THE PUBLISHED WEEKLY, UNDER THE INSPECTION OF CATHOLIC DIVINES. No. 39. DUBLIN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1834. VOL. 1. SAINTS AMBROSE, GREGORY, JEROME, AND THIS illustrious group was one worthy the pencil of Reubens. It represents, in religious consultation, the four chief Doctors of the Latin Church, (SS. Ambrose, Gregory, Jerome and Augustine,) who illustrated the West by the splendour of their virtues, and light of their learning, in the fourth and fifth centuries, as the four Greek Doctors, SS. Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom, did the Eastern Church in the fourth century, then in communion with the See of Rome. St. Ambrose, the pious, amiable, and learned bishop of Milan, was born about 349, received episcopal consecration in 374, and THE CATHOLIC MAGAZINE died in 397. His efforts for the advancement of piety, in defence of the faith, and for the extirpation of heresy, schism, and crime, were extraordinary. He contributed in a great degree to the conversion of Augustine, afterwards the renowned bishop of Hippo, wrote admirable books on Penance, Mysteries, Virginity, and the Divine Offices, put an end to much persecution, and obtained wonderful acts of benevolence for the poor! St. Gregory, the last in time, but first in dignity, was justly surnamed the Great, on account of his powerful talents and still more wonderful virtues. He was born in 540, was elevated to the Popedom in 590, and died in 604. He reformed abuses, destroyed heresies, wrote dialogues, books on the pastoral care, and innumerable letters. He instituted litanies-revised the Ritual, Sacramentary, and Calendar. He improved the church offices, and vesperal-called after him the Gregorian Masses and Gregorian Chaunt. He deputed St. Augustine, the monk, to convert the Saxons, and to confirm the Catholic faith in England generally; and he died full of works and merit in 604. St: Jerome was born in 329; was priested in 377, and became a prodigy of learning. He published innumerable works, and travelled to the east and west, to make himself master of sacred and profane knowledge. He read all the interpretations-searched all the histories, and explored all the MSS. relating to the sacred writings; after which he composed from the original Hebrew and from the Greek, (then purer than it is now,) that version of the Bible which the church, to this day, has receivedunder the title of the Latin Vulgate. After a life of penance, virtue, and labour, he died in 420. St. Augustine, born in Tagaste, in Africa, 354, became one of the brightest luminaries that ever shone in the Church of God.After thirty years spent in sin and error, he was converted by the prayers of his virtuous mother, Monica, and the preaching of St. Ambrose, in 386, was baptized in 387, made priest in 390, and was consecrated bishop of Hippo in 395. He was a model of penitence, humility, and piety. His charity was unbounded, and his zeal knew no limits. He was learned in all sciences, and master of all arts. He was the shield of the orthodox, the confounder of beretics, the destroyer of schisms, and the "monarch of the Fathers." He was the light of the councils, the adviser of Popes and became an universal authority on all ecclesiastical subjects. His labours were immense, his works innumerable, and his very words have been received in many cases as those of the Church in her decrees and decisions. He died in 430, receiving the veneration of Popes, and the applauses of councils, through every succeeding age. To prove the absurdity of those who say St. Augustine was a Protestant, nothing may be urged stronger than what Brerely gives in his book called, "The Religion of St. Augustine." B. THE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCII. Almighty God hath provided his church with holy doctors, whom he hath endowed with all manner of wisdom and knowledge, human and divine; and this they obtained, not so much by their own close study and labour, as 1st, By continual prayer, wherewith they humbly begged it of God, the author of all science and wisdom. 2d, By purity of life, whereby they became pure mirrors, fit to receive the rays of divine light. 3d, By humility, whereby they submitted both to one another, and to the sense and definitions of the church. If you desire to partake of their knowledge and wisdom, make use of the same means. Their study was not merely to know, which is but an idle curiosity, nor to be known, which is vanity; nor to gain, which is base lucre; but 1st, To further their own salvation. 2d, For the good of their neighbour. 3d, For the propagation of the holy faith, defence of the church, and glory of God. Examine what your labours tend to; is it curiosity, vanity, or the glory of God. See that you employ your learning, and other talents, not in devising or upholding new invented doctrines, but in zealously maintaining the known, received, and approved tenets of the church, Consider the admirable fruits of their labours. 1st, They have illuminated the whole church with their holy sermons and writings. 2d, They have opened the sense of holy Scriptures, declared the mysteries of our faith, maintained and propagated truth and religion. 