The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-08-29

Whenever the missionaries of the Church
have abandoned country and friends, taken
their lives In their hands, and penetrated into
the remotest wilds Of the savage. in order to
'spreach the Gospel to every creaturs," the holy
GROSS, with its divine associations, has always
led the way, beckoning themson in their great
Often have these devoted men met the mar
tyr's fate; but they have died in holy triumph
with smiles and prayers on their lips, with
their eyes liked on the sacred cross, and their
souls on heaven. II . nations flag hes been
able to stir the sonl of the soldier to deeds of
noble daring amid the excitement OF battle,
the Cross of Christ has been able not less often,
to FIRE the soul of the lone missionary with
holy love and zeal in the midst of the savage
wilder ness. If, with flag in hand, the soldier has
rushed to the cannon's mouth, and laid down
his life to win battle, no less frequently has
the missionary, holding aloft the sacred gross,
| rushed to the desert places of the earth, where
barbarism, pestilence, famine, cruelties, suffer
ings, and danger of martyrdom encompass him
on every side. The soldier fights his battles
under the eyes of his countrymeu, cheered on
| by applauding comrades, bv martial music,
! and by hopes of speedy preferment but the
| Christian missionary fights alone, surrounded
by wild foes, far from home and friends, with
| no hope of temporal reward, and where, If he 10
killed or dies q natural death, he may be de
vonred by wild beasts, or remain uncofaued,
| unburied, and unrecognized.
| Statesmen, philosophers, warriors, and citi-
zsns of all ran love and respect their national
| symbols because they call to mind the events
1
| nationalities. These sentiments are commend.
ed by the whole world. The true Christian
| also loves and respects the symbol which calls
up before him the facts and incidents connect.
cd with the passion and cruoifxion of the Sa-
viour. Let no one delude himself with the
absurd idea that 1t is the material of the flag,
or of the cross, which calls forth these power
lful emotions, and these high resolutions. Lot
no one suppose that idoIatry can spring from
the contemplation aud reverence Of objects
which place before the minds eye in the form
of symbolic the important events of q nation,
or the sufferings and death of God. Let no
one question the motives or the proPriety OF
his fellow man who bows down in tears, in
love, in gratitude and devotion before the
rec ,gnized emblems and mementoes OF great
nations, and of godlike achievements.
The cross of Christi How vast and solem q
the associations connected with it! How sig
nifcaut it's mute appeals to the hearts OF NOR
tails! How eloquent its reference to Redeem
er;s love for sinful mani How glorious its
history, and how prolific of heavenly aspira-
The cross of Christ! How beautiful, how
sublime, how soul-inspiring the ideas which
} encompass thee as with a halo of light and
! glory In ages past and gone, in all the lands
souls and thoughts of men, and carried them
: back to Calvary, what an infinity of blessings
il has conferred As we gaze at the Lamb OF
God, nailed to the cross, how sad and tender
the memories which pass before the mind
J livery wound of the precious body, every eE-
preston of the godIike features, calls mp some
. act OF divine love and mercyl Silently, sadly.
solemnly, the holy GROSS has borne its sacred
burden TO all nations, through long ages OF
, culture and light, of darkness and ignorance
of civilization and bRrbarism-S pioneer and
J potent agent in all good works-9 talisueI
and solace for the poor and oppressed, as vel
as for the rich and powerful, a beacon of hea
, venly light, and q rallying-point for all Chris
: tendoml
In the dark ages, when Christianity and bar
81 barism struggled for the mastery of Europe
the latter achieved a physical triumph; bul
spiritually the OToss SE Chr:=s prevailed and
the barbarian coDquerors became Christian
converts When nations communities or indi
Viduals 1have been bowed down with cal9mi
, ties and sorrow, rays Of hope and comfort have
always shOne from the holy cross: However
, poor, unfortunate, wicked, degraded and de-
spised an individual may be. the CroSs OF Christ
} still beanie upon him with compassion and
mercy. g, ..-.
or symbolIcal. By the two first, ideas are con
veyed S0YiGtim and slowly; by the last, en- mSso,
and instantanoously. Through the first the
mind iyy. gPI @
living tableaux, complete Ia all their details
} In the latter category stands the Holy Gro
; It speaks language to the Christian whicl
appeals instantly to every faculty Of the mind
and sopl. II strikes those chords of memory
which take him back to Calvary, to the ieerine
, rsbble Of PLATE, to tho hooking miniOns Of
= CaiPhas, to the spectacle OF seOurgsd, tor
: tured and crucifed Rsdeemer.
Who can look upon this blessed emblem I'M
, movedf Who can regard this mute mementE
of the Son Of God in behalf Of fallen mai
3 without sentiments Of love, respect and venS
{ rationf May God ia His mercy grant tina
{ every one may properly appreciate this grea
!, emblem of Christianity-tbe symbol Of gym
. bols. The likeness of q crucihed Redeeme
0 ssnctifes and halloWs it. Not only at tn
/" name, but &C the semblAnce Of Jesus, let ever.
knee bend in alteration.
3 a- u-.----- -
] FuruItoEe, clothing, equipageSi nothing o