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148
UNITED STATES CATHOLIC MISCELLANY.
‘VoL. IX.
“ aed the peace of God, which surpasseth all u
desrstanding, keep your hearts and minds i in ‘Christ
Jes
Git ven in ‘Council, at Baltinioro, this. 17th day o!
October, in the year of our
{ Janes,: Archbishop of Baltim
} Benepi¢r Joseru, Bishop 9 of Bardstown.
} Foun, » Bishop of Charleston, and V. G. of Las:
of Rare ohne of St.
ew. Orleans.
£ Benevier Josern, Bishop of Boson
TP Wizcaan Marine A. and “Adminis:
of Philadel hia.
Epwanrp, Bishop of Cincinnati. ;
i , Loui wis, and Adminr.
Edward Dango, D . D., Secretary.
a]
BIOGRAPHY.
From the Boston ‘Monthly Magazine. J
MEMOIR OF BISHOP CHEVERUS.
ri boni equitatem et jus ipsum amant. Nec} si
ost viti bon orrare, st diligere quod per se non sit deligen
dum et c um.” Cie egibus.
“ Diguum rande virum musa vetat mori.” ‘Ho race.:
meluded from p. 141
+.
delinéating the character of Bishop Cheverus,
one; for
In
I feat I shall not give satisfaction .to ‘any o
those who know bint well, know also that ma
things might be added to those found in this sketch;
and those who are not aoquiinted with him, wi
cui of one
=
duties. euk of him as 31 ‘new him
The literary and scientific: aequirements of Bishop] tl
ead Greek
Cheverus were 0 rder. He
and Hebrew with great’ et ness jhe | spoke and
wrote Latin as a‘ vernacular tongue, and was often
heard to say, that if he were to make an argument
for his life, he should prefer, before competent J
es, to use the Latin, believing that his thoughts
would flow more rapidly in that language than
French’ or English. *
himself master of the difftcu
D hz!
‘tis = elonnone was of the most persuasive order ; 3"
his style]
and melodi:
his maane: s sincere and devo tional 5
pure and_ refine ; his voice was clea
us—and every thing he said,
pure and elevated feelings,
of affection in the breast o
of reasoning to his su
ubject
yard wit out acknowidging the delight he felt
uch a man, nor without
at bei the ‘society o
belving Simelf mao better by holding communior
wit pipeoka
High. |¢
judg-
Ifc was well acquainted with
the philosophy ‘of universal grammar, and had made
ulti ties of the English in its
ormons of Bishop Cheverus were for the
m of mo-
were suceint and
nun
- In his judgment and frien
His variety of talent. was:remarkable. , He could
accommodate himself with perfect ease to all grades
of society, and understood the business and habits
ery ¢!
” ele he entered. 6 permitted his social feel-|
ing to interfere with his professional, duties, and he
considered them in a good measure united He w
prepared for every occasion and e ciden
ave seen him in the morning. sintering the
i in, and
- her soul to higher and sublimer
and raising the flarne of devotion in her breast, whose
urity and loveliness were already such as to create
a wish a“ the der, that in her orisons all. his
sin dd be remembered. At noon, I have heard
him nonvereing with politicians, | thorough: -bred in
the ways of the world, and they we tching to
catch every principle, fact, or ilestration, which fell
«| from his lips—and turning from them to play w
some sportive child. and by some kind iti wid. or
done by him, would make infancy hap
would start from the social board at a. tall fom the
eich, te give the last seal of religion to othe penitent’s|&'
5
To ‘those who made a serious enquiry of him i in
regard td his-doctrines and faith, he returned 2 so-
Y{lemn. and decided answer, but when assailed by
ete bigotry or assuming ignorance, he replied
y putting some questions far beyond the depth of
| the interrogator; or if crowded by good natured cu-
© riosity, he. got rid of the subject by some adroit eva-
sion which gave no offen He was not fon
ixed com or large circles, but thrown into
ersation was easy and pleasant, and
his. con
the kindness of his manner threw a charm over eve-
ry ing he said.
accessible at his house at all times; and
after | the ‘hire increased, and his own finances
would : admit 0 t, he Kepta most hospitable table—
it drove 1, b ing
them were found persons of all countries
His industrious habits gave him time for a great
He rose at all seasons of the year
n of day, or before, and continued his
the evening. Ie seldom,
>| suffered a day to go over him, without retetinghi
ind by the perusal of some classic ; an
ies with new
vigour, from drinking at the fountains and culling}
athe undying flowers of the muse.