3d, They have expelled ignorance, corrected errors, vanquished infidelity, heresy and vice, bringing infidels to the faith, heretics to the church, sinners to repentance. 4th, They have exceedingly promoted piety throughout the whole Christian world, by their zealous preaching, by their admirable practices in all manner of virtue, and by the exemplary sanctity of their lives and cou versation; so that the holy church doth deservedly apply to them what our Saviour said to his apostles: "You are the salt of the earth," &c. "You are the light of the world," &c. (Matt. v. 13, 15.) See how the properties of each do agree with them; consider their special reward in heaven above other saints: "They that are learned (in the law of God) shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that instruct may to justice, as stars for all eternity."-Dan. xii. 3. GAMING.-When gaming breaks the limits of moderation, and transports men into heats, swearing, cursing, reproaching and lying; or is taken up as a trade to live by, and pushed on by a covetous desire to enrich ourselves by the loss or ruin of one's neighbour; it is absolutely unlawful, carefully to be avoided, and utterly abominated as the certain procurer of repentance, sorrow, grief, derision, beggary, and contempt. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CATHOLIC PENNY MAGAZINE SIR,-The following recollections of one of our many pious, pa triotic, and meritorious countrymen, are at the service of your national periodical. THE RIGHT REV. DR. JAMES O'DONEL, An eminent divine of extensive learning, was born in Knocklofty, County Tipperary, in 1737; of which place his father was a respectable farmer, and descended from a very pious line of ancestors. James received the first rudiments of his learning under a domestic tutor, and had shown a facility remarkable for his years.Himself and a younger brother, having evinced an inclination for the church, their father conducted them to Limerick, where James, having first completed his classical education, then proceeded to the English College, at Prague, where he joined the Order of Francis, finished his clerical studies, and received priest's orders. He returned to Ireland in 1775, after having served as chaplain tɔ several distinguished families on the Continent. On Dr. O'Donel's return to Ireland he was elected to the most dignified stations of his order. In 1784, learning the spiritual wants of the inhabitants of Newfoundland, he zealously determined to extend the rays of the gospel, not only to his fellow-countrymen, but (if possible) to the unoffending race of native inhabitants, against whom their more early Christian visitors seemed to have shut for ever the doors of civilization. But here Dr. O'Donel found religion at such a low ebb, that many of the inhabitants were in a state of barbarism; yet though he was the first qualified missionary that visited them, his excellent sermons, and ardent zeal for the conversion of souls, soon wrought a wonderful change. In 1797 he was consecrated Bishop of Theateria, and after having laid the foundation of our church in that island, on a solid basis, he was, in 1807, reluctantly permitted to return to his native land, after having spent twenty-three years on the mission, as l'refect, or Vicar Apostolic. He died in Waterford, April 1st, 1811, in the 74th year of his age, and was buried in the chapel yard of Clonmel.He is and may be justly styled the Apostle of Newfoundland.— From various MSS. in my possession, written immediately after his death, I select the following ELEGY ON THE RIGHT REV. DR. JAMES O'DONEL. Now closed his course of labours and of years, The goodly great O'Donel rests in peace; He asks not now our wailings or our tears- But shall his praise with death's procession cease? Forbid it, poesy! thy sister mourns-- Thy sister eloquence ;-religion, see, Holds high his roll of service ;-Erin turns With pensive look, with heaven-ton'd harp to thee. Poor Erin! 'twas no wonder that each strain Religion's sigh he heard, and strong with zeal His social charms would happiness impart- Their cheerful off'rings proved how fond his flock---- His day of parting for dear Erin's shade, † Was, through St. John's, a sorrowing day indeed. Their splendid gift, and warm address displayed ‡ llow lov'd, rever'd by all of ev'ry creed. There may the writing of these lines renew Heartfelt emotion for his cherished name; And there, while heaven has paid the homage due, Ballyvallach, County Kilkenny. T. E. *As a testimony of esteem for his meritorious conduct, Government entreated him to accept the free grant of a portion of ground in St. John's, now called the Bishop's Farm. †The ceremony on the day of his sailing from St. John's, was most solemn all business was suspended, guns we ept firing at regular intervals, and all the vessels in the harbour displayed heir colours half-mast high. A large silver urn, with an elegant inscription, presented to him by the inhabitants of St. John's. It was a few years ago in care of his nephew, the late Rev. Michael O'Donel, P. P. of Clashmore, County Waterford. |