CELEBRATION AT THE G00D SHEPHERD CONVENT
Fifty yearsin the Priesthood ofthe Catholic Church! ’Tis » long time to look back to, and yet how short? Fifty years in the Catholic Priesthoodinvolves much more thanthe years; it involves also a number of years of preparatory studies, with a long foreview of a life of self-denial. Such were the ideas that floated through one’s mind on Saturday morning when the reverend gentleman whose name appears above, was to be seen officiating at the Altar of the Good £hepherd Asylum, in joyful thanksgiving to the Giver of all gifts for the Fifty years which had that day been vouchsafed him in the Sacred Ministry.
The Holy Sacrifice was offered by Monsignor Cazeau, assisted by Revd. Mesers.Labrecqueand Mathieu asdeacon and subdeacon, At half-past nine precisely, a number of clerzymen eutered the sacred precincts, the whole being followed by His Grace the Archbishop, preceded by the Archiépiscopal Cross, and attended on either side by Revd. Mr. Deziel, Curé of Levis, — himself Grdained on the 5th September, 1830, — and Revd. Denis Marcoux, Uuré of Champlain, a native of this city, the organ meantime ‘pealing forth Mendelssohn’s ‘“ Wedding March. j #,
The sanctuary was beautifully decorated, over the position oceupied by the Right Rev. celebrant being suspended a magni:: ficent golden crown with wieaths of golden flowers and immortelles suspended from either side. His Grace the Archbishop occupie‘ a superb chrone, surmounted by à canopy of white satin, on the Gospel side of the sanctuary. The musical portion of the service was De Montis Mass which was rendered in most excellent style by the reverend ladies of the Asylum. At the gradual and offer. tory voluntaries were sung in a maurer which it is enough to say fully sustained the reputation of the choir of the Good Shepherd
Chapel. Ofthe Right Revd. Gentleman himself it will suffice to repeat the remark of a lady friend of the present writer : “ His voice secms to me as youthful and as clear as it was twenty ycars ago ”. The chasuble Worn on this occasion is a most superb Work of art and was, it is understood, procured principally through the exertions of an Irish lady, Madame Gourdeau, wife of the worthy Harbor Master, The Altar is also understood to be, in a great measure, the result of the exertions of another Irish lady, Mrs. KR. H, McGreevy. At the conclusion of the Mass, His Grace the Archbishop bestowed his solemn blessing and accorded an indulgeuce of forty days to all who were present in the proper disposition. Minaily, Mousignor Cazeau intoned the Te Deum, which Was täken up and chanted by the nuns in the organ loft and the clergy in the sanctuary alternately. ; In response to the hospitable invitation of the reverend sisterhood, some seventy clagymen, and the relatives of Monsignor, togcthcr with some other friends, sat down to a sumptuous dinner. This over, all adjourned to the Community Hall where a most pleasing entertaiumeut was givon by a number of young
lady pupils. (i)
To reach the reception-hall the chapel had to be crossed and, for a moment, the long train of guests knelt before the altar ; but longer than any did the honored Prelate linger. Prostrate under the weight of his emotions, he prayed till his pent-up feelings found vent in tears, aud it was some time before he could control his sentiments enough to wend his way towards the hall where music and joy already resounded, and where his worthy confrères awaited his arrival.
The whole community was assembled here. Placed around the room in amyhitheatro the pupiis of the private classes and public schools, as well as the children of the House of Reform, broke out, ft his approach, in one grand chorus entitled ‘ Cinquüunte ans consacrés au plus saint ministère. ” The effect was quite pleasing. As the last notes of the cantate died away, Miss À. Burroughs came forward, ang read with great ease and fluencey,
(1) Morning Chronicle.
the address of the community. She alluded in happy terms to the circumstance which had called forth the festivities of the day; the incomparable d:votedness of Him whose tender solicitude knew no bounds when the spiritual or temporal welfare of his religious family was at stake ; the undying love and gratitude which his virtues and multiplied favors had implanted in the hearts of his children ; in fine, she dwelt a few moments on the high mark of esteem conferred on him by the presence of [lis Grace the Archbishop, on the joy which must needs bring to his heart the attendance of his venerable friends of the clergy and laity, and concluded by laying at his fect, in the name'of the community. the humble tribute of a two-fold homage, b:aring the double seal of veneration and gratitude.
