This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand-People who do things move-the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune – “LET'S GO."
The choir of St. James Church, supplemented by notable singers from other parts of the city, will render the Tre Ore musical program at St. James Church from 12 to 3 p.m. on Good Friday, March 29. and discourses on the seven last words will be given by Rev. N.E. Pohl. Assistant Pastor.
An elaborate musical program is made possible by the splendid organ recently purchased and installed in the new church and the fusion of St. Malachy's and St. James choirs.
This choir performed last year at St. Malachy's Church and gave previously a radio recital which attracted much attention, with the result that the church was not sufficiently large, though it has a seating capacity of over 1,000.
The Tre Ore devotion at St. James will be among the few elaborate musical programs in the city and will undoubtedly attract a large attendance. To assure an increased seating, 200 chairs will be set in the side aisles and every available space in the church will be used to accommodate the crowd that is expected.
This devotion, though celebrated without a musical program in St. James during the past six or seven years has proved very attractive. The last words of Christ on the Cross is an interesting theme for meditation and Christian people appreciate an opportunity on Good Friday to witness a dramatic representation of the tragedy of Calvary.
The decorations of the church will consist of a black veil extending across the sanctuary concealing the altar, in front of which will be a life-size statue of Christ. There will be only a single light in the church and that will play on the statue from the gallery.
The salary that prevails in parishes for pastors was decreed in the Diocesan Synod of 1908, and stipulates that a pastor be given from the church treasury, $100 a month, and the assistant pastor $83. With this sum they are expected to defray the expense of maintaining the Rectory and paying a salary to a house-keeper. This, of course, under modern conditions, would be impossible were it not supplemented by a special collection at Easter. This collection gives elasticity to the salary and makes it possible for the parishioners to regulate the final amount to be allowed their Pastors. In past years there has been scarcely no member of the flock Who did not contribute generously to this fund and as a result, the priests are very satisfied with the salaries assigned them.
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A special confessor will assist the Pastors hearing confessions on the Eve of Easter.
Confessions will be heard from 3 to 6 and from 7:30 until all are heard.
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Masses at Easter as on Sundays except High Mass, which will be at 6 a.m. The musical program will be elaborate and Miss Carreras, organist, assisted by Mr. Chas. Heil, will direct a well-trained choir.
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Holy Thursday, the day preceding Good Friday, is a day of special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, when a watch is kept at the Altar. At night members of the Holy Name Society will be on guard every succeeding hour.
A count of the attendance at the various
Masses has been made several years on the
first fine Sunday in Lent. This year the following is the register:
.................................................PRESENT
1st Mass at 6 o'clock ......................110
2nd Mass at 7: 30 o'clock ................ 481
3rd Mass at 9 o'clock.................... 533
4th Mass at 11 o'clock ,................ 419
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--------------------------------------1,543
Last year the attendance at the various Masses was 1,283. There is an increase of 260 in the year which is a gratifying assurance that the hope we entertained that a New Church would attract new families to the parish, is being realized. Probably 50 new families have arrived since the contract for the New Church was let.
Of the Catholic families who have recently settled within the parish boundaries, there is a percentage who are well trained and inclined to fusion with the flock, but there are many others who are detached and not apparently over-anxious to become acquainted.
Catholic discipline demands that there be in every parish a record of all the souls under the care of the Pastors. This assures cooperation and mutual consideration and healthy parish life. A Catholic who is in a parish and takes no part in its activities is apt to become careless and disinterested in the normal life of the church, and lose zeal and the spirit of self-sacrifice.
A parish is like a regiment in an Army, and has its own generals, objectives and duties. The good of the whole church is best promoted by each parishioner attending to the needs of the parish in which he happens to reside. Of course there is a period of grace allowed for the jar that moving from one parish to another causes, but after this has passed, an intelligent sense of duty rather than sentiment should prevail, and there should be no divisions or disinterestedness among members of the flock.
Francis Xavier Bendyk, 6116 Wilson Ave.
Margret Celestine Fahle, 6431 Wade Ave.
Marion Estelle Quinn, 6324 W. Park Ave.
Paul Theodore Bisso, 2222 McCausland Ave.
At a meeting of the officers of the Alumni Association, it has been decided to have the annual Communion this year on the first Sunday of May at the 7:30 Mass, and members are requested to advertise this fact and show their loyalty to the association by being present at the Mass and breakfast which will follow.
Card parties given after Christmas were not as well attended as those given in the Fall. Receipts are as follows:
Miss Edna Willer ........................... $ 84.45
Mrs. McDonnell and Mrs. Irvin..............$95.00
Mrs. Hugh McVey, Jr. & Mrs. W. Hefele ....$62.75
Total Income..............................................$242.20
Prizes and other expense............... $140.00
Net Receipts........................... $102.20
A doubt has been entertained as to the advisability of continuing the card parties. It is estimated that the rent of a table and 4 chairs is 65c, light and heat also are an added expense: hence, to make a card party profitable a prize for each table should not cost more than 75c or 14% of the net receipts. In the past the prizes awarded have cost over 40% of the admission charge and therefore were unusually costly.
It has been suggested that the card parties under parish auspices are the best means for bringing the congregation together for introductions and social intercourse and therefore should not be abandoned. For this reason the prize should not be deemed the sole attraction; there are other compensations in the game, perhaps a money prize of $5 for first, supplemented by five or six other prizes from $3 to admission tickets, would be sufficient to stimulate enthusiasm.
