1. In the foreground of American history there stand these three figures-a lady, a sailor, and a monk. Might they not be thought to typify Faith, Hope, and Charity? The lady is especially deserving of honor. Years after his first success, the Admiral (Columbus) wrote: "In the midst of general incredulity, the Almighty infused into the Queen, my lady, the spirit of intelligence and energy. While every one else, in his ignorance, was expatiating on the cost and inconvenience, her Highness approved of it on the contrary, and gave it all the support in her power."

2. And what were the distinguishing qualities of this foster. mother of American discovery? Fervent piety, unfeigned humility, profound reverence for the Holy See, a spotless life as a daughter, mother, wife, and queen. "She is," says a Protestant author, "one of the purest and most beautiful characters in the pages of history." Her holy life had won for her the title of "the Catholic." Other queens have been celebrated for beauty, for magnificence, for learning, or for good fortune; but the foster-mother of America alone, of all the women of history, is called "the Catholic."

3. As to the conduct of the undertaking, we have first to remark, that on the port of Palos the original outfit depended, and Palos itself depended on the neighboring convent. In the refectory of La Rabida the agreement was made between Columbus and the Pinzons. From the porch of the Church of St George, the royal orders were read to the astonished townsfolk.

4. The aids and assurances of religion were brought into requisition to encourage sailors, always a superstitious generation, to embark on this mysterious voyage. On the morning of their departure, a temporary chapel was erected with spars and sails on the strand; and there, in sight of their vessels riding at shortened anchors, the three crews, numbering in all one hundred and twenty souls, received the blessed sacrament. Rising from their knees, they departed with the benedic tion of the Church, like the breath of heaven, filling their sails

19. THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA-continued.

1. On the night before the discovery of the first land, after the Salve Regina had been chanted, according to his biog raphers, the Admiral made an impressive address to his crew. Tis speech must have been one of the most Catholic oratio. ver delivered in the New World. It has not been recorded, it can never be invented. We can, indeed, conceive what a lofty homily on confidence in God and His ever Blessed Mother such a man so situated would be able to deliver.

2. We can imagine we see him as he stands on the darkened deck of the Santa Maria, his thin locks lifted by the breeze already odorous of land, and his right hand pointing onward to the west. We almost hear him exclaim, "Yonder lies the land! Where you can see only night and vacancy, I behold India and Cathay! The darkness of the hour will pass away, and with it the night of nations. Cities more beautiful than Seville, countries more fertile than Andalusia, are off yonder.

3. "There lies the terrestial paradise, watered with its four rivers of life; there lies the golden Ophir, from which Solo mon, the son of David, drew the ore that adorned the templø of the living God; there we shall find whole nations unknown to Christ, to whom you, ye favored companions of my voyage, shall be the first to bring the glad tidings of great joy proclaimed of old by angels' lips to the shepherds of Chaldea."" But, alas! who shall attempt to supply the words spoken by such a man at such a moment, on that last night of expec tation and uncertainty-the eve of the birthday of a new world?

4. Columbus and his companions landed on the morning of the 12th of October, 1492, on the little island which they called San Salvador. Three boats conveyed them to the shore; over each boat floated a broad banner, blazoned with "a green cross." On reaching the land the Admiral threw himself on his knees, kissed the earth, and shed tears of joy. Then, raising his voice, he uttered aloud that short but fervent prayer, which, after him, all Catholic discoverers were wont to repeat.

5. It is in these words: "O Lord God, Eternal aud Omnip otent, who by thy Divine Word hast created the heavens, the earth, and the sea, blessed and glorified be thy name, and praised thy majesty, who hast deigned, by me, thy humble servant, to have that sacred name made known and preached in this other part of the world !"

6. The nomenclature used by the great discoverer, like all his acts, is essentially Catholic. Neither his own nor hi patron's name is precipitated on cape, river, or island. San Salvador, Santa Trinidada, San Domingo, San Nicolas, San Jago, Santa Maria, Santa Marta-these are the mementoes of his first success. All egotism, all selfish policy, was utterly lost in the overpowering sense of being but an instrument in the hands of Providence.

