The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-01
IGEN. ALPHEUS BARERS JUBILEE
| SPEECH
GEN.

bration of the Holy Fathers Jubilee, June
30, we take the following extracts
We hear people of this enlightened age,
Judging all things by it's standard, talk
about the ignorance and superstition OF the
Church of Rome in the dark ages ; but an
immortal author of the 10Th century, one
| of the most renowned that ever spake the
English tongue, himself q Presby terian of
the straightest sect, the great Macaulay,
mencement of his history of Epgland, fit to
rank with 'Livy's pictured page,,' de-
clares that the resemblance of the Church
of Rome, often spoken of by divines to the
"Ark of Genesis" was never more perfect
than during those evil days when she alone
rode amid darkness and tempest on the
deluge be meath which all the great works
of ancient power and wisdom lay entomb
ed, bearing within her that feeble germ
| from which a second and more glorious
civiiiZ alton vas to spripg.
| What, for instance, WAS the feet of this
CO. calit d ignorance and superstition upon
| that country from which we derive our
language and our lawsf Fur six hundred
years, from the time of it's invasion by
Julius Ce sar, it had remained under the
dominion of the C@ sars, and notwithstand
| ing the enlightenment of the Augustan age,
and the splendor that succeeded it 4; not
withstanding the efforts of the Romans to
civilize and advance that province; not
witbstanding their founding of its cities
and their building across it of that triple
wall, without progress, it remained in
| barbarian, and enchanted by the reli-
gious power CT what was indeed dark
as well bloody superstition. But the
instant it is touched by the spiritu al
power of Rome, how magical is the change
Pope Gregory the First, justly called the
Great, sends St. Aug Istine with 40 monks
across the channel, who lands in Kent; and
Al. -
were miracuioneiy, in two years converts
the whole island to the Catholic faith.
And that Britain, which had almost dIsap-
peared from history behind the clouds of
barbarism, re appears as England, pros
porous and merrle England, "resplendent
with the light of that Catholic truth which
shone unclouded for Thousand years and
prepared her for that glorious march
which has placed her in the front of ma
tons and made her the most stable gov
eminent in the world. Who that has taken
the trouble to enquire does not know that
it was the influence of the Church and it's
hierarchy that softened the dire and
mutual hostility of the Norman and the
Saxon, at length united item, and the aid
: of that hierarchy was signally efficient in
extorting from King John at Runnemede
the great charter eff English liberty, to
this our great Republic is heir.
Aud what does history tell US was the in
huence of this 80 called ignorance and
superstition upon another historic land.
! Once it was the ultima thule of the world
the barbarous island home of q race of
untamable pagan warriors, pirates and
marauders. But, about fourteen hundred
years ago, Pope Sylvester sends there q
Catholic missionary. l believe those of
our Protestant friends who are sceptical
about St. Peters faith make no question at
all upon st. Patrick's. Yes, Catholic
missionary, who had acquired the language
of that country while be was a slave upon
l it's coasts, to which he had been carried in
his youth by a band of pirates from his
native Brittany.
And again, as if miraculousy, those
bloody savage and pirates all but stimuli
: taneously kneel before the cross of Jesus,
8 and accept the faith which he established
3 upon earth. And a hallowing grace de-
t ,ecends from Heaven upon that land to ex-
, pei forever from it every poisonous infiu-
ence, and to inspire those virtues which
: have made it's manhood the synonym of
valor, generosity and genius, as is its
0 womanhood of truth, tenderness and
b purity That martyr people whom suf-
fering for their faith has consecrated
In their native emerald isle of the sea, de-
Q spoiled by coDfscations, entbralled by in
q justice and tormented by temptation, they
0 have, nevertheless, in cheerful poverty,
8 showed the world how to live with honor
g by oppression from the green fields of theiI
9 Fathers they have also taught mankind the
J., pricelessness of their fidelity to the land OF
Q their adoption. For who does not know
. that wherever the fate of the exile may
f have cast them, there, in peace, civiliza-
: tons grandest monuments bear witness tc
: their mighty tolls, and in war, freedoms
j hottest battle grounds are watered by theiI
8 blood. My friends need not name thai
h hsllowed country. In the glowing words
d of Lacordaire, these lips are not pure and
n ardent enough to pronounce that name
10 but heaven sees it, and the earth knows it,
70 and every generous country opens its
% heart, to bid it's children welcome, Oh
J. heaven that sees Oh earth that knows
70 oh all of you purer and worthier than 1
10 name that country for me-name it-yes-
10 say Ireland!
g 1t would be easy but useless to swell the
b catalogue of benefaction, which this Church
F. through every Obstacle, and in every age
has showered upon mankind.
Ca lnA h,k, a~-,t,s r,S-I,