This address is Written on parchment and displays a part of Mgr. Cazeau’s shicld, a vine branch, surmounted by a dove, emblematical of charity and meeknes-, virtuss which indeed form a characteristic trait in the worthy Prelate’s life,
Next cime the Euzlish adress, as follows, delivered by Miss Emma O’Malley, in the name of the different schools under the direction of the Sisters.
MonNsIGNoR,
In the concert that greets the fiftieth anniver:ary of your entranse on the most sacred of earthly careers, our voices are as but a feeble echo, yet it is meet that an age which you have always loved and protected should rise with grateful emotion to salute and acclaim this golden festival.
With our first accents, Revered Bencfactor, we learned to Jisp your name and to look upon you as our Father ; gratitude bas since enkindled in our young souls a sacred fire which shall vever diminish, fostered as it is by your unceasing solic'tude.
Yours is indeed a Father’s Heart: often, while kneeling to receive your paternal blessing, our thoughts have reverted to Him who said : ‘ Suffer little children to come unto me. ” Such, we thought, must have been our Gentle Saviour blessing the little ones of Judea.
We have gathered around you, to-day, Monsignor, with filial devotion and thouzh our untaught language can but feebly express
the sentiments of profound esteem and veneration which animate usin your regard, we hope that these crowns, our simple offering, will utter better than words, our feelings atthis moment, One bears the date, 1830, it speaks of past joys and past glories, the other, 1880, symbolizesthe present with itstcstive rejoicings. These two dates, Monsigncer, will, with your name and our gratitude, be ever enshrined in our memory.
The crowns presented are in wax flowers, and are the pupils’ own offering ; one from the city-schools, the other from the country convents.
Eardly bad the actors of this part of the programme disappcared than another group of dear, sweet children came forward ; they were seven nieces of Monsignor Cazeau’s, carrying between them the splendid genealogical chart, of which mention has already been made. The oldest, Miss Amelia Smith, in a few deeply felt words, addressed to her venerable Unele, complimented him on the lustre cast by his deeds on the happy family which claïmed him as its member; then invoking the memory of the glorious ancestors whose names had been grouped around his in this genealogy, she, in spirit, seemed to see them hovering near, blessing him with their immortal palms and eucireling his brow with a halo ot celestial joys.
This over, the most interesting part of the programme was et to be witnessed. The most touching events in the life cf the relate, during the fifty years just elapsed, were to be recalled to
the minds of those present. Two voices, the voice ofthe past and the voice of the present, sing in turn their glorious records. The voice of the past is the echo of our souvenirs; the voice of the present, which reckons every hour, every minute of the days forever gone by. calls farth the precious years of a loved existence to join in its concert of jubilation. Suddenly the preciou: years appear on the scene in successive groups of ten.
The first decade represents the young levite entering the sacred precints of the sanctuary on the 3rd January 1830, choosing the Lord for his portion and consecrating himself forever to the service of God and of His church. |
The second having for title ‘ The Minstrels of Erin ”
rsonifies the far-famed Bards of that dear, though unforturate Do, coming to lay the homage of lreland's gratitude at the feet
of one of the greatest benefactors of her plazue-stricken childron in 1847. All are decorated with the national badze and crowned with shamrocks ; four of the smallest, representing the four provinces, Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught, carry the legendary Harp.
Às these youthful troubadours fall back, another group advanceg proclaiming a date : 1836. A date inscribed in golden letters on the walls of the ‘ Good Shepherd ” and in the hearts of its inmates, At that epoch the lev. C. F. Cazeau, V. G. was nomivated chaplain of the community, in lieu of M. l'Abbé Ferland who had left for a trip to Europe. One single house, rough and unfinished, formed then the sole possession of the Institution which pumbered 58 members, whereas the actual records present a figure of 271. This rapid development is more than sufficient to prove the unbounded devotedness and untiring zcal of him to . whose solicitude the interests of the House have been confided.
