The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-30

How great should be our joy then to-
day when we know that the servant
who is officiating at the altar is also
battling for the truth of the divinity of
Jesus Christ"
Turning to Bishop Conaty, Monsignor
Griffin then said: 1T is for you, dear
friend to keep the course which divine
Providence has placed you in and to
struggle for the truth as you know it
from the lips of the inspired disciple.
1t is for you to battle for truth in i'll
report and in good report, in prosper
ity and in adversely. Be it yours to
keep on the true course. May you'd good
angel direct your course like that of
St Thomas, the director Of schools,
who when asked What should be thy
reward, O Thcmas2" replied, "NOne
other than Thyself, O Lord" May that
be your reward is the wish of the peo-
pie here assembled and all the people
of St Johns parish"
Afr the communion. Bishop Conaty
spoke briefly from the altar, thanking
in a most eloquent manner MonsignOr
Griffin for the early lessons he and
the other clergy who have served at St.
Johns have received from the beloved
pastor. II said: 4 wish to return my
sincere thanks to your pastor for his
invitation to officiate on this feast of
your patron. I am very glad TO be
able to come here and to testify to
my appreciation of your pastor and
you people from whom l have received
so many signal favors in the past. The
kind words of the right reverend mon
sgnor touch us ALL and me especially,
when We remember that % years sep
arate us from the time I came to st.
Johns At this altar l learned the les
sons of my early priestly life as did
many of the others gathered around
this sanctuary today. Here we were
trained and here we found an example
worthy of imitation. 1t would i'll become
us to go out from his presence with
out an impress of his priestly life on
our lives. 1t is the imitation of that
life that gives us our success.
Il come here today to testify to my
devotion to this altar and to this pas
tor and to this people. I am hOnOred
by the presence of our bishop and so
many Of our priests. Almighty God
has been good to us all, signally to me.
and 70 Him be thanks for all that we
are and to Him be glory forever.
There is something of a coincidence
in the appointment that came to me
from our holy father. l remember that
the island of Samos lies between
Ephesus and Patmos, two places hon
ored by the life and work of St. John.
Well then might we refer to St John
as the patron of the island of Samos
and the guardian of the bishop of that
island
1t is a day of JOY to come among
you, to receive your congratulations.
but above your congratulations, your
earnest prayers that God may keep US
in His holy love and that we may be
the priests of God we wished TO be
when, as the young Levites, we swore
our lives to the church. We hope and
trust that your prayers will follow us
through life.
Mine It is TO stand for the truth and
for Catholic education and l ask
your prayers that l may not be found
wanting on the day when I stand for
final judgment. To you 1 appeal today
for your earnest, sincere and constant
prayers that 1 may be what l was
taught here to be, a true and loyal
priest and citizen. Here l was
taught the early steps of the priestly
character, May those lessons never be
forgotten for they make the true priest
and the true bishop and the true citi-
zen and the true man. l thank your
pastor for the example Of his priestly
life. In all our work he went before
us in all he wanted us to do. May God
spare him to you for many years. We
priests have come to our fathers house
today, TO sit a. his table and TO inspire
him with the spirit of true loyalty and
to show him that in US he can find his
Joy and his pride. May God bless him
and you. Ny thanks to him and TO you
and in my work in the university ask
your prayers that I may have grace to
1--we for the truth"
After Bishop Conaty gave the con-
gregation his benediction, Rev. Bernard
s. Conaty announced that Bishop
Beaver granted an indulgence Of 40
days TO all who were present at the
service.
After the mass the visiting clergy
were entertained at dinner by Monsig-
nor Griffin and the religious ceremonies
Of the day closed with solemn vespers
at 80 in the evening.