Poems: Patriotic, Religious, Miscellaneous | Page 9

the Mother of God,
whom he wished to honor as the highest type and grandest embodiment
of womanhood. If Father Ryan failed to make this work worthy of the
exalted subject -- an opinion by no means expressed -- it was not from
any lack of good-will and earnest purpose on his part. With him tender
affection for the Queen of Heaven was a pure and holy sentiment, a
sublime, and ennobling act of piety.
He saw in her lofty and
immaculate beauty the true ideal of woman; and this explains the deep
reverence and delicate sentiment of respect and sympathy which he
exhibited towards all women. Poetical sentiment and religious feeling
he thus happily blended, as they should ever be, directing and
influencing man's action in his relations and intercourse with woman.
Three essentially poetical sentiments exist in man,
says a
distinguished writer: The love of God, the love of woman, and the love
of country -- the religious, the human,
and the political sentiment. For

this reason, continues the same writer, wherever the knowledge of God
is darkened, wherever the face of woman is veiled, wherever the people
are captive or enslaved, there poetry is like a flame which, for want of
fuel, exhausts itself and dies out. On the contrary, wherever God reigns
upon His throne
in all the majesty of His glory, wherever woman
rules
by the irresistible power of her enchantments, wherever the
people are free, there poetry has modest roses for the woman, glorious
palms for the people, and splendid wings with which to mount up to the
loftiest regions of heaven.
Father Ryan also won distinction as an orator, a lecturer, and an
essayist, having contributed to several of the leading journals and
magazines of the country. His oratory was not of the cold and
unimpassioned kind which falls upon the ears but fails to make an
impression on the heart. He did not lose sight of the fact that the chief
end and aim of oratory is to arouse men to a sense of duty, deter them
from the commission of evil, and inspire them with high and holy
purposes and noble, generous resolves, the accomplishment of which
demands that the living, breathing spirit or soul should be infused into
the words. Though the unction of divine charity can alone give efficacy
to man's words, yet man must not appear to be devoid of those qualities
and attributes which contribute towards making a lasting impression
upon the minds and hearts of those
whose interests are presumed to
be dear to him. This was the spirit that animated Father Ryan, and all
his efforts were directed towards the accomplishment of the objects
stated. It is not claimed that all his discourses were up to the highest
standard of literary excellence, or above the test of exact criticism.
Some of his efforts
did not bear evidence of deep thought or careful
and exhaustive preparation, but all exhibited warmth of soul and
earnestness of purpose. It may be well to remark in connection with
this, that Father Ryan's health for many years was such that it would
not permit of his engaging in laborious mental work. And yet he
labored much and spoke often; for his zeal and mental activity were
greatly in excess of his strength. Had his physical powers corresponded
to his rare mental endowments, the value of his productions -- great as
it now is --
would have been enhanced. The marvel is that he was
able to sustain those powers of mind which marked him up to the time

of his death.
Though he had been ailing for years, as has been stated,
yet his
wonderful energy of mind made it appear to many that there was no
immediate danger of his life. When the end came it was a surprise to all,
even himself. To him let us hope that it was not unprovided for. We
have the gratifying assurance that it was not so; for we are told that he
had retired into a Franciscan monastery in Louisville, Ky., to make a
retreat, intending, at its close, to finish a "Life of Christ", on which he
was engaged, or purposed to undertake. Little did he think, apparently
at least, that the Angel of Death pursued him
and would soon deliver
the final message to him. He did not fear the end. Why should he?
Death has no terrors for the truly Christian soul. It is not the end, but
the beginning of life; not the destroyer, but the restorer of our rights --
that which puts us in possession of our eternal home in heaven.
Therefore he was not gloomy nor despondent at the sight of the grave.
He saw beyond it the glorious sunshine of God's presence and the
cheering prospect of his love.
The final moment at last came and