ON THE
Bight ReTerend Simon Gabriel Drat.e, D. D,
BISHOP OF VINCENNES,
PRONOUNCED IN MT." ST. MARY'S CHURCH,
AUGUST 19th, 1859,
ON THE OCCASION OF A SOLEMN SER,VI.CE.
" . � . �
FOR THE REP9SE OF HIS SOUL.
Reyerend John McVafrrey,
'"
SUPERIOR OF THE SEMIN4RY AND PRESIDENT OF
THE COLLEGE
OJ!'
EMMITSBURG: .:
M'tLEAN, DUl'1I0RN AND TROXEL ;rRIN'l'EHS1
18S9� ..


To the Students oj Mt. It. Mar!l. Seminary and CoiiegeJ
iI� Dua FaŒNDSJ- .-
. AT your requeSt I have consentéd to the publication ôf the follo*.:
iurdiscourse: to you I dedicate it. You havetbougbt it meet, that ISOme trlbuta:'
C)frerpect to the memory of :BiebÓpBaVT-B dbbuJd proceèd from an institution,'
whieb he 10 long supported and adomed by his learning, talents and virtues,
Your solicitude in this regard indicates the best feelings and is honorable to
)our character. My discourse was not 'indeed prepared with such a view. It
WU hastily thrown to¡ether, almost entirely in tbe course of a single night, for
the edification of those, wbo atténded the solemn &erVicè on the following day.
Although SODle weeks bave since elapsed, I bave not found leisure to do much
more tbaDadd sOme ineideats to the imperfect sketch of Iliahop Brut-e'� life and
usure myself, �y obtaining the testimouy of others, of the accuracy of all my
itatements.
I inscribe this discourse to yoù with the cheering hope, that you will aJway.
ilDitate the virtuee, whieb you 80 much admired.
With heart, good wishee for your suecess in your laudable pursuits, and fof
tour happmess in time and eternity J I am
Your aft"eetlonate friend,
J'0iÍN MoCAFFREt.


::ßX4-705
..:���
t'\ \ 23d 1793�O
Wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her.
She conducted the just through the right ways, and showed him
the kingdom of God and gave him the knowledge uf holy things i
made him honorable in labors and accomplished his labors.ë
* Wisdom, Chapter X, Verses 9th and 10th.
If there is something melancholy, there is also something beau.
tiful in the spectacle before me. Yoù lhave come together' in obe­
dience to the best feelings of the heart, as well as to the voice of
religion. - It is in the true spirit of christian charity, that you
'lifer up united prayers to God, in behalf of one, whose memory
this congregation and this neighborhood must ever cherish and
bold in veneration, For if the best endowments of mind and
heart may claim our admlration ; if lllustrlous examples of virtue
and piety merit our tributes of respect ; if the most active zeal
�11(1 benevolence exerted in our favor demand the expression ot'
QUI" gratitude; then do we owe the fullest homage of" our admira­
tion, reverence and gratitude to the. memory of Bishop Brut-e.
But what to him now' are the feeble tributes" which we may offe�
to his memory? Will the voice of panegyrlc reach his distant
grave and pierce the hollow chambers of the ear, that is closed tq
every sound, until the Archangel's. trumpet shall awaken all the
dead ( Will any honors we can pay him, light up a single smile
M the eye, which isdarkened by the cold mists of death? Ah! i�·
Religion came not to our aid; if with bel' lamp of truth she did
not show us, that charlty stops not at the gl�ave, and that tite.
souls even or the fr'iends of God may need am} can he benefited
by our pl�ay��s; g.t'l�titud� herself would be powerless. Vain
would be tll·e tender, yet �enel�ous feelings, that swell the burst-,
ing heart, when the hand or death robs us of a friend, a benefac-,
tor, or some cherished object of the purest affections. N()thin�
would be left us, but useless regrets, unavailing sighs or impioua
murmurs a�ainst the unrelenting decrees of a mysterious Provi-,
denee, But religion seeks not to stifle these irrepressible emo-,
t\oIlS. She em�l().rs and. directs them, She ealista the sym{ll\,


II
ed hlm from ever speaking in his own praise, I could Iearn from
a long and intimate acquaintance with him, and from the testi­
mony of others, that, in the public schools of his native city, he
was distinguished and eminently successful. His after life prov­
ed it. His mind was too rich in treasures -of classic lore, too
amply furnished from the arrnourles of science, for him to have
been a dull or careless student. Whether he conversed with a
friend, or lectured to a class, or heralded the message of salva­
tion from the pulpit; the evidences of profound knowledge, as
wen as of remarkable genius, incessantly Hashed before you,
'Vhatever he once read or studied, he remembered. Even in the
Iast years of his life, when his attention seemed to be absorbed
in theology and the other branches of ecclesiastical learning, he
recited with ease all the fables of La fontaine, entire scenes of
Racine and Corneille and the f nest passages of other French
writers or of the Latin poets. Though less familiar with the
Greek classics, he had read them with advantage as well as plea­
sure, and turned to good account his knowledge of their language )
in the study of the Greek fathers of the Church. At one time he
had it in view to enter the French Polytechnic school, and, for­
this reason, he pursued a very extensive course of mathematical
science. Subsequently he had the best opportunities in the medi­
cal school of Paris of penetrating deeply into the mysteries of'
Chemistry and N atural Philosophy. He improved them with
his usual diligence. While he devoted himself to severer studies,
he gave some share of attention to music and drawing¡ and in
tite latter of these accomplishments he attaifted a proficiency
which in after years was a source of pleasure and advantage tu.
himself and a means, which he often happily employed, for the
Imrpose of interesting and instructing others, His studies were
interrupted by the revolutionary troubles and he spent about two.
years in his mother's printing establishment, during which he
learned and practised the business of a compositor. It would ap,�
pear, that he was led to this, much less by inclination, than by
the reverses, which his family had sustained and the dangers of
the times. Accordingly we soon find him in a sphere better suit ...
ed to his tastes and intellectual habits. In the year seventeen
hundred and ninety-niue, the twentieth of his age, he entered the
medical school of Paris, where for three years he attended the
lectures of the first masters of the age.. In selecting an employ-,


