Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1917-03-17
COLUMBUS
Interest and instruction Recalled
by the First Mass In
America
Reside the Hardy Mariner Stood tbs
Irish Dominican Fr1ar
Boyie.
Where We're Laid the Foundation
Of Cathoiicity in Western
World.
NATIVES GAZE UPON sCENE.

Every incident in the life OF the
great discoverer of the New World
is full of interest and instruction,
but none more so than the one
which the above illustration re-
calls. II is one of those grand
events connected with the history
OF Catholicity in this vast conti-
nent 10 which the Catholic can
turn with feelings of peculiar
pleasure. Columbus in his life
beautifully illustrated the faith ne
profeSsed. Catholic not only On
name, but in the fervor of his
| practice. he sought in every action
the greater glory Of God and the
interest OF religion. Having at
length. after years OF disappoint-
ment and delay. obtained the sane
| ton of the Spanish Government
| TO his undertaking. he fastened to
obtain the benediction of the Sow
ereign Pontiff upon his voyage. and
made heaven the object of his en-
terprise; and when it pleased a be-
ntgn Providence to crown his ef-
forts with success his first though
were to return his grateful ac-
acknowledgements to Him, who had
preserved him amid tina innumer-
able dangers to which he had been
exposed.
Among the companions of Co
iumbus there may have been those
who we're actuated by motive OF
interest or fame--the high-spirited
cavalier bound on romantic en-
terprise. the hardy navigator ambi-
tiouS of acquiring new laurels in
unknown seas. the rowing adventur-
er seeking novelty and excitement
but the church, which had
blessed the undertaking, sought in
the enterprise higher and nobler
end. Beside the robust and hardy
mariner stood the meek and zeal
GUS missionary whose sole ambi-
ton was to extend the domain OF
religion and to carry the glad
tidlngs of salvation TO the inhab-
ittants 81 the regions that might De-
discovered. Fliar Boyle of the Do
minican order, with twelve COM
panions. composed the religious
portion of the crew of Columbus.
AS the last act of the pious nav
lgator before leaving the port OF
Palos in Spain was to invoke the
bASNeoih6 vi bttAfCh UPOA Ills tAptul-
ton, his first act on setting his
foot upon the New World was an
offering of thanksgiving to God,
who had conducted his voyage to
SO happy an issue. Falling to the
ground, which ne had so long and
SO anxiously looked for, he kissed
It with tears of joy, then raising
his eyes and hands to heaven he
uttered that beautiful prayer COM
mencing: Domino Deus aeterne ct
omnfpotens, which was afterwards
repeated by all subsequent Catholic
discoveries. His example was fol-
lowed by his companions. who in
the fervor of their hearts thanked
heaven for their preservation and
moistened the earth with their
tears. This act of thanksgiving was
followed by another still more sol
emn. Selecting an elevated spot,
an altar was erected beneath
rude canopy, and there for the first
time the august Sacrifice of the
mass was offered on the shores of
America. Here for the first time
on this vast continent the priest of
the Most High repeated the mystic
words of conservation and broke
the bread of life. Here amidst the
wiles and beauties of nature was
laid the foundation of Cathohcdty
In the Western World. Around this
solitary altar, and at this first sac
rifice Columbus and his mariners
knelt in humble alteration and
poured forth their most fervent
prayers. At distance, grouped
upon the gorund, the rude natives
gaze upon the scene in mute aston
ishment. At the conclusion of the
| holy sacrifice the minister OF God
turns to impart a solemn benedic-
ton to the venerable Columbus and
his companions. who knelt before
him. How solemn must have been
that hour How pleasing to the
heart of the great navigator, who
sought in all his enterprises rather
the conversion of the heather and
the extension of religion than hon
ors or wealth. How would that
| pleasure have been increased could
he have foreseen the vast empire
to which his discoveries were dee-
| tined to give rise-an empire in
which. In after times. the holy sac
rifice at which ne had assisted
would be offered not from one, but
from ten thousand affairs; when his
hundred followers would be multi
piled into millions of true adorers
of Jesus Christ
Columbus had tho holy sacrifice
Of the mass celebrated in all the
prominent places he discovered. AT
Havana one of the original chapels
still exists on the spot where the
astonished natives witnessed the
grand and imposing ceremony.
where for the first time that sacred
name at which every knee must
bend was proclaimed. At Isabella.
In Hayti, the ruins of the first
church still remain. At the present
time 1t Is quite overgrown with
forest. and In the midst OF this
forest are still seen the partly
standing ruins OF the church. the
remains of the King's storchouse
and part of the residence Of Coz
Il k<,rx fa.a