THE LATE REV. FATHER NORRIS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 55, 16 May 1874, Page 9

THE LATE REV. FATHER NORRIS.

Auckland, April 28. You will see from the Auckland daily papers, that on Suuduy last, the Catholics of Auckland and the Thames, had a most painful and solemn duty to perform, in following to the grave a young, zealous and much beloved pastor, the Rev James Norris. The rev gentleman, from all accounts has fallen a victim to hid unwearied and laborious efforts to promote the spiritual interests of his people. His health gave way, and after a violent and painful illness of a few days, he passed peacefully to his rest, and, as we may piously hope, to his eternal reward. His last moments were passed as became a faithful minister of Christ in such a manner as to show to all around him that his heart was full of faith, hope, and charity, aad that he was perfectly resigned to the will of God. He received the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, but on account of a difficulty in swallowing, and the 'instability of hU stomach, the Blessed Sacrament was not administered to him. llis remains were removed into the Cathedral, from the friend's house in which he died. The numbers seen kneeling in prayer around his cofau, aud the tears which many shed, attested the reverence and affection which wero so universally felt for him in life, aud their grief at his premature death. When the painful moment at last came in which Ins remains were to be removed from the Cathedral for interment, the grief of some of those who had known him most intimately, and had slnrod in his pious labours on behalf cf the young, was most iutens3, and found vont in a flood of tears. The Very Rev. Father Fynes, acting for Bishop Croke, in his absence delivered a funeral oration on the occasion. He evidently spoke from the heart, and to the hearts of his hearers. The funeral was the largest ever seen in this city, and probably in the Colony. When we see a zealous, able, and exemplary priest thus suddenly cut off in the flower of his age, we may well say that God's ways are past finding out. But we know that everything is wisely and well ordered by Heaven. We can no longc see Father N orris's face, nor listen to hia counsels ; b it God has not left us without other faithful pastors, and we would do well to hear and obey their voices while they remain with us. When a good shepherd like Father Norris is thus removed, it must bo regarded as a chastisement inflicted upon us, his flock, by the hand ot God, and intended for our correct im and special warning. *' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." — R.I. P.