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colored her lips. Her companion could not without difficulty assume a composed countenance and restrain her tears.

On the next day, the eighth of December, 1809, the festival of St. Barbara, she had still strength to go into the church to partake of the holy communion, but at three o'clock she was so reduced, that she laid herself undressed on her bed, to take, as she thought, a little repose. Several of her companions were in the cell, and, not aware of her situation, talked gaily and laughed, in the hope of amusing her. But their presence became soon too fatiguing for her, and when the vesper bell was rung, she desired them to join their sisters in the chapel, and recommended herself to their prayers. "You may yet to-day," she said, "pray for my recovery, but in a few weeks you will mention me, in the prayers for the

dead." Her friend alone remained, and she begged her to read to her the evening service as she was accustomed to do. The young nun, kneeling at the foot of the bed, began to sing in a low voice. But after the first verses, the dying Prascovia having made her a sign with her hand, accompanied by a faint smile on her lips, she rose, bent over her, and could with difficulty catch these words: "My dear friend, do not sing, it prevents me from praying; read only."

The nun kneeled again, and while she recited the orisons, her expiring friend made, from time to time, the sign of the cross. The room was now becoming dark.

When the nuns re-entered with candles, Prascovia was dead. Her right hand was extended over her breast, as when she crossed herself for the last time.

FOREIGN.

INTELLIGENCE.

CATHOLIC POLAND.-The Poles professing the Catholic religion in that part of the country which has been united to Russia, have recently addressed a memorial to the holy see, exposing to the sovereign pontiff the cruel sufferings to which they are subjected by the autocrat. It appears that every species of injustice is inflicted upon those who are not willing to renounce the Catholic faith. An immense number of religious houses has been suppressed, and the inmates reduced to a condition of misery and starvation. Even the noble beneficence of the sisters of charity has been arrested, because it was a Catholic work, and commanded the respect and esteem of the schismatics around them. Various other grievances are detailed, which show that the present autocrat of Russia is a barbarous tyrant, not inferior to many of the Pagan persecutors in primitive times.

MADRAS.-On Sunday evening last the Rev. S. Fennelly, late of Maynooth college, and brother to the Right Rev. Dr. Fennelly, bishop of Madras, sailed from Kingstown, via London, for that distant and most rising mission, bringing with him nearly twenty associates-as clergy

men, nuns, students, and catechists-who are to devote their talents, lives, and fortunes, to the promotion of religion in the Indies.-Dub. Nation.

TRINIDAD. From a letter which I received by the last mail, on the 21st inst., I am gratified to hear that our holy religion is making rapid and consoling progress throughout that vicariate, and that with the exception of the Rev. Mr. J. O'Hanly-who has been somewhat indisposed, and who is at present, with the zealous bishop, Right Rev. Dr. Smith, at the port of Spain, after his missionary labors near the coast, as parish priest-all the other clergymen and the bishop himself are quite well.-Ibid.

BRITISH GUIANA.-This extensive vicariate has for some time back been placed in most distressing circumstances, owing to the want of missionaries and due attention to the sacred ordinances of religion. The last mail from Rome brings us the interesting intelligence that the Right Rev. Dr. Hynes, O.S.D., a most zealous and edifying Irish bishop, has been appointed by the holy see to take charge of the vicariate as administrator, as the Right Rev. Dr. Clancy had resigned the responsible duties of vicar apostolic. Those who are familiar with the past labors

of the Right Rev. Dr. Hynes-first in Demerara, and secondly in the Ionian Islands-duly appreciate his great worth, and entertain confident hopes that by the assistance of a sufficient number of active clergymen and religious, this exemplary and active man will soon re-establish religion and morality in every part of British Guiana.-Ibid.

DOMESTIC.

ARCHDIOCESS OF BALTIMORE. - Religious Profession. On Sunday the 5th November at the convent of the Visitation in Georgetown, the solemn vows of religion were made by Sister Mary Augustin (Catharine Cleary) of Occoquan, Prince William Co. Va. and Sister Mary Rose (Mary Mudd) of Charles Co. Md. On the same occasion Sister Mary Pulcheria (Catharine Gibbons) of Washington city, received the veil.

DIOCESS OF ST. LOUIS.-Ordination.-The following scholastics of the Society of Jesus received tonsure and minor orders at the hands of the bishop, in the Cathedral, on Thursday, 21st of September; Louis Dumortier, Adrian Van Hulst, Francis Hortsmann, John Bax, Ignatius Maes. On the same occasion, the holy order of sub-deaconship was conferred on John Baptist Druyts, Francis O'Loughlin, P. Arnoudt, A. Maesseele, and Arnauld Damen-all scholastics of the same society. On the following morning, the last named five scholastics, together with the Rev. James Murphy, subdeacon, were ordained deacons; and on the morning of Saturday were, together with Mr. Murphy, raised to the order of priests.-Catholic Cabinet.

