The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-06

Tuesday last, the eve Of the Feast Of this
great Doctor Of the Church, confessions were
heard as ON Saturday In the Church Of 81.
Alphonsus, Fourth District, and on Wednesday
at the early Masses large number Of persons
received Holy Communion. 4
At O'Clock Solemn High Mas was celebrated
by the Rev. 81. Giesen, C.sS-R., Rev. J. Firle,
C,sS.R., acting ~ Deacon, Rev. f. Faivre,
CSSR., as Sub-Desoon, and Rev. F. Girardey,
C.SS.R., 80 Master Of Ceremonies. The Macs
sung on the occasion was the Centennial Mass,
composed by Prof. Kitslnger, of st. Alphonsus'
choir.
After the frst Gospel, Rev. Father Hubert,
ST., presched the psnegyric OF the Saint. He
touched on all the principal events in the life
of the great Missioner, his labors "a q priest, as
founder of the Congregation Of the Most Holy
Redeemer (Redemptoriss Order), as bishop
and as q theological writer. The reverend
speaker expatiated eloQuently upon the hercu-
lean efforts of st. Alphopsus to eradicate the
whitening heresy of Jansenius, which was at
its height in bis day, little more than o CEN
tury ego; his success in banishing the doc
trines of the Jsnsenists from the Church his
zeal for the glory Of God and his eagerness for
the salvation of souls, characteristics distinctly
visible in his spiritual sons-the priests of his
Order-to the present day.
After Mass Bsnediction Of the Most Blessed
Sacrament was given. and the immense oongre-
CATION fled up to the communion railing to
venerate the relics of st. Alphonsus.
The following extracts f.om the recently
published Fife OF st. Alphonsus Liguori,"
by o most talented member Of one of our Re-
~, It'd
will prove interesting to our readers:
The great Bishop of St. Agatha appears
wonderful, even among the Saints of God, yet
it would scarcely be possible to select biog-
raphy more instructive, and even interesting g,
to readers of every class and condition.
a trsnscendent model for lsymen, priests,
| religious and secular, superiors of communi-
ties, and rulers in the Church of God man
who was hero to his valet, of whom his own
ofiois's afa. ned that "a hundred bishops
Clement XIV. said, when refusing to accept
his resignation of the mitre: He can govern
| the diocese from his bed his very shadow is
whom the Holy Ghost spoke SO forcibly that
| ,me of his auditors sotuslly died of the grief
| aud contrition his burning words inspired q
| his lineaments, and, thanks to God, his virtues,
| his contagious simplicity, his ardent love for
| the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother;
2 oontem Platiye whS passed whole nights
l
who has enriched Catholic theology with over
| hundred works, sufficient to earn for many q
we'll merited immortality q scholar who has
Christian authors-Italisn, Spanish, German,
Irish, English, Scotch, African and American !;
a preacher whose zeal never tagged, who was
| confesscr who was always the first to enter the
| confessional and the last to leave it; and,
most wonderful Of all, q man who, having
lived over ninety years, " returned to his orea-
tor, without spot, the stole of innocence he
had received at hie Baptism as the acts of his
! csnonization attest.
| When we add his many foundations, missions
given and repeated in almost every town and
hamlet in the kingdom of Naples, innumerable
souls guided in the higher paths Of the spiritual
life, conventual and educational establishments
marvellous industry of the earlier monsstit
founders, which our Saints alone have beer
able to rival in modern times,-to Columbanua
who ordained that his monks should go to res
80 fatigued as to fall asleep on the way, and gel
up before they had slept enough; for, what wa
the whole life Of our Saint but an heroic ant
successful effort to keep reiigioasly the appal
ling VOW by which he found himself nere9
.oGste a moment q tine.
The life of st. Alphonsus Mary di Lignori is
mirror Of every virtue; we'll known and deepl.
! meditated, it cannot fail to inspire holy am
bition to walk in his foot steps. BE was ez
emplary in the world as q priest, he has be
come the great model Of evangelical workmer
Founder of q congregation of missionary priests
be perpetuateS in his children his piety and zsa
for souls. Az a bishop, he proved himsel
, worthy of compAnionship with the apostles; 8
! the author of numerous works, inspired by hi
faith, his charity, his devotion to the Church
being dead he yet spedketb to the incredulous VIII
run blindIy to perdition, TO heretics who despis
their true mother, to moralsts tempted to tn
extremes Of laxity or rigorism: in short, h
writings have won him place among the Dot
, tors of the Church.
Happily, his family was enrobled by virtue
we'll as by rank. His father, Count Joseph {
q Ligouri, of the Royal Neapolitsn Marine, wa
remarkable for his sincere Piety. When
= home, he frequented his churches, and at regl
@ lar intervals approached the Sacramento
y while at sea, he decorated his berth with I
u many pious emblems and pictures that
"a seemed like the cell of religious. He wou
not allow an unseemly expression to be uttert
D in his presence, and he never submitted hir
d self to that false code of honor by which
=, many nobleme1 of his age were unhappi
y governed. He was specially devoted to the pa
Of sion of Christ.
| - ~ V ko1