The Irish standard., 1915-05-29

Some one has asked me If, apart
from the well-known pictures of or
dination and first Mass in the cata-
combs, which many young priests use
for their first Mass cards, any other
picture of the priesthood had caught
my fancy in Europe. Instantly l re-
membered picture shall never for
get-Tejedor's masterpiece, "The
First Mass in the old Mercy Con-
vent, now the Art Gallery, of Seville.
1t is remarkable in a way that this
picture, which has been given place
of honor among the most celebrated
of the Murillo paintings and which is
hung not far from the soul-searching
Zubaran pictures, should have left
even more lasting impression on the
memory of the traveller. Amid all the
luxuriant memories of those two
weeks in the old Andalusian capital,
one of which was Holy Week itself,
this picture stands out prominently
as the one the stranger priced above
all the others.
In Europe it is generally the custom
for the newly ordained priest to re-
ceive his family and friends after his
first Mass invested and seated at the
center of the sanctuary. The young
priest in Tejedors painting is thus
seated. His mother, in simple peas
ants costume, kneels at his feet and
leans upon his breast, weeping with
the Joy of it all. His old father
stands near him, brushing his tears
away and making strong effort to
control the pent-up feelings of his
heart. All around are the priests of
the parish and district, and one can
see the wistful light of recollection
In their eyes as they gaze upon this
new soldier of the cross; and standing
by himself near the lady altar is a
young altar boy, who has just finished
putting out the candles and who re.
mains gazing on the scene, half in
wonder and half in awe, as though it
were hardly real. In his limpid blue
eyes the rising sun of desire shines,
and in his attitude there Is that min
gled hope and fear, holy ambition and
holy envy which make it only too
clear that the angel of God has passed
and has signed his soul with the seal
of conservation for the Holy of Holes.
Cardinal MERCER once said to us in
retreat that more vocations to the
priesthood were lost through lack OF
proper direction in the early years OF
a boys life than one imagined. AS
reasons for this, he laid stress upon
two factors-frst, that vocations are
not recognized sufficiently early in
order to give the boys mind and heart
the strength which will help him to
overcome safely the siege of worldly
ambitions; and, secondly, the lack OF
books adapted to the boys intelli
gence which explain the meaning OF
a vocation and which neutralize the
many popular errors and prejudices
existing on this subject. The effort at
fostering priestly vocations ought not
he urged, to be limited to those boys
only who show pious dispositions. In
fact, mothers and fathers, he said
should put the ideal of the priesthood
before all their boys, saying to them
that 1t may be possible that God may
one day want them in His consecrated
service, and that If such call should
ever come, their best and highest of.
fering will be heart kept pure and
unsullied In view of that call. The
value of such a method, which nat.
urally demands prudent usage is evi
dent to all. The Old World with its
cathedral and episcopal colleges and
It's petits seminaries has found surer
way of keeping the flame of the
priestly desire alive in the boys heart
than we may possibly have here in
America, where break in Catholic
influence seems inevitable after paro.
chfal school days. Much, indeed, may
be said in favor of our more liberal
methods. which leave a boy more
upon his own responsibility and with
a wider scope for self-development,
but there are few who would disagree
with the statement that Catholic par.
ents often stifle the signs of a voca.
ton that has been visible in parochial
school days for sordid reasons, such
as assistance in the growing expenses
Of the home.
Our Catholic parents ought to be
cognizant of the fact that no great
and perfect gift will ever be given
by Almighty God unless as a reward
for sacrifice cheerfully borne. Nc
greater gift in Gods possession can
be bestowed upon Catholic family as
a whole than the blessing of the
priesthood. We thank God often, and
Justly so, that the majority of oul
priests In the United States are from
families of struggling circumstances
and the growing number of priests
secular and religious, in the land is 8
sign that Gods grace is multiplying
itself In this regard; but there are few
i priests who. on 1OOkinu hocL ovo,