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Vol. XII.—No. 26.
THE CATHOLIC HERALD
18 PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY
M. FITHIAN,
No. 72 North Second Street, Philadelphia.
Terms.—Two Dollars and Fifty Cents, if puid
in advance, or Three Dollars, payable half yearly.
.. No paper discontinued until all arrearages are
settled, ~
All Communications, except from Agents or
Subscribers enclosing remittances, must be post
paid, and addressed , ** To the Editor of the Ca-
tholie Herald, Philadelphia, Pa.”
By permission of the Post-Master General, any
« Post-Masterean frank a letter containing a remit-
“tance, fora Subscriber. .
Poetry.
For the Catholic Herald.
TUE CROSS.
Oh Cross! sweet emblem of our hopes!
Our refuge given to be—
When faint and sad the spirit droops,
Fondly it turns to thee,
Pledge of a dying Saviour's love!
‘To mortals by Him given
Who left His glorious throne above,
‘To lead us up to Heaven!
And on this worthless, sinful earth,
Where love caused Him to stay,
Saw naught but misery from His birth
"To Calvary’s bloody day ;
When to Ilis Father He did yield
His soul—'mid sorrow’s tears,
And lJefithe Cross to be the shield
Of all His followers here.
And could then men indeed be found,’.! ‘
wl. « Wha bear the Christian's name,.. ) 2 5)
To sinkthat token with the ground, 401
"Mid ecenesof guilt and shame?
And hail with loud, derisive cheers, \
‘That image as it lay,
Low with the dust—nor feeia fear =
Of Heaven's avenging day ?
Oh no—this surely could not be,
‘In this enlightened age—
Is it not a dream of memory
Of Pagan tyrant’s rage ?—
Ah! to our city’s deep disgrace
We must it own, wiih shame ; 3
Nor can our efforts e'ereffice
‘This blot upon her faine?
{Ob Thou! who when this world will be’!
With all its scenes, no more,
Will come in awful majesty,
With that sign borne before
Thy judgmentseat,—oh ! let Thy love
And mercy then be shown, oe
And for men’s wicked deeds, Thy blood—
‘Thy saving bloud atone ! ;
‘Alas! they knew not what they did—
Foroh! it could not be,
‘That ‘they would knowingly dare give
‘This insult deep to ‘Thee!
Accept the homage angels give
‘The in realms above—
“s L-
-1)) Convert Thy greatures—bid them live
x Hencefurgh in peace and love!) \
Mary.
© Philadelpbia, June 70, 18440 4
Maatyrs.— bas been remarked of o!d that the
persecution of the unbeliever is directed against
the members of the true church.» St. Cyprian,
‘writing to Pope Cornelius concerning Novatian.
asks—* Does he yet acknowledge who is the
priestof God, which is the church and hou-e of
- Christ, who are the servants of God whom the
Devil infests, who are the Christians whom‘ anti-
Christ attacks? For he does not Jook after those
whom he has alrendy subdued, or strive to over-
turn those who are already his own. ‘The enemy
and foe of the church despises and passes by as
captives and conquered those whom he estranged
from the church, and drew out of it; he attacks
those in whom he sees that Christ dwells, : Al-
though if one of the others be arrested, there is no
room for his flattering himself ae for the confess:on
of THe Name, since itis certain that if such per-
sons were slain out of the chugch, it would not, be
the crown of faith, but rather the penalty of. per-
fidy; nor would they dweli among those of one
mind in the house of God, Who we see departed
from the peaceful and divine a.dnsion through the
frenzy of discord.”* bos dners) (G5
* Ep. Ix, 5€, 57. hh (4)
Philadelphia, Th
From the U. S. Catholie Magazine. *
ST. ‘THOMAS OF AQUIN,*
CONFESSOR AND DOCTOR. '
St. Thomas, styled the Angelic Doctor, be-
longed to a noble family, which was allied by
marriage with several royal houses of Eu-
rope. . Ilis father. Landulph, was count of
Aquin,a small town of Italy, and lord of Lo-
retto and Beleastro. The saint appears to
ave been born in the last, mentioned place,
towards the end of the year 1226. Ile very
early gave indications of his being a, favorite’
of heaven, by the modesty, meekness, and se-
renity of countenance which were observed in
chim. — At the tender age of five years, he was
placed by his father under the care of the re-
ligious of Mount Cassino; and such were the
talents he displayed dyring his stay in the mo-'
nastery, that when he was ten years old, the
abbot advised the count to send him to a uni-
versity. Accordingly ‘Thomas left the holy
solitude of the cloister where his inclinationto
piety had been strengthened, and paid a visit
to his family before going to Naples where he
was lo pursue his studies.. At home, though
obliged to mingle in wosldly company, be lost
nothing of his fervor, but was attentive 4o his
usual exercises, and delighted chiefly in prac-
lising the virtues of charity, by relieving the
wants of the poor, in whose behalf he. some-
times deprived himself of a portion of his food.