At the next meeting of the Mothers' Club which will be held on Friday night a week before Easter, this matter will he discussed and all the ladies in the parish are requested to attend.
The formal devotions of Holy Week begin on Thursday morning with High Mass at 7 o'clock Which will be sung by the parish choir. There will also be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose and the usual visits of adoration.
On Thursday evening the Holy Hour will be kept from 7:30 to 8:30 after which parishioners and volunteers from the Holy Name Society will keep guard at hour intervals until Friday morning.
On Good Fridav morning there will be Mass of the Presanctified preceded by Adoration of the Cross. At noon the Tre Ore will begin and on Friday night there will be a sermon on the Sacrifice of Calvary at 8 o'clock.
Saturday morning there will be blessing of Sacred Fire. Easter Water and Baptismal Water, and Mass at 7 o'clock.
Communion is not distributed on Good Friday but will be given on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. as well as at the Mass.
On Holy Thursday as many as possible should go to Communion. To enable them to do so, confessions will be heard on Wednesday evening at 7:30. Fast and abstinence ceases at noon Holy Saturday.
The Mothers' Club. to encourage children to go to daily communion, began last week serving breakfast in the school hall after the 8:15 Mass. On Tuesday 85 children went to communion and partook of breakfast of oatmeal and milk, coffee and rolls, for which they were charged 10 cents. This service will be rendered the children on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the rest of Lent and on all First Fridays.
Dear Father O'Connor:
Uncle Henry's letter in the last issue of Let's Go was small, vulgar and offensive to the ladies of the Mothers' Club. I am surprised that you permitted it to be printed in our parish journal; it lacks dignity and humor, and is cheap, spiteful gossip. I looked for Mr. Pierce last Sunday going out of church and if I saw him I would have slapped him in the face.
Dear Lady;
As has been explained once before, Uncle Henry's letter is not personal and does not express Mr. Pierce's or my views in the topics treated, it endeavors to portray life as it is lived round about us, and gives expression to the whisperings of the community and the distorted ideas that are spread through gossip and are often the cause of enmities and misunderstandings.
As a matter of fact, Mr. Pierce has been in Boston these several weeks and is not responsible for a single word of Uncle Henry's last effusion.
The purpose Uncle Henry's letter has in view is to show how harmful gossip can be, how small, mean, ugly and spiteful it is, how unworthy a person of refinement, culture and Christian ideals; hence we exhibit it on occasions, in all its ugliness and smallness that people of judgment and discretion may learn to despise it and laugh it out of existence.
Gossip is the narrow, discarded pipings of small minds or the quaint humor of the sarcastic and is usually a species of petty revenge deliberately concocted to give pleasure to many -- the hearers; and pain to one, the person criticised.
Public individuals cannot hope to escape it and usually people who are big enough to attract public attention are too big to pay attention to it.
Unfortunately the Mothers' Club has by its repeated successes and annual Minstrel Show, become an object of interest to the gossiper; and rivalries, jealousies and insinuations both within and without the association, have given rise to petty whisperings, good-natured banter, and feminine indiscretions which the judicious deplore.
In the last issue of Let's Go, Uncle Henry selected a sample of these whisperings to show what ugly interpretations can be put upon an admirable performance, knowing full well that the reputation of the Minstrels was a sufficient safeguard of their character for refinement and modesty. No one who knows these ladies would for a moment believe that Mrs. Adele McVey Conroy and her associates are a dirty-spoken bunch of comediennes, though perhaps there might have been indiscretion in the selection of some of the jokes at the annual Minstrel Show.
These Bovardite Comediennes have given the parish these many years a tine exhibition of native wit and high class humor. They have won a place in the hearts of the community that no petty gossip can destroy, The Mothers' Club has been the mainspring of parish life and activity and it is to be regretted they are unable to put on a show this year.
Mr. John Loyet, father of Mrs. Bovard, president of the Mothers' Club, died at an advanced age, at the Alexian Brothers Hospital, where he has been a patient for the past year, on February 19. His funeral was attended by his neighbors, relatives and practically the entire membership of the Mothers' Club.
He was a man of patriarchial character and one who practiced in his daily life the homely Christian virtues of kindness and charity. He was kind to the poor, faithful in discharge of his duty to his home, to his country and to his church. He belonged to the old school and his word was his bond.
Besides Mrs. Bovard, he has five surviving children and many grandchildren. Up to the last he was their director and guide and they gave him an admirable obedience and reverent consideration.
May he rest in peace.
Mr. Pat McGuire, 1344 Graham Ave., had two ribs broken in an automobile accident when returning from work in the park. For a few days his condition was critical but he is now convalescing.
Mr. Thos. Bunks, 1206 Kraft Ave., has been under a doctor's care for some time and has been confined to his home.
Mr. Lott, 6160 Victoria Ave., is recovering from a paralytic stroke which he suffered about Christmas and has been unable to go up and down stairs in his home.
Mrs. O'Donnell, 1208 Tamm Ave., sister to Mr. Benny Kelly of Graham Ave., underwent a serious operation last week at St. Mary's Infirmary. She is the mother of three young children. Her condition has been very precarious but she is now on the way to improvement.
