ON MIRACLES.-ESSAY II. "Speciosa dehinc miracula”—Hor. art. poet. If we consult the writers by whom all the miracles which occurred in the early ages are related, we shall find, that though not always ocular witnesses of them, they were men distinguished for their dignity, integrity, and piety: and consequently who could not have combined to deceive us. On the other hand, we cannot impeach them with ignorance. For, to satisfy themselves of the facts, and of the merit of contemporary witnesses, there was no need of extraordinary lights, nor extensive knowledge. Besides, those authors evince great discernment, as we clearly discover from their other works: and when we are convinced that writers deserve our confidence, we can have no difficulty in believing the miracles, no matter how extraordinary, which they relate. One of the most remarkable, for example, and one of the best authenticated, is that transmitted to us by Victor. It is this: an Arian king caused the tongues of certain Catholics of Mauritania to be cut out from their roots, because those holy men refused to embrace his errors. But though deprived of their tongues, they continued to speak as before. This prodigy would appear incredible: yet Victor was eye-witness to it, and names, particularly the sub-deacon Reparatus who lived at Constantinople in the palace of the Emperor Zeno. Justinian, in his "Constitution of the office of the Prætorian Prefect in Africa," attests that he too, beheld it with his own eyes: and Æneas of Gaza, a philosopher of the school of Plato, makes the same assertion. The facts recorded by these authors are so numerous, that, if they were not true, they would not have been believed, I do not say by the learned, but even by the people generally, both of the east and of the west. "What!" would they have exclaimed unanimously, "so many miracles have been wrought in Palestine, Scythia, Nitria, Italy, and Spain, and we, inhabitants of these countries, have neither seen nor heard of them! How can we believe them?" It was very easy, even for the most ignorant to reason thus: and still the most learned have spoken with respect of the authors who narrate these miracles. St. Basil, St. Grego ry Nazianzen, St. Chrysostom, St. Ambrose, Sulpicius Severus, make mention of innumerable miracles which were wrought in their days: who would be so rash as to reject the authority of writers so enlightened and so virtuous? In fine, after the unwearied research of the Bollandists, and the care with which they have separated authentic lives from apocryphal, who could doubt of the certainty of the miracles which they admit? They, moreover, record many miracles extracted from the authentic acts of the canonization of more modern saints; for instance, of St. Anthony of Padua, St. Aloysius of Gonzaga, &c. These learned critics, in speaking of blessed Peter of Luxemburg, who died towards the end of the fourteenth century, assure us, that the miracles wrought after his death, were almost numberless; and so marvellous and remarkable, that they will be the admiration of all posterity.* Yet this saint is but little known amongst us. But why did Almighty God impart to him a prerogative so extraordinary, in preference to so many other saints? This is a question which the wisdom of man cannot answer. Let us, therefore, conclude, that it is not necessary to have recourse to obscure historians to convince ourselves of the multitude of miracles operated in ancient days, since we have so great a number recorded by the most respectable writers. Do not believe any thing which is not solidly authenticated: but refuse not to credit the testimony of men, who deserve the confidence and the respect of Christians. Y. Y. DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. From the United States Catholic Miscellany, we learn, that the Bishops of Cincinnati and Bardstown, arrived in safety in their Sees, on their return from the Provincial synod. The former reached his Diocess on the 7th of December. On the 29th, he conferred the order of Deaconship on Mr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, a Dominican, recently from Rome. The Sisters of Charity have formed an establishment in Cincinnati. * Tantâ excellentia atque præstantiâ, ut perpetuam omni ætati subsequenti admirationis præbatura sint materiam. Bolland. 