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Vol. XI1.—_N
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Bee etna ee
THE CATHOLIC HERALD
IS PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY
M. FITHIAN,
No. 72 North Second Street, Philadelphia,
Terms.—T wo Dollars and Fifty Cents, tf paid
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ance, for a Subscriber.
Poetry.
m the Churchman.
TWO ANCIENT HYMNS FOR HOLY WEEK.
tr. Ls
I, VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT.
Fontu comes the Standard of our King!
. Bright gieams the mystic Sign,
Where Life bore Death of suffering,
*.5 And Death wrought Life divine.
‘The stabs of the accursed spear
Bring forth the healing Flood, -
To cleanse sin’s stains so dark and drear,
14° With Water and with Blood.
Fulfilled is each prophetic word,
Each faith inspir'd strain,
Telling the nations of that Lord,
Who by the Cross should reign.
“Oever honored, glorious Tree!
‘Than purple throne more fair;
Of all on earth ’twas granted thee,
His sacred Form to bear.
Low blest! upon whose spreading arma
‘The world’s great Ransom hung}
While Hell, was stirred sh mad alarms,’
_ And with deep curses 1
iil Chose of Christ! ! man’s only Hop
~ While now we gnze and pray,"
Dear Lord! the exhaustless fountains ope,’
And wash our sins away.
Source of all grace! Great Three in One,
Ail souls give praise to Thee,
Add Thou, to what the Cross hath done, ©
“Our crown of victory. .
Il.
LUSTRA, SEX QUI JAM PEREGIT.
The thirty years have all been passed,
Through which the Human life must last,
And with free love the Lord doth go,
To bear His Passion’s bier woe.
The Lamb that takes from a strength
Has reached His fearful Cross at length.
Gall to His parched lip they bear;
With thorn, and nail, and piercing spear,
They rouse His flesh, to anguish throe
‘Then forth the healing Torrent flows, >
Water and Blood, whose cleansing wave,
Rol!s on, earth, sea, and etars to lave
Oh faithful Cross! thou noble Tree,
Of all that ‘man shall ever see!
In earth's wide forests, there doth shine,
No leaf, no flower, no fruit like thine!
Yea sweet the ircn! and sweet the wood!
‘Phat bear the Lord, and shew Lis Blood.
j
‘
Lend down thine arms thou lofty Tree,
To ease the Sufferer's agony =
Instinct with ite thy nature tame 5
‘ake supple all thy rigid frame;
And sitive, as with a mother's care,
Thy Lord's own Royal Form to bear.
Only to thee was honor
To hft on high the Lamb fron Heaven.
(., Thy spreading arms, upheld the Ark,
Sole Refuge mid earth's flood so dark.
‘Thou only, oh thrice honored Wood !
Wert stained with His | most precious Blood.
Let exerlasting glory be,
To Thee oh Blessed Trinity.
To Father, Spirit. and to Son,’ © ‘
Be equal honors ever done. > =
And let all things and creatures join,
From the Catholic. Advocate,
THE TRUE CATHOLIC SPIRI T. tA
Guardian Anges and Patron Saints—
Grand Rural Festival—VPilgrimages Kins
7 our last part, we spoke of popular festi-
vals in honour of the patron saints of a village.
We are asked, why have we patron saints at
all? Is not God sufficient to help and protect
us at every need? Surely he is, but we do
not see that this is a valid objection to patror
saints; either of individuals or of towns. God
may grant to the prayers of His saints what
He would deny to our own unworthiness;
and they who have a deep Christian humilit:
wil feel a natural inclination to ask the prayers | ®
those who are much purer, and therefore
much more acceptable to God than them-
selves. St. Paul surely. was deeply imbued
with the. Christian spirit; and yet he, ove:
and again, begged the prayers of his brethren.