In

7. After cruising a couple of months among the Bahamas, and discovering many new islands, he returns to Spain. this homeward voyage two tempests threaten to ingulf his solitary ship. In the darkest hour he supplicates our Blessed Lady, his dear patroness. He vows a pilgrimage barefoot to her nearest shrine, whatever land he makes; a vow punctually fulfilled. Safely he reaches the Azores, the Tagus, and the port of Palos. His first act is a solemn procession to the church of St. George, from which the royal orders had been first made known.

8. He next writes in this strain to the Treasurer Sanchez: "Let processions be made, let festivities be held, let churches be filled with branches and flowers, for Christ rejoices on earth as in heaven, seeing the future redemption of souls." The court was, at the time, at Barcelona, and thither he repaired with the living evidences of his success. Seated on the royal dais, with the aborigines, the fruits, flowers, birds, and metals spread out before them, he told to princes his wondrous tale.

9. As soon as he had ended, "the King and Queen, with all present, prostrated themselves on their knees in grateful thanksgiving while the solemn strains of the Te Deum were poured forth by the choir of the royal chapel as in commemo ration of some great victory!" To place beyond any sup

position of doubt the Catholicity of this extraordinary event, one evidence is still wanting-the official participation of the sovereign Pontiff. That it had from the outset.

20. THE VIRGIN MARY'S KNIGHT.

A BALLAD OF THE ORUSADES.

THOS. D AROY MCGEE.

[In "the middle ages," there were orders of knights especially devoted to our Blessed Lady, as well as many illustrious individuals of knightly rank and renown. Thus the order called Servites, in France, was known as les esclaves de Marie; and there was also the order of "Our Lady of Mercy," for the redemption of captives; the Templars, too, before their fall, were devoutly attached to the service of our Blessed Lady.]

1. BENEATH the stars in Palestine seven knights discoursing stood,

But not of warlike work to come, nor former fields of blood, Nor of the joy the pilgrims feel prostrated far, who see The hill where Christ's atoning blood pour'd down the penal tree;

Their theme was old, their theme was new, 'twas sweet and yet 'twas bitter,

Of noble ladies left behind spoke cavalier and ritter,

And eyes grew bright, and sighs arose from every iron

breast,

For a dear wife, or plighted maid, far in the widow'd West

Toward the knights came Constantine, thrice noble by his

birth,

And ten times nobler than his blood his high out-shining,

worth ;

His step was slow, his lips were moved, though not a word he spoke,

Till a gallant lord of Lombardy his spell of silence broke. "What aileth thee, O Constantine, that solitude you seek! If counsel or if aid you need, we pray thee do but speak;

Or dost thou mourn, like other freres, thy lady-love afar,
Whose image shineth nightly through yon European star?"

2. Then answer'd courteous Constantine-"Good sir, in sim ple truth,

I chose a gracious lady in the hey-day of my youth;

I wear her image on my heart, and when that heart is cold, The secret may be rifled thence, but never must be told. For her I love and worship well by light of morn or even I ne'er shall see my mistress dear, until we meet in heaven But this believe, brave cavaliers, there never was but one Such lady as my Holy Love, beneath the blessed sun."

4. He ceased, and pass'd with solemn step on to an olive grove, And, kneeling there, he pray'd a prayer to the lady of his

love.

And many a cavalier whose lance had still maintain'd his

own

Beloved to reign without a peer, all earth's unequalled one, Look'd tenderly on Constantine in camp and in the fight; With wonder and with generous pride they mark'd the lightning light

Of his fearless sword careering through the unbelievers' ranks,

As angry Rhone sweeps off the vines that thicken on his

banks.

5. "He fears not death, come when it will; he longeth for

his love,

And fain would find some sudden path to where she dwells

above.

How should he fear for dying, when his mistress dear is

dead?"

Thus often of Sir Constantine his watchful comrades said
Until it chanced from Zion wall the fatal arrow flew,
That pierced the outworn armor of his faithful bosom

through;

And never was such mourning made for knight in Palestine, As thy loyal comrades made for thee, beloved Constantine