The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-10-02
alone able to work such miracles Of

Ao uCall VI UklC dUlSl SlClNOu W
the prayer Of His children, and God
dwells amongst them, by His teachings
His power and His presence. that men |
may be healed. God is the Father OF
all, our Father All men stand in need
of Him. The peoples under eastern or
western skies must seek His grace
would they live And would they see
His face they must, under the leadngs
Of His divine voice, under the mystic
charm of His power, and in the light aid
encouragement of His presence, take UP
the cross and tread the crimsoned foot
steps that lead to the Calvary of re
demption. For the reason that He. in
infinite wisdom, chose to withdraw His
visible presence from our midst He
must commit His work to other hands
and fortify those hands with fullest
power to conduct it unto fruitful issue.
For there are lost still to be found, sick
to be healed. blind seeking sight. and
sheep, not of His fold, to be brought in
that there may be but one fold and one
Shepherd. For this work amongst
men and for men, whom shall He choos,
SO likely to carry out His designs save
elect men amongst His brethren, save
men in sympathy with human needs
and with His warnings to satisfy them
From Christ Jesus this wondrous pow
er proceeded to the first bishop; of the
church, and thus qualified, and com
manded to teach all mon to the end of
time, they transmitted in like manner
the same power and authority to other
bishops. Nor has the long line of sue
cession from Christ and His immediate
ministers been furnished in way to
bring blush Of shame to the Christian
cheek, or distrust to the Christian heart.
In blood-staneu mission fields, in the
foremost ranks of the armies of civilz-
alton, in every field Of Christian effort
and wherever the malignity OF man has
interposed the fire, or rack, sword 10
whelm the chivalry of the cross in
death, the successors of the apostles, the
bishops Of Christs church have stood
the towering landmarks of the ages.
The witnesses of their testimony are
found in the cathedrals, the universities,
the schools, the refugees for the dis.
tressed, that Christian lands hold as
part of the precious heritage of count
less saints.
Brethren we commemorate today Tie
dauntless sanctity and The apostolic la
boris of enc of the illustrious bishops of
the primitive church.
1t is the feast of st. Matthew, the
apostle and evangelist. whose labors in
Judea. Persia and Parthia earned him
and many souls everlasting crowns.
This anniversary of his release from
toll and of his summons to participation
in the glory and joy of His Master is
made the more gladstone and memorable
for us in that we have been privileged
to assist at the laying on of hands
upon one called to assume the burdens
of the episcopate. called to enter the
ranks of that divlnely lowered body
charged with the instruction and gov
eminent of the church.
You are able to give testimony that
lue SciecllGH lOf llllS ONCE WdS HuL
effected without long continued prayer
gravest consideration and counsel.
People, priests, bishops and pontiff
have shared in the solemn deiberaton
which has 50 happily resulted in the
choice of the newly consecrated bishop.
And the remembrance of these months
spent in prayer and counsel by the peo-
pie Of his new charge. and by his elders
in the "household of faith" will furnish
him courage and comfort in the time
of suffering and trial that comes to
the servant as it came to the master:
and this comfort and courage will como
to him the more abundantly for the
laudablc reason that he sought not this
high office, but was called by tie voice
Of authority and therefore, Of God. The
consciousness OF his own weakness
which springs out of the humility upon
which great sanctity is based. has ever
within the hope Of securing generous
and element answer to the needs Of his
people. 1t is such humble. trusting
childlike faith that wins recognition
before angels and men, and that linds
itself. sooner or later, called upon to
enter the field of enlarged and higher
self-sacrifcng obedience that has ever
characterized his life, merit and must
win strength for the fulfllmcnt of the
Weighty obligations he is assuming. Rich
though his endowments in virtue. learn,
ing and zeal. yet there is naught in him.
self, and of his own. upon which to
rely in the contest for souls Tito which
he is being drawn. Christ alone must
be his support
AS with every other bishop Of the
church his word must be forged out OF
the word OF Christ. his strength drawn
from the sacraments Of Christ, his bread
OF nourishment found in the body o.
Christ. That these graces may he his
in superabundance and to the end, you
in union with Holy Mother church
through the stages of this sublime rite
of his conservation, have most fervently
rrayed.