CHRIST WASHING THE DISCIPLES' FEET. [FROM ST. JOHN xiii. 1.] BEFORE the festival-day of the Pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2. And when supper was done, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him) 3. Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and goeth to God; 4. He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments, and having taken a towel, girded himself. 5. After that he putteth water into a bason, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6. He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7. Jesus answered and said to him: What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. 8. Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. 9. Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. 10. Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And ye are clean but not all. 11. For he knew who he was that would betray him; therefore he said: Ye are not all clean. 12. Then after he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, being sat down again, he said to them: Know ye what I have done to you? 13. You call me Master and Lord; and you say well for so I am. 14. If then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also. MOST REV. DR. KELLY. THOMAS KELLY was born in the North of Ireland, about the year 1794. After receiving the usual elements of education, he was sent to the Royal College of Maynooth, about 1814. Having completed his sacred studies with great piety and satisfaction, he received the holy order of priesthood in the same college, on the 23d September, 1820, from the late Most Rev. Dr. Troy, Archbishop of Dublin. Dr. Kelly, by his unremitting attention to the duties of his ministry, was soon appointed as Junior Dean in Maynooth College, the office of which he filled with great zeal and discretion until after the consecration of the Most Rev. Dr. M'Hale, as Bishop of Maronia, 12th June, 1825, when he succeeded that illustrious prelate in the chair of Dogmatical Theology, in said college. Having discharged the arduous and important duties of senior pro fessor for one year, he was, on the 16th June, 1826, appointed by his Holiness bishop of the then vacant see of Dromore, and consecrated in the Cathedral of Newry, by the Archbishop of Dublin, on the 27th of August, 1826, just six years after the completion of his collegiate studies, and of his ordination in the Catholic Priesthood. Shortly after this period Dr. Kelly distinguished himself by his public and effectual opposition to the itinerant apostles of the Bible Societies, and for his great zeal to destroy the horrid perjuries and crimes that had disgraced part of the North at the general elections, and which, thank God, on a recent occasion (owing also to the no less active efforts of his successor in Dromore) have been so little known. The late Primate, the Most Rev. Dr. Curtis, having declined in health, Dr. Kelly was on the 23d December, 1828, made coadjutor of Armagh, with future succession to the primacy, and on the 26th July, 1832, succeeded that truly apostolic prelate in the primatical chair, and received the pallium from the Holy See, August, 1833. Dr. Kelly not only discharged his exalted duties as bishop of his own immediate diocese, but as Primate in presiding over the bishops of the Province of Ulster, and in adopting and promulgating those wise and salutary statutes which are likely to be so advantageous to religion. Although a very mild and cautious prelate, he is known to have expressed himself in strong terms against the so often talked of project of pensioning the Catholic clergy, or giving any interference to the Government in the nomination of our bishops. The manner of his death furnishes a topic not unworthy of consideration at this moment. In the middle of the night, at an inclement season, he was called to the bed-side of an expiring pauper, the victim of a severe contagious fever, to administer the last rites of the church. In the earnest performance of this sacred duty he caught the pestilence, and is now removed from earth for his eternal reward. Behold the source of our priesthood's power, and the comment upon Church Establishments. Thus it is that the loftiest prelate and the lowliest curate alike canvass the affections, respect, and confidence of their flocks. Their influence is furiously denounced as unaccountable tyranny. It is the tyranny of charity, Christian zeal, and unselfish devotion to their duties. "Such chains as these are sure to bind." Dr. Kelly died on Tuesday, 13th January, 1835, about fortyone years old, and was buried with great solemnity, on Thursday 15th, in the Cathedral of Armagh, the Right Rev. Dr. Blake having offered up the holy sacrifice for the repose of his soul, and the office of the dead having been recited by his beloved clergy and afflicted people. No man who knew him, of whatever sect, party, or station, in the community, but reverenced him as a pious, benignant, learned, and most meek Christian prelate. Called from the cloister to the palace, when his age little exceeded thirty years, he presented to society the singular picture of a recluse religieuse, only heard of as a scholar and accomplished