‘The foundation of the university of Naples
by the emperor Frederic, IL, dated: only from
1224. ‘Thomas soon found reason to regret
the abode of virtue which he had left at Mount
Cassino, when he beheld the disorders ‘which
reigned among the students at Naples; and he
immediately resolved to be extremely circum-
spect in the choice of those with . whom ,he
should associate. It often happened that all
would repair to places of amusement, except
‘Thomas alone, who occupied himself in study,
in visiting the churches, and_in_ distributing
the alins which a strict economy and self ,de-
nial had enabled him to provide. =. =) x27
He succeeded admirably in the cultivation
of human learning, and. would impart a new
degree of force and perspicuity to the lessons
of his teachers when repeating them. . But
the science of the saints engaged still more
deeply the attention, of the. pious youth, and
he did not fail to profit by the. opportunities
he had of improving in it, daily. , Maving
formed an acquaintance with a disciple of Si.
Dominic, he telt, his. aversion for the world
growing stronger as he conversed . with the
holy man, and he resolved to consecrate him-
self to the service of God, by embracing: the
religious state,, THis father wasno svoner
apprised of his design, than, he , used ‘threats
and promises to make bim relinquish his. in
tention. ‘The fervent youth, however, disre-
garded the suggestions of flesh and blood,
and listening only to the call from heaven, he
urged his admission into the convent and took
the habit of St. Dominic, in 1243, at the age
of seventeen years. When the intelligence
of this event reached the ears of the counte-s,
his mother, she set out for Naples... ‘Thomas
asked to be removed to another, convent, that
he might be spared the painful feelings of an
interview with her;, and. he was on his wa
to Paris when, by order. of his brothers, he
was arrested on the road, near Aqua-pendente,
and conducted to Rocea-sicea, a castle be-
longing to the family where the countess resi-
ded at that, time. ‘To. the. solicnayins by
which he was urged to throw off the religious
dress, he replied that no consideratign. could
induce him to comply with such a request; bis
mother, however, did not despair. of inaking
him adoptiflerent views and embrace another
profession. But her hopes were illusory. She
vainly alleged the right of paternal anthority
over children, and her entreatie<, caresses and
tears were equally powerless on the mind of
the heroic youth. . Grieved as he wes to give
pain to his mother, he replied. with great re-
spect, that he had weighed the subject well;
that his vocation came certainly from God,
and he was resolved to adhere to it faithfully
at the risk of every sacrifice. , ‘The countess
was wich disappointed in finding ber son un-
shaken-in bis determination; but, instead of
abandoning her attempt, she had recourse to
very harsh measnres 10 force him into a com:
pliance with her ‘unreasonable: wishes; she
ordered him to be closely, confined... His two
sisters now undertook to overcome his oppo-
sition; but: far from meeting with’ success,
they, became themselves the conquest of their
* Compiled from Alban Butler.
ursday, June 27, 1844.
brother, who spoke to them so ,feelingly. on
the contempt of the world and the consolations
f virtue, that they. resolved. henceforth to
‘imitate his example, by devoting themselves
to the practice of Christian perfection.,
. Thomas was improving the leisure of his
confinement by pious meditations and the pe-
rusal of the holy scriptures, when his brothers
returning home from the army added new
rigors to his painful situation. Irriated, at
finding him so resolute in his purpose,. they
gave vent to their anger by tearing from his
shoulders the religious habit which he wore,
and shutting him up in the tower of the castle.