Ifour brethren here on earth can help us; if
it isin the order of God’s Providence that we
should help one another here; will not the
saints in, heaven be , still: more able to help
vs, and will not their charity prompt them
do so? Yes, we cling with affection to. the
good old Catholic idea of patron saints,
Ivis allied to the doctrine of guardian an-
gels, and. it is equally beautiful and impres-
sive. How consoling, to the Christian to
think that one of the heavenly host has been
specially commissioned to watch over him
during his earthly pilgrimage, to dry up his
tears, to suggest. pious thoughts, and to. carry
his prayers before the tbrone of God! . How
the very thought makes us love God, who
thus watches over us with a fatherly care !
‘The -scoffer might endeavour to mar the sub-
lime beauty of this constant intercommunion
between earth and heaven, by asking, ‘o:
Cannot God
what use are guardian angels ?.
protect’ us without them 2”
could, we answer; but
Goodness ‘prompted ‘Him,
tures plainly inform us,'to send his admins
istering angels. to minister unto those
receive the inheritance of salvation.” “Ole
So it-is.with ‘patron ‘saints. ‘They do not
attend on vs, it is true,as do our (Guardian | |
and, are our’ ‘friends and ‘intercessors in héa-
ven. ‘They are our heavenly, as. are the
ministering angels, our “earthly, guardians |
“ How good is the God of Israel to those who
are upright of heart!
These beautiful tryths of faith are deeply
felt and acted on in Catholic countries.They
are embodied in the material manners and
customs: they are apart of the very life of
the people. Great and small, rich and poor,
the prince and the beggar, all drink deeply at
this ever-flowing fountain of the divine good-
ness: all are deeply and practically persuaded | *
of these truths; and, no in respect nor
influence circumstances, prevents them
from proclaiming this belief in their daily and
hourly actions, ‘Thus, in Italy, many pious
persons carry constantly about their persons,
as mementos to refresh their faith, little pic-
tures ‘or medals representing the guardian
angel conducting a soul to paradise, , The
princess may wear itina beautiful jewelled
casket hung from the neck as’ an’ orvament ;
the beggar will wear a poor rusty medal with
and. yet the beggar will
perhaps thiak oftener and more fervently of
his guardian angel. than the princess! He
feels more keenly the need of aguardian to
watch over him in his affliction; and he press-
es the ‘cherished. emblem more warmly to
his heart! ‘The English scoffer, who cannot
or will not understand or appreciate the touch-
ng beauty of this faith’ and of these memo-
rials, can find no better explanation fur them
than that they are merely a cuperstitious
practice of wearing charms and amulets! !
“The sensual man Perceiveth not the things
which are of the spirit of God.”
Shovld you happen to be in one of the
larger: Italian towne, or citta, on the day, on
which is celebrated the feast of the patron
saint, or one of the greater feasts of the most
holy Virgin, you will witness a scene of great
and surpassing interest.’ At an early hour you
will behold flocking to the citta great numbers
of men, women, and litle children from all
the surrounding villages, .'T; hey are all dress. |"
ed in their finest garments, and each set
To bicee and praise,the One nd Trine SQ,
villagers wears @ peculiar costume, handed
PUP as
1, Hebrews, Ist chap. last verse.
angels; but they watch over our. interests, |
free
of | make uP ‘heir own minds on the subject. (3),
down from generation- to generation, from
time immemorial. In this great reunion all
are ‘however animated with the same spirit.
A Each village strives to outdo its neighbour
in the fervour with which it participates in
the exercises of the festival. . It is indeed a
gay and delightful spectacle, to behold the
patti-coloured throng ‘all blended together in
the same large church, kneeling without pews
or seats on the sane marble pavement, telling
their beads, or pouring forth their prayers’ in
unison of heart and feeling! It is. refreshing
to piety, to witness the heartfelt interest which
they take in the exercises of their religion,
dearer to them far than any mere worldly
sports! Only a Catholic country can present! ¥
such spectacles!
