The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-05-12


language holds sway, these will be
strong and potent in shaping the desti-
mics OF the world.
Hence, the mission imposed by Provi-
dcncc upon English-speaking Catholics,
and by reason OF their especial position,
especially upon Catholics in England
herself. That mission is to attunc anew
the English language to the harmony OF
Catholic truth, which was its charm be.
fore the days OF the fatal schism OF the
sixteenth century-the most woeful dis
aster that ever beicll Christendom; to
make the English language the bearer
OF Catholic verities to the hundreds of
millions who will speak and read it; to
build up for the Catholic church public
and social influence in English-speaking
lands, so that their power, instead Of
being against her, be for her; to so es-
tablish her in those lands that she be
seen to be, as in fact she is, thoroughly
i'll unison with the political institutions,
and the social aspirations that dominate
those lands, so that the ar
gumcnt for such institutions and
aspirations be an argument, too, for the
church herself-in fine, to so place the
church as to enable her to win over to
herself the great Englisl,-speaking
world, and turn to her own profit, and
tho DroEt of rbr;ct;,,, c;,,;l;-,4:o. a.,
wondrous potcncics OF that world
How Catholics arc to do all this cir
cumstanccs, as Providence unfolds
them, will give indication The chief
thing is that Catholics have the intclli-
gencc to perceive the opportunities CIV
| cn to them, the zeal to avail themselves
OF such opportunities, the personal cour-
age and the grace divine to follow them
out to a successful issue. Catholics pre-
pared through such disposition for their
mission will be found attracting atten-
ton to the church by the high moral
integrity OF their lives, gaining for her
social power through their active par
ticipation i'll the public affairs OF the
! nation, spreading her teachings by their
intellectual labors, bringing victory to
the manifestations OF her energies by
their earnest and effective cooperation
with her undertakings OF charity and Of
zeal.
Catholics i'll English-speaking coun-
tries may be tempted to faint-hcartcd-
ness by the recollection OF their paucity
OF numbers and their weakness OF re-
sources, when they compare themselves
TO the legions OF nom Catholics around
them. But they should yield to no fear,
for truth aud divine power are with
them, and in such association they are
neither few nor weak AS God intends
to make the moral world His own, we
must assume that He intends to sway to
His purposes the great English-spcall-
ing multitudcs, who arc SO notable
part Of the world, and il Catholics do
their part Hc will do His through and
with them and all will be we'll for His
church among those multitudcs,
To the Catholics OF EngIand-to the
Catholic Union of Great Britain | then
say, "Fortitcr dimicatc, ct vincitc."
The Catholics Of the United States will
watch you from afar, and, spurrcd on
by your noble example, they will work,
as it may be possible to them, along the
lines you trace for them for the same
holy purposes to which you arc devoted
May the Master give to all OF us the
grace not TO faltcr in His service!