GOLDEN 1841-1891 —JUBILEE

HOMAGE TO OUR VENERATED FATHERS THE OBLATES OF THE CONGREGATION OF MARY IMMACULATE,

How many millions cf souls will to day, acknowledge their indebtedness for the inestimable blessing of faith to ou, o noble devoted heralds of the Cross, who leaving ome, kindred and gentle associations, have journeyed from France, Ireland and other nations of Europe, to this far off Land, to pal the word, to plant the cross, and to impart to souls a title with you to an inheritance in the kingdom of Heaven!

Your zeal knows no bounds, no labor or danger appalls you, you live only for those you seek to befriend. Some of the saintly band have with the heroic faith and love with the earlier martyrs, suffered unto death as witnesses for the Divine Master.

Some have passed away as the mists of the morning, but their golden deeds and holy lives remain as beacons of light, pointing to the goal of our desires, thus encouraging the present as well as the future generations, to walk bravely in the path that leads to life.

Gladly and reverently do we mingle our voices to the joyous acclamations of the enthusiastic people of Canada,

raising and congratulating the saintly missionaries of

ary Immaculate on this golden festival, and deign believe, most Honored Fathers, that every wish and feeling to which their hearts give utterance finds a hundred echoes in the humble community of the Good Shepherd of Ottawa.

But no language can express in fitting terms the emotion, the gratitude this jubilee calls forth. Ah! no, nor can we venture words of eulogy on names and deeds that through the broad extent of our fair Dominion, are encircled by the halo of a nation’s deepest veneration.

Suffice it to say that we heartily bless and thank our Immaculate Mother, who is styled emphatically the Queen of Apostles, the Queen of Martyrs, for all she has enabled you to do for the good of souls during the half century, which has lapsed by, and we pray our glorious Patroness, to protect yet more, her devoted missionaries, in order that the admirable creation of the Venerable

cs Lie

Founder, Mgr De Mazenod, may remain from age to age, from century to century, the honor and joy of the Church.

Your most humble and unworthy daughters and servants,

Tue Sisrers oF Our LADY oF CHARITY (Good Shepherd).

Ottawa.

December, 7, 1891.

Les citations qui précèdent sont peut-être longues ; mais ces témoignages émanant des plus hauts dignataires ecclésiastiques et 6 maisons religieuses, ne forment-ils pas, à eux seuls, un des plus beaux monuments de notre Fe pur gs Ils devaient donc trouver place dans ce

ivre.

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