it
.fheY expressed moderately but tirmly their r disapprobation,
'j_-'he ablest of their number selected for his thesis a subject allied
to some great question in N atur-al Theology and offered a troj.
umphant refutation of the materialism and other false but favorito
theories of their teachers. The gauntlet thus boldly Hung down
was not taken up' by the Professors, and the author of the thesis,
wit hout challenge or objection, won the highest honors, 'I'hese
contests at length attracted the vigilant attention or the govern­
l'fient; and a hint thrown out in the columns of its official organ,
that the First Consul, who believed religion the essential basis of
society aud was laboring to re-establish it, could not without dis­
JlIleasUl'e learn, that it was exposed to be assailed and insulted in
the public schools, had the effect of confining the lecturers to their
appropriate themes. AssUI:edly it was by keeping a strict guard
over his passions and not without the graee of God communica­
ted through its regular channels, fervent prayer and the frequent
r-eception of the sacraments, that this virtuous youth preserved
himself from 'the prevalent contagion, and by a prudent b�t inde­
pendent course, triumphed over the difficulties Qf his situation.
He acquired therefore a rich fund of useful knowledge ft�om' tb�'
teaching of men, who.though distinguished fur eminent genius and
vast research, yet in the pride of their hearts would not acknowl­
edge the supremacy of God, nor refer to him the honor of the
g'ifts, which had been lavished' on them; but he acquired none or·
tùeir baleful and demoralizing scepticism, On. thé contrary, 'he
saw more dearly the evidences of'truth by observing how dark-,
cued and deformed the noblest minds became, 'Y.�l�tî 'its Iight no.'
longer beamed on them: ubeçaus.e,u to r.el!re_a.t one of his favorita
(\uotat\ons from St. Paul, "when they kn� God, they did not
1;\o\'\£y \Ù\ll as Gotl, noe gave thanks'; but became vain i,1l their.
'thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkeued : for professing
themselves to be wise, they became foóls.'J� He perceived better,
than ever, amid the dismal Reen,es, of impiety, which he was com�
pelled to witness, the loveliness of virtue and the beauty of holi-, .
ness and the calm but sweet satisfaction of- alife of Christian
l}�cty. Alr'eall-y then, that Wisdom, "which delivereth from sor- "
)'OW them that attend upon her, conducted him through right
ways, and showed him the Kingdom of God;" For often 'i"
" these times of trial had he raised his' soul to heaven and b.r��.tlh
��� Ist Ep. Rom. Ist Chap. V. 21 and ��.'. /
@
•. ..


18
rd the spirit of that beautiful prayer of Solomon: "Got1 or m!
fathers and Lord of mercy, :if * * thy wisdom. which knoweth
thy works, which then also was present, when thou madest tho
world and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes and what was
�jght in thy commandments,-send her out of thy holy Braven.
and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me and
Iabor with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thec."=I(:
How impressive should his example be to the young and ardent,
but too often the unwise student, Let such remember, that he
whom I pt'opos� as a model and of whom I speak with knowledge
derived from long and intimate acquaintance was not the conse
crated minister of God, 1101' yet the secluded ecclesiastic aspil'illg
to a place before the holy altai', at the period in his history, to
which I have referred. He was living in the midst of the world,
qualifying himself fol' a secular profession, and beset with more
than the ordinary dangers of youth, Indeed there was every
�hing, that could seduce him from the service of God and the care
of sanctifying his soul. There was tite ardent ami \"i.�f)t'ou3 pur ..
suit of science, with hundreds of emulous cutnpetitora ; there was
the bustle and the giùdy dissipation uf the gayrst capital in the
world; there was the tumult and enthusiastic excitement of
Patois, while the star of N apoleon was in the ascendant. and tho
tidings of victory after victory flushed anti almost maddened the
youthful minds of France, With infidel teachers and impiolls
and libertine fellow students, his ears tingled incessantly with
the echoes of irreligious sophistry and blasphemy, while he could
scarcely avert his eyes from the contagious spectacle of "icc and
proñigncy, Yet he retained his innocence and his I'rligion. Ho
was virtuous, pious, exemplary. How then should they blush,
who with CVCI'y thing around them pointing to reli:;ion and piety,
complain of the difflcultics of practising their chl'i�tiall duties and
leading virtuous lives! How little steadiness of principle 01' sta­
bility of character must they have! H()\� slight the temptations,
compared with those which Ito overcame, that are suíllcieut to
make them traitors alike tu cunscicnce anti to God! Anti what
shall be thought of their "ain pretences and excuses, when at tho
day of judgment such examples as his shall l'ise up to condemn
thesn anti put the miserable sophistry of their passions to c\ crlast ,
Ing shame! -t
� Wisdom, Ch. 9, V. 9 and 10.


