The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-27
LACORDAIRE's FAMOUS SERMON
IN FAVOR or
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS.

OF March ls't, for the Morning star
| This discourse was delivered on the 10th O
February, loJ3, in the Church of st. Roche
Paris, 10 an immense audience, who rightly ex
pected to hear, on that occasion, q powerful
lesson addressed to those high in authority.
The noble Lacordaire, knowing WI hat was ex
pected of him, took for his subject, Greatness
OF Character and treated it as to disap-
point ct once the hopes of some and the fears
OF Others, by avoiding all personalities and al
lowing each hearer to draw what lesson he
pleased from his words of light and truth. The
Archbishop of Paris remarked truly "that be
had never before been so eloquent
Thanks and congratulations reached the
reverend preacher from all sides, AZ well as
some expressions of fear to the dangers he
had incurred by uttering such q discourse in
snch times. lie, however, remained calm and
undistuIbed, and when urged by the Rev
Superior Of the Convent of Fiaviguy to publish
the correct text Of his discourse in order to
coantcTaot nisrepre ntatiops that were AL
ready ahoat, be replied d" To publish it now in
its present form would be bravado to nod;fx
it would be base cowardice. Ishall do neither
it will be time enough twenty years hence"
After the lapse Of several years, OF the 60
hcitAtion Of the Count de Mon talem bert, Father
Lscoroaire consented to the publication. and
actually prepared the copy for the printer.
But being still in doubt as to the propriety of
Its publication, he begged his own confssoor to
read the MSS, and give him q candid opinion |
thereon. After careful reading. the latter de-
clared he cav nothing at all Objectionable.
Then the great preacher, sitting beside the
fireplace IN his own room, took the man uscript
70 Ms hand, ran his eye over the paper gaz.d
1pon 1t pensively for moment, then suddenly
touched either with a vivid sense of humility
II the fear of committing An indiscretion by a
neans of publication 30 unapostolic-tbrew /,
nto the fire!
hsPPily, however, M. Loquien, the steno-
rapher Of the Conferences de Notro Dame. had
akeh very exact and complete report of the
inous lecture, and as this copy has been re- h
entity Published in lie Contemporary we are en- o
bIed to crafty our readers by placing before +
lem this magnificent discourse which, twenty /
lree years ago, produced 80 deep and lasting Q
\ impression.
"EsTo vIR! BE A MANw il
ost Rev. Archbishop Gentlemen Il
The old King David-the soldier who in his p
'uth had fought 80 many successful battleH- ~
10 prophet who had seen from so great a dis
nee the life and the death of tho Son of nd
the poet who had sung the CON bats and the o.
iumphs of the Church-thiB King David was o.
ing. at this solemn hour, when O man tries oi
express bis inmost feelings with his Last "
ords, be called to him his son Solomon. the L
ir of his throne, aud addressed him in the p,
ords you have just heard &" Ego ingyedior Pl
I'M "nires0 terT", conJortare ct est0 rir am OF
ing the way Of all flesh take thou courage %
d show thyself a manw Undoubtedly. nv "
ar brethren, it was hard to understand why IN
Oh a man should say TO his own son: EBe bs
IN Is it not true that every man is a mani OF
ON the mouth of q believer like David il Ut
ERE any difference betw cen the words "a rnarD ,
d "a man according to the order Of natnTe - ID
MY, yes David, in utternZ these words po
pressed not the faintest echo of human priIe u
eaEinS with q God inspired wisdom, it was 10
! hatutai no should say to his SUCCESSOR one
III so grand destiny before him Rst0 rir =; e
a man !" ~
II al ages there has been distinction be-. "a
cen man and a man. L
The Ronans, our fOrefathers, when speaking PIE
An! common man, used Il e word homo (man)
lNed from hUHKs, the ground; but when *,
y wished to dehi gnate tTuc man, they en- a.
wed beneath his statue tItle which still 81"
yes mankihd-tL ey used the word rir, com.
te mana man not entirely earthly of the I
In, bat man endowed with courage, with Gu
l. with virtue. na
low, my brethren, what constitutes a man n
b as thIsf How can he be recognized That cor
lob makes the true or real man. the Roman | an
Is Greatness IF Character. AID since pro- | a a
e to explain TO yOu this word of the royal Co
pbet, lay down these two questions In his
DC copsists grestn ess Of character Is great. ha,
3 OF character obligatory upon a Christian NAT
ou may ask, perhaps, why introduce such mn,
inject on an occasion when Yon expect only at
appeal TO your charity in favor of the poor ISt
ooIs established in this great capital There sen
20 them. After all OincO there is question ins