the action, drew abundance of tears [ment. After this profession of faith

from the audience, and inspired sentiments of the most bitter compunction. Our good M. Druon produced the same effect at the church of Our Lady, every one being sensibly affected.

to

follow him, every one answered for ever, So great was the general emotion created by the solemnity of the scene, that the sighs and tears of the multitude frequently impeded their utterance and interrupted the exhortations. It is not possible to conduct a more noble or more moving ceremony with greater piety and dignity.

This exercise began at four in the afternoon, and ended at I believe many half past eight.

people would willingly have remained still longer, for no one could be tired with hearing these pious Our two churches missionaries.

we renewed our renunciation of Satan, his pomps, and his works. The missioners proposed to us Jesus Christ, our divine Master, and his opponent Satan, leaving us our choice. Without hesitation The second solemn rite, no less every one gave the preference to moving, was performed on Shrove our Saviour, and being asked for how Tuesday, for the renewal of the bap-long a time we were determined to tismal vows. On this occasion the blessed sacrament was exposed on the high altar, and a large one was erected in the middle of the church, between the choir and the body. Upon this altar, richly decorated and lighted, was placed, in a vase destined for that purpose, the holy baptismal waters; above was a dove breathing life and spirit into the waters; the vase was ornamented with lilies, &c.; on each side the holy oils, and in the midst the white robe. After several hymns suitable to the ceremony had been sung, and an exhortation delivered, our worthy missionaries, accompanied by all the clergy and people surrounded the altar, and having sung several appropriate anthems, together with the epistle and gospel of the eight beatitudes (that of All Saints), the superior of the mission at the cathe dral, and M. Druon at Our Lady's, ascended the pulpit, and the deacon went up to the altar, attended by the acolytes; the latter after shewing the holy gospel to the congrega-ferent ranks in life, at the head of tion, said, in an audible voice, whom appeared the count and seChristians, behold the book of the veral military gentlemen of distinclaw of God and the holy gospel." tion, carried it alternately, with the The whole auditory repeated after most edifying respect and venerathe clergy, "I believe in them." tion. Many of them were fasting, The creed was then sung, and the inimitation of our good missionaries. deacon pronounced in the same tone, Though the way was long and painthe first commandment; on which ful, the procession went nearly | the clergy and all the people after round the whole city, followed by a them repeated the same, and thus surprising number of young ladies all the commandments of God and dressed in white, carrying a cross the church were successively recited, and a wax taper in each hand, and the congregation raising their hands singing canticles all the way. as they repeated each command- the magistrates and the different

though crowded to excess, were
On this
without the least disorder.
day several adults were baptized.

The third solemnity occurred on the feast of the five wounds of our blessed Saviour. This day had been chosen as the most proper for erecting a cross, to perpetuate the memory of this mission, which measured 40 feet in length and weighed 2500 Two hundred men of dif pounds.

All

a rising ground, preaching Jesus
Christ to the Japonese. He is so
transported with zeal in his exhor-
tations and discourses, that no one
can avoid acknowledging the power
of God in his servant;
as to his
person, he looks like a man worn out
with fatigue-pale, lean and spirit-
less; his food is scanty, and he al-
lows himself but two hours and a
half each day to take the necessary
refreshment of sleep; his bed is
only a pailliasse, as is that of his col-
leagues. A few minutes of prayer
is their preparation for the pulpit,
as they are not allowed to make
notes. M. Gressin, our worthy pas-
tor, who through piety has heard
more confessions than many others
by day and night, with his accus-
tomed indefatigable zeal, is asto-