Btrt we would entertain a very erroneous npinion or his occu,:
]lation at this period, did we imagine. that learning, however Uö­
ble or' holy, was his chief pursuit. His gl'eat object, and thàt tn
which every thing else was subservient, was his sancâflcation,
His studies were all carrted on at the foot of the cross ; and like
St. Paul, he sought "to know nothing, but Jesus Chris] and him
crucified." (1) His constant care, was 'so to discipline himself,
that he might truly and perseveringly "deny hirnself and take
up his cross arid follow." (2) his meek and patient redeemer,
His m'Dst ardent desire was, that "Christ might dwell by faith in
his heart, and that being rooted and founded in CJlar'ity, he
might be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is' the
breadth and length and height and depth ;' to know also the char-i ..
ty of Christ which surpasseth all knowledge." CS)· His occupa­
tion therefore was not 'only nor chiefly study: _ it was prnyer : it
was meditating on holy things, "a conversatlon in Ilea ven" with
We Saints and the King of Saints and Angels: it was dcdicatin�
himself unreservedly to the service of God, and offel'ing Iris heart
with all its affections; as l á holo caust on the altar of divine love.
It was a constant striving to conform, himself in 'all things to the
image of Christ: it was, Efor> heknew we�l the vanity and hollow ...
ness of all pretensions to contemplative' piety, not founded on hu­
mility and confirmed by self-denying praètice.) it was implicit __
obedience tú the directions of his superiors, and the prompt und
willing discharge, before God and, as an offering: to' Gód" of. c\"cr-y
duty, which they assignee} to him ..
. If he c�t�cl1Î's:d nleehi.ldren 'of some p�l"ish in the .dt'y" it '��.
In the spirit of our blessed redeemer, when he said: "Suff�í.
Iittle children to come unto me, and'forbilftheffi'n:ot; Lhr of such
is the kingdom of Heaven ;" (4) if entrusted with the dcansin$; ,
and decorating of the sanctuary, he Iulñlledtlre duty wit]¡ those
sentiments, which led IYoly David to exclaim: ��Hn\V Jovely are
thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts r my sr�ul longetlt and füintet!a
for tire courts of the Lord: - Better is one day in thy house ahova
thousands:" (5) if called upon to; mins-tc." as, an assiHtant to the
priest at the altar;' he felt hirnself honored by the sa;crNl, ti ignity
of the office: he stood before the-victim _ offered up to God in the
holy sacrifice, as if ·hestobd by.the cross of Calvary, with'Mary
L 1Bt éor�' 2d C.,:2d- V.' 2. Matthew XVI. 24 .: "'3.' Enhes 'G 3d V· 17 rs,
.. .. •• ,. •. , G ..
194 4. St. Matth. G. 19, V. 14� 5. Ps .. 83/ ' ,


•
�tagclatcn. ana the beloved disciple and Mary, the Mother ot
Jesus; and lie retired saying' within himself: "How terrible j�
this place ! this is no other but the house of God and the gate uf
Heaven." (1) Thus for five years did he spend his time in retire ..
ment, devoted to sacred study and pious exercises, living in a
numerous community, respected and beloved alike by equals and
supcrlors and giving an example nf the humility, simplicity and
obedience, which should always characterise the young eccleslas ..
tie. Thus did he "choose to he an abject in the house of his
God ;" and as "the sparrow findeth herself a house, and the tur ..
tle a nest for herself, where she may lay her young;" so did he
find hirnself a humc even by "thy altar-s, O Lord of hosts !" and
there having in his heart disposed to ascend by steps, he went
from virtue tu virtue, (2) "having thy word for a lamp to his feet
and a light to his paths;" (3) and taking "the LOI'd for the por­
tinn of his inheritance and of his chalice." (4) In titis manner
lie prepared himself for the gl'rat end, at which he aimed-tlal"
worthy reception of the holy ortler of priesthood, Hc knew its
sublime dignity and becoming holiness: he foresaw and armed
hirnself fagainst its dangers. How often he repeated to himself
and to others that saying of St. Chrysostom : "the priest is
another Chriat." How beautifully and feelingly he developed
the lessons conveyed to the clergy even more than to the laity
in those words of Sto Paul : "Let a man so look UpOll us as the
ministers of Christ and the dispenser's of the mysteries ol' Goel."
(5) How eloquently he would describe the peculiar prerogative»
and happiness of the holy and edifying priest, "the faithful dis­
pl'lIser,"-thc true "mall of God!" And with what profound
feeling he would wccp over that scene of sadder ruin and desola­
tion, than any which Jeremias has lamented-e-the beauty of holi ...
ness departed from 'the sanctuaryç--iits lights extingllish('d,-it!'t
stately columns, once its sh'rllgth and ornament, fallen, broken
and dishouored.c=stumbling-blocks to them, who would enter into
the house of God! With such conceptions of the sublime digllity
(lilt] awful responsibility of the sacerdotal profession, he received
the ordination and entered OH the duties of a minister of Christ,
'This tuok place un the feast of the most holy 'Tr-inity, in the ycav
1 S08. Ren.ark able events arc Ilot to he )ook('d fOI' in the retired
l. Urn. C. XXHn. V. 17. 2. P;::. L\XXIlI. :J. Ps, CXVIlI. V. 105.
4. Ps, 15. 5, Cor. C. IV. V. I,


