For Remembrance (ed. Repplier, 1901)/Address of Congratulation

Address of Congratulation.
The Archbishop of Philadelphia.

T is a subject of lasting regret that no stenographer reported the address of congratulation delivered by the Archbishop of Philadelphia. It was a delightful exposition of his happiest manner, and while, as an effect, it impressed itself on the memory of every hearer, even those who recalled it most clearly felt that they could never reproduce the choice of words, the play of fancy, the light of wit, and, in certain passages, the serious and ardent religious sentiment that characterized it. Without, therefore, attempting to offer His Grace's exact sentences, it may be said that, in substance, he spoke as follows:

The Archbishop began by saying that, when he noted his own name on the programme, he consulted an ecclesiastic as to its meaning, and was told that it meant that he should congratulate himself on possessing a house of the Sacred Heart; and, consequently, he had, indeed, even in the chapel that morning, congratulated himself on possessing two houses of the Sacred Heart. When Coadjutor Bishop of St. Louis, long before coming to Philadelphia, he had enjoyed the similar ground for congratulation, and had known and valued the Sacred Heart for more years than he would name. His Grace then paid a beautiful general tribute to the Order and to its work. He next spoke in the most delightful manner to the guests, pointedly distinguishing them as former pupils, not old pupils, which produced many smiles. He reverted to the glorification of woman and her mission, her powers and their exercise, to which all had listened that morning from the eloquent lips of the orator of the day; but acknowledged that, at the termination of so magnificent a eulogy, he had felt fear; yes,—fear, and he emphasized the sentiment. Fear that the ladies present, elated and convinced by such a testimony, would go home believing themselves the superiors of their fathers, brothers and husbands. Nay, even the good religious, humble as they might have become by meditation and prayer, would possibly begin to hold themselves as the superiors of priests, bishops, archbishops! Changing his tone suddenly from playfulness to earnestness, His Grace deigned to speak in terms of kind laudation of the exercises of the day,—of the exquisite poem, "A Prayer and a Memory," which would indeed remain a memory as well as a prayer to all who had enjoyed the privilege of hearing it. It was worthy of its authoress, Miss Smith, whose great gifts were never employed for other than the highest purposes.

His Grace then reverted to the Society of the Sacred Heart itself, and remarked that while the orator of the morning had rendered so just and moving a tribute to Mother Hardey, the foundress of Eden Hall and of all the houses of the Eastern Province, he, Archbishop Ryan, felt it a duty to give testimony to those great and noble women of the Order whom he had known and honored in the West,—Mother Galway, Mother Tucker, Mother Boudreau, Mother Beauduy-Garesché. He alluded also to the two daughters of Madame Garesché, still devotedly carrying on the work of God.

The Archbishop then proceeded to speak of the religious life in its more hidden and more distinctive aspects, of its deeper joys, veiled from the world, the delight of duty fulfilled for God alone, the testimony of a calm and free conscience,—deeper and holier yet, the spiritual delights of prayer, meditation, self-denial, union of the soul with its Divine Redeemer and in His Sacred Heart, by contemplation and by Holy Communion.

This portion of His Grace's discourse was at once the most beautiful and the most difficult to reproduce in any words but his own. It moved every heart, and was inspired evidently by the tenderest piety, and by an enthusiastic personal love of our Lord.

Passing from grave to gay, the Archbishop, with great tact and felicity, introduced into prominence his guest, the Right Reverend J. B. Brondel, Bishop of Helena, Montana, and drew forth from the modest missionary prelate some remarkable details exhibiting his Indian neophytes in an interesting and edifying light.

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Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament perfectly closed a perfect day. Reverend Father Wall officiated, assisted by many other priests. He read with deep feeling an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the great hymn of thanksgiving crowned a century of gratitude.