The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-23
Father Giesen's Lecture on: Rev. Father
Duffy.

] IL
ing last was filled to OVERLOOKING by many
aiDcere friends of the late Father Daffy,
who had assembled to hear from Father
Giesep, the we'll known Redemptorist, q
eulogy on the character and works OF the
deceased, which it was announced would
| be mboded in his lecture in aid of the
charities under the care of the Sisters of
Mercy.
Father Gesen began by apologizing for
putting off to SO late date his long prom
ised lecture, taking upon himself the
whole blame of the delay, which, neverthe-
less, he was confident his auditors would
| excuse, since it was occasioned solely by
business concerning the glory of God and
the salvation of souls.
He then touched upon the early life of
the great and good Father Duffy. Born in
1896, in the northern part of Cavau, in
Uister-a province not upprolific of great
men whether of Church or State-he came
to Philadelphia mere child, his parents
having emigrated in consequence of the
prosecutions to which his mother was sub
jected as a convert to the true Faith.
Father Duffy was one of the happy souls
who bore the yoke of the Lord from his
youth. Every relation of life he adorned
by it's appropriate virtues. A son of whom
his venerable mother tearfully relates that
she never heard from him an angry word,
nor cav bis frank countenance disfgured
by an angry look brother the most
affectionate and unselfish a priest who
could well say to his brother priests: Be We
imitators of me as em of Christ Re-
demptorist whom his confreres knew but
to love and revere.
The Rev. lecturer next alluded to the
various Offices Father Duffy filed in his
congregation-lector, professor, assistant
novice master, financier, superior, rector
of the extraordinary zeal he displayed in
each of these his anxiety to procure
Catholic education for the children of his
flock his powerful administrative abili-
ties his zeal in attracting young men to
the priesthood, amid his incessant occupa-
lions finding time to prepare them himself
for college. Bishop Gibbons of Richmond,
and Rev. Father Girardey (who was pres
ent) are among the many priests who had
their first Latin lessons from him. Father
Giesen depicted also his great business
talents, his ardent zeal for souls, the
wonderful goodness of his heart which
made people overlook, and even ad-
mire, his blunt ways. Nor did the emf
pent lecturer omit to state that good
Father Duffy's brusqueness of manner was
altogether acquired. A word of warning
from his first Provincial to the young priest
of liberal culture, elegant address, and
remarkably fine personal appearance,
caused him to assume q roughness of voice
and manner, especially in his intercourse
with ladies, which he meant to be but
thorns to guard, perhaps with superfluous
scrupulosity, the delicate lily of his chastity.
No mere synopsis could do justice to this
admirable lecture. The life like pictures
coDjured up, as by the wand of magician,
before the eager gaze of the people were
too familiar not to win the tribute of their
tears. The effect on the hearers is, per-
haps, the truest test of genuine eloquence.
Z" thought did nothing" says the great
Augustine, one of the most powerful ora
tore that ever lived-"I thought I did
nothing when heard only the acclama-
tions of my auditors, but their tears con-
WINGED me that their hearts were touched,
The Rev. lecturer enjoyed this triumph.
Indeed, he seemed quite unnamed by the
tears and other evidences of emotion, which
his recollections of his lamented brother
evoked in the audience.
Having referred to the churches and edu-
cational establishments founded by Father
Duffy, Father Giesen alluded to the we'll
known wishes of the deceased to found a
Boys and Girls Orphan Aeylum in St. AL
phonsRs' parish, as he always found it
difficult, and often impossible, to procure
admission for the many orphans of whose
restitution he was aware. In a city SO
charitable as New Orleans, no Catholic
child should be compelled to enter a Pro-
testant asylum, and, unhappiIy, hundreds
have been lost to the Church in this way,