corps were present, and the soldiers exhibited devotion truly gratifying: I heard them eagerly cry out, Live Jesus and his holy cross!" "The Bourbons and our faith for ever in France." You may easily conceive the delight of every heart in beholding the triumph of our Saviour and the adorable sign of our redemption. This triumph is truly miraculous, and one of the most striking proofs of our holy religion, to behold nine apostles, in so short a time, succeed, in making a whole city resume its wonted veneration for the august and sacred sign of our redemption. The whole assembly knelt down before it, and gloried in bearing it on their shoulders; it was the symbol which distinguished the men who had profited by the grace of the mission. On the daynished at the ease with which they of the communion every one wore this sacred emblem of christianity fixed to their button, and were proud of this truly honourable badge; but I cannot describe to you our joy, and the extasy we felt, when the cross of our Saviour arrived at the destined spot, having been borne in the most perfect order; it was then we beheld the zeal of those men who laboured to place it in the spot where it was to be fixed; at the elevation of this holy and venerated ensign, it seemed as if every heart was raised above the earth, every eye was moistened with tears, and shouts of" Live Jesus and his holy cross," resounded from every lip. To these fervent and pious acclamations succeeded a most respectful silence; M. Janson then delivered a very pathetic and energetic discourse upon the cross, and the blessing of the Lord who restored to us this sign of our salvation, which infidelity had attempted to annihilate; he appeared more like an inspired person in an extasy of spirit, than an ordinary preacher. I could not help fancying I beheld St. Francis Xavier, on

announce the word of God for an hour and a quarter at a time, and sometimes even longer, yet still seem not to have exhausted their subject. What makes this the more surprising is, that many among them are very young, having but lately been ordained priests, Mons. Druon and Milisdans in particular, the former only since last Christmas. Almighty God visibly blesses their labours: they speak to the heart, and effica ciously rouse sinners to repentance. Their outward deportment inspires piety and veneration, the most profound silence reigns during their sermons; they seem like angelic beings; in a word they have obtained universal confidence, and all I am able to say of them is far less than they merit. Three of them Mons. Druon, St. Ive, and Millisdans, who conducted the mission in our parish, lodged with our good pastor who was greatly edified by their conduct, and all of them are worthy of our profoundest veneration and esteem.

But I perceive I am deviating from the account of the mission, by

farewell of the missionaries: how many tears did we shed. After a prelude on the effects of charity towards our neighbour, M. Janson and M. Druon at Our Lady's gave an instruction on perseverance, and drew up a plan of life in which they pointed out every means of ascer taining and acquiring that virtue in the service of God. After this they bade us farewell, leaving us under the protection of the blessed Virgin, but at the same time giving us the cross as a safeguard and sign, to put us in mind of the mercies of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so strikingly evinced by the special favours of this mission, and the love of a God who died to save our souls and obtain for us, by his merits, the blessings of so good a master. In conclusion they described the consoling sentiments which the conversion of so many sinners, and the zeal of the faithful in profiting by this mission, had imparted, and with the greatest humility attri

speaking of the missionaries, and therefore I must return to my subject, and give you an account of the fourth ceremony, which we celebrated as an oblation to our good mother the Blessed Virgin. It took place on Sunday the 2d inst. and as usual, was observed in each church, An altar was placed, richly ornamented, between the choir and the body of the church, where, on a pillar, was placed the image belonging to our chapel, which the good missionaries chose as the best representation of the Mother of Mercy, and the Advocate of Sinners.The countenance is remarkably beautiful, as well as the attitude; she holds in one hand our Saviour, and in the other a sceptre; under her feet is a horrible dragon, and near her a young child as if seeking a refuge and claiming her protection, The design concided with the cere mony, and furnished a variety of reflections. The young ladies of our congregation were placed in a conspicuous part of the gallery, fa-buted the whole of their success to cing the altar of the blessed virgin, all of them dressed in white, with veils and a wax taper in their hands. Some very fine canticles were sung, after which an exhortation or in struction on the happiness of belonging to the Mother of God and the advantages of this devotion. M. Janson at St. Gratian's, and M. Dru- am not able to describe to you the on at Our Lady's, pronounced a form fervent and earnest prayers which of oblation nearly the same as that they offered up to God for the barpronounced by those who enter our dened sinners, nor can I paint the congregation. Every one exhibited moving scene which took place on signs of joy, and the whole auditory this fareweli ceremony; a general repeated Amen, with the most af- flood of tears suffused the congrefecting sensibility and fervour. The gation, and sobs and sighs were the men at the cathedral on Sunday only answer they could give. Af evening, the day of their general ter the benediction of the blessed communion, pronounced theirs with sacrament, the students at the semigreat piety and edification, and ex-nary, the soldiers, and the clergy, hibited by tears their extreme sen- sung a short verse filled with pathos, sibility. which terminated the solemn rites at church; but the holy missionaries were followed by the people