divine, uniting also the varied knowledge of a man of the world, and the manners of a polished gentleman. We speak with confidence of these characteristics, and the effect they produced on the mixed society into which he was suddenly thrown on his appointment to the see of Dromore. We can appeal for their confirmation to the Protestant and dissenting gentry and clergy of Newry. MONTHS' MIND OF THE LATE CATHOLIC PRIMATE Before we give a report of the excellent sermon of the venerable prelate, Right Rev. Dr. Blake, on the occasion, we must give a short commentary from the Protestant editor of the Newry Examiner : "This solemn ceremony, which is one of the most sacred of the Catholic Church, was celebrated in Armagh, on Thursday, the 19th instant. Exclusively of the religious character of such a sight, the occasion was one of an affecting nature. Many prelates and priests of the Irish Catholic Church, assembled with the laymen of their own creed-not only to pay a tribute of respect to a revered pastor, one who was a true shepherd of the flock-but to fulfil what they believe to be a religious duty. With them their brethren of different denominations united. It is an unwonted aspect to see the people of Ireland-however they may differ on "points of belief” bow at the altar of the Maker and Finisher of their common faith. There is most frequently unfaithfulness in hollow professions of liberality; but here there is none. Who could know the late Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, without loving him as a friend and a brother? True-he held firmly the creed of his forefathers, and maintained it by all the means which the law of God does legalize. True he never swerved from the upholding of the faith in which he professed to believe, when he was ordained a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. True that, when advanced to the highest dignity of the Irish Catholic Church, he never forgot what was due to himself, as a Christian prelate, or to his country, as an Irish But, combining with the dignity which became his station, and his calling, the most endearing manners, the most engaging deportment, and the most enlightened philanthropy-or what can best be expressed, in the language of the Sacred Volume-love to God and man-he was beloved and respected by all parties, in town in which party feeling was high; and so high was his cha man. a racter, that even when he thought it a sacred and solemn duty to take what might be deemed a part in politics, the virulence of political rancour and we do not say it is confined to one sidenever presumed to assail him. But his worth is recorded by one from whom eulogy will come with better grace. Yet we will be pardoned for snatching, from the inquietude of politics, a mo ment of recollection and remembrance of the good man, the uncompromising patriot, the faithful shepherd of his own flock, and the kind, the noble, the disinterested friend of those who widely differed from him. Never, perhaps, was there an Irish prelate who stood so high in the estimation of all, as the late. Dr. Kelly. But no weak words of ours can pourtray his character so well as the language of a man who knew him intimately, and who is, like himself great, because he is good. "After High Mass had been celebrated, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Blake preached a sermon, of which the following is an outline. A reveread friend who was present assures us, that both the preacher and congregation were deeply affected. The Right Reverend preacher felt: the man who feels can make his hearers feel; and the eloquence that comes from the heart acts the most powerful." Consummatus in brevi, explevit tempora multa.-Sap. iv., 13., Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time.Wisd. cap. iv. 13., "What a grand eulogiam is contained in the short sentence which I have borrowed from the Sacred Volume? How much is expressed in those few words: Consummatus in brevi, explexit tempora multa being made perfect in a short time, he fulfilled a long course? And yet I venture to assert, that, in this large and crowded auditory, there is not an individual who does not perceive that they are literally and strictly applicable to the venerated and illustrious prelate who is, on this day, the subject of our grief, of our prayers, and of our edification. His career has been speedily ran; the time allotted for his, services was short; but, within that little span of time, how admirably did he illustrate in his own life that saying of Divine wisdom: Venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years; but the understanding of man is grey hairs, and a spotless life is old age."How many lives might be found of eighty or ninety years standing, and his single life of forty-two would outweigh them all in wisdom and virtue ? I speak as I feel I am also persuaded, that the same feeling pervades this entire assembly. I am persuaded, that we all venerate the memory of our late beloved primate more than we can express; and, indeed, the only consideration which deters me from speaking with confidence on this occasion: is, that I am conscious of my inability to do justice to his character' |