DIOCESS OF NEW ORLEANS.-It is with pain that we again revert to the difficulties occasioned by the conduct of the trustees in St. Louis' church, New Orleans.

Shortly after the death of their late venerated pastor, the bishop addressed a letter to the president of the board of trustees, expressing his readiness to supply the place of the Rev. Mr. Bach, on conditions which every well disposed mind would naturally approve, because absolutely necessary for the good order of the parish and the proper exercise of the parochial office. Notwithstanding their repeated professions of respect for the sovereign pontiff, under whose orders the bishop has hitherto acted, these gentlemen have not thought proper to accede to the reasonable demands of their prelate. They have even questioned his episcopal authority, although fully aware of his appointment by the holy see. They have also carried their own pretensions to a point which cannot but make them a laughing

stock in the eyes of the Catholic community. The Propagateur Catholique nobly defends the cause of the bishop against the enemies of religion, and exposes the emptiness of their claims with an equal force of logic and facetiousness of style. A respectable meeting of Catholics was lately held in New Orleans, and resolutions were passed deprecating the course of the trustees, and avowing a determination to stand by the bishop as the lawful head of the Church in Louisiana. We hope that their fidelity will find many imitators, and that the schismatical board will be reduced to that silent insignificance which must be the ultimate result of this affair, and which would certainly be much less discreditable to them than their present degrading notoriety.

FIFTH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.-Official accounts from Rome have been received, informing us that the acts and decrees of the fifth provincial council, held in Baltimore in the month of May, were confirmed by the holy see on the 24th of September. The following appointments also have been made:

For the vacant see of Charleston, Very Rev. Ignatius Reynolds, vicar general of the diocess of Louisville.

For the new see of Hartford, Conn., Very Rev. William Tyler, vicar general of Boston.

As coadjutor to the bishop of Boston, Rev. John Fitzpatrick, pastor of St. Mary's church, Boston.

As coadjutor to the bishop of New York, Rev. John McCloskey, pastor of St. Joseph's church, New York.

For the new see of Milwaukie, in Wisconsin, Very Rev. J. M. Henni, vicar general of Cincinnati.

For the new see of Chicago, Illinois, Rev. William Quarter, pastor of St. Mary's church, New York.

For the new see of Little Rock, Arkansas, Rev. Andrew Byrne, pastor of Nativity church, New York.

Eor the apostolic vicariate, Oregon Territory, Rev. F. N. Blanchet, Indian missionary.

ASSOCIATION OF PRIESTS.-The names of several clergymen from various parts of the United States, have been received and forwarded to Rome for the purpose of being enrolled in the society in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Due notice will be given of the reply from the eternal city.

THE LATE COMMODORE CLAXTON.-It is well known that this distinguished and lamented officer, who was the pride of the American navy and who enjoyed the universal respect and es

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teem of those who knew him, closed his earthly career in the month of March, 1841, and in a strange land where he was actively engaged in the duties of his important station. His affectionate family having adopted measures for the removal of his remains to the U. States, the corpse was accordingly conveyed from Talcahuana to Baltimore, and interred on the 30th of October in Green Mount Cemetery, with the solemn and imposing rites of the Catholic Church. The Very Rev. Dr. Deluol, superior of St. Mary's Seminary, and an intimate friend of the deceased, officiated on the occasion. The many excellent qualities which adorned the public and private character of Commodore Claxton, his gallantry, disinterestedness and love of justice, the peculiar regard which he always manifested for the wants and comforts of his subordinates, and which endeared him to all under his command, his happy disposition and his urbane and affable manners as a member of society, all this has formed the theme of frequent and fervent eulogy in the newspapers. The object of the present remarks is to exhibit his sentiments as a Christian, and to record a few facts which are honorable to his religion, and which may be edifying to those whom he has left behind him.

Long before his departure on the southern cruise which deprived our country of his valuable services, he had attended with pleasure the public worship of the Catholic Church, and although he delayed to practise the duties which it enjoins, he was frequently heard to express the conviction that there was and could be only one true Church, and that that church was the Catholic. Among the clergy of her communion he numbered some of his dearest friends. He oftentimes solicited the reverend gentleman already mentioned, to accompany him as the chaplain of his flag-ship, and endeavored to obtain his assent, by the assurance that the same honors and attentions would be paid to him as to the captain.

