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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE BISHOP OF SAVANNAH ON
HOME AND THE CHILD
By RT. REV. BENJAMIN JOSEPH KEILEY, D. D.
To the Mothers and Fathers of the Diocese:
It will be, I suspect, an occasion of some surprise
that at this time of the year I am writing a Pastoral
Letter. The usual time for such letters is Lent or
Advent. And why should I single out the Fathers
and Mothers, as the ones to whom I write? There
must have been a good reason. Yes, I consider that
there is a very good reason, and I shall tell you what
that reason is.
In a very short time the schools will close and the
vacations will begin. The children will be at home
all the day. I am confident you realize your respon
sibilities to God for their training, but I wonder if
you will appreciate the wonderful and lasting effect
of home influence on them now and for the future.
It is just because I earnestly desire to call your
attention to this Home influence, and wish to beg
you to see to it that the proper home influence be
found in your family life, that I write this letter
which I commend to the Foster Father of our Blessed
Lord, the Divinely appointed Head of that perfect
home at Nazareth, where Jesus spent eighteen hap
py years.
Home! What music there is in the very sound of
the word. How it thrills us as it awakens within
us the sweetest and tenderest memories of the past.
I make no pretense to such knowledge as could jus
tify me in making a positive statement, but I am
under the impression that no modern language pos
sesses an exact equivalent for our English word,
Home. In other tongues men say that they are in
their own house or with themselves but we simply
say: I am Home.
It is now well nigh fifty years ago that I attended
the May Music Festival at the Academy of Music
in Philadelphia. I remember that the house was
crowded as their Festivals were the greatest event
of the year for music lovers. The Festival had
scarcely begun when one of the prominent singers
fainted on the stage. Of course much excitement
was caused by this, and the curtain was promptly
rung down. In a moment the curtain was parted
and the Director stepped on the stage, accompanied
by a woman, and told us that the sickness of the
singer was not at all serious; that he could resume
his part, and that while the necessary medical atten
tion was being rendered him, the singer with him
had kindly consented to sing. As he finished, the
audience applauded again and again, for the. wom
an’s name and fame were known in every capital of
Europe; in North and South America, and in every
land where music lovers were found.
“Home, Sweet Home.’’
She stood smiling and slightly bending her head to
the rapturous greeting, and when all was quiet, in
a low and sweet voice she began that simple but
soul-stirring ballad “Home, Sweet Home.” Her voice
easily filled the great Academy, and as its wonder
fully vibrant tones rang out: “Home, Home, Sweet,
Sweet Home,” I cannot describe the effect produced
on the immense audience. We all sat there spell
bound as she sang the last note. There was no
applause from any one, unless one called sobs and
tears applause, for though there was a mist over
my own eyes, I think all were in tears. There was
no clapping of hands, for hands were pressing hand
kerchiefs to eyes brimming with tears. I do not
think she had been fifteen minutes on the stage, but
the pathos and beauty of her voice had so bewitched
us that we were all of us back to childhood’s happy
days, and with the dear ones at home, or eagerly
seeking its warm welcome and safe haven. As she
came to the end of the ballad, I thought she paused
for a moment, and then her rich and beautiful voice
filled the vast Academy as she feelingly sang “Home,
Home, Sweet, Sweet Home.”
She stood there no longer smiling, and there was
absolute silence in the audience, for it seemed to
me that it would almost have been a sacrilege to ap
plaud. I heard from many something like a gasp
or start, as though they suddenly became aware that
the dream was over, and the present had come back.
She was still standing There, and now she was smil
ing, and then the whole audience seemed to have
thrown off the magic influence of her voice, and in
a moment they rose to their feet and such thunder
of applause I never heard. What is this thing Home,
which so stirs our hearts as it is mentioned? A
thousand answers come in reply from a thousand
lips, and yet the question remains unanswered.
After all, the heart knows what it is, and what it
means, but somehow the heart-feeling can find no
words to explain its sentiments.
Heaven Our Home.
Daily on our bended knees, we bless God and beg
of Him those things we need the most, and guided by
the words of our Blessed Lord, we address God, as
“Our Father, Who art in Heaven.” Our Holy Mother,
the Church, tells us that an omnipotent and merciful
God has prepared for those who love and serve Him,
when life’s fitful fever has passed, a place of infinite
happiness which we call Heaven. We speak of
Heaven often. But if asked the question what is
Heaven, I know that no one has ever given satisfac
tory answer and that no man will ever give such
answer, for the Apostle inspired of God assures us
that the eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath
it entered into the mind of man to conceive what
Heaven is. Though it has been told by the Beloved
Disciple that in Heaven “God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
nor mourning, nor sorrow shall be any more; nor
shall hunger or thirst be found there.” And yet,
when we are asked what is Heaven we search our
hearts for an answer, and simply say: Heaven is
our Home. Nor does this difficulty mean that we
do not know what Home is to us, but we can find
no adequate words to express what we feel. And
our very silence is more eloquent than speech.
Home plays a wonderful part in acquainting us
with our duties. We owe God love, reverence, obedi-
(Continued on Page 14)
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CAPT. RICE DECORATED WITH
ORDER OF ST. GREGORY THE
GREAT
An Associated Press, dispatch from Rome an
nounces that Capt. P. H. Rice, of Augusta,
President of the Catholic Laymen’s Association
of Georgia, has been decorated by the Holy
Father with the Order of St. Gregory the
Great. Details, other than the mere announce
ment, are lacking.
The Bulletin extends its sincerest congratu
lations to Capt. Rice. He is eminently deserv
ing of the high honor awarded him.
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