Mrs. Mumpro, 6768 Wise Ave., suffered an attack of the flu, and though advanced in years, is now recuperating.
Jerry O'Connell, 6458 Wise Ave., has had an attack of kidney trouble and his condition is still critical, though he has periods of temporary improvement.
Mrs. Mudd, 1224 Tamm Ave., returned from the hospital, where she underwent a major operation.
Mrs. Wm. Jones, 1209 Childress Ave., has been ill during the past two months. She is well enough to sit up.
Mrs. Wm. Quinn, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, has been partially paralyzed. The doctors are hoping that the condition will soon pass.
Joe Ryan, 6167 Crescent Ave., underwent an operation for appendicitis at St. John's Hospital a few weeks ago. He is now home and convalescing.
Mrs. Cooper, 1515 Tamm Ave., is being treated for a stone in the kidney and has undergone a great deal of torture though she is not confined to bed.
Mrs. Wilkinson, 1030 Oakview Ave., went during the past week to St. Mary's Hospital to undergo a minor operation.
Mrs. Purcell, 1324 Graham Ave., is in the City Hospital, where she has been a patient during the past six weeks. She is expected home soon.
Mrs. Irvin, 6815 Wise Ave., has suffered from the grippe and is confined to her home
Rev. Mark Carroll, director of the St. Louis Mission Society, made an appeal for funds at all the Masses in St. James Church Sunday, February 24. He stated that the St. Louis Mission Society was the official branch of the society for the propagation of the Faith approved of by the Pope far raising funds for the missions of the whole world. Fifty per cent of the moneys collected in St. Louis is being distributed through the society of the propagation of the faith and the balance is applied to missions in the United States. The response to the appeal made at St. James amounted to about $135 on the first week and Father Carroll expects that as the organization is perfected funds will be forwarded to the mission offices, 3810 Lindell Blvd.
He addressed the school children on Tuesday and encouraged them to become members of the asaociation of Holy Chlldhood, an organization whose aims are to raise funds to be applied in home and foreign missions to the physical and spiritual well being of neglected children.
Appeals that are made for the missions through agencies representing Catholic magazines are not to be encouraged because 75 per cent, it is estimated, of the contributions made, goes to defray the expense of the solicitors. However, they should be given credit for keeping up interest in missionary activities through their publications and for this reason and their respective merit as Catholic literature, are to be tolerated
The Mothers' Club Minstrel, an annual event on St. Patrick's Night, has been called off because many of the mothers find it impossible to get away from sick children and the most prominent vocalists are devoting their spare time practicing with the choir for the events of Holy Week
Mrs. Crawford, mother of Mrs. Bersch and grandmother of the twins, Etoyle and Dolores Smith, died on March 1 at the home of Mr. John G. Bersch, Central and Nashville Aves., at the age of 68. She had many sorrows in her life and was courageous and self-sacrificing.
She was a woman of fine motherly instincts and after raising her own family was for many years the sole support of her two grandchildren. She was a practical Catholic and through economy and self denial always contributed to the support of her church.
She was buried from St. James Church Monday, March 4. May she rest in peace,
Mrs. Louis Grempler, 6257 Famous Ave., In the course of a lingering illness, decided to become a Catholic, and received instructions from Rev. N.E. Pohl. Her children, who are not Catholics, were agreeable to her decision, and were courteous and appreciative of the spiritual care given to her. In her last hour she derived much consolation in receiving the Sacraments and died in the fervor of her new found faith in Christian hope, She was buried from St. James Church on February 13.
Ed Schaneuer, who conducted the barber shop at the corner of Tamm and Clayton Ave., died suddenly on February 15 at St. Mary's Hospital, to which he was taken in an unconscious condition. The sacraments were administered to him conditionally and for this reason he was given the burial rites of the Catholic Church. The majority of the community were not aware that he was a Catholic until the day of his funeral. His wife, who is a non-Catholic, said he was always a Catholic at heart. R.I.P.
A boy sixteen years old ran across a dune on the coast of Dunbarton, Scotland, to view the majesty of the sea; his mother Concessa watched with motherly solicitude his fine, athletic form disappear among the sand hills; in French she called, "My son, don't stay too long." He heard not her voice again for six years, and daily she wept and prayed and watched for his return.
The boy was St. Patrick, destined to be the Apostle of Ireland.
Close to shore he observed a boat with canvas sails flapping idly in the breeze, in a nook near a jagged cliff. Its occupants apparently had gone ashore. He heard footsteps in the rear and, looking around, saw a band of armed men approach. "Silence!" shouted their leader, "or you die." In a moment Patrick was seized and dragged to the boat. At a signal from the captain, sails were spread and the boat moved out to sea. Patrick wept bitterly when he realized he was a prisoner. The sun sank, night came and darkness and uncertainty filled his soul with sorrow; he watched the lights grow dimmer on the land; there were lights also in the heavens; the home lights brought him memories of his father and mother, and the stars spoke to him of God.
Patrick's father, Calphurnlus, was an Italian nobleman, an officer of the Roman Legion recently transferred from France to Scotland. He was accustomed to adventure and danger, and Patrick, though a boy, had also the heart of a soldier. When he remembered his father's words, "Only a coward fears death," the boy regained his composure, recommended himself to Mary, the star of the sea, and lay on the deck where he went to sleep. A kindly pirate threw a cloak of wolfskin over his body. When he awoke the sun was breaking through the mists and sprinkling the surging billows with golden light, men moved on deck and sea gulls flew like silver arrows across the prow.
