The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-03
DEATH OF BISHOP ROSECRANS.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

1
| died at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Colum
bus, at forty ve minutes past ten last night lie
! was seized with hemorrhage of the stomach on
| Sunday night, just as he was about tt enter
| the Cathedral for Vesper service. He was
forced to return /, his apartments, and suffer
ed three attacks during the night. At seven
| hemorrhage. This prevented the Bishop fro N
attending the meeting of the clergy of the
diocese, called for eight o'clock that forenoon,
| for the appoin tmeut of the Judices Causar um
recently ordered by the Apostolic See. At noon
| the Bishop had fifth attack, which left him
rather weak. Doctor Hamilton, who was in at
tendance npon the patient. es well as those
about his bee side, entertained the strongest
hopes OF his recovery until seven o'clock
Monday night 2lst inst At that ,iue there
was sill another severe homorrhage,
friends very little hope of his recovery.
The doctor warned tie dying Prelate,
shortly after eight O'Clock, nat his end was
near. He requested that o priest be sent
for. Father Els administered the sacraments
of Confession, Holy Communion, Extreme
Unction and the Indulgence in articulo moItis.
Revs. Ahrens, Gallagher and Gull were present t
at the bedside until death came. He was able
to speak until very near the last, and had full
control of all his mental faculties. The death
creates proud sensation here, and the news
spread over the city very fast, even at the late
honr that death took place.
Bishop Rosecrans was born at Homer, Lick
ing Co. O.. Feb. 255b, 1927, of Protestant par
entage His mother was a rand-daughter of
Timothy Hopkins, one of tue signers of the
Declaration of Independence. He received part
of his education at Kenyon College, an Episco.
palian Institution, which has given several
eminent converts to the Catholic Church. In
1845 prayer aud a diligent search after truth
brought him to seek Catholic Baptism. From
the life giving water of that sacrament he drew
into his soul that robust faith which always
distinguished him. He was intensely Catholic
in all his feelings as well as thoughts; Papist
as bis former cO-reiigionists would say, to the
core of his heaftr- -Thst-b#+sisg- attachment
ha fo, ~ hroa thnl -,
every word tEat he said and ilIumined every
line Of his writings. He LETT Kenyon College
for St johns Fordham, where be graduated
called to the priesthood, he was sent to Rome
by Arch bis hop Purcell, as Levite of the Dio-
ceee of Cincinnati. In the College of the Pro-
psgands among the hundred of students that
throng its lecture halls, he had no superior in
Intellectual ability. The honors Of the famous
school of theology were showered upon him,
aud never were they carried with more meek.
PROMISE, Twenty.six years of pr;estly and
episcopal life testify that the fruit Of the pro-
mise surpassed ex pect ,ticn,
, The young talented convert was ordained in
Rome, in 1852, and Immediately returned to do
the work of q faithful priest. For some
months after his arrival he was pastor of the
Church Of st. Thomas, then just purchased
from the Canpbellites. He was after wards,
for many years, one of the pastors of the Ca
thedral Of Cincinnati. While engaged in
ministerial work, be devoted the talents which
0OQ mao given nlm 10 Tue INSTRUCTION OF I16
clerical students of the Dioceean Seminary. In
theological erudition for which his mind was
peculiarly fitted he had in this country few
equals, and certainly no superioIs. No heresy
searching, analytical power of his naturally
strong and admirably trained mind. His
healthy, ID atured intellect discerned instantly
the faintest shadow of error that crossed the
domain of Catholic dogma. He was school,
man. to whom Albertus Magnus wonld have
poir t I'd with pride. He was a theologian,
And his soul loved the faith in all the fallness
aud accuracy with which his calm, probing
in tellect Grasped it's far reaching truths.
During seven years residence at the Archie
piscopcl residence he made daily journey to
THE seminary as theological professor. There
are hundreds Of pres,s, bone flied By his learn
irg, who will not fail to pray and cffer the
Holy Sacrifice for this luminous teacher of
dogmati; religion and this model of all priestly
virtues.
In 1859 Archbishop Porcell opened a college
tion with the seminary. DR.. Rosecrans was
appointed President and continued to reside at
ne college uutil it closed at the begin ming of
he civil war. Others, to be counted by hun
dreos. some in the ministry, come in the secular !
walks of life know as we'll as we, who had |
the honor and good fortune to be of his |
pupils, the bright, treasured history of those |
days We gather wit.I hr.rts saddened by our |
ruler, d learned teacher, 3 wise, prudent coun- |
s9llor of our young manhood, TO lay upon it |
tne trloute or our reverence for Che priest, and |
tae tribute of our gratitude for the benefactor |
The debt which taose whom Mt. st Mary's |
sheltered in thcss days owe to DIR. Rosecrans, |
is great and sacred. Daring these years his |
active mind was also engaged in editing the
Catholic Telegraph His journalietic work could |
never be mistaken. Il pore always the stamp |
of a mind rich in thought and of crystal clear
ness. He always wrote with enviable fresh
ness and vigor. Though grace of style was !
never wanting, the strength of his mental |
manliness made him in all con troversies dan
gerous antagonist. The faith never had in this !
country more able defender.
On March 25th, 1862. DR.. Rosecrans was oon-
secrated Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati For
six years he aided the venerable Archbishop of
Cincinnati in the episcopal work of his Dio-
cese. This association would have lasted until
death, had not the Council of Baltimore
thought it best to divide the Diocese of Gin.
cinnati and erect new See at Columbus.
Bishop Rosecrans was appointed to rule this
new Diocese and took possession in 1865
In this now position, the blessing of God
prospered every one OF his undertakings.
Churches and schooIs were rapidly built to
meet the growing wants of the new diocese.
tn ha ,le ha J.