The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-02-07
Warning Star and Catholic Messenger.
Ew oRLEA Ns. SUNDAY FEBRUARY T. 1875.
catholic World
Religion Emblemed in Flowers.
Concluded from last week.
PART SECOND.

tNN[<X #ne anSel-' one might as well try to
<&f1 the faith of these simple people from
& &he}e belief in tie sanctity of her life as
81 fropa the truth of the miraculous roses. Ac-
S eQtding to Montalembert and others, thus
xn1s the substance of the legend. Eliza
& beth loved the poor, and was specially
devoted to relieving their necessities,
( 4foqnently carrying with her own hands
E6Osfs of various kinds, to distribute among
I them. At one season there was a great
scarcity of CROPS throughout the land, and
Z caution and economy in the use of the
i royal stores had been advised even in the
palace.
Elizabeth could not bear to know of un-
re1ieved suffering among her people so by
y Q|f1e6 Economy in her own wants, she man
ed to furnish food for many others. On
cue occasion, very pressing case of neces-
q nlty reached her; and not wishing to en-
Raneral command, she started alone on Ter
&xrand of mercy, with some lighter articles
8f food concealed in the folds of her dress.
dust as she reached the back steps of the
3 cheteau, however, she met her husband,
4 Yf&th several gentlemen, returning from the
&fhse. Astonished to see his wife alone,
4zsd TINS burdened, he asked her to show
!, nm what she was carrying; bnt as she
( held her dress in terror to her breast, he
gently disengaged her hands, and behold
stk1t was filled with white and red roses
the most beautiful be ever saw"
w anderipg in thought over these scenes
wherein the air is redolent with their frag-
rance, the form of the young and lovely
Dorothea, with the radiant boy angel at
her side, rises in daphonous light before
the vision. We see her as she stands con-
fronting her heather judge Fabricius, who
longs to possess her charms; and to his
sC0mmand, "Thou must serve our gods or |
de" she mildly answers, "Be it SO; the
seoner shall stand in the presence of Him
most desire to behold" Then the gov
amor asked her, "Whom meauest Thou :"
She replied, 81 mean the Son of God,
Christ, mine espoused. His dwelling is in
paradise; by his side are joys eternal,
and in his garden grow celestial fruits and
roses that never fade" Aud resisting all
semptations, all entreaties, she went forth
70 torture and to death. "And as she
went" CONTINUES the legend,) ga young
man lawyer of the city, named Theo-
philus, who had been present when she
was first brought before the governor,
goest thou to join thy bridegroom Send
mes 1 pray thee, of the fruits and flowers I
0f chat same garden of which thou hast t
sE0ken. / would fain taste of them !" E
AMA Dorothea, looking on him, inclined f
her head with gentle smile, and said, t
Whereat he laughed aloud with his com
panlOns; but she went on cheerfully to G
aeAth. When she came to the place of exc t
sAsion, she knelt down and prayed and sud q
1enly at her side stood bright and beau t
ifnl boy, with hair bright as sunbeams. t
% bis hands, he held basket containing b
1fse apples and three fresh-gathered Ii
rA1Eant roses She said to him. Garry q
hess to Theophilns; say that Dorothea A
.ath sent them, and that go before him b
lW6it him there With these words she q
ene her neck, and received the stroke of q
gath. Meantime, the angel went to seek
'he0philus, aud found him still laughing NJ
4 merry mood over the idea of the prom h'
ed gift. The angel placed before him the c.
asket of celestial fruit and flowers, saying. NJ
0OFothea sends thee these and vanished" al
.nlhzement filed the mind of Theopolius, la
al the taste of the fruit and fragrance of by
10 roses pervaded his soul with new A
se, the scales of darkness fell, and he uf
acclaimed himself a servant of the same til
ord that had Won the heart of the gentle ia
alden. Carlo Dolci, Rubens, and Van al
yck have give the most poetical illustra- da
pps OF this subject. Many other artists CO
We also treated it, but more coldly. op
With the name of st. Cecilia arise Wis fol
% of angels poised in mid lair, enthralled wi
lwer of it's voluminous sweetness, has he
srced even the gates of heaven. But he
9 flowers of paradise, as we'll as its celes- aw
u harmonies, are also associated with che
9 name of this beautiful virgin-fowers Fa
pit were sent to her bridal chamber, as moi
ward for her angelic purity and the elo- hat
enco which had moved her young bee
athen husband to respect her vow Of per
astity. Returning from the instructions pla
st. Urban, to whom she had sent of
n, he heard the most enchanting music, in
on reaching his wife's chamber he "be- red
Id an angel, who was standing near her, less
who held in his hands two crowns of in |
es gathered in paradise, immortal in bod
.lr freshness and perfume, but invisible new
the eyes of unbelieyers. With these he pra
,ircled to the brows of Cecilia and Valer- of {
and he said to Valerian, because thou exh
It followed the chaste counsel of thy the
e, and hast believed her works, ask side
st thou wilt, it shall be granted thee.D Bills
stood, early one morning late in the daw
nth of June, looking sadly upon the and
d, white, upturned face of one who had mus
ned to walk, while on earth, more with into
els than with men. A mystery of sad left
Q had enveloped her life, but, like the fres
Id IN the wilderness, it proved power the
drew her in the foot prints Of the rose
e -