15
Ilfe or a pious ecclesiastical student. Y�t an occasion arose fbr.
the exhibition of a marked trait in his character, A friend of'
bis and form�r fellow·�tudent had fallen unde�' the suspicion or
the imperial gover·ument. He was deprived of 'his liberty and
threatened with loss of life •. Deeply interested in his behalf and
convinced of his innocence, Mr. Bru-te sought in vain to have
Ms case revised. As alast resource, he prepared a memorial t�
the Emperor; and for l'fant of a better. opportunity ,to present it,
he seized one, which he �h()ught was' offered him,' while se'[Ovtng.
mass 'in the imperial Chapel. When mass was ended, he flew
from the sanctuary, in the hope of anticipating the Emperor, as
Ile hastily retired by a private passage. Failing in tile attempt,
he flung l'ais memorial before him ; but here too he was foiled by
the rapidity of Bonaparte's motions and carne near heiug. bayn ..
netted by the gens d'armes in attendance, .The imprudent b()ld�
ness of. the seminarian, which might indeed paye beeil; attended
with serious consequences, was censured by his superiors; but
the devoted fidelity of the friend was admired by 'all.
, After his ordination, Mr., Br�-t� became a memben.of the so"!
clety of St. Sulpitius, Ue believed it to'he, ÙU� will of his hea­
venly master, that he should consecrate his talents to, the impur;'
tant labor of educating aspirants to the holy ministry. He' knew
'what great services thissocietyhad nenderer] to religion in .. France
and he saw in it illustrlous models of every'p,riestiy quality, 0(\
its members he ever afterwards sn·oke in terms of sincere attach­
ment a��d profound respect, He' entertained a peculiar venera-
-, -Ó; !," ,
tion f(w the superior General, the Abb-e Emery-a man, whom'
even N apoleon, havingtï-ied in vain to b�nd his inflexible integ;
rity to his own despotic will, ) was compelled to admire for hi,
conscientious [irmnesa and unaffected pik�ty';�and l,�e used h�\
say, that he had never met with any one.. in, whose character' all
the virtues were so happily blended,' all the gond. qualities of�,
mind and heart so well proportioned and- ��" nicely halanced,
An early proof was, gÎ	en of the regard in which the talents ot�'"
the. young. priest were held, Soon after he I�ad taken ·h�ly. qr;
ders, he was offered the appointment of assistant chaplain t� the.�
Emperor.. He declined. the offerand, inobedi�-nce to his msh.op�
repaired to the Seminary of Rennes, where he was immediately.
f.:pp.ointed Professor of Theology, an office, which he filled, with,
"qual honor and ability until he .embarked für America in �IWI.
� . ,:t ' .... . � �. � .' I \. '. .••. -Óv Ó ''::' .... ', f, 'c • ..


16
,ßUBnnCl" or 1810. in companywith 1\'11'. Flaget, the present ven­
e-rable and saintly Bishop of Bardstown. The voice of his SU�
l)(�l'¡OI'S was to him the voice of God: and dearly as he loved his
couutrv. Lis friends, his fond relatives and that admirable mother,
�vho fi;'st taught him to place all his hopes in heaven and love.{!
to mark his ¡wogrcss from virtue to virtue aud from step to step
in the holy ministry, until he stood in the very presence of the
'.God of Gods in Sion ;�' still, without a moment's hesitation, he
broke these chet-ished ties and, in the spirit of the Apostles,
'wellt forth to preach the gospel in a far' oft" foreign land. He
arr-ived in the United States on tile 9th of August 1810 and im ..
mediately joined his brethren of the Sulpitian Society at Balti­
more. He was Professor of Philosophy in St. Mary's College,
unti! the i sth of December' 1815, when he was chosen President,
The College under his government advanced in reputation.
Before his elevation to the presidency, he took an active part in
,. illdicating its character and the religious belief of its prnfes­
nors against certain cbal'ges, hrought forward by the Presbytery
uf Baltimore in a "Pastol'al Letter" and reiterated, though not
fnlstained, ill a "Befeuce of the Pastoral." In a spiritual Dia­
�oglle, pn>gnant with wit and lear-ning, he. exposed to merited
contempt the blunùcl'ing misrepresentations and declamatory
virulence of the assailants of St. Mary's, He proved his zeal
and charity at this period by speudinj; his vacations in missiona­
l'y excursions to places, where the Catholics liad not the benefit
of a resident pastor. 'l'he confidence of Ids worthy associates
was manifested by the post which they assigned him: 1101' was
lIe less respected and beloved by Archbishnp Carroll, whose long
and honorable course of eminent services to 'l'cligion and his
fountl'y was now dru wing to its close. Accustomed as Mr.
l�l'ut-e "as to the splendor', which surrounds the high ecclesias­
tical dignitaries of Europe, he found something inexpressibly
�wble and affecting in the humble circumstances, the simple dig­
vity of manners and apostolic labors of this venerable prelate.
] il June 1818 he rrsigned his office in the College at Baltimore
�lnd r-emoved to I�.H. S1. Mary's, From this peTiod until his elc­
yation to the Episcopacy, our own institution and OUl' own neigh;
�)(}I'hood became the theatre of bis talents and virtncs : and here,
fompat'ativdy hid from the gaze of the world, he found room fOl;,
'�he exercise of them all. His duties were multiplied and various,
�. . .�


