THE DEATH OF A CARDINAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 152, 31 March 1876, Page 7

THE DEATH OF A CARDINAL.

The ' Union Franc-Corntoise ' gives the following touching account of the death of the late celebrated Cardinal Mathieu : — " His Eminence having contracted a violent cold during his pastoral visitation, returned to Besancon fifteen days since ; his malady rapidly increased, and impeded him from lying down, rendering sleep impossible either by day or night ; his heart was pronounced affected, and the symptoms grew so alarming, that Vicar-general Perrin deemed it requisite to acquaint him of his dangerous state. " Cardinal Mathieu received this information with the pious serenity of one to whom the thought of death is familiar. He immediately demanded the last Sacraments, and prepared himself for their reception. The ceremony was fixed for Wednesday, June 30th ult., after Capitular "Vespers. All the priests present in the city had been previously notified, and were assembled at the cathedral for the sad and holy occasion. Very early that same morning the venerable prelate had been able to celebrate mass in his private chapel. About 4 p.m., the procession to accompany the Blessed Sacrament moved from the church. It was composed of the professors and students of the seminary, of the parish priests and other ecclesiastics of the city, of the Chapter of Canons of the cathedral, and of all the vicar-generals. Cardinal Mathieu, in his red robes, with rochet, stole and mozette, a taper in his hand and leaning upon the arm of the Abbe Bourgoin, Canon of the cathedral, met the Blessed Sacrament at the entrance to the suite of appartments occupied by his Eminence, within the archiepiscopal palace. Unable to kneel, he bowed profoundly, and said, J£t unde hoc mihi, Domine, ut venias ad me. " Cardinal Mathieu then re-entered his sleeping-room, where the ceremony was to take place, preceding the Blessed Sacrament, still bearing the lighted taper. He kneeled upon the Prie Dieu prepared for his use, and Vicar-General Perrin addressed to him a short exhortation. All present shed tears of emotion. The Cardinal Archbishop, having signified his sincere forgiveness to all those who might in any wise have wronged or offended him, received Extreme Unction, seated in an arm-chair, then knelt to receive the Viaticum, and had sufficient strength to accompany the Blessed Sacrament to the door of his apartment. The 9th of July following he rendered his soul to God. Preciosa in, conspectu Domini mors sanctorum ejus.