CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST ALOYSIUS AT ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 38, 26 June 1891, Page 5

CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST ALOYSIUS AT ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL, DUNEDIN.

The fruits c f the preparation that had been made for the celebration of this Festival were apparent at the Masses on Sunday morning, when the Lumber of communicants seemed almost to equal that of the crowded congregations present. Among them especially remarkable were j oung men and growing lads and girls, who, though they bad left school for a greater or lesser length of time, still gave evidence in the beet possible manner that the care bestowed upon them by their excellent teachers, the Christian Brothers and the Dominican Nuns, had not been in vain. The celebration was, in fact, as it was intended by the Holy Father to ba, a celebration particularly made by the young. At 11 a.m. Pontifical High Macs was celebrated by the Bishop with the Rev. Father O'Neil as deacxm, the Rev. Father Murphy as sub-deacon, and the Rev. Father Lynch, Adm., as master of ceremonies. The high altar and Banctuiry had been beautifully adorned for the occasion by the Dominican Nuni and were resplendent with lights and flowers. A temporary altar of the Saint of the day, on the Gospel side, and that of the Sacred Heart, erected for the month of Jane, on the epistle side, were alsp richly ornamented and added much to the brilliancy of the scene. The music performed was the " Kyrie," " Gloria," and " Credo " from a Mass composed by Siguor Squarise, with the " Sanctus " and " Agnus Dei " from Weber's Mass in Q, aud at tbe offertory an " Aye Maria," of which Signor Squarise waa also the composer. Tbe accompaniment was orchestral, including sixteen instruments. Tbe principal vocal parts were taken by Mrs C. T. Mnrphy and Miss Woods, soprani ; Mra Angus, alto ; Mr P. Carotin, tenor ; aid Mr Jago, bass. Of the new Mass we have already spoken in detail, and it is no*, necessary for us again to do so. The scoring, however, waa admirable, and in particular the use made of the wind instruments was most effective. The offertory hymn was new to the congregation, but no one could fail to perceive its extreme beauty — the melody being as charming and appropriate as it was original, and the devotional expression leaving nothing to be desired. Mrs Murphy, wBo sang it as a solo, almost surpassed herself in doing so. Signor Squarise acted as conductor, Mr E. Parker as leader of the orchestra, and Misa D. Horan, as usual, played the organ. Tbe Bishop, on terminating bis reading the epistle and Gospel of the day, returned thanks in his own name and that of the congregation to the choir for the exquisite music they had rendered — referring particularly to Signor Squarise's beautiful Mass, which he said had been generously presented by the composer to the cathedral: The sarmon was preached by the Bishop to the following effect : — His Lordship said that the day by the direction of our Holy Father was observed as one of special jubilation. The Pope had ordered that preparation should be made for it by a triduum or a novena. Looking out over the entire world, he saw the danger in which all classes of society were placed. Children were being brought up and educated amidst tbe evils of godlessness. Faith and morals, therefore, were in danger and society was threatened with ruin. The Holy Father desired that the axe should be laid to the foot of the tree. He would have the evil attacked at its fountain head. If children were educated in a Chiistian manner society would be Christian , if they were educated secularly society would be secular, and if their education were infidel society would be infidel. On education depended the well-being of society, as well as that of the individual. The remedy of the existing evil must be found in education. The Pope desired that St Aloysius should be especially honoured as a holy student. His education had been thoroughly Christian, and Almighty God by great miracles had set a seal upon his sanctity. If society was to be reformed, children and youths must be educated as St Aloysius had been. It was his ((he most revd. preacher's) duty to bring the Saint's life before the people, the young people especially, so that they might imitate his innocence and bia penance— and more particularly in his character as a student, St Aloysius had been born in the latter half of the sixteenth century, and had died in the 23rd year of his age in the year 1591. His father and mother were members of noble families and were attached to the court of the King of Spain. His mother was a lady in waiting on the Queen and bis father was a distinguished member of the King's suite. He was the Marquis of Castiglione, and was besideß a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Tbe Saint's mother was a noble lady, but was