18
Pl mingled emotions uf reverential awe aml gl'a1itude and love"
and often found rei icf in copious tears. Il e descended to the d is�
charge of his ordinary duties; but, like Moses, he bore the marks
of converse with his God, and, as words of heavenly wisdom fell
from his tongue, you could readily fancy, that his 1 ips, like those
of Isaias, had been touched by the seraph with til' jug coals uf
fire from the altar, His time was all divided between pl'ayer and
labor. He loved so well "the beauty of the house of the Lord,
and the place, where his glory dwclleth," (1) that he would spend
whole hours kneeling before the blessed sacrament; and eventu­
ally he made it a rule, whenever it was practicable to recite the
divine office in this holy presence. Thither ho would repair on
returning from a long journey during the rigoul's of' wi ntc r , and
until he hall satisfied this devotion, no persuasions could induce
him to attend to his personal comfort ; at other times, unless he
was engaged in active duties, you would find him ill tite midst
of his splendid library, surrounded by the writings of the Fath­
ers and Doctors of the church, and whatever besides is most rare
and valuable in science and literature, pursuing l�is devoted stu- 04
dies with intense application and wonderful activity of mind, 01'
committing to papcl' for the benefit of others tue results of lai!'!,
profound investigations. His recreation was but variety of labnr,
'Vhell his wearied mind demanded its turn of relaxation, the
most arduous bodily toil succccdcd : and this round uf exertions
mental and C(�11)o r cal was kept up with an elasticity or spirits
and activity uf mind truly surprising, Aller a .iOUI'IU·Y of Iilty
miles performed on foot ¡II a single day, hook ill hand, pl'ayill.�;
and reading by turns, unrl scarcely stopping' to take the simpl«
relection that nature required, he would meet his Iricnds in tile
evening with a freshness of spirits and gaiety of conversation,
which could not be surpassed, If us a pastor he had made au
appointment, no obstacle could hinder him from h.cepillg- it. 'l'he
mountain torrent SWOUèll v v ith wintry rains auil overflowing its
banks could nut stop him, Jf other means of crossing it WCI'O
not at hand, he plunged into its f.·t'l'zinf) t.dc and amid ruasses of
floating icc swam to the opposite shure, No sacriüce 0[* comfor ï
or necessary J'l'pO!jC, neither hunger 1101' thirst, IlOI" summcrs
beats nur winter's colds could check his enthusiastic zeal 01' causo
ilil1l to fail in punctuality to his engagement. Dut his chari,ty
�. Ps. !,?:j.


,f.ed; although theY,tould not account for this effect nor explain
\ 'it otherwise, than tiy Raying, that he appeared to them, not as a
\.' .. man, but a�. an angel, speaking to th�ir souls i� the name and by
) the authority of God. But for those, who dut umlerstand him
well, what à rich spiritual repast was afforded by Jais elofJuence­
for he was eloquent in spite of his defects of idiom and pronuncia­
tion! How pleased were they to hang upon his accents! How did
they love to follow the eagle flights of his genius! How soon did
their faith shake off its heavy slumbers, as conscience from the
üeep abysses of the heart responded to his bold appeals, and the
smallest spark of charlty rose into á consuming flame, and hope
gl'ew strong within them and began to fix a steady look on Hea­
'·en! And how much more eloquent in the causè of virtue than
éloquence Itself' was the powerful pleading of his example!
Oh, my beloved brethren! if much shall be requlrerl of them to
whom much is given, (1) (and we arc assureû of this by the ora­
eles of (livine truth.) what a fearful account shall they have to
render; on whom the blessings of such il. man's ministry shall
have been lavished in vain! and on the other hand, to indulge a
more cheering sentiment ho great should be your gratitude to
God, who sent his favored servant to this portion of his vineyard
and left him so long among you; so that you have been in a man­
ner brought up in' faith and piety at his feet. al�d llave looked up to
him, ás be moved in your midst doing good to all, not as to one
, bf this world, but almost as to a superior being descended on It
mission of mercy and love nnd caring only to allure and win you
back to that Heaven, which rle l'('garc1ed and taught you to regard
ils your true country and your on1y home.
But tho time arrived when this "burning anel shining Iight"
was to be placed on the goldcn candlestick of the A postlcs, A
l1ishop was required for Vihccnnes.-one worthy to be the first
occupant of a newly erected sec; and the eye of the distant Fath­
él' o( all the Faithful, piercing the obscurity of our mountain soli ..
tude, rested on the distinguished qualifications of Mr. Bru-te­
i know that he would gladly have avoided this appointment. I
know that he would have preferred om' humble retirement to any
post nf ilOn'or,-I need not add of emolument, for that he ever dis­
ûalncd as unworthy of a priest. A splendid episcopacy he \'VOU lei
undoubtedly have declined. But to make new sacrifices,-tfl
. l. Luke 12, '18.


