THE PUBLISHED WEEKLY, UNDER THE INSPECTION OF CATHOLIC DIVINES. No. 23. DUBLIN, SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1834. VOL. I. MARY MAGDALEN AT THE FEET OF JESUS. THE MAGDALENE. A FRAGMENT. BY A CATHOLIC PRIEST. FOR THE CATHOLIC PENNY MAGAZINE. MOURNFUL and sweet are my thoughts, for varied is my theme. Alternate in harmony thrill the chords of sadness and joy. Angels and ministers of grace unite thy celestial strains with the feeble breathings of my humble lyre. I sing the triumphs of penitence, virtue, and love. In far-famed Bethany dwelt the beauteous maid. She arose a beam of light in the morning of her prime. No flower more lovely, in her embryo, in the fragrant garden of Palestine. Tresses of gold flowed down her ivory, neck, waving as the ripened gifts of yellow Ceres. Mary was her name. A bright star of the sea. But, alas! this light was obscured in the splendour of its rising. That flower was nipped in the bud of its loveliness. That star was dimed in all the glitter of its beauty. The spoiler saw her beauty, and he was grieved. He beheld her brightness, and he was troubled. He seduced the maid from the virtuous path. * * Her beauty is fled. Her lustre is gone. Her cheeks are pale. Her eyes have lost their wonted fire. There is no peace at her heart. Dark is the gloom of her spirit, for her virtue is departed! * * Yet she does not despair fairest of unhappy maids. There is one to come who will stretch forth an arm of mercy to save and to heal her. The Lord is his name. Lo! he is ushered in by the innocent of the desert. He comes to save the sheep that were about to perish. He comes to shed a ray of illumination over the darkness of earth. He comes to dispel the gloom of despair. He comes to shed a ray of illumination over the darkness of earth. He comes to unlock the gates of bliss. The bruised reed he shall not break; neither shall he extinguish the smoking flax. His peculiar attributes are mercy and love. The accents of comfort are on his lips, and all his paths are peace. O strayed sheep! return to the bosom of thy Shepherd. O ungrateful creature! hasten to the feet of thy Lord. O unhappy prodigal! rush to the embraces of thy Father. Behold a beam of grace falls upon her dark spirit. A tear-drop of sorrow melts her stony heart. The repentant maid is full of grief. She arises in haste. She seeks the beloved of her soul— Spikenard and saffron, and sweet cane and cinnamon, and all the powders of the perfumer," are her treasures. But where is the Desired of her heart? Where does he whom her soul loveth, sojourn? Where shall she find him lying in the mid-day?' 239 Simon the Leper, is honored by his presence. He is invited to a feast. It is to be a feast of mercy and love. Great is the concourse of the sons of Israel. The guilty daughter of Juda She runs-she hears the happy news. She is replete with joy. ffees-she bursts through the opposing crowd. No shame deters her penitent soul. No obstacle retards the rapid wing of her desires. Her soul is on fire with love. Her heart is melted with sorrow. Her eyes are streaming with tears. Her countenance is lit up with celestial splendour. She is at the feet of her Lord!She anoints them with her She bathes them with her tears. spices. She wipes them with her dishevelled and golden tresses. But sweeter far than all her tears is the anguish of her afflicted soul. Richer far than all her perfumes is the odour of her love. Her Father is moved. Her Physician is melted. Her God is full of forgiveness. The pure gold of her charity purchases the pardon of her crimes. The lips of Jesus are dropping with the dew of comfort-are distilling the sweet honey of mercy. "Mary's sins are forgiven her because she loves much." Those That star again shines out O moment of happiness and joy! with renewed splendour. That flower again buds forth with increasing fragrance. That hair is restored to its pristine beauty by the divine contact. That form resumes its ancient grace. eyes are again sparkling with delight. Those pallid cheeks are again glowing in the crimson of beauty. That heart is no longer the seat of disquietude. The power of the spoiler is gone.'Mary's sins are forgiven her because she loves much." O thou sinner of despair! read and be comforted. O thou child of despondence! look up and be consoled. Love shall restore consolation to thy afflicted heart. Therefore, O sinner! love, love. O thou sinner of many crimes! LOVE MUCH. ASYLUMS FOR MAGDALENES, PATRITIUS, Amongst the numerous institutions which piety and benevolence support, there are none, perhaps, demand more particularly the compassion and humanity of Christians, than the retreats of female penitents! Who can see the fairest portion of God's creatures made the victims of these incarnate villains who glory in vices, not fit to be named amongst Christians? Who can see tender, and, perhaps, once innocent females, seduced by demons in human form, from their sacred homes, from the fathers they loved, and the mothers they almost adored, to what? To a life of devils upon earth, to scenes of beastly passion, and utter destitution. Who can behold, unmoved, those who might be the