Land was in sight, mountains raised their distant peaks to the sky, smoke curled in narrow strings among the forests, green verdant meadows stretched their extremities into the woods and down to the sea. A cottage covered with ivy, with flowers forming an arch over the door, nestled in the valley close to the beach, a hunter's horn echoed and reechoed a shrill note on the hillside. The boat grounded on the sand by an inlet of the sea, Patrick stepped on the shore and the warblers of the woods greeted his coming to Erin with a chorus of sweet melody.
Within a few days Patrick was sold as a slave to Melchiu, an Irish chieftain, and was carried inland to County Antrim, where for six years he tended his master's flocks in the Valley of Braid and on the slopes of Slemish near the modern town of Ballymena,
In the way of benign providence the six years of Patrick's captivity became a remote preparation for his future Apostolate. He acquired a perfect knowledge of the Irish tongue and Irish character and became familiar with the details of Druidism from whose bondage he was destined to liberate the Irish race. In his confession he relates that during his captivity whilst tending the flocks, "In a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night nearly the same, so that whilst in the woods and on the mountains even before the dawn I was roused to prayer and I felt no hurt from it whether there was snow or ice or rain."
In Melchiu's house Patrick met an Irish chieftain named Secsnen, and in discharge of his duty as slave performed with alacrity his bidding. Secsnen was much attracted by Patrick's intelligence and refinement. On one occasion he was accompanied by his son, a beautiful, merry boy, robust and ruddy, whose laughing blue eyes beamed with good will and merriment. He was named Benignus, or the kindly one. The boy also was much attracted by Patrick, who had developed to fine, manly proportions and often selected him as his guide in journeys in the woods. One day when Melchiu, in an irritable outburst, whipped Patrick for some trivial neglect, Benignus wept. The lash cut a deep gash into his shoulders which later became a festering sore. Benignus secured a healing ointment and dressed it with his own hands. He noticed how patiently Patrick suffered and unlike the other slaves rarely showed resentment. "Patrick," he said, "you never curse your master when you are whipped?" "No," said Patrick, "I have another Master who is always by my side and who will reward me. He, too, was whipped and cruelly tortured. I am glad to suffer for his sake."
For many days they talked seriously about Patrick's God and Benignus felt keenly the injustice of slavery. "Why don't you run away?" said Benignus, "I will help you." "Where shall I go?" said Patrick, "my home is across the ocean and the sea is far from here." "Take my pony," said Benignus, "and ride toward the setting sun. I heard my father say it sets in the sea:" That night Patrick dreamt he saw an angel holding a pony beckoning him to come. He went to the door of the hut where he found Benignus with his pony Waiting. He embraced him, and wishing him farewell, rode for many days toward the west.
At last the sea was in sight. Patrick had ridden over 200 miles and had arrived at Westport. He found a ship ready to sail, but the sailors refused to take him on board.
"My father will reward you," he said. "I am the son of Calphurnius, decurio of the Roman Legion in Britain. I was kidnapped six years ago by Irish marauders and sold as a slave. I want to go home." The captain relented and ordered the gangway set. The young man released the pony which undoubtedly found its way back to Benignus and in a few days Patrick was among his friends once more in Britain.
Patrick, on his return to his parents, expressed a desire to become a priest and soon set out to St. Martin's Monastery in Tours where his uncle was Abbot. Here he devoted himself to study and assiduous preparation for the sacred ministry. Under the guidance of St. Germain he quickly progressed and was promoted to the priesthood. After eighteen years' rigid discipline and misslonary work in France and Britain he acquired a reputation for learning and piety. Amid all these scenes, however, Patrick's thoughts turned toward Ireland and from time to time he was favored with visions of the children from Focluth by the Western sea who cried out to him, "0 holy youth come back to Erin and walk once more amongst us."
It was St. Germain who sent him, accompanied by Sergius, his priest, to Celestine, Pope of Rome, quotes the Catholic Encyclopedia, "approved by whose judgment, supported by whose authority and strengthened by whose blessing he went to Ireland," Bishop and missionary. The name Patrick was given to him at this time by the saintly Pontiff foreshadowing the fruitfulness of his labors, and means Pater Civium (father of his people).
It was probably in the summer of the year 433 that Patrick and his companions landed at the mouth of the Vantry River close by Wicklow Head. Stepping from the boat, he erected a cross, and prostrating himself before it, evoked the spirit of God to take possession of the island and make it forever a stronghold of Christian Faith, a gem set in the ocean where angels passing may fold their wings and rest. He then consecrated himself to his labors in these words: "I bind to myself today the strong virtue of the invocation of the Trinity. The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism. The virtue of His Crucifixion with His Burial. The Virtue of His Resurrection with His ascension. The Virtue of His coming on the Judgment Day. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me. Christ in every eye that sees me. Christ in every ear that hears me."
St. Patrick did not tarry long in Wicklow; learning that the chieftains of Erin had been summoned by Leoghaine the Supreme Monarch of Ireland, to celebrate a special feast at Tara, he set out for Meath. This was the opportunity he sought to meet the chieftains of the clans and secure their allegiance. Continuing his course northwards, he halted at the mouth of the River Boyne, and thence inland to Dalaradea where he had been a slave.