> There is, perhaps, no religious usage of
Italy more misunderstood gr ‘misrepresented,
than the practice of going on pilgrimages to
some patticular. shrine of the Virgin, ‘The
shrine is perhaps decorated with some very
old time-honored image or statue of Mary,
which has been held in special veneration for
centuries, Pious associations cluster around
the hallowed spot; and popular belief main-
tains that God has there, time and again, per-
formed wonderful cures, or bestowed : special
graces and favours, at the intercession of the
most holy Virgin. ‘The shrine itself’ bears
abundant evidence of this popular belief. It
is surrounded with trophies: the crutches of
the lame who were healed. the armour of the
soldier who returned safely from a perilous
campaign, and numerous silver and golden
memorials of grazie, or favours received. * In
front of ityou will perceive a kneeling throng,
pouring forth .prayers..from a warm* heart.
Mark, the animated. countenance ; and the
streaming eyes of that peasant girl: she .is
praying, perhaps, for the restoration to health
of adearsick parent. Mark the earnest man-
ner of that mother: she is pouring forth pray-
ers, mingled with earnest vows and a flood of
¢ | ‘ears, for the preservation of some dearly be-
loved son who is at sea or in the ranks of a
distant army. Mark that poor cripple; how
o | earnestly he prays: his cheeks already glow,
and his eye islighted up with hope: ‘he will
not leave the spot until be will be able to leave
his cratch behind him
‘This is all waetted mummery, says the
proud’ scoffer. But ‘perhaps the Christian
would give ita milder- name, One thing, at
Jeast, the scene clearly proves—that, that
kneeling multitude is animated with a lively
faith, What if their enthusiasm leads them
to believe more than an English skeptic
‘would believe? Does not an inspired Apos-
tle assure, usy that, ‘Charity believeth all
things; hopeth for all things?”. (2) Is it in-
credible that God should be moved by their
ardent faith ‘and unwavering confidence to
grant thelr petitions, and to say to many a one
jong them; ** Arise, thy faith hath made
thee whole.” At least.it would require a large
amount of credulity indeed, to believe, that
out of all those numerous cases of reputed
heavenly favors, none should be founded in
ruth. To hat immense moltiwudes
would continue unshaken in this belief, gene-"
ration after generation, without any ground
whatever for it, would require greater credu-
lity even than that which is scoffed at in those
mple people. \'To keep up for so long a
time a general . popular persuasion without
any foundation, would be in some respects a
greater miracle than. those which are ridi-
cul
led.
Sill the Church does not pronounce on
those reputed miracles : she leaves every one
ee to admit or reject-them according to the
ingee of evidence by. which they are thought
jo be sustained. Every one knows the scru-
tiny through whieh alleged 1
ass in the process of beatifi
zation, ere their aruth be peeved ° ”
church. . The testimony of thre i
nesses of unimpeachable veracity ‘o the fact,
and the moral certainty that the fact itself is
clearly miraculous, are required to establish
it as a miracle. And every one who has at
allexamined the subject, must have become
aware that the church has ever set the broad
seal of her condemnation on spurious mizacies,
whenever she could clearly ascertain them to
be such. When the matteris doubiful and
the interests of faith or morals are pot invol.
ved, she wisely leaves her cl eto
2.
2. 1. Cori xi
3. See Benedict XLV, Casoaia, ss. aad: also
Bp, Hay, * on miracles,""ch. x
Does not the chureh, in this whole matter’
pursue the wisest and most prudent course f
Can ‘she then be rightly blamed for any ex-
cess of popular enthusiasm or credulity which’
may occur?’ Can she be censured for not
fostering in the minds of her children a Spirit
of skepticism which might eventuate in un-
belief of Christianity itself?» What harm is
there after all, or what danger, in this popular
credulity, if you still insist on giving it that
arsh name? But you will say ; why does
not the church puta stop to these’ pilgrima-
gesaltogether? Why does she not proscribe
them as. superstitious? Why does. she not
break those old statues and images, as fa-
voring superstition ? Is not one place as holy:
as another ; 3 and is it not downright supersti-
tion to attach a peculiar sanctily toa particu
lar spot or shrine? * :
Not quite so fast, if you please. Pilgri-
mages are not superstitions; and the whole :
reasoning implied in this. chain’ of questions
is _a miserable, hollow sophism, even if it
deserve that name.' Would it be superstition
to make a pilgrimage to the battle ground. of
Bunker Ifill, of New Orleans, or to the tomb’
of» Washington’ or "Koeetuskot Would not!
