The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-07
THE LETTER.

To the Children and Heirs of the
ApostIeship of st. Patrick, in the
Diocese of ST. Paul:
Radiating from the great high altar
of the new Cathedral of st. Paul,
stately array of chapels, dedicated to
the Apostles of the Nations, will
people the mighty edifice with glori-
Gus memories. The races that united
to send the Cathedral soaring into the
skies will now vie in holy rivalry to
complete the House of God by adorn-
ing it's chapels. Celt and Saxon and
Frank, Teuton and Norseman and Slav
borne on the living tide flowing on
our shores-will enshrine in loving
sanctuaries the devotion of their
hearts for the spiritual chieftains of
their race. Among the great mission
aries of Christ who more worthy of
place of honor in that company of
saints than he who brought to the
Irish the truths and graces of the Cos
pei? A chapel in the grand setting of
the Cathedral Of st. Paul will be fit
Patrick.
The love of the Celt for his patron
saint should find eloquent expression
The faith that has been pillar of
fire to the Irish in their worldwide
wanderings was preached to them by
Patrick. To him they owe all that is
most glorious in their traditions. He
it is who has shaped their destinies
for all time Their history is but a
continuation of his life and work on
earth. Their steadfastness in their
faith, the sacrifices they made for it,
the sufferings they endured for it.,
are the fruits of his prayer that he
might never lose the people whom
God entrusted to his keeping. With
their love for Christ the children of
ST. Patrick all the world over have
always cherished a deep, abiding love
for him who made Christ known to
them The Irish of the Northwest yield
to none in their allegiance to their
apostle; with generosity all their own
they will now beautify a chapel for
him whose name in all their story
has been the common bond of their
scattered race.
This Irish Shrine of the Northwest
will perpetuate devotion to Ireland's
Saint. 1t will help to keep alive in
the hearts of generations to come the
flame of love that has always glowed
in the Irish soul. 1t will give new
witness of Irish loyalty to the cause
of Christ. 1t will remind all who see
it of the services rendered to religion
and to humanity by the Apostle of
Ireland, and will inspire his children
of the future to emulate the zeal of
those who now enduringly eXemplify
their devotion to his memory. The
sons and daughters of the Gael in the
Northwest will make the Chapel of St.
Patrick as beautiful as Irish marble
and Irish art can make it. For long
years to come all who pass through
the portals of the Cathedral will lin
ger in reverence and admiration be-
fore the arresting beauty of this
memorial of nations faith.
The appeal made for st. Patrick S
Chapel will reach many homes; it will
awaken tender thoughts and stir gen.
erous impulses in many hearts. Love
of St. Patrick is the touchstone of
Irish faith and feeling; the Cathedral
chapel should do honor to that love.
1t will be a distinctively Irish monu-
ment-one of those monuments which,
pillaged and ruined in the old land,
the Irish love to rear anew on shores
that give them shelter: as such it
should realize the best traditions of
Celtic religious art 1t will be new
proof in cleaning marble and mosaic
that the missionary spirit of the Irish
race is yet burning with undiminished
fre-that spirit which through the
ages has handed on to other lands
the torch of faith enkindled by st.
Patrick. Let the Chapel of st. Patrick
then enhance by its beauty temple
where all else is beautiful. How
lovely are Thy tabernacles, o Lord of
Hosts. Blessed are they that abide
in Thy house, o Lord; they shall
praise Thee for ever and ever"
To promote the holy enterprise to
which all of Irish stock in the Arch
diocese are now called a committee of
priests, composed of the following
members, has been formed:
Rev. Patrick O'Neill (St. Michaefs
Church, 48 East Colorado Street, St.
Paul), President; Rev. Charles Cor
coran (Church of st. Michael, Still
water), Vice President; Rev. Patrick
R. Cunningham (Church of the
Guardian Angels, Hastings), Secre-
Iary; Rev. Michael Quinn (Church of
ST. Patrick, 299 Case Street, st. PauD
Treasurer; Rev. Thomas F. Gleeson
(Church of st. John, 975 East Fifth