The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-07-23
PERE MONSABRE.
The Great Dominican Who Nav be
Made Cardinal at the Next
Consistory.

Made a Cardinal at the Next
| Consistory.
THE BOSSUET OF FRANCE,
He is not Only an Accomplished
Orator But is Also a Profound
Theologian.
The report current to the effect that
Pere Monsabre is to be created cardi-
nal at the next consistory will naturally
awake anew the interest of the public at
large in the career and mission of that
distinguished preacher, says Eugene
Davis in the Boston Republic. Leo
XIII. has a very high opinion of the
revered fathers oratorical talents. Car
dinal Parrochi once said of him: ''Mon-
sabre is not only an accomplished orator
he is also profound theoligion.' The
consensus of Catholic opinion on the con-
tinent OF Europe gives to the illustrious
Dominican the reputation of being the
first of modern pulpit preachers. Paris
discovered him, and pronounced him to
be the Bossuet of the nineteenth CEN
tury, and Rome subsequently subscribed
to that pronouncement. Monsabre was
over 40 years OF age before he became fa-
nous. Two decades of his life after he
attained his majority we're spent away
from the public gaze amid the cloisters
Of Dominican monastery situated on
the coast of Brittany. Here he lived in
comparative obscurlty and in almost ab
solute seclusion, devoting, most of his
time to study Of dogmatic theology,
and to prayer and meditation. Here he
perused and reperused the fathers from
cover to cover, gathering that wonderful
wealth of knowledge of sacred truths for
which he became SO famous in after life.
st. Thomas ''the Angel Of the Schools
was his favorite author. These studies
were at times diversified by bouts of elo-
cution indulged in by the reverend pas
tor in his cell during recreation hours.
Without the aid Of any teacher Pere
Monsabre acquired facility of graceful
gesticulation and modulated intona-
tion Of voice which equipped him admir-
about to enter.
When his omniverous taste for theo-
logy was satiated, he went forth from
the monastery, and preached in various
churches throughout the provinces
His first efforts met with but little sue
cess. His discourses were too profoundly
learned for the country audiences which
he addressed. His choice eloQuence
seemed to soar over their heads without
touching their hearts. Yet some mem
bers of these congregations, however,
appreciated his oratory; and his name
began to get whispered about as that of
coming great preacher. The newspa-
per shortly afterward took him up, and
a few sermons which he preached in
small church in Paris brought him per-
manently before the notice of the eccle-
siastical authorities Of the French capi-
tai. The chair of Notre Dame happened
to be vacant just then. The last ecc]esi-
astic who had filled it had proved him
self scandalously unworthy of it's sacred
traditions, and was at the time actively
engaged in attempting to create schism
in the Catholic Church in France. This
man was none other than the notorious
Pere Hyacinthe, who for brief period
had charmed the ears of thousands in
the historic cathedral by as limpid flow
of eloquence as ever rippled from the old
oak pulpit through its corniced aisles.
In Pere Hyacinthe's audience was a
pretty and fascinating young widow,
Mrs. Loyson by name, and an American
by birth and blood, who was so taken"
by the preachers oratory that she sought
an interview with him, and having abb
jured Professionalism was duly received
by the reverend father into the Catholic
Church. His sermon on the occasion of
her semi-public conversion was veri-
table masterpiece of classic diction.
Some few months afterwards, however,
the enchanting widow, q convert herself,
converted her guide, philosopher and
friend into suitor for her hand-to the
shame and scandal of the faithful.
Throwing off his cassock as Roman
Catholic priest, he married the fair
American, and added to the grave in.
delicacy OF his conduct by tacking on to
his name that of his ''wife's'' husband
In or about the same time, Pere Hya-
cinthe Loyson repudiated in public the
dogma Of Papal nfallibillity and founded
what he calls Gallican Catholic church
on the dowry OF dollars which fell into
his possession with the pretty Mrs. 10y
son. The new fad of Gallicanism -four
| ished for time, but it eventually landed
Il rER Sssg