The Irish standard., 1919-10-04

honors He who bore the privations
of war, who remained with his peo-
ple throughout the horror of 1t all
is not to be- dismayed at tribute
which he in characteristic humility
credits to his people. But not all OF
this tremendous ovation is extended to
the Belgian people. Cardinal Mercfer,
the. man, who did not know when he
was beaten, the shepherd who stood
guard over his flock, is the real OBJ.
ject of general interest. He is the
outstanding figure of the war.
America True to Ideals.
Cardinal Mercier's first formal ad-
dress in this country expressed his sin
cere admiration for America. He had
come. he said, to convey his gratitude
and to enlist American help for the
social reconstruction of Belgium.
''This wonderful country showed her
self to be animated by one soul,s per.
meating all the parts of her immense
organism, and giving to all the indi-
viduals the same high ideal, the strong
est bond of social unity.
Even as Belgium was, in IA, the
providential instrument to bar the way
to the invaders in order to allow
France and England to concentrate
their forces, so was America in II
the main providential factor of our
final victory"
The Protection Of God.
"God had promised to protect U.S."
he said at brilliant cathedral func-
tion in Baltimore.
"God, the good, Almighty God, whose
hands direct all things" said Cardinal
Mercier, a single, yet absolute, devo-
tion in his tone that impressed all Of
his hundreds of auditors, "gave me q
faith, an unshakable faith, in His JUS
tice." It was Mercier, the devout
priest, of whom he was giving clear
sight then, and the throngs leaned
forward eagerly and silently to get a
full view Of the picture.
Story OF HIS Lie.
Cardinal Desire Felicien Francois
Joseph Mercier, was born November
%, 1851, in a small place called Braine-
Ialleud, near Waterloo, in Belgium. He
was educated at st. Rombault's Col
lege, Malines, preparing for the priest
hood at the diocesan seminary there.
He was ordained to the priesthood on
April 4, 1874, and was admitted to the
old University of Louvain for post
graduate work in theology. He was
appointed to the chair of philosophy in
the diocesan seminary Of Malines in
1877 and remained for five years, when
he was called to the University Of
Louvain to become professor Of phil
osophy.
He remained at his post in Louvain
despite the urgent entreaties of Mon
signor Keane that he be permitted
to join the star of the Catholic Uni
versity of America, when that institu-
tion was founded.
He wrote Psychology" Logic and
Criteriology," while professor at
Louvain. These volumes have been
translated into many tongues. Mer.
cier's IA Manuel of Modern Scholastic
Philosophy" made its appearance q
few years ago. In February II, 1906,
the announcement was made that
Mons. Mercier had been designated
Cardinal Archbishop of Malines.
Soon after the invasion, Cardinal
Mercier was called to Rome. The
death of Pope Plus x, and the neces.
sity Of his presence at the meeting Of
the College Of Cardinals made his
journey unavoidable.
It was while he was in Rome that
Cardinal Mercier wrote the famous
Christmas pastoral Of 1914. under the
title of Patriotism and Endurance
which brought about his technical ar
rest and, in consequence. worldwide