In the fourth decade, the different branches of the parenthouse, disseminated over several country parishes, were represent. ed. Delegates, bearing each a small flag with a wish or a greeting app-nded to the name of the mission, sp>ke for those who:n a paintul ab«ence deprived of the joys of this reunion.
Next camethe last group, completing the chain of fifty years. This decade bearing the name of “ Le choix de Pie IX,” alluded to the elevation of Father Cazeau to the high dignity of Ro:man Prelate. Here oneof the little ones in gracious lanzuage thanked the venerable priest who, everywere saluted as Monsignor, had preferred that his children ofthe Good Shepherd should still have for him so other title than that of *‘ Father. ” Fifty crowns of Everlastings, artistically entwined and borne by this last group, were then suspended to the monument of the day ( Mgr. Cuzeau's portrait in oil painting ), while the whole fifty of the allegorical personages befvre seen, reappeared on the stage, thus representing the true crown of this golden jubilce.
Monsignor Cazeau arose to speak, but his voice betrayed the deepest emotion : a few words of thanks to thc distinguished audience, some complimentary remarks to the youag ladies who had so creditably acquitted themselves of their share inthe day's performances, were all he could utter.
His Grace the Achbishop and several members of the clergy Had taken leave, when Father Cazcau expressed the deep regret
he felt at not having been able to adress à few. words in English : to his Irish children. At a signal, the latter came eagerly forward and forming a semi-circle around the Prelate, proved by their bright, beaming faces how sensible they were to this mark of attention. The following is the substance of his fatherly allocution : .
Lam told, my dear children, that you do not all understand French ; besides it is only just that I should tell you in your own mother-tongue, -that you have awakened in me to day, feelings ever dear to my heart. You have recalled to my mind, an epoch the memory of which can never die within me, 1847. Ah ! my children, you were not witnesses of those days s0 full of sadness ; you did not sce those fathers of your brave and noble race, struggling, in their last agony, against the cruel thought which showed them their forlorn children abandoned to the care and mercy of strangers, and yet finding in their undying faith, strength to murmur still with their latest breath : My God, thy will be done! ” How many of your age became orphans ther ! …
Providence willed that [ should be charged with providiug them with homes and ever since my heart has clung to these poor children. I watcked over them as they grew up, and then followed them in the different careers which they embraced. One day I had the happiness of secing one of them become a nun in the Good Shepherd Convent, making me thus doubly her Father This religious was $r St. Eleanor ( 1 ) who died four years ago. She was
(1) She was Scotch. Her name was Ellen McCrea.— We cannot refrain from reproducing here some of her last words.— She had recal e:l her forlorn position when left an orphan, she continued in inde terms. I was admitted to the Asylum (St Bridget's). There, every day, at the same hour, a kind gentleman visited us. Who was he? I knew not— What was the object of his repeatel visits ?— I could not tell. — But I felt that his presence made every one happy. No sooner did he enter, than the voung orphans were seen grouping around him; to have a share in his caresses and kind words.— One day, some persons came to take me away, probably with the charitable intention to charge themselves with me. But at the idea of no longer seeing the kind gentleman, I Yehemently resisted cheir attempts to lead me awavy. After this incident, the Gentleman alluded to, came to the Asyium. My story was related to him, at least I supposed so. (At that time, she spoke gallic only.) I could not understand a word of his conversation, but in his sympathising looks, [ read : « Fear net, ” and I was consoled. Later,having been placei in a family at Rimouski, very often, I used to hear Mr, Cazeäu’s name mentioned as the name of oùe who
good, my children, gcod and gentle as L would wish to see you all. After having edified the community by a life of abnegation and charity, she has gone to her eternal home, and to-day, [ am sure, sbe looks down upon us and takes part in your festive rejoicings.
