The Catholic World Volume Iii Part 71

Abbreviatum igitur aeterni patris verb.u.m Hocce in angulo c.u.m angelis adora; Silet hic et loquaci silentio: Beatae quippe virginis matris sinus.

Cathedra docentis est.

Audi verb.u.m absconditum, et quid sibi velit attende.

Venerare domum filii hominis, Scholam Christi, Cunabula Verbi. [Footnote 70]

[Footnote 70: "Stand in awe, ye who have come hither from afar to admire the Lorettan house of the Mother of G.o.d. The whole is but narrow and strait: however, the whole Christian world is but narrow in which the G.o.d made man suffered straitness. Wherefore, adore with the angels the straitened word of the Eternal Father. He is silent here, but with an eloquent silence. For the bosom of the Blessed Virgin Mother is the seat of Wisdom. Hear the Hidden Word, and listen attentively to what he wills of thee. Venerate the house of the Son of Man, the school of Christ, the cradle of the Word."]

The door on the right leads into the sacristy, where the priest puts on his vestments. On the panel of this door you read:

"Sanctificamini omnes ministri altaris.

Munda sint omnia." [Footnote 71]

[Footnote 71: "Be ye holy, all ye ministers of the altar. Let all things be pure and clean."]

On the wall over the door is this inscription around a heart:

"Quid volo nisi ut ardeat?--S. Luc. xii 49." [Footnote 72]

[Footnote 72: "What will I but that it burn?"]

Opposite the sacristy door is the door of the chapel, but I wish you to read the other inscriptions on these walls before you enter there.

There are two more in this entry-way:

"Ilic Maria, Patris Sponsa, de Spiritu Sancto concepit." [Footnote 73]

[Footnote 73: "Here Mary, the spouse of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost." ]

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"Sile; Huc enim, dum omnia silerent, Omnipotens sermo de regalibus sedibus advenit; Vel aeternum aeterni Patris Verb.u.m Siluit; Vel otioso Deum adorat silentio." [Footnote 74]

[Footnote 74: "Keep silence: for hither, while all things were in silence, the Almighty Word leapt down from heaven from his royal throne. Here the Eternal Word of the Eternal Father became silent, and adores G.o.d in tranquil silence."]

In an adjoining room are several others, among which I think the following are worthy of your notice:

"Signum magnum apparuit in terra.

Amabile commercium, admirabile mysterium, JESUS VIVENS IN MARIA.

VENITE, VIDETE, ADORATE.

VENITE Ad templum Domini, ad incarnationis verbi cubiculum, Ad sanctuarium ad quo habitat Dominus.

Et de quo, ut sponsus, procedit de thalamo suo.

VIDETE Ancillam, Patris sponsam, Virginem Dei matrem, Adae fillam, Spiritus Sancti sacellum, Mariam totius Trinitatis domiciliam, Angelo nuntiante effectam.

ADORATE Jesum habitantem in Matre, Ut imperatorem in regno, ut pontificem in templo, Ut sponsum in thalamo.

Ilic requies, hic gloria, hic summa laus conditoris: Hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam." [Footnote 75]

[Footnote 75: "A great sign appeared on the earth, a lovely union, a wondrous mystery, Jesus living in Mary. Come, see, adore. Come to the temple of the Lord, to the cradle of the incarnate Word, to the sanctuary in which the Lord dwelleth. From which he goeth forth as a spouse from his bridal chamber. See, by the annunciation of the angel, a handmaiden made spouse of the Father, a virgin the Mother of G.o.d, a daughter of Adam the shrine of the Holy Ghost, Mary, the resting-place of the whole Trinity. Adore Jesus dwelling in his mother, as an emperor on his throne, as a priest in the temple, as a spouse in his chamber. Here is the rest, here the glory, here the supreme praise of the Creator. Here will I dwell, because I have chosen her."]

"Omnes Famelici, accedite ad escas: Domus haec abundat Punibus." [Footnote 76]

[Footnote 76: "O all ye of the family of G.o.d, draw near to the banquet. This house is full of bread."]

"Hic Sapientia Miscuit Vinum, Posuit mensam, Paravit omnia.

Qui bibunt, Non sitlent amplius; Qui edunt, Nunquam esurient; Qui epulantur, Vivent in aeternum.

