,transcriber's note3 ,this production is based on https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/fiveminu tesermon#jbunknuoft_/page_/n#f ,pages #df and #dg are missing from the image file4 ,additional citations indicated by ,,usccb1 are based on the ,united ,states ,conference of ,catholic ,bishops ,bible found at http3_/_/usccb4org_/bible_/books-of-the- bible4 i ,five-minute ,sermons for ,low ,masses on ,all ,sundays ,of ,the ,year1 ,by ,priests ,of ,the ,congregation ,of ,st4 ,paul4 ,volume ,,ii4 ,new ,york3 ,the ,catholic ,publication ,society ,co41 #i ,barclay ,street4 ,london3 ,burns ,oates4 #ahhf ii ,copyright1 #ahhf1 by ,i4 ,t4 ,hecker4 ,all ,rights ,reserved4 iii ,preface4 ,repeated and urgent requests from both clergy and laity have induced the publication of this second volume of ,five-,minute ,sermons4 ,they have all been preached in the ,church of ,st4 ,paul the ,apostle1 ,new ,york1 and published weekly in the ,catholic ,review4 ,choice has been made of such as are really little sermons1 since there are many excellent manuals from which purely doctrinal instructions may be prepared4 ,yet they all contain1 it is hoped1 a solid basis of doctrine plainly put and appropriately illustrated4 ,the main object is1 however1 to edify1 to quicken the moral perceptions1 and to move in a reasonable degree the religious emotions4 ,nearly all of these sermons may serve as skeletons for discourses of greater length2 a fuller treatment of the topics1 by means of familiar illustrations and more copious extracts from ,scripture1 will fit them for use at ,high ,mass1 or on ,sunday evenings4 ----------------------------- iv v ,contents4 ,first ,sunday of ,advent3 ,sermon ,i4 ,the ,spirit of ,advent1 #ad ,sermon ,,ii4 ,the ,graces of ,advent1 #af ,sermon ,,iii4 ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 #ah ,second ,sunday of ,advent3 ,sermon ,,iv4 ,fair-weather ,christians1 #bc ,sermon ,v4 ,the ,immaculate ,conception1 #be ,sermon ,,vi4 ,the ,total ,abstinence ,pledge1 #bh ,third ,sunday of ,advent3 ,sermon ,,vii4 ,bad ,company1 #cb ,sermon ,,viii4 ,the ,voice in the ,wilderness1 #cd ,sermon ,,ix4 ,penance1 #cg ,fourth ,sunday of ,advent3 ,sermon ,x4 ,fruits of ,penance1 #da ,sermon ,,xi4 ,preparation for ,christmas1 #dc ,sermon ,,xii4 ,christmas ,eve1 #df ,sunday within the ,octave of ,christmas3 ,sermon ,,xiii4 ,christmas ,joy1 #ej ,sermon ,,xiv4 ,new ,year's ,eve1 #eb ,sermon ,,xv4 ,the ,feast of the ,holy ,innocents1 #ee ,the ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xvi4 ,the ,testimony of the ,spirit1 #ei ,sermon ,,xvii4 ,following ,god's ,guidance1 #fc #f ,first ,sunday after ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xviii4 ,the ,christian ,home1 #fg ,sermon ,,xix4 ,jesus ,teaching in the ,temple1 #gj ,sermon ,,xx4 ,how our ,saviour takes away ,sin1 #gb ,second ,sunday after ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xxi4 ,profanity1 #gf ,sermon ,,xxii4 ,the ,sin of ,cursing1 #gi ,sermon ,,xxiii4 ,reverence for the ,name of ,god1 #hb ,third ,sunday after ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xxiv4 ,practical ,faith1 #hf ,sermon ,,xxv4 ,living up to our ,faith1 #hi ,sermon ,,xxvi4 ,the ,sacrament of ,matrimony1 #ia ,fourth ,sunday after ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xxvii4 ,the ,ingratitude of ,children1 #ie ,sermon ,,xxviii4 ,love of our ,neighbor1 #ih ,fifth ,sunday after ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xxix4 ,the ,christian ,family1 #ajb ,sermon ,,xxx4 ,the ,duty of ,good ,example1 #aje ,sermon ,,xxxi4 ,bearing one another's ,burdens1 #ajh ,sixth ,sunday after ,epiphany3 ,sermon ,,xxxii4 ,how to make ,converts1 #aac ,sermon ,,xxxiii4 ,the ,blessings of the ,faith1 #aaf ,sermon ,,xxxiv4 ,good ,example as a means of making ,converts1 #aah ,septuagesima ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,xxxv4 ,bodily ,mortification1 #abc ,sermon ,,xxxvi4 ,sudden ,death1 #abf ,sermon ,,xxxvii ,life's ,purpose1 #abi #g ,sexagesima ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,xxxviii4 ,perseverance after a ,mission1 #acd ,sermon ,,xxxix4 ,good ,seed but no ,harvest1 #acg ,sermon ,,xl4 ,the ,uses of ,temptation1 #adj ,quinquagesima ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,xli4 ,the ,qualities of ,christian ,charity1 #add ,sermon ,,xlii4 ,delay of ,repentance1 #adg ,sermon ,,xliii4 ,lenten ,obligations1 #aej ,first ,sunday of ,lent3 ,sermon ,,xliv4 ,the ,merit of ,pasting and ,abstinence1 #aed ,sermon ,,xlv4 ,difficulties of ,fasting1 #aeg ,sermon ,,xlvi4 ,wasted ,opportunities1 #aei ,second ,sunday of ,lent3 ,sermon ,,xlvii4 ,the ,joy of ,penance1 #afd ,sermon ,,xlviii4 ,christian ,perfection not ,impossible1 #afg ,sermon ,,xlix4 ,the ,divine ,presence in our ,churches1 #agj ,third ,sunday of ,lent3 ,sermon ,l4 ,immodest ,language1 #agd ,sermon ,,li4 ,honorary ,church-,members1 #agg ,sermon ,,lii4 ,half-hearted ,christians1 #ahj ,fourth ,sunday of ,lent3 ,sermon ,,liii4 ,the ,happiness of ,true ,penance1 #ahd ,sermon ,,liv4 ,liberty of ,spirit1 #ahg ,sermon ,,lv4 ,the ,lust of the ,eyes1 #aij ,passion ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,lvi4 ,the ,precious ,blood1 #aid ,sermon ,,lvii4 ,christ's ,passion1 #aig ,sermon ,,lviii4 ,dangerous ,companionship1 #aii #h ,palm ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,lix4 ,hardness of ,heart1 #bjc ,sermon ,,lx4 ,spirit of ,holy ,week1 #bje ,easter ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,lxi4 ,easter ,joy1 #baj ,sermon ,,lxii4 ,easter and the ,love of ,god1 #bab ,sermon ,,lxiii4 ,the ,triumph of ,christ1 #bae ,low ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,lxiv4 ,how to use ,god's ,gifts1 #bai ,sermon ,,lxv4 ,the ,christian's ,peace1 #bbb ,sermon ,,lxvi4 ,true and ,lasting ,peace1 #bbd ,second ,sunday after ,easter3 ,sermon ,,lxvii4 ,the ,good ,shepherd1 #bbi ,sermon ,,lxviii4 ,dead ,faith1 #bcb ,sermon ,,lxix4 ,suffering ,false ,accusations1 #bcd ,third ,sunday after ,easter-- ,feast of the ,patronage of ,st4 ,joseph3 ,sermon ,,lxx4 ,devotion to ,st4 ,joseph1 #bdj ,sermon ,,lxxi4 ,christ and the ,church1 #bdb ,fourth ,sunday after ,easter3 ,sermon ,,lxxii4 ,evil ,conversation1 #bdf ,sermon ,,lxxiii4 ,temptation1 #bdh ,fifth ,sunday after ,easter3 ,sermon ,,lxxiv4 ,sins of the ,tongue1 #beb ,sermon ,,lxxv4 ,perseverance in ,prayer1 #bee ,sunday within the ,octave of the ,ascension3 ,sermon ,,lxxvi4 ,after a ,mission1 #bei ,sermon ,,lxxvii4 ,bearing ,witness for our ,lord1 #bfa ,sermon ,,lxxviii4 ,the ,indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit1 #bfc #i ,feast of ,pentecost1 or ,whit-,sunday3 ,sermon ,,lxxix4 ,the ,holy ,ghost in the ,church1 #bfh ,sermon ,,lxxx4 ,the ,guidance of the ,holy ,spirit1 #bga ,sermon ,,lxxxi4 ,the ,easter ,duty1 #bgc ,trinity ,sunday3 ,sermon ,,lxxxii4 ,the ,divine ,majesty1 #bgg ,sermon ,,lxxxiii4 ,the ,mystery of the ,holy ,trinity1 #bgi ,sermon ,,lxxxiv4 ,the ,divine ,judgment1 #bhb ,second ,sunday after ,pentecost1 and ,sunday within the ,octave of ,corpus ,christi3 ,sermon ,,lxxxv4 ,holy ,communion1 #bhf ,sermon ,,lxxxvi4 ,the ,sacred ,heart of ,jesus1 #bhi ,sermon ,,lxxxvii4 ,ingratitude1 #bia ,third ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,lxxxviii4 ,sinful ,amusements1 #bie ,sermon ,,lxxxix4 ,divine ,providence1 #big ,sermon ,,xc4 ,how to ,bear ,burdens1 #cjj ,fourth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,xci4 ,how to ,suffer1 #cjd ,sermon ,,xcii4 ,good ,works done in ,mortal ,sin1 #cjf ,sermon ,,xciii4 ,fishing for ,men1 #cji ,fifth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,xciv4 ,forgiveness of ,injuries1 #cad ,sermon ,,xcv4 ,feast of ,sts4 ,peter and ,paul1 #caf ,sixth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,xcvi4 ,the ,divine ,bounty1 #cba ,sermon ,,xcvii4 ,feast of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 #cbd ,sermon ,,xcviii4 ,idleness1 #cbf #aj ,seventh ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,xcix4 ,mortal ,sin the ,death of the ,soul1 #ccj ,sermon ,c4 ,false ,prophets1 #ccb ,sermon ,,ci4 ,the ,last ,sin1 #ccd ,eighth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cii4 ,spirit and ,flesh1 #cci ,sermon ,,ciii4 ,the ,business of the ,soul1 #cdb ,sermon ,,civ4 ,the ,judgments of ,god1 #cdd ,ninth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cv4 ,justice and ,mercy1 #cdi ,sermon ,,cvi4 ,neglect of ,divine ,warnings1 #cea ,sermon ,,cvii4 ,living from ,day to ,day1 #ced ,tenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cviii4 ,sympathy for ,sinners1 #ceh ,sermon ,,cix4 ,morning ,prayers1 #cfj ,sermon ,,cx4 ,feast of ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen1 #cfc ,eleventh ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxi4 ,want of ,confidence in ,god1 #cfg ,sermon ,,cxii4 ,devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin1 #cfi ,sermon ,,cxiii4 ,gratitude1 #cgc ,twelfth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxiv4 ,the ,good ,samaritan1 #cgg ,sermon ,,cxv4 ,our ,neighbors1 #chj ,sermon ,,cxvi4 ,occasions of ,sin1 #chb ,thirteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxvii4 ,thanksgiving1 #chg ,sermon ,,cxviii4 ,shamelessness in ,sinning1 #chi ,sermon ,,cxix4 ,dangers of ,venial ,sin1 #cib #aa ,fourteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxx4 ,the ,poverty of ,christ1 #cif ,sermon ,,cxxi4 ,brotherly ,love1 #cii ,sermon ,,cxxii4 ,religion for ,week-,days1 #dja ,fifteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxxiii4 ,the ,fruits of a ,bad ,life1 #djf ,sermon ,,cxxiv4 ,sins of ,parents1 #djh ,sermon ,,cxxv4 ,the ,law of ,charity1 #daa ,sixteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxxvi4 ,christian ,humility1 #dae ,sermon ,,cxxvii4 ,vanity1 #dah ,sermon ,,cxxviii4 ,behavior in ,church1 #dbj ,seventeenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxxix4 ,prayer for ,sinners1 #dbe ,sermon ,,cxxx4 ,the ,christian ,vocation1 #dbg ,sermon ,,cxxxi4 ,erroneous ,views of ,vocation1 #dcj ,eighteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxxxii4 ,presumption of ,god's ,mercy1 #dce ,sermon ,,cxxxiii4 ,drunkenness1 #dcg ,sermon ,,cxxxiv4 ,the ,dignity and ,happiness of ,obedience1 #ddj ,nineteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxxxv4 ,lying1 #ddd ,sermon ,,cxxxvi4 ,truthfulness #ddg ,sermon ,,cxxxvii4 ,white ,lies1 #ddi ,twentieth ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxxxviii4 ,christian ,marriage1 #dec ,sermon ,,cxxxix4 ,mortification of our ,lower ,nature1 #dee ,sermon ,,cxl4 ,the ,value of ,time1 #deh #ab ,twenty-first ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxli4 ,forgiveness of ,injuries1 #dfb ,sermon ,,cxlii4 ,gossiping1 #dfe ,sermon ,,cxliii4 ,mixed ,marriages1 #dfg ,twenty-second ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxliv4 ,obedience to the ,civil ,authorities1 #dgb ,sermon ,,cxlv4 ,thanksgiving ,day #dge ,sermon ,,cxlvi4 ,the ,communion of ,saints1 #dgg ,twenty-third ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cxlvii4 ,mixed ,marriages1 #dha ,sermon ,,cxlviii4 ,imitation of the ,saints1 #dhd ,sermon ,,cxlix4 ,heaven1 #dhf ,twenty-fourth or ,last ,sunday after ,pentecost3 ,sermon ,,cl4 ,marrying out of the ,church1 #dia ,sermon ,,cli4 ,joy in ,god's ,service1 #did ,sermon ,,clii4 ,forgive and be ,forgiven1 #dig #ac ,first ,sunday of ,advent4 ,epistle4 ,romans xiii4 #aa-ad1 ,brethren3 ,know that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep4 ,for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed4 ,the night is passed1 and the day is at hand4 ,let us therefore cast off the works of darkness1 and put on the armor of light2 let us walk honestly as in the day2 not in rioting and drunkenness1 not in chambering and impurities1 not in contention and envy2 but put ye on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xxi4 #be-cc4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,there shall be signs in the sun1 and in the moon1 and in the stars3 and upon the earth distress of nations1 by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves1 men withering away for fear1 and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world4 ,for the powers of heaven shall be moved3 and then they shall see the ,son of ,man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty4 ,but when these things begin to come to pass look up and lift up your heads3 because your redemption is at hand4 ,and he spoke to them a similitude4 ,see the fig-tree1 and all the trees3 when they now shoot forth their fruit1 you know that summer is nigh2 so you also when you shall see these things come to pass1 know that the kingdom of ,god is at hand4 ,amen ,i say to you1 this generation shall not pass away1 till all things be fulfilled4 ,heaven and earth shall pass away1 but my words shall not pass away4 --------------------- #ad ,sermon ,i4 ,the ,spirit ,of ,advent4 ,it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep4 --,romans xiii4 #aa4 ,this life of ours is made up of beginnings4 ,after the rest of the night we have on each succeeding day to begin again our round of work1 and then comes the night again1 when our work must be laid aside4 ,so1 too1 does the life of our souls consist in great part of beginnings1 though in the great work of saving our souls there should be no such thing as rest4 ,this work must be unceasing1 until that night comes wherein no man can work1 the night of death1 when our great ,master shall demand of us an account of our labor4 ,on this day1 then1 which is the beginning of the ,church's year1 it is well for us to pause and ask ourselves how we are fulfilling the task that is set before us4 ,are our souls asleep8 ,have our consciences been lulled into a false security concerning the state of our immortal souls8 ,are we careless or indifferent about the one thing needful for us--our soul's salvation8 ,to each and every one of us to-day come the warning words of the ,apostle1 ,brethren1 know that it is now the hour for us to arise from sleep4 ,now is the time for us to shake off our slothfulness1 to rouse ourselves from our dangerous state of idleness and inactivity1 to cast off the works of darkness and clothe ourselves in the armor of light1 to put on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and1 arrayed in the strength which he gives1 to walk honestly as in the day4 ,the night is passed1 says ,st4 ,paul4 #ae ,god grant that for each one of us the dark night of mortal sin may be for ever past and gone2 that its terrible gloom may never again settle down upon our souls1 shutting out the light of heaven1 the pure and radiant light of ,god's grace4 ,for the day is at hand1 the day of reckoning1 the day of wrath and terror1 when we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of ,christ4 ,the ,church to-day warns us of the approach of that time4 ,year by year1 day by day1 hour by hour it is drawing nearer4 ,for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed4 ,yes1 our salvation if we have been faithful1 or our eternal damnation if ,god's judgment overtake us in the state of mortal sin4 ,therefore it is that the ,church1 upon this first ,sunday of ,advent1 lifts up her voice to warn us of the coming of our ,lord1 telling us of his near approach1 and bidding us to prepare to meet him4 ,will you heed this warning1 or will you still put off the day of your conversion to ,god8 ,beware6 ,god's warning may be given you to-day for the last time4 ,behold1 now is the acceptable time2 it is now the hour to rise from sleep4 ,there is still time for you to turn from your sins and begin again to serve ,god4 ,perhaps you have tried before and then have fallen back into old ways and habits of sin4 ,begin again4 ,we must always be beginning if we would make any progress4 ,we must examine our consciences at the end of each day1 and find out how we have offended ,god1 make earnest resolutions for the morrow1 and then begin each day with the determination to avoid the faults of the day before4 ,this is a sure means of perseverance4 #af ,and this beginning of the ,christian year is a good time to take a fresh start in the affairs of our souls4 ,during ,advent the ,church brings to our minds the consideration of the four last things4 ,death and judgment1 heaven or hell are awaiting us4 ,begin this day1 then1 as though it were to be your last day on earth1 and on each succeeding day for the rest of your life keep up this practice4 ,for as lightning cometh out of the east1 and appeareth even unto the west1 so shall also the coming of the ,son of ,man be4 ,let us therefore cast off the works of darkness now at the beginning of this holy season4 ,drunkenness1 impurity1 contention1 and envy are1 alas6 far too common amongst us4 ,let them be not so much as named among you1 as becometh saints1 mindful of your high calling in ,christ4 ,then when the ,judge appears1 he will find you ready to meet him4 ,having begun each day with the intention of serving ,god1 you will then be ready and fit to begin that day which shall have no end in that heavenly city which needeth not sun nor moon to shine in it2 for the glory of the ,lord hath enlightened it1 and the ,lamb is the lamp thereof4 --------------------- ,sermon ,,ii4 ,the ,graces ,of ,advent4 ,the night is past1 and the day is at hand4 ,let us1 therefore1 cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light4 ,put ye on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,to-day1 dear brethren1 we enter upon the season of preparation for the coming of ,jesus ,christ4 ,for the night is past and the day is at hand4 ,the day-spring1 the ,brightness of the everlasting ,light1 the ,sun of righteousness1 is come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death4 #ag ,to give light to them that have been unfaithful to ,god's grace1 to call them back--to turn them to a new life--this is the mission of our ,saviour2 and this is the call he makes upon us to-day--that we should return to him1 the ,ruler of the house of ,israel1 who didst appear to ,moses in the burning bush1 and gave him the law in ,sinai4 ,you1 dear brethren1 were taught that law when the first rays of the light of reason lit up your soul4 ,god wrote it on your hearts2 you heard it from your parents lips2 your teachers bade you love it and keep it4 ,but have you done so8 ,have you not become like those whom of old ,god taught1 and who would not listen1 but went after false gods1 who bowed down before idols of gold and silver1 of wood and clay8 ,have you not bowed down like them when you preferred money-getting to serving ,god2 when you were willing1 for the sake of gold and silver1 to risk the loss of your immortal souls8 ,have you not bowed down when you chose to gratify your lower instincts at the cost of your spiritual ruin8 ,have you not bowed down to idols of clay when you have steeped yourselves in drunkenness1 in impurities1 in the many sins of the flesh8 ,oh6 surely you have need of the wisdom that cometh out of the mouth of the ,most ,high to teach you the way of prudence4 ,oh6 surely you have need of the ,orient from on high1 for you sit in darkness and in the shadow of death4 #ah ,but1 dear brethren1 the night is past4 ,let us1 therefore1 cast off the works of darkness2 let us walk honestly4 ,oh6 put ye on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,behold ,emmanuel1 our ,king and ,law giver1 he for whom the nations sighed and their salvation1 has come to save us--to save men whom he has made from the dust of the earth4 ,dear brethren1 shall we be slow to go to him who comes with healing for our immortal souls8 ,tell it out among the people1 and say1 ,behold1 ,god our ,saviour cometh4 ,emmanuel is his name1 and his name is great4 ,behold1 he is my ,god1 and ,i will glorify him2 my father's ,god1 and ,i will exalt him4 ,the ,lord our ,law-giver1 the ,lord our ,king1 cometh to save us4 ,begin this day to prepare for the joyous feast of ,christmas4 ,cleanse your hearts by prayer and fasting2 come to the sacraments and be washed in the blood of your ,redeemer2 come to his table and break the bread of true friendship1 that the joy of your heart may be full when we shall celebrate that day of days1 when the ,word which was made flesh dwelt among us4 ,truly we have seen his glory1 and of his fulness we have all received4 ,let us never forget his mercy2 let us remember that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep4 ---------------- ,sermon ,,iii4 ,st4 ,john ,the ,baptist4 ,the angel said to him3 ,fear not1 ,zachary1 for thy prayer is heard2 and thy wife ,elizabeth shall bear thee a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,john2 and thou shalt have joy and gladness1 and many shall rejoice at his birth4 --,luke i4 #ac4 #ai ,these words1 my brethren1 were spoken by the ,angel ,gabriel to ,zachary1 the father of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 while he was engaged with his religious duties in the temple at ,jerusalem4 ,before giving the account of the angel's visit ,st4 ,luke informs us that ,zachary and his wife1 ,elizabeth1 were both acceptable to ,god and obedient to the divine law4 ,there are few who have received such commendation in the pages of ,holy ,scripture4 ,it might have been surmised that ,zachary led a good life1 practising the virtues and avoiding the vices1 since he belonged to the ,jewish priesthood4 ,yet we find that his wife1 ,elizabeth1 is mentioned as deserving equal praise with himself1 for it is stated that they were both just before ,god1 walking in all the commandments and justifications of the ,lord without blame4 ,such is the brief account that ,st4 ,luke has given of the parents of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist4 ,though brief1 it is enough to show that any son might well feel proud of parents such as they were--blameless in the sight of ,god4 ,for many years they had lived together in the hill-country of ,judea1 conscientiously performing their duties1 and cherishing the hope that they would be rewarded for their good actions4 ,like the rest of the ,jews who remained faithful to the laws promulgated by ,moses and the prophets1 which ,god had made for ,israel1 they prayed earnestly for the coming of the ,messias1 the ,orient from on high1 who was ardently expected to descend from his throne in heaven in order to enlighten those in darkness and in the shadow of death1 directing their steps into the way of peace4 ,while serving ,god by strict fidelity to the commandments1 they did not anticipate that an angel would be sent to visit them2 they did not know until advanced in age that a son would be born to them who would be called the prophet of the ,most ,high1 the precursor of the son of ,david1 appointed to prepare his ways4 #bj ,that this blessing was unexpected is shown by the fact that ,zachary hesitated to believe the message of the ,angel ,gabriel1 and on account of this hesitation1 this mistrust of the good tidings that ,god sent to him1 he was deprived of the use of speech for several months4 ,after the birth of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist his tongue was again endowed with the power to speak1 and his words on that occasion1 spoken under the influence of inspiration1 have been preserved in the grand canticle known as the ,benedictus1 which is justly assigned to a prominent place in the ,office of the ,church4 ,these considerations enable us to perceive what sort of a home ,st4 ,john the ,baptist had while he remained with his aged parents4 ,from the knowledge we have of them1 there is no reason to think that they were deprived of anything requisite to make their home happy and comfortable4 ,early in life1 however1 ,st4 ,john manifested a peculiar preference for the lonely desert4 ,in a special manner he was sanctified before his birth1 and received the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost in an extraordinary degree4 ,it was not because his fellow-creatures had proved deceptive1 nor because sad experience had taught him that the glittering charms of the world are transient and wither into dust1 that he resolved to live like a hermit1 separated from his relatives4 ,joyfully he abandoned his family privileges1 with all that seems to make life among men pleasant1 and went forth among the wild rocks in the mountain solitudes to live alone with ,god4 #ba ,why was it that he made such a strange choice8 ,the answer is1 that ,god directed him to leave houses and lands1 his home and kindred1 and endowed him with the heroism needed for a solitary1 penitential life4 ,in obedience to the will of ,god1 acting under the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit1 he practised unusual mortification4 ,he selected coarse raiment1 made of camel's hair2 he used a strange kind of food2 he abstained entirely from the use of wine4 ,by deeds of heroic penance1 by extraordinary acts of self-denial1 combined with the performance of his other duties1 he advanced in the way of perfection4 ,during this season of ,advent we should invoke his intercession1 and strive to remove the obstacles that impede the way of the ,lord and the action of ,his grace in our sanctification4 ------------------- #bb ,second ,sunday of ,advent4 ,epistle4 ,romans xv4 #d-ac4 ,brethren3 ,what things soever were written1 were written for our instruction2 that through patience and the comfort of the ,scriptures1 we might have hope4 ,now the ,god of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another1 according to ,jesus ,christ3 that with one mind1 and with one mouth1 you may glorify ,god and the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,wherefore receive one another1 as ,christ also hath received you unto the honor of ,god4 ,for ,i say that ,christ ,jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of ,god1 to confirm the promises made to the fathers4 ,but that the ,gentiles are to glorify ,god for his mercy1 as it is written3 ,therefore will ,i confess to thee1 ,lord1 among the ,gentiles1 and will sing to thy name4 ,and again he saith3 ,rejoice1 ye ,gentiles1 with his people4 ,and again3 ,praise the ,lord1 all ye ,gentiles2 and magnify him1 all ye people4 ,and again ,isaias saith3 ,there shall be a root of ,jesse2 and he that shall rise up to rule the ,gentiles1 in him the ,gentiles shall hope4 ,now the ,god of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing3 that you may abound in hope1 and in the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xi4 #b-aj4 ,at that time3 ,when ,john had heard in prison the works of ,christ1 sending two of his disciples he said to him3 ,art thou he that art to come1 or look we for another8 ,and ,jesus making answer said to them3 ,go and relate to ,john what you have heard and seen4 ,the blind see1 the lame walk1 the lepers are cleansed1 the deaf hear1 the dead rise again1 the poor have the gospel preached to them4 #bc ,and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me4 ,and when they went their way1 ,jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning ,john3 ,what went you out into the desert to see8 ,a reed shaken with the wind8 ,but what went you out to see8 ,a man clothed in soft garments8 ,behold they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings4 ,but what went you out to see8 ,a prophet8 yea1 ,i tell you1 and more than a prophet4 ,for this is he of whom it is written3 ,behold1 ,i send my angel before thy face1 who shall prepare thy way before thee4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,iv4 ,fair-,weather ,christians4 ,what went you out into the desert to see8 ,a reed shaken with the wind8 --,gospel ,of ,the ,day4 ,our ,lord asked this question of his disciples1 my brethren1 regarding his precursor1 ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 whom also they had followed in his time4 ,why1 said he1 did you take such trouble to see him8 ,why did you think so much of him8 ,was it because he was like a reed shaken by the wind8 ,no1 but because he was just the opposite of that4 ,you thought highly of him1 you honored him as ,i myself honor him1 because he did not shake and tremble at the breath of popular opinion2 because he was not afraid of the world1 or of all the powers that are in it2 because he only thought of ,god1 and of his duty2 of the work that he had been sent to do4 #bd ,but would our ,saviour be able to praise us so highly1 my brethren1 if he should come down now in our midst8 ,would he not say rather that we were indeed like reeds1 turning to one side or another1 according to the wind that happens to be blowing8 ,i am afraid that he would have too good reason to find fault with the words and actions of many who call themselves ,christians1 an who even pass for pretty good ones4 ,who are these people whom he would find fault with8 ,there are plenty of them4 ,they are what ,i should call fair-weather ,christians4 ,they go to church regularly1 perhaps1 and to the ,sacraments1 it may be1 quite often2 when they are with pious people they can be just as pious as anybody else4 ,they say their prayers not only in church1 but at home1 too2 they certainly try in a way to be good2 sometimes at least they would not say or do anything wrong of their own accord4 ,and when they are alone they do very well1 too2 they resist many temptations1 and avoid a great deal of sin4 ,they are not what one would call hypocrites2 far from it2 they have a good many virtues1 within as well as on the outside4 ,but the trouble with them is that they have little or none of what is commonly called backbone4 ,alone or in good company they are all right2 but take a look at them on the street1 in the shop or factory1 at their work or their amusements with their associates1 and they do not stand the test so well4 ,they laugh at every vulgar1 filthy1 and impure word that any one else pretends to think is funny and wants them to laugh at1 or if they do not laugh out right they give a miserable1 cowardly smile4 ,they hear something said about the faith which they know is a vile falsehood1 but they say nothing in reply2 perhaps they even allow that there is some truth in it4 #be ,it takes a long while for any one to find out that they are ,catholics who does not guess it by their names or know where they go to church2 it takes a great deal longer to find out that they are supposed to be good ones4 ,now1 what is the reason of this contemptible sneaking and meanness in those who ought to be brave and generous soldiers of ,christ8 ,it is just one thing4 ,these people do not love ,god enough to dare to displease any one else for his sake4 ,most of them have got pluck enough when something else is concerned4 ,they would resent an insult to themselves2 perhaps for years they have not been on speaking terms with many people on account of some trifling slight or injury4 ,but when ,god's honor and love are concerned1 the first breath of disapproval keeps them from standing up for him1 as the reed bends with the gentlest breeze which strikes it4 ,yes1 that is the difficulty2 these good people do not love ,god enough to stand up for him as all ,christians worthy of the name should do4 ,let them think of this seriously4 ,for if one does not love ,god enough to offend bad men for his sake1 how can he love him above all things8 ,and if one does not love ,god above all things1 how can he be saved8 ------------------- ,sermon ,v4 ,the ,immaculate ,conception4 #bf ,the beautiful feast of the ,immaculate ,conception of the ,blessed ,virgin being so near at hand1 let us consider it this morning4 ,the doctrine of the ,immaculate ,conception1 then1 my dear brethren1 is simply this3 that our ,blessed ,lady1 though the offspring merely of human parents1 like the rest of us1 and naturally liable to inherit original sin from them as we have inherited it from ours1 was nevertheless by the special providence and decree of ,god entirely preserved from it4 ,she was preserved from it entirely1 ,i say4 ,this may be understood in two ways4 ,first1 it was never in her4 ,it was not taken from her at the first moment of her existence1 as it has been taken from us at baptism2 no1 it was not taken from her1 for it was not in her even at that first moment4 ,secondly1 she was entirely saved from its effects1 not partly1 as we have been4 ,none of its consequences remained in her1 as ,i have said they do in us4 ,no1 she was as if there had never been such a thing2 except that her ,son willed that she should suffer together with him1 on account of its being in us4 ,now1 my brethren1 ,i hope you all understand this2 for a great deal of nonsense is talked about this matter1 especially by ,protestants1 most of whom have not the least idea what is meant by the ,immaculate ,conception of our ,blessed ,mother1 and who yet object to it just as bitterly as if they did4 ,they either confound it with her virginal motherhood1 in which they themselves believe and yet seem to object to our believing it1 or they accuse us of saying that she was divine like her ,son1 our ,lord4 ,if they would only examine they would find that what the ,church teaches is simply this3 that our ,lady is a creature of ,god like ourselves1 having no existence at all before the time of her ,immaculate ,conception2 but that she is a pure and perfect creature1 the most pure and perfect that ,god has ever made2 immaculate1 that is to say1 spotless2 free from any stain or imperfection1 especially from the fatal stain of original sin4 #bg ,and that the reason why ,god made her so was that she was to be ,his own mother1 than which no higher dignity can be conceived4 ,if they object to this1 let them do so2 but let them at least know and say what they are objecting to4 ,let us hope that some ,protestants1 at least1 will not object to this doctrine when they understand it4 ,but perhaps some of them may say3 ,this is all very good1 but what right has the pope1 or any one else at this late day1 to make it a part of the ,christian faith8 ,and it may be that even some ,catholics will find the same difficulty4 ,i will answer this question now1 though it is a little off of our present subject1 on account of the prominence which has been given to it of late4 ,the answer is simply this3 ,the pope has not added any thing at all to the ,christian faith in defining the doctrine of the ,immaculate ,conception4 ,he has no more done so than the ,council of ,nica did in defining the doctrine of the ,divinity of our ,lord4 ,you remember1 my brethren1 perhaps1 that from this council the ,nicene ,creed1 which is said or sung at ,mass1 takes its name4 ,it was called together to condemn the errors of some who maintained that our ,lord was not truly ,god4 ,and it solemnly defined that he was4 ,very well2 was that adding anything to the ,christian faith8 ,of course not2 it was simply declaring what the ,christian faith was1 to put an end to the doubts which were arising about it4 ,that is plain enough1 is it not8 #bh ,now what was it that the pope did in defining the ,immaculate ,conception8 ,exactly the same thing4 ,he defined what the faith really was to put an end to doubts about it4 ,the only difference was1 that those who opposed or doubted the ,immaculate ,conception of our ,lady were not so much to blame as those who opposed or doubted the ,divinity of our ,lord1 or even in many cases not at all to blame4 ,it was not such a prominent part of the faith1 and had been more obscured by time4 ,but the action of the pope and the council in the two cases was just the same4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,vi4 ,the ,total ,abstinence ,pledge4 ,the angel said to him3 ,fear not1 ,zachary1 for thy prayer is heard2 and thy wife ,elizabeth shall bear thee a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,john2 and thou shalt have joy and gladness1 and many shall rejoice at his birth4 ,for he shall be great before the ,lord2 and shall drink no wine nor strong drink2 and he shall be filled with the ,holy ,ghost even from his mother's womb2 and he shall convert many of the children of ,israel to the ,lord their ,god4 --,luke i4 #ac-af4 ,my brethren1 the message brought from heaven by an angel deserves careful examination1 because the angel acts as a messenger from ,god4 ,a little reflection will convince us that the message delivered to ,zachary by the ,angel ,gabriel contained a very peculiar prediction concerning the total abstinence from wine and strong drink1 which ,st4 ,john the ,baptist practised throughout his life4 ,in other matters no special directions were given regulating his acts of self-denial4 #bi ,no mention is made of his raiment in the angel's message2 neither was any information communicated in regard to his choice of food4 ,hence there is a special significance in the declaration which the ,angel ,gabriel put forth when he predicted that ,st4 ,john the ,baptist would abstain from the use of wine and strong drink4 ,this passage of ,holy ,scripture1 therefore1 furnishes a strong proof in favor of total abstinence4 ,in the ,book of ,leviticus1 x4 #i1 and in the ,book of ,numbers1 vi4 #b1 as well as in the writings of the prophet ,jeremias1 xxxv4 #fa-fi1 there are texts to be found which show that total abstinence was recognized long before the birth of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist4 ,but on account of his intimate relations with the ,holy ,family1 and on account of the extraordinary approval bestowed upon him by our ,lord1 by which he was canonized1 so to speak1 before his death1 ,st4 ,john the ,baptist is the most prominent of all the total abstainers mentioned in the ,bible4 ,considered as an antidote1 an effectual safeguard against the degrading vice of intemperance1 the practice of total abstinence is now defended not only by examples from ,holy ,writ1 but also on arguments based on common sense and experience4 ,it is regarded as the heroic form of the virtue of temperance1 which may be meritoriously practised by those who have never been addicted to drunkenness4 ,the determination to renounce even the lawful use of strong drink is especially commendable as a means of self-preservation for young men4 ,more than any other class of society1 they are assailed by temptations to excessive drinking2 and by unwise and unscrupulous friends they are often taught to regard drunkenness as a pardonable weakness4 #cj ,undoubtedly1 then1 it is a wise act for a young man at the present time to erect a strong barrier1 a wall of defence1 to protect himself from a most dangerous and destructive vice4 ,for occasional and habitual drunkards1 however1 who wish to reform and live in state of friendship with ,god1 total abstinence is not a mere act of heroism1 but something indispensably necessary4 ,the pledge for them is simply a firm purpose of amendment1 a manifestation of their desire to avoid that which they know has been for them a proximate occasion of sin4 ,in many cases total abstinence1 though it may be a stern remedy1 is the only sure preventive of intemperance1 and is imperatively demanded for the spiritual and temporal welfare of numerous families4 ,the man who has offended ,god and debased himself by drunkenness cannot obtain an unconditional pardon4 ,to obtain forgiveness from ,god he must have a sorrow for past offences1 a determination to do better in the future1 and a willingness to atone for his sins4 ,what he must do in the future to secure his safety can be ascertained by examining his past experience4 ,by the application of these principles1 especially in the tribunal of penance1 the growth of virtue is fostered and the progress of vice is retarded4 ,in this way the ,church proclaims to each individual the great lessons which ,st4 ,john taught by the banks of the ,jordan4 ,to all of her children she repeats during this season of ,advent the admonition uttered long ago by the voice crying in the wilderness3 ,prepare ye the way of the ,lord2 make straight his paths4 ------------------- #ca ,third ,sunday of ,advent4 ,epistle4 ,philippians iv4 #d-g4 ,rejoice in the ,lord always3 again1 ,i say1 rejoice4 ,let your modesty be known to all men3 ,the ,lord is nigh4 ,be not solicitous about anything3 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to ,god4 ,and the peace of ,god which surpasseth all understanding1 keep your hearts and minds in ,christ ,jesus4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john i4 #ai-bh4 ,at that time3 ,the ,jews sent from ,jerusalem priests and levites to ,john1 to ask him3 ,who art thou8 ,and he confessed1 and did not deny3 and he confessed3 ,i am not the ,christ4 ,and they asked him3 ,what then8 ,art thou ,elias8 ,and he said3 ,i am not4 ,art thou the prophet8 ,and he answered3 ,no4 ,they said therefore unto him3 ,who art thou1 that we may give an answer to them that sent us8 what sayest thou of thyself8 ,he said3 ,i am the voice of one crying in the wilderness1 ,make straight the way of the ,lord1 as said the prophet ,isaias4 ,and they that were sent1 were of the ,pharisees4 ,and they asked him1 and said to him3 ,why then dost thou baptize1 if thou be not ,christ1 nor ,elias1 nor the prophet8 ,john answered them1 saying3 ,i baptize with water2 but there hath stood one in the midst of you1 whom you know not4 ,the same is he that shall come after me1 who is preferred before me3 the latchet of whose shoe ,i am not worthy to loose4 ,these things were done in ,bethania beyond the ,jordan1 where ,john was baptizing4 ------------------- #cb ,sermon ,,vii4 ,bad ,company4 ,in one of his epistles 7#b ,timothy iii4 #a-e7 ,st4 ,paul speaks of dangerous times for ,christians1 when men shall be lovers of themselves1 covetous1 haughty1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 ungrateful1 wicked1 without affection1 without peace1 slanderers1 incontinent1 unmerciful1 without kindness1 traitors1 stubborn1 puffed up1 and lovers of pleasure more than of ,god2 having an appearance1 indeed1 of piety1 but denying the power thereof4 ,at the present time there is in the world1 especially in populous cities1 no small number of men who have the combination of vices so forcibly described by the ,apostle ,st4 ,paul4 ,in some places they may be in the majority1 and have the power to enforce their depraved views on their righteous neighbors4 ,by their slanders they can revile virtue2 by their blasphemies they endeavor to bring odium on ,god's plan of ruling the world4 ,their hatred of religion is manifested not only in the regulation of personal affairs1 but also in their business methods1 and in their utterances on public questions4 ,if these stubborn1 puffed-up lovers of sensuality1 traitors to ,god1 who are without affection and without peace1 could be assigned to a reservation in some corner of the world1 their range of influence would be kept within a definite area4 ,but they are like their master the devil1 roaming from place to place1 every where seeking the destruction of men's souls4 #cc ,hence it is an important matter1 and especially for ,catholic young men1 to consider the injurious results of the unavoidable contact with those in the world who are more or less infected with erroneous views1 or have become the victims of debasing vices4 ,such characters are to be found in nearly every department of business4 ,it often happens that a young man1 when he begins to work1 is obliged to enter a sphere beyond the control of his parents1 where he will be in close proximity to blatant infidels1 who claim an intellectual superiority on account of their unbelief4 ,business engagements may compel a ,catholic young man to be within hearing of shallow sceptics1 who take every opportunity to ask questions--not to get information1 but merely to ventilate their contempt for all religious teaching4 ,these hostile influences have produced in many of our young men very deplorable results4 ,by a sort of indifference1 resembling the dry rot1 they have allowed themselves to get into a very unsafe state of mind regarding their duties to ,god4 ,enlightened self-interest should prompt every young man to keep a sharp lookout for all that is injurious to him4 ,he may have the best religious training1 together with the virtuous surroundings of a good home1 but these will not be sufficient without his own personal activity4 ,if he selects by preference heretics and freethinkers as the companions of his leisure hours2 if he is so puffed up with the idea of his own ability that he can find no ,catholic associates worthy of his notice2 if he is so confident of his own strength that he habitually neglects to receive ,holy ,communion1 he has become a traitor to the ,king of ,heaven4 ,our ,lord wants his followers to attain the highest standard of human excellence4 #cd ,to those who love him and fearlessly keep his commandments he gives the courage which belongs to true manliness2 and their piety has power to surmount every obstacle on the way to heaven4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,viii4 ,the ,voice ,in ,the ,wilderness4 ,make straight the way of the ,lord4 --,john i4 #bc4 ,this expression1 dear brethren1 is no new one in ,holy ,scripture1 and it fell on no unaccustomed ears4 ,more than seven hundred years before ,jesus ,christ the great prophet ,isaias spoke about the voice of one crying in the desert3 ,make straight in the wilderness the paths of our ,god4 ,again1 three hundred years later1 another prophet1 ,malachias1 wrote3 ,behold1 ,i send my angel1 and he shall prepare the way before my face4 ,again1 about six months before ,jesus ,christ was born1 an aged priest1 ,zacharias1 took his own little child1 who was only eight days old1 in his arms1 and in the beautiful hymn of the ,benedictus says of him3 ,thou1 child1 shalt be called the prophet of the ,most ,high2 for thou shalt go before the face of the ,lord to prepare his way4 ,you know1 dear brethren1 who this little child was1 who was the burden of all this prophetic song4 ,you know it was ,st4 ,john the ,baptist4 ,and you know1 too1 the mighty work he had to do4 ,and now1 in this morning's ,gospel1 it is ,st4 ,john the ,baptist himself speaking3 ,i am the voice of one crying in the wilderness4 ,make straight the way of the ,lord4 #ce ,now1 how is this way of the ,lord to be made straight in the spiritual desert of our hearts8 ,well1 the prophet ,isaias tells us that there are five things which we have to do in this matter3 ,the first1 every valley shall be exalted2 the second1 every mountain and hill made low2 the third1 the crooked become straight2 the fourth1 the rough ways plain2 and the fifth1 the glory of the ,lord revealed4 ,he begins1 you see1 by telling us that the valleys must be exalted4 ,and don't you think that these valleys are a very good likeness of all the things which we have left undone in our lives8 ,all these abysses of idleness1 of neglect1 of carelessness1 of indifference1 which lie in the wilderness of our sinful past1 these have to be filled up4 ,christ our ,lord cannot come to us so long as there are such great holes in the road4 ,we must set to work and exalt them by throwing into our religious life all the pains and care and diligence and faithfulness we can4 ,then there are the mountains and hills1 which must be made low4 ,for oftentimes1 when the ,evil ,one sees that a man cannot be altogether discouraged from serving ,god1 then he turns round and persuades him that he is serving ,god very well indeed2 that he may be proud to think how often he has resisted temptation1 how often overcome difficulties1 how often done great things for ,christ's sake4 ,so arise the vast mountains of pride and self-will and self-conceit4 ,but be sure our ,lord will not climb over these to come to you4 ,you must first get them out of the way4 ,they must be made low1 if you would enter into life3 for it is written1 ,god resisteth the proud1 but giveth grace to the humble4 #cf ,then the crooked places--,i suppose you know what they are--all crooked ways of lying and deceit and untruthfulness4 ,we call a truthful person straightforward1 because he does not turn about to this side or to that in what he says1 but goes straight to the truth4 ,well1 whatever is not straightforward is crooked1 and the crooked path is one which ,christ will not walk in4 ,so we must try every day to go on more and more straightforwardly with what ,god would have us do1 according to the saying in the ,proverbs1 ,let thine eyes look straight on1 444 decline not to the right hand1 nor to the left1 and the ,lord will bring forward thy ways in peace4 ,once more3 there are the rough places4 ,rough tempers1 rough words1 and rough manners2 such feelings as spite1 and anger1 and ill nature1 and revenge2 as cutting and cruel words1 and quarrelling and fighting4 ,such rough places must be made very plain and smooth if the road is to be fitted for the feet of our meek and gentle ,lord4 ,and1 lastly3 ,the glory of the ,lord shall be revealed4 ,so shall it indeed be to those that are found worthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,but what that glory is who shall tell8 ,st4 ,john could not4 ,beloved1 he says1 we are now the sons of ,god2 and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be4 ,st4 ,paul could not1 for when he was caught up into heaven he tells us that he heard words which it is not granted to man to utter4 ,isaias could not4 ,from the beginning of the world1 he says1 they have not heard2 the eye hath not seen1 ,o ,god6 besides thee1 what things thou hast prepared for them that wait for thee4 ,all we know is1 that this glory shall be very great4 ,and if we serve ,god faithfully here we shall one day see it1 and shall one day know4 ,we shall awake after his likeness and be satisfied therewith4 ------------------- #cg ,sermon ,,ix4 ,penance4 ,for now the axe is laid to the root of the tree4 --,matthew4 iii4 #aj4 ,st4 ,john ,baptist1 my brethren1 as you know1 retired to the desert at an early age1 and led there an austere and solitary life1 eating coarse and unpalatable food1 abstaining from wine and strong drink1 cutting off all unnecessary enjoyments of the senses1 and giving himself up to prayer and meditation4 ,what was his special motive in this extraordinary course of penance8 ,it was that he might worthily prepare himself for the office which had been as signed to him--that of disposing men's hearts to recognize and receive our ,lord when he should come as their ,redeemer4 ,it was by penance alone that those hearts could be so disposed1 and he was to be specially the apostle of penance2 hence he had to give a signal example of it in his own person2 for preaching1 however eloquent1 is of comparatively little effect unless the preacher practises the virtues to which he exhorts others2 and the power of his preaching will be in proportion to the illustration which it finds in his own life4 #ch ,therefore1 though it was not necessary for ,st4 ,john1 sanctified as he was even before his birth1 to cut off all other sources of pleasure in order to fill his soul with the joy that comes from the love of ,god1 and though he had no sins to atone for1 for his life had been free from blame1 still he took up this course of penance in order to show forth even more plainly than by his words the need that his hearers would have1 in their measure1 to do likewise1 if they were to share in the redemption to come4 ,for now1 as he told them1 the axe was to be laid to the root of the tree4 ,god's chosen people1 the ,jews1 whom he had specially watched over for so many years1 whom he had often chastised and corrected1 and had brought back to his favor when they profited by his visitations1 they were no more to be thus dealt with4 ,the tree which had sprung from the seed of ,abraham was not to be allowed any longer to stand with merely some lopping and pruning2 no1 now1 if it still would not bring forth the good fruit of a thorough and genuine penance1 it was to be cut down and cast into the fire4 ,it was the supreme test which was approaching2 if the people whom he had chosen would stand it1 they should still retain their place2 otherwise they should be rejected as a nation1 and only those among them who would truly turn to their ,god should be saved4 ,my brethren1 ,st4 ,john is still preaching this doctrine of penance to us4 ,the ,church of the ,new ,law is not on her trial1 as was that of the ,old2 no1 her ,divine ,founder has promised that she shall endure to the end of the world4 ,but we1 each one of us1 have to take the words of his precursor to ourselves4 ,we are called by the name of ,christ2 yes1 but that will not save us4 ,st4 ,john said to the ,jews3 ,think not to say within yourselves1 we have ,abraham for our father4 ,so we are not to think ourselves as belonging to ,christ1 unless we have cast out from our hearts and souls what puts a fatal obstacle to his entrance into them4 ,his axe will be laid to our root also1 unless we on our part lay the axe to the root of our sins4 #ci ,what is this root of sin in us8 ,it is just this desire of sensual indulgence against which ,st4 ,john in his life as well as in his doctrine came to make the strongest of protests4 ,if we wish not to bring forth the fruits of sin1 we must lay the axe to its root4 ,we must practise penance and mortification1 not indeed always to the degree in which he practised it1 but at least so far as it is necessary that we may keep the law of ,god4 ,we must not dally with those things which are dangerous to us1 innocent though they may be to others4 ,our ,lord has told us that if even our eyes and hands themselves are an occasion of sin we must pluck them out or cut them off2 if1 then1 there be anything we enjoy1 but can really do with out1 we must not make a pretext of the good use which we might make of it if it really is plain that we will abuse it1 but must resolutely cast it away4 ,if we would avoid the bitter fruit which will naturally grow we must lay the axe to the root of the tree4 ------------------- #dj ,fourth ,sunday of ,advent4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians iv4 #a-e4 ,brethren3 ,let a man so look upon us as the ministers of ,christ1 and the dispensers of the mysteries of ,god4 ,here now it is required among the dispensers1 that a man be found faithful4 ,but as to me it is a thing of the least account to be judged by you or by human judgment3 but neither do ,i judge my own self4 ,for ,i am not conscious to myself of anything1 yet in this am ,i not justified3 but he that judgeth me1 is the ,lord4 ,therefore judge not before the time2 until the ,lord come1 who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness1 and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts3 and then shall every man have praise from ,god4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke iii4 #a-f4 ,now in the fifteenth year of the reign of ,tiberius ,csar1 ,pontius ,pilate being governor of ,judea1 and ,herod being tetrarch of ,galilee1 and ,philip his brother tetrarch of ,iturea and the country of ,trachonitis1 and ,lysanias tetrarch of ,abilina1 under the high-priests ,annas and ,caiphas3 the word of the ,lord came to ,john1 the son of ,zachary1 in the desert4 ,and he came into all the country about the ,jordan1 preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins3 as it is written in the book of the words of ,isaias the prophet3 ,a voice of one crying in the wilderness3 ,prepare ye the way of the ,lord1 make his paths straight4 ,every valley shall be filled3 and every mountain and hill shall be brought low3 and the crooked shall be made straight1 and the rough ways plain ,and all flesh shall see the salvation of ,god4 ------------------- #da ,sermon ,x4 ,fruits ,of ,penance4 ,bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance4 --,matthew4 iii4 #h4 ,st4 ,john ,baptist in these words1 my dear brethren1 teaches us1 as he taught those who came to him1 that penance1 if it be true and genuine1 must bring forth its proper fruit4 ,every repentance1 if it be sincere1 every confession1 if it be really good1 must be followed by a good life4 ,if any confession is not so followed1 it must needs be a delusion2 though it should have been accompanied by torrents of tears1 and the sins exposed as perfectly as ,god himself knows them4 ,and1 moreover1 the tree which brings forth the good fruit should continue to bear it2 it should not only for a few days or weeks give this proof that it is what it should be1 and then have him who planted it come to seek fruit on it and find none4 ,yet how often do we find sinners who come to confession with what would seem to be the best dispositions very soon back just where they were before6 ,how discouraging it is to the priest to find the fruits of a mission which seemed to be so promising reduced down almost to nothing for so many who seemed to profit by it2 to spend long hours1 to wear away his strength1 instructing1 exhorting1 and absolving1 and to have so little return from his labor for ,god and for souls6 #db ,what is the reason of all this failure of what began so well8 ,of course it is partly that the tree planted by the grace of ,god in the ,sacrament of ,penance was not tended afterwards4 ,its life was not supplied to it1 as it should have been1 by the frequent renewal of confession and reception of ,holy ,communion4 ,but there was a difficulty further back than that2 a want of something at the start1 which1 indeed1 was the reason that the sacraments were not regularly received4 ,what was this difficulty8 ,it was a want of a thorough earnestness2 of an understanding of the greatness of the work that was undertaken1 and of a real determination to sacrifice everything in order to accomplish it4 ,it is a great undertaking which one commits one's self to in coming to reconcile himself with ,god after a sinful life4 ,the task is not merely to examine his conscience1 to tell his sins plainly and without concealment1 and to feel heartily sorry for them2 that is a great part of it1 but by no means all4 ,there is a great deal left1 and that is to leave them for good2 to quit company with them for ever4 ,and this is not such an easy matter4 ,when1 one has lived so that his whole pleasure has been in sin1 in drunkenness and debauchery1 in filthy conversation1 in bad actions and bad thoughts1 it will perhaps seem almost like giving up life itself to part with them4 ,the penitent sinner has not all at once become an angel2 his whole nature has been warped and twisted out of place by sin1 and1 though the guilt of the sin has gone1 the effects are there2 his soul1 like a limb out of joint1 has much to suffer before it can get set right again4 ,a man must make up his mind1 when he comes to serve ,god after serving the devil1 that he has got an uphill road to travel2 if he does not1 he will not persevere4 ,labor and suffering1 self-denial and mortification1 he has to face these manfully4 ,his consolation1 his happiness1 as well as his strength1 have got to come from ,god4 #dc ,if one understands this he will seek that happiness and that strength again where he first found it--in confession and ,communion4 ,but if he does not1 if he thinks that all will go right now without any more trouble1 his old nature and habits will claim their dues1 and he will soon be back in his sins again4 ,yes1 we must cut right down to the root of sin if we wish to bring forth the fruits of penance1 and must make up our minds to suffer the pain that this cutting will bring4 ,occasions of sin must be avoided1 appetites must be denied1 contempt and ridicule must be faced2 we must pray1 we must struggle1 we must resist even to blood2 we must put our former life to death1 that ,christ may live in us4 ,for1 as ,st4 ,paul tells us3 ,if we be dead with him1 we shall live also with him2 if we suffer1 we shall also reign with him4 ,there is no other way4 ,let us not shrink from this pain and this conflict2 that would be the greatest mistake of all4 ,but let us understand it1 that when the trial comes1 as it surely will1 it may not find us unprepared4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xi4 ,preparation ,for ,christmas4 ,prepare ye the way of the ,lord4 --,matthew iii4 #c ,we are such unprofitable servants that we have much to do to prepare the way of the ,lord in our hearts4 ,if we have done all that is required of us we are1 nevertheless1 unprofitable servants1 and unless we believe this we are spiritually blind4 #dd ,the better the opinion which we have of ourselves the worse is our spiritual condition4 ,the good opinion1 than which nothing can be more false1 which we have of ourselves prepares the way for a fall into sin4 ,the way of the ,lord1 the way of salvation1 is found by humility1 which always leads to penance4 ,the holy ,council of ,trent says that the whole ,christian life ought to be a perpetual penance4 ,how few realize this1 because they think they are what they really are not6 ,now1 if penance be the life of the ,christian in the state of grace1 it must be a crying necessity for one who is in the state of sin4 ,what food is to the starving man penance is to the soul in this unhappy state4 ,penance is the preparation required of us for the coming feast of ,christmas4 ,this is the lesson of ,advent4 ,for four weeks the purple vestments1 the prayers and ceremonies of the church1 and the fasts on ,fridays have been appealing to our eyes and ears1 if not to our hearts1 to prepare in this way4 ,the wise man views the obligation which he is under to do penance as very urgent4 ,he banishes timidity and cowardice and puts his hand to the plough with courage and confidence4 ,the foolish man hates to hear of penance1 because his passions have got the mastery4 ,when asked to keep the commandments and fulfil the duties of his state1 he says3 ,i cannot4 ,to bridle his passions and give up bad habits seem to him too hard a task4 #de ,now1 if you should consult any man who has done penance faithfully1 so as to persevere in ,god's grace for years1 he would say the foolish man's view of penance is a false one4 ,god is more merciful and lenient than we imagine4 ,it is the devil who dresses up penance as something repulsive4 ,in urging upon you to prepare for ,christmas by penance my first words are3 ,take courage4 ,taste and see how sweet the ,lord is4 ,st4 ,leo says the cause of the reparation which we make for our sins is the mercy of ,god4 ,it is our way of loving him who first loved us4 ,how well the prophet ,isaias describes this penance when he says3 ,the ,lord says1 ,i will lead the blind in the way in which they have not known2 in the ways which they have not known ,i will make them walk4 ,i will change their darkness into light1 their crooked ways into ways that are straight1 ,i will accomplish these words in them and will not abandon them4 ,i am found1 says ,god1 by those not seeking me1 and ,i have appeared openly to those who have not asked for me4 ,we see by these words how much the grace of ,god assists us1 and how ,god mercifully forgets our past sins when we do penance sincerely4 ,but our penance must be sincere4 ,we must bring forth fruit worthy of penance1 says ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 the precursor of our ,lord4 ,it matters not if we are the offspring of vipers1 as the holy ,baptist called the multitude who approached him for penance1 provided we lay the axe to the root of the tree4 ,now1 the words of the prophet1 instead of repelling sinners1 attracted them4 ,the publicans who were farthest from ,god came and asked3 ,master1 what shall we do8 ,and they received the gentle 444 #df ,page #df missing #dg ,page #dg missing #dh 444 which should be our chief one at ,christmas1 now that the days of innocent childhood are past4 ,we do not hate sin from our hearts2 we even cling to it2 at best we make compromises with it4 ,mortal sin1 perhaps1 we try to avoid1 but venial faults do not trouble us2 this is the best that can be said for most of what may be called good ,christians4 ,and how many there are who come outwardly to worship before the manger of ,bethlehem1 but with hearts entirely turned from their ,god1 who lies there in cold and poverty for their sakes1 pleading with them for his sake to give up their sinful habits6 ,how many go on offending him at this holy time1 with out repentance1 almost without remorse6 ,hatred of sin2 yes1 that is what we want if we would be happy at ,christmas4 ,and now is the time to learn to hate it4 ,for surely the love of ,god comes easier to us now1 if we will only try to obtain it1 than at any other time1 unless1 perhaps1 on ,good ,friday1 when we see the sacrifice now begun accomplished4 ,and the love of ,god is the hatred of sin1 which is the only thing which he hates1 the one cause of all his pain4 ,do not let this ,christmas go by1 then1 my dear brethren1 without the joy which should come with it4 ,do not let this opportunity pass of acquiring that love of our dear ,lord which will make you really hate and trample under foot all that offends him1 and which will make you rejoice beyond measure that he has put it in your power to do so4 ,pray1 now1 at least that you may learn to love him2 that you may enter into the joy of knowing not merely that he can save you1 but that he has saved you from your sins4 ------------------- #di ,sunday within the ,octave of ,christmas4 ,epistle4 ,galatians iv4 #a-g4 ,brethren3 ,as long as the heir is a child1 he differeth nothing from a servant1 though he be lord of all3 but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father3 even so we1 when we were children1 were in bondage under the elements of the world4 ,but when the fulness of the time was come1 ,god sent his ,son1 made of a woman1 made under the law3 that he might redeem those who were under the law2 that we might receive the adoption of sons4 ,and because you are sons1 ,god hath sent the ,spirit of his ,son into your hearts1 crying3 ,abba1 ,father4 ,therefore now he is no more a servant1 but a son4 ,and if a son1 an heir also through ,god4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke ii4 #cc-dj4 ,at that time3 ,joseph1 and ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 were wondering at these things1 which were spoken concerning him4 ,and ,simeon blessed them1 and said to ,mary his mother3 ,behold this child is set for the ruin1 and for the resurrection of many in ,israel1 and for a sign which shall be contradicted4 ,and thy own soul a sword shall pierce1 that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed4 ,and there was a prophetess1 called ,anna1 the daughter of ,phanuel1 of the tribe of ,aser2 she was far advanced in years1 and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity4 ,and she was a widow until fourscore and four years2 who departed not from the temple1 by fastings and prayers serving night and day4 #ej ,now she at the same hour coming in1 gave praise to the ,lord2 and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of ,israel4 ,and after they had performed all things according to the law of the ,lord1 they returned into ,galilee1 to their own city1 ,nazareth4 ,and the child grew1 and waxed strong1 full of wisdom3 and the grace of ,god was in him4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xiii4 ,christmas ,joy4 ,behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy4 --,luke ii4 #aj4 ,there is hardly any one1 my brethren1 who lives where this feast of ,christmas is kept who does not feel a special joy in it4 ,why do we say that ,christmas comes but once a year1 if not because we feel that there is nothing else that can take its place8 ,we look forward to it months beforehand2 when it comes1 we keep it as long as we can and let it go with regret4 ,why is it that it has such a warm place in our hearts8 ,is it merely that it is by common consent a great holiday2 that it is a breathing-place in the bustle and hurry of life1 a time for meeting our friends1 for giving and receiving tokens of affection and regard1 a time of feasting and making merry8 ,this has some thing to do with it1 but it is not all4 ,for if this were all it would be possible to make by law a holiday like this1 which no one has ever succeeded in doing4 ,the early settlers of this country1 in a mistaken zeal against church festivals1 endeavored to make a substitute for ,christmas2 but the failure of their attempt has driven their descendants back to the observance of this feast1 though not to the church which gives it to them4 #ea ,yes1 we all feel that the joy of ,christmas is a thing not made to order4 ,it comes from a source which lies in the very mystery which we commemorate2 and1 even though we do not meditate or reflect on it1 the stream from this source diffuses itself through our life and sweetens all the other joys which come at this time4 ,and they come because of it2 we make merry outwardly because we are1 and have cause to be glad at heart4 ,and what is this cause and source of joy8 ,is it because ,christ our ,lord has come to save us from sin and eternal ruin8 ,no1 it is not simply that2 for we celebrate our salvation1 our redemption1 our ransom from the power of death and hell more specially at ,easter than now4 ,that is the festival of our ,lord's triumph and our deliverance2 it should and does open heaven to our souls1 and give them a promise and almost a foretaste of it4 ,but still it does not come home to our hearts as this beautiful time of ,christmas does4 ,and no wonder2 for at ,easter we cannot but feel that our ,lord1 though triumphant and glorious1 and promising us a share in his triumph and glory1 still is separated from us4 ,he has passed the portals of death1 he has risen from the grave1 he