The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-18
AND JOINED THE FRANCISCAN ORDER.
Compiled All Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland.

Inc NeN. M. J. Brennan was born III
the historic old city OF Kilkenny, ireland,
about ten years before the close OF the
last century, says p. ]. Haltigan in the
Church News. He was the son OF re-
spectacle tradcsman, who provided for
the boy the best education his limited
means enabled him to procure The you'll,
showed early signs of superior intelli-
Gcncc and aptitude of capacity, as we'll as
exhibiting decided vocation for the
priesthood. He completed his studies in
an old academy OF the town, and soon af-
ter was ordained by the then Bishop Of
the ancient See OF Ossory AS priest he
won rapid distinction, both rs an elo-
qucnt preacher and as Il man of high
scholarly attainmcnts, and the celebrity
ne thus obtained proved too much for his
stock OF common sense to endure. En-
tcrtaning the fullest faith in his own abil
tiles. he allowed himself to be carried
away by cgotism and scli-importance,
which led first to INSTRUMENTATION and
finally to suspension by his Bishop. AZ
ter his suspension, instead of bowing in
filal obedience to the fatherly hand which
corrected him, his blind, impulsivc vanity
lmpclcd him to seek redress in the dcs-
pcratc act of public apostacy
For period of about three wears
Brennan continued his scandalous work.
but at the end OF that time a ray of light
OF Gods mercy penetrated his intellect,
and he saw the abyss OF degradation into
which he had fallen.
The first Sunday OF Advent had ar
rived; the bell OF St. Georges summon
ed the most fastidious and very elite of
Dublin audience to hear Father Bren-
mans vindication OF himself for rcnounc
ing the errors OF Popcry. Brennan robcd
himself IN the vcstry in the soutanc, sur
pllcc, and cap which he had received from
the hands OF his bishop, but which he had
DOTTED for the last three years. With a
firm step he assembled the pulpit, and the
same sclf-posscssion, sclf-dcfance, which
formed the stumbling block OF his down
lall; now sustain him in the most trying
ordeal Of his emergency A brcathlcss
silence pcrvadcs the asscmblage; he sur
vcycd by glance the anxious faces be-
fore him, and, taking off his cap, he thus
opens his discourse: In the name of the
Father, and OF the Son, and OF the Holy
Ghost, Amen. accompanying the words
with the usual form OF the sign OF the
cross. He paused. The audience looked
on each other with amazcmcnt. Yet the
idea suggested itself that he went through
this formula for the purpose Of scoffing
at the cross with which he had blessed
himself, They were to be disappointed.
Composurc being restored, the pcnitcnt
priest lifted himself to the full proper
tons OF his stature. and taking the Bible
in his right hand, he held it aloft, and, in
calm voice and scntcntious cxhortation,
lie said, This Bible is the Word of God
] his removed all the uncasincss, and the
congregation were now quite at home
with their preacher lie continued: by
the contents Of this Bible every word I
have written or spoken against the Cath
olic church was lie Rapidly descend
ing from the pulpit, he made his way as
best he could through his audience,
whom he lett in state Of utter con-
stcrnation. He worked his way through
the back streets OF Dublin to the house
OF the Capuchins in Church street. The
pcnitcnt priest in his soutanc, surplice,
and cap, threw himself at their feet, told
them in tears the history of the evening,
which astonishcd the poor fathers more
than il did the congregation of St.
Georges Church. lie was subsequently
admitted into the Franciscan order and
set himself to compile the Ecclesiastical
History OF Ireland"
The "Irish American newspaper Of
New York, published by Lynch and Nee
han, is an organ of Dick Croker, and
consequently an cxpansionist sheet Of the
most pronounced type. One would inag-
iDt, from, the tnpa pf tic 1rficIoc t,,t
publishers are Anglo Saxons, but they
are not, they are the sons of Irisllmen,
who would pay the ransom demanded by
Aguinaldo and his confcdcratcs for re-
leasing Spanish prisoners, not witt,
money but with powder and lead, which