2. Jul. The venerable Bishop of Bardstown was received by the welcome and gratulations of his flock, and spiritual children. "Forty Sisters," says the writer in the Miscellany, "fourteen Novices, fifty Boarders, twenty orphans, and some aged matrons, welcomed the Prelate to the scene of his labours." HARTFORD, Con. Dec. 19.-We understand that the new Catholic church in Pawtucket, R. I. will be open for Divine service on Christmas day, and that of New Bedford, Massachusetts, on New Year's day. In the Pawtucket church there will be High Mass on the festival of the Saviour's nativity. The Catholics of that vicinity cannot enter their new and neatly finished church, without pouring forth their gratitude to God in raising up for them so great a benefactor as David Wilkinson, Esq. of Pawtucket, a distinguished member of the Episcopal church.-Mr. W. gave the ground on which the building stands, viz. a lot 125 feet square. [Catholic Press. IRELAND.-Catholic Bishop of Waterford.-On Wednesday the parish Priests of the Diocess assembled, for the purpose of electing a new Bishop; and our readers will be happy to hear that the election has been unanimous in favour of the Very Rev. Doctor Foran, Vicar Capitular. This decision will be forwarded to Rome, for the approval of the Holy See, (which, where the clergy are unanimous, is generally a matter of course,)—but as the proceedings of the Holy See are generally very cautious and deliberate, the reply and consequent consecration may not take place probably for three months. [Waterford Chronicle. RESTITUTION MONEY.-The following correspondence between a Roman Catholic Clergyman, who desires his name not to be mentioned in print, and Lord Francis Leveson Gower, will, no doubt, attract some attention. It appears that 100£. have been restored to the Treasury through the instrumentality of the priest: My Lord-In the discharge of my duties as a Roman Catholic Clergyman, I find that the sum of 100£. belongs to his Majesty's Government. This sum shall be delivered up to your Lordship at any time it may suit your convenience to appoint, by, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, November 1, 1829, Chapel-house, ****** Dublin Castle, 6th Nov. 1829. Sir-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 1st instant, stating that you are ready to deliver to me a sum of 100£. which, in the discharge of your duties as a Roman Catholic Clergyman, you find belongs to his Majesty's Government, and I beg to acquaint you, that the proper course will be to place the sum in the Bank of Ireland to the credit of the Teller of Exchequer, and I am to request it may be lodged, when convenient, in the Bank accordingly. Rev. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, -, Chapel-house, F. L. Gower. Received for the Teller of the Exchequer, 100£. for which I promise to be accountable. For the Governors and Company of the Bank of Ireland. £100. JOHN BARRY. [Freeman's Journal. NIGHT CONTEMPLATION AT ROME. Barbarus heu! cineres insistet victor, et urbem Eques sonante verberabit ungula. Quaeque carent ventis et solibus, ossa Quirini (Nefas videre!) dissipabit insolens.-HOR. LIB. EPOD. xvi. Hushed is the tumult of the busy day, And silence sits upon the hills of Rome! There is no moon-the Tyber's muddy waves Roll darkly: on its melancholy banks, Where, ever and anon, a flame burns dim, Lighted, perchance, amid some scattered fragments, The dark monotony of night is broken The mighty bridge still strides, as when first placed, In days gone by, across the troubled waters; And near it rises, like a denser cloud, The ruined remnant of a monument. The bones it covered, thine proud Adrian, And though the weight of this vast sepulchre Oh! it is horrible to wander round As though I wandered through a place of graves. Decaying fragment of a fallen column! There stand the remnants of thy once proud arch, Erected to thy honour, and thy God's! On whose stained pavement many a martyr's blood Sunk is the majesty of pagan Rome, Her Gods in pieces, and their fanes in ruins: I trample now upon the head of one, Now on another's. Here the father lies, And there the mistress of the fabled gods: Thou who didst hurl thy brother from his throne, Art now in dust beneath a stranger's feet; And thou whose car by Heaven's fair birds was drawn, Art now run over by the peasant's cart. Rome, midst thy solitude, and midst thy ruins, The sacrilege of predatory feuds, The shock of ages, and the power of time A throne of rock, more durable than that And smile triumphant o'er the wreck of worlds. MELVIL. |