Daily Republican., 1885-08-05

praise and placed In iis heart end of
ten on his lips the words Of the apostle
"When you have done all things thai
have been commanded say, we are un
profitable servants"
| Unselfisbnes5, which made him give
rather than receive, which kept him in
the humble house where he was SO
happy and contented that only the re
iterated demands Of you, his worthy
people. brought him to the more healthy
and commodious dwelling which your
generosity erected for him in q word,
life 80 full Of merits and good works,
80 bright even In its simplicity, 30
noble even In its lowliDess, stretching
out far and wide in its influence over
others while yet so hidden-and 30 pure
that in the long priestly career Of 81
years breath of suspicion or of scan.
dal never tarnished his fair name, and
name which this days cono0urse, and
| these numerous clergy and the tears
OF his people proclaim blessed, and q
memory that for all times will be held
in bened iction.
And he was faithful until the end.
As long as he had strength he labored,
he preached, he offered the holy sacri-
flee. We could say Of him what was
said OF Simon, the high priest: "When
he went up to the altar, he honored the
vesture of holiness" (Eccl. 80 12).
Like simple child, he weekly con.
| fessed to his assistant the faults OF
which he was guilty, and weekly did
he receive the encharistic food which
he had himself carried 80 often to the
sick and dying. He resigned his long
life into the hands of his creator, aud
full of years and full of merits, he died
the death of a just and faithful servant
of God.
Such has been the life, such the death
OF this most worthy priest. If 1 have
praised him, L feel that in doing SO
have but voiced the sentiments Of this
entire community, irrespective of creed
or nationality. IT I have praised 1t was
not because thought this praise would
bring peace to his soul, but that you
might be edited and consoled. The
dead need not our praise but our
prayers. We must not forget that the
dignity of the priesthood carries with
II Its corresponding weight Of obliga-
tions; that IL the account which each
individual soul must give to his Maker
of every thought, word and action ia
something to be dreaded, the Judgment
of the shepherd who. will be held &C.
cOuntable for the thousands of his flock
may well cause anxiety. And deeply
was this truth impressed on the heart
of our dear departed. For when during
his last illness, friend spoke TO him of
the consolation he ought to feel at the
sight Of the good effected by his minis
try In this city, his answer was Yes,
l have tried to do my duty, always
bat l have made some mistakes, un-
willingly, If you like, but have made
some mistakes, and 1 fear that the
judgment of the great Searcher and
Judge above will be more severe than
that Of my friends on EARTH"
II, then, my dear brethren, you would
show your gratitude to your second
father for all the benefits conferred ON
You by his ministry, pray for him.
Amid your tears and grief pray for him.
Yoa will bueimitate in this the touch
Ing example of the church herself. For
while she manifests her grief for the
loss Of her departed by the mourning
emblemB with which she drapas her
affairs, whileshe commands her priests
TO approach the altar clothed in black
robes, she does not forget the needs of
the soul just called away.
Nay, 30 intent is she in her prayers
that she seems 10 forget altogether the
living, that she may beg mercy for, the.
dead. Thus in the holy sacrifice which
is offered for his soul, the oelebrant
omits the usual opening prayers which
refer to the living. Instead of crying
out, as in other MASSES, Lamb of God
who taketh away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us who live, he says
Lamb OF God give him rest, give him
eternal rest. Nor are the people dis.
missed with the usual blessing, but in
stead fervent prayer is offered for. all
departed souls May they rest in
peace"
Pray, then, for your father that eternal
rest and peace may come unto his soul
Pray that the period Of his exile may be
and that he be no longer kept
back from the vision of his God. Pray
that the gold of his many virtues, puri-
ned from the stains which human
frailty cast upon it, may at once pur-
chase for him eternal glory. Pray fer.
vently, pray often. And while you
pray cease not to bless and cherish his
memory. Hear and heed his last part.
ing exhortation. 1, beseec you, be We
followers Of me as l, am Of Christ. o,
Father, who hast been to 80 many OF US,
thy people ami thy former pupils, Q
model, an instructor, guide, II thou
art already with thy God, pray for us
who still battle for, the cause Of God his
church, aud our own souls, that our
life and our death may be like thine
that both children and father may be
one day united in the Kingdom Of hea.
ven. -.a'.