The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-16
A GREAT FRENCH PULPIT ORATOR.
PFRE MoNsABRE.

r., p.r,,e de In Pyesse selects he follow
snr notice of the great Dominican preacher,
Pere Mopsabre. from Tnirers, OF Paris:
ssThe Rev. Father continues MS mag
fA~,e.ant plan We can resume our sentl-
maent in a single expression-a monument
I IA in conrse of erection. In 1874 the orator
spoke of the life and attributes OF COG IN
I 1875 he treated of the works OF zoo
this year he speaks OF the "oVernmen' vi
4 God. Do uon
"A simple fact will tell what Pere Mon
aabre Ia as a theologian the Pope has
named him Master in theology, an nohor
which is 80 rarely conferred, and that teIis
sufficiently of the orthodoxy OF the Dom'h-
I scans teaching.
ator, we must ask the FIVE or six thousand
i who gather about his pulpit, who love MS
nfterapces, who from the deepest recesses
of their hearts applaud his magnificent
ideas, and who on one occasion, In mo
xnent Of f0rgetfulness, even SPp'0uueu
with their hands.
UPere Monsabre is not one of those who
RELY upon their acquired knowledge and
their talents, and who risk success oy
tempting a happy improvis alton. he mas,
nv obstinate labor, perfected the gifts with
,1hioh nature has fav ored him. Indeed, at
each station you can perceive the orator
becoming greater each year his auditors
have remarked his progress in the
4 S3isappearance of some slight impertectlon
n his talentf Wecapnot say all that We
IN = affirm here 10 that his power is wonder
q so and that it fills Catholic hearts with
sfuN, &nd pride.
aeS .she edifice which he ia now construct
ing in theology and literature will, we are
certain, be one of the finest works of the
human mind in our day, be side which will
pale the writings of our sophsts and free
thinkers. We notify our friends and our
enemies of the fact"
MS METHODS.
Let me give you little pen and ink
y aketch of this humble though distinguish
ed orators method. Once more l must
aisappoint you and be disappointed. When
4 tell Won earnestly, that left my dinner
untouched in order to DO IN time, you VIII
believe that / was anxious to hear Pere
MOnsAbre. But last Sunday ! was pre-
vented from leaving the house by the rain
"a that impetuously fell torrent like at inter
vala during the afternoon. To day had
TO take shelter three times in my walk
towards NOtre Dame for when left my
dwelling the weather was virgin-ii in ite
euoiles, radiant in it's glory, and 10 ! in
every ten minutes it WAS all changed. And
as it takes forty minutes to reach Notre
Dame from my domicile, you will under
stand that three changes could occur.
All can do for the moment Ia to tell you
that Pere Monsabre, In the fret place
RIories in the fact that he was educated ir
hiB early years by the Christian Brothers
This he announced publicly at the begin
ming of his frat course of conferences. Hlt
great forte consists in the power o
simplifying the most abstrHse questions
Thus in his present Lepten conferences b.
trenches such difficult subjects as maui
liberty and the sovereignty of God pray e
and immutability, good and evil, and tn
relations existing between these tOpicS. Ii
this way he has to enter the extremel
difficult topic of grace, Que which You
theologiaus will tell you is not even allow
ed to be treated of to any great length i
our ordinary Catechisms. The Semdm
ReIiqieuse, speaking of how Pere Monsabr
treats these subjects, Gays IA faithfr
disciple of the Angelic Doctor, he plays, s
M 20 speak, with problems that give the vel
tigo to our philosophers, and with fri
hand he carries the light of theology int
the most secret recesees wherein the huma
mind may be led astray." Yet" said
distinguished literary scholar, q form'
professor of history, and one Of the be
among our anonymous critics, this
nothing TO Lacordaire. Here you hay
science, mental power, facility of explan
~ ton, but you do not feel that magnetic
which was the peculiar charm, the inexpl
cable secret of Lacordaire's method ;" al
the gentleman to whom was speaking hi
heard both, and is fully able to judge,
over forty years of the first professorsh
NAV prove. / shall inst give you the fe
mon, though this is really an injustice.
10 wrong, firmly believe, to mutilate
divide such conferences:
"I do not propose to make mysteri
disappear but i hope to show you tn
they must be humbly accepted. In t
midst of the sacred darkness of these trut
there is bright light which directs o
attention to u fundamental principle: I
God who has created us is He who COVER
us. @ Kingly Father! nothing troubl
him who believes in Thy soverei
authority aud who aban dons himself to II
loving direction. He enjoys the life wi
which he is favored, and each day bless
Thee for the graces of which he is t
recipient. If in darkness, he awaits t
light; il obliged to grieve, he is encourag
BY Thy heavenly consultations, Thou q
his com psniou in solicitude, his protect
in the turmoil of the world. Thy love
the strength with which his loins are 81
for the combat the buckle which defen
him against the enemies of his salvatio
When fallen, be relies upon Thy forgi7