Passing through a mountain fastness he heard the angry howl of wolves and approaching - closer he observed an Irish wolfhound facing a ferocious flock. The noble animal stood with his back against a ledge of rock and fought with fine deliberateness. Each time a wolf attacked he met his advance with unerring cut of fang that ripped the jugular vein of his antagonist. The unequal struggle would in all probability soon end in the hound being rushed by the whole flock and torn to pieces, were it not that a horseman appeared and, seeing the plight of the dog, rushed to his relief. With hunter's spear he struck and slew till the wolves were scattered, but not before the dog had been severely gashed. The man jumped from his horse, patted the dog and with expression of great tenderness bound up his wounds; whilst doing so his mind reverted to the time he bound up the wounds of a noble slave and raising his head from the dog he saw before him, Patrick. The two for a moment were silent as if searching their memories for other marks of recognition. Patrick noted the blue eyes that had for the moment, with concern for the dog, lost their laughter, and were now filled with a sublime gentleness and pity such as Patrick saw on Bentgnus' face the day when Melchiu's whip imprinted red streaks on his back. Benignus said, "Patrick!" and falling upon him. they embraced.
It did not take long for Patrick to recall to Benignus their parting and the reason for his return. "I came," he said, "to bring salvation to your house and people, and to preach to the Irish the true gospel." Benignus was beside himself with joy and, pulling a horn from beneath his cloak, blew a note such as he was accustomed to do when summoning to his presence his father's clans. It echoed and re-echoed from hill to hill and down into the valleys, and everywhere it was heard men rushed from their cranoges, as their homes were called, and gathered around Benignus and Patrick. Benignus told the clan of Patrick's mission and great applause greeted Patrick when the clansmen heard Benignus introduce him as his friend.
Patrick rested for some days with Secsnen and preached the gospel to him and his people. He manifested its truth by many miracles and this chieftain and his household joyfully embraced the faith. The youthful Benignus, the son of the Chief, was in a special way captivated by the gospel doctrine and the meekness of Patrick and when Patrick was setting out continuing his journey towards Tara, Benignus clung to him, declaring nothing would ever separate them. "Allow him to have his way," said St. Patrick to the Chieftain, "he shall be heir to my sacred mission." Thenceforth Benignus was the inseparable companion of the Saint and the prophesy was fulfilled for Benignus was the successor of St. Patrick in the See of Armagh.
The ancient religion of Ireland was Druidism and its priests were called Druids. The Druids taught the immortality of the soul, worshipped the sun and moon, held in special reverence the oak tree, and had their sacrifices in the open under its shade. They worshipped idols, the chief of which was one called Cram Cruach. They appeared to have knowledge of magic or the black art and worked wonders through the powers of darkness.
They opposed the teaching of St. Patrick with much bitterness and effect, and journeyed to Tara to celebrate the feast of fire and to have him condemned by the national assembly.
It was on the 26th of March, Easter Sunday in 443, that the eventful assembly met at Tara and the decree went forth that from the proceeding day the fires throughout the kingdom should be extinguished until the signal blaze was kindled at the royal mansion. The chiefs and Bretons came in full numbers and the Druids, too, would muster all their strength to bid defiance to the herald of good tidings and to secure the hold of their superstitton on the Celtic race for their demoniac oracles had announced that the messenger of Christ had come to Erin.
St. Patrick arrived at the hill of Slaine at the opposite extremity of the valley from Tara on Easter Eve, the feast of the Annunciation, and on the summit of the hill kindled the Paschal fire. The Druids at once raised their voice, "O King," they said, "this fire which has been lighted in defiance of the loyal edict will blaze forever on this land unless it be this very night extinguished," but the fire was not extinguished and Patrick, shielded by the Divine Power, came unscathed from the assault.
On Easter morning the missionary band having at their head Benignus bearing a cross, and the Gospels, and followed by Patrick, arrayed in full episcopal attire, arrived at Tara and were brought into the presence of the king. Patrick explained their mission and their doctrines. The Druids and magicians also were called and in eloquent address accused Patrick and his followers of being foreigners who came to destroy the ancient religion and to blaspheme the national gods, and demanded immediate action for their expulsion from the island. "We want," they said, "no foreign religion nor foreign priests; ours is the ancient religion of Ireland and our Gods are true Gods."
To this st. Patrick replied, "Your religion is ancient but not true, your Gods are of your own making, they have no power to hear or help, they are of wood or stone. Our God is He who made the sun and moon; to Him alone is honor due."
"Our Gods have power," said the Druids and they called on the King and people to witness tho efficacy of their prayers. They chanted incantations and went through a weird ceremony and overspread the plain with a cloud of worse than Egyptian darkness. Patrlck defied them to remove the cloud and when all their efforts were made in vain, at his prayer the sun set forth its rays and the brightest sunshine lit up the scene. . "You have," said Patrick, "power to do evil, but you have no power to do good."
Again by demoniac power the arch Druid Lochrue, like Simon Magnus of old was lifted up in the air, but when Patrick knelt in prayer the Druid fell and was dashed to pieces on the rocks. This was the final blow given to Paganism in the presence of all the assembled chieftains.