During the three months that he passed with his family at Westpoint, before he entered upon the command of the Constitution, and on other occasions, he manifested an unequivocal attachment to the Catholic religion. At the town just mentioned, a Protestant Episcopal Church in which a popular preacher officiated, always attracted within its walls the fashionable portion of the inhabitants; but Captain Claxton, though born of Episcopalian parents and educated in the principles of that denomination, did not go with the crowd. He preferred to attend the Catholic service which was performed in the same village every other week. The priest who

served this mission did not officiate in a church; there was none; he celebrated mass in the house of a Catholic soldier; but humble as the place was, the American Commodore was seen there regularly with his family, kneeling on the floor in the midst of the promiscuous and lowly band that flocked to the unpretending sanctuary. When he was bantered by his friends in high life about this apparently singular taste in a man of his station, he proved his eminent qualifications as a naval officer by subduing at once every consideration of human respect, and boldly meeting the observations of the fashionable Christian by a reply equally just and religions. His answer was that, far from being ashamed to appear among the poor of this world, he deemed himself unworthy of worshiping God in the company of those who, although moving in the lower walks of life, were perhaps much more acceptable than he in the eyes of heaven: and then, in his usual jocu lar manner, he asked; "do you expect to choose your company when you go to heaven?" If it was urged that the priest, to whose discourses he listened, was not an eloquent man, he observed; "true, he is not much of an orator, but his instructions are solid, and calculated to satisfy both the mind and heart," and he added, perhaps with rather too much point, "at any rate he believes what he preaches."

On his way from Westpoint to Portsmouth, Commodore Claxton tarried a few days in New York. Here one of his sons was to have the happiness of receiving the holy communion; a circumstance which even in expectancy rejoiced the heart of the parent; but when at the celebration of the holy mysteries it was passing under his eyes, he observed to Mrs. Claxton that "he would give the world to be in the place of his son."

The following incidents, however, indicate a still stronger feeling of Catholicity. Having arrived at Portsmouth, the Commodore did not report himself until he had first visited a Catholic Church, and offered up his prayers to the Almighty. This circumstance would lead us to judge that one of the dominant influences in his breast was a sentiment of piety. No observations injurious to the Catholic religion were uttered with impunity in his presence. During his last cruise on the South American coast, he always assisted at a low mass on Sunday when he had an opportunity to do so; his imperfect knowledge of the Spanish language he judged a sufficient cause of exemption from the sermon at high-mass, as under the circumstances it would not have been understood. Previously to

his last illness he addressed several letters to his wife, in which he expressed an ardent longing for his return to the United States, that he might have the happiness of uniting with her in the practice of a religion which he so much admired, and of rendering his life conformable to the principles of his faith. While abroad, he endeavored to perform his religious duties according to his knowledge and the circumstances in which he was placed. A Catholic prayerbook was frequently in his hands, and when he lay prostrate on the bed of sickness, it was his constant companion and his truest consolation, so long as he retained the use of his faculties. There can be no doubt that, with these sentiments, Commodore Claxton would not have hesitated, under more auspicious circumstances, to call for the services of a Catholic priest. But, to prevent this several causes combined. In the first place there was no resident clergyman on the spot: then the fever under which he labored was not of such a character as to awaken any serious apprehensions: add to this that during his sickness his attention was much diverted from the more congenial occupations of his mind, by the distracting and fatiguing business of a court-martial which he deemed necessary, and which probably induced a sudden and alarming change in the symptoms of his disease. Such was the dispensation of an all-wise Providence; Commodore Claxton did not enjoy those consoling rites by which religion sustains and cheers the soul in its passage to eternity; but we have abundant reason to hope that the God of mercy has had regard to the sincere and fervent aspirations of his heart. When we consider the circumstances that have been detailed, his warm attachment to the Catholic Church, his open vindication of its doctrine and discipline, his anxious solicitude to become a practical member of its communion, his fond anticipation of the happy event, the acts of piety which he frequently performed, we cannot but console ourselves in the issue of so much Christian sentiment; and we will say of the gallant American Commodore what the illustrious bishop of Milan once applied to the young and interesting prince Valentinian II, who came to an untimely end, before he could receive, what he had so much valued and desired, the regenerating sacrament of baptism: "What more can be expected from us than to desire and to ask for the blessings of religion? Long since did the youthful emperor wish to be baptized; and I therefore beseech thee, O Lord! to grant to thy servant that grace which he so fervently longed for during life." (De obilu Valent.)

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The editor of the Banner expresses a willingness, which, if we understand it rightly, is highly commendable. He is disposed to designate his Roman Catholic brethren by those appellations which they recognize and which are not opposed to the dictates of courtesy. Under these circumstances we would suggest the use of the term Catholic, when he speaks of the Church in communion with the see of Rome; because this title has always belonged to it, and still belongs only to it, according to general usage

Quem penes arbitrium est et jus et norma loquendi.

DISGRACEFUL.-The Rev. Mr. Sparry, a Presbyterian preacher, who has been travelling about the country venting his spleen against Popery, was lately arrested and arraigned before a magistrate at Pottsville, Pa., on the charge of disseminating an obscene and immoral book. The book consisted of extracts from Den's Theology, and has been arranged for the express purpose of imposing upon the public mind, in regard to Catholicity; as if a book of the very same description could not be made up from certain parts of the Scripture itself. Having promised to behave himself better for the time to come, this gentleman was set at large again. Such are the men who carry on a crusade against religion; some of them narrowly escape the justice of the law, after having degraded themselves by the diffusion of obscene books: others are indicted for libel, and the jury can't make up their mind as to their innocence. Who could place any confidence in the word or preaching of such individuals?

