The Irish standard., 1918-05-04

For this gracious act come to offer
the thanks of the Irish Episcopate-
the living representatives of an HER
archical chain unbroken for fifteen CEN
turtles of which Plunkett is one of the
golden links; of the clergy and laity
of Ireland, as pure in faith and as
strong in hope as were those of Plum.
kett's days, and to whom he was the
forma faeta gregis ex ANNA, and
present to you the profound thanks
of my own dear and venerable college,
where oliver Plunkett cultivated the
science of Catholic teaching, and the
fortitude to die for it,
Pope 6enedict's Gracious Response.
Speaking in a clear, strong voice
that rang through the vast hall, Pope
Benedict's response was in part as
follows:
1.-TWO voices have been raised, as
it were, at the same time, in this hall;
but they were so harmonious as to
form one single melody. Two inter-
prefers of their own affections and of
the sentiments Of others have come
forward in this same hall, and they
have both put forward hopes and de-
sires so admirably joined that the ex-
preston of them has become one
single hymn to the glory of God and
the honor of the Saints. It was, In
deed, just and natural that the Postu.
lator of the Cause of the Canoniza-
ton Of the Blessed Alocoque should
not conceal the satisfaction of his soul
on learning of the happy ending which
has come to crown his intelligent zeal
And it is also just and very natural
that the simultaneous recognition of
the martyrdom of the Venerable Plum.
kett should put words of Joy and hap
piness on the lips of him who has with
the new hero a common fatherland.
We thank the Lord for placing Us
in position of giving today fresh
proof of benevolence towards the
French Nation, of which Margaret
Mary Alocoque is a brilliant glory and
will be loving protector. We thank
Him for having given Us the oppor-
tunity Of manifesting Our grateful soul
to the Irish people which has been
ever the strenuous defender of the
Catholic Church. Nor are We less
grateful to Him for having furnished
Us with the occasion of indicating for
the esteem of the public both the
religious institute in which the spirit
of S. Francis De Sales always lives,
and the College of our own Rome,
which in the most beautiful page of
her history was written the boast of
having former Oliver Plunkett not only
to the holiness of priest and Bish-
Op, but also to the 11eroism of a
martyr.
Why are they wont to put palm
in the hands of martyrs? Even the
| ordinary man answers: Because the
palm is symbol of triumph and who
does not know that the martyrs must
have triumphed both over the impe-
tus of their own passions and over the
intrigues of enemies and the cruelty
of tyrants, the oppressors of the Faith
Triumph supposes struggle and strug.
gle is not crowned by triumph with
out constancy in resisting and without
patience in suffering.
1t is easy therefore to understand
that when the Church puts a palm in
the hands of a new hero of the Faith,
it intends to recommend to her chill
dren principally the virtue of Christian
Fortitude.
You have understood, beloved ones,
the decree which proclaims the mar.
tyrdom of Oliver Plunkett, and why
should we not say that today the
Church has woven the palm to be
placed in the hand of the holy Arch
bishop of Armagh, who died for the
faith on July 1, 1851?
War Secretary a cathoIic.-Presi-