has put on immortality4 ,we cannot follow him where he has gone till we have freed ourselves from all the stains of earth1 till we have been purified and washed by penance in his ,precious ,blood4 ,he has passed from mortal to immortal life1 and it is the raising of the mortal to the immortal1 of earth to heaven1 that ,easter celebrates4 #eb ,and this1 though indeed it is the object of all our hope1 is so high that we1 sinners that we are1 cannot fully make it our present joy4 ,but ,christmas is heaven come down to earth4 ,it is the ,god of heaven condescending to us2 taking our weakness upon him1 sympathizing with us1 and asking us for sympathy and love4 ,he hides his majesty and glory2 he veils the splendor of his face2 he puts aside all that could distinguish him from ourselves4 ,he invites us to come to him with out fear2 he asks only that1 sinful though we be1 we should try to love him as he loves us4 ,christmas is the sight of the ,creator begging for the love of his creatures1 and humbling himself that he may obtain it2 that is the reason why it goes to the heart of all who have any heart to give4 ,let us then1 in this happy season1 enter into this joy which is the cause of all the rest which we have1 which is so easy for us1 which has come to our doors1 and only asks that it should be let in4 ,but let the love which goes with it be not a mere passing feeling1 to bear no fruit in our lives4 ,let it bring us indeed to him who has come down to us2 let our joy be crowned and perfected by a real return of our hearts to him who has done so much to win them2 let us receive him in deed and in truth in his holy sacraments1 and never let him go again4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xiv4 ,new ,year's ,eve4 ,be sober4 #b ,timothy4 iv4 #e4 #ec ,brethren1 those two little words of ,st4 ,paul in the epistle of to-day contain excellent advice1 especially to-day1 on the eve of the new year4 ,how much woe it would hinder1 how many families it would save from ruin1 how many souls from hell1 could they be made a common watchword in any large city in this country during the year #ahhc6 ,but do you wish me to tell you the easiest way to be sober8 ,it is to take the total abstinence pledge4 ,what does a man do when he takes the pledge8 ,just what the farmer does who1 seeing that his fence is about high enough to keep the cattle out of the grain1 makes it just one rail higher2 for he knows that there may be one beast wilder than the rest who will leap over an ordinary fence4 ,so a prudent man1 seeing the ravages of the vice of intemperance among his friends1 dreads some taint of it hidden in his own nature2 dreads some moment of weakness during the passing of the convivial glass1 or during some depression of spirits or foolish mirth4 ,so he puts all danger out of the question by the pledge4 ,for if there be danger from an inherited appetite or from a convivial disposition1 or from prosperity or adversity1 there is no mistake about this3 the man who does not drink a single drop cannot drink too much4 ,but again3 what does a man do who takes the pledge8 ,just what the kind mother does who wants to induce her sick child to take the bitter medicine--she tastes it herself4 ,the pledge is taken by a man who may not need it for his own sake1 but who loves another who does need it4 ,it is taken in order to give good example4 ,it is not only a preventive for one's self1 but for those who may be led by our influence4 ,it is one great means that fathers and mothers use in order to save their children from the demon of drunkenness4 #ed ,oh6 how pleasing to ,god are those parents who practise total abstinence by way of good example6 ,oh6 how blessed is the home from which intoxicating drink has been utterly banished6 ,how wise are those parents who thus teach their children that intoxicating drink1 though it may be used with innocence1 must always be used with caution6 ,children reared in such a home know well enough how to avoid treating1 frequenting saloons1 and convivial habits of every sort4 ,such parents not only obey the ,apostle's injunction1 ,be sober1 but do the very best possible thing to induce those whom they love to obey it also4 ,but once more3 what does a man do who takes the pledge8 ,he offers something to ,god in atonement for the sin of drunkenness4 ,and herein is the best use of the pledge4 ,it combines all the other good purposes of it4 ,it puts the top rail of double safety on the fence that keeps the beast out of the garden of the soul2 it sets up the strong inducement of good example2 but more than all it consecrates everything to ,god by uniting it to our ,lord's thirst on the cross4 ,brethren1 why was it that1 when our ,lord suffered agony of soul1 he complained in such words as would be apt to move the drunkard more than any other sinner3 ,o my ,father6 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me4 ,o my ,father6 if this cup may not pass away from me except ,i drink it1 thy will be done4 ,is there no special significance in his choice of those words8 ,and listen to the account ,st4 ,john gives of our ,lord's physical agony3 ,jesus1 knowing that all things were accomplished that the ,scriptures might be fulfilled1 saith1 ,i thirst6 444 ,and they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it to his mouth4 #ee ,when ,jesus1 therefore1 had received the vinegar he said3 ,it is finished6 ,and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost4 ,thirst was the only bodily torment he complained of4 ,had he no special purpose in this8 ,so the man who takes the pledge suffers thirst in union with ,christ and for the love of ,god to atone for sins of drunkenness4 ,that is why it does not settle the matter against taking the pledge when one can say he does not need it4 ,our ,lord had no need to suffer thirst4 ,he could say1 ,i own all the cool fountains in the world1 and all the strengthening wine of the world is mine1 and ,i might drink and never need to thirst for my own sake2 but ,i love the poor drunkard1 and for his sake ,i will die thirsting for a cool drink and tasting only bitter vinegar4 ,and the ,catholic total abstainer says3 ,o ,lord6 permit me to bear thee company in thy bitter thirst4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xv4 ,the ,feast ,of ,the ,holy ,innocents4 ,and ,herod sending killed all the men-children that were in ,bethlehem and in all the confines thereof from two years old and younger4 --,matthew ii4 #af ,who is not shocked by the recital of ,herod's cruelty8 ,carried away by pride and ambition1 and the fear of losing what he had usurped1 this tyrant tried to put to death the ,king of ,kings by the murder of the holy innocents4 ,who in our day are like ,herod8 ,those who murder innocent children4 #ef ,fiendish mothers1 desiring1 perhaps1 to cover their shame or to escape the labor of bearing and bringing up children1 take the lives of their unborn infants4 ,those1 too1 who knowingly sell or give or advise the use of drugs calculated to destroy the life of the unborn--all such commit ,herod's crime4 ,yet how often this crime is nowadays committed6 ,woe to these wretches6 ,woe to the ,herod-like physicians who1 for any reason whatsoever1 directly prescribe or use means to prevent child-birth6 ,herod met his punishment in a bad death1 and his soul went into a hell of eternal torments4 ,what must the murderers of little children expect8 ,but ,i have another cruelty to cry out against4 ,it is that of those who destroy the little ones of ,christ by neglecting to instruct their little children in the way of salvation4 ,the law of ,god requires that children as soon as they have the use of reason1 which is about the age of seven years1 should know the elements of the ,christian doctrine1 should know the necessity of avoiding sin1 and should be taught the practice of virtue2 also1 that children1 as soon as they are able to sufficiently profit by receiving ,holy ,communion1 should do so4 ,no child should ever be allowed to go beyond the age of twelve years without having made ,first ,communion4 ,many can receive ,first ,communion at nine or ten years of age1 and perhaps younger4 ,confirmation should be received as soon as ,first ,communion4 ,parents are guilty before ,god if they do not require their children to keep the commandments of ,god and his church from their earliest years until they leave the parents charge4 ,how many parents do their little ones a deadly injury by not sending them regularly to ,sunday-school6 #eg ,what is it to bring up children to burn in the flames of hell for ever1 as some ,christian parents do8 ,it is simply soul-murder4 ,it deserves no better name4 ,have you been guilty of soul-murder8 ,if so1 hasten to repair the evil as much as you can4 ,you can never do it wholly1 but you must do what you can4 ,there is yet another cruelty towards the little ones of ,christ4 ,it is to scandalize them by your bad example4 ,instead of learning by your example to adore our ,blessed ,lord1 to love and reverence his ,blessed ,mother and the saints1 they1 perhaps1 learn to take ,god's holy name in vain4 ,your falsehoods teach them to lie2 your dishonesty teaches them to steal4 ,your anger and quarrelling teach them to be stubborn and disobedient4 ,ah6 ,christian parents1 be careful how you hang this millstone of scandalizing the little ones of ,christ about your necks4 ,finally1 you destroy your children by not correcting their faults4 ,you wink at the evil which they do4 ,you fail to punish them1 regardless of ,god's honor and their good4 ,if you do punish them1 it is not correction in the ,lord1 but you do it to gratify your satanic rage4 ,some fathers and mothers are not worthy of the name4 ,the dignity and responsibility of fathers and mothers are very great4 ,see that you are faithful to the obligations which belong to your high and holy state4 ------------------- #eh ,the ,epiphany4 ,epistle4 ,isaias lx4 #a-f4 ,arise1 be enlightened1 ,o ,jerusalem3 for thy light is come1 and the glory of the ,lord is risen upon thee4 ,for behold darkness shall cover the earth1 and a mist the people3 but the ,lord shall arise upon thee1 and his glory shall be seen upon thee4 ,and the ,gentiles shall walk in thy light1 and kings in the brightness of thy rising4 ,lift up thy eyes round about1 and see3 all these are gathered together1 they are come to thee3 thy sons shall come from afar1 and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side4 ,then shalt thou see and abound1 and thy heart shall wonder and be enlarged2 when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee1 the strength of the ,gentiles shall come to thee4 ,the multitude of camels shall cover thee1 the dromedaries of ,madian and ,epha3 all they from ,saba shall come1 bringing gold and frankincense3 and showing forth praise to the ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew4 ii4 #a-ab4 ,when ,jesus1 therefore1 was born in ,bethlehem of ,juda1 in the days of ,king ,herod1 behold1 there came wise men from the ,east to ,jerusalem1 saying3 ,where is he that is born ,king of the ,jews8 ,for we have seen his star in the ,east1 and we are come to adore him4 ,and ,herod the ,king hearing this was troubled1 and all ,jerusalem with him3 and assembling together all the chief priests and ,scribes of the people1 he inquired of them where ,christ should be born4 ,but they said to him1 ,in ,bethlehem of ,juda2 for so it is written by the prophet3 ,and thou ,bethlehem1 the land of ,juda1 art not the least among the princes of ,juda3 for out of thee shall come forth the ruler who shall rule my people ,israel4 #ei ,then ,herod1 privately calling the wise men1 inquired diligently of them the time of the star's appearing to them2 and sending them into ,bethlehem1 said3 ,go and search diligently after the child1 and when you have found him1 bring me word again1 that ,i also may come and adore him4 ,and when they had heard the king1 they went their way2 and behold1 the star which they had seen in the ,east went before them1 until it came and stood over where the child was4 ,and seeing the star1 they rejoiced with exceeding great joy4 ,and going into the house1 they found the child with ,mary his mother1 and falling down1 they adored him2 and opening their treasures1 they offered him gifts2 gold1 frankincense1 and myrrh4 ,and having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to ,herod1 they went back another way into their own country4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xvi4 ,the ,testimony ,of ,the ,spirit4 ,for whosoever are led by the ,spirit of ,god they are the ,sons of ,god4 --,romans viii4 #ad4 ,the end of our pilgrimage1 like that of the three wise men1 my brethren1 is union with our ,lord4 ,of course union with ,god1 through his power and his being present everywhere1 always exists1 whether we are his friends or not4 ,but the state of grace is the union of love4 ,by that union ,god rules our souls4 ,by that union the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 the third person of the most ,holy ,trinity1 really dwells within us4 ,in the state of grace we are brought into loving contact with the divine ,spirit4 #fj ,now the ,apostle1 in the words of our text1 wishes to teach us one effect of that wonderful union4 ,for the ,spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of ,god4 ,that is to say1 when the ,holy ,spirit enters into your heart he announces his coming1 he assures you of his friendship1 he excites within you a sentiment of filial affection for your ,heavenly ,father4 ,how could it be otherwise8 ,could ,god be long in our hearts and we be altogether ignorant of it8 ,of course he does not take away the natural fickleness of our minds2 the star sometimes shines faintly1 or even for a while disappears from view4 ,god does not reveal himself as he is2 he does not interfere at all with his external work in the holy church2 he does not substitute his interior action on the soul for that exterior action of visible authority and sacramental symbols4 ,it is1 indeed1 by means of this external order that the ,holy ,spirit enters into our hearts2 it is1 besides1 only by means of the church's divine marks1 her divine testimony1 her divine influence in the sacraments1 that we can be quite sure that ,almighty ,god has come down into our souls4 ,yet the ,holy ,spirit really has a secret career within us4 ,deep calleth unto deep2 that is1 the infinite love of ,god calls into life our little love4 ,he has his inner church in our souls1 so to speak2 or rather he brings into his spiritual and hidden temple all that is outside1 spiritualizes the external order1 joins the purely mental with the sacramental1 and1 having set our faces in the right direction and started our feet moving in the right road1 he sets us to thinking right1 he stirs up noble aspirations1 he purifies our feelings1 and finally gives us testimony that it is really himself1 the ,spirit of ,god1 who has thus been at work making our inner life such as befits the sons of ,god4 #fa ,now1 my brethren1 as ,i said before1 this testimony of ,god within us is not like the splendors of ,paradise bursting upon the soul2 nor is it so very plain as to be able to stand alone without the external criterion of his church as a testimony of ,god's friendship1 except now and then in the case of some great saint4 ,yet there are many things in our inner life that1 if we study them over a little1 show that ,god has been acting upon us4 ,what else is that wonder of the world called the faith of ,catholics8 ,who else but the ,spirit of ,god could give such power to believe very mysterious truths1 such a stability to wavering minds1 such a humility of belief to proud minds8 ,and what except divine love could be as sweet as the taste the soul enjoys in the reception of the sacraments8 ,call to mind the utter transformation of soul that so often takes place at ,first ,communion2 remember the flood of divine influence at your ,christian marriage2 remember how after that death-bed scene your broken heart was cured of its despair when you turned to ,god2 remember how at missions or during seasons of penance1 or at one or other festival1 it seemed to you that heaven was beginning before its time4 ,all this is ,god's work on your life4 ,the tender emotion at hearing the divine promises1 the loving regret for sin1 the joy of forgiveness1 the imagination filled--plainly by no human means--with images of celestial peace1 the understanding as clear of doubts as heaven of clouds1 the will strong and easily able to keep good resolutions1 sometimes the very body sharing the lightness and vigor of the soul--what is all this but the embrace of the ,holy ,spirit8 #fb ,and if one says he does not feel it1 and yet hopes he is in the state of grace1 ,i answer that he will not be long deprived of it4 ,or it may be he is tepid2 his soul is not able to feel any more than a hand benumbed with cold2 his ear not hearing because his attention is too much fixed on the voices of the world to hear the voice of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,his eye is too much dazzled by the false glitter of the world to catch sight of the star that leads to our ,lord's feet4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xvii4 ,following ,god's ,guidance4 ,be ye1 therefore1 followers of ,god1 as most dear children4 --,ephesians4 v4 #a4 ,my dear brethren1 these are not words of counsel or good advice2 they are words of command1 written by ,st4 ,paul4 ,this command is to follow ,god1 and to follow him as most dear children1 obediently as the ,magi did of old4 ,what is it to follow ,god8 ,it is to do at least as much as we do when we follow any one great man4 ,how do we act then8 ,we seek to be with him a great deal4 ,we listen to his every word4 ,we do as he does4 ,we adopt his views of things4 ,we repeat what he teaches4 ,neither do we dare to differ from him1 for fear that people will say that we have no sense2 nor do we venture to act in any manner opposed to his ways of doing4 ,in a few words1 a man who is followed is the leader in fashion1 in taste1 and style4 ,everybody approves his ways1 and imitates them4 #fc ,his friends have also the friendship of the world1 simply because they are his friends4 ,any one whom he approves and recommends is listened to and followed because he has recommended him4 ,if we want to follow ,god1 he does not really require1 outwardly1 any more than men require of us to follow them4 ,but how can we do this8 ,first3 ,seek to be with ,god a great deal4 ,where is he1 that we may find him8 ,god is everywhere1 and is always found by looking for him and seeking for him diligently in prayer2 for prayer keeps us near to ,god and ,god near to us4 ,and he is always on the altar3 hear ,mass not only on ,sundays but now and then on week days2 visit the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,secondly3 ,listen to his every word4 ,god speaks to our souls in prayer1 not with a voice like the voice of a man1 but in his own sweet and quiet way4 ,we must listen attentively to hear the gentle words of ,god1 not with our outward ears of the body1 but with the ability to hear that is within our souls2 the ability of the soul to hear the voice of a spirit speaking to our spirit4 ,god also speaks to us through his ,holy ,word in the ,sacred ,scriptures1 in the ,epistle and ,gospel set apart for each ,sunday of the year1 in the writings of holy men and women1 in the teachings of ,christian parents and friends4 ,but the most important way in which ,god has taught1 and continues to teach us all1 is by means of his church4 ,when we listen to her words1 in sermons and other instructions1 we hear the ,word of ,god4 #fd ,thirdly3 ,do as ,god does4 ,try to be like him1 and him alone4 ,take care to do always the thing that is right4 ,try hard to be loving1 merciful1 forgiving1 and gentle to all1 even your enemies4 ,when we have anything to do1 we must say1 ,would ,god do this way or that way8 ,when we meet with cruel treatment from others1 with ingratitude and base injustice from those we love1 we must say at once1 ,how does ,god treat those who do these things8 ,how does he treat me1 notwithstanding my many1 many sins8 ,i shall go and do to these bad people as he has done to me4 ,i shall even bless them1 as he has blessed me4 ,lastly3 ,if we want to follow ,god1 at least as well as we follow a great man whom we have made a leader among us1 we are sure to honor his friends1 and obey those he sends to us in his name4 ,who are these8 ,not only all good people1 but especially our pastors and spiritual directors4 ,the pastor or parish priest is a man sent by ,god to make sure of the success of ,god's work in his parish4 ,any one who follows ,god in that parish unites heart and soul with his priest to help him carry out his plans4 ,if any one wants to get the greatest amount of merit for his good deeds1 he is sure to get it by following first these plans4 ,for the priest stands as a father among his children4 ,he knows the good and the bad1 the rich and the poor4 ,he knows what is best for each4 ,he is the best adviser as to what ought to be done1 and as to the way it is to be done4 ,in charities he is certainly the best leader4 ,private works and charities are good1 it is true2 but the first duty1 after one's own necessities are cared for1 is to follow the order of ,god1 in aiding the parish work through the parish priest and his assistants4 ,we may safely say that one act done for ,god1 in union with those put over us by him1 is worth in heaven1 and here also1 many good works done simply because we like to do them our own way4 #fe ,to follow ,god1 then1 is to follow as dear children4 ,we must consent to be led by ,god in all things connected with duty1 just as little children are led by their fathers and mothers4 ,we must take care1 at least1 that we follow his lead1 and not show more honor to others than we do to him4 ------------------- #ff ,first ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,epistle4 ,romans xii4 #a-e4 ,brethren3 ,i beseech you1 by the mercy of ,god1 that you present your bodies a living sacrifice1 holy1 pleasing to ,god1 your reasonable service4 ,and be not conformed to this world3 but be reformed in the newness of your mind1 that you may prove what is the good and the acceptable1 and the perfect will of ,god4 ,for ,i say1 through the grace that is given me1 to all that are among you1 not to be more wise than it behooveth to be wise1 but to be wise unto sobriety1 and according as ,god hath divided to every one the measure of faith4 ,for as in one body we have many members1 but all the members have not the same office3 so we being many are one body in ,christ1 and each one members one of another in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke ii4 #db-eb4 ,when ,jesus was twelve years old1 they went up to ,jerusalem according to the custom of the feast1 and after they had fulfilled the days1 when they returned1 the child ,jesus remained in ,jerusalem2 and his parents knew it not4 ,and thinking that he was in the company1 they came a day's journey1 and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance4 ,and not finding him1 they returned into ,jerusalem1 seeking him4 ,and it came to pass1 that after three days they found him in the temple1 sitting in the midst of the doctors1 hearing them and asking them questions4 ,and all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers4 ,and seeing him1 they wondered4 #fg ,and his mother said to him3 ,son1 why hast thou done so to us8 behold thy father and ,i have sought thee sorrowing4 ,and he said to them3 ,how is it that you sought me8 did you not know that ,i must be about the things that are my ,father's8 ,and they understood not the word that he spoke unto them4 ,and he went down with them1 and came to ,nazareth3 and was subject to them4 ,and his mother kept all these words in her heart4 ,and ,jesus increased in wisdom and age1 and grace with ,god and men4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xviii4 ,the ,christian ,home4 ,he went down with them and came to ,nazareth1 and was subject to them4 444 ,and ,jesus advanced in wisdom and age1 and grace with ,god and men4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,in these few words1 my brethren1 the sacred writer raises the veil that conceals the mysteries of our ,lord's hidden life1 and gives us an insight into the domestic concerns of the ,holy ,family at ,nazareth4 ,jesus lived with ,mary and ,joseph4 ,he was obedient and subject to them1 and so he advanced in age and wisdom and grace with ,god and men4 ,the door of the holy house is opened to us1 but only for a moment1 so that we might get a glimpse of the domestic life of a model family4 ,joseph1 the father1 day by day works at his trade to support the family4 ,he rises in the morning2 gives his soul to ,god in prayer4 ,he toils through the day4 ,he comes home at night to enjoy his rest in the company of ,jesus and ,mary4 ,he meets with trials1 but he is patient2 he is tempted1 but he sins not2 he leads a busy life1 but he still finds time to pray4 #fh ,mary1 the mother1 tends the household duties1 with care and precision1 and by her sweet1 kind ways diffuses an air of peace and contentment throughout the home4 ,jesus1 the child1 is affectionate and submissive to his parents in everything4 ,here is the model of a true ,christian home4 ,its ground work is the love of ,god2 it is surrounded by an atmosphere of virtue1 and to its members it is the holiest and dearest spot on earth4 ,such should our homes be4 ,the true ,christian home is to society what the sanctuary is to the church of ,god4 ,the parents are the priests in this sanctuary4 ,it was ,god who ordained them priests when they stood before the altar with clasped hands and promised that they would be faithful to each other while life lasts4 ,the ,blessed ,sacrament of this sanctuary is the ,sacrament of ,matrimony4 ,it is the great treasure-house of supernatural strength to the married couple4 ,the perpetual presence of our ,lord in this sanctuary is by his grace1 which is never wanting4 ,the altar in this sanctuary is the hearthstone around which the family gathers4 ,the communion-rail in this sanctuary is the family table1 from which are dispensed the necessities of life4 ,there is about the sanctuary in the church of ,god an atmosphere of piety and reverence4 ,it has a sanctity that no stranger dare violate2 it has a privacy which no one but he who has a right dare invade4 ,such an atmosphere should be about the sanctuary of home4 ,a priest would never allow a heretic or an infidel to sit in the sanctuary of ,god4 ,he would never allow a corrupt man to stand on the altar of ,god4 ,take care1 then1 ,christian parents1 how you violate the sanctity of your homes4 #fi ,take care what heretical or infidel books you allow to pass the gate of that sanctuary4 ,take care what bad newspapers you allow within its sacred precincts4 ,take care of the persons whom you allow to stand around your family altar4 ,it is one thing1 you know1 to be obliged to meet a man in every-day life2 it is a far different thing to invite him to your home1 and permit him to violate its sanctity4 ,it is the duty of a priest on the altar of ,god1 by his good example1 to edify his flock2 to stand at all times before his people a bright1 shining light of ,christian virtues4 ,so1 too1 it is your duty1 priests at the family altar1 to be a model of all virtues to your children1 so that they might learn from you what it is to be a ,christian4 ,would it not be horrible for a man to come in on the altar and utter repeated curses8 ,would it not be fearful to see him stagger up to the altar of ,god in the state of intoxication8 ,it happened once while ,mass was going on1 during the ,elevation1 while all heads were bowed in humble adoration1 a drunken man rushed into the church1 and in a loud voice uttered a horrible oath4 ,it made the hearts of the good ,catholic people stand still1 and their blood ran cold in their veins4 ,is it any the less horrible for a father to come home intoxicated to the household sanctuary1 or a mother1 when anything goes wrong in the house1 to give vent to her wrath in harsh language and sometimes even cursing8 ,see to it1 then1 dear parents2 make your homes holy places--real sanctuaries1 where you can do your duty as priests of our ,all-,holy ,god4 ,keep from them all evil influences1 so that they might be places where even the ,child ,jesus would not be ashamed to dwell4 ------------------- #gj ,sermon ,,xix4 ,jesus ,teaching ,in ,the ,temple4 ,and not finding him1 they returned into ,jerusalem1 seeking him4 --,luke ii4 #de ,the ,gospel of to-day tells us1 my brethren1 how our ,blessed ,lady and ,st4 ,joseph lost ,jesus on their way home from ,jerusalem1 where they had gone with him to keep the feast of the pasch1 and how in great distress they returned to the city in search of him4 ,what fears and anxieties must have filled their minds as they thought of the many enemies which he had among the rulers of the people1 jealous of his promised kingdom1 and of the harm which they would try to do him if they recognized him for the child whom ,herod had sought to destroy6 ,and how perplexed ,mary and ,joseph must have been that he who had hitherto saved himself by their protection should at this tender age abandon them and remove himself from their care6 ,had they not shown enough love and care for him8 ,had they proved themselves unworthy of him8 ,surely it could not be his purpose when so young to begin his great work4 ,would he not at least have told them if such had been his plan8 ,no1 our ,lord did not propose to begin his mission then2 for1 though he was indeed ,god1 he was also then a child1 and that mission was not a child's work4 ,but he did wish to show them that his great work even then filled his heart and soul2 that the fire of love for us1 which brought him to the cross1 was consuming him even in childhood4 ,did you not know1 he said to them when they found him1 that ,i must be about my ,father's business8 ,how is it that you sought me8 ,you might have known1 he seems to say1 that1 if ,i were not with you1 ,i must be in the temple speaking to my people of their ,god4 #ga ,he also wished to give them an opportunity of merit by showing the love of ,god which filled their souls1 too4 ,for their grief was not the common grief of parents who have lost a child1 great as that trouble is4 ,it was the loss of the ,divine ,presence which affected them beyond measure4 ,god had been with them for all those years as never with any one else1 and now he had left them1 they could not tell why or for how long4 ,they would not have spared him for an hour1 even to their kinsfolk and friends1 with whom they thought he was1 except for charity2 and now he had left them1 perhaps for the rest of their lives1 which were worth nothing without him4 ,would that we loved ,god1 my brethren1 as they loved him2 that he were the light and consolation of our lives1 as he was of theirs6 ,let us think of this as we reflect on their pain and anguish in that weary search for the visible presence of him whose grace was1 after all1 always in their souls4 ,how is it with us8 ,would we care for this presence which they so bitterly missed8 ,would it not1 perhaps1 even be a painful restraint8 ,do we care1 as it is1 to be near ,jesus8 ,is his presence in the ,blessed ,sacrament of the altar a consolation to us8 ,we revere that real ,presence of our ,lord1 but do we love it8 ,if so1 why do we not seek it more8 ,do we even care for his presence by grace in our souls1 which they always had in its fulness1 and never dimmed by the shadow of sin8 ,to lose that1 had it been possible1 would have been a thousand deaths to them2 what is it to us8 ,how easily do we lose that grace2 how little do we care to regain it6 #gb ,oh6 let us at least imitate our ,blessed ,mother and her ,holy ,spouse as far as this4 ,if we do not love to be with ,jesus as they did1 let us at least seek to have him with us by his grace4 ,if we have lost him1 let us seek him1 and not be weary till we find him2 let us not rest till he comes again to our souls1 never to leave them again4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xx4 ,how ,our ,saviour ,takes ,away ,sin4 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 behold him who taketh away the sins of the world4 --,st4 ,john i4 #bi4 ,after our ,blessed ,lord was baptized by ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 beloved brethren1 he retired into the desert1 where he remained forty days in prayer and fasting4 ,at the end of this time he directed his steps towards the river ,jordan1 where ,john was baptizing4 ,here a large concourse of the ,jewish people had assembled to listen to the preaching of the forerunner of ,christ4 ,in the midst of these ,st4 ,john1 inspired by the spirit of ,god1 and professing his deep and ardent faith1 testified of our ,lord that he is the ,lamb of ,god1 and that it is he who taketh away the sins of the world4 #gc ,what a glorious testimony this1 and how cheerfully received by the fervent ,christian6 ,have you ever pondered over these beautiful words1 and made them the subject of your meditation8 ,have you ever tried to find out their true meaning1 and thus make them profitable to your souls8 ,yes1 truly1 ,jesus ,christ is the ,lamb of ,god4 ,he is the ,lamb slain from the beginning of the world4 ,for you and for me he voluntarily left the bosom of his ,father1 and lowered and even debased himself by assuming a nature like our own4 ,for us he endured the sufferings and privations of his childhood2 for us he sent up many heartfelt prayers to ,god the ,father before the beginning of his public life2 for us he labored and preached2 for us he suffered the ingratitude of his disciples1 the ignominies of the ,jews1 the insults of the soldiers1 the hardships of the journey to ,calvary1 and1 finally1 ended his torments on the cross1 with the cry ,consummatum est--,it is finished4 ,this1 and much more1 did our ,blessed ,lord gladly undergo for us all4 ,and how have you1 dear brethren1 requited such infinite love8 ,fathers1 are you solicitous for the little household which ,almighty ,god himself has so fondly entrusted to your care8 ,then are you imitators of the patience and endurance of your ,saviour during his bitter passion4 ,mothers1 do you strive to make yourselves patterns of the ,christian virtues of gentleness and forbearance8 ,then do you imitate the example of your ,lord in bearing the defects of others and treating them with kindness and compassion4 ,oh6 how watchful would we not be1 dear brethren1 could we but understand the infinite love our ,lord ,jesus ,christ manifested for us during his life on earth6 ,but ,st4 ,john not only gave testimony to our ,lord being the ,lamb of ,god1 but he further testified that it is he who takes away the sins of the world4 #gd ,he did not come simply to announce to the world the divine mission which he received from the ,father2 he also came to heal the infirmities of our souls by imparting to them the abundance of his grace4 ,this office he performed himself during his mortal life on earth4 ,he it was that purified the soul of ,mary ,magdalene and enriched it with sanctifying grace4 ,it was he who gave the living water of eternal life to the sinful ,samaritan woman4 ,and what our ,lord did for these and many others1 beloved brethren1 he is now effecting in the midst of us4 ,it is not necessary to remind you of how our ,lord chose a small band of apostles1 and made them the beginning of his church2 how he bestowed upon them and their successors the unheard-of and marvellous power of forgiving sins4 ,yes1 brethren1 the bishops and priests of the ,catholic ,church are the visible representatives of ,jesus ,christ2 they are the comfort of the afflicted1 the strength of the weak2 they have an efficacious remedy for those who are living in the state of mortal sin2 by pronouncing the words of absolution they restore to the penitent and contrite sinner his lost inheritance of sonship1 and make him an heir of the kingdom of heaven4 ,oh6 how thankful we should be for the mercy and goodness of our ,god6 ,what a tender love we ought to cherish for the ,church1 the ,bride without spot6 ,what respect is not due to those who hold the place of ,christ in our behalf6 ,how sufficiently prize the inestimable blessing of the tribunal of penance6 ,let us remember and meditate upon those three precious graces1 beloved brethren1 that they may be the source of sweet joy to us now1 and the earnest of a happy eternity hereafter4 ------------------- #ge ,second ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,feast ,of ,the ,holy ,name ,of ,jesus4 ,epistle4 ,romans xii4 #f-af4 ,having gifts different1 according to the grace that is given us1 whether prophecy1 according to the proportion of faith1 or ministry in ministering2 or he that teacheth1 in teaching2 he that exhorteth1 in exhorting2 he that giveth with simplicity2 he that ruleth with solicitude2 he that showeth mercy with cheerfulness4 ,love without dissimulation4 ,hating that which is evil1 adhering to that which is good2 loving one another with brotherly love2 in honor preventing one another2 in solicitude not slothful2 in spirit fervent2 serving the ,lord2 rejoicing in hope2 patient in tribulation2 instant in prayer2 communicating to the necessities of the saints2 pursuing hospitality4 ,bless them that persecute you2 bless1 and curse not4 ,rejoice with them that rejoice2 weep with them that weep2 being of one mind one to another2 not high-minded1 but condescending to the humble4 ,epistle of the ,feast4 ,acts iv4 #h-ab4 ,then ,peter1 filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 said to them3 ,ye rulers of the people and ancients1 hear3 ,if we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man1 by what means he hath been made whole2 be it known to you all1 and to all the people of ,israel1 that in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 whom you crucified1 whom ,god hath raised from the dead1 even by him doth this man stand here before you whole4 ,this is the stone which was rejected by you1 builders2 which is become the head of the corner2 nor is there salvation in any other4 ,for there is no other name under heaven given to men1 whereby we must be saved4 #gf ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john ii4 #a-aa4 ,at that time3 ,there was a marriage in ,cana of ,galilee3 and the mother of ,jesus was there4 ,and ,jesus also was invited1 and his disciples1 to the marriage4 ,and the wine failing1 the mother of ,jesus saith to him3 ,they have no wine4 ,and ,jesus saith to her3 ,woman1 what is that to me and to thee8 my hour is not yet come4 ,his mother said to the waiters3 ,whatsoever he shall say to you1 do ye4 ,now1 there were set there six water-pots of stone1 according to the manner of the purifying of the ,jews1 containing two or three measures apiece4 ,jesus saith to them3 ,fill the water-pots with water4 ,and they filled them up to the brim4 ,and ,jesus saith to them3 ,draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast4 ,and they carried it4 ,and when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine1 and knew not whence it was1 but the waiters knew who had drawn the water1 the chief steward calleth the bridegroom1 and saith to him3 ,every man at first setteth forth good wine1 and when men have well drunk1 then that which is worse3 but thou hast kept the good wine until now4 ,this beginning of miracles did ,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee1 and he manifested his glory1 and his disciples believed in him4 ,gospel ,of ,the ,feast4 ,st4 ,luke ii4 #ba4 ,at that time3 ,after eight days were accomplished that the child should be circumcised1 his name was called ,jesus1 which was called by the ,angel1 before he was conceived in the womb4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxi4 ,profanity4 ,to-day1 my dear brethren1 as you know1 the church celebrates the festival of the ,holy ,name of ,jesus2 of that name which is above all other names1 at which every knee shall bow1 and every tongue shall confess the glory of him to whom this great name belongs4 #gg ,yes1 the holy church does indeed reverence this holy name1 and we1 her children1 do not fail to honor it4 ,following a pious custom1 we bow the head when it is mentioned1 and it is to be hoped that we also make at the same time with our hearts an act of homage to him who bears it1 and thank him for all that he has done for us4 ,and yet1 strange to say1 some of these very ,christians who pay to the name of their ,god and ,saviour1 at least outwardly1 this tribute of honor on certain accustomed occasions seem to take at other times a pleasure in trampling it1 if ,i may so speak1 in the very dirt under their feet4 ,to see them in church1 you would think that they would hardly dare even to take at all upon their own lips this holy name which they hear from those of the priest2 but outside1 on the street1 and even1 it may be1 in their own homes1 they show a horrible familiarity with it4 ,this name above all names is coupled with every foolish1 passionate1 and even filthy word which the devil can put into their hearts and on their tongues4 #gh ,do ,i say this is strange8 ,ah6 that is far too weak a word4 ,to one who will stop and consider1 even for a moment1 it seems incredible1 impossible that a ,christian1 one who believes himself to have been created by the great ,god whose name he bears1 and to have been redeemed by him from the power of the devil1 at the cost of his own ,precious ,blood2 who has knelt in prayer before him2 who has received from him the pardon of his sins2 who has received him in his real and true ,presence on his tongue in the sacrament which he has instituted with such infinite condescension and love--,i say it seems impossible1 intolerable1 inconceivable1 that this wretched worm of the earth1 on whom so many and such surpassing favors have been showered by the ,divine ,goodness1 should1 with this very tongue on which his ,god has rested1 outrage and insult the name of this ,god1 and that the name which above all others tells how good and merciful he has been4 ,it seems as if even the infinite patience and love which our ,lord has for us could not brook this indignity1 this spittle cast in his face1 not as at the time of his ,passion1 by one who did not know who he was1 but by those who from childhood have known full well all the truths of their holy faith1 and who well understand that it is the ,divine ,majesty which they despise4 ,indeed1 my brethren1 believe me1 even the infidel shudders when he hears in passing along the street the holy name of our ,lord ,god and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 of him whom even he respects above all other men that have ever lived on earth1 thus outraged1 profaned1 and defiled by those who profess to believe him to be far more than the best and greatest of men2 who invoke him as the ,one who sitteth on the ,eternal ,throne1 before whom the angels veil their faces1 to whom is due benediction and honor and glory and power for ever and ever4 ,even the infidel1 ,i say1 shudders2 and he wonders how it can be1 if what ,christians believe is true1 that the ,god whom they thus insult suffers them to live4 #gi ,but you may say it is a habit you have got2 that is the excuse which seems good to you1 and which you seem to think that ,god ought to accept4 ,sup-pose you had a habit of spitting on your neighbor's face or clothes by preference to any other place1 how long would he endure it8 ,it is a habit1 yes2 but it is one which you can amend and get rid of altogether1 and which you are most urgently and seriously bound to get rid of1 if you would not have to answer for it at the bar of him whom this insufferable habit outrages and defies4 ,take care1 take care1 take care1 ,i warn and beseech you1 for ,god's sake1 for the sake of those who hear you1 and for your own sake1 that this habit come to an end4 ,watch1 keep guard against it2 punish yourself should you even inadvertently fall into it1 that your offended ,god may not have to take the punishment into his own hands4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxii4 ,the ,sin ,of ,cursing4 ,bless them that persecute you2 bless1 and curse not4 --,romans4 xii4 #ad4 ,these words are found in the epistle appointed for the second ,sunday after ,epiphany1 and were read by the church long before the institution of the ,feast of the ,holy ,name of ,jesus1 which is now always celebrated on this day1 yet they contain a lesson most appropriate to this feast4 ,for there is no way in which ,god's most holy name1 which to-day is especially set before us for our veneration1 is more frequently or more grossly dishonored than by cursing4 ,to curse is to call down ,god's judgment or vengeance upon our fellow-men1 and its worst form is when the holy and awful name of ,god or our ,lord is made use of4 #hj ,unhappily the fault has become so common1 even among those who think themselves good ,catholics1 that its grievous nature is seldom realized or1 perhaps1 even thought of4 ,the habit is often acquired in childhood1 frequently from the example of parents1 themselves given to cursing4 ,like all early-acquired habits1 it grows stronger and more deeply-rooted with advancing years1 until at last the habit is made the excuse for the sin4 ,it is a vain excuse4 ,you are guilty before ,god of mortal sin if you have formed this habit1 and you are guilty of remaining in the state of mortal sin if you make no effort to break yourself of it4 ,it will do you no good to go to confession and accuse yourself of cursing1 unless you are contrite and follow the advice which your confessor gives you1 and really make an earnest resolution and a serious effort to overcome this scandalous habit4 ,you should begin by making each morning a resolution to avoid cursing throughout the day1 begging ,god's assistance for your efforts4 ,if1 during the day1 you fall inadvertently into the old fault1 you should impose some little penance upon yourself1 such as the recitation of the ,hail ,mary1 or the pious ejaculation of the holy name of ,jesus1 with a prayer for ,god's forgiveness4 ,and then at night you should examine your conscience as to how often you may have fallen into the habit during the day1 and resolve to make the next day a better one in this respect4 ,if you faithfully persevere in this practice you will soon be the master of your tongue1 and able to restrain it from cursing by a little watchfulness2 but if you do not adopt some such practice as this1 and really set to work in earnest to overcome this habit1 you are guilty before ,god of mortal sin1 and your contrition at your confessions is not good for much4 #ha ,i have spoken of this habit as scandalous1 as this is one of its worst features4 ,besides the insult that is offered to ,god and his holy name1 an incalculable amount of harm is done to our neighbor4 ,children1 especially1 learn to curse from their elders1 and the extent of this fault among young children is frightful to contemplate4 ,those1 too1 who are not of our faith1 when they hear ,catholics cursing and swearing1 are apt to set it down to some defect in our religion1 and thus the true faith is brought into contempt4 ,but the habitual curser seldom thinks of these consequences of his sin4 ,he rarely even attends to the meaning of the words he uses4 ,if he could only be brought to stop and think of all that is implied in the expressions we so often hear upon our streets1 he would shudder at the thought of using them4 ,to ask ,almighty ,god to send a soul to hell for all eternity1 to utter that holy name whereby we are saved in a prayer for the eternal damnation of a soul redeemed by the ,precious ,blood of ,christ1 is an impiety so dreadful that we could scarcely believe it possible did not our ears tell us the contrary4 ,yet there are those who not only say these things1 but mean them1 at least at the moment when they are uttered4 ,how carefully1 then1 should we guard ourselves against those outbursts of anger in which we are led to make such a fearful abuse of the gift of speech1 the noblest of ,god's natural gifts to man6 #hb ,above all1 we should try to realize the spirit of the ,gospel as expressed in the words of ,st4 ,paul1 ,bless them that persecute you1 remembering that no affront that can be offered to us can even justify the spirit of revenge that is implied in a curse4 ,bless1 therefore1 and curse not1 that so you may yourselves receive the blessing of the ,lord4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxiii4 ,reverence ,for ,the ,name ,of ,god4 ,the ,feast of the ,holy ,name of ,jesus1 brethren1 affords an opportunity for meditating upon reverence for the honor of ,god1 especially in the person of our ,blessed ,saviour4 ,reverence for ,god is something different from the love of ,god and the fear of ,god4 ,have you not noticed that when a bad boy neither fears his father nor 7as far as we can see7 loves him1 that he yet often keeps up at least a show of respect for him8 ,i don't care much for him1 he says1 but after all he is my father2 ,i must respect him4 ,so with sinners4 ,many a sinner will break every commandment of ,god and the church except one or two1 which he fancies he must observe in order to keep up appearances2 that is to say1 show at least some outward respect4 ,the most atrocious scoundrel will not eat meat on ,friday1 because that would be a sign of losing all respect for religion4 ,a wretch abandoned to every vice will say a ,hail ,mary or make the sign of the cross sometimes in order to persuade at least himself that he has not lost all respect for religion4 ,he will not despise the piety of his friends1 but rather respect it4 ,respect for holy things and holy practices is the last remnant of religion in the sinner's soul4 #hc ,well1 brethren1 let us ask if ,almighty ,god has not set up any particular sign of reverence that we are to pay him8 ,what is that1 among all religious practices1 which he would have us do as a token of inner and outer reverence8 ,of course you know what ,i mean2 you know that it is reverence for his holy name4 ,the name of ,god1 and especially the name of ,jesus1 are set up as the divine standard before which every man will prove his reverence for ,god4 ,cursers and swearers and blasphemers forget this4 ,no sin is so common as profanity in its various forms4 ,yet it shows a heart not only void of the fear of ,god1 and of the love of ,god1 but also1 and worst of all1 void of even reverence for ,god4 ,a man who habitually curses is penetrated with defiance of the ,divine ,majesty4 ,holy ,scripture says that he has put on cursing like a garment2 that it has entered in unto his bones4 ,in the old law a blasphemer was stoned to death4 ,and in our own times ,god often anticipates the wrath to come by sending sudden death upon profane men4 ,i lately read in the papers that a man1 standing at a saloon-counter1 cursed his own soul1 and instantly sank down upon the floor stone dead4 ,many of you have doubtless heard or even seen such visitations of divine justice4 ,and it is in view of the sacred obligation of reverence to ,god in his chosen symbol--which is his name and his ,son's name--that1 although he had but ten commandments to give us1 one of them was set apart to secure respectful speech when dealing with ,god3 ,thou shalt not take the name of the ,lord thy ,god in vain1 for the ,lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain4 #hd ,brethren1 you and ,i in the future will be particularly careful to honor the sacred name of ,jesus4 ,are you tempted8 ,that name is a resistless charm against assaults of flesh1 world1 or devil4 ,are you tired out8 ,the name of ,jesus is a restful and soothing influence4 ,are you sick8 ,that holy name will strengthen you with supernatural vigor4 ,i hope that when you come to die your last breath may utter that name of ,jesus with deep confidence1 and that our ,lord will answer your dying sigh with an affectionate welcome into his heavenly court4 ------------------- #he ,third ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,epistle4 ,romans xii4 #af-ba4 ,brethren3 ,be not wise in your own conceits4 ,render to no man evil for evil4 ,provide things good not only in the sight of ,god1 but also in the sight of all men4 ,if it be possible1 as much as is in you1 have peace with all men4 ,revenge not yourselves1 my dearly beloved2 but give place to wrath1 for it is written3 ,revenge is mine2 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4 ,but if thy enemy be hungry1 give him to eat2 if he thirst1 give him drink2 for doing this thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head4 ,be not overcome by evil1 but overcome evil by good4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew viii4 #a-ac4 ,at that time3 ,when ,jesus was come down from the mountain1 great multitudes followed him2 and behold a leper coming1 adored him1 saying3 ,lord1 if thou wilt1 thou canst make me clean4 ,and ,jesus1 stretching forth his hand1 touched him1 saying3 ,i will2 be thou made clean4 ,and immediately his leprosy was cleansed4 ,and ,jesus said to him3 ,see thou tell no man2 but go show thyself to the priest1 and offer the gift which ,moses commanded for a testimony to them4 ,and when he had entered into ,capharnaum1 there came to him a centurion1 beseeching him and saying3 ,lord1 my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy1 and is grievously tormented4 ,and ,jesus said to him3 ,i will come and heal him4 ,and the centurion1 making answer1 said3 ,lord1 ,i am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof2 but only say the word1 and my servant shall be healed4 #hf ,for ,i also am a man under authority1 having soldiers under me2 and ,i say to this man1 ,go1 and he goeth1 and to another1 ,come1 and he cometh1 and to my servant1 ,do this1 and he doeth it4 ,and ,jesus1 hearing this1 wondered1 and said to those that followed him3 ,amen ,i say to you1 ,i have not found so great faith in ,israel4 ,and ,i say unto you that many shall come from the east and the west1 and shall sit down with ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 in the kingdom of heaven2 but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into exterior darkness3 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ,and ,jesus said to the centurion3 ,go1 and as thou hast believed1 so be it done to thee4 ,and the servant was healed at the same hour4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxiv4 ,practical ,faith4 ,many shall come from the east and the west1 and shall sit down with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob in the kingdom of heaven2 but the children of the kingdom shall be cast into the exterior darkness4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,these words1 my dear brethren1 were spoken by our ,blessed ,lord to the ,jews on the occasion of the cure of the servant of the centurion4 ,this centurion was an officer1 like what we would call a captain1 in the ,roman army2 he was not a ,jew1 so he did not belong to ,god's chosen people1 his church of the old law4 ,no1 he was a heathen by birth2 he had been brought up in error1 in ignorance of the true religion2 he had not the prophecies which the ,jews had to tell him clearly that a ,saviour was to come into the world4 #hg ,he was indeed in darkness compared with this favored ,hebrew people among whom his lot was cast2 but he saw our ,lord1 and that was enough for him4 ,he saw the power of ,god1 and he believed4 ,he knew that this ,messias1 whom the ,pharisees were rejecting1 was the ,master of life and death4 ,lord1 said he1 ,i am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof2 but only say the word1 and my servant shall be healed4 ,immortal words these1 which the ,catholic ,church has treasured up1 and puts on thousands of lips every day1 and which were rewarded by the divine acknowledgment1 ,amen ,i say to you1 ,i have not found so great faith in ,israel4 ,and ,i say to you that many shall come from the east and the west1 and shall sit down with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob in the kingdom of heaven2 but the children of the kingdom shall be cast into the exterior darkness4 ,now1 my brethren1 what lesson have we to learn from this praise of the heathen centurion1 and this warning to ,god's own people1 coming to us from the mouth of ,god himself8 ,simply this3 that our salvation depends on the use which we make of the graces which he gives us2 that the least will suffice1 if we will but avail ourselves of them2 but that the greatest will only serve for our eternal condemnation and ruin if we slight them and pass them by4 ,a simple and evident truth this surely1 and yet how apt we are to forget and neglect it6 ,we are ,catholics from our infancy1 we say2 we belong to families which have always kept the faith4 ,we are indeed the faithful1 to whom the kingdom of heaven is promised4 ,and if we have not been always so1 but have been brought from darkness into light1 then still more is the divine favor to us manifest4 #hh ,will ,he1 then1 who has done so much for us1 not complete his work8 ,we believe his word1 we are in his true church1 we receive his saving and life-giving sacraments2 how1 then1 shall we not be saved8 ,are we not indeed those of whom he said1 ,my sheep hear my voice1 and ,i know them1 and they follow me2 and ,i give them life everlasting1 and they shall not perish for ever1 and no man shall pluck them out of my hand8 ,yes1 my dear brethren1 we think that we shall be saved because we are ,catholics4 ,but the truth is1 that our being ,catholics only gives us greater means of salvation2 it is far from making our salvation sure4 ,we have greater means and helps to save our souls2 but woe be to us if we abuse them6 ,and when we look around1 and see many good and earnest souls1 similar1 as far as we can see1 to that of the ,roman centurion1 deprived of the light that we have1 not by their own fault1 but by that of their fathers2 when we see them trying to do their best with the little knowledge and the few helps that they have1 must we not fear that ,god will take away from us the graces that we despise2 that we1 the children of the kingdom1 will be cast into the exterior darkness1 while others shall come from the east and the west and take the place which we have but do not deserve8 ,let us1 then1 each and every one1 if we have been unfaithful to the great graces which we have as ,catholics--and which of us has not been so8--rouse ourselves to our danger4 ,yes1 having the faith and the sacraments is a great privilege1 but is one for which we must give a most strict account when we stand before the throne of ,god4 ------------------- #hi ,sermon ,,xxv4 ,living ,up ,to ,our ,faith4 ,jesus1 hearing this1 marvelled2 and said to them that followed him3 ,amen ,i say to you1 ,i have not found so great faith in ,israel4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,the love and care of the heathen centurion for his servant should certainly put to shame many ,christian masters and mistresses of to-day1 who not only do not encourage their servants to approach our ,lord at ,holy ,mass and in the sacraments1 but even put obstacles in their way4 ,however1 the lesson to which ,i wish to direct your thoughts this morning1 and which it is the primary object of the ,gospel narrative to teach1 is the immense importance of living up to the grace and light which ,god has so bountifully given us4 ,a few weeks ago we kept the ,feast of the ,epiphany1 the manifestation1 that is1 of our ,lord to the ,gentiles1 to those who had not till then formed part of the church of ,god4 ,the ,jews alone1 as you are aware1 were ,god's chosen people4 ,to them had been given the law and the prophets1 the temple and the sacrifices1 and--that to which everything else led up--the promise of the ,messias4 ,and all these privileges led them to think that they were individually very excellent people1 and to look down with contempt upon the rest of the world and everybody in it4 ,now1 here was a ,roman1 born and brought up in heathenism1 taught1 doubtless1 to say his prayers to ,jupiter and ,venus and other vile creatures like them1 a man holding1 too1 high office1 commanding a garrison of soldiers1 whose duty it was to keep down a conquered race4 #ij ,well1 this man1 notwithstanding his bad education1 notwithstanding the pride which1 on account of his position1 must naturally have been his1 had made greater progress than the self-conceited ,pharisees1 with all their advantages1 had ever made or were ever to make4 ,while they lived and died in unbelief1 he had already recognized in ,jesus ,christ the power of ,god2 and1 laying aside prejudice and pride of place and birth1 he sends humbly to our ,lord to ask him to heal his servant4 ,so clearly did he recognize our ,lord's divine power that he did not think it necessary for him to come to his house4 ,jairus1 the ruler of the synagogue1 as you will remember1 would not be satisfied unless our ,lord came down to his house2 the centurion1 on the contrary1 stopped our ,lord while he was on the way1 saying3 ,lord1 ,i am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof2 but only say the word and my servant will be healed4 ,so that our ,lord1 on hearing it1 marvelled1 and said3 ,amen ,i say unto you1 ,i have not found so great faith in ,israel4 ,now1 how does all this apply to us8 ,what lesson can we learn from these events8 ,the answer to this question is easy and obvious4 ,we are by ,god's grace the members of the church of ,god1 and1 as such1 we are in possession of the means of grace--the sacraments1 the word of ,god1 the intercession and prayers of the saints1 and of innumerable privileges and spiritual treasures4 ,above all1 and as the source and spring of all spiritual life1 without which everything is valueless and worthless1 we have the gift of faith4 ,now1 faith is necessary2 but faith is not sufficient4 ,without faith no one can be saved4 ,but we must have something more than faith4 #ia ,the shipwrecked man clings for his life to anything within his reach2 but unless the plank1 or whatever else he has got hold of1 is washed ashore1 or a boat or some other means of help arrives1 his plank only prolongs his agony4 ,so is it with us4 ,faith is our plank2 but unless this faith works by charity it will only add to our condemnation4 ,more than this1 it will1 if not acted upon1 get weaker and weaker1 and be scarcely strong enough to move us to action4 ,what1 then1 must we do8 ,why1 we must live as our faith teaches us4 ,first1 we must learn our faith3 learn the truths of our religion2 next1 we must practise them4 ,if we do not do so we shall1 perhaps1 see what those ,jews of old saw3 the heathen and those who were outside of the church entering and taking their places4 ,what our ,lord said of them may1 perhaps1 be said of us3 ,i say unto you that many shall come from the east and from the west1 and shall sit down with ,abraham and ,isaac in the kingdom of heaven2 but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness3 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxvi4 ,the ,sacrament ,of ,matrimony4 ,i think you are all persuaded1 my brethren1 of the wrong and the danger of ,catholics going to a ,protestant minister for marriage2 and similar ones can be given why we should not go before a magistrate for that purpose4 ,it is plain that the authorities of the ,state are not the right persons to assist officially at the sacraments of the church4 #ib ,it would be just as proper to ask the mayor to baptize your children as to go to him for marriage4 ,to refer the matter of your marriage to him1 however fine a man he may be personally1 would be to acknowledge the right of the civil authority to take charge of religious affairs2 and such a right ,catholics cannot admit4 ,besides1 the magistrate labors under the same difficulty as a ,protestant minister in conducting a ,catholic marriage1 of not knowing the laws of the church on the subject1 and the impediments which may make the marriage invalid2 that is1 which may make it1 though seemingly good1 in reality no marriage at all4 ,you know1 for instance--to speak of this a little more fully--that the ,catechism says that you should not marry within certain degrees of kindred2 very well1 it is not only forbidden to marry within these degrees1 but a marriage within these degrees is not recognized by the laws of the church as a real and true marriage1 and the parties have to be married over again1 at least privately1 if it is ever found out4 ,and there are some other impediments which have the same effect4 ,it is of no use to publish all these and try to explain them2 many mistakes would be made1 and matters would only be come worse4 ,no1 to be safe in all affairs of this kind you must go to those who have made a special study of it2 just as you find out the law of the ,state from your lawyer1 and not from a book4 ,go1 then1 to the priest2 he is the one who has made a special study of the law of the church1 and the only one4 #ic ,in order to make sure that ,catholic marriage shall be contracted before the priest1 a law has been made1 and binds in some countries1 and in some parts even of this country1 making it invalid1 or null and void1 if contracted without the presence of the parish priest of at least one of the parties4 ,this does not1 however1 hold just here4 ,but there is a very special and urgent law in this diocese1 and in many others1 forbidding the going to a ,protestant minister for marriage1 and reserving the absolution for this to the bishop1 or some one authorized by him4 ,catholics1 therefore1 who are guilty of such a rash act get themselves into a very unpleasant position2 still1 they must1 of course1 try to get out of it sooner or later1 and if any one finds himself in this predicament the only sensible thing to do is to come at once to the priest1 who will help him as far as possible4 ,all sins can be forgiven1 and all mistakes rectified1 if one has the right dispositions4 ,one word more on this most important subject4 ,some people seem to imagine that the difficulty which may come1 especially in a mixed marriage1 of avoiding the ,protestant minister1 may be got over by going both to him and to the priest1 and going through the form of marriage twice4 ,now1 let it be understood that this course cannot be thought of for a moment2 for by it not only is the law broken which ,i have just mentioned1 but a profanation of the sacrament also is committed by endeavoring to make the contract to which it is attached twice in the same case4 ,it is as if one tried to be confirmed twice4 ,no1 in this matter there can be no compromise2 a marriage in which a ,catholic is a party must be put in charge of the ,catholic clergy1 and of no one else1 except as far as mere settlements of money and the like are concerned4 #id ,go1 then1 to the priest for marriage2 do not think of doing anything else4 ,but do not go to him1 as ,i have said some people do1 for the first time just at the moment you want the ceremony performed1 and expect him to marry you off-hand2 for there are some very important preliminaries to be settled first1 and it may take some time to settle them4 ------------------- #ie ,fourth ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,epistle4 ,romans xiii4 #h-aj4 ,brethren3 ,owe no man anything1 but that you love one another4 ,for he that loveth his neighbor1 hath fulfilled the law4 ,for ,thou shalt not commit adultery4 ,thou shalt not kill4 ,thou shalt not steal4 ,thou shalt not bear false witness4 ,thou shalt not covet4 ,and if there be any other commandment1 it is comprised in this word3 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,the love of the neighbor worketh no evil4 ,love1 therefore1 is the fulfilling of the law4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew viii4 #bc-bg4 ,at that time3 ,when ,jesus entered into the ship1 his disciples followed him2 and behold a great tempest arose in the sea1 so that the ship was covered with waves1 but he was asleep4 ,and his disciples came to him1 and waked him1 saying3 ,lord1 save us1 we perish4 ,and ,jesus saith to them3 ,why are you fearful1 ,o ye of little faith8 ,then rising up he commanded the winds and the sea1 and there came a great calm4 ,but the men wondered1 saying3 ,who is this1 for even the winds and the sea obey him8 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxvii4 ,the ,ingratitude ,of ,children4 ,brethren3 owe1 no man anything4 --,epistle of the ,day4 #if ,we are all debtors1 brethren1 for we all have some accounts to settle up4 ,there are debts we shall never be able to redeem1 debts that are just1 pressing1 and lasting as long as we are in this life4 ,such1 for instance1 is the debt we owe to ,god4 ,the fact of his having created us1 of having brought us out of nothing1 of having given us immortal souls imaged after himself1 would alone put us under the gravest obligations to him2 but what is that compared to the debt we owe ,god for having redeemed us at a nameless price1 by nothing less than the ,precious ,blood of his own beloved ,son2 and1 furthermore1 what is all this in comparison with the debt we owe ,god for our sanctification1 for the priceless gift of his ,holy ,spirit dwelling within us1 breaking away the