ERROR. TWO of our cotemporaries have suffered a singular mistake to go abroad, by trusting too much to the columns of the Tablet or some other paper. In the translation of Cardinal Pacca's beautiful discourse on the state of religion in Europe, this paper inadvertently rendered the words Saint Siége, into St. Sulpice; and thus the venerable dean of the sacred college is made to say, that" France, under the auspices and direction of St. Sulpice, labors to dissipate the darkness of idolatry among the poor

savages of Oceanica," &c. Cardinal Pacca spoke of the auspices and direction of the holy see;" not of the society of St. Sulpice or of the saint of that name.

We notice this error, not in a captious spirit, but under the impression that our cotemporaries will be pleased to receive the hint.

OBITUARY.

The Right Rev. Dr. ROSATI, bishop of St. Louis, died at Rome on the 25th of September. The venerable prelate is succeeded by his coadjutor, Rt. Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick.

The deceased bishop of St. Louis was born at Sora, in the kingdom of Naples. He entered into the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, at Rome, and in 1815, when the Rt. Rev. Dr. Dubourg was consecrated bishop of New Orleans, at Rome, he, with the holy priest, De Andreis, and several others, embraced the American mission. He passed some time in Kentucky, enjoying the hospitality of the venerable bishop of Bardstown, and studying the English language under the guidance of Dr. David, afterwards bishop of Mauricastro. He was appointed coadjutor to the bishop of N. Orleans and cousecrated bishop in partibus on the 25th of March, 1824, and subsequently made bishop of St. Louis, and charged with the administration of New Orleans, on the resignation of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Dubourg. He was fifty-three years of age at his death, and precisely nineteen years and six months had elapsed since his episcopal consecration. He was eminent for ecclesiastical learning, as well as for piety, prudence, zeal, suavity of manners, humility, and all the virtues becoming his high station. In the provincial councils his sentiments were highly influential, and he penned several Latin letters, among others, the classic letter to the archbishops of Cologne and Posen, which breathes the spirit of a Cyprian. He enjoyed the confidence of the holy see, and was apostolic delegate to the republic of Hayti, where he was received with the reverence which his dignified manners, as well as his sacred character, inspired. On his way to this island the second time, with a view to terminate what had been begun with very flattering prospects of success, his infirmities compelled him to stay for several months in Paris, whence he returned to Rome towards the close of May, there to finish his course in the sacred retreat, which, twenty-eight years before, he had left for the arduous labors of the mission. He was truly a holy bishop, worthy of the brightest ages of the Church.-Cath. Herald.

Died at St Mary's Seminary in this city, on the 5th of November, Rev. JAMES HECTOR NICHOLAS JOUBERT, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.

Mr. Joubert was born of a respectable family, on the 6th of September, 1777, at St. Jean d'Angely, in the western part of France. In 1801 he left his native country for St. Domingo, whence he embarked for Baltimore, where he arrived in the month of September, 1804. Shortly after, he entered St. Mary's seminary, where he passed the remainder of his life in the faithful discharge of various duties, as a professor and as vice-president of the college. His attention was also partly devoted to the holy ministry, which he zealously exercised. He was the founder, in 1828, of the institution known under the name of Oblates, or Sisters of Providence, the object of which is to train young females of color to the knowledge and practice of those duties and employments to which they may be called at a maturer age. To his watchful zeal and untiring efforts in promoting the interests of this institution, may be ascribed the rapid decline of his health, already considerably impaired by a chronic affection which had long baffled the resources of medical art. On the 1st of March, in the present year, the symptoms of his disease became more alarming; a dropsy ensued, and despite the skill of the most eminent physicians, combined with the most assiduous attentions of his friends, he soon fell into a state of exhaustion, which rendered his recovery hopeless, and after many weeks passed in almost momentary expectation of his final hour, he breathed his last amid the tears and prayers of his numerous friends who had gathered around him. It is unnecessary to add that his death was but the glorious close of a life which he had consecrated to the service of God and his neighbor. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: from henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow them." (Apoc. xiv, 13.)

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At Plaquemines, La., about the middle of October, Rev. Baron d'Aurange, who had exercised the sacred ministry in that place only for a few months. After twenty years' labor in France, he came to America to recruit his strength, but was soon carried to the grave by an attack of malignant fever.-Propagateur Catholique.

On the 5th of November, at the Female Orphan Asylum, Washington, D. C., Sister Claudia (Ringe) in the 24th year of her age.-Catholic Herald.

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