On such an occasion Patrick, being pressed with argument against the possibility of three persons in one God, took a shamrock from the sward, "There is in this an emblem of God, one stem and three leaves, yet only one shamrock." So in after years the Irish made this little plant the symbol of their Faith.
St. Patrick labored in Ireland over 50 years and on his death on March 17, 493, the whole nation had been converted to Christianity, churches, schools and monasteries were everywhere established, arts and sciences were cultivated and civilization surpassing in culture the rest of the British Isles, made Ireland known as the island of Saints and scholars. The fame of early Irish artists reached far beyond the boundaries of their own country, examples of old Irish metallic art are the Cross of Cong, St. Patrick's Bell, Ardagh chalice, still preserved in the National Museum at Dublin and dating back to the Sixth Century.
The Book of Kells is the best example of early Irish illuminated work. Modern authorities such as John O. Westwood, an English artist, declares the Book of Kells is the most astounding book of the four gospels existing in the world and quotes Digby Wyatt, "one," he says, "of the most accomplished of living artists as stating that "in delicacy of handling and minute but faultless execution the whole range of palaeography offers nothing comparable to these early Irish manuscripts."
The influence of St. Patrick on European civilization is, according to good authorities, stupendous. Those who desire to learn of the very great cultural influence of Irish missionaries in Great Britain and on the Continent of Europe, should read Benedict Fitzpatrick's works, "Ireland and the Foundation of Europe," published by Funk and Wagnalls Co., New York. Even a cursory glance at this volume will be sufficient to make one realize that Ireland, in the days that are gone, held an important place in the civilization of Europe.
Anglo Saxon, Norman, British aggression destroyed her best accomplishments in sculpture, architecture, and for a period of three hundred years endeavored to destroy her faith, but the fire lit by St. Patrick still burns and the Irish are now a far flung race and have mingled and comingled with the peoples of the world. Their glory is not their achievement in a material way, they are a spiritual people and their vision is beyond the smoke and grime of factories, into the far beyond where Christ in His Kingdom rules in the Mansions of the Blest.
There is no other Saint whose feast is so well known or is so widelv celebrated as is St. Patrick's. The street urchin in most of the English speaking countries knows it is March 17th, and the Irish race who are sufficiently instructed to appreciate its memories, think on this day of their Father of the Faith and honor him by professing their undying allegiance to Christ, the Son of God.
FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR
Many ladies in the parish take pleasure in donating flowers for the altar and give an order to the Sister Sacristan from time to time. On big occasions such as the Forty Hours, Holy Thursday, Christmas and Easter all the ladies cooperate and through their special offerings, make it possible to have suitable decorations for the altar and the sanctuary.
Recently Mrs. Bruno, 1031 Art Hill Terrace, donated a set of black vestments in memory of her deceased husband, and Mr. Herbert V. Lutz, 1516 Buck Avenue, presented a set of white vestments in honor of the Blessed Virgin, a memorial to his deceased wife.
Offerings to the sanctuary are a manifestation of special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, hence the ladies are requested to be mindful of the necessary decorations for Holy Week and are requested to make their offerings to ladies who will be in the vestibule of the church the Sunday before Easter.
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Mrs. Noonan, grandmother to the Hawkins children, who used to reside at 1522 Tamm Ave., died at the Good Shepherd Home, Normandy, and was buried from St. James Church, on February 7.
She resided for many years in Cheltenham and was known favorably to the older members of the congregation. She lived to an advanced age and is survived by few of the people of her generation. In her last hours she had the consolation of being nursed by the Good Shepherd nuns, in the religious atmosphere of their home, she died a happy death. May she rest in peace.
President Herbert Hoover in the opening words of his inaugural address said, "This occasion is not alone the administration of the most sacred oath which can be assumed by an American Citizen, it is a dedication and a consecration under God to the highest office in service of our people." This is a fitting introduction for a man who is about to enter into the onerous and distinguished office of President of these United States. He acknowledges God as the source of authority and power, and dedicates himself under God to the service of the people.
A spontaneous and exalted profession of Christian theory of government made at such a time is an indication that President Herbert Hoover holds himself not only responsible to the people for his actions as president, but also to the Almighty God. It may be presumed therefore that he will deal justly and sympathetically with all his people and be an embodiment of the ideals that make the Constitution of the United States an admirable declaration of the inalienable right of every citizen to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
After a campaign that engendered so much religious intolerance, words of this kind are a soothing balm to the wounded feelings of that section of the people who were so unjustly and unfairly attacked because of their religious beliefs and would be more practical in their application had he found a single man among the 20 million Catholic fellow citizens whom he might deem worthy of a place in his cabinet.
That he has not done so is a matter of regret though the absence or presence of a Catholic in the cabinet is a matter of little import in actual operation of government. In this respect the administration and execution of our laws have always been impartial; but as a gesture of goodwill a Catholic in the cabinet would have a far-reaching effect in destroying the false conception that many have as to religious liberty and equality.
To Herbert Hoover, president of the United States, Catholics will gladly tender their unfaltering allegiance and unite with him in prayer for the guidance for which he prays. May he rule righteously and well, and guide all his people in the ways of peace and prosperity.