Women are often the best judges of the characters
of men; for they do not view them through the me-
dium of rivalry, envy, or party spirit, as men often
do each other; but weigh with accuracy their me-
,{rits, both of heart and head, when they have an op:
portunity or right to judge. A priest of the Roman
Catholic Church, with the vows of celibacy on him,
if his reputation be good, isthe proper professor,
friend and adviser of roman. Bisho P Cheverus
mbered a t intimate fends, a large
circle of intlleceaal females of the Pro’
confide! and not only co
but taught their children that in every painful or
. oal
Wivorr board him, wil never forget his address: to
hi
is” © new: the Sovereign Ponti
minio Tig
rt he indulged his feelings to the]!
mind,
full tie oF his delight. These effusions of pulpi
eloquence were without effort, for his heart was ful
of eympathy for mankind, and he suffered and enjoy-
ed with those near or remote. This feeling had no
thing of weakness in it.’ He was always severe up
n. those who gave up to a sickly sensibility, which
enervates the inind instead’ of purifying the heart;
and always strove to impress upon his friends the
‘necessity of i in ever
y
He considered life 2 succession nof duties, and a place
e
ure diamon as it wi
Yo become Tiquid as water. whilg he was engraving| their ‘gatitude, and j in the story of their sufferings,
nt
lease from confinement and return to ‘his ancient do-
Other at the same moment crowded
thei reir lives, to call on him for foun
t{course of duty: In truth it may be said, that A had
|{as many confidential
fessional as in it,
-| Bishop Cheverus hada no narrow views in politi
-jor religion. While in England, he formed a favou-
hj rable opinion of re British nation, and a strong at:
;|tachment to many of her instutions. He often spoke
with, admiration of her intellect, her wealth and pow-
never forgot the protecting hand she extend-
ee ‘e ane clergy of France, when cast, in. wretched-
ground. ihe ese pious ¢ exiles lite
“I a principle
in the house was free asair to his guests, and amongst i
i ition
| England, when Boston was threat:
j his adopted country.
these things.”—'The things which)his own sentiments and feelings, as with the power! He was a good citizen of p y.
” Pee thet eaned and received, and ‘heard, an d\of the same preciou us stone, upon the minds of those He never lost an opportunity of teaching his flock:
een iyo." he came to comfort and instruct. he blessings flowing from t nt u
f of al M. He never checked innocent mirth with aus-|from the enemy, and voluntary contribution in-
terity, nor suppressed a.smile at what was playful| bour became necessary for making arrangernents for
iJ : ho; hev: r es
or witt nade 1m ts ro r time. His rem marks a a proper defence, Bishop ¢
: Y. i sp oper r-| vent out to work at the head of his flock to assist in-
building ramparts and breastworke for def
was a minister of peace, but instructed his followers
g|that self-defence was not only a law of nature, but
of religion. The effect was wonderful :
to see a dignitary of tbe church at manual Jabour,
was new to Catholics. It should be said in justice
to all his people, that during the war, which was hap:
pily of short duration, they were at all times prompt
and efficient assistants in every plan for our pro-
tection.’
He was friendly to our literary associations; and
n Mr. Shaw, a gentleman well kno 0 the lo-
ers 8 of literaturo, as the indefatigable prfecor of
the Boston Athe! in the:
efforts, Bisho
liberal donations from his extensive Jibrary;
w.
s
this valuable and flourishing | institution was not for-
“Non withstanding thirty years absence, his
stant labours, and his many and ardent attachments
in this country, still France was near bis heart—for
there, were the graves of his ancestors, and the home
of his kindre
After the death of Doctor Matignon, the duties of
Bishop Cheverus increased, and he laboured indefa-
d his lips, for be had made-
od would: soon call. him to follow
vide lence. 22,
| ville to Franee, who had been Jesiding j in this coun-
try, as Minister from . Cloud, the
and the talents o.
attachment to the Royal Fam
well k
Prelate, as also his.
mily of France, being.
In April following ris appointment, he re-
ceived a letter from the Mi r of she Interior,
naming his ordinance, and requesting o come
immediately to France. The Prince de Cri, Grand
moner of France, likewise pressed him to return,
and many others of distinction were e
His own family seemed to place their whole | happi-
ess on the event; but after the first emotions of
pleasure were over, in knowing that he was remem-
bered in the land ot his birth, and:among the friends.
of his youth; he looked around upon his flock, and
deeply felt how hard it would be to part with them
f
=
>
&-
es
or ever.
ates. and brought him Not
lock were in distress at losing him, but in-.-
venta peonte of the Protestant faith, joined with
wn; to detain him. He, too. flattered himself
hi
determination, of declining the offer of the @ transl
to the See of Montauban .
Thé memorial, signed by more than two hundred
.|{geatlemen, of the first distinction in Boston
.{sent to the Prince de Croji, which fully evinesd the
respect in which he was hel in this country, and the
importance of his services among ty.
After this communication was sent to France, he
A] appeared icin om the agitation attending a de-
no t sv important to himself and others.
e thought | the question of his translation at-an end,
but it was not s e solicitations were renewed
from such high suhory, that they came tu him in
the nature o ,
a grievous calamity to lose him ; but be had taught
them to submit to re dispensations of Providence
= n British
r rally found England an asylum ny; |
and the gene: offered at such an appalling mo-
etually preserved in the recordg
mM prosperous, and in
re care of men deep i in the affections and: confi-
member of t
he cong regation, and -
ny.
ofj4
highly respected by the whole communit