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Show : - I ' HISTORY OF TIE EARLY STRUGGLES OF THE DIOCESE OF DENVER! : ' r-J1 J I ; I ! i I--.-' ' MSI ' ' 4 ! 11 ' ,Ti (J - -nWN; J I 12: I irfSTITUTIOIfS tl j 1 ' I ' V I? "V & - U 0 0 M Rt. Rev. Joseph P. Machebeuf, D. D. J. l-!2 :; ! -f ! rfl? ff7.J. i"lt? .cffifi r -i fvl-' 1:7 a 1 - - I i I . . fu --4! - ji I i , I i i ?4. v I ! 1' , H I 7 If . '-, St. Joseph's Hospital. Mercy Sanitarium. St. Anthony's Hospital. Rt R Nichoas c Matz D- D. Loretto Heights Academy. St. Mary's Academy. College of the Sacred Heart. j Front ar.il side view. I . j --jnt MIXER turned a shovel full of earth v)) ani iscovere(i a bonanza; a man ffO f God planted the seeds of the MqS Mother Church and made a garden j spot or e rue t1- These epoch- marking events transpired in the memorable years of 1857-GO. The find of the miner in the Pike Peak's region has been exploited and has given to mineral history the richest gold fields of the world. The labor of the saintly priest has in the same time given to the Roman Catholic Church one of the most prolific of American dioceses great in its past accomplishments and rich in future achievements. achieve-ments. Prompted by the reports of the discovery of gold "in this far western territory, and knowing that the accumulation of wealth under the naturally crude circumstances without spiritual guidance would be detrimental to the soul interest of the many thousand men and women who were drifting westward, Bishop Meige of Leavenworth, in the year 1SG0, came out to investigate the condition of affairs and to inaugurate a line of action creditable to the church and times. Denver, the beautiful, was then in embryo only a motley collection of huts and cottages made up a miniature settlement, existing under the name of Auraria. In a private house close to the waters of Cherry creek, the first celebration of the sacred mysteries mys-teries of the Holy Mass was observed in the present city of Denver. ' To the heroic Catholics that assembled for devo tion that day, the bishop promised one thing and exacted another in exchange. Upon his part he would send a priest a teacher of the word of God and, upon their part, he demanded the erection of a new building, a fitting abode for the daily mass. Both promises were kept. An association was immediately imme-diately started, subscription books circulated and donations made with a spontaneity of action characteristic charac-teristic of Colorado and its people. Faith was the god-mother of the hope of those early pioneers a faith that carried the ambition through all vicissitudes. vicissi-tudes. A site for the new church was donated by I the Denver Town company, and upon that piece of ground, located on Stout and Fifteenth streets, St Mary's cathedral was erected. After the preliminary labors, Bishop Miege re-i. re-i. turned home and immediately conveyed to Rome, in ; a lengthy correspondence, the idea of annexing Colo- f rado to the diocese of Santa Fe, thereby placing under j 1 the jurisdiction of Bishop Lamy the new found field for Catholic thought and action. With the sugegs-tion sugegs-tion went a request asking for the transfer of the territory. Rome readily granted the bishop's request, and the Pike Peak's country, with all its environs, now represented by the state of Colorado, including ' Montana and Utah, were placed under the jurisdic tion of Bishop Lamy. ; The action of Rome was father to the one of the bishop; the faithful Father Machebeuf was delegated as the pioneer priest of the new country. Alone he could do little; an assistant was required to aid in the arduous labor of the new field. After a short wait, Father Machebeuf had his choice of two new clerics recently ordained and anxiously awaiting the call of duty. He selected Father John Babtist ; Raverdy, and they immediately began preparations ; for an early start upon their long and perilous jour- t , ney. In the latter part of September, 1SC0, the two I priests left Santa Fe for the scene of their future I trials and triumphs. Machebeuf and Raverdy! What names to con- jure with! What memories are brought to life in I ? ,. tne alliance of these two ecclesiastics? The episodes, j labors and victories of their lives compose a living S symphony of honest humanity. All the enviable S traits of mankind courage, honor, sympathy, fidelity, I culture and charity were concentrated in these two teachers to .he" glory and honor of the Mother 1 " Church. The life of one wa3 that of the other. Self I was submerged in their ideals God, church and man I was one and all. The glorification of God and the 1 ; ' . I , redemption of man was the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end of all their thoughts and labors. Their journey across the wildest part of the continent con-tinent was an introduction to the heart of nature. Plains and mountains were one and the same to Father Machebeuf and his comrade. They told of the Creator; they whispered a prelude of the eternal life. The warning of the officers of the military posts that they passed went unheeded they knew of God, their obligation to the church, their duty to their fellowman, and cared for nothing more. They had