People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1895 — Catholic Motes. [ARTICLE]

Catholic Motes.

The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God by Catholics. During this month they honor her in a special manner as the Queen of May and decorate her alters in the churches and in their homes with flowers and ornaments. “Honor he is worthy of whom the King hath a mind to honor.” The King of Kings hath honored Mary: His divine Son did not disdain to be subject to her, therefore, should we honor her, especially as the honor we pay to her rebounds to God, the source of all glory. Heros and statesmen may receive the highest military and civic honors which a nation can bestow, without being suspected of invading the domain of the glory of God. Now, is not heroic sanctity more worthy of admiration 'than civil service and military exploits, inasmuch as religion ranks higher than patriotism and valor? When a nation wishes to celebrate the memory of its distinguished men, its admiration is not confined to words, but vents itself in a thousand different shapes. See in how many ways we honor the memory of Washington. Monuments on which his good deeds are recorded, are erected to his name. The grounds where his remains repose on the banks of the Potomac, are kept in order by a volunteer band of devoted ladies, who adorn the place with flowers. And this cherished spot is annually visited by thousands of pilgrims from the remotest sections of the country. As the citizens of the United States manifest in divers ways their admiration for Washington, so do the citizens of the republic of the church love to exhibit in corresponding forms their veneration for the Mother of Jesus. Her .shrines are tastefully adorned by pious hands, and are visited by devoted children. Her natal day and other days of the year are appropriately commemorated by participation in the banquet of the Encharist, and by sermons enlarging on her virtues and prerogatives. As no one was ever suspected of loving his country and her institutions less because of his serving Washington, so no one can reasonably suppose that our homage to God is diminished by fostering reverence for Mary; for, as our object in eulogizing Washington is not so much to honor the man, as to vindicate those principles of which he was the champion and exponent, and to express our gratitude to God

for the blessings bestowed on our country through him, even so our commemorating Mary’s month is not merely a praise to her, but still more to keep us in perpetual rememberance of our Lord’s Incarnation, and to show our thankfulness to Him for the blessings wrought through that great mystery in which she was so prominent a figure. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Marty of the Diocese St. Cloud paid a pleasant visit to the College and the Indian Normal School last week. Bishop. Marty is greatly interested in the Christianization of the Indians, having been engaged for many years in missionary labors among the Indians in North Dakota. The Very Rev. Henry Dress, Provincial of the Community of Most Precious Blood and the Rev. August Quatman of Cincinnati were guests at the college. A report of the proceedings of Military Day at the college will appear in the next issue.