Foreword
by Rev. John A. Lyons
Nineteen hundred and thirty–nine marks the one hundredth year of the establishment of the congregation of Our Lady of the Port. That the history of the parish might be preserved, this centenary book has been written.
The early history of the Church of Our Lady is unique inasmuch as its founders sat down in writing their work in detail. This account, a treasured volume in the archives of the parish, is given in this book with no attempt at rhetorical effect or display of style, but, on the contrary, there is a close adherence of the quaint language of its writers.
The compilers have built around this structure a short account of the lives of these men and the times in which they lived; they have taken up the history where the Minute Book ends and have endeavored to give a true picture of Our Lady’s in this century that has passed.
It is a generally accepted fact that the early years of life determine a man’s career. Given this ancestry, the record of his youthful training and environment and an account of the traits of character displayed in childhood and adolescence, we know the man. So too, with an organized body such as a congregation or parish, the history of its early years in no small way determines its future. The annals and chronicles of the Church of Our Lady inspire us with courage to imitate the noble examples of those who pass in review.
One hundred years from now, when other compilers write the history of the second century of this parish, may we be worthy to receive the tribute we give to our early founders – “They have done all things well.”
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Hymn of Praise by Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin
Before sons early birth, The days decline, God’s name be praised; And reference much bestowed, Sweet adoration’s voice be raised. Beyond Creation’s farthest bound’s, May creatures all, Sing great Creator’s praise, And thus intent, his will recall. |
A Reflection on Notre Dame du Port
by Ethel Allan Murphy
We have been reading and hearing of the
great ship Richelieu, which has lately come into New York harbor under the
benignant watch of the Statue of Liberty, bringing us once more, the thrill of
intimate communion with that France to which we have long been bound by ties of
intimate friendship.
There is in Louisville of a bit of France which gives one a similar sense of communion with that great country. She is Our Lady of the Port, 'Notre Dame du Port,' as she is named in the records of her church. We went to see her Sunday afternoon. It was a bright, blustery day, crowded with restless premonitions of the changing seasons. A keen wind from the river woke vibrating, strong air currents, which reminded us of the sea. We strolled over on Rudd Avenue, in Portland, whose old houses and old trees were weighted with a sense of nostalgia for the old days, old days when they were 'the latest afterthought of time.'
Hard by was the picturesque little church of Our Lady, who structure still bears the original bricks that were made on the spot more than 100 years ago, and in whose vestibule is a bronze tablet commemorative of that ardent French missionary to Kentucky, Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin; who gave the ground for the original church, dedicated in 1841.
On the central gothic high altar stood Our Lady of the Port. I have read in the interesting centennial book of the church that most of the founders of the parish came from France, including the original benefactor, Rev. Badin, the first pastor, Rev. Perche, later Archbishop of New Orleans, and others. The statue of Our Lady of the Port, noted for its beauty, so says the book, was brought from France many years ago. When it was taken down for rehabilitation after the great flood of 1937, it was observed by many to have been carved out of a solid block of wood. As I looked at her there, high on the altar, so far in time and space over native France, I thought: The tree from which she was carved once grew in an afar land of France. The winds, the rains and the sun of France gave life to it. A man of France, wielding a chisel in the guiding hand of love, wrought, with devotion, the statue from the tree, and gave it 'a life beyond life.' Surely, the heart of France still beats in 'Notre Dame du Port' of Louisville. She is very beautiful, Our Lady of the Port, in her blue mantle. Her feet on the head of the serpent, who coils, subdued, with the apple in his mouth, and below her is the crescent moon. It is written, 'The woman's seed shall bruise the serpent's head.'
As I looked up into her pure, serene, compassion and face, I felt a sense of the oneness of all humanity and faith, and though I am in another fold than that of her church, yet owning the same 'Great Shepherd of the Sheep,' I said a prayer for France in her great hour of trial.
Note: This was written just after January 30, 1943. The 'Richelieu' was a French ship brought into the Brooklyn Navy Yard that year for repairs.
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