breathed his burning
words against this proclamation, and behold!
the world 10 indebted to him for many of arts
most glorious masterpieces. Ten years after
HE judicial martyrdom,-forh bis enemies having
triumphed, he was strangled aud burnt upon
the public square of Florence, 149s-Rsphael,
prince of Christian art, placed him among the
greatest doctors of the Church in that magni-
fieent painting of Theology which now aaorns
the halls of the Vatican palace. Fra Bartolemeo,
whose pencil seemed ever fresh with the purest
dews OF virtue, retained the impress givsdEby
t6is holy monk to the latest hour of his life,
and never sullied the talents he possessed by q
single production unworthy of a Christian ar
tist.
The celebrated engraver, Baldini, is another
bright example of this individual influence,
which seemed to be in itself alone, the very
genius of the True, the Good, the Beautiful.
The painter Ridolfo Ghirlandajo, one per-
haps of the eight Thousand children whose
hearts were purified by savonarola's zeal. is
another artist whose productions reflect the
radiance which emauated from the burning
soul of this lowly monk.
How many artists we might name whose
whole careers seem encircled by this holy in
fuence, and whose pencils always shoue with
the pure and beautiful colors spread out by his
hand but We must pass on to the dark cloud
that hung SO fatally over Savonarola's life.
That his zeal was excessive, no one need deny,
that his motive was the hottest, all must adj
NIT his zeal was directed against Paganism,
his motive was the establishment of Christ's
kingdom upon earth; butswe can well under.
stand how violent must have been the opposi-
ton he encountered, and how deep the per-
sonai hatred he evoked.
One of his acts alone, was sufficient then, rs
it would be now, in similar community, to
doom him to prescription and death. This was
his crusade against usurers, who charged their
cruel interests regardless alike of humanity or
charity. His establishment Of the Monte di
Pieta, or loan Office, where the poor might OBJ
tain money at low rates, was the browning act
of his iniquity. And judging men, as we
know them to be to-day, we can understand
how fierce was the storm which eventually
swept this noble reformer into disgrace and
death.
All! but we need Savouarola to-day, even
in our own country! Yet if such should arise,
would not his doom be like defeat and mar
tyrdomf Are not youth, beauty and talent, all
employed to-day upon the public stage for the
sole purpose of inculcSting lessons which
sculpture and painting dare no longer teach
Are not it's representations offensive to Chris
tian purity and injurious to Christian morals
How loudly now would Savonnrola's voice
ring cut against this growing abusel How
he wOuld hurl his burning invectives against
the dress, the attitudes, the significant ex-
pressions that draw such vast crowds into
these halls Of vice and pleasurei How he would
gather mp the youth Of our city and LEAD them
In solemn procession far from these places
where virtue is sure TO 6uEer, and whore mod.
esty needs 10 hide itsslf within blush And
if he did allthis in thunder tones, out In the
pablie places, could We wonder u he shouId
raise up enemies deadly both 70 his reputation
and his life3
ALL there is one voice that is always ring
ing in our midst that forbiis the vice and
teaches the opposite virtue; aud this voice,
never silent, stamped with authority, endo VI ed
with prophetic knowledge and sealed with
Divine grace, is that of the Holy catholic
Church, delivered to us by the month Of her
Chief Pastor. This voice, which re-eehoes
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