Mr. Joe Ryan, son of Mr. Ryan of the Crescent Avenue Filling Station, has opened an establishment at 6215 Clayton Avenue for cleaning, dyeing, tailoring and pressing clothes. He announces "Ladies' work a specialty." He is a clean-cut, refined gentleman and was formerly an active member of the John P. Dolan Real Estate Co.
We wish him a great deal of success.
Who will support the Church if you who in your heart love God come empty handed before His altar. You are asked to help pay debt on new church and give your generous assistance toward building a convent. Give 4 per cent.
Of all beasts, a dog is probably the most intelligent; he is domestic, companionable, and capable of being trained, but there is a world to which he is unfit by nature to aspire; namely, the higher world of man -- the world of rational activity and pleasure. No matter how intelligent or trained he might be, he can never attain the happiness that man finds in music, literature, perception of the beautiful and intellectual appreciation of things knowable. Why? Because he is a lower nature than man; and yet people wonder why a child who is not baptized cannot go to heaven -- they view the question from a wrong angle -- they imagine that the statement implies a species of torture which is abhorent to the conception which we have of a God we love.
A child is by nature a million times lower than God -- the nature of a dog is nearer to the nature of man than human nature is to Divine nature -- man is incapable of enjoying the pursuits and pleasures of an infinite intelligence -- man would simply be lost in God's Heaven were he taken there in his natural condition as a human being; hence, a child who dies without Baptism has in the hereafter happiness suited to its nature, but it is not in Heaven.
Heaven is the condition of eternal bliss in which God dwells -- man is not of sufficiently high order of being to be capable of enjoying heaven -- he has no claim or right to this reward -- it is a privilege that man, elevated by the infinite power of God, is capable of enjoying.
This elevation of man's nature took place in the garden of Eden; God added to his nature a capacity or prtvilege that did not belong to it: this something added in the way of a gift made man capable of enjoying actual face to face companionship with God. Theologians call it Sanctifying Grace, it makes the soul a sharer in Divine Nature. Man in this condition is more than human; his soul is in a condition that is above its nature, it is in a super-natural condition, and this alone explains the meaning of the Fall of Our First Parents. They, by their sin, lost this great gift and privilege, lost it not only for themselves but for all their race. "As by the transgression of one man sin came into the world and by sin death. and death passed upon all." Rom. 5-12. "By the disobedience of one many were made sinners." Rom. 5-19.
St. Paul, inspired by God, relates in these words that sin and death passed upon all when Adam fell. Man lost the special privileges he enjoyed when he was in original justice and even his human nature suffered a shock; it became prone to evil, perverse, passionate, selfish, viciously inclined; a wretched derelict of what he was. We are all smeared by the same stick -- Eve was tempted by the serpent and the slime of the serpent is over us all.
Christ came to atone for our sins and to restore what was lost. The Apostle Peter taught "there is no other name under heaven by which a man is saved except the name of Jesus."
And Christ told Nichodemus. "Unless a man is born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
It is revealed therefore by God that through Christ comes a new life, a spiritual birth, the life of grace, the supernatural state that man enjoyed in the Garden, this gift is given through Baptism, "Unless a man believe and is baptized he shall be condemned."
"It became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things Who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the Author of their Salvation by His Passion." Heb. 2-10.
"He is the mediator of the New Testament: that by means of His death they that are called may receive the promise of Eternal inheritance." Heb, 9•15,
Catholics honor Christ because He died for us, they honor the Cross on which He died, they call the week in which He died Holy Week and on Good Friday St. James congregation invite you to unite with them in three hours' meditation and prayer in memory of the three hours Christ was in agony on the Cross.
Rose Mary Wiss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wiss, 6649 Wise Ave., a young lady in the early twenties, has been under a doctor's care for some time, suffering a slight attack of diabetes. On last Thursday morning, she, her mother and aunt, who are chronic invalids, requested Father O'Connor to bring them Communion. Rose Mary complained of getting a pain in her side during the previous night and of being very ill. A doctor was called and diagnosed her case pneumonia, toward evening she was unconscious and was taken to St. John's Hospital. As Let's Go is going to press, her condition is very critical.
The Holy Name Society will hold their regular meeting tomorrow evening at 8 o'clock. An effort is being made to have an organizer in every block in the parish who shall interest himself in all that pertains to the interests of the Church. He shall be expected to have a list of all Catholics in the territory assigned to him, and will report at the monthly meeting such matters as he thinks might pertain to the spiritual welfare of the flock. The Holy Name Society will thereby become an active force for spiritual good and a permanent branch of the laymen's apostolate. The parishioners are requested to regard these gentlemen as parish officers and to furnish them with such information as they may need concerning the home, its members and their fervor or lack of fervor in the discharge of their religious duties.
The children will make their First Communion as usual on Ascension Thursday.
Many of the parishioners have requested that the hours of funerals be continued at 8:30. They say this gives them an opportunity of working in the afternoon after attending the funeral.