mist of error and ignorance that clouds our intellect and hides from our vision the eternal truth2 that gift that endows us with strength and fortitude1 with the courage that comes from conviction1 with the power that makes us triumph over every weakness1 every unruly passion1 every snare of our enemy the devil1 over every thought1 word1 and action that makes us unworthy of sonship with ,god1 brotherhood with ,christ1 and the heritage of an eternal crown8 ,this debt1 dear brethren1 is in general obvious enough2 but1 while we recognize it1 ,how often do we find in our experience that men neglect1 and shamefully neglect1 debts that are dependent on and derived from the debt they owe ,almighty ,god2 men who neglect debts that are as grave and binding as those which are due to the ,god from whom they are derived6 #ig ,now1 brethren1 if there is any injustice in this world more flagrant than all others1 more worthy of condemnation and detestation1 more certain of the visitation of ,god1 it is this3 the neglect of our duty to our parents4 ,owe no man anything4 ,do we owe them nothing8 ,do we not owe them much8 ,is there a time in our lives when that debt is not binding8 ,ah6 dear brethren1 and what do we see in the world about us8 ,ingratitude1 the vice of monsters1 forgetfulness of ties that are nearest1 dearest1 and holiest4 ,young men1 growing up into adult age1 who1 in their vain seeking after pleasures1 become so blinded to duty1 so debased in their appetites1 so completely transformed into the incarnation of selfishness1 as not only to disregard the law of ,god1 but the very instincts of nature--sons who would rob and starve their parents to satisfy their mean and low appetites4 ,the ingratitude of children to parents is a crying sin of our times4 ,let us be alive to it4 ,let the young men and women of our day remember that they are bound to satisfy these grave and serious obligations2 that they are not to heedlessly put themselves into any state that will debar them from redeeming the debts they owe1 from recompensing for all the care1 toil1 and money expended upon them4 ,owe no man anything4 ,take heed of this warning also1 all you who contract debts without the slightest hope of paying them2 see to it that the clothes you wear1 the food you eat1 the pleasures you indulge in are paid for2 see to it that they are not purchased by the labor and money which belong to others4 ,you who live in fine houses1 who keep yourselves in costly array1 who deny yourselves no pleasures1 however extravagant1 take heed6 ,whose money pays for it8 #ih ,can you stand up and with a clean heart proclaim that this is honest8 ,as you sit here to-day1 do the words of the ,apostle offer no rebuke to you1 do you not feel their sting8 ,o brethren6 let us be sparing in our debts2 let us owe no man anything4 ,the man without debts exalts himself in the eyes of his fellow-men and secures for himself a good conscience4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxviii4 ,love ,of ,our ,neighbor4 ,he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,there can be no doubt1 my brethren1 that the saving of our souls sometimes seems to be a very troublesome business4 ,there are so many laws and commandments binding on us1 so many sins which we are likely to commit2 and if we break any of these laws in any grievous way--if we are guilty1 that is to say1 of mortal sin our--salvation is lost till such time as we repair our fault4 ,yet it may seem that we are surrounded by so many rocks on our voyage through life that it is almost useless to try to steer clear of them2 and1 if we may judge by their actions1 many ,christians actually come to the conclusion that there is no use in trying to keep their ship off these rocks4 ,they make up their minds that spiritual shipwreck is unavoidable1 and that the only way to reach the port of heaven is to be towed in on a raft which can be made out of the sacraments at the last moment4 #ii ,but really our salvation is not such a complicated and intricate affair if we would only look at it in the right way4 ,the course which we have to follow is not such a difficult one to bear in mind and to keep4 ,there are many commandments1 it is true2 but they all have the same spirit1 and if we have that spirit they will all come quite easy4 ,what is the spirit8 ,our ,lord has told us4 ,it is the love of ,god1 and of our neighbor for ,god's sake4 ,the love of ,god and of our neighbor gives us a short cut to the kingdom of heaven2 if we are guided by it1 we shall not come near the dangers that seem so many and so threatening4 ,let us see how this is2 how is this love going to work to keep us in the safe and sure track8 ,it is not so hard to see4 ,for what is it to love any one2 how do we act towards one whom we really and truly love8 ,are we always trying to give him no more than we can help1 and keep as much as we can for ourselves8 ,do we try to have our own way as much as possible1 and never to step out of it for his sake1 unless compelled by force or threats8 ,no1 of course not4 ,we keep far away from what will offend him4 ,we always are trying to find out what will please him best4 ,so if he is not unreasonable1 and if he knows our desire and intention1 the danger of offending him disappears4 ,well1 it is just so in the matter of serving ,god and keeping his law4 ,the continual mortal sins into which ,christians fall1 and which it seems so hard to avoid1 are due to their trying to run too near the rocks4 ,no wonder they so often get wrecked in these dangerous waters4 ,they are all the time striking on the commandments1 and the whole sea seems full of them because they try to sail as near them as they can4 ,if they would only give them a wide berth1 and keep out in the deep ocean of the love of ,god1 sin and its forgiveness would not cause so much anxiety and trouble4 #ajj ,if we would only ask ourselves what will please ,god best1 and try to give him all that he desires1 as we should if we loved him as he deserves to be loved1 and as we do with others whom we really do love--if we would do this instead of trying to see how far we can have our own way and yet come out right in the end1 the whole matter of saving our souls would have a very different aspect4 ,now1 why not try to follow this line8 ,it is no fanciful thing beyond our power4 ,plenty of ,christians have done it before us1 and are doing it all the time4 ,but if we do not feel prepared1 or are a little afraid to commit ourselves to this course just yet1 at least we could endeavor to have some love for our neighbor1 and make some sacrifice for him4 ,we have ,st4 ,paul's word for it1 you see1 that even he who loves his neighbor will be sure to fulfil the law4 ,yes1 we may feel quite sure if1 by a generous love of our neighbor1 we keep far off being wrecked on the last part of the ,ten ,commandments1 that we shall run clear of the first part as well4 ------------------- #aja ,fifth ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,epistle4 ,colossians iii4 #ab-ag4 ,brethren3 ,put ye on therefore1 as the elect of ,god1 holy1 and beloved1 the bowels of mercy1 benignity1 humility1 modesty1 patience1 bearing with one another1 and forgiving one another1 if any have a complaint against another3 even as the ,lord hath forgiven you1 so do you also4 ,but above all these things have charity1 which is the bond of perfection3 and let the peace of ,christ rejoice in your hearts1 wherein also you are called in one body2 and be ye thankful4 ,let the word of ,christ dwell in you abundantly1 in all wisdom3 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms1 hymns1 and spiritual canticles1 singing in grace in your hearts to ,god4 ,all whatsoever you do in word or in work1 do all in the name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 giving thanks to ,god and the ,father by ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,mathew xiii4 #bd-cj4 ,at that time3 ,jesus spoke this parable to the multitude1 saying3 ,the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field4 ,but while men were asleep1 his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat1 and went his way4 ,and when the blade was sprung up1 and brought forth fruit1 then appeared also the cockle4 ,then the servants of the master of the house came and said to him3 ,master1 didst thou not sow good seed in thy field8 whence then hath it cockle8 ,and he said to them3 ,an enemy hath done this4 ,and the servants said to him3 ,wilt thou that we go and gather it up8 #ajb ,and he said3 ,no1 lest while you gather up the cockle1 you root up the wheat also together with it4 ,let both grow until the harvest1 and in the time of the harvest ,i will say to the reapers3 ,gather up first the cockle1 and bind it into bundles to burn2 but gather the wheat into my barn4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxix4 ,the ,christian ,family4 ,bearing with one another4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,no doubt you have often read about the oasis in the desert3 a place of tall1 shady trees1 soft1 green grass1 and a great spring pouring out sweet1 cold water4 ,there the hot and dusty caravan stops1 though it be miles out of the way2 the heavy burdens are thrown off1 and men and animals rest and drink and rest again4 ,for one long1 burning day they lie about on the grass and look off from their shady refuge over the yellow1 sandy desert4 ,they sleep and are rested2 and as the cool dews of evening fall they take a last drink and creep away on their journey1 sighing to think of the long and weary tramp to the next oasis4 ,dear brethren1 the oasis in the desert of this world is the ,christian family4 ,the father of the family shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters4 ,it is indeed but a feeble word to say that the influence of a good father is like the deep shade of a noble tree in the heat of summer1 ,his influence is like the grace of ,god4 ,indeed1 there is nothing in all this world so much like the presence of ,god as the influence of a ,christian father4 #ajc ,when the instinct of the ,christian people would give a name to a good priest they called him father4 ,what is more edifying than the virtue of a good father8 ,in him are chiefly to be seen those manly virtues which are the highest form of human excellence3 hearty love1 self-restraint1 open frankness joining heart1 hand1 and voice in one4 ,in him you admire that steadfast application to religious things1 that regular use of prayer and of the sacraments1 that clear knowledge of doctrine and ability to converse about it1 that utter absence of frivolity1 that intelligent practice of good reading4 ,he is contented with his lot1 and yet labors with steady1 persistent industry4 ,in prosperity he is modest and frugal4 ,in adversity he is cheerful1 a strong wall for others to lean against4 ,he loves home and is fond of his wife4 ,gladly will he tend the babes while the mother gets the ,sunday ,mass1 or of a ,saturday evening while she goes to refresh her weary soul with a good confession4 ,the company of his children is to him a foretaste of ,paradise4 ,he is not sour1 nor is he brutal or harsh4 ,he is not above making the children laugh or joining in their play2 to make them happy and help them save their souls is his greatest joy4 ,then there is the mother of the family1 whose life is one unbroken round of acts of affection4 ,the spirit of sacrifice1 the craving to bear others burdens1 is her spirit4 ,you know how a good mother watches at the sick-bed the livelong night1 passing back and forth through the dark rooms1 listening to every breathing1 answering every sigh with a comforting word1 or a cool drink1 or a soft caress4 ,only the next world will reveal to us the loveliness of such devoted souls2 here we catch but a glimpse and an echo of it4 #ajd ,the accents1 the tones of the voice1 the very silence1 the manners1 the ways of a good mother diffuse what ,scripture calls the fragrance of ointments around her household4 ,you know1 too1 how she saves and pinches to keep off debt1 to dress the children neatly1 to save a penny to give them a holiday1 to save a dollar for hard times or a spell of sickness4 ,and all this sacrifice is a matter of course with her4 ,but the truest glory of a mother is her patience4 ,the patient mother is the valiant woman of ,scripture4 ,she is the woman who smothers her anger2 who will suffer the impertinence of an unruly child in silence2 who forgets as well as forgives2 whose admonition or correction is the reluctant tribute of a tender heart to the child's well-being4 ,do you want to know how she is able to do this8 ,the secret of it is that she finds time--in the heavy duty of being everybody's servant--to attend to religion2 to belong to the ,rosary ,society and make her monthly ,communion2 to give alms to the poor from her hard savings2 to visit and watch with sick1 or afflicted neighbors4 ,it is1 in a word1 because she ever gazes in spirit upon that ,holy ,family where ,mary was mother that she is able to be a good ,christian mother4 ,when ,i began ,i intended to say something of the good boys and girls2 while we have been engaged with father and mother the children have passed by4 ,perhaps we shall overtake them next ,sunday4 ------------------- #aje ,sermon ,,xxx4 ,the ,duty ,of ,good ,example4 ,use your endeavor to walk honestly towards them that are without4 #a ,thessalonians iv4 #aa4 ,the holiness of the church1 my dear brethren1 is for us who belong to her a thing so evident and clear that we can no more think it necessary to prove it than we can think it necessary to prove that the sun shines in the heavens4 ,the practical and imperative way in which the church enforces holiness of life on each and every one of us is something with which we are so familiar that no shadow of doubt can enter into our minds as to its necessity4 ,the means of grace which she offers to us1 and of which she even requires us to make use1 the sacrament of the ,body and ,blood of the ,lord himself which she gives us1 the penances she imposes upon us by way of fasting and abstinence1 the warnings which she is ever giving us of the condemnation which will fall upon impenitent sinners1 these and ten thousand other things make the sanctity of the church so well known that it is not so much an article of faith as a thing which we see with our own eyes and which falls under our own experience4 ,but there are those who are without these advantages4 ,there are many around us1 our near neighbors and friends1 who are outside the church1 not through their own fault1 but by birth and education4 ,these are not in possession of those means of knowing the church and her sanctity of which we are possessed2 and in order to have this knowledge they depend to a very large extent upon ourselves4 #ajf ,i wish this morning to call your attention to the responsibility which rests upon us on this account1 and to one or two practical ways in which we are accountable to ,god for what that responsibility involves4 ,now1 that we lie under this responsibility is a truth not very hard to see4 ,for1 as ,i have said1 those outside the church are ignorant of the doctrine and practices of the church4 ,from their earliest years they have had utterly false and erroneous information given them about the church1 an information so false and erroneous that they do not think it necessary or even right to make inquiries4 ,how1 then1 are they to have the truth brought home to them8 ,what way is there of spreading the light8 ,almost the only way1 and certainly a way so necessary that without it all others are futile and vain1 is that those who are called ,catholics should lead such lives as the church requires of them4 ,now1 if we do not do this we are of course responsible to ,god1 as every man1 be he ,catholic or be he ,protestant1 is responsible to ,god for his whole life and every action in it4 ,but more than that1 a special responsibility in this time and in this country lies at the door of every ,catholic man and every ,catholic woman4 ,every ,catholic man and woman who does not lead a good life is a stumbling-block and a rock of offence standing in the way and preventing many poor souls from seeing and embracing that truth which is necessary for their salvation2 and those ,catholics whose way of living forms such a stumbling-block will have to give a strict account to ,god not merely for their own sins and for themselves1 but also for the souls of others whom they have ruined4 #ajg ,now1 ,i am going on this account to ask you some questions which ,i hope you will answer honestly and conscientiously4 ,and they will be questions about matters on which the world outside is competent to judge2 and1 therefore1 if we fail in this respect we shall meet with its condemnation1 and become hindrances to the knowledge of the truth4 ,first3 ,there is nothing of which the business world thinks so much as truth1 uprightness1 integrity in business matters4 ,to pay debts promptly1 to do work squarely1 to execute contracts faithfully1 these are some of the marks of an honest man4 ,now1 in view of what ,i have said1 ask yourselves1 is this way of acting the mark of all ,catholics8 ,will a man who wants to get a house built1 who is looking for a trustworthy clerk or assistant1 choose out ,catholics in preference to others1 because he knows that they are worthy of trust8 ,if this is not the case1 if the being a ,catholic is no guarantee of trustworthiness1 you will have to answer to ,god for the bad effect your dishonesty has upon those outside4 ,and now a question for women4 ,you all know in what virtue consists1 the glory and honor of women4 ,you all know what the world expects of women4 ,you know1 too1 how much the church makes of modesty and chastity1 in what honor she holds them1 how strict she is in inculcating their necessity4 ,now1 one of the effects of genuine modesty and chastity is to overawe and overpower the approaches of the unclean and impure4 ,there is a majesty in virtue which lays low and keeps at its level vileness and impurity4 ,is everyone who comes near a ,catholic girl or woman conscious of this influence8 #ajh ,is there something about every ,catholic girl and woman which makes it clear to every dirty fellow that he must go elsewhere if he wishes to find a victim and a means of satisfying his disgraceful passions8 ,it ought to be so1 for the soul of every ,catholic girl and woman1 over and above the majesty of natural virtue1 is the abode and dwelling-place of the grace of ,god4 ,and if you are true children of the church such will be the effect your presence will have4 ,well1 my brethren1 ask yourselves these questions2 answer them honestly2 and1 if you find that you have done wrong1 amend1 not merely for your own sake but for that of those outside4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxxi4 ,bearing ,one ,another's ,burdens4 ,bearing with one another1 and forgiving one another if any have a complaint against one another3 even as the ,lord hath forgiven you1 so do you also4 --,epistle of the ,day 7,colossians iii4 #ac74 ,perhaps you may think1 my dear friends1 that we have a good deal to say about this matter of charity and forgiveness1 and if you do you are probably right2 it was not long ago that we had occasion to remind you of it in one of these little morning instructions4 ,but why should we not speak of it often8 ,is not the love of our neighbor the second great commandment1 like to and founded on the first8 ,does not ,st4 ,john also make it the test of our salvation8 ,we know1 he says1 that we have passed from death to life2 and why8 #aji ,is it because we fast1 say long prayers1 visit the church1 or even because we receive the sacraments often8 ,no1 it is because we love the brethren4 ,and he continues3 ,he that loveth not1 abideth in death4 444 ,we ought1 he goes on to say1 to lay down our lives for the brethren4 ,in the latter years of the life of ,st4 ,john1 when he had become so old and feeble that he had to be carried to the church1 and was not able to preach at any length to his beloved people1 he would still give them a little short sermon4 ,it was very short2 not even a five-minute sermon2 and it was not fresh every ,sunday1 but always the same4 ,it was just this3 ,little children1 love one another4 ,but his people1 in spite of their great reverence and affection for him1 were something like people nowadays1 and got rather tired of hearing this same old story4 ,they wanted something more novel and startling1 and one day they asked him3 ,master1 why do you never tell us anything but this about loving one another8 ,he answered3 ,because it is the ,lord's command1 and if it is fulfilled it is sufficient4 ,if ,st4 ,john1 then1 preached about this matter of charity every ,sunday1 certainly we may be allowed to speak of it several times in the year4 ,and you1 my dear ,christians1 will not lose anything by hearing about it pretty often4 ,for the matter is one in which there is always great room for improvement for us all4 ,st4 ,john said little children2 but he was not speaking to the ,sunday-school1 if1 indeed1 he had one2 no1 it was to the children1 big as well as little1 children all of ,god and of his holy church1 that his words were addressed4 #aaj ,and these words are more needed now than they were then4 ,why1 in the early times ,christians used to be known from other people by their love and charity for each other4 ,it was this that made converts to the faith1 more1 perhaps1 than preaching or miracles4 ,see1 said the world1 how these ,christians love one another4 ,but now ,i am afraid it would be hard to pick out very many ,christians by this test4 ,no2 it is more likely that our infidel friends would say of all the ,christians that they happen to know3 ,see how these ,christians are all the time quarrelling with each other6 ,they never seem to be content unless they can show their pride by having at least some one who is not supposed to be worthy of their acquaintance4 ,they go to church and say their prayers--oh6 yes2 but perhaps there is some person1 even in the next pew1 that they used to know1 but have not spoken to for years1 and have no notion of ever speaking to1 unless1 perhaps1 on their death-bed if the priest should insist on it4 ,bearing with one another1 indeed6 ,is it possible that one of their ,apostles told them to do that8 ,why1 they do not put up with half as much as a sensible man would who had no faith at all4 ,let them suffer the least even fancied slight or indignity1 and there is an end of all their friendship4 ,forgiving one another1 as they say the ,lord has forgiven them8 ,well1 if the ,lord forgives as they do1 his forgiveness does not seem to amount to much4 ,my brethren1 depend on it1 those not of our faith feel often this way1 though they may not say it right out4 ,and they are not far wrong4 ,the kind of bearing with others1 the kind of forgiveness1 that is given them by those who have the name of ,christians is too often one that will not stand the test of ,god's judgment4 #aaa ,i am afraid that many pious people have found themselves in the wrong place after death on account of it4 ,let those who still remain profit by this lesson while they have time4 ------------------- #aab ,sixth ,sunday after ,epiphany4 ,epistle4 #a ,thessalonians i4 #b-aj4 ,brethren3 ,we give thanks to ,god always for you all3 making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing1 being mindful of the work of your faith1 and labor1 and charity1 and of the enduring of the hope of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ before ,god and our ,father3 knowing1 brethren beloved of ,god1 your election3 for our gospel hath not been to you in word only1 but in power also1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 and in much fulness1 as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes4 ,and you became followers of us1 and of the ,lord3 receiving the word in much tribulation1 with joy of the ,holy ,ghost3 so that you were made a pattern to all who believe in ,macedonia and ,achaia4 ,for from you was spread abroad the word of the ,lord1 not only in ,macedonia and ,achaia1 but also in every place1 your faith which is towards ,god1 is gone forth1 so that we need not to speak anything4 ,for they themselves relate of us1 what manner of entrance we had unto you2 and how you were converted to ,god from idols1 to serve the living and true ,god4 ,and to wait for his ,son from ,heaven 7whom he raised from the dead71 ,jesus who hath delivered us from the wrath to come4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xiii4 #ca-ce4 ,at that time3 ,jesus spoke to the multitude this parable3 ,the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed1 which a man took and sowed in his field4 ,which indeed is the least of all seeds2 but when it is grown up it is greater than any herbs1 and becometh a tree1 so that the birds of the air come and dwell in the branches thereof4 #aac ,another parable he spoke to them4 ,the kingdom of heaven is like to leaven1 which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal1 until the whole was leavened4 ,all these things ,jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes3 and without parables he did not speak to them4 ,that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet1 saying3 ,i will open my mouth in parables1 ,i will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxxii4 ,how ,to ,make ,converts4 ,the kingdom of heaven is like to leaven1 which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal1 until the whole was leavened4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,by the kingdom of heaven is meant in this ,gospel1 as in many other places1 the holy ,catholic ,church2 the spiritual kingdom of ,god1 which is of heaven1 though on earth2 and leaven is another word for what we call yeast1 and is used in the making of bread4 ,our ,divine ,lord1 then1 tells us that his church1 to which we belong1 is like yeast2 and his meaning1 if we consider a little1 is plain enough4 ,it is1 that as a little yeast is put into a mass of flour or dough1 to raise it1 as we say1 so he has put his church1 which was in the beginning a very small thing1 into the world1 to raise the world to life and the knowledge and love of him4 #aad ,and certainly his comparison of the church to yeast was fully justified4 ,in the beginning the world was everywhere attracted and moved in spite of itself by the lives of the first ,christians4 ,the heathen could not help admiring their mutual charity1 their patient and forgiving dispositions1 their temperance and self-sacrifice2 and they could not refrain from asking themselves and each other3 ,who are these that they call ,christians8 ,what do they believe1 and what do they teach8 ,what is it that makes them so loving and so amiable1 so calm and peaceful1 so happy in all their troubles1 so ready to assist and serve not only each other1 but all the world beside8 ,but no one could answer these questions but the ,christians themselves2 so the heathen had to go and get instructed in this faith which had been made so charming to them4 ,thus they were converted1 and in their turn became apostles in the same way to others4 ,so the leaven spread through the mass2 the contagion1 so to speak1 of faith1 piety1 and virtue was diffused over the world2 people caught it from their neighbors4 ,the ,apostles had no need to make many converts in any one place which they visited4 ,if they got a few1 these few would take care of the rest4 ,the little congregations which they founded grew and multiplied wonderfully1 in spite of distress and persecution1 by the force of the holy lives and good example of their members4 ,but was this way of growing only meant for ,god's church in the beginning8 ,no1 by no means4 ,our ,lord says that the leaven of his kingdom was to go on working till the whole was leavened4 ,does it1 then1 still move the world in this way8 ,if so1 how rapidly ought the church now to increase1 when there are a thousand faithful for one in those early days6 #aae ,yes1 my brethren1 it ought4 ,for in spite of the boasts which the world is making of its reformed religion1 especially just now1 and of its progress and civilization1 it feels at heart very uneasy4 ,it has fallen away from ,god1 and lost the truth1 and in its inmost soul it knows this2 and it is looking for somone to bring light to its darkness1 and to put its confusion in order4 ,why1 then1 does not the church increase more rapidly8 ,why does not the world now come to us as it did in those former days of its anxiety and doubt8 ,prejudices it has now against us1 ,i know2 but it had its prejudices then1 too4 ,there are many slanders believed against us1 but that has been so from the very beginning2 our ,lord warned us of this1 and it is a mark of his true church to be thus belied4 ,so this is not the real trouble2 no1 the trouble is that most ,christians do not by the good odor of their lives induce the world to inquire into their faith1 and thus overcome its prejudices4 ,we may argue till we and everyone else are ready to drop1 but we shall never be as the first disciples were--the leaven of ,god's kingdom--till we show by our lives that there is something more in us than the natural feelings1 good or bad1 which make up the lives of others4 ,christians who forgive and excuse their enemies1 who have charity for all1 who are chaste and pure in word and deed1 who are humble and self-denying1 those are the ones--and1 thank ,god1 such there are--who make converts2 and if we want the leaven of the kingdom to spread and raise the world to ,christ we must be like them4 ------------------- #aaf ,sermon ,,xxxiii4 ,the ,blessings ,of ,the ,faith4 ,i will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world4 --,matthew4 xiii4 #ce4 ,these are the concluding words of to-day's ,gospel1 and they refer to the great truths that are made known to us through the revelation of ,almighty ,god4 ,for as believers in a divine revelation we know things that have been hidden from the beginning1 and we have a knowledge that transcends all human knowledge4 ,our faith gives us light which our reason could never supply4 ,we might spend our whole lives in the most profound study and investigation1 we might dip into all the systems and master all the sciences1 and we should still be ignorant of certain truths which our faith makes known to us4 ,when we look back over the world's history and see the greatest minds of every age and country groping in the dark1 seeking in vain for the knowledge which we possess1 we can appreciate what a glorious privilege it is to be enlightened by the divine light of faith4 ,for where its rays do not penetrate there can never be sufficient security in regard to the most vital truths of human origin and human destiny4 ,we see the sad evidences of this all around us in the world to-day4 ,men who refuse to accept the revelation of ,almighty ,god and the teachings of his church are in ignorance1 or at least they are in doubt1 about the origin and end of life4 ,they are even in doubt as to the existence of ,god himself1 though the universe by a thousand voices proclaims his presence and their own souls reflect his image4 #aag ,from age to age the human mind busies itself over the deep questions of philosophy and the discoveries of science4 ,from generation to generation men seek to solve the great problems of life by the force of reason2 but revelation alone can adequately disclose the things hidden from the foundation of the world1 and without its divine light and guidance mankind must ever remain liable to sink into darkness and doubt4 ,how widely different is the state of the mind established in the settled convictions of faith from that where there is nothing but the theories and opinions of human knowledge6 ,in the one there is the repose of certainty1 security1 and peace2 in the other there are many puzzles unsolved1 promptings unsatisfied1 disquiet1 and unrest4 ,one short lesson learned in the school of divine faith will give more light and bring more comfort to the soul than all the knowledge that can be acquired in a life-time in the schools of human learning4 ,great stress is laid nowadays on secular education4 ,and we are told that what the country needs1 what the world needs1 are intelligent and cultivated men and women2 and certainly education is an excellent thing1 and most desirable for all4 ,but why make so much of a knowledge that concerns only the petty things of earth and the fleeting course of time1 and ignore a knowledge that relates to the ,infinite ,god in heaven and a life that is everlasting8 ,what will it profit us on our death-bed to have learned the facts in the world's history1 to have been familiar with the teachings of philosophy and the discoveries of science1 to have studied the writings and mastered the thoughts of men1 if we know nothing of our ,creator and our relation to him and the course of our destiny2 nothing of the preparation we should make beforehand and the thoughts that should animate us as we stand on the brink of eternity8 #aah ,here is the great contrast between the knowledge that ,god imparts to us and all human science--the one imparts to us the truths of eternity1 the other teaches us the truths of time2 and the difference between them is just as great as that between time and eternity4 ,and if1 as is generally the case1 we estimate the value of a thing by its importance and permanence1 there is surely no term of comparison here4 ,the little child who has learned the first page of the ,catholic ,catechism has already acquired a knowledge which forty centuries of human speculation have never reached1 and the simplest believer in ,jesus ,christ and his church is possessed of a wisdom far higher1 far holier1 than was ever conceived of by the greatest sages of old4 ,let us realize1 then1 that faith is the highest knowledge1 that it discloses to us things hidden from the foundation of the world1 and makes us sharers in the knowledge of ,god himself1 and therefore elevates and crowns our reason4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxxiv4 ,good ,example ,as ,a ,means ,of ,making ,converts4 ,the kingdom of heaven is like to leaven1 which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal1 until the whole was leavened4 --,matthew xiii4 #cc #aai ,this may seem a very strange comparison1 my brethren1 if1 instead of letting it in at one ear1 as the saying is1 and out at the other1 we stop to think of it a moment4 ,for what sort of likeness is there between that glorious kingdom of heaven1 which we hope some day to enter1 and a little leaven or yeast put into flour to raise it and make it into bread8 ,surely1 we should say1 none