still more distinguished for her virtue. The Marquis seeing her virtue made a proposal for her hand in marriage. On this she betook herself to prayer and fasting and other penitential exercises in older that she might learn what was the will of God. At the time that the marriage was agreed upon a jubilee was being celebrated and the affianced couple went through with its exercises in order that they might obtain the blessing of God on their union. On their marriage they returned to Italy where the Marquis was in command of the fores. But the Marquise prayed to Almighty God that Bhe might have a son wbom s'ao could rear up to His honour and service. All her ambition was to know, Berve, and love Him. St Aloysiua, who was bora in answer to her prayer, almost as soon as be took

notice, as the saying is, was taught by her to bless himself, and the first words he spoke were the holy names, Jesus, Mary, Joseph. He had a truly Christian mother, and we need not be surprised to find that this great and illustrious saint was a model for youth. His mother bad had him carefully instructed in the catechism. She had herself taught him aod examined him in tbe rudiments of the faith. He corresponded well with tbe care bestowed upon him, and before he was seven years old he had been remarkable for his spirit of prayer and of mortification and self denial, but still more for his modesty. When he was eight years of age he bad been cent, with his brother to be educated at the court of tbe Grand Duke of Tuscany, whose relative be was. This court was remarkable for its virtue, and for the advantages it afforded of securing a solid and thoroughly efficient education, St. Aloysias had bean placed under the care of a competent tutor to whom be yielded implicit obedience, knowing that he stood towards him in the place of his father, whom he was bound to obey by the command of Almighty God. In consequence he profited largely by the education given him. After two years spent at Florence the Saint had been removed to Mantua, whose court also afforded remarkable edacational advantages, and by devotion to his studies he made rapid progress. St. Aloysias' chief characteristic, however, was his remarkable modesty. He made it a rnle of his life never to look in the face of any female, even, it is s»id, of his own mother. If any of the maids in attendance on the household were sent on a message to him be met them with down-cast eyes, and heard what they had to say with tbe door of his chamber barely unclosed. When the Empress of Germany went to Spain he had been sent to the Spanish court as a page and rtsided there for a considerable time. Though he was accustomed frequently in his attendance on the young Princt to pay bis respects to the Empress and the Queen of Spain, he never looked either of them in the face or knew one of these ladies from the other. Tht preacher said he mentioned this especially in order that the contrast might ba noted. How different was this conduct from that of the youths of the present moment, from tbeir staring and forwardness and self-assertion. Toung people who indulged in such habits as these would never attain to virtue or to solid learning. After seme time the young Prince had died of fever and St. Aloysius witb his brother returned to Italy. One circumstance, said the most rev. preacher, he ha i passsd over through forgetfulness. The Saint's father who was a soldier, wished to train him to the military profession. One day when he was about seven years old, he had taken bim to a crowded camp where he was to hold a review, and the child felt a delight in marching at the head of tbe men. He, however, had heard some of the officers say words which were not becoming, and picked them up, and repeated them. His tutor pointed outtbe evil to him, on which he adandoaed it with horror , repenting of it, although he bad not been responsible, for the rest of bis life. On reading of the labours of the Jesuit Fathers St. Aloysius had been possessed of a burning desire to become a Jesuit and to leave the world and abandon bis high career. On bearing of his desire his father became angry, and threatened that be would have him ecourged. His reply, however, was " O Father, how great a happiness to be thus treated for the love of the Divine Redeemer." His father had at length withdrawn bia resistance, and even givea his consent with joy. The boy, then, with delight resigned his place, giving up his claim to become a Marquis and a Prince of the Empire, and renouncing his property in favour of his only brother. All be had reserved for himself was a small pittance barely enough to kfepbody and soul together, and to pay for bis education. The most rev. preacher described t l c diligent studies and penitential life of St. Aloysiuß as a novice of the Society of Jesus, dwelling particularly on his humility and self-sacrifice in choosing for himself the worst room in the whole college, scantily