The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-09-01

reads like chapter from some book OF
adventure Probably to Father Woulfe,
s. j., more than to any other man was
due the splendid nature of the resistance
which Ireland offered to tie infamous
agents of the still more infamous Eliza
beth, when they sough ght to force the new
heresy upon her pesple, and intruded
within her sanctuaries the false and las
civious renegades into whose sacriligious
hands they gave the things of: God.
Father Hogan tells how .in 1850, Car
d1nal Morone, founder of the College of
Modsna, and protector of Ireland, seeing
that Elizabeth had declared herself in
favor of the new heresy, Thought it nee
essary that pious and prudent man
should be sent to Ireland to examine the
state of religion, to confirm laymen and
eccleeiastics in the practice OF piety and
obedience to the Holy See, and to pre-
serve the irish people in the profession
OF the true faith of their fathers.' Father
Woulfe was marked out by his national
ity, as we'll as by bis talents and his al
ready capable service Of the church, to
take such q mission. The Sovereign
Pontiff desired to consecrate the bishop
and to send him to Ireland with the full
rank and title of apostolic nuDcio; but
the general of the society reg uested that
he should visit his native land simply as
one of it's members, in order that he
might with greater freedom and with less
risk of arousing the hostilities OF the
enemies of religion. The Pope acquiesced
in the. wisdom Of this advice, out gave
him plenary powers, commissioned him
to examine what sees were vacant, and
to recommend to His Holiness proper
persons to fill them," while his superiors
enlarged him to visit the chief Catholics
of the kingdom, and especially the four
principal princes Of the lords, to visit all
the bishops and parish priests, and even
to risk his life il necessary in the dis
charge OF his duties for the lory of God
and the salvation of souls" Nobfy anu
worthily Father Woults fulfilled the
obligations of his office. Leaving Rome
on Aug 11,156O, he did not reach Ireland
for more thar four months, being delayed
in his journey across Europe by several
perils aid mishaps. On Jan. 81, 1861, he
reached Cork and commenced the work
which he had been called upon to under
take.
From January, 1861, to. October, 1872,
Father Wolfe remained in Ireland, but
for five weary years OF this period he
languished in a noisore dungeon OF
Dublin Castle: and this despite the Of
forts of the Pope through the meditation
of the King of Span, then on friendly
terms with Elizabeth, to secure his re-
lease and that fhis illustrious co laborer
in the task of defending Ireland against
heresy, the sanity DR.. Creagh, arch bishop
of Armagh and prlmate of all ireland
Finally Father Woulfe escaped from
prison, but DR.. Creagh, who had been
removed to the Tower of London, died
in captivity after prolonged martrydom
Before his arrest, however, Father
Woulfe, like Primate Creagh, had done
much towards carrying out the Pope's
INSTRUCTION. He had selected occupants
for the vacant Irish sees, who by their
constancy and service to the church bore
testimony to the accuracy and conscien-
tiousness of bis inquiries. He had
travelled east and west, north aud south
throughout the island, and investigated
as reported on the state of It's ecclesiast.
ical discipline, had examined into the
cases of non resident prelatee and in
effective priests. Furthermore, in obedi.
ence to Papal orders and in conjunction
with the primete, he had labored to
establish grammar schools, monistaries,
hospitals and university.
Even now the reader stands amazed by
the grandeur and completeness Of the
scheme which the Pontiff had devised
for the uplifting of Catholic Ireland, and
the carrying out Of which he had en-
trusted to Father Woulfe. After his
escape from Dublin Castle the heroic
Jusuit proceeded to Spain, but before
leaving the country had the happiness
of receiving the recantation of and read
mitting into the church the Protestant
bishop of Limerick, an unfortunate priest
named Ca.hessy, whom the prospect Of
temporal advancement had, in the reign
Of Edward vi, induced to .forswear his
allegiance to the true faith. Father
Woulfe, however, revisited Ireland sew
eral times afterwards, and again under
went incredible dangers and hardships
III his efforts to maintain that commun.
ity of interests, beliefs and customs be.
tween his native land and the center OF
Christian faith which is essential to the
existence Of Cathoicity.
CAUTIOUSLY enough, no details are avail.
able as to the exact manner Of Father
Woulfe's death, or as to whether he died