The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-12
aa.A.oh star and Catholic messenger.
RE REV. p. J. RYAN, OF ST. LOUIS.


works on the "Pdes hood written in the
fourth century, speaks of the learning neoes-
sary for this sacred charge, especially IN ap
plying suitable remedies to every spiritual
disorder, in oonfuting pagans and Jews and
inStructipg tho faithful. A talent FOR preace-
ing he declares to be an indispensable qnaiih'
cation, aud prescribes the manner in which
preacher ought TO announce the word of God;
with indefatigable pains, with purity of in
tentioD, desiring only to please God and plant
off by piety, natural eloquenoe, plain sins
plicity, and dignity, that all may hear the
Divine Word willingly and with respect and
pleasure, SO as to wish at the end OF the SER
mon, that it wers longer.
Were this advice addressed to the present
time, in regard to the selection of q bishop it
would seem to particularze the Right Rev. p.
J. Ryan SO truly does it portray the qualities
with which God endowed him, for the Sacred
Ministry.
That natural talent for preaching, which St.
Chrysostom declares to be indispensable to a
priest, he possesses in q high degIee. Adesire
oplease God and plant His love in all hearts,
directs his life. and an admirable sweetness OF
manner, by which he wins souls to God, per-
vades his whole demeanor. This sweetness OF
manner, has endeared Father Ryan very much
to his dissenting brethren. There are Few
by ministers of different religious denomina-
cions as he.
Patrick John Ryan born in the year
1891, at Thurles, in the county of Tipperary,
Ireland in the See of the Arch bishop of Cashel.
He early evinced an inclination for a religious
lfe having imbibed from the teachings of a
pious mother sentiments of sauctity from his
earliest infancy. The religious training he
received SO carly in life, naturally tended to
give bm prediction for the priesthood.
years, in which he went through the prepare
tory course, be entered Carlow college in the
year ls47, where he received a thorough classi-
cal and ecclesiastical education.
Among the distinguished prelates whose
names nre connected with this college. were
Bishop England. of Charleston, South Caroli-
ma, DR.. Doyle. the famous DIR. of Theology, and
Cardinal Cullen, the present Heirarch of
Ireland. The subject of this sketch was
ordain ed sub deacon when very young, and
while at college file the position of Prefect of
the lay house.
Father Ryan emigrated to America in the
year 1852, and arrived in st. Louis in that
year. For three months after his arrival he
was stationed at st. Patrick's Church, with
Rev. Fathers Wheeler and Ward, and though
not then priest, (his youth debarring his or
dnation,) he received special permission to
preach in the Cathedral.
Abont this time he was appointed Professor
of English literature and elocution in the Car.
ondelet Theological Seminary, a position
which he filled with great credit and eminent
success. This seminary subsequently
transferred to Cape Girardeau
After attaining his majority in 1853, he was
ordained priest, and the same year was ap
pointed assistant pastor of the Cathedral, with
Fathers a s Paris, +. SAnlmier, James Dug
gan, and P. X. D0nnelly. He performed the
duties of rector at the Cathedral until 1860,
and the parochial school on Sixth and Labadie
streets.
While connected with this church, he, in
addition to his parochial duties, acted as Chap
lain of Gratiot street Military Prison to which
post he was appointed by the Archbishop. He
did all in bis power to assuage the mental and
physical sufferinGs of the prisoners, and impart
spiritual consolation TO them. Hundreds of
rebel prisoners, since dispersed over the entire
South and the State of Missouri, venerate the
memory of Father Ryan. His ministrations in
4nlo and
ed bNuumerous conversions over six hundred
persons were baptiscd by him during the
war;
From the Church of the Annunciation be
was transferred to st. john the Evangelists,
Church, as successor to Rev. Father Ring, who
had charge of the church since Father Bannon
tits FIRST pastor) went South in 1861, as chap
lain in the Confederate Army.
In 1866, Father Ryan attended the second
Plenary Council in Baltimore and upon one
occasion preached q sermon before the assem-
This sermon was afterwards published in a
recollection of the best sermons delivered be-
fore the council.
1t was in this year, 1866, he received the de-
gree of L. L. D., from the New York Universi-
~. through the College of Manhattanville:
While officiating as pastor of st. johns
Church, Father Ryan, managed by prudent t
economy, to discharge debt of 100000, with
which the church had been burdened since it's
erection. lie not only attended to the spirit.
nal wants ofhis parishioners: but made it his
special care to promote their temporal vel.
fare.
Upon the occasion of the 18th Centennial
celebration of the "Cruclixion of St, Peter" in
Rome Father Ryan accompanied the Arch
bishop on a tour to Europe. He visited France,
Ireland, Italy and Germany, and spent n year
in Europe.
During the following Lent he was invited
by His Holiness, Pope Plus TX to preach the
Lenten sermons, distinction of no ordinary
character, when it is remembered that the sci.
ection is made from great number of dis
tinEuished divines from all parts of the world,
visiting the Eternal City at that time of the
year.
The lenten sermons had previously been
preached by Cardinal Wiseman, Archbishop
Hughes, of New York, and the celebrated
Father Thomas n. Burke, or.
On his return to st. Louis in 1868, he was
appointed Vicar General of the diocese, and
dnring the absence of Archbishop Kenrick in
Rome, (when he attended the Ecumenical
Councu) he was appointed Administrator OF
the diocese, in which capacity he gave entire
satisfaction to the bishops, priests, and laity.
The Archbishop applied for a Coadjutor in
Rome and with the consent of bishops of the