the sightof those spots inspire | feelings and:
awaken associations, more lively and hallow: :
ed than a visit to any other place? Let us;
take an instance still more in point.’ Look at»
the English ‘tourists who traverse Italy in-)
sulting “its people and scoffing at their most_
cherished religious observances. They have
nothing but scorn and sneers to bestow upon:
the venerable religious monuments which:
enrich Italy ; these are all-emblems of ’ what
they are pleased to call superstition! ‘Their
souls have no sympathy to throw’ away on:
Christian monuments, which speak of a spirit-?
ual world. But stop; mark the veneration !
with which they gaze on the monuments: of |
fallen paganism with which © ltaly ‘is also<°
bestrewn, ‘There is not a spot which has
been rendered famous by pagan achievement !
which they do not visit, and near which they »
do not linger with earnest enthusiasm. ‘They »
abhor all Christian relics and memorials, but '
they .will give iis weight in. gold for any»
relic of paganism! They willreverentlygather ©
wee around the “tombs of the Scipios
or of,
and heroes they will uample under foot with; _
scorn! ‘Lhey sneer at the, statues ‘of. Peter >
and Paul being placed on the,-summits of the +
columns of ‘Trajan.and the | LAgtonines 5 but. if
instead of these, they could:view there the:
old statoes of ‘Prajan and “Marcus,Aurelius, »
they. would almost fall down’ and worship
them! “By their fruits ye shall know them:”
and their fruits are e evidently more Pagan than
Christian, ”
One place not more: “holy than another.
‘Then why.did God in the old Law establish i
his Holy of Holies inthe Holy City of Zion, y
and command all thither for worship ti Why:
donot Christians worship in the open air, or;
amid «the waving forest, foliage, instead: ’of
doing it in consecrated churches?! But grant
that one place is not: intrinsically: more holy »
than ‘another would it thence :follow:that all
places are equally caleulated'to awaken pious
sesociation ‘and -1o stir up: religious feeling t+
ould a ‘Christian feel as reverend an awe.
come over him while worshippingin his owns
church in England or America, as he‘ would)
were he kneeling on. the very spot where »the |
Saviour died, where his Mother’s heart was.
\angpierced with the sword ‘of: grief; and:
where mother and son were buried? Is itcome;
to this, that we are todiscard all the finest feel-
ings of human nature, and to substitute a cold
heartless: stoicism, for the! slowing, feelings.
inspired by Christianity 2% ; :
Alas! faith hath grown cold t Th isisthe:
trve reason for all this indifference in religion;!
this the key to all the scoffs.and -taunts: of
Protestantism against venerable C atholic usa-'
ges! Dieguise ‘the fact’: as we may, This iy!
in its ultimate analysis, the real: cause of ‘all:
the misrepresentation ' with which ' Catholic:
usages have been outraged. And will’ Catho-
lies: themselves tacitly join in the: savage’
outcry against what they should view as-most’
sacred 2 "Those usages of piety are not, it ‘is:
true, esseniially : ‘connected with the teachings
of faith: but ‘they! are the outworks of the:
they
ever watchful ardians ‘of piety, Soffer
those outworksto be stormed, and-the. voi:
‘ those sentinels to be drowned in the mai
dening clamour of prejudice, and. you. en~ \—_.
danger the fortress itself.
0
Virgit¥ but the dust of Christian saints (
t
are the external: sentinels - and’ ~
Mn.
¢
,
cmon nw cna ol wap womadeamn a?
ernest SS