at all4 ,what could our ,lord have meant when he said that the two were alike8 ,but let us think a little more about the matter4 ,is the kingdom of heaven of which he was speaking that heaven into which all the saved are to enter8 ,or is there not some other meaning which we may give to the words8 ,there is another meaning1 and it is the true one in this place and in many others in the ,gospel4 ,it is the kingdom of ,god or of heaven1 not in heaven1 but on earth1 of which our ,saviour is here speaking4 ,when he says the kingdom of heaven1 he means the kingdom which he came to establish1 his holy ,catholic ,church4 ,but how is this leaven1 or yeast8 ,well1 it is not so very hard to see this4 ,it is because1 being put into the world in the beginning in the form of a few weak1 poor1 and unlearned men and women1 like the little spoonful of yeast put into a great mass of flour1 it soon spread through the whole known world1 and is even now spreading in the same way1 changing and influencing in many ways all whom it meets with1 even if it does not fully convert them3 just as the yeast is spread through the whole of the dough1 raising it and making it into good and healthy food4 #abj ,yes1 my brethren1 this was the way that the church spread through the world and made its converts1 especially in the early times4 ,it was not only by preaching4 ,the ,apostles and their successors did not have much chance to preach to the world in general4 ,they were not allowed to do so2 public preaching would have brought down on them much greater persecutions than those which they actually suffered1 and it would have required great miracles on ,god's part to preserve his church had such preaching been tried1 especially in the great cities4 ,no1 they had to teach their doctrine1 as we may say1 on the sly2 in fact1 part of it was reserved for those who had already become ,christians4 ,it may seem strange now1 but in early times no one was allowed to hear anything about the real presence of our ,lord in the ,blessed ,sacrament till after he had been baptized4 ,this was called the discipline of the secret1 and was kept up for a long time4 ,so1 you see1 ,christianity was not learned in the pagan ,roman ,empire so much by preaching as by private instruction joined with good example4 ,one person caught it from another1 as the particles of dough get raised by those next to them4 ,masters and mistresses1 for instance1 caught it from their servants1 others from their friends and acquaintances--first1 from noticing their virtues1 so different from those which the pagans had4 ,they saw how gentle and affectionate1 and still how courageous1 they were2 how they bore suffering without a murmur2 how they shrank from the idols worshipped by others1 and from all the vices which these idols represented2 how little they cared for pleasure2 how each sacrificed himself for his neighbor4 ,see1 said the world1 how these ,christians love one another4 ,then the world began to inquire what was the reason of this love and of the other ,christian virtues2 and so religion spread from the lowest to the highest1 till at last the ,roman emperors themselves knelt before the cross4 #aba ,things are somewhat changed now1 it is true4 ,the ,catholic faith can now be preached and taught openly2 still1 it is almost the same as if it could not1 for people outside the church will seldom come and hear it1 or even read books explaining it4 ,the discipline of the secret still prevails1 not because we wish it1 but because the world does4 ,so now1 as before1 the faith must catch and spread from one person to another if it is to make much progress in such countries as this of ours4 ,protestants run away from the priest1 and will have nothing to say to him2 so it will not do to say that making converts is the priest's business and does not concern you4 ,no1 my brethren1 making converts is your business1 as things stand1 perhaps even more than his4 ,but how are they to be made8 ,not by cursing1 lying1 and drunkenness1 sins too common1 alas6 among many who call themselves ,catholics1 and specially liable to be noticed by others4 ,it was not by these that the first ,christians converted the world4 ,not by quarrels and slanders2 it is not by these that you will convince people that we ,christians love one another4 ,turn1 then1 from the vices which repel1 and practise instead virtues which will attract unbelievers1 and lead them to inquire why you are so good instead of wondering that you are so bad4 ,then they will come to you1 as they did of old to your ancestors in the faith1 to learn the doctrine which has taught you these virtues2 and you will be1 as you should be1 the leaven which is to leaven the world4 -------------------- #abb ,septuagesima ,sunday4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians ix4 #bd2 x4 #e4 ,brethren3 ,know you not that they who run in the race1 all run indeed1 but one receiveth the prize8 ,so run that you may obtain4 ,and every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all things2 and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown2 but we an incorruptible one4 ,i therefore so run1 not as at an uncertainty3 ,i so fight1 not as one beating the air3 but ,i chastise my body1 and bring it into subjection3 lest perhaps1 when ,i have preached to others1 ,i myself should become reprobate4 ,for ,i would not have you ignorant1 brethren1 that our fathers were all under the cloud1 and all passed through the sea4 ,and all in ,moses were baptized1 in the cloud and in the sea2 and they did all eat the same spiritual food1 and all drank the same spiritual drink 7and they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them1 and the rock was ,christ74 ,but with the most of them ,god was not well pleased4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xx4 #a-af4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to his disciples this parable3 ,the kingdom of heaven is like to a master of a family1 who went early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard4 ,and when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day1 he sent them into his vineyard4 ,and he went out about the third hour and saw others standing in the market-place idle4 ,and he said to them3 ,go you also into my vineyard1 and ,i will give you what shall be just4 #abc ,and they went their way4 ,and again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour1 and did in like manner4 ,but about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing1 and he saith to them3 ,why stand you here all the day idle8 ,they say to him3 ,because no man hath hired us4 ,ho saith to them3 ,go you also into my vineyard4 ,and when evening was come1 the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward3 ,call the laborers and pay them their hire1 beginning from the last even to the first4 ,when1 therefore1 they came1 who had come about the eleventh hour1 they received every man a penny4 ,but when the first also came1 they thought that they should have received more1 and they also received every man a penny4 ,and when they received it1 they murmured against the master of the house1 saying3 ,these last have worked but one hour1 and thou hast made them equal to us1 that have borne the burden of the day and the heats4 ,but he answering one of them1 said3 ,friend1 ,i do thee no wrong2 didst thou not agree with me for a penny8 ,take what is thine and go thy way3 ,i will also give to this last even as to thee4 ,or1 is it not lawful for me to do what ,i will8 is thy eye evil because ,i am good8 ,so shall the last be first1 and the first last4 ,for many are called1 but few chosen4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxxv4 ,bodily ,mortification4 ,i chastise my body1 says ,st4 ,paul in the ,epistle of to-day1 and bring it into subjection4 ,in these few words he gives us the great reason for the ,catholic doctrine and practice of bodily mortification and penance1 which ,protestants so often find fault with4 #abd ,i chastise my body1 he says1 and bring it into subjection2 that is1 ,i chastise it1 because ,i want to bring it into subjection4 ,i want to tame it1 to become its master2 so ,i give it a good beating1 ,i starve it now and then1 and treat it badly generally1 that it may learn to obey me4 ,that is the great idea of mortification1 my brethren1 in a nutshell4 ,every one knows that if you want to break a vicious horse you have to put him through a pretty severe course of treatment before he will be subject to your will4 ,and every one knows that the body is naturally unruly1 like a vicious horse2 the body is always craving for things which it would be better that it should not have1 and it will have them in spite of us if we do not take care4 ,so1 to subject it thoroughly to reason1 we must put it through a severe course2 otherwise1 some time or other1 it will get the better of us1 and have its own way4 ,and there is a great deal more need of taming our own bodies than there is of breaking horses4 ,for the horse can only kill our body1 but our bodies can kill our souls2 and furthermore1 if we do not want to take the trouble of breaking a horse1 we can shoot him1 or get somebody else to take him2 but we can not in anyway lawfully get rid of our bodies till such time as ,god sees fit to take them from us4 ,we are tied fast to them1 and cannot get away4 ,so we are absolutely obliged to conquer them1 if we do not want to be conquered by them4 ,in other words1 if we do not want our bodies to be a frequent cause and occasion of mortal sin to us1 we must to some considerable extent practise mortification4 #abe ,that is the ,catholic and true doctrine1 as taught by the church1 and put into practice1 in some degree at least1 by all the faithful who obey her laws4 ,and it is also common sense4 ,every one must admit that the body is the great cause and source of mortal sin to far the greater number of people1 and that if its appetites were thoroughly brought under control our souls would be saved from very great dangers1 which otherwise they cannot escape4 ,if1 then1 it is any object to escape these dangers--and no sensible man can deny that it is--one does not need to be a ,christian1 but only to have the gift of reason1 and to look a little into himself and into the world about him1 and he must grant that the bodily penances and mortifications which the church insists on are not foolish or superstitious1 but in the highest degree prudent and wise4 ,but ,i know1 my dear brethren1 that you do not think that the mortification of the body required by the church is useless or superstitious2 ,i give you too much credit for faith as well as for reason to imagine that4 ,you do need courage1 though--we all need it--to act up to what we believe in this matter4 ,let us then look this question fairly in the face4 ,there is heaven before us to be gained1 and sin to be overcome that we may gain it2 and here are our bodies1 with their depraved1 corrupted1 and often dangerous and sinful desires1 standing in the way of our gaining it4 ,if we will only determine in earnest to get the mastery of them1 heaven is almost sure2 if we do not1 they will be very likely to carry us to hell4 ,if we overcome them1 we save ourselves and them1 and make them a help instead of a hindrance to us2 if not1 they will do their best to drag us down with themselves to destruction1 and if in the mercy of ,god we may indeed be saved it will be as by fire4 ,shall we not take a little trouble when such tremendous interests are at stake8 ,shall we trust to luck when a little effort will make heaven sure8 ------------------- #abf ,sermon ,,xxxvi4 ,sudden ,death4 ,watch ye1 therefore1 because you know not the day nor the hour4 --,matthew4 xxv4 #ac4 ,these words1 my dear brethren1 are taken from the parable of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride4 ,five of them1 being wise and prudent1 took oil in their lamps1 that they might be ready at any moment to light them2 but the five foolish ones gave no thought to the matter4 ,at midnight1 when they least expected it1 the cry was heard1 ,behold1 the bridegroom cometh2 go ye forth to meet him4 ,then the foolish virgins tried to borrow oil from the wise to fill their lamps1 but were told to go and buy for themselves4 ,while they were gone the bridegroom came2 they were not ready2 the door of the marriage-feast was closed when they returned1 and in answer to their entreaty1 ,lord1 lord1 open to us1 came only the words1 ,i know you not4 ,watch ye1 therefore1 says our ,lord1 in concluding this parable1 because you know not the day nor the hour4 ,brethren1 the meaning of this parable is so plain that it hardly needs even a word of explanation4 ,yet how unheeded it is1 alas6 by the majority of ,christians6 #abg ,what does this oil mean that the foolish virgins neglected to provide for themselves and to have in their lamps8 ,what but the grace of ,god1 with1 which our souls should be provided1 and without which they are in the state of mortal sin8 ,if this precious oil of ,god's grace is in our souls we are ready at any moment to meet the ,bridegroom2 no matter how suddenly the cry is made that he is coming1 we can go forth with confidence to meet him and feel sure that the door of the marriage-feast of heaven will not be closed to us4 ,but if we have not this oil1 if the lamp of our soul is empty1 if we are in the state of mortal sin1 what dismay comes on us1 what terrible fear and distress of mind1 when we are suddenly told to prepare for death6 ,we have been saying all along1 ,oh6 there will be plenty of time1 and now there is not plenty of time4 ,god is coming to meet us1 and to demand of us an account of our lives2 we cannot hide from his face1 and he will not wait4 ,the hour fixed in the eternal counsels of his wisdom has come1 the hour on which everything depends1 the hour for which the years of our life should have been one long preparation1 those years so carelessly thrown away4 ,friends may stand around us who have not wasted the oil in their lamps as we have ours4 ,their souls may be full of the grace of ,god1 preserved and increased continually by prayer and good works1 by the love of ,god and frequent confession and ,communion4 ,they may have enough and to spare2 but they can not lend to us4 ,no1 they must say to us1 go rather to them that sell1 and buy for yourselves4 ,go rather1 that is1 to the regular sources of that grace1 the sacraments1 which our ,lord has placed in his church1 to give life to the dead4 ,send for the priest1 and with his help fill the lamp of your soul1 and prepare to meet our ,lord4 #abh ,but too often it is as in the parable of the virgins4 ,while the foolish ,christian1 who has put off his preparation for death1 who has lived in the state of sin1 expecting to die in the state of grace1 goes to fill his lamp1 his ,lord comes1 finds him1 and judges him as he is4 ,the priest comes1 but only to look on him lying dead4 ,or even if the oil of grace is brought to the sinner1 he has not1 perhaps1 the price to pay for it2 that is1 he has not those dispositions of sincere penitence and amendment of life1 without which all sacraments are vain and ineffectual4 ,brethren1 it is a fearful point in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins that not one of the five who were so carelessly unprepared was able to have her lamp ready to meet the bridegroom in his coming4 ,it should teach us to expect that1 as a rule1 a man must die as he has lived4 ,no doubt there are exceptions2 the mercy of ,god is over all1 and wills not that the sinner should perish4 ,but the only safe way1 the only way1 indeed1 that is not the wildest folly1 and even insanity1 is to live as all good ,christians do live1 continually prepared for death2 with the grace of ,god always in their souls1 with no stain of mortal sin on them2 with their loins girt1 and lamps burning in their hands2 and like to men who wait for their lord when he shall return from the wedding3 that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately4 ------------------- #abi ,sermon ,,xxxvii4 ,life's ,purpose4 ,brethren1 know you not that they that run in the race1 all run indeed1 but one receiveth the prize8 ,so run1 that you may obtain4 #a ,corinthians4 ix4 #bd4 ,there is a great question1 my dear brethren1 that comes home some time or other to every man in the world who is not entirely taken up with the passing pleasures and fleeting interests of the moment2 to every man1 that is1 who lives as a man1 and not as a mere child4 ,it is the most important and vital of all questions2 and it will return often on us1 put it away as much as we will4 ,it is this3 ,what am ,i here for8 what is the use1 what is the purpose of all this life which ,i am living8 ,what is the goal to which it is tending8 what end do ,i hope to obtain8 ,yes1 we must look forward in this way sometimes1 and we must try to find something in the future better worth having than what we have now1 or our life1 with its labors and fatigues1 becomes a burden almost too great to be borne4 ,so one man proposes wealth1 another knowledge and learning1 another fame and honor as his object in life2 or at least he looks forward to bringing up children to whom he can leave his memory and his name1 and who will carry on and complete the work he has begun4 ,but we ,christians do not seek for an answer to this question4 ,the answer is written plainly by faith in our souls2 we may try to forget it or put something else in its place1 but we shall find no other in which we can believe4 #acj ,the answer for us is1 that this life has no end or object in itself which can justify or explain it1 but that it is a time of trial1 of probation for something better2 that we live in order that it may be seen from our life whether we are worthy to share in an eternal life2 that only beyond the grave can what the soul longs for be attained1 and that we may fail in attaining it if we do not keep it steadily in view and work for it with all the strength we have4 ,so our life is a race1 a struggle for an immense and unspeakable prize to come at its end2 and a prize which will never be offered again if we do not secure it this time4 ,if we fail in this life our failure can never be retrieved2 nor will anything else ever be offered us to live for4 ,for all eternity we shall see what we might have had1 and shall be tortured with vain remorse2 and nothing else will give us even a moment's peace4 ,this eternity will be intolerable1 even were there no other pains in it2 but on account of this alone we shall seek death for ever1 and never find it4 ,and from this race1 this struggle in which we are now entered1 there is no escape4 ,we cannot withdraw and have our name struck from the list of contestants4 ,there is no half-way place which we can take between triumph and defeat4 ,know you not1 says ,st4 ,paul1 that all run in the race8 ,yes1 a power greater than ours has put us on the track1 and is drawing us along it1 whether we will or no4 ,we cannot remain as we are1 for ,he whose power has placed us here has made us for himself1 and we cannot rest till we rest in him4 #aca ,since1 then1 we have to run in the race2 since we have to suffer1 to labor1 to pursue a happiness which we now have not2 since we must do this even in spite of ourselves2 since we cannot sit down and give up our place1 what folly it is to run to no purpose1 to turn aside and try to forget the only possible reward for all our toil1 the only thing that can make the life which we must live worth living6 ,let ,st4 ,paul's words on this ,sunday sink into our minds2 and1 since we have to run in this race on which everything depends1 let us not trifle and lose its precious moments1 but so run that we may obtain4 ------------------- #acb ,sexagesima ,sunday ,epistle4 #b ,corinthians xi4 #ai-xii4 #i4 ,brethren3 ,you gladly suffer the foolish3 whereas you yourselves are wise4 ,for you suffer if a man bring you into bondage1 if a man devour you1 if a man take from you1 if a man be extolled1 if a man strike you on the face4 ,i speak according to dishonor1 as if we had been weak in this part4 ,wherein if any man is bold 7,i speak foolishly7 ,i am bold also4 ,they are ,hebrews2 so am ,i4 ,they are ,israelites2 so am ,i4 ,they are the seed of ,abraham2 so am ,i4 ,they are the ministers of ,christ 7,i speak as one less wise71 ,i am more2 in many more labors1 in prisons more frequently1 in stripes above measure1 in deaths often4 ,of the ,jews five times did ,i receive forty stripes1 save one4 ,thrice was ,i beaten with rods1 once ,i was stoned1 thrice ,i suffered shipwreck2 a night and a day ,i was in the depth of the sea2 in journeys often1 in perils of rivers1 in perils of robbers1 in perils from my own nation1 in perils from the ,gentiles1 in perils in the city1 in perils in the wilderness1 in perils in the sea1 in perils from false brethren3 in labor and painfulness1 in watchings often1 in hunger and thirst1 in many fastings1 in cold and nakedness4 ,besides those things which are without3 my daily instance1 the solicitude for all the churches4 ,who is weak1 and ,i am not weak8 ,who is scandalized1 and ,i do not burn8 ,if ,i must needs glory1 ,i will glory of the things that concern my infirmity4 ,the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who is blessed for ever1 knoweth that ,i lie not4 #acc ,at ,damascus the governor of the nation under ,aretas the king1 guarded the city of the ,damascenes to apprehend me4 ,and through a window in a basket was ,i let down by the wall1 and so escaped his hands4 ,if ,i must glory 7for it is not expedient indeed72 but ,i will come to visions and revelations of the ,lord4 ,i know a man in ,christ above fourteen years ago 7whether in the body ,i know not1 or out of the body ,i know not3 ,god knoweth71 such an one caught up to the third heaven4 ,and ,i know such a man1 whether in the body or out of the body1 ,i know not3 ,god knoweth2 that he was caught up into paradise2 and heard secret words which it is not granted to man to utter4 ,of such an one ,i will glory2 but for myself ,i will glory nothing1 but in my infirmities4 ,for even if ,i would glory1 ,i shall not be foolish3 for ,i will say the truth4 ,but ,i forbear1 lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me1 or anything he heareth from me4 ,and lest the greatness of the revelations should puff me up1 there was given me a sting of my flesh1 an angel of ,satan to buffet me4 ,for which thing ,i thrice besought the ,lord1 that it might depart from me2 and he said to me3 ,my grace is sufficient for thee2 for power is made perfect in infirmity4 ,gladly therefore will ,i glory in my infirmities1 that the power of ,christ may dwell in me4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke viii4 #d-ae4 ,at that time3 ,when a very great multitude was gathered together and hastened out of the cities to him1 he spoke by a similitude4 ,a sower went out to sow his seed4 ,and as he sowed some fell by the wayside1 and it was trodden down1 and the fowls of the air devoured it4 ,and some fell upon a rock2 and as soon as it was sprung up1 it withered away1 because it had no moisture4 ,and some fell among thorns1 and the thorns growing up with it1 choked it4 ,and some fell upon good ground2 and sprung up1 and yielded fruit a hundredfold4 ,saying these things1 he cried out3 ,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear4 ,and his disciples asked him what this parable might be4 #acd ,to whom he said3 ,to you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of ,god2 but to the rest in parables1 that seeing they may not see1 and hearing they may not understand4 ,now the parable is this3 ,the seed is the word of ,god4 ,and they by the wayside are they that hear3 then the devil cometh1 and taketh the word out of their heart1 lest believing they should be saved4 ,now they upon the rock1 are they who when they hear1 receive the word with joy3 and these have no roots2 who believe for a while1 and in time of temptation fall away4 ,and that which fell among thorns1 are they who have heard1 and going their way1 are choked with the cares1 and riches1 and pleasures of this life1 and yield no fruit4 ,but that on the good ground1 are they who in a good and perfect heart1 hearing the word1 keep it1 and bring forth fruit in patience4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxxviii4 ,perseverance ,after ,a ,mission4 ,power is made perfect in infirmity4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,not so very long ago1 my dear brethren1 we had a great mission in this church4 ,it was well attended--that was almost a matter of course2 for1 thank ,god1 every one considers it a shame to neglect so great a grace when it is offered1 and the ,catholic who refuses to attend a mission is regarded by those who know him as being in a very bad and dangerous state4 #ace ,and the mission1 ,i trust1 was on the whole well made by those who attended it4 ,they made good confessions2 they felt true sorrow for their sins4 ,and they made real purposes of amendment against their vices1 whatever they might be4 ,the drunkard promised to abstain from drink for ,god's sake1 though it might be almost the only thing that gave him pleasure2 the impure promised to abandon and stamp out his evil passions and habits2 the one who had neglected ,mass and the other duties of his religion out of laziness1 gluttony1 or indifference1 promised to be faithful to them for the future4 ,but how many of the thousands who made these promises have kept them8 ,how many of those who were not leading a ,christian life before the mission are now doing so8 ,some certainly2 yes1 some of the seed of the word of ,god1 of which our ,lord speaks in to-day's ,gospel1 which was then sown1 has indeed sprung up and borne fruit1 it may be a hundredfold4 ,some1 in a good heart1 hearing the word1 have kept it1 and brought forth fruit in patience4 ,but1 alas6 how many1 on the other hand1 have been like the wayside1 the rock1 or the thorns in our ,lord's parable6 ,the seed sprang up1 and remained for a few days or weeks2 but now1 if you look for it1 it has gone1 trampled under foot1 choked1 or withered away4 ,now1 what is the reason of all this sad want of perseverance8 ,was it that those who made their confessions then were not sincere2 that they made promises which they did not really expect to keep8 ,perhaps that may have been so with some of them2 for some people do seem to think that one cannot be expected to avoid mortal sin1 unless he is a priest or a religious1 and even call others hypocrites who believe that they can and do avoid it4 ,but there were others who failed--and these were a great many--because they thought they had only to say that they would do the thing1 and that then the thing would be done4 #acf ,they did not know how weak they were2 perhaps they do not know it yet4 ,they will find it out sometime1 as those do who have often taken the pledge in vain2 and then it may be that they will despair1 which will be the worst of all4 ,but if they use this knowledge right it will be their salvation4 ,and how will knowing that they are weak save them8 ,will it make them strong8 ,yes1 but not in their own strength2 it will save them by making them turn to the infinite power of ,god4 ,this is what our ,lord told ,st4 ,paul1 as we learn in the ,epistle of to-day1 when he asked to have his temptation removed4 ,he said to him3 ,my grace is sufficient for thee1 for power is made perfect in infirmity4 ,the more we know our weakness the stronger we shall be1 if our terror and distrust of ourselves will only make us turn to ,god in frequent1 earnest1 and fervent prayer for help1 and in continual approach to the sacraments which he has given for our aid4 ,oh6 if ,christians would only learn this one great truth1 how the whole face of things would change6 ,how the most obstinate vices1 the most deep-rooted spiritual disease1 would melt away at the touch of the ,great ,physician of our souls1 if we would only go to him continually for their cure6 ,how easily we should overcome the enemy if we would only understand that of ourselves we cannot overcome him1 but that we can do all things in ,him who strengtheneth us2 and1 understanding this1 would go to him for the strength that we cannot get elsewhere6 #acg ,my brethren1 you who have fallen and now fall so often1 ,i beg you to put this truth in practice4 ,you fail1 and why8 ,because you have undertaken more than you can do4 ,you wish to succeed8 ,i hope so4 ,well1 there is only one way4 ,do as you have done before1 but also call ,god to the rescue4 ,pray frequently and fervently1 and go often to confession and ,communion1 and success1 instead of being hopeless1 will be sure4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xxxix4 ,good ,seed ,but ,no ,harvest4 ,the ,gospel of to-day1 my brethren1 is the parable of the sower who went out to sow his seed4 ,our ,lord himself explains the parable1 and tells us that the seed is the word of ,god2 and the real sower of this word1 of course1 is ,god1 from whom it comes1 and from whom it has all its life and power4 ,the ground in which this seed is sown is the mind and heart of man2 or1 to put the matter in a practical shape1 it is your heart and mine4 ,there are many people in this world to whom very little of it has come1 at least compared with what we have had2 but we cannot complain that we have not had our share4 ,the word of ,god spoken by the mouth of man1 in sermons1 instructions1 counsels1 and warnings1 from the altar and in the confessional1 and not only from the priests but also from others who have been the ministers of ,god and the channels of his grace to us--it is certainly no strange or new sound in our ears4 ,and not only in this way have we continually heard ,god's voice1 but often1 perhaps even more frequently1 have we heard it coming immediately from him1 and speaking in our own souls4 #ach ,plenty of this seed has1 then1 been sown in us2 but where is the fruit1 the harvest that should have come from it8 ,seed is not put in the ground merely to be kept there4 ,no1 it cannot be kept there2 if it is not destroyed or carried away it must grow and multiply4 ,the seed of ,god's word should1 therefore1 have grown in us4 ,it should have been the beginning and the increase in us of the spiritual life1 which should have grown stronger in us day by day from the time when we first came to the use of reason until the present moment4 ,now1 how is it in fact8 ,as we look back on our lives1 do we find that this has actually been fulfilled in them8 ,are we better1 more perfect1 nearer to ,god now than we were last year1 or even ten years ago8 ,is it not rather to be feared that we have fallen back2 that we are more careless1 perhaps1 even about mortal sin1 than we were in times past2 or1 to say the least1 that habits of venial sin have gained on us1 instead of being overcome2 that our prayers are less fervent1 our reception of the sacraments less frequent1 our love of ,god weaker than in the years which have gone by8 ,holy ,scripture tells us that the path of the just1 as a shining light1 goeth forwards and increaseth even to perfect day4 ,the just--that is1 those who are habitually in ,god's grace1 who have and keep the life of ,god in their souls4 #aci ,the ,christian virtues1 the seeds of which were put in our souls at baptism1 should have been growing during all our lives2 they should have become strong trees now1 deeply rooted and spreading far and wide4 ,even if they were killed at any time by the frost of mortal sin1 they should have been speedily brought to life and renewed their growth before they had decayed and rotted away4 ,brethren1 ,i need not ask you if this has been so with you4 ,with some1 no doubt1 it has4 ,they may not feel that they have drawn nearer to ,god1 but really they have4 ,temptation does not find the material in them to work on that it did2 to avoid evil and to do good is every day easier and easier2 they have still cause to fear1 it is true1 but still more and more ground to hope4 ,but1 alas6 how many there are in whom there is no sign of this growth which should have come from the seed which has been sown in them6 ,their light has not increased2 no1 it is almost always extinguished2 when it does seem to shine it is but to flicker for a moment1 and to disappear4 ,the seed is no sooner sown in them than it is trampled under foot or carried away by the birds of the air4 ,brethren1 if the life of grace is not growing in our souls2 if we are not falling less frequently1 and rising more easily from our falls1 than before1 our path is not that of the just1 and the seed of the word of ,god has not yet taken that root which will make it bring forth a hundredfold4 ------------------- #adj ,sermon ,,xl4 ,the ,uses ,of ,temptation4 ,my grace is sufficient for thee2 for power is made perfect in infirmity4 --#b ,corinthians xii4 #i4 ,to all who are striving to lead a good ,christian life the example of the saints is a powerful means of encouragement1 and the more so when we see in the saints themselves the evidences of our common human nature1 when we see them encountering the same difficulties and struggling with the same temptations which we ourselves experience4 ,their great deeds and miracles exalt them to a sphere far above us1 and1 while they fill us with admiration1 would yet have a tendency to discourage us were it not for those other passages in their lives when they seem to be brought down to our own level by contact with those evil influences which are ever seeking to sway our fallen nature4 ,the fact that the saints have had to engage in conflict with the basest passions is so far from lowering them in our eyes that it only serves to make them dearer to us and to stimulate us to a more faithful imitation of them4 ,and so ,st4 ,paul's account of himself in the ,epistle of to-day has been a ground of encouragement to many a soul that had grown weary of an incessant warfare with temptation4 ,the ,apostle tells us that1 in spite of the wondrous revelations and heavenly favors which he had received from ,god1 he was yet tormented with temptations of the flesh4 ,and lest the greatness of the revelations should puff me up1 there was given me a sting of my flesh1 an angel of ,satan to buffet me4 #ada ,for which thing ,i thrice besought the ,lord1 that it might depart from me2 he said to me3 ,my grace is sufficient for thee2 for power is made perfect in infirmity4 ,to every soul struggling with temptation ,god speaks these same words of comfort4 ,what if you are weak and the temptation is strong8 ,my grace is sufficient for you4 ,my power shall be shown forth through your weakness1 for what you could never do of your own strength ,i can and will do for you with my grace4 ,many