The festivities were not yet over at the ‘‘ Good Shepherd. ” In the evening a simple, yet touching, entertaiamant was given by the children of the House of Reform (Now calied Hospice St Charles ). Several dramas were acted, alluding more or less to the circumstance of the day. In one of these, eutitled, ‘“ Faith Hope and Charity ” the young student is first shown, guided in the path of virtue by the inspiration of Faith, and already desirous of consecrating his life, if God so willed it, to the service ofholy religion ; later, celestial Hope urges him on to the consummation of the heraic sacrifice of home and all earthly dreams of happiness ; finally, Charity fanning his brow with its bright and holy flame, makes him triumph over every obstacle, then this same charity, bence‘orth his inseparable companion, breathing into his soul sentiments of commiscration and pity for every misfortune, (1) . Imprints on his brow the halo‘of sanctity.
Ou the following day, our Penitents had their turn. Here, it was the Good Shepherd, gathering around Him the lost ones of
:1:3 veu
was taking a great interest in my welfare.— Oh ! how I longed to become acquainted with my unknown benefactor.— That day was not far distant.— Cailed to the religious life, L solicited and obtained «entrance ai this Convent through Mr. Cazeau’s medium, although
hé was still personally unknown to me. What was not my surprise on méëting in this house that devoted Priest and to find, morçpver, that I should have for my spiritual Director, ‘“ Mr. Cazeau ” who proved to be no other than the kind Vésitor of the little orphans @f; ‘47. Sister St. Eleonor was no more.— À few days later, her: mortal remains were consigned 4o the grave. But on that grave, &. Father Cazeaw:was intoning the ‘loleful chant of the dead for his spi-: ritua] child , his woice failed and another Priest was obhged to continue the funeral service, amidst uncontrolable emotions on the part
of the assistants.—: . ,;
(1) We have often remarked the great comyassion that Monsignor Cazeau evinced tor the destitute. An incident is related concerning a child of the Reformatorvy-School, One morning, the Superioress of
bas |,.4. ie
Israel, whom we pictured to ourimagination as we saw Monsigpor in their midst. Verily,the heart of the Apostle might well throb with a holy joy, as he looked upon the many strayed shcep brought back to the fold of Christ by his zcal. How happy muet he not have felt, in the consciousness of the good wrought through his medium ! .…Gratitude, the deepest, the most heartfelt, bcamed on the faces of these, his children too, as they knelt to receive his paternal blessing.
… G PLA Jones
In the evening, the Members of ‘: l’Znstitut canadien ” presented an address to Monsignor (‘azeau.— After which, a lecture was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Begin in which this gentleman proved most eloquently that the CHUROH has never been hostile to any kind of progress.— The following quotation from Mr. Thiers’, came very appropriately : ‘“ The Church prevents from thinking, those only who are not fitted for thinking. ”
Sorth 2277
In the afternoon an address, accompanied by a purse, was presented to Mer Cazeau bythe French Canadian citizens. At 6 o’ciock, the worthy Prelate received the congratulations of the members of his family, several of whom had come from afar for the circumstance.
that establishment brought a little girl to Monsignor, saying, thatthe new-comer was an Irish orphan. Monsignor gazed at the child with compassion, and then said to her in a fatherly iüne : My child, where do you live? ” At this inquiry the timid orphan cast down her eyes and replied "sadly : ‘ In the street. ” Upon which Monsignor added : “ Where is your home ? ‘’ At the second question, the child with artless simplicity said : * Home ! I have no home. ” And she then Jooked wonderingly at the kind priest, who on hearing her last phrase, drew her nearîto him with pity and tenderness, while his eyes filled with tears and he exclaimed : “ Poor little one ! poor little one ! The innocent orphan seemed quite astonihed at the great interest which the charitable prelate manifested in her regard....5he, for whom no one seemed
to care {1 2e00ee eebtove nerner te pes PAPAS CELTRITLEELLILL Ar: veeree veceeg CAR A ESA LULRLLT
GRATEFUL TRIBUTE BY THE Irisx CATHOLICS.