consecrated their lives to His service; they were willing will-ing to lose their lives in the performance of their mission if need be. In what is now known as Pueblo they rested two days, baptizing children, hearing confessions and offering up masses. On October 29, 1SC0, they reached Denver, and were welcomed to the hospitality of a young Catholic, whose home was situated on Fifteenth and Holliday streets. No church building was to be seen when the father looked for the same; bricks, boards and shingles only marked the site of the prospective one. The volunteered volun-teered workmen had tired apparently of their task, and wasted the precious time awaiting the coming of the promised priest. It was only the delay of a few hours when the priest kindled the fire of their sleeping ambition and labor; and only a few short months more when the modest church was finished and ready for divine services. In the meantime mass was said in a little frame house near the corner of Sixteenth and Holliday Holli-day streets. It was at the midnight mass on Christmas of 18C0 that regular services were begun in St. Mary's cathedral, cathe-dral, and Father Raverdy had the honor of singing the first mass on that auspicious day. In the first few months of Father Machebeuf's administration his time was devoted to directing personally the building movements of the new church and annex home, as well as looking after the spiritual and temporal tem-poral wants of his little flock. Father Raverdy had his share of duties to perform. Starting on horseback, horse-back, carrying with him vestments and sacred utensils, uten-sils, he made a missionary tour of southern Colorado, bringing material hope and spiritual consolation to many poor souls there. Year after year these two courageous and faithful servants of God went backward and forward the entire length of the diocese, teaching the words of the Master and doing His work. The little church of Denver was not long to remain a solitary witness to the efficiency and thoroughness of the work of these two energetic missionaries. Little mission structures were built throughout the length and breadth of the entire domain under their charge. Good thoughts and noble actions became part and parcel of the typical son of the church. The inspiration inspi-ration source was the two modest teachers of the poor Nazarene's words. The habit of thinking right and doing good became contagious, and many stray sheep were brought back again into the fold. For eight years these two priests, with only occasional occa-sional assistance by Father Salponite, a Santa Fe priest, afterwards archbishop of Santa Fe, watched and ministered alone to the large and growing diocese. dio-cese. Once in a while a priest traveling through Denver wrould rest for a short time and gladly assist in the daily routine of the priest life. In August of 1868, Father O'Keefe arrived as a permanent assistant assist-ant to the diocese. With the growth of the community came the needs of an institution for the education of the young. The Sisters of the Loretto, at the earnest solicitation solicita-tion of Father Machebeuf, sent several of their members mem-bers here from the Mother house in Kentucky, and in 18C4, in a modest frame house, situated on Sixteenth Six-teenth and California streets, they began teaching the young Catholic mind of Denver. That humble origin of forty years ago has evolved into the magnificent mag-nificent academy of St. Mary's that exists today. After the year of 1866 Father Raverdy, from his parish in Central City, covered Georgetown, Empire, Boulder and many other settlements. Father Raverdy Rav-erdy remained as pastor in Central City for over five years. By a decree of the Sacred Congregation of February 5, 1868, inspired by a recommendation of Bishop Lamy, Colorado and Utah were constructed into one -icarate apostolic, and Father Machebeuf was appointed vicar apostolic, with the title of Bishop of Epiphany in partibus. On February 12, 1871, Utah was separated from Colorado and given over to the jurisdiction of the archbishop of San Francisco. Father Machebeuf was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Purcell. The consecration services were held in St. Peter's cathedral of Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 16, 1868. On his return to Denver, Bishop Machebeuf appointed Father Raverdy his vicar general. gen-eral. The condition of the diocese from that time onward may be summed up in the one word "Success." "Suc-cess." Missions, the temporary domiciles for worship, were relegated to the continuous appearances of innumerable permanent church edifices. From the two pioneer priests of 1860, the clerical roster of the diocese now numbers over 100 priests. The single home of education has increased with the demands of the years to many dozens. In all lines of religious activity, including charitable movements for the alleviation alle-viation of the ills of the unfortunate of all ages and t conditions, the Catholic church of Denver has been a progressive leader, far ahead of state authorities and other channels of philanthropic action outside of the Mother church. Vividly portrayed in the spirit and trend of all, the fundamental