Bibite ergo et inebriamini, Comedite et saturabimini; Effundite c.u.m gaudio animas vestras In voce confessionis et epulationis Sonus est epulantis." [Footnote 77]

[Footnote 77: "Here the divine wisdom mingleth her wine, spreadeth her table, and maketh all things ready. They who drink shall not thirst any more. They who eat shall never hunger. They who feast shall live for ever. Drink, therefore, and be inebriated. Eat and be filled. Pour forth your souls with joy in the songs of thanksgiving and rejoicing. There is a sound as of one feasting."]

"Omnes Sitentes, venite ad aquas; Locus iste scaturit Fontibus." [Footnote 78]

[Footnote 78: "All ye who thirst, come ye to the waters. This place gushes with fountains."]

"Hic Fons fontium, Et acervus tritici, CHRISTUS, Unde sumunt angeli, Replentur sancti.

Satiantur universi.

Ilic Ager fertilis Et congregatio aquarum, MARIA, Unde, velut de quodam Divinitatis oceano.

Omnium emanant Flumina gratiarum." [Footnote 79]

[Footnote 79: "Here is the fount of fountains, and heap of wheat, Christ; of which the angels partake, the saints are replenished, and the whole universe is satiated. Here is the fruitful field and meeting of the waters, Mary; whence, as from a kind of ocean of divinity, flow out the streams of all graces." ]

"Si Tu es Christri bonus odor, Accede; Caminus Mariae Altare thymiamatum est, Caminus charitatis, Cujus ostium Hostes non excipit, Sed hostias amoris.

Huc vota, huc corda, viatores.

Huc pectora." [Footnote 80]

[Footnote 80: "If thou art the good odor of Christ, draw near. This chamber of Mary is the altar of incense, the home of charity, whose door receiveth not enemies, but the victims of love. Hither, ye wayfarers, bring your vows, your hearts, and your affections."]

Before you look at the real chapel for which this building was erected, just step out of that door opposite to the one by which you entered. A little cemetery. Here repose, in simple, humble graves, the bodies of the deceased superiors and directors of the congregation of St. Sulpice, in whom and whose seminary you have shown so much interest during this visit under the guidance of your humble servant.

Here, in this little cemetery, beneath the shadow of the sacred chapel they have loved so well, in the very home, as it were, where so many holy souls have lived, and learned the lessons of perfection, and where, G.o.d grant, many more such may yet live and learn the same, they have laid themselves down to rest from their {442} labors, peacefully resigning themselves to the common fate; yet privileged in this, that their dust mingles with earth hallowed by the footsteps of saints. I should like to write an inscription for the door of that cemetery. It is this, "Et mors, et vita vestra absconditae sunt c.u.m Christo in Deo," for never in the history of Christianity, do I think, have men realized like them, in their lives and in their death, so fully those words of St. Paul.

Return now to the entry and pa.s.s within those gilded doors. This is the chapel. The walls are frescoed, as you see, and in imitation of the walls, now defaced, of the original chapel at Loretto. There is a pretty marble altar and tabernacle where reposes the Holy of Holies; and above the altar is a grating filling up the entire width of the chapel, on which are attached a large number of silver and gilt hearts, little remembrances left by the departing seminarians at their beloved shrine of Jesus and Mary. Behind the grate you can discern the statue made many hundred years ago, and sent to this chapel as a gift from the Holy House at Loretto in 1855. I know that your American taste will not be gratified by the appearance of either the statue or its decorations; but--America is not all the world. Keep that in mind, and it may save you a good deal of interior discomfort, whether you journey in other lands, or never stir from home.

Now I leave you, for I know you are tired of sight-seeing and want a moment of' repose--and, may I not also add, a little time to pray here? The seminarians are coming in to make their daily visit, for it is a quarter to five o'clock. Oh! sweetest moments of the Issian's day! Here he comes and kneels at the feet of Jesus and Mary, and drinks in those silent lessons which reveal truths to the heart that no man can teach. Here the soul is ravished away for a while from earth and all its carking cares, anxieties, temptations, and afflictions, and reposes peacefully in the loving embrace of its G.o.d.

"Here," indeed, "is the home of charity, whose door receiveth not enemies, but the victims of love. Hither you may bring your vows, your hearts, and your affections." Remain you, then, and pray awhile with them; for of a truth you are with the congregation of the just, and not far off from heaven.

[ORIGINAL.]

A MAY BREEZE.

As fragrant blooms by blushing orchard shed, When spring's advancing season ripens fast, Oh! such the blossoms which the heart has fed With all the dewy sweetness of the past.

But like those winds whose stormy pa.s.sage sweeps The wailing trees, yet leaves fair fruit behind, Life's changing scenes, which man still hourly weeps.

Pledge fruit, than blooms more constant and more kind.

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