are the lessons we can learn from this text4 ,when we see the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles engaged in a hard conflict with the demon of impurity1 it shows us that ,god does not spare in this respect even his most chosen servants4 ,on the contrary1 by refusing to grant the prayer of ,st4 ,paul that he might be delivered from this sting of the flesh1 ,god teaches us that temptation is often a special mark of his favor1 even as a general would place his best and bravest soldiers in the thickest of the fight4 ,we are also taught that1 no matter how vile the suggestions of the evil one1 they cannot soil the heart of him who resists them4 ,if1 as soon as the sinfulness of the foul thought or imagination is realized1 resistance be at once begun1 and kept up until the suggestion is banished1 we may be sure we have not yielded1 especially if we have had recourse to prayer4 ,from the shield of prayer the arrows of the tempter are sure to glance and fall harmlessly to the ground4 ,but1 on the other hand1 these temptations teach us what we are in ourselves1 or rather what we should be without the aid of ,god's grace4 ,st4 ,paul tells us that ,god permitted those buffetings of ,satan to preserve in him the virtue of humility1 lest the greatness of the revelations should puff me up4 #adb ,the evil imaginations arising in our minds show us to what a depth we should sink were ,god to withdraw his grace from us and leave us to ourselves4 ,we should1 therefore1 make of such temptations an occasion of humility1 acknowledging our own worthlessness1 our own weakness1 yet glorying1 as ,st4 ,paul did1 in the power of ,god's grace1 which is able to make us strong1 and endow us with supernatural merit4 ,and here lies the greatest value and use of temptations--,god's power is made perfect in our infirmity4 ,a crown of merit is the reward of victory in the fight4 ,without the temptation we should not have had the merit of overcoming it4 ,in the hour of trial1 then1 take courage from these words of ,god to ,st4 ,paul3 ,my grace is sufficient for thee1 for power is made perfect in infirmity4 ------------------- #adc ,quinquagesima ,sunday4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians xiii4 #a-ac4 ,brethren3 ,if ,i speak with the tongues of men and of angels1 and have not charity4 ,i am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal4 ,and if ,i should have prophecy1 and should know all mysteries1 and all knowledge1 and if ,i should have all faith1 so that ,i could remove mountains1 and have not charity1 ,i am nothing4 ,and if ,i should distribute all my goods to feed the poor1 and if ,i should deliver my body to be burned1 and have not charity1 it profiteth me nothing4 ,charity is patient1 is kind3 charity envieth not1 dealeth not perversely1 is not puffed up1 is not ambitious1 seeketh not her own1 is not provoked to anger1 thinketh no evil1 rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but rejoiceth with the truth3 beareth all things1 believeth all things1 hopeth all things1 endureth all things4 ,charity never faileth3 whether prophecies shall be made void1 or tongues shall cease1 or knowledge shall be destroyed4 ,for we know in part1 and we prophesy in part4 ,but when that which is perfect shall come1 that which is in part shall be done away4 ,when ,i was a child4 ,i spoke as a child1 ,i understood as a child1 ,i thought as a child4 ,but when ,i became a man1 ,i put away the things of a child4 ,we see now through a glass in an obscure manner3 but then face to face4 ,now ,i know in part3 but then ,i shall know even as ,i am known4 ,and now there remain faith1 hope1 and charity1 these three3 but the greatest of these is charity4 #add ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xviii4 #ca-dc4 ,at that time3 ,jesus took unto him the twelve1 and said to them3 ,behold we go up to ,jerusalem1 and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the ,son of ,man4 ,for he shall be delivered to the ,gentiles1 and shall be mocked1 and scourged1 and spit upon3 and after they have scourged him1 they will put him to death1 and the third day he shall rise again4 ,and they understood none of these things1 and this word was hid from them1 and they understood not the things that were said4 ,now it came to pass that when he drew nigh to ,jericho1 a certain blind man sat by the wayside1 begging4 ,and when he heard the multitude passing by1 he asked what this meant4 ,and they told him that ,jesus of ,nazareth was passing by4 ,and he cried out1 saying3 ,jesus1 son of ,david1 have mercy on me4 ,and they that went before1 rebuked him1 that he should hold his peace4 ,but he cried out much more3 ,son of ,david1 have mercy on me4 ,and ,jesus stood and commanded him to be brought to him4 ,and when he was come near1 he asked him1 saying3 ,what wilt thou that ,i do to thee8 ,but he said3 ,lord that ,i may see4 ,and ,jesus said to him3 ,receive thy sight3 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,and immediately he saw1 and followed him1 glorifying ,god4 ,and all the people1 when they saw it1 gave praise to ,god4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xli4 ,the ,qualities ,of ,christian ,charity4 ,what a beautiful description it is1 my dear brethren1 which ,st4 ,paul gives us of the virtue of charity in the ,epistle of to-day6 ,if you have never read it or do not remember it1 ,i would advise you to read it at once2 and1 indeed1 nothing could be better than to commit it to memory4 #ade ,let us look just now at a part of it4 ,charity1 says the ,apostle1 is patient1 is kind2 charity envieth not2 dealeth not perversely2 is not puffed up2 is not ambitious2 seeketh not her own2 is not provoked to anger2 thinketh no evil2 rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the truth2 beareth all things1 believeth all things1 hopeth all things1 endureth all things4 ,now1 ,i say this is very beautiful1 is it not8 ,and perhaps it seems all the more beautiful because the picture which it gives us is not a very familiar one4 ,i know we are apt to think about as well of ourselves as of almost any one of our acquaintance2 but can we say to ourselves1 on reading or hearing this description of charity1 ,that's me2 that's just my character to a hair8 ,no2 somehow or other1 though we would like to put on the coat1 it does not seem to fit4 ,charity is patient1 is kind4 ,that is rather out of the way1 to begin with1 when we think how impatient and cross we are if anything goes wrong1 if anybody stands in our way or interferes with us1 or even ventures to differ from us in opinion4 ,charity envieth not4 ,worse yet4 ,why1 some people cannot even see their neighbor have a new dress or hat without at once making up their minds to take the shine out of that conceited thing4 ,and if they hear it said that ,miss ,so-and-,so is good-looking they will take some opportunity to remark3 ,for the life of me1 ,i can't make out what any one sees to admire in her4 #adf ,probably they might manage to see it if they would make a great effort2 but how can they make the effort when no one seems to have any eye for their own good points1 which ought to be so evident to all8 ,and it is not the ladies only who have this weakness4 ,you will hear something like this3 ,oh6 ,i consider him to be a much overrated man4 ,i knew him when he was young1 and he was nothing above the common4 ,but some people certainly have luck4 ,or1 if you do not hear it out loud1 the grumbling is there all the same in the heart4 ,perhaps some praise has to be given1 but it is very sparing2 given with great appearance of careful judgment and a desire to keep closely to the truth4 ,charity dealeth not perversely4 ,how is this8 ,why1 you will find ,christians who would1 as the saying goes1 cut off their nose to spite their face4 ,they will even suffer themselves1 if some one else can only be made to suffer too4 ,but ,i shall not have time to make all the applications4 ,as ,i said1 you had better read the ,epistle1 then you can make them for yourselves4 ,i wish1 however1 to call your attention before closing to one unpleasant circumstance4 ,is this charity1 which ,st4 ,paul so highly praises and so beautifully describes1 a sort of fancy and ornamental virtue1 which is certainly very commendable1 but which we can get along well enough without8 ,listen to a few other words which come a little before those ,i have read3 ,if ,i should have prophecy1 and know all mysteries and all knowledge1 and if ,i should have all faith1 so that ,i could remove mountains1 and have not charity1 ,i am nothing4 ,and if ,i should distribute all my goods to feed the poor1 and if ,i should deliver my body to be burned1 and have not charity1 it profiteth me nothing4 ,notice1 he does not say1 ,i am not much1 or these things are not much good1 without charity3 no1 without it ,i am nothing2 a cipher1 and a sham4 ,take this home and meditate on it4 #adg ,sermon ,,xlii4 ,delay ,of ,repentance4 ,be not deceived1 ,god is not mocked2 for what things a man shall sow1 those also shall he reap4 --,galatians vi4 #g1 #h4 ,never mind1 ,i will repent some day and confess it all to the priest2 then it will be as if it never happened4 ,sometimes1 my dear brethren1 when men have made up their minds to commit sin1 or to go on in a course of sin1 they are tempted to say some such words as these2 or if they are not fallen so low as to talk in this way1 yet1 if we may form a judgment of their thoughts by their actions1 such are the thoughts of not a few4 ,i propose1 therefore1 to say a few words this morning on the great folly of this way of speaking1 thinking1 and acting1 and to show you what a false notion it rests upon4 ,i will not stop to point out how uncertain that really is which is assumed as perfectly certain--namely1 that an opportunity of going to confession will be granted to every one who acts in this way4 ,a man who sins can never be sure that he will not be cut off in his sin4 ,but ,i will take it for granted that the opportunity of making a confession is given2 more than that1 ,i will take it for granted that he makes a good confession and receives absolution as he promised himself4 ,in such a case as this is it true that even then all will be just as if the sin had never been committed8 #adh ,my dear brethren1 to imagine this to be the case would be indeed a very great mistake4 ,in order that you may see this ,i must recall to your recollection some well-known truths4 ,in the beginning1 ,god1 having made man1 placed him in a state of great happiness4 ,he was without pain1 sickness1 anxiety1 or death4 ,how is it1 then1 that man finds himself in his actual condition8 ,why is it that man is subjected to so many hardships and miseries1 obliged to toil for his daily bread1 and1 in the end1 through anguish and suffering1 give up that life which it has cost so much labor to preserve8 ,think1 my dear brethren1 of all the pains of mind and body which you have ever experienced1 or which you have seen others experience2 think of all the sufferings of which you have ever read1 and ask yourselves the reason for all this vast mass of agony and anguish4 ,that reason is given in one word4 ,of all the suffering that has ever been and that ever will be1 sin is the cause4 ,directly or indirectly1 mediately or immediately1 every suffering finds in sin its origin4 ,now1 ,i do not say that when we come to particular cases we can always point out precisely how and why this suffering is connected with that sin4 ,god in his providence permits suffering to attend upon sin for many different reasons4 ,sometimes it is permitted as a warning not to sin in order that men of sense and understanding1 seeing what sin costs1 may avoid it4 ,sometimes suffering in this world is1 ,i am afraid we must say1 but a foretaste of eternal suffering in the next4 #adi ,in some cases sufferings are sent to make us more like our ,lord4 ,but--and this is the special point ,i wish you to notice--suffering is very frequently sent by ,almighty ,god as a punishment in this life for those sins the eternal punishment of which he has forgiven4 ,this brings me back to the special point of this instruction4 ,a man may go to confession1 may even make a good confession and receive a good absolution--that is to say1 he may receive through the merits of ,christ the remission of the eternal punishment due to his sins1 and yet things may be very far from being1 as he promised himself1 just as they were before4 ,on the contrary1 he may have a vast amount of punishment to undergo in time in consequence of that sin1 which he would not have had if he had not committed that sin4 ,this thought is very suitable for this season4 ,lent will begin next ,wednesday4 ,its fasting and abstinence are enjoined by the church1 among other reasons as a means of satisfying for the temporal punishment due to past sins4 ,but1 in order that this fasting and abstinence may be useful for this purpose1 those who fast and abstain must be in the state of grace1 because all their value as works of satisfaction is due to the indwelling grace of ,god4 ,in order1 then1 that your fasting and abstinence may be profitable to your own souls1 let me advise you to act like our wise forefathers acted1 to come to confession at once in the beginning of ,lent1 and not to put it off with your ,easter duty to the last moment4 #aej ,sermon ,,xliii4 ,lenten ,obligations4 ,next ,wednesday1 my brethren1 we enter1 as of course you know1 on the great and holy season of ,lent4 ,on that day1 no doubt1 as many of you as can will come to the church and receive on your foreheads the ashes which remind us of the penance to which these coming weeks are specially devoted4 ,the church is generally full on ,ash-,wednesday1 and one would think1 on seeing the crowds pressing forward to receive the ashes1 that they were all determined to enter into the spirit of the church1 and to keep ,lent as it should be kept4 ,yet how many there are who go through this outward form1 and make a great deal of it1 and yet neglect all that is signified by it2 who give a show indeed of penance1 but bring forth none of its fruits6 ,some1 perhaps1 of the ,ash-,wednesday penitents will not be seen again in the church till they come forward again on ,good ,friday to kiss the cross4 ,yet it is better to come to church1 if only on ,ash-,wednesday and ,good ,friday1 than not at all2 better to do some penance and show some love of ,god than to neglect these virtues altogether4 ,but how much better still it would be to now thoroughly understand and seriously take to heart what ,god requires of us1 especially in this holy time1 and to make it the means1 as it may be more than anything else1 of our final salvation6 #aea ,first1 then1 to thoroughly understand what we are now to do4 ,everything must be well understood before it can be well done1 and the keeping of ,lent is no exception to this general rule4 ,many people break the rules of ,lent because they do not clearly understand them4 ,lent1 then1 my brethren1 is not a time to be spent in penance altogether according to one's own devotion4 ,far from it2 the duties to be performed in it are clearly and precisely laid down1 and should be attended to very strictly4 ,they are not many2 they make no great demand on our time or strength2 but the ,christian who discharges them properly will make his ,lent far better than one would who should neglect them and take any other practices1 no matter how hard1 in their place4 ,it is better to keep the real rules or laws of ,lent faithfully than to hear three ,masses every day1 and come to all the extra services1 and give half one's goods to the poor1 and yet neglect our regular duties4 ,what1 then1 are these laws8 ,the first is the ,easter duty1 which should be made before ,easter1 if possible1 though the church indulgently extends the time several weeks after that festival4 ,make1 then1 this great duty1 far the greatest of all the duties of a ,christian1 at once2 it will be very easy for all of you who have just made the mission to do it now1 and the longer you put it off the harder it will be4 ,make it1 then1 if possible1 the first day it can be made--that is1 next ,sunday--and get it1 if ,i may say so1 off your mind4 ,do not fancy that1 as you have so lately made the mission1 the ,easter duty is of little consequence4 ,if you had made twenty missions during the past year1 and any number of jubilees1 the law of the ,easter duty would bind you exactly as much as if you had neglected them all4 ,it is like hearing ,mass on ,sunday2 nobody is excused at all from ,mass on ,sunday because they have been to it through the week4 #aeb ,so this time1 the great ,sunday of the year1 is set apart by the church for the precept of ,holy ,communion2 it must be fulfilled at this time1 no matter how often one has received outside of it4 ,the second and only other real law of ,lent is that relating to fasting and abstinence4 ,if you attend carefully to the rules that have been read you will understand this well enough4 ,but do not confuse fasting with abstinence2 that is the most common mistake4 ,people often say3 ,oh6 ,i have to work hard2 ,i can eat meat if ,i like4 ,that is a great error1 and a very foolish one4 ,many are excused from fasting on one meal and a collation2 few from abstinence on the days appointed4 ,if you want to have a safe conscience in eating meat you should consult a confessor1 unless seriously ill4 ,attend to these two things1 then1 and you will make your ,lent as a ,christian should4 ,but1 of course1 you will also try to follow1 to the best of your ability1 the other devotional practices recommended by the church at this time4 ,come to daily ,mass1 and to the occasional services1 and give alms according to your means4 ,these practices1 especially now1 are of the greatest spiritual profit1 and can not generally be neglected without spiritual danger4 ,but remember that ,easter duty and fasting1 with abstinence1 are the real laws4 ,obey these1 at any rate1 and then1 so far as you are able1 add the others beside4 ------------------- #aec ,first ,sunday of ,lent4 ,epistle4 #b ,corinthians vi4 #a-aj4 ,brethren3 ,we do exhort you1 that you receive not the grace of ,god in vain4 ,for he saith3 ,in an accepted time have ,i heard thee2 and in the day of salvation have ,i helped thee4 ,behold1 now is the acceptable time3 behold1 now is the day of salvation4 ,giving no offence to any man1 that our ministry be not blamed3 but in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of ,god1 in much patience1 in tribulation1 in necessities1 in distresses1 in stripes1 in prisons1 in seditions1 in labors1 in watchings1 in fastings1 in chastity1 in knowledge1 in long-suffering1 in sweetness1 in the ,holy ,ghost1 in charity unfeigned1 in the word ol truth1 in the power of ,god2 by the armor of justice on the right hand and on the left3 through honor and dishonor3 through infamy and good name3 as seducers1 and yet speaking truth3 as unknown1 and yet known3 as dying1 and behold we live3 as chastised1 and not killed3 as sorrowful1 yet always rejoicing3 as needy1 yet enriching many3 as having nothing1 and possessing all things4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew iv4 #a-aa4 ,at that time3 ,jesus was led by the spirit into the desert1 to be tempted by the devil4 ,and when he had fasted forty days and forty nights1 he was afterwards hungry4 ,and the tempter coming1 said to him3 ,if thou be the ,son of ,god1 command that these stones be made bread4 ,but he answered and said3 ,it is written1 ,man liveth not by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of ,god4 #aed ,then the devil took him up into the holy city1 and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple1 and said to him3 ,if thou be the ,son of ,god1 cast thyself down1 for it is written3 ,that he hath given his angels charge over thee1 and in their hands shall they bear thee up1 lest perhaps thou hurt thy foot against a stone4 ,jesus said to him3 ,it is written again3 ,thou shalt not tempt the ,lord thy ,god4 ,again the devil took him up into a very high mountain1 and showed him all the kingdoms of the world1 and the glory of them4 ,and said unto him3 ,all these will ,i give thee1 if falling down thou wilt adore me4 ,then ,jesus saith to him3 ,be gone1 ,satan1 for it is written3 ,the ,lord thy ,god shalt thou adore1 and him only shalt thou serve4 ,then the devil left him3 and behold1 angels came and ministered to him4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xliv4 ,the ,merit ,of ,fasting ,and ,abstinence4 ,lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth1 where the rust and moth consume1 and where1 thieves break through and steal4 ,but lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven1 where neither the rust nor the moth doth consume and where thieves do not break through nor steal4 ,for where thy treasure is1 there is thy heart also4 --,gospel ,of ,ash-,wednesday4 ,if any one of us1 my brethren1 should be asked what is the object of this holy season of ,lent on which we are now entering1 or what is the reason why it has been appointed1 the answer would probably be that it is in order that we may do penance for our sins4 ,penance3 punishment inflicted on ourselves in satisfaction for those offences for which we feel we have so imperfectly atoned1 and to obtain from ,god those graces which we so greatly need3 this1 perhaps1 is the idea uppermost in most people's minds when ,lent comes round4 #aee ,well1 this is no doubt a reason1 and a good one1 not only for what we have to do in ,lent1 but for a great deal more that we may do1 not only now1 but all through the year4 ,few even of those who lead good lives do penance enough for their sins1 even as it is2 almost all go before ,god with a large account unsettled in this matter4 ,how much worse would it be if there was no ,lent1 if the church never insisted on our chastising ourselves in any way1 and seemed to treat such chastisement as of no consequence6 ,the very notion of it would drop from our thoughts1 as it has indeed long ago from the minds of those who have separated from the church and ceased to possess the true faith4 ,this is1 then1 a good reason for ,lent2 but there is another which we are not so apt to think of1 and which1 for this very reason1 ,i would like to emphasize4 ,this reason is the one suggested by the words of the ,gospel of last ,wednesday1 which you have just heard3 ,lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth2 444 but lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven4 444 ,for where thy treasure is1 there is thy heart also4 ,brethren1 we should have no trouble at all in getting to heaven if we only really wanted to get there4 ,of course in one way we do want to get to heaven2 that is1 we all want to save our souls from the eternal anguish and misery of hell1 and we know there is nothing for us but heaven or hell in the end4 ,but ,i am afraid that many ,christians1 especially when they have health1 strength1 and plenty of this world's goods1 have really very little wish to give them up1 in order to pass1 even could they do so at once1 to those joys which the heart of man cannot conceive4 #aef ,no1 their treasure is in this world2 all their idea of happiness is founded on the pleasures which they have had1 are having1 or hope to have in it4 ,their treasure is here1 and1 as our ,lord says1 their heart is here too4 ,i think1 then1 that this other great reason and object of ,lent1 of which ,i have just spoken1 is that we may do something to change this state of things2 that we may get our hearts off this world1 and see our real treasure in heaven1 get to know it and love it1 and have our hearts there with it4 ,we ought now not merely to stop for a while from worldly pleasures1 but to try to cease loving them1 and to care for something better4 ,we must love and care for something2 let us try now to get the right object for love4 ,now1 what is this that we should love2 what is our treasure in heaven8 ,it is our ,father who is in heaven1 and who is heaven itself4 ,brethren1 it is not so hard to love ,god as some people think4 ,we can all try to do a little1 at any rate2 ,i mean to love ,god1 not by keeping his commandments1 but to love him in the same way as we love those things which are lovely and attractive here4 ,come to him now1 this ,lent2 that1 above all else1 is what it was made for2 come to church not only to hear a sermon1 but to pray1 to get near to ,god1 and to bring him into your hearts4 ,shut the world out of your heart1 that he may come in4 ,ask him to come to you and make his abode with you4 ,then1 when he is really your treasure1 he will draw you where he is2 you will not have to try to get to heaven2 you will go there of your own accord4 ,to die to the world and live to ,god1 this is the ,christian's true life2 and ,lent was made to give this life to our souls4 ------------------- #aeg ,sermon ,,xlv4 ,difficulties ,of ,fasting4 ,brethren1 another year has passed1 and ,lent has come around once more4 ,i have no doubt that a great many of you wish that it had not2 perhaps you would not be so very sorry if the church would have the goodness to do away with this tedious season altogether4 ,indeed1 ,i imagine that to some people ,lent is one of the greatest mysteries of our religion4 ,and even if it is in some general way acknowledged as the proper thing in its due time1 it never seems to come in just at the time that would be convenient4 ,if it comes early1 it is a very unpleasant interruption to the winter's pleasures and amusements2 if it comes late1 why could it not come earlier1 so that we could get through and have done with it soon8 ,all the grumbling in the world1 however1 will not alter the fact4 ,we cannot get rid of ,lent1 and we cannot fix its time to suit us1 even if there is any time which would seem suitable4 ,it is possible1 indeed1 to free ourselves from its burdens2 we may do so either by neglecting its obligations altogether1 or by getting somehow or other dispensed from them1 without putting anything else in their place4 ,but1 after all1 if we do this1 we shall hardly feel any more comfortable4 ,the best plan is1 since ,lent is here whether we will or not1 to face it boldly and cheerfully1 and make the best of it that we can4 #aeh ,and1 when we come to look at it1 is it such a very terrible infliction8 ,do we not make rather too much fuss and complaint over what is not really such a very great penance8 ,let us look1 then1 and see what is required of us4 ,the principal thing1 of course1 is the fasting1 as we call it1 on one meal4 ,now1 if we actually were reduced to only one meal in the twenty-four hours1 ,i confess that it would be pretty severe2 but1 you see1 in point of fact1 we have the collation1 at which eight ounces1 or half a pound1 of solid food is allowed4 ,now that is as much as many people would take anyway at tea-time4 ,and then you can have a cup of coffee or tea and a small piece of bread in the morning4 ,so1 when we come to sift the matter1 the fact hardly amounts to more than this3 that the breakfast is rather a light one4 ,and then1 for those who really have hard work1 even what is left of the fast goes by the board altogether4 ,well1 next there is the abstinence from flesh-meat4 ,some seem to think this dreadful4 ,oh6 they will say1 ,i can't eat fish2 it makes me sick4 ,indeed8 ,perhaps you are not very hungry1 and do not need anything very much4 ,when you are really hungry the fish will not taste so bad4 ,but1 then1 who1 except indeed the fisherman1 wants you to eat fish8 ,i do not think there is any law requiring it to be eaten2 and if it has such a bad effect on you ,i would let it alone and try something else4 ,and though fish is so uneatable1 perhaps an oyster or two might now and then be worried down4 #aei ,now1 after the fast and abstinence1 what is left8 ,really nothing at all in the law of the church1 at least in black and white4 ,there is1 however1 a custom1 having about the force of law1 prohibiting such parties and theatre-going as would be allowable enough1 at other times4 ,but have not you had a pretty good chance for these amusements for the last few months8 ,and1 if you are in the habit of some indulgence of this kind1 a little quiet at home might be agreeable by way of a change4 ,but perhaps you do not like so much church-going4 ,well1 this is not absolutely required of you4 ,but it certainly is expected2 and it will be well to cultivate a taste for it4 ,ought it to be such a great penance for a ,christian to come and spend a little while in the presence of ,him with whom he hopes to dwell for ever8 ,i think1 then1 that if you will look at ,lent in the right light it will not seem so very grievous4 ,it may be even that you will feel that now is a time to be a little generous with our ,lord2 and1 since he does not ask much1 you may be disposed to give him a little more than he absolutely demands4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xlvi4 ,wasted ,opportunities4 ,brethren1 we exhort you that you receive not the grace of ,god in vain4 ,what is this receiving of ,god's grace in vain1 my brethren1 against which ,st4 ,paul warns us in these words of the ,epistle of to-day8 ,it is receiving it and making no use of it2 receiving it only to waste it and throw it away4 #afj ,we are all the time receiving graces from ,god4 ,every day1 every hour he is giving them to us4 ,for what is a grace8 ,it is a help1 a means to our salvation which comes from him4 ,and these helps he gives us continually1 by instructions1 by admonitions1 by good examples2 by the evidences which he puts all around us of the shortness and uncertainty of life1 of the instability of earthly riches and happiness1 of the peace which virtue gives1 of the misery which comes from sin4 ,all these and countless other helps to lead us1 almost to force us1 into the way of his commandments are lavished on us incessantly4 ,they come more or less to all men1 but most of all to us children of his holy ,catholic ,church1 who have the full light of his faith1 the full teaching of his law4 ,but more than all he himself is every day speaking in our hearts1 inviting1 urging1 begging us to turn from mortal sin2 or1 if we have indeed done that1 to rise higher1 and serve him more perfectly4 ,if we had listened to all these calls1 if we had availed ourselves of all these helps1 we should now be far advanced on the way of the saints2 we should1 like ,st4 ,stephen at his martyrdom1 see heaven opened before us and our salvation morally secure4 ,but we have not done that4 ,we have been doing just what the ,apostle warns us against2 we have been receiving these graces in vain4 ,we have received them1 and it has been worse with us than if we had not2 for we have received them1 many of them at least1 only to throw them away and trample them underfoot4 #afa ,what would you think1 my brethren1 of a man who1 being anxious to reach a distant country1 which was his true home1 and where were those whom he loved1 and1 having no means to do so of himself1 should throw away with contempt the sums which from time to time might in charity be offered him to enable him to accomplish his desires1 should throw them absolutely away1 not even using them to supply his daily wants or to secure some passing pleasure8 ,you would say that he was a madman or a fool2 that he had not the gift of reason1 which raises man above the brute4 ,and yet this is what we have been doing2 and even more than this4 ,for there have been some1 perhaps many1 graces which ,god has given us which would even alone1 if rightly used1 have answered for all our needs4 ,they would not have been mere contributions to our passage-money for heaven1 but would have put us aboard the vessel1 and made our reaching port little more than a question of time4 ,but these1 like the rest1 are gone without being used2 they are strewn on the road behind us1 and we cannot turn back to pick them up4 ,such a great grace is the one which1 in spite of our unworthiness1 ingratitude1 and folly1 is now once more offered to us by our ,father in heaven1 who does not follow the rules by which an earthly benefactor would be guided4 ,this season of ,lent on which we are entering is one of the great helps1 the great opportunities which he gives us to reach that country where he awaits our coming4 ,one who spends even one ,lent as it should be spent will be at its close well established in the way of solid virtue and peace1 the way which leads certainly to the kingdom to which we all hope to go4 #afb ,it is for this that ,lent is given us1 not merely for a season of penance and suffering1 to be got through with somehow or other as best we can2 it is for this reason also that the church to-day solemnly warns us to use it as it should be used4 ,listen1 then1 to her warning voice2 listen out of love and gratitude to ,god2 listen out of love and holy fear also for yourself2 for it may be the last great grace that will ever be brought to your door4 ------------------- #afc ,second ,sunday of ,lent4 ,epistle4 #a ,thessalonians iv4 #a-g4 ,brethren3 ,we pray and beseech you in the ,lord ,jesus1 that as you have received from us1 how you ought to walk1 and to please ,god1 so also you would walk1 that you may abound the more4 ,for you know what commandments ,i have given to you by the ,lord ,jesus4 ,for this is the will of ,god1 your sanctification2 that you should abstain from fornication4 ,that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor1 not in the passion of lust1 like the ,gentiles1 who know not ,god3 and that no man overreach1 nor deceive his brother in business3 because the ,lord is the avenger of all such things1 as we have told you before1 and have testified4 ,for ,god hath not called us unto uncleanness1 but unto sanctification in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xvii4 #a-i4 ,at that time3 ,jesus taketh unto him ,peter and ,james1 and ,john his brother1 and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart4 ,and he was transfigured before them4 ,and his face did shine as the sun3 and his garments became white as snow4 ,and behold1 there appeared to them ,moses and ,elias talking with him4 ,and ,peter answering1 said to ,jesus3 ,lord1 it is good for us to be here3 if thou wilt1 let us make here three tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias4 ,and as he was yet speaking1 behold a bright cloud overshadowed them4 #afd ,and behold1 a voice out of the cloud1 saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased3 hear ye him4 ,and the disciples hearing1 fell upon their face1 and were very much afraid4 ,and ,jesus came and touched them1 and said to them3 ,arise1 and be not afraid4 ,and when they lifted up their eyes they