The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-14
theory concerning the Saviour's life and work.
Master Renan will naturally come in for his

share of reproof in this connection.
The Reverend Father has an expansive
nature nature "a 2 sturdy frame, short, nervous and
sparkle with real Gallo animation. Every
movement which he makes betrays the man Of
action. 1t is dificult to imagine how it is that
| this man, who seems better fitted to fill the
| place OF great fuancer or perhaps a general,
than that of quiet submissive monk-in no
| sense his own master-sbould ever have en- tered
holy church. Bnt he has said Of himself that rel-
| gion is his natural vocation. When he was
| only eight years old he had already began to
| organize masses and PROFESSIONS. His brother
was 8 priest, and it seemed to him perfectly
! natural that he should also enter the priest.
hood. He admits that he did not care for the
| absorbing life OF the cure. and that be adopted
| the Dominican order from choice, "withouJ re-
| gently to an interviewer the other day, 81 am
no great Manitou among my brethren simply
| because preach in pub blic and refute error. !
am compelled to do the same service as ell
other Dominic0ns; am subjected to the same
punishments; / need the same dispensations,
and can only leave the convent with special
authorization"
The worthy monk labors tremendously. he
rises at six (Which is not at all amusing in
Paris in winter,) works without ceasiug Hntil
noon, breakfasts with the other monks, goes
back to work at one o'clock, and stops only in
| time to take light supper at six and then to
| betake himself to his cellular devotions. His
| they seem to have been calculated even to the
! half minute, and they are studied in every
| part. Yesterday, March 10th, Father Monsa.
bre began this years series OF sermons-
who are headed by Ernest Renan. All aristo-
cratic Paris and half of the literary world of
this cosmopolitan capita! were present. 1t
| must startle even elastic tenn permanent as
that of the reverend Dominican to come from
the severe shadows of his cell into the carven
| pulpit -fe-the grand church, sHa to fad
himself surrounded by thousands Of beautiful
! women, and by the celebrities OF all the various
estates in society /; to scent rich perfumes OF
Howers and essences, and to see toilets which
might we'll have driven st. Anthony to despair.
FRENCH CATHOLIC oRAToRY
of the better Gloss is, as every one knows, dra-
matic, full of cumulative effects, often start
ling. Father Monsabre's method does not
differ from that of other great speakers. He is
his audiences to tears. Catholic preaching
| seems to let expounding entirely alone, and to
| confue itself to assertion, logical support of
! the assertion, and then thunderous command
and earnest appeal to believe that which has
| been asserted. Aonsabre aud Fathers Roche,
| Baudrey, Marcel, Bourgeois, Ward, Faysat,
Mareehsi. Mares .s and Conrad all great preachers.
other. At the close of one of his sermons,
Monsabre is so fatigued that he can scarcely
| stand The perspiration flows from his brow
| his limbs tremble he seems TO have exha1ed
! some portion of his soul in his earnest, striv-
| ing speech. Yet it is doubtful if he succeeds
| in overcoming, in the minds of the Partisan
public, the assertions of NJ. Renan, which are
made in very matter of fact way, and in q
harsh and unsympathetic voice. The Catholic
| preacher is something of wit. Speaking of
| Renan 8 desire TO be member of the Academy
one day, some one asked the monk if be
| wouldn't like to be one Of the immortals also
| was his answer. "If the chair were offered
me should accept it with proud gratitude, as
Father Lacordaire did his, but would not
solicit it, l do not aspire to honors on earth,
When have lived my life hope that God will
call me to Him, and then shall indeed be i'm
mortal I rather think tie shall be more than forty
up there"
As soon as the battle is thoroughly started /
will inform you. N. Rensn, who is publishing
much of late, makes no secret of his intention
| tions.