93
take cp his lot in poverty, and privation among entire strangens=-,
to go far' from whatever was dear to him on Earth,-to be an
instrument in the hands of Providence. for spreading the gla{�
tidings of salvation and pausing God's name to be honored in the
rising West, and to 4S� his influence iuhls mother country to pro�
cure misslonaries and other means fQr carrying on the work o�
redemption in the land of· his adoption---this l�i� spirit of selr�
denial; his zeal, his charity would nqt penllit him to refuse, In
any case it would have been .�' trial to his conscience to have ex­
ercised even the right· of respectful remonstrance, when . the
visible head of Christ's church had spoken, , He dared not d(�
so, when that voice called upon him to make so many sacrifices
and endure so much. He therefore: bowed his head to a thorny
mitre and i�l the fall of 18S1 proceeded towards his distant dio1
cese� He left �s; but he never forgot his beloved mountain.'
Twice 11'1 revisited .us. Twice his fond looks wandered over" this,
cherished spot, 'wllosß .very �ame was endeared to him by his
�endel� tlevotinn to the mother of God � where every object wore
the charm of old familiarity, and where he had hoped to spend
the quiet evening of his da:y�� .and, when his sun 'of life had set,
�o mingle his remains with those qf former frlends, who seemed
to await him ill their peacefulmountain ·graves," The firsttime
he was on his .retum from Europe. He ���� stood amid th� ¡'1I�
ins and' resurrection .of the Eternal city � he had received the
-�lessing pr the common father �f the Christian worl.i .!l,l,he had
peen Iwno{eq with marks of his peculiar esteem and favol��
W ith i nexpressihle emotions nf thankful ness �n,4. j(�r; Ile had
offered 'up the victim or salvation in .tll,e Eucharistic fiacpifi?e o�
the tombs of the Apostles: H� had also scanned with the eye of·
�enius and cultivated taste the noble productions o(at�,cient am(
modern art, plunged into. the labyrinths of Rome's great libraries,
and by the evidences of his enligl�te'1C(l c�u'¡¡)sity and L.H'ofoun«(
¿l'lldition,�s w�H as Ohlis virtuous simplicity o'r m.á�?lCrS" wo,u th�
�dmiration. �� the flrst s.cho�,a'·f? of the a��,-lf 'such' ITlen �\
'Cardinal Angelo Maii and Cardinal· Mezzofanti. At Yienna
he had been ushe'r�(Í in'to pa,iac��:,'co�t't�(f by 'tl�e gr:eat, '�he h�a[:n�
�d and the pious, treated with marked i'espect, by the impel'i�t.
family. He had also revisited for the I�st time his own hbeaut(¡
ful France,' and there he had found himself encircled by atf�,(,4.".
f¡onate relati res and devoted' friends, honored lJy the noble and
\. '" ", ' '. � ", • \ •• .', .' " . � , . , ,¡.. . .;__ t,¡,


powerful and admired by all :-and it was año ... all this-all thls,
which he had l .. ft without a sigh. that he returned to his beloved
Mountain and left it with a sigh, that he could not again bUI'Y
himself in its peaceful ObSCUl'ity.·
He was consecrated Bishop in the Cathedral of St. Louis on
the feast of St. Simeon and St. J ude, and accompanied by the
venerable Bishop of Bardstown and his former pupil, the Bishol'
of Cincinnati, he took possession of his Episcopal see on tho
fifth of November following. At Vinconnes he found himself in
the most trying circumstances. He was a stranger, poor and
alone. Ile saw around him little more than the wrecks of the
Catholic faith and dicipliue of the OJ ¡ginaL settlers, LookillI;
abroad he beheld indeed an immense field fOl· labor; but tho
ground was almost unbroken. Every thing was to be commcnc­
ed and all was tn be effected by himself. Destitute as he was of
every human means of success, he applied with courage to his
allotted task. and while he freely exposed himself to "the heat
and burthen of the day," he prayed with fervor and confidence
to the "Lord of the harvest, that he would send laborers into hi.i
I harvest." (1) In less than eight months he hall travelled mCH'O
! than a thousand miles on horseback, ove.' roads almost impracti­
cable; had visited every part of his extrusive diocese and was as
familial' with the minutest circumstances l'(\gal'ùing its missions
and those uf the west in general, as if the whole or his valuahlc
life had been devoted to them exclusi "ely. He then pl"ocecdcd tt)
Europe to procure the SUCCOUI'� which he needed. How he was
there received, you have heard ; and you may still better judgo
from the successful issue of his visit. 1\I0l'C than twenty mis­
sionarics accompanied him on his return : and he obtained From
the chnrity of our Catholic brethren in the old world, considera­
ble resources for establishing schools, building churches, found ..
ing an asylum for destitute orphans, and ceJclu'atin,; the holy
mysteries with becoming' dignity. (2) His previous rcsidcnco
1. Matthew 9. 38.
2. As he crossed tho Atlantic nine times, and Euch occasions always elicited
ne� proofs of his characteristic virtues, I shall give the words of an eye witness
of his conduct, who accompanied him on his last voyage. "�uthinrr could sur ..
po.ss.his kindness and attention to all during the voyage from Euro;. He had
obtained a special permission from his Holiness to celebrate mass on hoard the
vessel; but the paSS80'e wag so tempestuous, that we could rarely enjoy that
consolation. Wc had thirty days continued storm, part of the time tile helm