On the th January, 1880, in that model Institution, tho St. Bridget's Asylum, in a spacious hall, gaily decorated with grecn bauncrs and ivy ectwiving the pillars, and distiteuishcd by loving welcomes, expressed in mottoes, such as : Love, ” “ Haiïl! Father of Orphans! ”” &c., took place a celebration to commemorate events, the thought of which kicuglt a tear to mary manly eyes becides those of the chief personage. Ît was a tributo of love and gratitude, by the Irish Catholics of this archdiocese, to the Right Reverend Monsignor C. F. Cazcau, Domestic Prelate of Our Holy Father, the Pope, V. G., &c., &e., for ne’er to be forgotten services, by him rendered, to the stricken fathers, mothers and orphans of théir kindred, and this, on the occurrence of the semi-centennial anniversary of his elevation to the Priesthood J'he site, chosen for this event, looking out upon the countless bleak graves cf the vietims of ship fever, the sight of other more recent littic Lrish Catholic orphans, artisticaliy grouped and beautifully arrayed in white, and bearing also, in colored ribbons, the blue of their Mother in Heaven ana the green of their Fatherland (dear little ones to whom the good Sisters are earthly mothers, indeed); the assembiage of the fair sex and of the sterner sex of St. Patrick’s Congregation ; natioval airs of Erin resounding from her Harp ; ali anxiously awaiting the appearance of His Lordship, Monsignor Cazcau : these made up a scene truly and deeply impressive.
Punctual to the moment, Monsignor Cazeau accompanied by the Reverend Father Henning, C.S8$. KR., Pastor of St. Patrick's Charck and by thekReverend Wathers Wynn, Walsh and MeCarthy, ofthesameorder, assistantsat St. Patrick’s Church by.the Reverend Father John E, Maguire, Pastor of St Edward's of Frampton, and by the Trustees, Richard Alleyn, Joseph Archer and Felix Carbray, Esquires, cnters the Hall, and all take their seats under a slightiy raised and splendidly adorned canopy. Instantly,We hear (he little orphau girls of St. Bridget’'s Asylum exquisiiely warbla
a song of welcome to the Prelate and at its close, two sylph-like little maidens emcerge from the sroup, each bearing a charming bouquet of flowers, and entertain the audience with a pretty dialoone, in which the elder consoles the younger for the loss of theireburied mother, by assuring her little sister that they have the best of mothers, pointing, as she speaks, at a third sylph-like apparition, representing their mother in Heaven; and this scene vanishes. Presently, another sylph-like little maiden gracefully
advances and, with an elocution worthy of a pupil of Tully, deli-.
vers à Charming address to His Lordship. The gesture of this little orator Was certainly startling when, praising, in Monsienor Cazeau, that greatest of all Christian virtues, Charity, and
abruptly turning round, she pointed to the word: “CHARITY;” .
visible in mysterious letters, in mid-air. Ye, who had notthe pleasure of hearing it, please read the splendid perorration of the address ofthis little angel to His Lordship.
‘ Vencrable Prelate, bearing honors far more glorious than the warrior’s car of state, or even the crown and sceptre of the monarch, kindiy permit us, little children, to felicitate thce, on
this, so peaceful day thou seest, sweet Sabbath for thy soul. Oh ! . taste that repose! Thou hast earned it well, after the heat of : battle’s strife. Let also thy spirit drink at the fount, happiness :
unalloyed, for thou gazest on a half century of virtuous deeds, to grace thy placid brow. While fleetly pass those festive hours, our thoughts still onward go, and from every heart ascendeth the incense of prayer that, Venerable Prelate, unto a loving people,
thy life be kindly spared ; and yet, my Lord, how forndly shall we
gather here, to celebrate each cycle of Your Lordship, as time treads on apace.”
This gifted little orphan's address was followed by the read-
ing and delivery, to His Lordship, by Richard Alleyn, Keqiire, of the following beautiful and tonching address, written on parchment, and signed on behalf ofthe Congregation, by the Reverend Pastor and the Trustees of St. Patrick’s Church :—
EE
To tue Riour ReverexD C. F. CAzeau, Domesrio | PRELATE OF His HoriNess THE Pope, Vicar GENERAL | OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF QUEBEC.
