The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-09-05


peals for Christian education, for
asylums of the poor and the suffer-
ing? The Cathedral of st. Paul
it is not merely the building itself:
it is also the asylums, the school,
houses, the thousands of acts of re-
ligion and charity, resulting from it's
influences, sustained and directed by
it's Christian munificence. Blessed
the temple, parochial or Cathedral,
anywhere in the land of America,
possessing flock so faithful, so do
cile, SO constant in every duty as that
which the old Cathedral of st. Paul
has been privileged to call. it's own.
The Inner Life of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral had it's full share
of notable ceremonial days. 1t was
its pride to put forth on occasions
of great festivals the regal pomp of
the Church, SO far as circumstance
allowed. On Christmas and on
Easter it was always filled to over
flowing. Sanctuary and choir gallery
aimed to do their best; so impressive
the ceremonial, that when all was
over hundreds fingered to taste yet
longer the sweetness of what had
been seen and heard. The Cathedral
had it's ordinations of priests, it's con-
secrations of bishops. it's visits of
illustrious prelates and priests.
Famed preachers honored its pulpit,
notable occurrences in Church and
state brought forth memorable SOL
emnities. The record of its observ-
ances is that of all notable occur
rences. religious and civil, during a
half century. Yes, dear old building,
simple thou vast in outward attire,
austere, unattractive; yet in glori-
Gus things seen and heard beneath
thy roof, few the Cathedrals in
America to which thou needest cede
the palm.
During all this time-since Mass
was first celebrated within its sane
tuary, how much was done by the old
Cathedral for the uplift of souls to
Heaven, for the drawing down of
Heavens 'graces upon lowly earth!
Here, indeed, the Lord has been.
This is no other but the house of
God, and the gate of Heaven" Thrice
sacred it's every nook and corner.
Masses upon its altars-the descent
thereon of the Eucharistic' Lord-the
hundred thousand times-the giving
of His body in mystic food the mil
lion times-the word of sacramento
pardon spoken the million times in
yonder confessionals! The multi
tudes here regenerated beneath the
stream of baptismal grace-the null
titudes come hither to implore Gods
benediction upon their plighted
matrimonial troth-the multitudes
carried hence for last smile of the
Master on their journey to Calvary
the multitudes of visitors to the
tabernacles of the everything Christ,
one by one. in silent prayer, in rap
turous embrace of the divine love.
Here, the million times, souls inebri-
ated with the charms of the skies,
rose up, renewed in the youth of
their spiritual conservation, to go
again into the worlds battlefield,
there to live as the purified children
of Heaven, despite all temptation,
in the assured hope of the never-fad-
ing crown of Gods rewarding hand.
How sacred in it's touches with the
skies. in its gifts of Gods precious
favors, they may tell - the angels,
who peered into hearts here throb-
bling in prayer and counted the
streamings Of grace sent in response,
the legions of souls now in Heaven
because of the solace and supernal
courage received within the Cathed-
raj. They are telling it this morn
ing, as their voices mingle with ours
in bidding farewell to the dear old
Cathedral.
The Farewell to the old Cathedral.
Beloved Brethren, fellow-children
of the old Cathedral, the moment is
nigh when speak we must the word
Look we'll around; for
the last time see what SO long you
have loved to see; call back in men,
DRY the years gone by. all that those
years do mean to you. Here knelt
your fathers and mothers, your sons,
daughters and friends-hence they
were borne to the cemetery. Here
you were baptized. received your first
communion, were married. Here. so
often, you heard Mass and prayed.
Here you listened to the word of God
preached from the pulpit. Here, you
sought in the Sacrament of Penance
the remission Of your sins, in the
Sacrament of the Eucharist the food
of divine life. Here you prayed and
heard the voice Of God bidding you
be Of good cheer amid trials and
suffering. bidding you be strong
against temptation and sin; here. so