Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-10-28
St. Peters Church,

At no period Of life does the thinking
! Christian mind realize more wildly or
more foreibly the majesty and magllifi-
cence 81 Christ's Church, than at the
time OF an episcopal visitation in o
parish, when city or village is blessed
by the presence Of q successor ofthe Apos-
ties, when the Episcopus which means
the oyerseer OF diocese inspects the
spiritual state OF q congregation, when
the Supreme Pastor like the Good Shep-
herd, mitre and crozier or Pastoral staff,
stands in the midst of His flock instruct
ing, comforting and blessing the lambs
and sheep Such were the three golden
days for the faithful OF Eagle River, when
our Bishop, Mgr. Messmer, surrounded
by his Vicar General Very Rev. j. J.
Fox, Rev. Goepfert, Revs. 9. " Van
Rooswalen, Of Rhineander, and George
Sale, OF Amigo, dwelt in our midst,
when our children and old people were
confirmed, orr new statues blessed, and
our bell christened Sebastianus. Seldom
does Bishop reside SO long III a parish,
and we natural feel proudof the honor
conferred on our parish by His Lordship
OF Green Bay. At such period the
church nc III ever appears as the
mistress Of the world and teacher OF
nations. The Church Of Christ founded
Oh Peter, with her Divine Constitution
Immortal laws. The Church that has
liHumined and civilized the earth has
nothing to fear from the discoveries CT
our modern Savants, whose learning, Il
sound, will only bring accidental lustre
to The Infinite wisdom Of God and to the
IinfalIible teaching Of His Church. The
greatest minds that have honored
humanity were disciplesof Jesus Christ,
the Son Of God nade,manforo redenp-
ton, and children OF His one, holy,
apostolic and Catholic Chnrch. Outside
the Roman Catholic Church no religion
can claim to the title of q religion unless
they believe in the admirable Mystery OF
the Incarnation The Church OF Christ,
sprung from heaven loves light and
truth which she is commissioned to
diffuse all over the globe. This Divine
Mission she has ever. since the days OF
St Pete. slli s-i,la q v'ituries, faithfully
fulfilled Bible i'll hand, tradition as her.
guide and led by the Holy Ghost, Ell
couraaing, protecting, defending and
cutiyat ting DO Il the Divine and hums a
sciences which, like two distinct rays,
proceed from the same eternal Light and
Truth The Church, az the Bishop said,
is immoveable and immortal in our
midst. "Behold aln with YOU all days
even to the conservation OF ages" What
do behold standing alone, untouched
ever vigorous amid the wreck and ruin
81 ages? Christ's one, true Church ever
triumphant on her unshaken Rock, laid
by a Divine Hand, Notwithstanding
hell's fury, the worlds tempests or the
world wickedness. The Church, like
Noah S Ark, withstands all schisms and
heresies, and conquers all enemies. In
vain do her proud opponents OF the pres
enthour renew against her the insensate
attacks of her former foes. The Jews
shall sooner rebuild the fallen city OF
Jerusalem than Satan, with his earthly
agents can remove one stone from the
Redeemers ever living fortress against
which 'sthe gates OF hell shall never pre-
vail The Son of God rules from ocean
to ocean; and to the uppermost parts OF
the earth; He is the King OF heaven and
earth and with His Cross, which We
should never be ashamed Of, will, on the
last day, come and Judge the living and
dead-al OF us.
Christ built His Church upon Cephas,
which means Peter, the Rock. st. Peter
the Prince OF the Apostles, it is not too
much to affirm, was, perhaps, the great
est man that ever lived. He has been
taken into partnership by Jesus Christ,
as no other man was for the salvation
and sanctifcation of the world. No
conqueror" says Cardinal Vaughan ever
dCllGNGkl ~ NidS-0Dl CC1i CSllC CO p1Ct4NA0
triumph as he has done, through the
peaceful operations OF grace. No one
ever was the Father OF SO many children,
in every race and cline, for they far sur
pass in number the children OF Abraham.
Never has there been 50 great and holy
family as that of Peter. What benefact-
ors to mankind has he not produced?
What heroes? What saints in every cent
ury? His sons and daughters which you
are, are ever passing through the world
on trial pilgrims towards a home. a
kingdom, not made by hands, but eter-
nal in heaven. No king ever founded
such dynasty as that Of Peter-for we
NAV speak of Peter and his successors,
since he was taken up and associated
with Christ in the foundation Of the
Divine Sovereignty which we call the
Papacy. 1t has again and again saved
society from paganism and barbarism;