MonsIGNor,
We, the Irish Catholies ofthis city, bec to unite our congratulations with those of your other frieuds upon the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of your ordination to the sacred'ministry, as we, even more than they, have known and esteemed the priestly virtues, which adorn your character, and which during half a century of untiring labors in your Divine Master’s service, have ripened and borne worthy fruit for His Kingdom. It is still fresh in our recollection that, when the fever-stricken emigrant, fleeing from pestilence and starvation, closed his dying eyes in that sleep from which only the sound of the -Angel's Trumpet will awaken, recommended with the last prayer ofhis aching heart his soul to His Maker, and his helpless orphans to their Jfeavenly Father, you, Monsienor were the ministering angel sent by God to take care of those little ones ; and we know how nobly you fulfilled that heroic duty. No wonder, then, that we feel towards you the sentiment, which in days of persecution and famive, our forefathers felt for the priesis who shared their sufferings and shrunk from no sacrifice in the path of duty; we can well understand how deep was the friendsdip between you and the late lamented Father McMahon, which not only anited youin life, but is prolonged beyond it in the Communioa of Saints, which links the Christian on earth with his friend in Ileaven. Neariy twenty years a00, the zealous and learned Dr. Cahill bore testimo-
* ny, in our name, to your claims upon our eternal gratitude. That
voice has since bsen hushod in the silence of death, but the feelings itrekindled in every Érish bosom are as tender to-day as ever, and while [rishmeon remember their bencfactors, you will not be forgotten.
Armougst those who entered with you to labor in your Master’s Vineyard, many have long since restsd from their Jabors, and few aowsurvive ; so that, waile our hearts cherish the hop: that you may lonz b: spared to us, the trials you have underzone
almost forbid the expectation tbat your reward can be much longer deferred. But come when it may, we trust that the close of your career will be a happy one, that the evening of your day may bo calm and serene— a foretaste of the blissful eternity beyond it.
And if the intercession in Heaven of the fathers and mothers of
those ‘ little ones, ” or if their own prayersor those of their kindred upon carth, can bring you belp or consolation in your last hour, rest assured that you “will not be deprived of it, in this life or tho next.
Wishing you, then, every grace and blessinz here below, and never-ending happiness in the world to come, we pr'ay your acceptance of these gifts as à trfling acknowledement of our homage and esteem, and we remain with feelings of the deepest respect and gratitude.
Yours etc. |
The following reply ofhis Lordship gives the clearest evidence of the depth of his love for Irish Catholics. Indeed, the great-hearted Prelate, himself, and many of his hearers were deeply and visibly moved, during the delivery of the address and of the reply.
GENTLEMEN AND PeLbow-Cirizrxs, — [ thank you most sincerely for the congratulations which you are pleased to address to me, on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of my Ordinstion. I feel flattered by that mark of esteem com'ng from a con-
grezation, with re L'have had intercourse of mutual confidence from the moment [ was admitted to the exercise of the sacred Ministry.
The recollection of the year 1847 awakens in my heart very touching reminiscences. Divine Providence had decreed that I should be charged with providing for the numerous orphans, whose parents, forced by famine t9 leave Ireland, had, during the voyage, or on their arriva] here, fallen victims ta pernicious
fever. I accepted the task the more willingly, that I decpiy sym-
pathized with the people of Catholic relanl, in the misfortunes which for centuries had oppressod them. fel6 a deen sympathy {33 that sonple, so devoted in all ages to the Caurch, and jhat Had auffred # much for our Holy n aith
ï must acknowiedgc that, in the accomplishment of this de t7 0 ofre ligion and humanit ty, L'was generously sesonded by the
Cisrgy of this Diocese, —at first by the Reverend 11 Sax, then
sit cils x ETES
rh le
ee at the Cathedral of Québec, and afterwards by my worthy
olleagues, the priests of the country parishes. The latter espedre it was, who, qe their parishioners, found, for our poor orphans, fathers and mothers s, fuil of compassion and charity, who esteemed themselves bapny, in thus replacing the parents that those helpless little children had lost.
