The Irish standard., 1891-08-15

cruel cOrgalr infested all Cno seas. Cne
tournament, the jOust aud the trouba
dour inhamed Youthful souls with the
dreams Of romance and the Moor, eve,
threatening the fatherland, from time
to time, raised his dark visage abovetne
southern horizon. Had young Dominic
in whose veins ran the best blood OF
Spain hearkened to the instincts OF
flesh and blood he undoubtedly on ar
irving at mans estate would have fol-
lowed at such period the profession OF
arms. But great though the glory might
be that he would thus achieve it, would
havs fallen far short of that which the
Church has accorded him on earth and
infinitely short OF that which God has
given bim in heaven. Fortunate was
it for him that he was given sanity
mother, who having had a premoniti0n
OF MS future greatness guarded his
youthful steps with the most jealous
care. Hers IL was to infuse a tender
love OF Diety into his Youthful soul, hers
to teach him even in infancy a love for
tbs modification of sense as exemplified
in the infant Saviour, hers to consign
him il his seventh year to the care OF a
venerable priest. SO that he mi ight grow
up near the sanctuary OF God in an
atmosphere OF godliness. Well for him
when tha day Of trial came that the holy
exercises of piety had taken deep root
in MS soul. Tha5 trial did come when
in his fifteenth year he was sent to the
University of Valecia. The tan years
there spent we shall pass over with the
remark that though arid wind may
blow and garish sunll ght fall the lily
preserves it's spotless whiteness because
its roots are deep III the cool water be-
meath. Soamid the licentiousness Of a
great city and the dangers Of university
Life, Dominic maintained a stainless
name because his body was chilled by
the most rigid discipline. His prayers,
his fasts and his vjgils were rewarded
not only by a clearer insight into tbs
truths he studied but by "a vocation
from On high to follow in higher
sphere alG III closer nnlon the divine
mas ter. Accordingly at the age Of 25
years he returned TO his home but only
to renounce it and the world NhOse
snares he had seen and feared. Being
ordained priest he f1ed all distinctions
and under the bishop OF Osma who had
organized his cathedral chapter under
the austere rule OF St. Augustine he be-
gan to manifest such exalted virtues
that bis companions held him in awe,
deeming him more an angel than man.
Prayer was his food, detachment from
earth his aim and thus in sanctlty OF
life he passed his days. aud more and
more the angelic radlum OF his counten
ance betrayed the holy dre that burned
within, land they saw his face as if it
were the face OF an angel.''
But ia another country, with people
speaking another tongue, lay the future
mission OF the recluse Of Osma. The
Britannica is authority for the statement
that there is no historical connection
between PrOtestan tisrn and the antece~
dent herasies, but DO this at it may, it is
certain that anyone who raised his hand
against Catholic unity in the middle
ages has now defender and protection
In every Protestant writer. Hence
veil is drawn over the enormities OF the
medieval heretics and men who created
dissenslon, maligned tbs ho]iest rites
and threw the burning brand into the
sanctuary, are upheld as martyrs, if per-
chance their violence was checked and
their crimes against public peace pun
ishec. The way the history of the AL
bigenses Of Provence and Languede in
the south of France is perverted is a
example. Instead of being
martyrs to truth as they are often rep
resented they formed perhaps the most
turbulent OF the medieval sects. I'M
bued with the doctrine Of manlchaeism
or that there are two supreme beings,
one good aud one evil, both worthy OF
supreme worship, it is easily seen into
what excesses they must have fallen.
Whether they practised virtue or fell
into vice became a matter of moral in-
difference to them as in either case they
honOred a supreme master. And as the
free rein IS given to passion,
man falls into degradation lower than
the brute so there is no describing che
confusion that was the necessary result
Of such perniclous error. Families
were divided, hatred engendered and the
clergy who Ell ndeavored to bring back
the erring were prosecuted and the
churches despoiled. A call to arms
rang through the fair provinces. Pro-
yinces and vassals and whole cities took
sides and fratricidal war threatened ex-
and desolatlon to the fair
est portion OF Europe. Thither st.
Dominic more by accident than by de-
sign, coming with his bishop and view
ing the pitlful cond ltion into which this
people had fallen, realized at once that
here was the work for which the Holy
-