Not satished with this cruel expedient, they
had recourse to the wicked artifice of introdu-
cing into his room an abandoned female, for
the purpose of overcoming his virtue... The
saint, in this critical situation, raised his heart
0 God to obtain light and_ protection, and
seizing a firebrand, he courageously put to
flight the agent of satan, who endeavored to
shake his constancy. Alter this signal victory
over. the. world, Thomas, returned (fervent
thanks to God for the preservation of his vir-
ine, and consecrating himself anew, to. a reli-
gious life, he implored the. grace of never
losing the, treasure of chastity. His prayer
was followed, say his historians, by a genile
‘slumber, during which he was visited by two
angels, who seemed to gird his loins; and
never afterwards was he molested by. eny
temptation of the flesh. : Ie thus acquired a
twofold claim to the. appellation of Angelic
Doctor, which. his contemporaries bestowed
upon him, and whieh posterity has confirm:
ed.
Upon the remonstrances of Innocent. 1V.
and the emperor against the violent usage of
the young religioas, his mother began to re-
lent and appeared disposed to permit his es-
cape. . Accordingly, his sisters let him down
from the tower ina basket, where some of
his brethren were in attendauee to conduct
him to Naples, . Eis solemn profession took
place in the course of the fullowing, year,"and
was the occasion of new complainis on. the
part of bis family, who could not broek the
idea of his spending: his life in a convent.
The pope was solicited to interfere. in this
matier, and having examined ‘Thomas in pre-
sence of his relations, he gave his approbation
to the choice which he had made, . From this
time, he was allowed to pursue his career. in
peace, unmolested by the schemes of a world-
ly kindred. :
‘Thomas was now to enter upon the study
of philosophy, | The. greate-t master of the
science, at that period, was Albert the Great,
amember of the order of St. Dominic, who
taught at Cologne, | Thither “homes, was
sent by his superiors, . To talenis, of a high
order he added close application, with the im-
provement of every moment that was not em-
ployed in religious exercises,’ His desire was
to acquire learning, in order todefend the faith
against its adversaries. , But far from making
a display of his attainments, he so concealed
his knowlege under the mantle. of humility
and modesty, that he was thought to be stupid
by his fellow ‘students, who. called him the
dumb ox. Even Albert himself seemed to
entertain an unfavorable opinion of his talents,
until ‘the modest student astonished. those
around him. by the sagacity of his answers,
which led the, professor, to observe. to his
pupils: * We-call him the dumb ox 3, but,
he will one day bellow so loud by his jlearn-
ing, that his voice will fill the whole worli.”?
‘The young saint having placed his affections
on God alone, was equally, insensible to the
praises and contempt of men., an
In 1245, Albert the Great, was called: to a
chair of theology at Paris, whither Thomas
accompanied him. - Three years after, they
both returned to Cologne, when Thomas ,was
appointed to teach, in conjunction wish his
former master, whose reputation. he soon
equalled, St. ‘Thomas at this early. period of
his life, published sume eommentaries on the
philosophical » orks of Aristotle. Butintense as
was his application to the abstruse. sciences,
e always nourished in his heart a_ warm and
tender piety. In fact, prayer was the ordina
ry means which he employed to obtain. a so,
lution of the difficulties encountered in his stu-
dies, and he was wont to say. that he. had
learned more before the crucifix.anc at the
{oat of the altar than in the perusal of books,
‘To prepare bimself{for the reception of holy
orders, Thomas renewed his fervor and re-
doubled his exercises of piety, filled with a
yhole Number 598 —
sanctity which it requires. In celebraing
the sacred mysteries he frequently shed tears
of devotinn and manifested the transports of
his soul by the fervid glow which appeared on
hip countenance.’ He had an especial devo-
tien to the sacrament of the holy ‘eucharist,
and he not’ unfrequently spent several hours
of the night in aduration before the tabernacle,
By order of Urban 1V, he compiled the beau-
tiful office which is used on the feast of Corpus
Christi, and which is strongly , characterized
by his ardent lov@Yor our Saviour, in the | sa-
crament of the altar. aa mei ae
Our ‘saint, according to the spirit. of his in-
stitute, exercised also the function of preach=
ing; and such was the efficiency of his dis-
courses that oiany were converted by them.
