The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-08-06
MINNEAPOLIS PAUL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1892
less true that there is great difference
between them and him of whom we
H1s oBJECr TIE CIR ANDEsr.

between them aud him OF whom w
speak.
HIS OBJECT THE CIR ANDEsT.
The eminently distinctive point il
Columbus is that, IN crossing the i'm
mense expanses of the ocean, he followed
an object more grand and more elevated
than the others. This does not say
doubtless, that he was not in any way
influenced by the very praiseworthy de-
sire to be master of science, to we'll de.
serve the approval of society, or that he
despised the glory whose stimulant is or.
dinarily more sensitiveto elevated minds,
or that he was not at all looking to his
own personal interests. But above ali
these human reasons, that of religion
was uppermost by great deal in him,
and it WAS this, without any doubt,
which sustained his spirit and his will,
aud which frequently, in the midst of
extreme difficulties, filled him with con-
ISOLATION. He learned in reality that his
plan, his resolution profoundly carved in
his heart was to open access to the gos-
pei in new lands and in new seas.
This may seem hardly probable to
those who, concentrating all their care,
all their thoughts in the present nature
of things, as tits perceived by the senses,
refuse to look upon greater benefits.
But, on the other hand, it is the charac-
teristic of eminent minds to prefer to
elevate themselves higher, for they are
better disposed than all others to seize
the impulses and the inspirations of the
divine faith. Certainly, Columbus had
united the study of nature to the study
of religion, and he had conformed his
mind to the precepts intimately drawn
from the Catholic faith.
It is thus that, having learned By u.s.
tronomy and ancient documents that be-
yond the limits of the known world there
were, in addition, towards the west large
tracts Of territory unexplored up to that
time by anybody, he considered in his
mind the immense multitude Of those
who we're plunged in lamentable dark
ness, subject to insensate rites and to the
superstitions Of senseless divinities. He
considered that they miserably led a
savage life with ferocious customs, that,
more miserably still, they were wanting
in all notion of the most important
things, and that they were plunged in
ignorance of the only true God.
AIMED TO PROPAGATE CHRISTIANITY.
Thus, in considering this in himself, he
aimed first Of all to propagate the name
of Christianity and the benefits of Chris
tian charity in the West. AS fact, as
soon as he presented himself to the SOW
ereigns of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella,
he explained the cause for which they
were not to fear taking warm interest
in the enterprise, as their glory would
increase to the point Of becoming immor
tai if they decided to carry the name and
the doctrine of Jesus Christ into such
distant regions. And when, not long af-.
terwards, his prayers were granted, he
called to witness that he wished to OBJ.
tain from God that these sovereigns.
sustained by his help and his mercy,
should persevere in causing the gospel
to penetrate upon new shores and in new
lands.
He conceived in the same manner the
plan of asking Alexander vi. for apostle
lie men by letter in which these words
are found: 81 hope that it will some
day be given to me with the help Of God
to propagate afar the very holy name of
Jesus Christ and his gospel" Also can
one imagine him all filed with joy when
he wrote to Raphael Sanchez, the first
who from the Indies had returned to Lis
bon, that immortal actions of grace must
be rendered to God in that be had
deigned to cause to prosper the enter
prise SO we'll, and that Jesus Christ could
rejoice and triumph upon earth and in
heaven for the coming salvation of in
Vulnerable people who previously had
been going to their ruin, That, if &C.
lum bus also aeks Of Ferdinand and Isa-
bella to permit only Cstholic Christians
to go to the New World, there to acce,-
crate trade with the natives, he supports
this motive by the fact that by his en-
terprise and efforts he has not sought
for anything else than the glory and the
development of the Christian religion.
This was what was perfectly known to
Isabella, who, better than any other per-
son, had penetrated the mind of such a
great man; much more, it appears that
this same plan was fully adopted by this
very pious woman of great heart aad
manly mind. She bore witness, in
effect, Of Columbus that in courageously
giving himself up to the vast ocean he
realized, for the divine glory, most sig
nal enterprise, and to Columbus himself,
when he had happily returned, she wrote
that she esteemed as having been highly
famnlnvod fha rnannrcns wl,;ah oho ho1