The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-29

MeNeirDy of Albany and Bishop Borgess. O
Detroit.
= "a young French Catholic, Count Gabrie
DC CalX oe saint Aymour, has presented to tn
Pope ohalice of unhesrd-of richness 1t il
encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, rubies
topazes and all sorts of precious stones. 1t il
! said Plus TX has accepted the offering on on,
condtion.nsmely,t that if the Queon of Eng
land should ever turn to the Catholic faith, sht
would be deemed worthy of being presen tee
with this splendid gift"
This graceful incident may not be true; but
it is SO full, rs reported, of the spirit of the
Holy Father that we are inclined TO put faith
in the assertion. The thoughts of Plus TX
are eminently beautiful, and all his utteranoes
proceed from a soul as pure as it is great, as
wise as it is holy. Faith, poesy and prophecy
inform his words, and we feel that he speaks
with the zeal of apostle and the tenderness
of sant-but among the many touching
words which he has said, these in reference to
the Queen of England are siDgula-ly appro-
pirate.
ohalice is the symbol of suffering and
sacrifice; and all readers of English history
know that if Victoria ever turns to the Catho-
lie Church, it will be ct the expense of her
royal prerogatives-in word, to win the cha
lice she must lose the crown. Professionals who
w
and persecution, are blind to the act that, by
the laws of Protestant England, q sovereign
who shonld feel bound in conscience to become
Catholic, could only do by the loss of
throne and sceptre. The Holy Father unoon
implied, recalls this fact to our minds to day,
faith and sacrifice, by naming chalice in
connection with a crown.
His tender, chivalrons intention of present
ing to highlands Q1een, in the event of her
conversion to the Faith, this truly noble gift,
seems to US replete with prophetic instinct as
well as apostolic affection, and we think the
aged Fathers heart would indeed be comforted
if Victoria should give meaning to her beauti-
full name by triumphiDg over heresy and gain
ing the victory of faith. |
England, once called Our Lady's Dover, lost |
that appellation three hundred years ago-a
appropriate it would be if womans hand
should write it out again. And hence it may
be that our Holy Fathers reference to the
Queen was but the prophetic instinct which
makes him foresee the conversion of all of
England to the faith.
1t is recorded that Edward the Confessor,
|
his death When green tree, cut do wn from
It's trunk and separated at distance of three
1crea from its parent stem, shall, Nth no nan's
'and aiding it. and no necessity forcing it, return
20 its parent stem, then shall there be an end
% England sorrow."
1t would seem as though the prophecy of the
oval saint was about to be folflled for we
go in our own day-three hundred years from {
he time that the religion of the Confessor was
orn from out the soil of Englsnd-the green {
rec drawing near to be engrafted upon it's {
ncient root-no mans hand aiding it, no ne ,
essity forcing it-only the prayers of an aged
'ontif yearniDg over the separated branch
nd stretching out his hand to bid it welcome
o its old estate. !
And thus too, will all loyers of England and I
IL admirers of it's gracious (Q1een hope that +
he golden chalice reserved in the hands of the v
ioly Father may be one day presen ted to Her {
dajesty, not as q symbol of what she must il
uffer in order to enjoy the truth, but as an q
mblem of all the riches of faith and joy which i,
Vill come to England when the great gift is i,
estored to her affairs and to the generation of f.
er people.