purest of mortals, alternately the objects of lust and execration-the reservoirs of filth, and the vessels of the most unparalleled corruption? Where is the Christian, who with St. Chrysostom, deems it more glorious to convert one sinner than to command the world, would not make a sacrifice to rescue the weak from the strong, and the guilty from the grasp of a hell that is ready to receive them? Every one who subscribes towards the support of the established retreats can co-operate in this work of compassion and mercy! Already asylums are in Bow-street, in Chancery-lane, in Mecklenburgh-street, and in Townsend-street, which have afforded a refuge for hundreds of female penitents. The late Rev. Mr. Holmes made himself a martyr thus to save those souls for which Jesus died. The present Rev. Mr. Laphen, Rev. Mr. Smith, Rev. Mr. Young, and others, follow his heroic and exemplary example. Conceiving that it would be of great importance to have an asylum established on principles of strict discipline, the Rev. John Smith, of SS. Michael and John's Church, in 1833, under the patronage of the Most Rev. Dr. Murray, aided by a number of benevolents, procured a house at Drumcondra, for this purpose. In a short time this dwelling was found too small for the numbers which applied for admission; and early in 1884, by means of increased co-operation, the Reverend Guardian and Governors were enabled to procure the present house and ground at Drumcondra, which for air, room, and convenience, afford the most admirable refuge, perhaps in or near the metropolis. Already twenty destitute creatures are here comfortably sheltered from vice and want, under the guidance of the Rev. John Smyth, guardian, and a most respectable settled matron. For the asylums generally, we solicit support. This support is of a two-fold nature. 1st, Subscriptions, in any sums, from one penny a week upwards. 2d, Work for the penitents: viz. laundry-work, bleaching, washing, mangling, and fancy needle-work, executed during the hours not employed at spiritual exercises. ON A RETREAT FOR PENITENT FEMALES. If because she loved much-so much was forgiven, If from the Redeemer and Judge of mankind, She such pardon received, and such mercy did find- How she wiped with her hair, as she washed with her tear- From the cross of her Master she never would part, Oh! who will not struggle to support a retreat, Where grace stands triumphant-where peace finds its seat; B. CATHOLIC RELIGION. IRELAND. RELIGIOUS ORDERS.-It is a curious fact, that whilst British Legislators, by a scandalous clause in the late Emancipation Bill, called for the total destruction of religious orders in Ireland, the present government, in compliance with the express wish of the Catholics of Calcutta, have paid the expenses of forwarding Catholic missionaries from Ireland, exclusively of religious orders. Let us hope for the honor of truth and justice, that a government professing itself Christian will not despise an order of men whom even the savages of Japan almost adored on account of their desire to make any sacrifice for the glory of God and the salvation of souls! We call on every Irish Catholic who has one spark of religion, or one portion of gratitude, to stand by a race of men who have been the means of preserving Catholicism in Ireland. If an attempt should be made to put into operation this infamous clause, let every man, woman, and child, unite in protesting and petitioning against its atrocity, and cruelty. We are thus candid because we find that in Lord Cloncurry's bill, an extract from which is given in our 15th Number, the abolition of the religious orders is more than intended to be made the basis of "pacifying," it should be written uncatholicing Ireland! Where is the recreant Catholic who will support such a measure? CONVERSION.-Sir Harcourt Lees, than whom it appears in his own house a kinder man to Catholics cannot exist, is sending out, through the Packet and Warder, such outlandish attacks upon Catholic bishops, priests, and laics, as to create the laughter more than the envy of every man of sense. We are inclined to think that the absurdity of this "Protestant champion's" letters has contributed, with much serious reading, and deep reflection, to convert a very near relative of the Baronet to the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The suavity of this gentleman's manners, the gravity of his demeanour, and the morality of his conduct, prove, demonstratively, the purity of his intentions. A few months since he entered into the bosom of that church which his relative so violently attacks; and he expresses his conviction, that no peace which the world could give would ever compensate for the consolation he receives from being a member of the Catholic Church. We regret to find that the Venerable Right Rev. Dr. Waldron, on winding his clock, a few days since, fell from a chair, was precipitated down several stairs, and was so injured that he died in a few days. The Right. Rev. Dr. M'Hale succeeds him as bishop of Killala. On Saturday, 23d May, the Right Rev. Dr. Abraham conferred the order of priesthood in the Catholic Cathedral of Water |