The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-05-10
Archbishop Alters Sermon

critical period of the Church'S T
history merited for him the last |
ing gratitude and sincere esteem I
of the entire hierarchy. The rec
ord of the past twelve years as
Bishop of Columbus is written
indelibly in the hearts of his /
priests and people; and it is writ
ten eloquently also in tablets of
stone in this cathedral group of
buildings, as we'll as in the many
other monuments of religion
which testify to his vision and dy-
manic energy.
If to give continuity to the
mission of Christ is the equiva-
lent of being busy with the things
of God. then Bishop Ready faith
fully lived up to his motto. His
function was to represent Christ
as teacher, priest, and master.
He was mindful at all times of
his commission from Christ Ito
preach the gospel to every erea-
ture," whether in the pulpit, the
classroom, or the office. There
fore, any distinction of persons
or discrimination in his dealing
with men, whether Greek or Scy-
THAN. Jew or Gentle, was alien
TO his thought and action. He was
missionary in effect, even
though he did not preach the gos-
pei in foreign lands. AS director
of the Propagation of the Faith,
he helped to make disciples of
all nations" He was a representa-
tive of Christ and champion of
His cause when he carried out
the tedious but vastly important
work of general secretary of the
National Catholic Welfare Con-
ference. Much of the success of
its achievements was due TO his
keen appreciation of the distinc-
ton which must be made be-
tween the things that belong to
Caesar and the things that be-
long to God There was nothing
which could distract him from
the ultimate purpose of promot-
ing Gods kingdom, even when he
was busily occupied with nation
al policy or international rela-
tions in their impact on the
Church. He was never so happy
however as when engaged in the
ministry of the priesthood, or
when in his later years he could
mount the altar of God in this
cathedral church to celebrate the
sacred mysteries of religion. God
had given him special talent for
organization; and the growth and
development of Catholic Action
here in the diocese of Columbus
is due in large measure to his
4 initiative and vision. He recogniz-
ed the necessity of striving for
personal Sanctification before as
Suming the task of sanctifying
human society. To him the pur-
pose of the gospel was not pri-
marily social but individual saliva.
ton: yet he never failed to ap-
preeiate the social implications
of Christian truth and law in
their impact on society. For that
reason he was in the forefront
of every effort which would make
our laws, our social institutions
and our public policy consonani
with Christian teaching. This was
not a self.intereSted purpose, but
the Surest guarantee of universal
happiness and a clear vision oi
the common good. In all things
Bishop Ready sought to be the
true churchman, the man of God
the "alter Christus" - the one
who makes Christ live again ir
the public life of the community
as well as in the mind and heart
of the individual Christian.
Our hearts are heavy with sor
row as we lay TO rest our brother
bishop and bid farewell to one
with whom we lived so intimate
ly in the bonds of priestly friend
ship. To the bereaved Church o.
Columbus We extend our sincere
sympathy. To relatives anC
. friends We say. in the words o
st. Paul: We would not have yol
ignorant. brethren. concernin,
those who are asleep, lest yol
. should grieye as those who hav,
no hope. For if we believe tina
Jesus died and rose again, so witt
him God will bring those als'
who have fallen asleep through
Jesus" II at any time we shoult
be mindful of these words, sure
ly II is in circumstances such a
Il Ia