The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-27
0geraIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
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here and there stars, sometimes in brillian
Droups, but more often as solitary luminou
points, which, by the measureless Intermediate
distances between them, partly reveal to u
the toundless extent of space, which Is, in SOM
SOFT, q symbol or representation of divine
greatness. Now, space itself consists of tn ret
Elements, which we call breadth, length and
height; if one of these elements be taken
away space is hnnihilated, and consequently
disappear. Thus We perceive that greatness,
such as God has shown us in his works, con-
sists in expaDsion-an expansion of breadth,
length and height. 1t was on this account
that the Apostle, using this same illustration
in order to show us the immepsity of God, said
to the first Christians: Flecto genua ad Pat'em
DOnini nosfri JesG ChriSh.-ut possitis comprthen
ere ibus sanctis qua sit latitude ct tongitu
do ct subliniitas, ct Protundum' II bow my knees
10 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that you
may be able 10 comprehend, with all the saints
and depth of his majesty" Let us not soorn
to make use of created objects to lift US up to
. contemplation of the Immensity of Gods
attributes. In making use of this comparison
L am authorized not only by the general prin-
ciples of Faith, which tell us that the hea-
vens declare the glory of God, but also by the
express words of the Apostle st. Paul.
In all greatness, then, appertaining to the
soul, there are these three elements of dimen-
sion-breadth, height and length,-and it is
only when our impulses contain these three
elements that thev are truly great.
First, as to ,cidth or breadth. You know that
We say, every day: such one has large
u
the Holy Ghost, when telling of Gods appari-
lions to Solomon says: "Deiit iLi-ldtitudinem
cords quasi Grendm qua est in ltfore ntaris."
"God gave to Solomon largeness of heart as
the sand that is on the sea shore.' Now, my
Christian friends, what do we mean by Z" hav-
ing large heart ~ To understand this, you
must figure to yourself what takes place with
in ne when we wish to act, when we are willing
to be guided by impulse. This impulse |
may be self, aud nothing but self we may |
have for our motive of action only our self-
on p0th nrid m hnlxy
our house, our inherItance-in q word, what |
ever constitutes our personal self, as exempli- |
fed in Totla, whom spoke Of just now. But |
even suppose, gentlemen, that You were mas
ters of the world-that is still very circum
soribed. Our Divine Saviour, trampllng under
foot actions which are based only upon this
should gain the whole universe, what would it
avail you If all the crowns of the world
should be placed upon your head, what will
you have gained You will not have ceased
10 be yourself; and since You cannot expand
yourself, since yourself and Your whole being
is but an imperceptible a tom in Gods creation,
consisting solely of yourself, it could be but a
something vile and abject St. Paul. also, ad-
dressing the Corinthians, said to them 80
Corinthii. os nost,um patel ad ros; cor nostrum
afildtatum est, dilatamini ct ros." "Our mouth is
open to you, ye Corinthians; our heart is
On larged be you also enlarged" And frem
one end of the Holy Scriptures to the other is
repeated the cry, addressed to narrow. CON
tracted and mortal men Dildtdmini - cen
large yourselves" be ye enlarged, because
God may he within you. or may be recalled by
yon. if you are willing.
Thus the
FIRST ELEMENT OF GREATNESS OF SOUL
or of character is BREADTH which embraces a
great deal when it acts outside itself: it is
what we call in human language Generosity
Without generosity there would never be any-
thing great in the world, never any thing great
in character.
This is not ALL In order to have greatness
in our actions and in the heart whence they
proceed, there must be- height. This is the
second dimension of space, The second dimen-
sion Of divinity: Elevation! 1t is not enough
that our actions should spread out and EN- brace
panson must be controlled by some principle
otherwise. even when willing to 90 beyond our
selves and work in wider rsnge, we might go
wrong and make mischief, and thus fail in
securing true greatness of character.
There must be, then, guiding principle and
in this is the height or elevation of our actions
highest of all principles is, manifestly that
which most nearly approaches God if even it be
not God himself. writer of ancient times said
''Os honini sublime debit cGlumQue tueri f,ssi et
eSecos 0d siderd totLere rultus" God has given
man lofty brow, and commanded him to lock
towards heaven mot simply the armament of
stars but that higher heaven wherein d we'll
principles-the heaven of justice, Of right and
Of the divine law which governs every act of
man. This is why the mother of the Macha-
bees, speaking like Ovid, bat long before o Vid,
|
lGm.' IL beseech thee, my son, look up 70 {
heaven" Thus, whenever We seek inspirations
Of greatness, strength, generosity, w turn our
gaze spontaneously away fIom the base soil
beneath our feet, we raise our eyes to heaven,
hoping to gain thence sublime ideas, we beg of
our Creator, whose very image We carry with
in our souls, that he will grant us not merely
success, not only that which would promote us
in the opinion of the world or in the favor cf
princes, but that which is written in the soul
for that which is written in the soul is iu the
Of God: we look up towards hea
ven, our true country, and draw thence the
strength to despise the little things of earth,
the strength to perform boldly, in the presence
OF God, of men and of our own con science
may be in the line of our duty and
serviceable to our neighbor.
Thus We should look upwards not merel = TO
secure q higher Lowell for our worldly actions
but rather to procure means proporGionate to
our objects for we should never hope to arrive
ut great results through unworthy means. But
this alas! is the great disgrace of nearly all
human history. Those famous ministers who