The Jersey City news., 1898-03-26


IN 4 strange land, he game with. the in-
his sDul, with the power to offer tine HOLY
Sacrifice of the Mass, to pronounce the
words of absolution over the repentant
sinner to stand with sacramental grace
at the bedside OF the dying, and this was
enough To his astonishment. he WAS re-
ceiyed wherever he went with almost q
royal welcome from people who valued
their religion above all earthly treasures
and who never thought Of asking whence
he came. They knew he was a priest ana
they at once loved him and bowed Pc,
meath the sweet yoke OF his sacerdotal
authority His first mission was in Ho-
boken with Father Cauvln and then Tor
short time he was professor at seton
Hail. But he felt so strongly attached
to those among whom he had seen such
signs of faith and reverence FOR clergy
that he wished to return to missionary
work among the people ne taaq naa ai,eaay trans
ferred to a curacys under the venerable
priest, the Grand Old Man Of the priest
hood. who stands at the mead oi tne
clergy Of this diocese in years in wisdom
and in virtues. his intimate and we'll Pc
loved FRIEND Father Senez. But his
career. properly speaking began when ne
came to lay the foundation. Of new
angel st. Michael -,
The older people of this parish wen
remember him as he came to them;
and vigor, and he never tired OF telling
how they rallied about him as one man
and with overfiowing generosity aiueq
him IN the construction of his beauti1ui
church, which will be to future genera
tions fitting monument to his zeal
by this time he had gained complete
mastery of the English tongue ana tney
who heard his sermons and Instructions
even in those early days. testify tnas
they displayed a wealth OF thought ana
a depth of reasoning that made lnem
masterpieces of pulpit eloquence. Early
and late he was on hand laboring inde-
fatigably for the welfare of his people
have often heard the old people say
of his youthful activity. for, those who
have grown up of late years only knew him
when he was already smitten with the
dread disease that brought him 70 pre-.
mature death. There was no department
of parish work in which he was not
deeply interested, and his regret was, TO
the end of life. that his painful afhctlon
had prevented him from carrying out the
plans he had formed to make this the
best equipped parish of the diocese. But
while attending to all the various duties
leisure to utilize in wider sphere the
vast knowledge he had acquired by dill
gent study and he began the publication
of essays and books. Which merited the
attention of scholars everywhere, and
drew forth the warm encomiums of such
men as Orestes Brownson and Father
Heeker. He was a master of scholastic
philosophy, and no priest in the diocese,
possibly no priest in the whole country.
was more thoroughly familiar with the
works of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The deepest and most philosophical
subjects claimed his attention. Catholicity
and pantheism, the harmony between
science and revelation, the mysteries of
astronomy were the chosen topics. but
the favorite books was that which he
wrote on the knowledge of Mary.
His devotion to the Blessed Virgin
was as simple, as child-like as that of
tender babe at his mothers knee yet as
strong and vivid and intellectual as that
of Augustine or Bossuet.
His purpose in writing these books
was no desire for personal fame or ag-
Agrandizement but a truly Jealous wish
the interests of the cause to which he
had consecrated his life. to promote the
honor and glory of the Catholic faith.
His fond hope was, as he himself ex-
pressed it, that younger men, born in this
land and men familiar with the genius
of the people, might be led to emulate
in their most attractive form the diviae
teachings of Jesus Christ and thus TO
hasten the coming of that day when the
genius, wealth and enterprise of the
American people will all be united in a
common effort 30 promote the glory of
God and the supremacy of the Catholic
faith over the minds and hearts of men.
Now he has gone from among us. The
active brain is at rest The busy hand
lies lffeless. A generous heart is cold in
death. But one consolation is that his
spirit still lives; that the soul which took
such delight in higher studies is soon to
attain the source of all knowledge and
WISDOM the enjoyment of that happiness
which eye hath not seen nor ear heard
nor hath it entered into the heart of man
to conceive
His earthly sufferings and sorrows are
all at end. Could he speak to us from
the dead he would but ask us to pray for
his soul, that the time of his expiation
may be shortened and that he may soon
be at rest in the bosom of the Eternal
Father
"And he would warn us of the hollow
ness and insuficiency of this life and bid
US put our hopes and trusts in the life
to come. He enjoyed many honors in this
world he held many of the highest offices
in the Diocenes; he was in the Council
Of Baltimore; he wrote the catechism; he
was made a Doctor of Divinity by
Georgetown and Domestic Prelate by the
us, are but trifles, not to be considered in
comparison with those which God has in
store for those who love and serve him
faithfully during their earthly career.
Remember. above ALL the destiny for
which you have been made, he would say
to us, that you are called to be fellow
citizens with the saints and domestics of
God These were the words addressed to
the early Christians by ST. Paul. They
are words which he often quoted and they
were undoubtedly, words which in large
measure shaped the destiny and course of
his life-called to be fellow citizens with
the saints and domestics of God-and
they are words which have no doubt he
would bequeath to you as his farewell
address for the guidance of your lives.
ITO enable you to obtain this ideal was
the purpose for which your pastor labored
and spoke and wrote. In the fulfillment
of this duty he died faithful to the end
to the lofty purposes of his youth. He
was q great priest, for he was holy.
learned, Jealous; he pleased God in his
days, for his life and character were
above suspicion or reproach, and we may
well believe that before the Supreme
Tribunal he was found just. He could say
with perfect truth: 4 have fought the
good fight, l have completed my course,
[ have kept the faith; and we fondly
trust and believe that he heard from the
Divine Master: We'll done, good and
faithful servant Because you have been
faithful in a few things l will place you
over many. Enter into the joy of God. -
CATHOLIC CLUB.
A lecture was given last Thursday even
ing at the Catholic Club on Jersey ave-
nl1a hv the Rev Rather Synotf The at