Archbishop Murray of Dublin
From Walsh's History of the Irish Hierarchy, 1854, c. xvi, p. 133 ff:
Daniel Murray succeeded in 1823 was born on the 18th of April 1768 at Sheepwalk in the parish of Redcross and county of Wicklow. At the age of sixteen years he was sent to Salamanca where he studied for some years and on his return to Ireland was appointed curate in the parish of St Paul, Dublin, whence he was shortly afterwards removed to that of Arklow. There he remained until obliged by the outrages of 1798 to seek refuge in the metropolis. He became attached to St Andrew's parish and after a short interval was removed to St Mary's. In 1805 he was named prebendary of Wicklow and parish priest of Clontarf but the latter preferment he declined. In 1809 at the instance of Doctor Troy he was appointed archbishop of Hieropolis and coadjutor of Dublin and consecrated on the 30th of November in this year, the Archbishop Troy officiating as consecrator and the bishops Delany and Ryan as assistants. Having sojourned several months in the French capital in the year following he had the satisfaction of procuring an ordinance whereby the right of the archbishops and bishops of Ireland to exercise superintendence over the property belonging to Irish houses was recognised and in accordance with their wishes the Sieur Ferris administrator general was ordered to resign his functions and to deliver up to his successors the moneys deeds movables and effects belonging to the Irish colleges in France.
On the death of John Thomas Troy in 1823 Dr Murray succeeded to the see of Dublin and in 1825 was one of the prelates who drew up the pastoral instructions to the clergy and laity of Ireland, exhorting the former to the fulfillment of all their obligations the steadfast maintenance of an exemplary life as by it the pastor preaches more eloquently than in his sermons or exhortations; the vigilant administration of the holy sacraments as nothing can excuse from this all important duty, as nothing can exempt from it, not labor or fatigue nor watching nor hunger or thirst heat nor cold. In this important duty there is no just cause of delay.
Zeal in promoting the honor and love of God but in order that zeal be efficient and productive of fruit it must be directed by prudence and charity, charity which is benign bears all, suffers all, vigilance in the instruction of children, because on their moral and religious education not only depends their own happiness but also that of the church and the state, labor for them in good and evil report to obtain it when it could be without a compromise of their precious faith or of that salutary discipline which surrounds and protects it as the walls and ramparts do the city. Turn away from them every insidious wile of the deceiver and while studying to have peace with all men forget not that you are the watchmen on the towers of the city of God to detect the ambuscades of her enemies. Engrave on the tender heart of the little ones the obedience they owe to God their parents their prince and to all in authority over them to inspire them with a horror of vice and a love of virtue.
Your door is the first at which the cry of distress or of misery is first heard. Let the poor find in you the sympathy of a father, the bowels of tenderness and of compassion. Remember, says this instruction, that an ecclesiastic, whether in the sanctuary or dwelling in the world, should appear a man of superior mind and of exalted virtue a man whose example can improve society whose manners irreproachable, can reflect honor on the church and add to the glory and splendor of religion, a man whose modesty should be apparent to all, as the apostle recommends, and who should be clothed with justice as the prophet expresses it.
What Dr Murray inculcated he did not forget to practice in his own life...
During the episcopacy of Dr Murray was founded the College of All Hallows which is a prodigy of national faith and Catholic enterprise. It realizes the tendencies of the Irish people and shows what Ireland is ever ready to accomplish in the cause of religion reminding us at the same time what Catholic Ireland has done in ages long past in spreading the light of faith. Though fears were entertained of the feasibility of the project still Ireland has erected the college given it inmates provides them maintenance and will continue to maintain those groups of young and ardent missionaries who diverge with the winds of heaven to every point where salvation is to be brought to Israel/ With promptitude the archbishop of Dublin listened to the young ecclesiastic whose piety and zeal conceived the plan of founding this college for the foreign missions he applauded the design encouraged it by his patronage he recommended its cause to the protection of the prelates he saw its onward career with delight and the Almighty prolonged the life of the venerable Daniel Murray, who has been styled the De Sales of Ireland, to behold its triumphant success. When the ministers of England well acquainted with the unblemished life and high reputation of Dr Murray offered to confer upon him the distinguished post of privy councillor, the Archbishop of Dublin respectfully declined the honor proffered.
