The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-31
REV. A. J. RYAN.
EcTURE ON cEsAR1sM.
ALL EARTHLY GOVERNMENTS COMBINED
AGAINST THE CHURCH.

Father Ryan gave lecture on Cesarisn
of which the following is synopsis
He commenced his lecture by reading q
text from the fifth chapter of Acts, in which
we are told how the Apostles, for preach
ing the doctrine of Jesus Christ, were re-
peatedly imprisoned, and as often went
forth again with renewed vigor, preaching
to the multitude of "Jesus Christ and Him
cruciied," until His enemies in council
thought to put them to death. Then arose
Gamaliel, Pharisee and doctor of the law,
and warned them to consider, to refrain
| from these men and let them alone, stfor
if this design or work be of men it will fall
to nothing, but if it be of God you can
not destroy it." '"When," said the rev.
cross in the shadow of that Good Friday,
His enemies thought they were triumphant;
that they had destroyed forever His mis-
sion, His power and His name. few
days later and the name of Jesus was pass
ing from lip to liz, and it was known that
His apostles were preaching and spreading
His doctrines far and wide. They were
imprisoned, and an angel came and re-
leased them, and they went on telling
again and again the story of "Jesus Christ
and Him crucified," and in the synagogues
fearlessly denouncing anything that op.
posed itself to the grand truths which they
taught. Humble, illiterate men, nothing
w ooSh OuC" ouG Iuc bpIElV VI OCu WlG01n
them, their only strength and power and
eloquence coming from the cross of Jesus
Christ, and the word spread among all
nations in spite of prosecutions for cd
has told them to have confidence il Him,
and in passing from their midst up to the
golden heavens, strange paradox it may
seem, He said, 81 am with you," and,
strong in His promise, they went on. St.
Peter, with Calvary still in bis mind and
the great tears still in his eyes, as he re
membered the denial of that Holy Thurs.
day, took his staff and journeyed to Rome,
and the sword of persecution was I'm
sheathed, and Nero swore by the gods of
pagan Rome that it never again should
sleep in it's scarbbard until it was redden-
ed with the last drop Of blood that flowed
in Christian veins. For three hundred
years the blood of the martyrs flowed
little children sprang from their mothers
arms into the grave rather than deny the
time All! you cannot conquer Jesus
Christ. His faith spread in spite of fire
and sword. From the east came a school
of philosophers striving by the teachings
of their philosophy to crush the Church OF
Christ; from the west barbarisns. ALI
were forgotten but the cross that blazed
on the clouds before the eyes of the great
Constantine still held it's wondrous power.
Why Because Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, to day, and through all the to-
norrows time shall ever know. All they
walked down the ages of time and travers-
ed the world. The centurion who opened
His side with lance, and pierced His
leart, did not know that he was opening
! door where the faithful you'd fnd shelter
md rest, aud the persistent, peace aud for
;lveness. Alb we cannot do without
Christ. You cannot pull him away, and
md yet this is what the world has always
'een trying to do; this is what the world
8 struggling to do to day. It is an old
tory and yet new. The Church and
Thirst in His Church is assailed on every
ide. In Europe aud in South America
bishops and priests are imprisoned. Well,
he truth. The world will never cease to
ersecute the church of Christ, and we are
Is legion of honor-its imperial guard
no We have never yet met Waterloo.
ven as great general who dies upon the Z
cid in the hour of triumph and is borne !!
art to bear down the ages of time and '
istory "Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
o where you will, you will meet the Ca.
lolic priest, and be will bold before Won T
70 simple cross, and weak and gentle as
omen he may be, but firm and hard as
1estion the story of that sacred emblem fl
J this nineteenth century, this enlighten- t.
age, (but who knows but that the devil Il
dds the lamp that gives it's light y the il
lear of Christ is assailed-there is not in 6
Europe one arm to sustain him. Aus
ia. Prussia, France, Spain, Russia, Fog
nd-eVery nation has its arm raised =
'ainst him. Victor Emmanuel, in his
lite way, says, "Holy Father, am p
power must cease" Bismarck &
Germany waging war against the Jesuits %
the vanguard Of the Church--those men nc nc
brave hearts and giant intelleCts. And ~ -
, through every nation of Europe. Pine =
3 Ninth stands alone, but he stands on I
ock, never more grand than in his coli
de. The storm will pass. Bismarck 10
ly man, bis power 10 only human--it
,, will pass and be forgOtten-bnt, though
rs the Ninth may die, be will be cue. y
eded, and representing not the work of IT
10 but a divine institution, the prelatee l.
the Church OF God cannot be destroyed, G
let the prisons be filIed-next to an A.
or priest loves Q grave-our places
men Of the surplice and stole-wiH be roo
ed by OtherS and the Church Of Christ I
Il flourish when the Cesarism of Bis -
rex and Victor Emmanuel is but "