The traditional time is 9 o'clock. This goes back to the days when there were carriages, when it would take an hour to go across the City and a funeral took a whole day. There seems to be a good reason for a change.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
March 1, 1929.
dear Charlie:
I guess you will be surprise to hear from me away up here, on acount of if you are going sum wares, they is a lot of better places to go at this time of yr. like down south or calif., but wen you are a pore working man you dont go ware you want to but ware the boss tells you to.
natchily, wen the chief says "you better go up to pepperell, Mass., for a few weeks," i neerly passed out. i had vishions of wading around in snow 10 ft. deep, an 30 below zero, on acount of this place is just south of the new Hampshire line. wel, it aint been as bad as i expect, but it is bad enough, an you know how i suffer from cold,
This is a typical new England small town, an the country around here is as wild as the Ozarks. the natives hunt fox within a mile of town, an they is plenty of deer an moose within a few miles. i dont dare to tell the Pastor or ray Dolan about the huntin' or they will be wanting to pay me a visit.
they aint much in the way of excitment in the town, an they is nuthin to do in the evenin but go to bed, an at the rate i am going i figger by the time i leave here i will be caught up on my sleep to about the second week in August. everybody steps out on Wednesday night though on account of that is the night they have pitchers at the Opery House, an so they have the lights lit on Main street.
i was passin a small one-room brick bilding Tues. morning an a milk bottle with the contents froze an stickin a cupple of inches out the top, was sitting in the door-way. over the door was a sign "police station", an i found out afterward that the reeson the milk was left out was on account of the police force was on a huntin trip, Tues. being 1 of his days off. i am 1 of the two peeple in town that done ware over-shoes; the other pore feller got his legs cut off in a railroad accident.
they is a grate many things of interest in an around Boston. on acount of the peeple in this section have made a fine job of perserving an marking things of historic value. specily those relating to the "revolutionary days" an to such literary lites as longfellow, Lowell an holmes.
in the heart of Boston there is the old Granary Burying Ground, a little plot containing the musty old graves of benj. Franklin's parents; paul Revere; victims of the "Boston Massacre"; an Mary Goose, the original of "mother goose" rhymes. within a few blocks is the "old south meetin' house" where the meetins was held that led to the "rebellion"; the "old state house" where the Stamp Act proclamation was publicly burned, an where the "Boston Massacre" occured an where capt, Kidd was tried an sentenced to prison: paul Revere's house, just as he left it; the "old north church" where the lanterns was hung out that told Paul to "hop on his pony"; the "king's chapel" ware the British Governors from before the revolution are buried, an ware church services are still bein held.
across the river in Cambribge is Longfellows home, which Washington used as headquarters in 1775 an 1776. over in Charleston i climbed 294 steps to the top of bunker Hill Monument, which stands on the hill ware col. Prescots men beat the british as long as there powder held out, an ware he wouldn't let em fire at the enemy till he saw the "whites of there eyes".
i traveled over the highway ware Revere made his famous "midnight ride", an i stopped to read the stone marker at the spot ware he was captured by the British. at Concord i saw the old bridge ware the first battle took place; an at Lexington the "boulder line" from behind which the Minute-men fought the English. i am so enthused that i could go on indefinate raving about these an the many more interestin things i saw, but i dont want to bore you with it any longer, so i will tell you what little i know about the old naberhood.
on acount of being away, i was unable to write letter you got las month, an the Pastor was anxous to keep up the correspondence, so he got sumone else to write 1, an forged my name to it. an now i understan they is a lot wimen in the naborhood gunning for me, on account of several things that was said about the Mothers' Club Show. i was pretty soar when i found out, an told the pastor wot i thought about this feller that he had pinch hit for me. "Father," i says, "it looks like a person cant trust nothin to subordinates."
i mite of had my opinion about sum of the jokes the wimen used, but i never had the courage to express it. i will say this in defense of the wimen: they seem to know wot the customers want. there shows was criticized, but they always draw a crowd, an make money. on the other hand, the Holy Name Society give a clean, entertaining show which nobody saw except a few close friends, and relatives of the performers.
i am about ready to admit that the Minstrel Mothers are keenly aware of what there customers want, an that the "spicy morsels" which the Pastor has objected to was injected into there shows through a desire to please rather than a natural bent for vulgarity. If the Pastor wants parish affairs to be above censor, he would do well to devote his talents to re-moulding the tastes of his parishioners.
you will probly be as shocked as i was wen 1 tell you that i just herd that mike Maloney died sum time las month. poor Mike, the last time i seen him was at the Holy Name meetin just before i left, an he was hale an happy, an laffing as harty as ever. he goot a big kick out of the part he took in the Minstrel Show we gave last fall. an 1 am glad we was able to give him the pleasure he got out of it.
sum more news i got from home has made me wonder wen the govenment is goin to do sumthing about these consolidations that is taking place all over the country. it is bad enuff for the republicans. but now the democrats is at it. i just got word of the merger of the Dolan-Sheehan Interests with Arthur Pahl & Co. wen Ray moved into his spacious new quarters i had a idear that sumbody was brewing a mess of porage. but i never figured a dish like that. it means that the new combination will have a monoply on reel estate holdins in the naberhood, as enybody that wants to buy or sell, or make a loan, or get insurance, will just about have to do it through the Dolan company.
I wish i could of been at home on Shrove Tues. on acount of i would of like to help the boys with the card party that they gave for the benefit of the Holy Name Socity. with fellers like geo . Jenneman and ed. Lovet and joe Pieschel an the others that arrange the affair 1 know it must of been a big success. this is Jennemans busy season selling coal, an Loyet is got his hands full giving a flowery send-off to "flu" victims, but they always have time to do sunthing for OLD ST. JAMES
Your perticuler friend and unkle,
HENRY
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1929
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