You recall to my memory the friendship which united me to the lamented Fatker McMahon, the founder, [ may say, of your edifying congragation. Î congratulate myself on having been honored by ! ris esteem and confidence, and on having had itin my power to lend him some assistance, especially in the last years of his precious life, when the state of his health, notwithstanding his great courage, did not allow him to devote himself, as he had previously done, to the care ofhis beloved lock. T thank the Lord that he bas given you, in the worthy Reverend Redemptorist Fathers, inheritors of his Cats eness and of his Zeal for the spiritual interests of pe people.
I feel very grateful to you, gentlemen and fellow- citizens, for the prayers that you offer to God in my bebalf, and for the magnificent and precious gift that you have been pleased to pregent to me on the occasion of my Golden Jubilee, as a token of your respect and esteem.
I pray that God, to whom the children of Ireland have ever been so faithful, may pour down on your congregation, his sraces and favors the most abundant.
Quebec, 7th January, 1880.
Reverend Father Maguire, of West Frampton, then read and delivered, to Flis Lordship, ‘the following touching Address of Father Maguire’ 8 [rish Catholic parishioners, with, also, a gift from them : —
My Lord,
It is with feelings of gratified love and admira tion that we, the Frishmen of Frampton, unite with our eos countrymen and fellow-Catholies of the Province of Quebec, in offering 9 you our congratulations 6n this, the fifticth anniversar y of your ordination to the Priesthood.
Fifty years ago to-day, the voice of Goû proclaimea you ‘a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech. ? Difsy summers with their joys; fifiy winters, with their snows, have passed over your venerable head ; and each succeeding year Las
found you still more worthy ofthat grand and sacred dignity, con-
ferred en him who is called to be a priest of the Most High. Fifty years ago, you consecrated the bloom of your wanhood
to the service of God and the salvation of souls. ITow nobly you
Lave fulfilled those vows, Catholie Quebec j roclaims to-day in the F'
many tongued voice of Catholicity, pointing eut, to public admi-
ration, the virtues manifested by you, My Lord, during your leng
and useful carecr.
It is peculiar to our holy religion to designate the ministers of our faith by the loving title of “ Father ”; for indeed the Catholic priest is truly a father, mindful not only of the spritual, but even of the temporal wants of his flock. By none, My Lord, was this paternal characteristie manifested more admire ably than by you, particularly in your noble charity to our pocr countrymen, who, 82me thirty joe ago, found tiemselves cast on Le shores of Canada.
It pleased Providence to permit foreigr oprression to rente a famine with its :ttendant pestil nce in “Freland ; ber soil was covered with the dcad bodies of the starved peasantr y; and those, who could, fled away to foreign lands. But hunger and pestilence had already claimed them as their victims ; thousands were cast into the deep, where the whitened pathway of their bones stretches across the bottom of the Atlantic, from the Old World to the New. Thousands reached the shores of this Continert to find graves on the sea-beach, and a large portion of the hapless exiles died at Grosse-Isle, leaving little helpless orphans to call vpon fathers and mothers who could answer them no more. But God
had not abandoned them, for Ie sent them, thtse who wou uld be
to them both father and too You, my Lord. were foremost among those ministering ancels."Perils for body and soul threatened those fatherless and motherless children; but you were like another Raphael, sent by Heaven to protect them in their life’s jourocy. You nursed their childhood, you œuarded their youth, and their maturor years found them still watuhed by your loving cyes, until the little Irish exiles grew up into sturdy Canadian men and women, the fathers and mothers of bappy Canadian homes, wherein are perpetuated the blended virtues and noblest qualities of France and Ireland.
