Our Lady of the Rosary Library [[email protected]]
Third Sunday after Easter J.M.J. FROM THE PUBLICATION: By this time, according to his own oft repeated statements, he was a man broken down in health, needing a complete rest and a period of convalescence. To meet this emergency, he was sent to our house of Corpo Santo in Lisbon, Portugal. he remained for the rest of his life, destined to undertake an apostolate, the like of which is rarely the part of a single priest to accomplish. he writes that as a result of those long years of Sermons were rare and these were generally on the past glories of Portugal. In some Churches books were read instead of sermons. Few Catholic books were published while vile literature was broadcast all over the country." slight modifications until 1910 when the anti-God Republic was declared to the cry of 'No God and no religion.' Afonso Costa declared: 'In two generations the Catholic religion will be extinct in Portugal.' It was a dreadful time. first made by the monarchists who sought to regain the power they had lost, and later on, by the hostile parties of the republicans themselves. The roads all over the country were in a ruinous condition. Promotions to positions were made more by personal influence than by merit. (Story of a Great Man, by E.D.M.). He was attracted by the good manners and courtesy of the Portuguese and often declared that they surpassed other races in these respects.
He referred with deep feeling to their outstanding devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Portugal was indeed for him the "Land of Holy Mary, " for nearly all the Cathedrals are dedicated to the Assumption. He looked upon Lisbon as the most beautiful city he had seen in his travels, and he never tired accompanying visitors to its places of interest. that there was only one decision to make: to devote his life and all his energies to the work of restoring the Faith in Portugal. multiplied and much ministry outside the church and ministry for the English speaking residents being always well maintained. Emboldened by this first venture, he founded another monthly in the year 1916 and entitled it the "Cruzada do Rosario." These two monthlies are still flourishing and doing great service in keeping the Rosary devotion alive throughout the country. These were his publications of predilection and he used to remark that they prepared in some small way the minds and hearts of good people to accept the message of Our Lady at Fatima about the Rosary. In the year 1922, he established the "Catholic Printing Press" From this printing press he published four other monthly magazines of Catholic instruction, numerous pamphlets, booklets and books. These latter he issued in English and Portuguese. The output was enormous. For He wrote on nearly every spiritual subject: "How to be Happy - How to be Holy," "All About the Angels," "The Divine Office," " The Secret of Confession," " Visits to the Blessed Sacrament," "Read Me or Rue It." He published a very interesting booklet describing the Lisbon Zoo and filled it with photos which he took while visiting there. All this publication activity was made possible by the many collaborators his magnetic character drew around him. Chief among these must be mentioned the Marquis Rio Major, his life-long friend, who devoted his great talents, energy and time with unflagging zeal to the Apostolate of the Press. They are the best leaflets I have ever come across, for explaining simply, and in an uncomplicated manner, the truths of the Faith. Readers will find the spirit of faith enkindled in their souls, by reading the leaflets written by this worthy priest. It is a pity that Fr. Paul's writings are not more widely known. Perhaps our Catholic publishers (Burns, Oates, C.T.S., Oill and Son, etc.) will get in a stock of them? He used to travel through the country at intervals, bringing copies of his publications with him and there were few who could resist the eloquence of his appeals. He had no inhibitions about the value of the work he was doing. He never yielded to shyness when advertising any of his booklets as we learn from the following extracts which he himself of the saints yet published." "This is truly a beautiful book." "An admirable book of enthralling interest," etc. He wrote her life, made frequent pilgrimages to Mugnano near Naples where her body is preserved, and had her statue erected not only in Corpo Santo but in many churches throughout the world as well. On the 11th of every month, he gathered the devotees of the saint to Corpo Santo for Mass and sermon. During the sermon, he would read the list of the favours granted through her intercession since the last meeting. Many of these favours were indeed remarkable and he often testified publicly that several miraculous cures had been granted. The members of these Chapters were recruited from all grades of society. read a letter written by the Prime Minister, Dr. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, in which the famous Statesman praised Fr. Paul for his ministerial work among the Portuguese, declaring that he had petitioned the President of the State to confer upon him the honour of the Order of' Benemerencia. should be granted to you, to which the President of the Republic agreed in consideration of your merits and recognizing the services that you have rendered in Portugal. remember him with gratitude and they have often expressed this gratitude by generous donations for the upkeep of the printing-press that he founded for the printing and propagating of his many pamphlets and booklets. he was inflexible and unyielding. His opinions on various subjects were never half expressed but expounded with the full vigour of his vehement soul. Interiorly he was a very holy man, with the Holy Name ever on his lips and in his heart. His devotion to the Mass was always edifying, for he seemed to have made a resolution to hear every Mass celebrated in our church. Until his health became impaired, he would leave any occupation to hear the Mass of a visiting priest who had come out of hours. assassination of the King and the Crown Prince. Fr. Paul immediately secured the British protection during the Republican period, both for Corpo Santo and for the school of Born Sucesso that is staffed by Irish Dominican Sisters. The Province owes a debt of gratitude to the British Crown for that protection, for otherwise, there was every possibility that the two communities would have been expelled as undesirable aliens. In the course of time, when Ireland opened a Legation in Lisbon, these two communities and other Irish interests naturally came under the protection of the Irish Minister. of his beloved Portugal, where he laboured in the vineyard of the Lord for sixty-three years. His wish to die on a feast of our Lady had been granted to him, for it was on the feast of the Presentation that our Lady came to present him to her Divine Son. Fr. Paul O'Sullivan is now available from OLRL for only $1 - quantity discounts available to encourage widespread distribution and prayers for the Poor Souls. --
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