,�cittiea or Vincennes, wrote twice a month to t'Very priE'Rt ill
�is diocese and maintained an extensive cor-respondence with al­
",ost cpcry part of Europe and America, (t) It is hut a short
�ime since 'he took .possesslon of his episcopal see, He found a.
lJingle prlest and but two 01" three churches in his diocese, Ho
Jlas left twenty three missionaries in it.and in every town almost.
besldes many stations in country places, a temple Itas risen en' iR
rising up to the ho�or of the living God. Though his health
and strength, bending at lastunder the excessive toils and srlf�
denials, which all his life-long he imposed on himself, were fast
deelining ¡ he visited �gajn and again every part of this spalos��
ly scttled portion of the West. Wher:enr might be found a
'handful of the faithful, to whom he could break the bread or life,
thither his zeal urged him to repair ; and thither he would g(?
, f'lone, on horse bark, in every kind of weather, a lonely wauder­
�r through tho solitude (lr' vast prairles 01· deep and gloomy fOI"­
,�St8, silently communing with his Güd and supported by the con­
scíousnesa that he was toiling and suffering for the love of hi�
Redeemer and the everlasting welfare of his fellow 1ll(,11� BI'o-
,J¡en down by .his malady ,...;_a �\'asting consumption, and pro­
"ounced incurable, he still proceeded C)Il these errands of runey,
"'going about," likr. his divino master, �'d()ing good to all."
WbC,'cl'cr he ¡ went he engaged in all the duties of an ordiuary
pastor. To assist and console the poma laborers on tite pulilic
works, he visited them in pel'sou, heard tla�'Ïl' c()nrl�ssiou��
preached and- said mass in their miserable dwellings, adu.iulster,
ed the sacraments and prepared the ti) iug for the awful passag�
to eternity, Difflculties that would have disheartened and obsta­
Fies which might have been called insurmountable, but animated
�i8 zeal and 'charlty, Having commenced a journey of foui­
hundred miles, in such a state of bodily Ruffhing, that lie could
Ilot ait ul'right pra his horse, he nevertheless completed it, without
the Intermiesion of a single day. Shortly �Crl)l'C his death. he
left Vine'ennes tn lrisit a distant misxiun, which he had already
'Visited tbrice within the yea.·, and though 80 weak and extenua-
1. He hu been known to return from a day's mission, find thirty letters on
his table.and answer every one before retiring to rest. He made it a rule never
-
to indulge a second sleep the salue night; so timt, if he happened to awake at
one or two in tho morning, he instantly arose, lit bis candle, and wrote or studied
till day-light. \
L •••


�s
tr�t�, (hey stood rnund about him, and RH the snns oC .:
ron iri
their glol'Y • * * * And finishing his service on the altar. to
honor the off(."ring nf the most High Kin:;" he stretched forth'
his hand to make a libation" anrl offered of the blood of tho
gl'apr. :It * * * Then all the people tr);�cthrr made haste and
fell down to the earth, upon their faces, to adore the Lord their
God, and to pray to the Almighty God the most High. * * e *
Then coming down, he liftet} up his hands over' all the rongrr­
gl'ation of the children of ISI'ad, to give glory to GOlI with his
lips and to glory in his name.' (1)
Death, which could be no unwelcome visiter to one whose
thoughts, hopes and affections all centred in a better world,
found him full-handed of go(){I works and longing only "to be
dissolved and to be with Chi-ist." (£) I nvincibly patient and rc ..
iligned under' the severest suflhing, full of tender piety, calm.
collected' and brightly exhihiting his charactcrlstic virtues to tho
last, he set a beautiful example of the manner, in which a Chr'is­
tian should prepare himself to run his final l'arc, and win tho'
erown of a glorious immortality. As }üs strength diminished,
his devotion increased. He sought no allcv iafiou for his suffer­
ings: on the contrary he was eager still to labor and endure, in
the two field-view nf doing good to others and resembling more
'his crucified Saviour. W hen unable to walk or stand, he would
at least sit up and write to any, whom he couhl hope to hcnefl; hy
his correspnndcnce j and to those around him. he would speak on
pious subjects, such' as the love of God, conformity to his holy
will, or devotion to the Blessed Vil'gin, with the tinct inn of a
saint and the ardour of a seraph. nut six hours before Ili�
death, he wrote with his own hand, anrl not \ ithout much diffi,
eulty and pain, several moving letters to per�()ns, ,,110 had un­
fortunately abandoned the practice or their faith, and to "hom he
wished to make this dJ in� appeal in behalf of their souls, "hile
the portals of Eternity were closing upon him. These last pre .. '
cious days or his life were tJIUS e ntircly taken 1!P in works or
Charity, in instructing, t'dirJ ¡JIg and fonsolinp; those, who were
with him, and in intimate and affcctionnte rnrnmuninn with hi�
GOf1, whom he hoped soon "to see face to face" and to 10\"0 am}
enjoy forever. Ile preferred often to he Irrt alo nc, that l-e mi�J¡�
the more freely inclulf:c his piow� fcellngs, �JlJ rar tl.is end 1l1.'
l.. Eœlesiam.icu.s C. W. �. PhD. l. �


