The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-17

dOSey, ana x-NeV. Michael thompson of St. Patrfck's church, as well as many other prominent people from all parts of Bridgeport
 Behold from henceforth all gen erations shaM call me blessed-'' In the annals Of history five hun dred years before the coming of Christ we read that a powerful King reigned supreme over the Medes and the Per sians, and that His kingdom extended from the western shores of Africa to the dfstSs1t lands of India One day He determined to requfte 9 servant renowned for faithful service in a manner that should go down to pos terity for all time. Calling together his counsellors he announced his royal will and demanded their advice. Af- ter long deliberation they answered has a mind to honor. He shall be clothed with the kings royal apparel the scepter in his hand, the crown upon his head, and the first prince Of the land shall go before and scry thus Is he honored whom the king has a mind to honor" Had we lived in that dime and mingled with the multitude whose voices were hoarse with ac- clamation upon the kings favorite we think that surely on this subject would never fall the shadow of ob- livion. Wealth, power, royalty had done their utmost, but if we put their achievement to the test, if we ask the man in the street who was this king. his counsellor. and the favored sub
  his name.
 Surely a tremendoos celebration like this is quickly forgotten, if all that human ingenuity can devise is like a. little smoke a frail bubble be- fore the destructive march of time, then that any one should say behold from henceforth all generations shall cali me blessed' must sound like a ing nothing. But there is one who has said it.. one in whom it is yer flied and will be verified for all time and eternity, Blessed Louise deMariI- lac When in 1919 the heroic quali- ties of her life had become clear and distinct in the light of three hundred years of constant success, when God had set the seal of divine approba- uon by frequent miracles wrought through her powerful intercession, the Church made known to the world that Louise deMarilac was to receive the neVer-dying, ever enduring honor which is given only to those whom the divine King of kings hath a mind to homer. In obedience to that will, thousands and thousands journeyed from every land to the holy city, and on May eth, 1920, the RaSiLica of St. Peters, the cathedral of the Christian world opened it's doors to those who had come to have her proclaimed Messed Draped in the royal purple and gold, this masterpiece of faith, this poem of marble and mosaic, this sublime temple saw first the humble
  It saw the poor of every country min- gling among the mass of surging hu- nanIty eager to hear the lips of the church call her blessed, and to take up that cry and re-echlo it until this world vanishes in smoke before Gods Judgment day. Not only the poor; for she was the inspiration Of all; the wealthy, the powerful, the influential were there; the governments of the | world Vied with tone another to be | first represented in that celebration | Of the personification of Charity. | Finally when all was prepared: when I the sanctuary of St. Peters flashed 1 with myTrLd of angelic. light and l the altar blazed with the magnifi- cence of the ages of faith, the priests | of the church, her bishops, her arch | bishops, her cardinals reverently filed l into their places. As the orator slowly 1 ascended the pulpit the fierce blaze | or 1Sht centered on a curtain drawn above the altar against the sanctuary lie recounted her life of charity-her holy death-the stamp of Gods ap- proyal by niracle-the enduring quality of her work, the recongition of all this by. the Supreme Pontiff of groHous memory, Benedict XIV, and descending bade the celebration to proceed Slowly as if conscious of he was setting in motion the cele- brant for the first time in history besought her intercessio. and sIeeled filed heE o,i plessed ed ray for us
 
 -a1rl dropped; there in the fierce blaze of heavenly light was the image~pf Blessed Louise de Marillac in glek, IS if gazing upon that vision of h- expressrble delight that is to be our happiness in eternity, and on the in stant from seventy thousand hearth r. md from seventy thousand lips there :, went fcrth that cry Nof Blessed, that will reverberate unto eternity. And know that this was the work of Sod, and I know it will last forever. have-heard it in Italy, have heard t in France, I have heard it in Swift zerland, in England, in Scotland, in -realnd and this morning I heard it again at Mass, and know that it nave madS the name of Peter, of Paul 1f Augustine, Theresam Dominic, Pat 'ick- Vincent love for ever, have ut cred the name of Louise de Marilac, mortality.
 The life of Louise de Mari1lac is one hat all may understand. because it s the life of a simple soul, living j ;imple way, living it simply for Cod. She was born at Paris, August 12th, I5O1. and this time God took one rom the proudest nobility of France -o be the servant of His beloved 'hans of Paris was never to know herself the sympathy assistance, the protection and direction of g. mother; ler's died in infancy, and LouiEe writes in one of her letters God rom my earliest years made me un- lerstand that He wilIed I should go Q Him by the way of the cross.' From the day of my. birth He has leyer ceased to give me some little ; uffering.' Her early education was ecelved at Poissy from her aunt a of St. Dominic, a woman If vast erudition as we'll as profound 'iety- Rejected by the Capuchin i sisters because of her delicate health, It the advice of friends she married , Antoine le Gras, Secretary to the ueen. For twelve years she served I i'm till God asked this sacrifice too 1 ! nd left a widow, she turned her ; houghts again to a life of closest lnion with her creator, still trusting | ne day to be consecrated to Him by he vows of the religious life. though without single earthly means by . which she might hope for it's achieve aent.
 It was in this abyss of uncertainty his utter helpIessr ess that throws he soul completely . it's Maker, that 0s1 m ~n 1-x LI. IL l..