The Irish standard., 1897-11-06

shadow OF the cross, under the confus-
Ing clamor Of calumnious tongues, the
church has impaired the living princi-
pies of unchanging truth to the minds
Of men, and has healed the wounds of
sin-laden hearts by applying the heaven
given power of forgivnig sins to the
Borrowing souls of men. The charnel
houses of death. slckening contagon in
hut or howell, have no terrors in any age
or In any land for the ministers of this
divine agency In dispensing relief to the
human soul. The Catholic priest will
do and dare all things. and never con-
slider himself hero. in order to bring
spiritual succor to needy soul. The
world knows Of nothing that can he
compared to the heroism of Christ's
priesthood in caring for the immortal
souls Of men.
This limitless zeal. however, for the
welfare OF mans more precious part,
does not by any means imply contempt
for. or disregard for the needs Of the
body. God the author of this life, as
well as the life beyond the grave The
Savior of mankind made it a test Of
mans love for him and his eternal
Father. that practical proof be given
OF unseltish love for suffering humanity.
AS we have done it unto one of these
little ones. so We have done it unto me-
1 was hungry and yc gave me to cat,
l was naked and We clothed me- From
the days of the catacombs the Catholic:
church has been faithful and true ,u
every need of suffering humanity What
part OF the civilized world does not bear
testimony to her marvellous work of
practical benevOlence? She las in
ped and maintained a standing army III
heroic volunteers, ever active. constant
~. not spasmodcally, engaged in the
Godlikc labor of instr,cting the ignor-
ant, clothing the naked. feeding the hun
CRY and comforting the wretched. Hos
pitfalls. orphanages, homes for the aged,
asylums for the outcast, associations
for the relief of human misfortune, pro-
claim in every city of the world, the
fidelity of Christs church to his example
OF compassionating the multitude.
There Is not single misfortune to
which humanity is heir that is not al
lcviated by the practical charity of the
Catholic church.
The children of this sympathctic
mother of Borrowing humanity are not
content with generously sharing their
worldly goods with the victims of mis-
fortune; they give themselves, in the
sprlngtime of life, in the bloom of youth,
all the rest of their days. by solemn
vows of religion. In humility, obedience
and poverty. to the needs of suffering
humanity. The conservation of self to
the care of the weaker brethren, is
found nowhere, as IL is constantly
known, as part OF the ordinary work
of Christ's religion. in the Catholic
church.
The carly councils of the church, as
early as the fifth and sixth centuries,
took every precaution, by DEGREES and
positive commands, to care for and pro-
tcct the interests of the sick and the
INDECENT. During the ages of faith, ages
that have been characterized as dark
by those who have misunderstood their
chivalrous spirit, and who have not
known of their unsctisl bcnevolcncc,
the church proved its practical interest
In the workingmans welfare, by foster
ing guilds and associations of working
men of every craft and skill known to
those times. Converts and monastrica.
homes of industry, science and Christian
piety. were dispensaries of relief to the
needy. and solved the problems of social
science. Pauperism was unknown in
those days of generous Catholic charity.
The disgrace and despair OF our modern,
matcrlalistic life, the unreclaimable
tramp. hopeless, constituencies, degrnd-
ed and filthy. was unknown when the
inconsistencies fed and clothed the deserv-
ing poor The poorhouses OF modern
times, these cheerless centers of soullebs,
hcartless public relief, were unnecessary
when voluntary Catholic charity claimed
1t as a privilege and {, right to minister
to Gods suffering children. The ch,lrcl,
Influenced her faithful children to see
in tho needy the image of him who in
sured Il heavenly reward for every act OF
kindness shown to the unhappy victim
of human misfortune.
"Thc church has blessed voluntary
poverty, that Is, a surrendcrng of fond
attachment to worldly ties, for the sake
of him who had not whercon to lay
his head. and who promised that the
poor in spirit should inherit the king
dom of heaven But the church has
never regarded penury or pauperism as
blessings, and has done her whole duty
in caring for the necessities Of this life,
while devoting her first and best cncr-
giles to the more important duty OF d.
recting the children of men to their
final destiny. the uncnding life to come"
Next Week at the Bijou.
"At Gay COney Island will be seen
at the Bijou again next week with a