The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-09
Monastic Institutions and their influence on
Civilization.
buffalo Catholic Union.l

auie lecture lately delivered in this city, on
the above theme, by Rev. Father Kean, of
the Cathedral, New York.
1t is my purpose to speak upon Monastic
Institutions, and the part which they have
taken in the civilization of the human race.
Inc Impression amongst not few Is, I
we'll Know, that monasteries and converts
stand rather in the way of progress. Gov
ernments, hence, and newspapers, which
are both the barometers and creators of
popular opinion, have in many cases shown
an animus of deep seated dislike, doing
their utmost to crush them. Behold, for
example, the impartial and God fearing
prince, Won Bismarck, brutally driving the
Society of Jesus from Germany. In Italy,
Victor Emmanuel, through zeal for his
country's good, has eoolly thrust the mem
bers of religious communities out of doors,
and with unrufied conscience confiscated
their legitimately acquired property. In
Mexico, the sages who legislate, IN true
| Bismarckian style, have, with chivalric
courage, ordered the Sisters of Charity to
| break up their communities and travel.
Nearer home, we have heard raised on high
| the voice of Z" a journal of civilization"
warning the world that monks and nuns
| are either lazy hypocrites or enthusiastic
and dangerous bigots. There are prints
and chromos staring one in the face in our
cities, and intended for popular purchase,
which caricature these hottest Institutions
and impute to their members the lowest
| vices. Even historians and writer's of
! standing speak in that self same tone,
which has its origin in prejudice and mis-.
conception.
But in the face of all this it can be made
manifest from the study of the nature and
history of Monastic Institutions, that they
have been and necessarily are amongst the
surest, the heartiest, and the most unwaver-
ing friends of civilization.
Civilization what is it 7 In what does it
| a.
enceY Though it invariably accompanies
religion in her conquests, yet it is distinct
from religion in this, that it refers not SO
much to the future and supernatural well
being of the human family as to it's true
temporal welfare. Civilization depends ON
| the development of society, and on the de-
vetopment of the individual; and where
these two factors exist we have true civil
| ization. Hence the most civilized races
and nations are those amongst whom the
sciences, the arts, literature, institutions of
education and the means of alternating
misery are brought to the neasest approach
TO perfection. That all these things have
been fostered by the institutions which we
are considering o-nig ht, will appear first
from the consideration that the very nature
of monachism is favorable to the Develop
ment of them. The Greek word from which
monk, mOndstic, and neonGchisn, are derived
means solitary, or alone and hence these
words are used in speaking of those who
separated themselves from the world during
the time of the earliest prosecutions of the
Christian Church and fled to the desert; to
lead there life of solitude, prayer and
fasting. There we're many of them learned
men, as, for example, st. Jerome and st.
Anthony, and others. By degrees their
form of life changed from that of each one
living far apart from his brother recluse, to
that of living in single cells near one an
other, with a recognized spiritual head and
Il tIaW,,
stated intervals each day for prayers and
advice. This was the form in the East.
About the fourth century this kind of life |
made it's appearance in Europe, but under !
somewhat changed form, st. Benedict or
ganizing them in pretty much the manner
general organized to day. They dwelt in
community, all working out their own sa'-
walton and the good of their fellow men
they bound themselves by vows, after sew
eral years of self study, to poverty, that ia,
to personally possess nOthing-to chastity,
that is, to lead lives of strictest angelic
purity-to obedience, that is, knowing no
will of their own, but only the will of God
and of their lawful superiors. Such was
and is the nature of monastic life-and GER
ainly it is no surprise, that soon thousands,
:aptivated by it's beauty, focked-men and
women, the young, the fair, the talented,
he good, the penitent, the king, the beg
yar-to the superiors of the monasteries,
;Iamoring that they too might be allowed ,
o save their souls and serve their God, by |
eading life of such holy abnegation. And g
certainly none the more need it surprise us {
o hear of the civilizing effects such in a
produced on the world. The
ciences, arts and literature had in these
every fair opportunity of being v
cultivated by their inmates. The distract L
1g cares of family ties were remOved-the t
mbitions of life, except the holy ambition a
f cultivatiug their minds and hearts, were a
checked and crushed-the in F
ellect was dimmed by indulgence in no de- b
asing passion, and the power of will was n
by continual conquests over Il
le affections and appetites of the heart. r,
oily quiet and contentment reigned su- v
rene, whether in their leafy solitudes or Il
their lonely cells. Everything, in Gne, e,
as favorable for the strengthening of the M
inds of these holy men for the grandest "
telectual efforts. ii
That they also became in very short CT
me the educators of the people followed &C
ON the fact that true knowledge gives it's &C
assessor the noble desire of imparting to la
hers. 1t is diffusive, for, unlike material th