Paris, Cologne, Rome, and maiiy other. pla-
ces, had the happiness of hearing. the word
of God from his lips. His. private’ conversa:
tions Were also attended with the most beneti-
cial effects, in convincing the mind and touch-
ing the heart. Having usually met with wo
distinguished Rabbins, the discourse turned
upon the ground of the Christian religion, and
the argument was to be resumed ‘on the fol-
lowing day. ‘Thomas spent. the night. in
prayer before the blessed sacrament, anid his
pious zeal was rewarded by the joy of. “‘meet-
ing again the two Israelites. who returned to
him not for the purpose of discussion, bet to
embrace the Catholie faith...’ ay
'y a special privilege granted to his extra
ordinary talents, St. ‘Thomas. was allowed to
teach at the age of twenty-five., At the age of
thirty-one vears, and on the twenty-third of
October, 1257, he was admitted to the degree -
of doctor, “Such was his acknowledged abili«
ty at this time, that the university. of Paris
consented to abide by his decision, in a con-
troversy that had ari-en among its members,
all of whom adopted his sentiment. «9
St. Louis, king of France, had the greatest
respect for our saint and honored. him -with
his itimate friencship., It was at the table of
this holy monarch that Thomas, whore atten-
tion’ as absorbed in deep reflections on the ”
subject of bis studies, exclaimed suddenly:
“This is conclusive against the Manichees;"’
but the’ admonition of his superior, who was
préeent, having recalled his, thoughts to the
royal table, he humbly desired to apologize
for hig absence of mind. .We are. informed
by the saint's historians that he often, rose
from the table, without knowing what kind of
food he had taken. en tact
“Urban TV, who fully appreciated the merit
‘of Thomas, called him to Rome, in 1261} and
several times manifested his intention to con-
ferupon him some dignity in.the church.
But the repugoance of Thomas could not. be
e, and his sincere humility inspired
with adecided preference for, the retire=
ment of the cloisier, _ He was actuated by the
same principles when he solicited to be relea-
sed from the office of professor. Taving ob-
tained his request, he undertook the most im=
portant’ of his works, his theological Stam.
He commenced it in , Bologna, and continued
itat Naples. In this latter city, as the’ saint
Was once praying with great fervor, and in a
state of ectacy, one of his brethren being pre-
sent, a voice was heard fiom the image. of the
crucifix, which said, Thomas, thou hast writ
ten well of me; ‘what recompense dost. thou
desire? “No other than thee, O Lord!” replied
the saint. Billuart observes that St. Thomas
was then composing his admirable treatise on
the Incarnation of the Word of God. =e
“From December, 1273, until the day of his
happy death, the seventh of March following,
he abstained from every thing that could di-
vert his mind from the thought of God ‘and
eternity. . In obedience to the pope, Gregory
X, he had left Naples for Lyons in. France,
where a general council was to assemble on
the first day ef May 1274, Indisposed when
he began his journey, his i'lness compelled
lim to stop at Fossa-Nuova,a Cistercian mo-
nastery.- During nearly a month that his
walady continued, he edified the good monks
who looked upon him with the greatest vene-
ration, and deemed themselves happy to render
him the humblest offices of charity: _ At their
earnest request, he dictated an exposition, of
the Canticle of canticles: it was the expression
of that divine love which animated bis soul in
his’ last moments. He received ‘the Moly
Viaticum lying upon the ashes spread cn the
floor, and as he grew weaker, the sacrament
of exireme enetion was administered ta him.
Prom this moment to that of his death,.he
lively eense of the sacerdotal dignity and the
spoke little, absorted in the contemplation of