The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-09-26
Irish Interest i'm LOuvain

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Observation-Disclosures
There were few cities on the Con-
tinent with more Irish associations
than Louvain. These associations be-
gan at what may now be called re-
mote period, and although they were
not continuous through the centur-
les, Louvain and the surrounding
territory through various and varying
causes was for long period a sort
of Irish outpost. Partly through its
geographical position, although in
some measure through what appears
to be mysterious fate, the territory
of which Louvain is about the cen
ter, has been pursued throughout
the centuries by dire visitations Of
fighting foreigners. A recent wit has
represented Belgium as saying to Eu-
rope, Whatever your quarrels are.
you come here to fight them out,
and believe me we shall continue to
give you warm welcome"
But we had our mind just now on
the visitations of the Irish, as a relief
from the contemplation of the last
and greatest calamity which Belgium
has suffered. The Irish visitations
were not always of a warlike char
acter. The great Irish missionary
campaign on the continent of Europe
from the eleventh century followed
two main courses, direct to France,
either to the mouth of the Loire or
of the Seine, and into what is now
Belgium, either where modern Os-
tend stands or through the larger
estuary of the Schelde, at the head
of which is Antwerp. Heading al
most directly south from the latter
city and southeast from Ostend the
lines converge at Louvain, which
grew into Importance before Brus-
sells, slightly to the west. From Lou
vain the Irish monks and scholars
poured south to the Gauls and south
east through Luxembourg to the
Franks and Germanic races, and met
the other Irish stream going due east
through France, across the Rhine
and the Vosges mountains, in Swift
erland, Bavaria and even further
afield on the north, east and south.
Wherever there was a promise Of
results, even slight. they established
or laid the foundations of a monas-
terry, some being left in charge while
others pushed on, as armies leave
garrisons in fortresses or cities in the
course of their advance. From Client,
on the road from Ostend to Louvain,
to Bobio in Northern Italy, and from
Cologne to Salzberg, these Irish SOL
diers of Christianity and civilization,
with marvellous moral and physical
courage, determination and endur-
ance, spread over almost the western
half of Europe, not only preaching
the Gospel but imparting secular edu-
cation, teaching music, and even
turning half-desert and unpromising
places into gardens of beauty and
fields of productiveness- organizing
society, as it were.
It is almost exactly thirteen hun
bred years ago since these Irish mis-
sionaries and scholars first invaded
Europe, and if we turn abruptly
toward the scenes that are being en-
acted today on the ground where
some of them established schools, we
shall be inclined for the moment to
say that civilization has not pro-
crossed much there in those thirteen
centuries. However that may be, we
have a right at this time to look back
over. the ages to those far-off days
with pride in the quality of those in
trepid teaching, civilizing Irishmen
and in their labors and achievements.
They brought with them not carnage
and destruction and a heather desire
to slaughter for the glory Of God and
wretched king, but the "peace that
passeth understanding" learning in
dustry and happiness in self-sacrifice.
The full story of that Irish invasion
has never been written, although it
should be in the hand and mind of
every Irish schoolboy and girl, and
in those of the children of the race
everywhere. Let us hope that the
promised life of st. Cloumbanus, the
greatest of them all, on the coming
commemorative of his thirteenhun-
breath anniversary, will bring this
history within reach of all of us.
Although some Irish histories do
not mention Louvain, we are sure
that the story of its Irish associations
would make quite history in itself.
1t would have to be compiled from
many sources. Fragments of it
would be found in the nineteenth
and even now in this great war of the
twentieth for there were few of
these in which Irish regiments did
not fight and during which they were
not in Louvain; but the history of the