BISHOP MORAN AT OAMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 43, 13 February 1885, Page 16

BISHOP MO RAN AT OAMARU.

LAST week the faithful were, through the columns of this paper, made aware of Bishop Moron's intention to avail himself of the opportunity afforded by the erection, of the Stations of the Cross on February 7, to make a formal visitation to this portion of his diocese. As might be expected, very large congregations assembled at both Masses on that day ; the early celebration being by tbe Bishop, while Archdeacon Coleman officiated at 11 o'clock. A considerable number of men and women approached Holy Communion, and at second mass the school-church was quite crowdei. Eat's Mass was efficiently rendered by th^ choir ; the Offertory piece was Mozart's " Aye Maria." At the conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice the Archdeacon read the Bishop's pastoral letter and the instructions for Lent, and then, in a few words, thanked his good people for the generous manner in which they had responded to his appeal for the Cathedral Fund. They were, indeed, he said, a good people, not alone in money matters (though he had ever found them generous, willing, and Teady to respond to any appeal made for the promotion of religion), but they were especially a good people in the important matter of frequenting the sacraments. In short, he had every reason to be satisfied with their conduct as a congregation, and it was a great pleasure to him to testify to their goodness before their much-respected Bishop. To the Bishop he would a iy, that the people were now in a p >f»ition to receive the Christian Brothers whenever they could come, and it was their desire to have tbe Brothers settled in their midst at an eatly date. The Archdeacon, then read aloud the Oamaru list of subscriptions for the Cathedral ; when roughly summed up it amounted to £206. This sum was more, he said, in proportion to their numbers, than he had received from any other place. His Lordship, who, during these remarks, had been seated on tbe Episcopal Throne, now arose and commenced a brief discourse by explaining what was to be understood by the term " visitation." It meant, he defined, an official visit by a bishop for tbe purpose of examining into the state of a mi-sion ; of hearing complaints against tbe people from the priest, or against the priest from tbe people. In Oamaru there was not tbe shadow of complaint against the priest, and, on the other hand, the words just spoken by the Archdeacon entirely did away with any idea of complaint on his part ; indeed, the 'excellent state of the mission could not buc be evident to the most curaory observer. The work the Oamaru people took in hand was always well done and rapidly done ; they afforded a bright example to others, and acted a3 a stimulus to all parts of the diocese His LorJship referred to the great amount of wort undertaken and successfully completed by the little congregation, ie., the establishment of nuns and purchase of a convent ; the building of a handsome school church ; the extent of acquired Church property and all without one penny of debt. With regard to the Christian Brothers he was delighted to learn they had made provision fer them, and were only awaiting their coming ; he would assure them of his assis aice to obtain tbe Brothers for Oamaru, and he thought the paople might almost calculate on getting them tbis year. The congregation had made good provision for their little girls ; now they were about to make equal provision for their little boys ; and tbe energy with which they strove to obtain the best mjral and secular education for their children was peculiarly gratifying to him as their bishop. He could not conclude wiihoat mo st heartily tuankiug them for their substantial assistance towards thj Cuheir d. Only oie-third of the propoieJ structure was eiectid, but anyone who ha I seen even that fragment had pronounced it a noble building and an honour to the dioce-e. There was no debt on it so far, and he hal a handsome sum in hand. Oamaru had given substantial aid, and given it gladly and generously. The Bishop displayed great emotion whilst thanking the people, and pointi g out how magnificent a monument of their piety and generosity this Cathedral would prove in after ages. His Lordship endorsed every word uttered by the Archdeacon concerning the mission ; the Archdeacon hai only spoken what truth and ju.-tice demanded withont the slightest exaggeration. For his (the Bishop's) own part, whilst praising the people, it would be J unpardonable to overlook the pastor. He it was who pointed ont, and led tbe way by his z^al and indefatigable exertions. Commenting upon the Arcbde icon's labours in the place, His Lordship summed up in these expressive words, " Oamaru is indeed blessed in having a uterling man." The Bishop declared it was a constant pleasure to him to visit Oamaru, because on every occasion, He saw great numbers approach the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion, and that was a source of very great joy and thanksgiving to him. In conclusion, he earnestly exhorted all present to persevere in the good course on which they had entered. It was a Bishop's duty to exhort, and, with great urgency, he would exhort them to attend to tbe education of their little children and fulfil the obligations they had contracted in entering the holy state of matrimoney. Children would grow up as they were trained and taught, and no one could supply the parent's place. The Oamaru Catholics were striving to do the best for their children, and he hoped the little ones would grow up to be a comfort and credit to their parents in every way, morally and socially.