and miserably furnished. He (the preacher) pointed out the bright example of selfrenunciation thus given to tha youth of the present day. On an outbreak of the plague at Rome, the Jesuit Fathers had erected an hospital where tte plague-stricken were received aod tended. Several of tbe Fathers went to wait upon the sick, and St Aloyeius begged to be allowed to join them. While he bad been engaged in prosecuting his studies he was remarkable for bis humility, praj erf ulnesp, and mortification. The novices of the Jesuits were submitted to a severe discipline, by which their virtue was tried. St Aloysius delighted to beg through the streets, carrying a bag upon his back — not that he needed alms, but that be might, through tbe practice of humility, become more like his Lord and Saviour. He used to go to the kitchen and help tbe cook and other servants in tbe lowest menial work, tbat be might imitate the spirit of his Divine Master. He bad caught tbe malady in the hospital and been brought near to death. He bad recovered, but became thenceforward delicate and subject to great weakness, bis health having been undermined. In about six months afterwards be had died. — The most rev preacher said he had given but a rapid and imperfect sketch of tbe Saint's life. He had not eaid anything of his great miracles— of which there bad been many. It would, however, take too long a time to enter upon any description of them. They had been recorded and proved, and in consequence Pope Benedict XIII. bad placed St Aloyuius among the catalogue of saints and appointed him

to be the protector of youth, aod particularly of students. Tbil epitome, said tbe Bishop, had been given in strict obedience to the Holy Father, who bad issued instructions that the example of the Saint should be placed before all. We might not be able to imitate the example of the Saint's innocence, but let as try to imitate his penance. It was no exaggeration to say that be had never grievously offended God, yet he bad led a life of penance and mortification . The most rar preacher went on to refer to the existing condition of things in New Zealand. He had nothing new. to say ; nothing they had not heard from him for the last 20 years, bat the occasion eeemed suitable for him again to raise his voice. He protested against a shocking system ; not only as a Christian, bat as a citizen, as one who had a stake in the country and desired its well-being. He was convinced that, if the present system were persisted in, the ruin of the country would be tbe result. Beligion and morality would be eradicated from the hearts of the people, and they would become reprobate. There was no morality without religion, no sound morality ■without Christianity. If the system were continued the country would be ruined, souls would be lost for all eternity. This was an awful consideration. There was a terrible secret society that preferred devilworship to the worship of God. They were worshippers of the devil, and had set up the secular 9yatem, the godless system, when all other means failed them. It had been adopted, and, if it succeeded, and if all other systems were excluded it would certainly succeed, it would bring about tbe destruction of the country. It could not succeed in destroying Christianity, It was promised* that |tbe gates of hell should not prevail against the Church. But it was not promised that they should not prevail against us if we neglected our duty. The State employed|its whole resources and lavished them on this system that was destructive of Christianity and morality, but we most persevere, even though called upon to make great sacrifices. We were compelled to contribute our money to the support of a system tbat we abhorred, while the safety of our own children required of us the support of our own schools. This was a grievous injury. In conclusion, tLe most rev. preacher referred to the impiety of a few people calling'themselves Catholics who sent their children to the godless schools, passing by the door of their own Catholic schools. These people, he said, would be lost, and their children would be lost also. It was bis experience that children so dealt with could not be taught religion They became stolid and their minds would not receive the religious idea. It was different in remote country place 3 where there were no Catholic schools. There Almighty God seemed to protect the children, and they did not become stolid or incapable of profiting by religious training. But people who, living within retch of a Catholic school, sent their children to a godless State school, were certainly calling down destruction on tneir own heads and those of tbeir children. At 3 30 Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament was given to the school children, and in the evening Pontifical Vespers and Benediction took place — the Bishop preaching again. At all the ceremoaiea throughout the day the cathedral was crowded.