The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-02-13

greeting, benediction and consolation
in the Lord-Beloved Diocesans: We
have celebrated Christmas as never in
life before Christmas in the world war,
serious and sorrowful, but also rich in
grace, blessing and supernatural Joy.
The war was stern Advent school;
It has brought US and our people near
.er the Saviour. The more fearfully
the war clouds gathered over our coun.
try the more clearly, to use beauti-
full word of the Apostle. did that God
who once said, "Out of darkness let
the light shine FORTH" light up within
us the radiant knowledge Of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Like hurricane the war burst on
the cold clouds and the evil vapors of
infidelity and skepticism and on the
unwholesome atmosphere Of an un.
christian overculture. The German
people recovered their senses; faith
returned to its right; the soul lifted up
its eyes and recognized the Lord. We
saw His glory, as it were. Of the Only
Begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth.
Following the attractions of grace.
following the voice Of their pastors
and the exhortation of their God-fear-
ing Kaiser, the people entered the
churches, and found there the Saviour;
many found Him again who had wan
dered far from Him. In the hour Of
misfortune the truth was realized that
He alone was holy, he alone Lord, He
alone Most High. We heard Him say
ing to us the earnest and consoling
words-when you hear Of wars and
rumors of wars fear not, for such must
come to pass.
Our soldiers before their march re-
newed with him In Holy Communion
their covenant for life and death. If
their spirits began to sink in the su-
perhuman exertions, privations and
deadly dangers, they raised themselves
up to Him who said Of Himself, II
have come not to be served, but to
serve, and to give My life as ransom
for many" They invoked Him be-
fore the battle, and during the battle.
and implored Him in the trenches,
@'Lord, remain with us, for the eve
ming is nigh" And He remained with
them and gave them to strengthen
them His Flesh and Blood in the Most
Holy Sacrament.
Like a compassionate Samaritan, He
made His way over the blood-soaked
field Of battle, and through the hospi-
tails, consoled the wounded, blessed
the dying, and said to those who tend
ed them, whatever you do to the
least of My brethren ye do to Me" He
visited the parents bowed down with
sorrow and the heartbroken widows
and orphans, and said to them, "Weep
not and consoled them as only He
can console.
He has raised us all up when our
own spirits began to sink. "Have
: confidence. It is 1; fear not" He
has, above all, opened the fountains
of His mercy, which united into one
mighty stream of love and beneficence
beside the blood stream Of the war.
In Him was and remained establish.
ed the bond between US and ours in
the field, between the fighting hosts
abroad and the praying hosts at home,
an uncomfortable victory pledging
union of all in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thus have these hard times brought
us nearer to the Saviour. We could
rejoice in the special mercies of His
divine heart, and hear throughout all
the noises Of war and beating of that
quiet, loving, soulseeking heart. 1t
we thank for these salutary fruits Of
the war. It we thank for the glorious
successes and victories with which
heaven has blessed our arms. Truly
in us has been accomplished the word
Of the great Pore Leo XIII, in his
encyclical Of May Is, 1899, with which
he announced the dedication of the
whole world to the Sacred Heart oi
Jesus: when the Church in the early
ages groaned under the yoke of the
Caesars the Cross appeared in heaven
to the young Kaiser Constantine as 9
sign of speedy and glorious victory.
Before our eyes stands another propi
tious sign of the most holy Heart o.
Jesus surmounted by the Cross shining
brightly In the midst Of flames.
This sign which has remained to vi
till now the sign Of salvation woult
we also give, beloved. for the entr!
into the year 1915. which must taxi
! over from its predecessor the blood!
Inheritance of the war. We do it Il
the conviction that nothing can brini
more to our minds. can make NOR
easy for us our first and weighties
duty in this world war. than an affee