The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-31
FIR. 1sARRoN's SERMON
Euosy Delivered by Local Pastor at
Bishops Funeral.


Free Press:
"A wise man shall Inherit honor,
gnd his name shall live for
ever" Cecil. Oh. XXNTll. V
29l
Right Rev, Very Rev. Rev Fathers
and dear Brethren
In the presence OF death clasping in
stern embrace the body of the chief
pastor of this diocese. our minds are
lnstinctiyely carried back to June %,
1892.
On that day, Father Michaud, the
yirtuous, the Jealous pastor OF Ben
nington, in the yigor of health and
manhood, with talents unimpaired by
sickness and the ravages Of time,
knelt in the sanctuary of this cathe-
dral and received at the hand of his
Grace, John Joseph Williams, the late
archbishop Of Boston, the Sacred inc
ton of the Episcopate
Nigh II years have since rolled
over this episcopal See; years Of an
guish, toll and loneliness for its chief
executive; years Of prosperity, growth
and reconstruction for itself Then a
devoted clergy, faithful people,
hoped to reap for some decades of
years the rich harvest of his wisdom,
to garner the ripe fruit of his deep
sowing and wide experience But d.
vine providence had decreed otherwise
and for some months, his pastoral
stalf has been slipping from his nerve
less hands, till today we see him,
once so active, once so hopeful,
3hrouded in the mystic silence of
death.
Is this then all that remains of a
bishop so highly respected by his
clergy, his people, his fellow citizens?
Is this the end of a life so fraught
with good deeds. a career so kind and
just? Has this Jealous pastor of
souls loved labored, and suffered so
much for no other purpose than to
give to death a more signal victory?
Shall the mOrtuary crypt beneath
this cathedral into which his body
shall soon be lowered close him from
our eyes, our thoughts forever? No.
thank God for the wise man leaves
after him his works. his example, his
teaching, which honor his memory
and immOrtaliZe his name "A wise
Ian shall inherit honor and his name
shall live forever"
Study the history OF our dear de.
parted bishop; consider him in the
various spheres OF life through which
the hand OF the Lord has guided him
and tell me. II he has not always and
everywhere merited the name Of the
wise man; tell me. If that true wis
dom which comes down from heaven
and asceuds TO heaven has not always
and everywhere been the soul of his
| thoughts. the food of his words. the
motive of his works. the secret of his
success, the balm OF his sorrows. and
the power and main spring Of his life
From tender age. this future leader
in Israel understood that one of the
first duties OF a man IN this world Is
10 obey his supcriors. that obedience
is an honor. a safeguard a tower OF
strength Whether In the schools OF
this city or In the different insiim.
tons Of learning in which his youth
was spent he showed profound re.
spect for authority which formed one
OF the distinctive marks OF his virtue.
And this respect for authority can not
be found In the heart Of q young man
without attachment TO duty a spirit OF
piety and regularity. These qualities
Of heart moved by Divine Grace pre-.
pared young John Michaud. without
his knowing Il. TO be one day the
| dociir aud eiilcaclous instrument Of
Gods highest work.
The priesthood had am attraction
for him. 10 was the sole object of
his desire the secret and supreme
ambition OF his life soon ripe for the
sacrifice
After some years In the little Semi
nary Of ST. Sulpice. Montreal and In
Holy Cross. Worcester. after three
years In the study OF sacred theology
In St Josephs Seminary of Troy he
was raised 20 the holy priesthood by
the late Bishop Wadhams of Qgdcns.
burg on the 9Th of June. 1873.
II is not my intention 90 follow step
by step aud In an its phases the saccr
dotal life OF this man of God Those
who knew him as parish priest Of
Newport and It's surrounding mis-.
sions. as supervisor OF the building OF
ST Josephs orphan asylum this city,
as first resident pastor Of ST. Step
hens, Winoosk. as rector OF St Fran.
els dc Sales Bennington. know as we'll
as l. with what zeal. what faith. what
love. Father Michaud lahorcd for the
glory OF God and the sauctihcation OF
souls In those important ministries.
His courage. when there was ques.
ton of Gods honor was iadomiiahle.
IN proof OF This. point To the magniil.
cent church which he raised to the
glory OF God In the comparatively
small parish OF Bennington. q church
second 20 none In the diocese and
worthy Of our great metropolis. I
say without the slightest fear Of con.
tradiction that no priest az that time
In the diocese of Burlington other
than Father Michaud would have con.
cc'ycd the thought much less have
undertaken the erection boz that town
OF an cdi0cc so costly aud grand
What was the secret of his courage
land success Ills keen foresight his
wide experience his quick perception
luf men and things. his abiding faith.
his ardent charity his simple dlction
carried conviction 10 the hearts of
mon aud made him. both 'n public
and in private life. most amiahlo
and charming personality
Like true apostle. his heart was
lirrcsisiahly drawn Co children. the
education of whom according to the
saving OF a great writer. IFS the de-
light OF the wise Conscious that the
hope of the harvest is too the seed
with what soliciludo and care Father
Mlchaud sOwCd every Sunday in cate.
chism class the seed of the Divine
Word In the hearts of Christs little
ones Like the Good shepherd ho
gave them good. wholesome food sup
porting az "a great sacrifice "a parochl
al school that their little hearts as
well as their minds wirhf Doc trained