The fifth ceremony, performed likewise in the two churches, was the

the prayers of the faithful, at the same time acknowledging themselves to be the cause that others still remained hardened in their crimes, and after pronouncing the highest encomiums on the pastors of the two churches, they took an affecting leave of them from the pulpit.

in order to receive, for the last time, the blessing of M. de Janson. He would not permit the crowd to enter the archbishop's palace, but led them to the mission cross, where he made a most pathetic discourse, and exhorted every one to fix their heart to this cross, which they all promised to do. Several people had already caused hearts to be affixed to it, in divers forms, and since the departure of our good angels, the cross is covered with hearts, taste fully arranged, and fixed in such a manner as not to be torn off, which has a beautiful appearance.

So great was the enthusiam of the people towards these holy apostles, and especially M. Janson, that they could not appear in the streets with out being incommoded to excess, by the pressing crowds which gathered round them, and impeded their passage. This happening to M. Janson in particular, on his departure, a lady invited him to get into her carriage, in which he set off directly for Bourdeaux, leaving every one in the greatest grief. Some even cut off pieces from his band and cassock, and begged him to touch crosses and rosaries, in order to preserve them with veneration. The cross is the consolation of the whole city; people frequent it for whole hours, singing canticles, and spractising other devotional exercises at the foot of it, without any regard to the inclemency of the weather. I forgot to tell you, that besides the fourscore instructions delivered at St. Gratian's and Our Lady's, these good missionaries likewise gave others in the different parishes and convents of the city. One instruction was given every day at the barracks, at about eleven o'clock in the morning, for the soldiers. We had also two distinct retreats, one for the men, the other for the women; familiar instructions and conferences upon all the sacraments on the eves of the

general communions; and two acts of contrition and thanksgiving afterwards. They spared no paius to renew in every heart the spirit of christianity, and they have succeeded almost universally. God graut us grace to confirm this great benefit in every heart. They have also established congregations for the dif ferent classes of society; the object of these confraternities is to consolidate good works, and to dispense alms. Mons. Lafaillette formed these associations ; the countess D'Anticbant, a lady of remarkable women; the count d'Antichant for piety, was named president of the the men. This, madam, is a succinct account of our mission, such as the time I could snatch from my employments, and my slender capacity I shall be amply rewarded for my can afford in the least faulty manuer, trifling labour, if I have the gratification of procuring you a momentary satisfaction, and I have no doubt reflect on the mercies of God's holy you will experience much when you name, established in so many hearts. May he be eternally glorified and blessed for it.-Amen.

should have appeared in our last number, The mission at Caen, an accouut of which but for other more important local intelligence, was conducted with similar religious solemnities, and attended with the same happy success. of November last, and ended on Christmas It began on the 10th day. Notwithstand the severity of the season, the churches were daily crowded to excess by the people, who were filled with the liveliest sentiments of compunetion and devotion, and many who went through curiosity were converted. " So full of unction," says the writer, “are the sublime and affecting are their ceremonies, discourses of these missionaries, and so that those must have hearts of adamant not to be softened by them. For most part, these holy men are of affluent connexions; one of them in particular, is an only son, with a rental of 30,000 livres, and about thirty years of age. He is much followed on account of his discourses. For a time, father, for taking holy orders, but, hearing he drew upon himself the anger of his