The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-12-31
The New Year.

| hands of the Past, and it is we'll for us before
we touch the now Ones to see with what feel-
iDgs We have parted with the old ones.
1t is the customary greeting of friend to
| friend to wish for health, long life and much
prosperity, while an earnest desire for these
apparent blessings has generally characterized
| all our efforts and stamped its impress upon all
our thoughts. The Church, however. mans
truest friend, has q different greeting for her
children, and unless coincide in her de-
signs, we shall hardly feel satisfied with the
result as lfe's chain, slipping link by link
through Cur fingers, comes at last to q sudden
close!
The Church does not wish us health, for she
knows that it is at best but q questionable
good, and that those who possess it too often
use it as q means of committing sin. Robust
strength is often accompanied by arrogance
and scorn-arrogsnce towards man and scohang
towards God.
voltaire, in health, defed all suggestions of
a Supreme Ruler who watches man and notes
his every action; but when PROSTATE in his
death agony, weak and fearing, he then ex-
claimed: 40 God if there be God, save ny
soul, if have q sonl"
Strength of body too often weskens the soul
by making man believe himself iuvulnersble to
ordinary sfaictions, and though he may see
death at other mems doors, he feels that his
own is proof against suoh q visitor, and hence
lives on as though he were never to die.
Neither does the Church wish long life,
for this is too often only a long opportunity of
offending God, of accommodating against our
selves a terrible account for the final day of
reckoning. long life, in her eyes, is not
coin posed Of many years. but is one fruitful in
many virtues; and St. Elizabeth of Hungary,
who at the early age of twenty-four years was
taken from the sight of men, left earth q
record of holy deeds which shall exist as long
as time itself.
Nor does the Church wish US prosperity
The riches of this world do not always ennoble
their possessor, and hearts that are full of
earthly Equipments are often found empty of
all spiritual graces.
''Woe to the ROB for they have their re wardlr
must always DO a terrible warning to the
Christian who looks for heavenly recompense
after the trials Of this life are over, and hence
he cannot wish for himself or others such
things as lead to an exclusion of those higher,
holier expectations.
What, then, are tho wishes of the Church for
all men at the opening of this new yesrH
She wishes US health of soul as better than
that of the body. "a clean heart and right
spirit" are greater treasures than physical
strength and endurance, and che bids her
child zen pray that these may be given to them.
She also wishes them, not long life but holy
one, for a few years may be more beautiful in
her sight than an existence which hes been
heightened out to century. Even the world
feels a pity for the aged Queen Elizabeth
whose length of days gathered mp no peace
for her last hour, while it locks with honor
upon the sanity Joan of Arc who, at the age of
nineteen, died crowned with glory, peace, and
heroic virtuee.
She wishes MS in the third place, not tempo
raj possessions great wealth, but the riches
of Gods grace. a sanity Lazarist in our city
compares the spiritual graces of the soul to
N Material coin. They are a spiritual money
with which we can purchase all real good.
They not ours by right, but a gift from
God but He gives them to the true Christian
so as to secure eternal treasures. These are
the riches then she bids US desire, and if we
are blessed by their possession We are rich in
deed.
1t is strange Tut true that the Church always
speaks o language different from that OF the
| world. Her utterances always the anti
| thesis of the last; but experience, apart from
Faith, teaches every soul that hers are the
beat wishes and that hers are the trnes5 words
But as can not live in this world without
temporal favors, she sums up all her teaching
by these sublime words of her Divine Master
| 'Stek first the Kingdom of God and all thest
things shall be added unto you" Seek frs
the health of the soul, the riches of grace, and
our Heavenly Father promises also to bestoU
temporal blessings of every kind upon us
AL these things, such as health, prosperity, and
even long life Will be added as a grstuitou
measure to him who truly seeks first the noble
boon thatzbelongs to the soul alone.
St. Francis de Sales sweetly says among hi
other beautiful words: "Where the will of Got
is accomplished, daily bread is never wanting!
A new link of chain of continued peace OF
earth and of endless joy in Heaven now lie
| within our fingers, We can not keep then