The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-04-28
Rt. Rev. F. X Leray, BISHOP Of
NatchitOches.
T From the New Orleans Morning Star

The hight Rev. +. y. Lrray, just
appointed to the See of NalchltochcS,
was bonn in 1873, at Chateauj'"n,
Brittany, France. This little town
is remarkable for having given to the
Church the founder of the Little Sis !
tprs Of the Poor, an Order which has
done SO much for the aged poor OF all
countries in our century.
when Father Ltray lade ad;cn to ,
devoted parents and many friends,
he was the first missionary who lett
his native place but since then many
of his tbwnsmrn have sacrificed Their
lives for religion IN China, or f"nn"
their way to the forests of the New
World, their devoted zeal making
''thc wilderness blossom us the r">t,'
and they everywhere proving them
selves, like their immortal country
man, "wthout fear and without re-
proach:"
! At eight years of age francis M.
yicr Lcray was placed at college,
where he remained till the age of
seventeen, wien, being invited t."
this country by the present Bishop OF
Vinccnues, and full of ardent desire
to devote himself to God, he came to
this country and continued his stud.
I les at college in the same diocese,
, whc!c he also taught. After some
time spent there, he went to fIn'S''
his theological course at the SulW-
= clan Seminary, Baltimore, and was
. appointed project IN St. Marys Col
g lcgc. then presided over 10y the ven
p cradle and beloved Father Delu"'
He accompanied Bishop Chanchc It
" Natchcx, and vas ordained by him
Y vhcn about twenty seven years o.
Il ACE his sense of the S"lem" re.p"n-
@ eiLility of the priesthood having made
him decline at an earlier period. !''
/" was subsequently appointed pastor o
a jackson, where his Jealous labor
10 and nnnbstructivc lite won the cS
Is TEEN even of the "Know Nothfngs
r. of that period, to whom he was III
u ways ready to give treason for tn
n. faith that was in him" In comprc
Is hcnsivc, conclusive ananswcrah'
at way peculiarly his own. In the yea'
SO and '55, when the yellow .tevt
= ragged tea'fnlly, He laborcd inctssan'
De ~, visiting also Canton, Nicksbur'
N, and tho neighboring places, as o,
us priestly victim after another san
. under the labor and infection; al
:" often when friends aud RELATIVE
Tor abandoned the plague stricken sn
IT. .erels, he remained to perform Il
NJ. humblcst offices, often seeking
+ earnest entreaties to win the jmpe
" itent to repentance. On. one occaSi'
IN a Catholic who had long resist
TX, grace replied to his celebrations
ii. taking a handful Of "black vom
=, and throwing it in his face, but Fat
~ er Leray, calmly wiping his face ga
yes "Will you now receive the Sacl
i'm mcnts, and return to God ?"
In 1860 ne brought the Sisters
ON Mercy from Baltimore, and estab'i:
+,,;s ed them in Vicksbnrg. When
' war broke out he accom- panied tn
I" TO the hospital of "Mississ'
ice. Springs," Jackson, and "Sne
,out SPRINGS in his office of Chaplain
Inns tie army, and proved himself, dnr
80 =. the trying scenes and v1ciss'tude'
anu those four years, father and fr'e
in administering consolation to the
his and dying and inspiring all Y
mos whom he came in contact. with CT
co. age and patiotism, unobstructive
'hce' shrinking from distinction like
was men of merit. :,
Eighteen of the twenty five 81
busy since his ordination lave been 81
4 Of as pastor Of Vicksbnrg, where
;+oo completely won the esteem and;
''e'' of his congregation, who ,impl't
has followed bis advice and refeTre!
con. his a, bitration all matters of dout
ma DISPUTE even in worldly concern:
,4a H. being remarkable for his clearneS
',l'''' Judgment and Unbiased views.
dng' snavity of manner, refinement
lying learning attracted to his society
the Of all creeds, but. every indivl
oa; taste was sacrificed to his duty
oA''e priest and pastor. No private II
d ar est ever drew his attention from
!, ont one great end-the work OF Goa
on,n,s he needed not human praise or b
H. II,NkSv
in his III 'no u'Hi ""' :, Mo