,,'oble] allow nn one' to watch by him át, njght� until �is mot:tal
agony had begun. When his frientls affectionately .si}tlght ,id
know what they could do to relieve his suffel'jng�. he would an­
swer them by pointing out sorne passa:�e of sacred s�'Hpture, or'
chapter of JÏle,Fol1owing of Chr-ist. �vhich he �lesjl'ed them to'
read to him; oí- by asking them to say some prayers for his happy
death. Nfl agonies o(pain COUll} extort fNlInhini a single ,ex,;;
pression .,f 'distress. "Thé \'ili of God hr. "don,e"-,,'as the'
constant language ,nf his lips, as. it was thé à,bidingi sentiment ,of
• hls heart. When pf.£1paring tn receive fhe holy Viaticum, he
wroteto us in the ta'u:¢ \spir·¡tnf $�intly hùmilit)', ,l'eqne�titlg, the
prayer's of our Semif¡�ry �nd of the' Si�tèl'h()f)t1 and.' beggit')J� par .. '
don for whatever offenceor ha(1 examplehe h�(tev9r, gi�en to ,any
one at either ;n�titntiQ�: A (e,* days before his di��olution; thd
strengt h of his nattira11y vi'gorous .constitutien r�Hiedlot· atime,
and his physician promised him at least. a t�ml;or�J'S, ,r,�dlrel'y :
he told the physician he. ,wits mistaken, arnl, whether.he knew it,
supernaturally or otherwisevnamét] tfié�,exá�t time 9f hi¡;; �p.
proachhrg departuré, 'II� gä\'c' hiÎnsrJf"the orders for- pre:l!ài'in�
his, grave and .as calmly directed tho m()(� nf, ,RcpuJture, ani) p,l;O..l
per- rites to be ,observé(t; as if -he .'v�s (n!4c,hal'gir�g an o'rdinarf
duty. On the Rl.lt'Urng.of "th�' ¡l�,y,befo"Q l�is (h\!lth� he rem;a�,fH',(I
to the C}el·gyu�án,. who;' aUe'¥l£le(l· ,I�m - w ¡'fh ltlÍ�vea'l"Ïcd �óncitude'
and affection ¡ '�Iny dèar ,child, I have U,I;è wlH�It1 (,l¡t.y�yrtta st�r
with you�to-lßorro'\V, wiHr God)" ,'fo 'anqtJáer pi(H1S fdf'rt'd ha
used these simple lJut�Xp)"("RSj.1C words, '"".1,. am !5oi1�lMme/;,
}leaven was indeed his howe:' fle, had aht,ay,�' !{') r'cga-('(led' it �
therewas his treasure.: his heartwas there : hé' had �V(H- 'l;mlit·;�1
to be with G�(l and "see ]üm,1 8'S l'le' i'�q"�� and now' thé: dO()(I,Or
bis Father's. hQô�'e was ,op�Yling to, Mm, and ,&i)grls"w(e�e 'onthQ
wing tomeet hi's"deparfint; ,spk-it ��d cOlldudii'ff.tni�s: placeaf
J'Mt. He' WàR' happy fhcrefofe' amid th,e' "ang��.,'a.,nd ferrOl!s or
death; for he trusted that he was but g��'ng horne, .' Afltet' h(ly�
ing received the last' sá(.',J·am('ntR� Ile (L¡,·C'cted the de'paJ't.i1tg .pnay 1
ersto be recited, which {l(fanswet�ed .(ltwout�y and':,fcl,·v.e'ñtl,y' (fntil' ,. ,
tlrelast, amt then on lite ,ttJor,n�ng,nf the i6th,hf.J'Ine, n:t halr.pas,t,'
one o'clock, he calmly «tid f;,eetr, Lsurre'n,lcrqrl his'·'J� .. inl info thet
!lanc]'s uf his ére�t(}r�. "Ofl bo�, Hp't;'ccio,!s ;10 t¡h�sig,h()f the �,(H'�l
IR the �ath of Ius samts r' GI) How dl,ff�Nmt .frenn the last .mo-
i. Pt 115jr, . ,


the belief or a Catholic could rest on any lower foundation thft1\
the divine authority duly exhibited ; if it could !Je based on indi­
vidual opinion, most c�\Iliflllly and maturely formed, by exercis­
jn�� faculties of minrl or' the laigh�st order on all the evidence,
that belongs to the subject ; it might be said of 1\1 r. Hru-te's
convictlons, that such WRR their foundation. Rut faith is tito
gift of God, Re
eah
33
practice them yourselves ; if you feel gratitude for his zéal ana
'charity, forget not his lessons; despise not the exhortations and
entreaties, which lac SC) often addressed to you. If you would
prove to him that grtatituùe, pray fur him: even he may need
your prayers; and should he not, your charity will not go unre­
warded. But, my Beloved Brethren, be careful to draw from
the consideration of his life the instruction, it is calculated to
convey. Learn from him how to estimate at its true value the
"supernal prize, for which we run." Learn from him, that they
who are in earnest about the salvation of their souls, do not lead
an idle, tepid or effeminate, mach less a vitious life. Learn from
him, what kind of violence the Kingdom of Heaven suffers, and
who are' "the violent, that bear it away." (t) Learn from him.
"to deny yourselves and take up your cross and follow" your (li­
vine leader. Learn from his example to love God above all
things, with your whole heart and mind and strength and your
neighbour as yourself"; to be zealous for every good work, mer­
ciful to the poor, charitable to all, and to seek your own sanctifi­
cation in an things, by doing every thing for the sake of God and
in conformity to his holy will. It is thus, my Brethren, we are
admonished by inspired wisdom to "remember our prelates, who
have spoken to us the word of God; and considering the end or
their conversation, to imitate their' faith:" (2) and the same in ..
spired wisdom has assured- us, that he who "feeds the flock or
Christ" entrusted to him, "amI takes good care thereof, not by
constraint, but willing1y awarding to God: not for the sake or
filthy IUCI'C, but voluntarily; nor as domineering over the cler­
gy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heartj when
the Prince of pastors shall appear, shall receive a never Cadin,
crown of glory." (s)
l. :Matthew 11, �2. 2. Heh, 13. 7. a. 1st Pet. 5. t. S, 4.