The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25
SKETCH OF THE LIFE
REV. JOHN B. DUFFY, C.SS.R.
By one of bis Pupils and Frisnds Priest Of this
city,
OF TIE LATE

2s 1926, near Cootohlll. in the County cf
CavaD, Ireland. His parents were good, prae--
soal M h. as 0sing h
Church, they emigreted TO the United States,
and took mp their residence ia she city Of Phil
adslphia, State Of Pennsylvania Father Diary
His good and Fervent mother Lost no oppor-
tunity of ipstilliDg piety and self denial Into
his heart, even in his early infancy; she wae
eight years, he was admitted TO serve mass In
st. Johns Church. As for himself, he was
overjoye ed, and his fervor and devotion when
Holy Sacrifice were remarked by all, and were
q source of great consolation TO his good
mother.
when old enough, he was sent to school, and
there being ss YET no Catholic ,acheEl III Rhiie-
delphIn, he attended the pubiinnnE9tls There
kssnaasle enpid progress in his aynAiae fdghe
was endowed by Almighty God With mptp tlAn
ordinary talent. In the course of tinrst thanks
to the instructions and admonitions ef his good
mother, he became disgusted With tho public
school system: He saw nth, that u was devoid
ly q system that no Catholic should co1nton-
ance by attending its schools ; he was more
over shocked At the unbeoomlng and irreligious
led astray for want of salutaEy religious irfla-
ences and instruction.
His experience in the public schools was Of
great benefit to him later in life, a. 10 demen-
strated 60 him, better than any theoretical
argument could, the necessity Of religious In
struction fof children, the Intrinsic uusound-
ness Of excluding religious from secalsF edaoa-
ton, add the absolute necessity Of establishing
good Catholic schools.
How often did he not assert, later Ia life.
that had it not been for the fervent piety Of his
good mother and tho special caro- she took Ia
mis- reli Gious training, mot only by instRuoting
him berself bot by causing him TO attend Sun
day school sud the Church service regularly
fol influence Of compositions devoid Of religions
training. and consrq uently would never have
become q practical Catholic.
Thanks 70 HE good mother AND En- his CORE
spoDdence with divine grace. young John
Duffy became . real model for boys. His
mother testi6es that no was always good boy.
obedient to Sll her orders, respectful 20 her and
to ell his companions, never ct any time or
under any circumstances giving them IN angry
word or look. He was constantly kind and
obliging to all his brothers and sisters.
He was never known 80 tell . lie, not oven
to escape punishment. He conld always b
found at home, when not in tcbool, pufsHinR
his Btndies, in chnroh engaged in bis devO-
tioDs. He was Obliged to perform oonslderabls
work at homej this he did With the greatest
readiness and cheeRf0lness, never having been
known to utter murmur or complaint. After
working and studying ell day, be was wont 90
spend his evenings either in renewed study or
ia reading good books. he was naturally Of ,
very lively disposition, and did all ia bis power
to render his parents, brothers and sisteF8
cheerful and happy.
when nine or ten years old he accidentally
cut his knee-cap with o Ratchet. This accident
was not only source OF RIeAb auuettnR 20 MIN
but soon rendered bis condition 90 very PRE-
carious that, 20 save his life, the surgeons
deemed It necessary to amputate the iDjureA
leg. To this neither he nor bis mother Wag
wiling TO snbwit. The latter especially, fnii
Of alarm, had Recourse TO prayer since all
natural hopes were gone, and God condeoesnded
to reward her faith, for, In aBswet 20 h0R
prayers, God caused . physician to present
himee1f who, after exaninlng the Wound, un-
dertook 20 affect cure without having re-
course to amputation. His services were
thankfully accepted, and in . short timO be
was compIetely successful. Father Duffy lost
bis knee cap, bot not until the latter years Of
his life, when he walked with great di6aOulty,
did he experience any Inconvenience from lee
loss.
As Father Duffy grew older he increased in
learning aud piety. He was intru6ted with
tual and dillgent in the discha Ego Of the duties
IL imposed upon bin. Bot all this did NOS
satisfy HE heart, for he felt that he wa called
to something higher and more Bu5liEoo For
some time he bad experienced secret longing
to become . priest, Snd thus give himself en-
tlrely 70 God as an humble lsbOrcF In His vine
yard. At last this longing Of his heart became
so strong and irresistible he could no Longer
doubt iEs origin. He nov felt certain &c 1as
the voice Of God. In this OpiniOn he Waa con-
frmed by the decision Of his eonfessor, %
whom he bad opened his heart.
Ia obedieuoe 30 the call OF God be pre-
Archbishop Of BaatiM0Fol, aud osf0d 20 g adj
mttted into So CHARLES, SsminsgY g at1GGns.
The Bishop peEempesEilg asnssd Ills F4gas
aaginE s1R1 2he l1alF Hnq e.1sev e9er
as Et rtft u ~ s|sE l18
go r. - n -l|it ~ tNNa