causes of this marvelous progression was the indomitable will and striking personality of Machebeuf the priest and bishop. In 1877 Bishop Machebeuf, weighed down by the responsibilities of his exalted office, petitioned Rome for an assistant. To Father Nicholas C. Matz, the present bishop, the honor was conferred, and, in St. Mary's cathedral on October 2S, 1887, he was consecrated coadjutor bishop, with the title of Tel-mess Tel-mess in partibus. The priest that for over thirteen years had performed conscientiously his humble duties, du-ties, gave to the offices of his new position a zealous attention and correct understanding that lessened the required labor and diminished the individual activity of the grand old teacher of the diocese to the minimum. In 1887 Colorado was erected into an independent bishopric. Bishop Machebeuf took an active part in the affairs of the church to the last. The care of the orphaned children and the erection of a cathedral in keeping with the status of the diocese were twin self-imposed obligations that occupied his mind and attention in the twilight time of his eartly existence. On the Easter evening of the year 1889, in a runaway accident, he was left with an injured wrist and a weakened nervous system. On July 1 of the same year he repaired to St. Vincent's orphanage, where, surrounded by good sisters and happy children, he hoped to regain his lost strength. After resting for several days, his symptoms became worse, and medical med-ical skill of the highest calibre was called into service. ser-vice. The task of skill and the labor and constant attention of love were useless, and the venerable priest and bishop, surrounded by the Sisters of Charity Char-ity and his coadjutor, Bishop Matz, died on the morning of July 10, 1889. For five days his body lay in state in the chapel of St. Mary's academy. The tribute of thousands of the citizens of the city and state, irrespective of creed and nationality, who revered the man and priest, were a living testimony testi-mony of the public estimation of the dead prince of the church. Truth, charity, humility and self-sacrifice were four cardinal qualities of character that were prominently exposed in the individuality of the dead prelate. The legacy of noble example he left to the clergy of the church; the heritage of a life well spent in deeds of mercy and charity he be- queathed to all who believe in the Son of God the messenger of glad tidings of. the life eternal. The Right Reverend Joseph P. Machebeuf was born at Riom, in the province of Auvergne, France. August 11, 1812. ' On August 2, 1SS9, a diocesan synod, to define the ' laws and regulations of the diocese, was held. Bishop ; Matz, who became, by right of succession, bishop of , ; Denver, presided. As Bishop Machebeuf was the personification of the hardy life, under adverse circumstances, cir-cumstances, of the pioneer days of the years Ion;; gone by, the Right Reverend N. C. Matz, now bishop of Denver, is the embodiment of the present time and the years to come. The unfinished dreams and incomplete tasks of the one have been intelligently interpreted by the other, who, with fidelity and courage, is daily striving for an early consummation of a practical monument, typical of the grandeur, harmony and unity of the Catholic church, and which, in the frm of the new cathedral, shall stand as the realized work of Bishop Matz, to the unfinished aim of Bishop Machebeuf. The dream picture of one completed by the frame work of the other. Bishop Matz's life, like that of his predecessor, has been devoted to the church since youth. Bishop Matz was born in Munster, Germany, on April 1850. When sixteen years old he entered the ectle- siastical seminary of his native diocese, and for two years pursued the first studies that go with the clerical life. Two years later he sailed to America and entered St. Mary's seminary of Cincinnati, Ohio. There he studied the course in philosophy and theol- ogy, and in a short time volunteered for labor in the far western field. He was ordained priest by Bishop ", Machebeuf in the city of Denver on May 31, 1ST 1. The fusion of all the good qualities of heart and mind are strikingly demonstrated in the personality of Bishop Matz. His service in the church upon purely religious lines has been an incentive for many a devoted man and woman. The sterling qualities r J of the priest a man of God is not nourish-d to j ; the injury of the embodiment of the just man of ;5 j worldly affairs. There is ever present a happy J j equilibrium of nature whose center of balamv rest j midway between justice and charity. The ace -inula- Hi p. tive qualities of the rich mind has perennial :npe- I " tition with a naturally charitable heart. Th jood, j rather than the evil, he prefers to see in hi : .!low j-man. j-man. Independent in thought, as he is : in action, he is often the explorer of undiscove: -ood ; traits in frequently badly abused character . One of the least of His people," if there be any -ible ; grounds, will always be honored with reo n; and, if their cause displays any of the ea; l of : . malicious persecution, a champion and n ;:J is presented at once. (Extracts from Catholic Year Book, 1 ''' |
