Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-08-04

he VIII do when he grows up is q matter 10
which, In all probability, be has not given
very much OF even such immature copF3d,
Grafton as is possible to his boyish mind
IL is question too far removed as yet from
the domain Of the practical 30 occasion him
anxious days and sleepless nights" or sr-
en- passing hours care. An unconscious
Actor on the principle that "EuficIent for
the day is tie evil thereof, !" he is far more
taken up With the contest for school prizas,
or the prospects Of his baseball nine. than
with remote contingencies concerning his
cATter In manhood. Bis constant nssocIA-
lion with his pastor and The frequent part
he takes In all the services Of the church,
can hardly fall in time 20 suggest 70 him
tne Priesthood 80 the goal Of his ambition.
The idea FIRST c9nes to him in the guiss Of
vague Day dream, 6 castle In the Eir rAth-
er than 8 real possibility of a genuine hone.
and is probably scouted hs preposterous on
the ground that be is not good enough 20
be priest.
When from II 10 i6 years Of age the al
Tar boy usually enters upon q new phase Of
HE development. Recognizing the more
than ordinary hrilliRney Of bis pErtN. his
teacher and pastor EdVise his parents 20
give him the benefit Of compete oourse
Of Etudiet; and the schoolboy becomes a
college student. As knowledge and pssiy,
according TO st. Francis Of Sales, are The
two eyes Of the perfect eoclessEst5c, 80 talent
and virtue are two requisites essential 30
the youth pTedeEtined 20 the vrIesily dse-
nifty: and In point Of fact, or typical altar
boy ts not more surtly The good boy Of the
parish than be is The smart boy Of The
school The change from home 10 q COL
lege is, IN many respects, s revolutionary
one.
Oar grown-up altar boy begins The third
and last stage Of his deFelupnsnt-he en-
ters the seminary. The mos; important
epochs IN the EeminArisn's career are his
half yearly examination, and his ''osll" for
orders, OF bic receiving notice that be ik 20
advance another grade At the Christmas or
Trinity ordination. The brarchet OF &C.
clesiss'ical fci'ns Ere sufficiently nuner-
Gus and difficult to warrant HE feeling
some Nlasi nervous a. the spprcAch Of The
tx.mirAtiou. Not until he hiss portd In
turn over Holy Scriptures, D. grnAtlc and
Moral Theology. Canon Law. EoclesiastioAi
History. the Councils, Sacred Eloquence.
the L.sn1gs snd RnbrscE. and reviewed
tn N all Ei.h urfisgging industry, Can be
face tie ordeal without fear or Rpprehen-
sion. HIS calls" On TIE csntrRry are
syCus events, st snbiec.s for the cungra-
tulsii0Ds Of friends ard bis own acts of
Thanksgiving. His promotion 10 the cub
ceAcoasblp - the real cliakcierio tf his
career, for The reception of that sscued OF
der sets him apart from The world and its
bG-iae.s-- cOnstcrRting him for ilfe TO the
seIvioe Of God and lis altar,
Dsacenship follows, with fuller powers
and higher privilege: ard finally dswns
the day when the long-tTitd Rspirsnt re-
cs!ves The pisDiiu3e Of Holy Orders. With
impressive sClemnity the ordination rite
proceeds, until at length the bishop pro-
Eolnces these words Of Tremendous i'm
pcEt; ''R-o-ivs power to offer sBcTifoe to
q ID and to celebrate mass, and cur altar
b bsy is a priest forever. II is no eXBggsrA-
iiun 10 say that words ATe Inadequate TO
describe the varying emotions that thrill
his ul as be fully realizes the tE Eslicdness
al his office, and the incyuaprehensible aner-
cy eDd GDod1tss q I'D IN tndowlug him
therewiib.
Instead { attempting Al analysis Of his
sentiments, let ne rather accompany him 20
bis LONE where, on the following Sunday,
In The old familiar parish church, he for
the fret lime cffprs up the unbloody sEcri-
fice cf the spotless Lsmb: and let us take
ou- leave os him a.. turning TO the people
with right hand rAiEed in benedictiun, his
eyes involuntary yTeEt On ope count nance
radiant, among all the thronE, with the
trAnshguring 2loFy Of iusffeciRble gratitude
and Joy. Two glsnces fash a Inersage Of
esrth's most perfect love, and surely the
SerAphim misbt envy she scsiAcy Of that
moment where first from The altar of his
boyhood's service the new priests blessing
falls upon his mother.
ARTHUR BARRY o'NEIL. c. S c.