The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-24
East HOURS OF CARDINAL CULLEN.

IL was lbbL Woch tudG HIS CulO0UCt
presided at the meeting of the Irish arch
bishops and bishops which was held il
Dublin, and all expressed their Joy on tha
| occasion at seeing him so well restored tx
his former health and vigor. During the
days Immediately preceding his demise he
was, as usual, indefatigable in labor, and
bis thoughts were wholly engrossed with
his duties in regard to the Church and the
welfare of Ireland. This was indeed the
whole purport of his lfe-to watch over
the interests of the Church of God and the
interests of his native land and he used
often to remark with particular satisfaction
that it seemed peculiar privilege of Irish
men that, loving religion, they should love
their country at the same time. One of the
last matters on which he was engaged was
to make some necessary preparations that
the centenary of st. Lawrence O'Toole
might be celebrated with befitting splendor
in the year 1880, but when speaking of this
he used to add, Isl Deus dederit Uitans,"
"If God wills me to live 80 long :" and this
he sometimes repeated three or four times,
as if he felt conscious that it would be his
own lot to celebrate that centenary in
heaven. His last pastoral was read in the
churches of the diocese on Rosary Sunday.
In it he invited the clergy aud the faithful
to unite in q solemn TIE Deun in thanks
giving to G I'D for the abundant harvest of
the present year. and the other many bleS-
sings W hich had been bestowed on them by
God. He added su exhortation to be mind
full of death, aud to be at all times prepared
to welcome it. This thought for many
months seemed to be ever present to his
mind, and he often introduced the subject
in his familiar intercourse with his more
immediate friends.
Ga the day which preceded his demise he
spent several hours transacting business as
usual. One of his Wears general was en-
gagged with him on diocesan matters for O
old 10 inin
to find him 80 full of strength as he ap-
peared to be, and SO anxious about the
smallest details of diocesan interest. At q
later hour some of our leading Catholics
also visited him, and with them he dis
Guessed the public questions of the day with
his usual affability and precision of mind.
AS he sat down to dinner with his secretary,
he became suddenly weak, and, being IN
able to partake of any food, he after a
little time retired to bed. During the
night the weakness increased. Next morn
ing, Gath inst, his physician visited him at
nine o'clock, and told him that it was a
serious development of disease of the heart,
from which he had been 30 long suffering.
He did not, however, give auy intimation |
that the end was 80 near at hand. 1t was |
the feast of st. Raphael His Eminepce |
always cherished special piety for this |
and sometimes he used playfully |
70 remark that, no matter how skilful the |
physicians of this world were, be trusted |
d uch more in being freed from his malades
oy this heavenly physician, and 60 it was
hat under the patronage of St. Raphael be
" as to be freed from the sorrows and in
irmities of this mortal life. At one o'clock |
his attendants remarked that his strength |
seemed rapidly to fail. With calm serenity |
aud sweet resignation he received the init |
nation that hfe was fast ebbing away. |
After little while he intimated his wish |
DSr,nN Loo 60
fessor, who was in attendance, administer |
ed to him the sacraments of Penance, the |
Holy Viaticum, and Extreme Unction. |
With the greatest fervor and recollection |
he Joined IN all prayers and responses of
the Ritual. To the very last moment be
retained his consciousness, and was quite
free from all pain.
A little after two o'clock the Moet Rev.
DR.. McCabe, Bishop Assistant, and the
Right Rev Monsignor Woodlock, Vicar
General, we're at his bedside. He wished
them to recite the Litauy of the Blessed
Virgin, and himself intoned the autiphop,
"Subtuum pr4 3idium confugimus sancta
Del Genitrix. 1--WE fly to thy protection,
o holy Mother of Cod" He repeated
aloud the responees to the Litany, till one
of those present, fearing that the exertion
was too rnch for him, asked him to &C
company the prayers only with his heart,
and he at once obeyed. He made contin-
udl VI Auo OaCIcu ~ aAo OI eeuS,
for which he had a special devotion, never
allowing a day to pass without reciting
the Litany of that thrice Sacred Name.
Repeatedly, too, he invoked the aid of the
Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, and he
added, also, the invocations Of our Irish
patrons, St. Patrick, St, Brigid, st. Mala
chy and ST. Laurence O'Toole. The last
words which he was heard to pronounce
were the name of St. Laurence O'Toole,
the patron of the archiepiscopal see. His
last action was to make the sign of the
Cross, whilst his confessor administered
the last absolution to him, and all present
thought it incredible that he could have
strength to make 80 fully aud 80 perfectly
that sacred sign. 1t was precisely ten
minutes to four o'clock when he placed his
hand upon his forehead, then on his breast,
then on his left and on his right shoulder J;
and ut its close, while uniting his hands on
his breast in attitude of prayer, he breath
ed his soul to God. Thus closed life 80
full of blessings to the Irish Church.
For three days the remains lay in state
in a temporary mortuary chapel at his
| Eminence's residence. The Office and
prayers prescribed for such a solemn occa-
! sion were rected at intervals by the vari-