Asa priest and prelate of our Holy Chureh, we revere you ; : but for your great charity to our hapless kiadred, my Lord, wé
sove you. When you became the father of Treland’s exiled orpbans, a link of love was forged. that binds you to every Irish breast. With this grateful love burning inour hearts, we rejoice with you to-day, on the golden jubilee of your priesthood ; and it is : With this sentiment that we present this gift to you, as a testimony of the love and regard we bear you. And while offering i6 to you, my Lord, we pray the Almighty to preserve your health for many years to come, until, the measure of your virtues being full, like a treasure-laden ship sailine dewn the tide of time, Ho guide you to the haven of eterual rest,
. Signed.—J. Miguire, P. P., Michael Fitzgerald, Jean Brochu, Thomas Fitzgerald, John Duff, Michael Duff, Thomas Duff, Jon Doyle, Denis Cullen, fohn Redmond, James Redmond, Jobn Brennau, Patrick I1enesey.
* His Lordship, while regretting that he had not enjoyed tho opportunity of reading beforehand ghe warm and welcome address of Father Maguire's parishioners, delivered a most feeling extenpore reply. Ile alluded to the close triendship that had ever bound mih to the late lamented Father MeMahon, whom he justly styled the Founder of St: Patrick's Congregation, and whom, in his last lingering illness, he had assisted tothe utmost of His Lord. ship’s power; but added, that his desr friend was well replaced by the Revereud Kathers now at St. Patrick’'s Church.
Ie then slichtly, but with evident emotion, dwelt on tho fact that he had been speciaily appointed, by the ecclesiastical authority, to attend on the fever-stricken Irish Catholics, and on the anguish he had witnessed ai the bcdside of the fathers
and mothers of some of the 700 orphans whom he had gathered to his bosom, and fostered, until he had seen them established in life. Suddenly a gleam of pleasure animated His Lordship's features, he seemed to gaze in spirit, upon some object of his fatheriy love, and he exclaimed that one of his orphan boys, now à Priest, was actually in the (City to assist at tho solemn celebration to-morrow in the Basilica, and that one of his orphau girls, now a Nun ofthe Order of Notre Dame, had come from Montreal, to celchbrate with him his Golden Jubilee. Then, suddenly raising up his bands and eyes, he exclaimed that there Were others of his dear orphau girls, who, being cloistercd auns, werc now lifting up their hands in prayer to God forai m.
His Loräship, after a short pause, expressed, in conclusion, to Revd. Father Maguire, his deep sense of gratitude to thoso parishioners, who had come so far to greet him.
As soon as His Lordship had resumed his seat, we suddeniy perceived three bright-eyed, pretty little maidens of the St. Bridgets Asylum, gravely and slowly advancing from the group towards His Lordsbip, bearing, one of them, a œilt silver Ciborium another a gilt silver Chalice with like Paten, and still another bearing a pair of cut glass cruets adaptable to a gilt silver plate, cach article bea utifully enamelled in places, showing forth the ‘ Shamrock, ” and bearing suitable inscriptions in pure Anglo- Saxon. Sida the maidens halt, eurtsy, and the bearer of the Chalice and Paten, delivers orally the following beautiful address From the fair hands of the bearers, His Lordship received tho splendid gift of his admiring and loving Irisb friends of St. Patrick’s Church :— |
My LoRp,
Conficting emotions SWay our souls ; for an instant, they are raised by the thought that, on children bas devolved the solemn and pleasurable duty of bearing, unto a glorius Prelate, the offer. ing 6fa people. Again how depr ‘essed become our souls at the sad $ recollection of the horrors of 1847, when famine, sickness, death. itself stalked unchecked over our devoted Island ; victims fell fast and thick ; and to the shores of Canada were carried hundreds of belpless orphans, left weeping over their sad fate. Again, à gleam of joy shines on our $ouls, when we behold a young Priest, of swect, kind words ad winning mien, burning with zeal and frmly resolved on saving those little ones from ill With tender and soothing bend he gath hered them to his bosom, and was to them a ministering angel. And where dwell those whose places, now, we fill To man and Woman's state, some have grown, under your fostering care; others have reachee that better life where changes come no more ; and we, who have replaced them, unite with our people in ofering you a tribute of cterna] gratitude.
This highly interesting ceremony closed by the introduction, to His Lordship, of each of the contributors as were present, and wiom he, in most part, addressed by name. Thus have we paid an infinitesimal tithe only of the debt we owe hum.
Morning Chronicle. Communicaled
