The Irish standard., 1890-12-13

/ NOfre Uame, exClalmeQ u6 III IeImlli
ating his last conference in the famou
church; YOU who have borne my word
to so maav hearts and minds until thel
without God.aI shall not be separated
from you in thought. At the memor'
of what you have been to me. | do bn
pour myself out before you now as tn
children of Israel poured themselves ou
when in exile they thought Of Jerusa
lem"
Pere Lacordaire's successor in Notr'
Dame was Father. Felix. an eloquent
Jesuit, who, during his occupancy o
the metropolitan pulpit, wOrthlIy up
held its reputation and won the name
of modern Bourdaloue, so eminent die
he show himself in Oratorical gifts
From HIM the honor of being the Len
ten preacher of Notre Dame passed tt
the unfortunate Pere HYaciDthe. OF
whom the world has already heard toe
much, and who doubtless, in his present
degradation, remembers with the keen
est regrets the DAYS when he wore the
frock OF a Carmelite friar and was hailed
by Catholic Paris as another Lacor-
daire. After his ]amentabIe detection
from grace the archbishop of Paris
turned anew to the Dominican cloisters
in his quest of Lenten preacher, and
the man of his choice proved TO be Pere
M0nsabre, who recently resigned che
pulpit, after having brilliantly occupied
it for score of years. This Domini-
can, who was born in 1927, began his
ministry as a secular priest in the
diocese of Blois. and he had attained his
28th year before the idea of joining the
Dominican habit possessed him. He
entered the n0vitiate at Chalais in 1856
and of that act OF his life he has said:
II became Dominican to seek perfec-
tion and make sure of my salvation. ]
am not aware that had any talent as
a preacher when was a simple vicaire
at Vend0me. owe all the eloquence /
possess to St. Thomas, to our illnstrious
order and to LacO1 daire." After finish.
ing his noyitiata Fra Monsabre did mis-.
sionaEy duty in various parts of France.
and his fame as an eloquent preacher
soon attracted public notice. He went
over to England one year and delivered
q course of Lenten sermons In the
French Church OF the Annunciation
which stands near Portman square, in
London, and In 1870. after Pere Hyach
inthe's detection. Monsignor Darboy,
then the archbishop of Paris. named
him the Lenten preacher OF Notre
Dame. The breaking out of hostilities
that year between France and Germany
interrupted his conferences. but did not
stop his preaching; and, in ls7l his ser
mons at Metz created such q popular
furore that the French citizens, who be-
came enthusiastic over his patriotic ut.
terances. carried him in triumph
through the streets of the city, which
act. ON their part, compelled him to
hurrledlv quit the town, in order to es'
cape the attentions of the German au.
thorities. OF his eloqence writer who
had listened to some Of his Lenten SER
mons said: ''It is not only that the
words of Pere Monsabre, as thev fall
from his lips, are listened to by church
going Catholics; in their pamphlst form
they quickly circulate through Paris,
and are discussed in various classes OF
society. The truth is, Pere Monsabre
is a power. STEPPED IN the lore Of
schoolmen, the essence of his teaching,
as might be expected, is drawn from St.
Thomas Aqainas. But his ideas are
conveyed in such an attractive. and, at
the same time, so modern, form that
his hearers know they are listening, not
only to well-yersed theologlan. but
also to one who is in the van Of modern
thought. This accounts for the number
of men of letters and Of science VINO
each year take their places round his
pulpit. To the doctrinal value Of his
teaching. his sermons In their printed
form bear testimony; while for proof Of
the practical efficacy of his work We
have only to look at the paschal com
munions at Notre Dame."
1t was not until last year that this
eloquent Dominican declared that he
would. at the close OF his Lenten con
ferences, retire from the pulpit he had
filed almost uninterruptedlY since his
first appointment thereto in 1870.
Rumor has already named as his sue.
cessor in Notre Dame. Pere Didon. an
other Dominican. whose fame IS bril-
liant orator has constantly increased
during the ten or twelve years that he
has been before the public: and whose
literary attainments are sufficiently
proven BY the pralses which are just
now beng bestowed upon his latest
work. notice Of which appeared In the
last issue Of the Republic. Pere Did0n
has not yet passed his 0th birthday; he
ID tall, robust and commanding IL ap-
pearonce. and one Partisan has said Of
him that Il he had his cassock of he
would 10 taken for 8 cavalry 0meer by
4