The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-24
Plus X. and IRELAND.
London Tablet.

| SooSHfdS do ~ SttthfbBfy fSCdtf tHS tecu
| liar and exceptional relations, apart frop
his ordinary position as Supreme Poptiff
| which throughout his life connected Piul
| TX. with that country.
When Plus TX. was elected SoveIeier
Pontiff, on the 10Th June, 1886, IrelanC
was about to undergo visitation unpar
| alleled in European history-the famine
which by it's direct and indirect operation
through death and emigration, reduced hel
population, then more than eight millions
by three millions of souls. O'CopneII in
shattered health and overwhelmed with
afliction at the gigantic and appalling
calamity impending over his country, pro.
ceeded to Parliament towards the close OF
January, 1S47, and after a solemn appeal
for food for the starving millions, left for
Rome to pay homage, In the name of
| afflicted Ireland, to the young Pont ff
Passing through Paris O'Conrell was wait
| ed on and addressed, On the 2S.h March,
/ by the Committee for the Defence of Re-
! ligious Freedom, the deputation including
Montalembert, Lacordaire, and many of the
leading Catholics il France. The conctu.
sion of the touching address delivered by
monta'embert may be recalled as pertinent
to the relations between Ireland, FRANCE.
and the Holy Father.
1--WE are come to salute you, the Liber-
ator of Ireland-of that nation which hsg
always excited in France frsternai feelings
But you are not onlv The N0n Of one Na-
ION you are Tie Mar of all, Christead0a..
Your glory is not only Irish, 1t Is Catboi;c.
Wherever Catholics begin anew to prsc-
tlce civic virtues, and devote themselves to
the conquest of their legislative rights,
under God it is your work. Wherever re
lIgion tends to emancipate itsolf frcm tie
thra,dom in which several generations of
sophists and lawy ers have placed it TO you,
after God, it is indebted. May that thought
fortify you, revive you in your iDfirmities,
and console you in the atflic iction with which
your patriotic heart is now overwhelmed
The wishes of Catholic France, of truly
liberal France, will accompany you in your
pilgrimage to Rome. The day OF your
and most iIiustrious Christian Of our age
shall kneel at the feet of Pcntiff who ro-
calls to our recollection the most brilliant
period OF the Church, will be G. truly mo-
mentous event in tho history of our time.
II in that Instant of supreme emotion your
heart should entertain u thought not eb.
sorbed by Iceland and Rome, ren4en. Der us
the homage of the affection, respect, aud
devotion of the Catholics af France for the |
Chief of the Church could not be better |
placed than on the lips of tie Catholic |
Libera'or of Ireland"
Denied this consO alton, O'Cornell's |
dying utterance at Geroa was "My anul |
to Heaven my heart to Rome any body |
to Ireland" & solemn testament that s.rfE-
ipgly indicates the devoted loyalty of ages |
to the Chair of Petor, and the love aud at
tachment, to the close Of his memorable |
Pontificate, of the Church OF St. Patrick to
Plus TX. When the Liberators heart wac |
borne to Rome, attended by his son and ny |
the Rev. DR.. Miley, the reception which |
they met with filled the Irish nation with q |
gratitude that is imperishable. They were !
presented. in the QuiIinal, on the l2th of
June, 1917, to his Holiness by the Very
Rev. Mgr. Cullen, then President of the |
Irish College, now Cardinal Archbishop OF
Dnblin and while the Llberator's your geat
con, Daniel, was EisSing she foot OF his
Holiness, the Sovereign Pcntft said
'Since that happiness l had so louged for
was not reserved for me, to behold al d en-
brace that hero of Christianity, let me ct
east have the CONSOLATION to EN- brace hs
scn." As Mgr. Cullen stated al tho mo-
nent: "Had the Pope been the bosom
riend of the Liberator, and the ardent ad-
n;Ier Of his career, how else could he speak
If him than he has done 7" Dr.. Miey,
describing the Holy Fathers reference to
reland, said: "His expressions breathed the
most Intensely patornal sympathy, and,
While he spoke of the sufferings of the Irish, |
If their fidelity, Of his solicitude and
lis hopes regarding them, it was beau
iful and impressive beyond my power
o describe, to observe that counte.
lance which, like a mirror, reflects
he charity, the compassionate care,
he fortitude, with hundred other divine
entimeDts, which are never dormant with
n his breast" Tho magnificent obsequies
f the Liberator were celebrated for two
lays in the Church of st. Andrea. The
u blime Grafton of Padre Ventura, which
occupied two days, translated into every
anguage, rang throughout Europe. The
Holy Father said 1.-THE achievements of
is wonderful existence l wish to be ceTe-
rated and made known to the world-not
bat this is necessary, because his grand
areer was ever in the face of teaven-he
ver stood up for legality-he had nothing
o hide; and 1t was this, with his unehakeu
delity and reverence for religion, that
ecured his triuInphs."
AS Pius TX. opened his Pontifcete with
owe for Iroland and admiration for her
reatest son, 80 he closed it. His Holiness
ent Mgr. Nardl to Duhlin, to represent
i'm at the O'Connell Centenary, while Mgr.
linaldini represented the Cardinal Prefect
the ProPaganda, and the Papal Benedic
ion was sent to all who participated in
hat great festival. Thpae tonchiuo and |