Before proceeding to bles3 and erect the Stations of the Cross, the Bishop explained the nature of the indulgences attached to the pious devotion ; and said that these were to be gained by piously praying and meditating, before each Station, upon the represented incident in Our Lord's sad journey. The Disciples and early Christians had made it a habit to visit these sacred spots, and pilgrims had come from the very ends of the earth to visit the scenes of Our Blessed Redeemer's sufferings. But in these favoured ages we could, by piously following the way of the Cro3s, gain the sama indulgences as if we made long and toilsome pilgrimag-es to the Holy Land. And the plenary indulgencies attached to this loving devotion were all the more precious for being applicable to the dear ones gone from vs — the holy souls in purgatory. His Lordship then descended from the throne and proceeded to bless the various Stations of the Cross, after which, with the" assistance of Mr. Toohey, Mr. John Ford, and others, each was respectively raised to its assigned position, the choir meanwhile singing the " Stabat Mater " to the well-known grand old Gregorian chant. Prelate and train having arrived back at the altar, the final prayers said, the choir poured forth a paean of praise to the dear Lord for His goodness and loving kindness to poor humanity, concluding, as beginning with a reverent prayer. The pictured Stations (though plain) have added greatly to the of the school-church, which now presents a nicelyfurnished appearance ; and from this date pious Catholics will have the privilege of following in the suffering Lord's footsteps from tribunal to Calvary. Bach Friday throughout the year tfiey will be enabled to join that glorious band of angels and saintly men and women who, in past ages and up till now, have followed in wondering awe, the ruddy footprints of the Man of Sorrows. Very touching to the writer's ear is the short ejaculation uttered just before leaving each Station (surely the broken sob of a penitent child — ) " Oh, my Jesus who goest to death for me, I wish to live, I wish to die for thee." In the evening, the Bishop read the epistle and gospel for the day, and in simple, but well-chosen words, addressed the large coigregation who had assembled to receive the blessing of the Holy One, and pay the respect due by good Catholics to their Bishop. His first theme was the gospel parable of the sower and the seed. He pointed out that before reading the Scriptures persons should pray for proper dispositions, the grace of God, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that the effect of the word might not be lost ; and having thus prepared themselves), they should read, or hear, the Word of God with loving reverence. The epistle of the day related to St. Paul's defence of hims?lE by the narration of his sufferings and privileges ; and from this subject the main lesson drawn was that of profound humility. A sketch of Paul, the learned and cultivated, the great and daring apostle of the Gentiles an/i nurse of the infant church, struggling and fighting against a huge enemy, and in human weakness crying out to God to free him from his " sting in the flesh," was nowerfully and forcibly placed before the congregation, who were the"n shown that it was no proof of a man being not right before God because much tempted ; but that men in themselves were utterly weak and God's grace alone could successfully combat the evil one. Then followed the ever beautiful devotion of Benediction ; that solemn time when all the faithful, on bended knees, adore their dear Redeemer, and each individually asks for those graces of which he stands in need ; those sacred moments when the Creator bestows his actual blessing on bis worshipping creatures, and promises renewed grace to all who ask ; the joyful time when we, as ib were, stand face to face and heart to heart with the beloved Lord who died for our sakes. Devotions over, ths little choir sings out a gladsome hymn, and the people flock out into the night with that holy benediction Rtill fresh in their hearts, mingled with thankfulness to God for having brought to a successful close another happy fete day for Oama ru.