The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-07
MONSIGNOR ANATOLE OSTER.
Communicated

The hfth day OF december, 1SlU,
there died, in the Hospital of st. JOS
eph, in the city of ST. Paul, a vener-
able priest, to whom the Diocese of
ST. Paul is deeply indebted for many
and valued services, whose name will
long endure in it's annals as the lucid
synonym of all the eminent virtues
that compose the ideal priesthood of
the Catholic Church-Monsignor Ana
tole Oster.
In the death of Anatole Oster we
see the passing away of good priest,
and at the same time, the closing of
glorious era in the history of the
Diocese of St. Paul, that of the labors
of it's pioneer apostles.
Anatole Oster arrived in st. Paul, in
the June of 1854, under the guidance
of Augustine Ravoux, who had been
sent to France, in quest of apostles,
/ by ST.. PanPs first Bishop, and who,
returning to st. Paul, presented to
the Bishop seven future co-laborers-
Caillet, Tissot, Robert, Sommereisen,
Hurth, Keller, and Oster-the latter,
the youngest of the band, the one
whom Providence destined still to
stand erect on the field of honor, when
the others had fallen in the fray.
1t was the Cretin era in the history
of the Diocese of St. Paul. / name it
| so, not only because Bishop Cretin
was the leader; but, also, because the
spirit of Bishop Cretin, spirit Of lofti-
est apostolic zeal, dominated the
whole field, and lived in full force
in the souls of his co-laborers; may
add, in the souls of the whole flock,
SO strong was that spirit in it's effu-
sions of supernal grace and love. An
era it was of the truest apostleship.
Missionary heroism was in demand; /;
it was given in unstinted offering.
Men they were, bishop and priests,
utterly forgetful of self, with the one
purpose-to preach Christ's Gospel;
with the one resolve-to give salvation
to souls, whatever the hardships in
wait, whatever the sacrifices the work
might impose. Apostles they were, in
every thought, in every act, worthy of
their Master, reincarnating in them
selves the ardor of the Master, to-
gether with His utter unselfshness,
His utter conservation of mind and
heart to the task set before Him. II
have come" had said the Master, ito
cast fire upon the earth, and what will
but that it be kindled?" So thought,
and SO spoke through their daily work,
Bishop Cretin and his fellow mission
aries.
| So long as Anatole Oster tarried
with us, the Cretin era tar4ied. He
spoke Of it, as of what he had seen
and touched anear, as Of what he
himself had helped to create; and
he set before us through the virtues
of his own life the virtues that had
given fragrance to it's years.
During his long priesthood of fifty
four years, Anatole Oster was always
the ideal priest. Archbishop Ireland
preaching over his remains said:
'You wish to know the great work
done by Father Oster, the notable
monument erected by him to the glory
of the Almighty? Well, the great
work was his priesthood-the great
monument to the glory of the Almighty
was his priestly SOUL" It is st. Vim
cent de Paul who wrote, "The highest
work of divine grace in union with
the human will is the good, the true
priest" And this Father Oster was to
a pre-eminent degree. Stainless ever,
devoted ever to duty, ceaselessly
/ teaching by example, no less than by
word, ceaselessly seeking opportuni-
/ ties to serve God and fellow men-this
his record in the several missions to
which at one time or another he had
been assigned-this his record, one
year after another, during his career
lin the Diocese Of st. Paul. Crandiose
achievements were not asked of him;
the usual parochial work, amid quiet
and unpretentious communities, was
] Iaro1aIy his a110tfnd nortinn Rt,f he.
the external grandeur of the task not
i the plaudits of the on-looking world.
i What is it that counts? The fidelity
with which the task, small or great,
is done, the degree of divine love,
with which 1t is permeated.
In st. Paul, Byrnesville, Clontarf,
Mendoza, the more Immediate scenes