The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-01
). MAsSkS FOE aRE DEAD"
THE UNDERTAKEN AND DREssMAKER SUB
sTIrUTED FOR THE PRIRsr AND SACRIFICE
AN ELOQUENT AND JUST REPRoOF.

| THE UEDERTAk BR AVID DRESSMAhGh o. ID
sTITUTED FOX THE PRIEsr AND sACRIFIc
| AN ELOQUENT AND JUST REPROOF.
catholic vindicatorl
The grand old Cotholc practice, once es
teemed as a cOnsOliog and pleasing duty, q
causing the holy sacrifice 4 the Mass TO b.
"ffnred up for the repose of the souls o
departed friends or relatives, lie, We regre
| to sly, rapidly passing into the domain o
tradition, and were it not for the pure art
simple faith JrausplaDted from other chimes
we greatly fear that it would now be almos
extinct.
FASHION HAS USURPED
the place of religion, and with the hand
ing over of the underCaker's fee the fna
duty of the dead is paid. and the bereaved
ones find consnlation in the rt Election that
highest and most approved style of the
undertaker's art. People of limited means
will cramp Themselves to purchase a rose-
wood cOtfi and O few extra plated orna-
ments. Carriages and gaudy hearse ale
post mortem Injuries of which fashion and
pride forbid that the deceased should be de
prived. Even the costly luxury of o tomb
stone or a monument of classic msrbre, OF
more beautiful design and elegant finish
than those which mark the spots where
other fragments of deceased mortality are
laid, shall point skyward from over the
tomb of the loved one. Mourning goods al Q
purchased and the aid of the dr. ess m Ak OF q
art is invoked to fittipgly portray the
awful sffiiction and deep sense of priva
ton.
THE POOR BODY IS HONORED,
and it's memory cherished even while the
worms are feasting upon it-now reduced
to condition more repulsive than their
own-but the soul, the immortal principle
and vital portion of man-the gem set in
the worthless setting of morta'ity-wtiat of
that3 What is its state Is paiu, or
Is 1t happy IN the presence OF G0d7 Alas,
none know, and few seem to care. Maybap
1t Is paying the penalty of dishonesty, of
avarice, of sins committed in the exciting
race for wealth to bequeath those dear ones
who neglect it Orif mass il fl red up
ii is as part Of the funeral ceremonies "a
nigh mass with i s pad choTisters, organ
lat ard other necessary expenses--aU for
the delectGtiOn Of the public, that it may
know that the deceaseu was buried in the
nost approved manner which cpstom di
reefs. There are no masses offered up
afterwards, at which the family and friends
of deceased are present to send up their
prayers to God for the repose of the soul Of
the one who was lately 80 dear. Is this
CGtholicity? Can this be the case among
people who believe in probationary state,
in the eternal justice of God and the i'm
measurable efficacy of the propitiatory sac
ritice which the Son of God has left us |!
And if there is true belief, then oh, what
base ingr attitude! Ingratitude to the one who
loved US 10 life-who perhaps lived and
died for uR, and whose offences against God
were mainly induced by a mistaken desire
To further our lnterests-an iDgratitude of q
still worse and more reprehensibe nature
To that merci'u God who placed this hap
plness within our reach, at the sacrifice of
III LIT h.r IL 4.
the mems Of atres'ing that pure aud holy
love for each other 80 pleasing 10 the sight
OF the Almighty and so enuobling to our
solves. Better let pass the gaudy apparel
the vain pageantry and expensive trap
pings.
1T MATTERS LITTLE TO TIE BoDT
how 1t ia laid sway orin what manner. The
worms viii fred upon 1t, the forces of ma
ture will reaOive &c INTO it's kindred dust
and when tine shalt be no more the arch
Angels trumpet Will recall into existence
that scattered dust, without regard tC
whether /, was rosewood or pine that en-
cased lC. Let us cease to lavish orr affec
tionA upon that winch is now bat earth, thG
mere shadow of what once was mass O
corruption, fostering, repulsive thing
which the earth claims and which claim
the earth "a its congenial element; anC
turn our thoughts to that which was, is
mutable aud chaogeless-aud which wa
created for eternity. Let Us embrace tn
opportunity which God has given US of
CARRYING OUR AFFECTION BEYOND TIL
TOMB
and of testifying in the most solemn m an
ner the devotion of our hearts. Let us cen
! to the loved one the token of our love- All,
let that token no the God of Mere
who rules all things and in all places, an
| whose first care II was after the darkness
Of death had closed down upon Calvary t
seek out and liberate the ransOmed sou
which, az may he the case with the soul {
our friend, were in u condition of sufferin
or prlvatiou. Let rs pay less homage t
the body, but offer mp the adorable sacr
fec ard our own pious applications as T.,
only worthy incense to place upon the alta
of true Christian affection.
FLOATING GARDESs-In the haantif,