The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-07-27
Famous French Preacher.


In spite of the anti-clerical winds
that every now and again sweep furi-
ously over France, any big religious
ceremonial arouses a great amount Of
kindly interest and sympathetic feel
ing. Two weeks ago the golden jubi-
lee of the celebrated Dominican
preacher Pere Monsabre took place.
The Parisians made every effort to
have the services connected with the
celebration held in Notre Dame, the
scene of so many of Pere Monsabre's
successes. But the great Dominican
wished it otherwise; he was always
against pomp and display. So there
was quiet ceremony at Havre, to
which all friends and intimates were
invited, and Paris was denied one Of
the big functions its soul loveth. Had
Pere Monsabre come to Paris his re-
ception would have been a memor.
able one, for he has been, in his day,
one of the most popular priests in
France, and many are the souvenirs
associated with his name. For in
stance, prominent statesman who
has long since ceased to visit either
church or chapel told me that Pere
Monsabre gave him the most thrilling
patriotic experiences of his life, says
I. p. O'Connor in NJ. A. P.
1t was the terrible year after the
annexation, and the Dominican was
preaching course of Lenten sermons
in the cathedral at Metz. His fare
well sermon was on the resurrection,
and in his peroration he drew a mag
nificent picture of the deliverance Of
his countrymen from the German
yoke which ''the sword of barbarism
and the pen of an ambitieux'' had
placed upon them. My friend said
he had been through many exciting
episodes, had been in many feverishly
enthusiastic gatherings, but a scene
such as followed the preachers part
ing words he had never seen nor ex-
perienced. AS he described it: .The
congregation sprang to their feet,
and something like a low howl of
rage went through the church. Men,
women and children began to sob.
They fell into one another's arms in
an ecstasy of grief, and more than
one curse against the conqueror was
mingled with the prayer for notre
belle France"
Pere Monsabre may appropriately
be called the Father Burke of France.
He is just as fond of a joke as was
his famous Irish brother. He once
had to preach charity sermon in a
little provincial town where he was
not known to any of the priests. On
arriving at the presbytery he put on
very coarse accent, and in ungram-
NAUTICAL language Informed those
who had expected him that Pere
Monsabre was not well, so the Su-
perior had sent him to preach in his
place. The poor priests were in des-
pair; they tried every argument to
dissuade him from preaching; they
offered every inducement for his re-
turn to. Paris. He, of course, re-
manned obdurate to all appeals.
He'd do his best" he said, ''but they
must be sure and give him a good
breakfast beforehand" He kept up
the joke until he got into the pulpit.
The delightful surprise of the anxious
priests may be imagined when, in
stead of the harsh, provincial utter
ances of the uncouth stranger, they
heard the soft, mellow tones of the
great preacher.
Another story told of him is that
one day, as he was just going to
preach, a message came to him that
a lady wanted to see him. She was
worried about an affair of conscience;
she felt she'd like to see him, etc. AZ
ter much waste of time she came to
the point. She was given up to vani-
ty. That morning she confessed she
lad looked in her looking-glass and
yielded to the temptation of thinking
herself pretty.
Pere Monsabre looked at her and
said quietly, "Is that all?"
'"That is ALL"
"Well, my child,' he replied, "you
can go away in peace, for to make
mistake is not SIM