The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-12-01

the corruptops of the age" There are
THREE CURRENTS IN THE WORLD
which are hurryiDg the souls of men towards
the final precipice-tbree terrible agencies
which are dragging modern society towards
the fgreat abyss, viz: selfishness, avarice and
seasuality. Eveiy man, to-day, is for himself
and for few belonging to him; his unceasing
cry is:"I wish to be rich, richer still, the
richest, If possiblei I" and while grasping every
thing for himself he has frenzy for enjoy
ment, for the uncontrolled qualification of the
senses. The rich man is selfish, and SO is the
poor man; both are unwilling to make the least
| voluntary sacrid dce for the sole good OF others:
The rich man is avaricious, 80 also IS the poor
one; the first Is exsoting, the other envious
and revengefal. The rich man lives to graf. f.
sensual desires in food, in furniture, in gar
ments, in all things forming his surroundings;
80 also does the poor man to the extent OF his
power, for he longs to tear down prosperity
which he can not enjoy, and to deprive Others
of what he can not himself possess.
| The Order of Carnelites not only silently
protests against this three-fold evil but it
| offers voluntary stonement for all its wild :
spread devastation.
| BY the daily miracle of its N members' lives, it
| asks of God to pardon the crimes of meu be-
cause of the voluntary sacrifice, ODE dfence and
chastity of few holy Victims Bot this sacri-
foe, obedience and chastity are carried to a
height and depth and breadth of heroiem
which only God can understand.
When any one voluntarily suffers for an
other, He who in His infinite sacrifice 80 ffsred
for all, will not refuse the blessing asked, will
not deny the grace impiored, will not with
hold the mercy sought.
Our own eloquent Archbisho explained
most feelingly the efficacy,
THE NEED OF TIE CARMRLITR's PFAYkR.
"They pray" be said, "for those who never
think of praying for themselves, for those
who pray with little faith and zeal, for those
who have not time to pray-in q word, for all
who need the prayers Of the just"
But some one says: eff we ask them to pray
f'r us, to obtain some special favor, we must
give them money, and this looks like paying
for prayers"
No. we do not pay for prayers OCT aims,
which we are not even asked to give, which
no one Is obliged to give, is bat help to ena-
BILE these sainted women 30 live so that they
may pray for all.
The very thought of these hidden, holy lives,
50 foil of sacrifice and scffering, so replete
fume Of flowers, sweetening our lives and en-
nobliug our existence. If we are weary with
the tolls and cares of our daily lot, let us re-
call that of the Carmelite Nun and our own
will seem easier to bear. If we are tempted
to sin by
VANITY, luxury, PRIDE OR sKSsUALrTY,
let the thought Of their purity, their humility,
their sufferings, their obedience, fortify our !
souls and Danish the temptation.
What are they not doing for us Well, their |
pI esence among us will answer this question, |
and we will learn in time to appreciate them |
as we ought, and to value their services by /
the divine measure given by Our Lord from |
the altar of His Infuite Sacrifice.
In the meantime, the Sisters are grateful for |
all that has been done to aid them in their |
foundation here. Ttaey desire me st particular |
~ to return thanks to all those who assisted in !
the ceremony of Sunday. To Mr. Cartier, foE |
his direction of the choir, and to the kind |
ladies end gentlemen who Gang the several
parts of the programme. To Mr.. Layton, for F.,
many kindnessses, also to Messrs. Bowling,
Isascson and others for many favore. To Mr..
Werlein, for the generous use of his organ. To
Mr.. J. 8. Bradley, for kind services. To Messrs.
Theard, Metteye, Bremen and Lavillebeuve,
for their admirable singing, as we'll as to Miss
Msstin and the other ladies who assisted her.
The collection taken up on this occasion
amounted to S92 1O-a large sum if we consi-
der how few are the wants of the Sisters but
very small when we calculate the expenses of
painting, carpenter work, etc., necessary to fit
up the Convent according to the requirements
of their Rule.
We know of no more appropriate words with
which to close these remarks than these of the
eloquent Father Felix:
"We know that there is one thing in this
world which is never lost for sooiety-the vol
untary sacrifice of hearts that make themselves
for the salvation of humanity, and consequent
ly Carmel viewed in in its true light is, in the
moral order, the conservative force of modern
society and the strongest bulwsrk of Christian