saw no man1 but only ,jesus4 ,and as they came down from the mountain1 ,jesus charged them1 saying3 ,tell the vision to no man1 till the ,son of ,man be risen from the dead4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xlvii4 ,the ,joy ,of ,penance4 ,he was transfigured before them4 --,words from ,to-day's ,gospel4 ,at first sight1 my dear brethren1 it seems strange that just as we have entered upon this season of fasting and penance the church should have chosen for to-day's ,gospel one of the few accounts which the ,evangelists have given of the manifestation on earth of our ,lord's glory and majesty4 ,the ,gospels1 as you are aware1 are mainly made up of the record of our ,lord's words1 actions1 and sufferings2 they tell us how the ,son of ,god made man went about from place to place doing good1 healing the sick1 consoling the sorrowful1 and in the end undergoing cruel sufferings and an ignominious death4 ,there are but few instances recorded of his being glorified and honored with more than human glory and honor1 and when such is the case no long and detailed description is given1 the fact is barely mentioned1 and the narrative passes on4 #afe ,but to-day's ,gospel forms an exception to this general rule4 ,in it special pains have been taken by the ,evangelists to give us in detail a description of the other side1 so to speak1 of our ,lord's life4 ,we are told that our ,lord chose1 out of the twelve1 ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 and led them up into a high mountain1 and was transfigured before them3 so that his face did shine as the sun1 and even his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow1 so as no fuller upon earth can make white4 ,and then there appeared to them ,elias with ,moses talking with ,jesus4 ,and so astonished and impressed was ,peter that he exclaimed3 ,lord1 it is good for us to be here3 if thou wilt1 let us make three tabernacles1 one for thee1 one for ,moses1 and one for ,elias4 ,now1 why has the church1 by selecting the account of the ,transfiguration at this season1 turned our thoughts to what seems so inappropriate a subject8 ,it would seem that it would have been better to have chosen those parts of the ,gospel which treat of sin1 of the judgment to come1 of the punishments which await the impenitent sinner4 ,well1 ,i do not know that ,i can tell you all the reasons why the church has made this choice1 but ,i think ,i can give you one reason1 and that is1 that the church wished to encourage us and to animate us at this season by placing before us the glory which is in store for those who do penance and suffer here4 ,in this life there is nothing so familiar to most of us as suffering in some form or other4 ,most of us are obliged by our circumstances to pass our days in exhausting toil and labor4 ,disease and anxiety and want and disappointment are to be met with on all sides1 and there are but few who are free from all these evils4 #aff ,and to all--even to those who are the most favored in this life--there is an hour coming which nothing can avert--the hour of death4 ,this1 as every one may see1 is the present state of things4 ,moreover1 our ,lord1 so far from encouraging us to expect freedom from suffering1 insists continually upon its necessity4 ,deny yourselves1 take up your cross daily1 blessed are the mourners1 such are the words our ,lord addresses to his disciples4 ,and the church1 that this teaching of our ,lord may not be a mere speculation1 brings it down into every day practical life by commanding us at this season to fast and abstain4 ,from all this the necessity of suffering is evident4 ,but however true this is1 suffering is not an end in itself2 it is only a means to an end2 it is but a road to everlasting joy and glory4 ,god permits and commands sufferings in order that he may give to those who endure their sufferings well an abundant reward4 ,as ,st4 ,paul says3 ,that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory4 ,and it is in order that we may ever remember this that the church calls upon us to consider the manifestation of the glory of our ,lord and ,master1 to whom we must be made conformable in all things--in suffering in this life1 in glory in the next4 ------------------- #afg ,sermon ,,xlviii4 ,christian ,perfection ,not ,impossible4 ,this is the will of ,god1 your sanctification4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,what1 my dear brethren1 is the will or intention of ,almighty ,god and of the ,catholic ,church1 which is directed by his ,holy ,spirit1 in establishing for us this fast of ,lent1 and commanding us to observe it8 ,what is the end which he meant that every ,christian should attain by keeping it1 and which makes the opportunity now offered to us such a great grace as we were warned last week that it is8 ,the words of ,st4 ,paul to-day answer these questions for us4 ,the will of ,god1 he says1 his intention for us at all times indeed1 but specially now1 is our sanctification4 ,but what is our sanctification8 ,it is the making us saints4 ,that1 then1 is what ,lent ought to do for us4 ,it ought to make us saints2 ,god and his church mean that it should4 ,well1 perhaps you may say1 if that is the end for which ,lent is appointed1 it seems to me that the end is seldom attained4 ,for my part1 ,i am afraid ,i shall never be a saint2 saints are few and far between4 ,it will take more than one ,lent to make a saint out of such a sinner as ,i am4 ,if1 then1 you say this1 ,i must confess that there is a good deal of truth in it4 ,we must all feel and acknowledge that4 ,any one who could feel sure now that when ,easter comes he will be fit to be canonized must either be very proud and presumptuous1 and far from real sanctity1 or have some special revelation from ,god1 to which1 ,i think1 none of us will pretend4 #afh ,but for all that it is true that ,lent ought to sanctify us2 it ought to make us saints1 only we need not take the word in quite so high a sense4 ,though we may hope for the greatest possible gifts now1 we cannot confidently expect them4 ,there is1 however1 a sanctification that we ought to expect from this ,lent1 and what is it8 ,it is what ,i fear many of you1 even though tolerably good ,christians1 do not expect4 ,what do ,i mean by a tolerably good ,christian8 ,i mean1 of course1 one who expects to make his ,easter duty4 ,one who does not expect and mean to do that can hardly be called a tolerably good ,christian2 it would be more nearly right to call him an intolerably bad one4 ,well1 then1 you who are good ,christians expect to make your ,easter duty2 so far1 so good4 ,but it is not far enough4 ,for what is it that is meant1 perhaps1 by that8 ,is it not merely to make up your mind to confess your sins and to keep for a few days as you ought to be1 and then be pretty much as you were before8 ,has not that been the experience of the past ,easter duties of not a few of you1 my brethren2 and may not the same be said of the missions you have attended1 and the other great graces you have received from time to time in your life8 ,you came up to the surface1 as a fish jumps out of the water for a moment1 and then down you went again4 #afi ,but that is not enough4 ,that is not sanctification1 and it is not the will or intention of ,god4 ,what you ought to expect is much more than that4 ,what1 then1 is it8 ,it is simply this3 that when you have made your ,easter duty you are going to stay all your life where it will put you4 ,it is that the habits of mortal sin which you may then have to confess will be gone for good2 that those impure thoughts1 words1 and actions will have stopped for ever2 that the shameful drunkenness1 and all the sins which came from it1 will be things only of the past2 that you will never again wilfully neglect ,holy ,mass2 that in every way you will really live as you ought1 all the time in the state of grace1 in peace with ,god and men1 and in readiness to die at any time1 even without the sacraments1 if such should be ,god's will2 that1 in short1 you will be truly converted to him once for all4 ,that is the sanctification which past ,lents have not brought you1 but which this one should4 ,do not1 ,i beg you1 think it is impossible1 for it is not only possible but easy4 ,do not make your ,easter duty the highest point and the end of your ,christian life2 it should be only the beginning of it4 ,what a consolation it will be to you1 if in your future life you can look back on this ,lent and say1 ,that was the time when ,i really began to be a good ,christian2 since then ,i have not had much on my conscience2 ,i have kept in the state of grace4 ,i made really good and strong resolutions then1 and ,i have been faithful to them ever since4 ,there are those now1 plenty of them1 who can say this of some past ,lent4 ,let it be now your turn to say it of this one4 ,it is not a matter of luck and chance2 if you will1 this grace of a lasting conversion from sin is now offered to each and every one of you4 ,it is yours to a certainty1 if you will take the trouble to secure it2 for it is the will of ,god4 ------------------- #agj ,sermon ,,xlix4 ,the ,divine ,presence ,in ,our ,churches4 ,lord1 it is good for us to be here4 --,st4 ,matthew4 xvii4 #d4 ,the ,gospel of to-day tells us of the wonderful ,transfiguration of our ,lord upon the mountain in the sight of his ,apostles ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john4 ,his face did shine as the sun1 and his garments became white as snow4 ,and ,peter1 wrapt in wonder1 yet conscious of the privilege of being present at such a time1 exclaimed3 ,lord1 it is good for us to be here4 ,jesus has withdrawn his visible presence from us4 ,we cannot1 like ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,john1 behold him with our bodily eyes1 nor with our ears can we hear him speaking the words of life4 ,it is better for us that it should be so4 ,in our present sinful and imperfect state we could not bear the splendors of his glorified humanity4 ,when from out the bright cloud which overshadowed him the disciples heard the voice of ,god proclaiming1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 they fell upon their faces1 and were very much afraid4 ,the sight of all this glory1 and the knowledge that they were in the presence of ,almighty ,god himself1 filled them with fear4 ,so1 too1 would it be with us now if ,jesus were to show himself to us as he now is in heaven4 ,at the sight of his majesty and glory we1 too1 should fall upon our faces with fear and trembling4 #aga ,now1 our dear ,lord1 knowing this weakness of ours1 does not withdraw his presence from us1 for he has promised to be with us1 even till the end of the world2 but he hides his glory from us under the humble appearance of bread and wine4 ,beneath these outward forms he remains continually in our churches1 there in the tabernacle1 by day and night1 claiming our adoration and our love4 ,in ,holy ,mass he is daily raised aloft by the hands of the priest1 offering himself to ,god the ,father for the sins of the world4 ,in the ,benediction of the ,blessed ,sacrament he is lifted up to bless his faithful ones4 ,and ,god still speaks to us by the voice and teaching of the church as truly as he spoke to the disciples upon the holy mountain1 saying3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased3 hear ye him4 ,we can still see our ,lord1 yet only through the cloud which overshadows him--that is1 by the eyes of faith4 ,yet he is none the less really present in the tabernacle upon the altar than he was upon ,mount ,thabor on the day of his ,transfiguration4 ,when1 therefore1 we come into his sacred presence1 when we enter the church and see the little lamp burning before the altar to tell us that he is there1 our sentiments should be those of ,st4 ,peter at the ,transfiguration3 ,lord1 it is good for us to be here4 ,it is good for us to often visit him in the ,blessed ,sacrament2 it is good for us to often receive his ,benediction2 it is good for us1 nay1 necessary for us1 to assist at ,holy ,mass when the church bids us do so2 above all it is good for us1 above all it is necessary for us1 to receive him in ,holy ,communion1 and especially now at this time for the fulfilment of the ,easter duty4 ,jesus is present in the ,blessed ,sacrament only for our own good1 for the good of our souls4 ,when1 therefore1 we see this great goodness of our ,lord towards us1 how can we be so heedless of our own good as to turn away from him8 #agb ,and when you come before the ,blessed ,sacrament1 remember that you are in ,god's presence4 ,do not forget to bend your knee in adoration4 ,do not take advantage of his mercy in hiding his glory from you by forgetting that he is really here1 by spending the whole time of ,mass with roving eyes and thoughts4 ,fix your attention upon the altar where he is1 and offer him the best homage that your heart can give4 ,it will be good for you to be here1 if you have the same sentiments at ,mass which the disciples had at the ,transfiguration4 ,you should be filled with a holy fear lest your idle thoughts at this holy time should one day be reckoned against you4 ,for now he veils himself from you in mercy and love1 but one day he will appear to you in far more dazzling brightness than he ever manifested on earth4 ,oh6 then1 despise not his presence here1 that when at last you stand before him he may judge you worthy to enjoy his presence for ever4 ------------------- #agc ,third ,sunday of ,lent4 ,epistle4 ,ephesians v4 #a-i4 ,brethren3 ,be ye followers of ,god1 as most dear children4 ,and walk in love as ,christ also hath loved us1 and hath delivered himself for us an oblation and a sacrifice to ,god for an odor of sweetness4 ,but fornication and all uncleanness1 or covetousness1 let it not so much as be named among you1 as becometh saints3 nor obscenity1 nor foolish talking1 nor scurrility1 which is to no purpose3 but rather giving of thanks4 ,for know ye this1 and understand that no fornicator1 nor unclean1 nor covetous person which is a serving of idols hath any inheritance in the kingdom of ,christ and of ,god4 ,let no man deceive you with vain words4 ,for because of these things cometh the anger of ,god upon the children of unbelief4 ,be ye not therefore partakers with them4 ,for you were heretofore darkness1 but now light in the ,lord4 ,walk ye as children of the light3 for the fruit of the light is in all goodness1 and justice1 and truth4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xi4 #ad-bh4 ,at that time3 ,jesus was casting out a devil1 and the same was dumb2 and when he had cast out the devil1 the dumb spoke2 and the multitude admired3 but some of them said3 ,he casteth out devils in ,beelzebub1 the prince of the devils4 ,and others tempting1 asked of him a sign from heaven4 ,but he1 seeing their thoughts1 said to them3 ,every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation1 and a house upon a house shall fall4 ,and if ,satan also be divided against himself1 how shall his kingdom stand8 because you say1 that in ,beelzebub ,i cast out devils4 #agd ,now if ,i cast out devils in ,beelzebub1 in whom do your children cast them out8 ,therefore they shall be your judges4 ,but if ,i1 in the finger of ,god1 cast out devils1 doubtless the kingdom of ,god is come upon you4 ,when a strong man armed keepeth his court1 those things which he possesseth are in peace4 ,but if a stronger than he come upon him and overcome him1 he will take away all his armor wherein he trusted1 and will distribute his spoils4 ,he that is not with me1 is against me3 and he that gathereth not with me1 scattereth4 ,when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man1 he walketh through places without water1 seeking rest3 and not finding1 he saith3 ,i will return into my house whence ,i came out4 ,and when he is come1 he findeth it swept and garnished4 ,then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself1 and entering in they dwell there4 ,and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first4 ,and it came to pass1 as he spoke these things1 a certain woman from the crowd lifting up her voice1 said to him3 ,blessed is the womb that bore thee1 and the paps that gave thee suck4 ,but he said3 ,yea1 rather1 blessed are they who hear the word of ,god and keep it4 ------------------- ,sermon ,l4 ,immodest ,language4 ,how pertinent to our own times are the words of ,st4 ,paul in the ,epistle of to-day1 addressed nineteen centuries ago to the ,christians of ,ephesus3 ,but all uncleanness1 let it not be so much as named among you1 as becometh saints4 444 ,for know ye this and understand that no unclean person hath inheritance in the kingdom of ,christ and of ,god4 #age ,there is no vice1 my brethren1 more common among men at the present day in all classes of society1 from the professional man to the day-laborer1 among the rich and the poor1 the old and the young1 than that of obscene or immodest conversation4 ,among the better educated this poison of impurity is clothed in language which serves to veil its disgusting nudity1 and thus the more securely to insinuate itself and to deceive the unwary2 while among the less educated it is oftener expressed in words that reveal its horrid filthiness and shock common decency4 ,listen to the conversation of almost any chance gathering of young men1 and you will soon hear the double-meaning joke1 the attempt of some one to be witty1 which serves as much to expose the shallowness of his pate as the corruption and rottenness of his miserable heart4 ,holy ,scripture says that out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh4 ,how true this is6 ,but if one were to use this criterion in judging the thoughts that fill the hearts of many amongst us1 how debased and pitiable must be their condition6 ,and how shocking it is1 my dear brethren1 to meet a young man whose dress and manner at first give evidence of respectability and good breeding1 but who1 when an immodest allusion is made or an impure joke uttered1 is the first to shout with laughter6 ,such a one is well described by our ,blessed ,lord as a whited sepulchre8 full of dead men's bones4 #agf ,and yet these whited sepulchres are not very rare in the community4 ,you meet them in every walk of life--in the counting-room and in the factory1 at the respectable club-room as well as in the grog-shop1 and alas6 must we say it1 among ,catholics as well as among non-,catholics4 ,yes1 among ,catholics1 who have been elevated to a supernatural state through the merits and sufferings of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 whose hearts have been sealed by the grace of the ,holy ,spirit1 and on whose tongue the ,body and ,blood of our ,lord has often been placed--even these have dared to cherish in their hearts and express with their tongues thoughts and sentiments that would shock the moral sense even of the unregenerate4 ,are they laboring under the incredible and awful delusion that they commit no great sin when they entertain or give expression to such thoughts8 ,do they think that they escape mortal sin when their impurity is expressed in the form of a joke or a pun1 or when they by a laugh countenance and encourage the like impurity in others8 ,ah6 my dear brethren1 it is to be feared that too many consciences have been lulled to sleep by this cunning device of the devil4 ,the first introduction to sin for many a one has been the listening with pleasure to the double-meaning word uttered1 perhaps1 by a companion1 or while in the company of others4 ,he was then put on trial not by the devil alone1 but by the one also who uttered it4 ,but the blush of modesty which rose instinctively to his cheek from a pure heart was by an effort suppressed through human respect1 and the voice of conscience1 that told him to administer a rebuke to the minister of ,satan or abandon his company at once1 was hushed into silence1 and the demon of impurity from that moment took possession4 #agg ,take warning1 then1 my dear brethren1 from the words of ,st4 ,paul1 and never countenance by a laugh or in any other way any offence against holy purity1 in whatsoever form it may be expressed2 for know ye that no unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of ,christ and of ,god4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,li4 ,honorary ,church-members4 ,he who is not with me is against me4 --,luke xi4 #bc4 ,societies in our day1 brethren1 have become a great moral force1 the very best means of promoting and spreading any great cause4 ,men recognize this fact1 and so combine together1 that by unity of purpose they may better advance the principles they desire to support4 ,many of these societies are made up of two distinct classes--the active members1 who are the bone and sinew1 the life of the institution1 and the honorary members1 who take no personal interest in the management or working of the society1 but who1 nevertheless1 are good enough1 or interested enough1 to advance the cause they honor by the support of their name4 ,you and ,i1 brethren1 belong to a society1 the ,catholic ,church1 which embraces the whole world4 ,we have in view one great object--the salvation of souls1 the spread of the kingdom of ,jesus ,christ among men4 ,but this society of ours1 a real1 living1 organic institution1 differs from most others in this3 that it does not need the support of honorary members2 neither will it approve their existence in its bosom4 #agh ,no1 the church would have all her members living1 active1 earnest supporters of her principles1 and from them all she requires a pledge that they will keep her laws1 advance her ends1 and fight her battles for the kingdom she was established to uphold4 ,she will welcome no mere spectators to her ranks1 and as for neutral ground1 she recognizes none2 for those who are not with her are against her4 ,and yet there are many who call themselves ,christians1 would-be honorary members of the ,catholic ,church1 who do not even realize what the word ,christian means2 who seem to forget that to be a ,christian imposes the obligation of being at war with all that is anti-,christian4 ,an honorary membership for such ,christians is very convenient2 a membership that would allow them to be on good terms with ,christ and ,satan4 ,the fasting and praying1 the vigils and good works1 the real brunt of the battle they would leave to the active members1 while they would look on with an encouraging smile of approval4 ,ah6 brethren1 learn this lesson once for all and well3 between ,christ and the world there can be no compromise4 ,he who is not with me is against me4 ,there is no neutral ground1 for the moment we desert the ,christian rank and file we give the hand of fellowship to the enemy4 ,we cannot serve two masters well1 and in the ,catholic ,church there is no membership worthy the name that is not an active1 complete membership4 ,the drones of the hive may nourish and thrive for a time1 but let them remember they run the awful risk of final destruction4 #agi ,the question ,i would have you ask yourselves today1 and meditate upon during this holy season1 is this3 ,are you active1 living members of the church1 that mystical body of which ,jesus ,christ is the head and the ,holy ,ghost the life-giving principle1 or are you simply would-be honorary members8 ,have you at heart the interests of ,god's holy church2 are her sorrows1 her wants1 her trials yours8 ,are the sacraments she offers you the source and support of your life8 ,if so1 you have reason to thank ,god4 ,or are you standing afar off ready to give an approving nod when the world smiles1 or slink off like a coward when the world frowns8 ,are the laws of the church irksome to you and so avoided8 ,if this be the case1 you are nothing but dead limbs1 and liable to be cut off without a moment's warning from the living body1 for dead members are against1 not with1 the parent stem4 ,would-be honorary members of the ,catholic ,church1 beware of the error of trying to give one hand to ,god and the other to the devil2 beware of the fallacy of thinking that because you are outwardly connected with the church you cannot be lost--that hell was never intended for ,catholics2 that1 somehow or other1 you will come out all right in the end4 ,that is what ,judas thought when with his sin-stained lips he kissed his ,lord whom he had so lately sold to the enemy4 ,have you still the faith1 then beware lest your want of charity may bring on a want of faith4 ,have you still a conscience1 beware lest your frequent attempts to stifle it may extinguish it altogether4 ,if there be a spark of it left ,i beg of you stir it up4 ,be in earnest1 and at least let not this ,lent pass without a good confession and communion1 the only condition on which you can become active members of ,god's holy church4 ,put your heart in the work and you will be happier for it here and certainly happier hereafter4 ------------------- #ahj ,sermon ,,lii4 ,half-,hearted ,christians4 ,he that is not with me is against me4 --,gospel ,of ,the ,day4 ,these words1 my dear brethren1 like many others spoken by our ,blessed ,lord1 may be interpreted in various ways4 ,they may be understood to mean that he who is not with ,christ1 by being united to his true flock1 who does not belong to the one church which he has founded1 is injuring the cause of ,christ1 is persecuting and hampering his church in its warfare against its enemies2 or1 in other words1 that ,protestants and heretics in general1 zealous ,christians though they may seem to be1 are really hurting ,christianity about as much as they help it1 if not more4 ,and it is plain enough to us that this is true4 ,if there had never been any heresies and schisms in the church1 we cannot doubt that there would have been now few nations not ,christian4 ,but this1 true though it may be1 seems to have little practical bearing for us4 ,we are not heretics or schismatics1 and ,i hope that we have no inclination to be so4 ,still we must remember that bad ,catholics do about as much harm to the work of ,christ and his church in the world as heretics4 ,in fact1 there would never have been any heretics had there not been bad ,catholics to begin with4 #aha ,but1 after all1 it does not seem that our ,lord is speaking so much of heretics1 or of bad ,catholics1 when he says3 ,he that is not with me is against me4 ,for he goes on to tell us that when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man1 he walketh through places without water1 seeking rest2 and not finding1 he saith1 ,i will return to my house whence ,i came out2 and when he is come1 he findeth it swept and garnished4 ,then he goeth1 and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself1 and entering in they dwell there2 and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first4 ,the meaning of this is plain enough4 ,it is that a man cannot give up a bad life1 and then remain betwixt and between1 neither bad nor good4 ,his soul cannot stay empty1 swept1 and garnished4 ,he must keep the love of ,god in it2 he must have good thoughts and do good works1 or the devil will come back1 take possession of the empty soul1 and make it worse than it was before4 ,so this gives a new sense to the words1 ,he that is not with me is against me4 ,he that is not a real good ,christian1 trying to live for the glory of ,god1 and to do the work for which ,god has put him in the world1 will be a bad one before long1 if he is not already4 ,we cannot lie low and shirk the duties which belong to us as ,christians and as ,catholics4 ,we must be ,god's servants1 and live in such a way as to be known as such1 or we shall begin again to serve his enemy4 ,let us take an instance1 and you will see well enough what ,i mean4 ,a young man or woman has been going with bad company1 who1 though perhaps they call themselves ,catholics1 are a disgrace to the name1 and has joined with them in all their vile conversations and sinful actions4 #ahb ,now1 too many of those who have been living in this way seem to think that after their confession and communion they can go back to this company and still avoid remark2 that nobody will have occasion to say that they are pious1 or notice any change in their life2 that they can keep all right in ,god's sight1 and also in that of their bad companions2 that they can avoid doing any harm1 and still do no good4 ,let such remember these words3 ,he that is not with me is against me4 ,if you want to stay in the grace of ,god1 you must hate sin1 and love virtue2 and if you really do this your life and conversation will show that such is the case4 ,you must be a friend of ,christ and an enemy of the devil and of all his works1 and not only be willing but proud to be known as such2 if you will not do this our ,lord will not have you or keep you4 ,choose1 then1 which side you will take2 do not fancy that you can take neither4 ,if you try to steer a middle course1 and live an empty and unprofitable life1 neither one thing nor the other1 you will soon slip back just where you were before4 ------------------- #ahc ,fourth ,sunday of ,lent4 ,epistle4 ,galatians iv4 #bb-ca4 ,brethren3 ,it is written that ,abraham had two sons3 the one by a bond woman1 and the other by a free-woman3 but he that was by the bond-woman was born according to the flesh3 but he by the free-woman was by the promise4 ,which things are said by an allegory3 for these are the two testaments3 the one indeed on ,mount ,sina which bringeth forth unto bondage1 which is ,agar3 for ,sina is a mountain in ,arabia1 which hath an affinity to that which now is ,jerusalem1 and is in bondage with her children4 ,but that ,jerusalem which is above1 is free3 which is our mother4 ,for it is written3 ,rejoice1 thou barren1 that bearest not3 break forth and cry out1 thou that travailest not2 for many are the children of the desolate1 more than of her that hath a husband2 now we1 brethren1 as ,isaac was1 are the children of promise4 ,but as then he1 that was born according to the flesh1 persecuted him that was according to the spirit3 so also now4 ,but what saith the ,scripture8 ,cast out the bond woman and her son3 for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman4 ,therefore1 brethren1 we are not the children of the bond-woman1 but of the free3 by the freedom wherewith ,christ has made us free4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john vi4 #a-ae4 ,at that time3 ,jesus went over the sea of ,galilee1 which is that of ,tiberias3 and a great multitude followed him1 because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were infirm4 ,and ,jesus went up into a mountain1 and there he sat with his disciples4 #ahd ,now the pasch1 the festival day of the ,jews1 was near at hand4 ,when ,jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes1 and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him1 he said to ,philip3 ,whence shall we buy bread that these may eat8 ,and this he said to try him1 for he himself knew what he would do4 ,philip answered him3 ,two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them1 that every one may take a little4 ,one of his disciples1 ,andrew1 the brother of ,simon ,peter1 saith to him3 ,there is a boy here that hath five barley loaves1 and two fishes2 but what are these among so many8 ,then ,jesus said3 ,make the men sit down4 ,now there was much grass in the place4 ,so the men sat down1 in number about five thousand4 ,and ,jesus took the loaves3 and when he had given thanks he distributed to them that were sat down4 ,in like manner also of the fishes as much as they would4 ,and when they were filled1 he said to his disciples3 ,gather up the fragments that remain1 lest they be lost4 ,so they gathered up1 and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves1 which remained over and above to them that had eaten4 ,then those men1 when they had seen what a miracle ,jesus had done1 said3 ,this is the prophet indeed that is to come into the world4 ,when ,jesus1 therefore1 perceived that they would come and take him by force and make him king1 he fled again into the mountain himself alone4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,liii4 ,the ,happiness ,of ,true ,penance4 ,rejoice ,jerusalem4 --,introit of the ,mass for the ,day4 ,this is called ,ltare1 or rejoicing ,sunday4 ,it may surprise you1 dear brethren1 to be told that this is a day of rejoicing2 you will be amazed1 no doubt1 that1 in the midst of the rigorous ,lenten fast1 when men should bewail their sins and do penance for them1 and sounds of mirth and joy are hushed1 the church should bid us rejoice4 #ahe ,yet thus she does to-day4 ,in mid-,lent even she would have her children rejoice1 would have them forget for the moment penance and turn their hearts to thoughts of gladness1 that1 by so doing1 she may teach them that the rigors of this season1 the self-denial and curbing of the flesh she imposes on us1 is undergone that we may realize more fully the spirit of her teaching--that we may1 in truth1 preserve1 or get back if we have lost it1 that interior joy1 that spiritual jubilation which is the portion of every one who serves ,christ as he should be served4 ,our religion is one of joy1 because we are ,christ's and he is ours2 and what more can we ask1 or what greater can be bestowed upon us1 than the having of ,christ2 ,christ1 at once perfect man and true ,god2 ,christ1 whose life is the model of our lives1 whose grace is the source of all joy2 ,christ1 to have whom is to have a brother1 and1 at the same time1 the eternal ,god2 the ,god by whose word were made all things that are1 who knows no limit to his power1 who has in himself all perfections that man can desire or conceive of2 a brother--a man like ourselves1 with a human heart like our own1 with affections like those of other men2 a brother burning with tender love for us1 knowing our weakness1 knowing our wants and ready to succor us2 a man who was himself tempted1 who has himself suffered the miseries of this life1 who1 in a word1 was made like to us in all save sin4 ,this is whom we have when we have ,christ1 and should we not rejoice at having such a one8 #ahf ,we should and do rejoice2 our hearts are always full of gladness when we are in ,god's grace1 and ,christ is ours and we are his2 and this is what the church wishes for all her children--the friendship and the love of ,god4 ,she ever has ,christ herself1 and so is never sad2 though she may mourn with him suffering1 still there is joy behind all her sorrow4 ,if she puts on sombre garments1 if she calls man to penance1 if she fasts and covers her head with ashes1 she is still glad in the depths of her heart4 ,she is calling you and me to share the gladness1 to get it back if we have lost it by mortal sin2 she is bidding you and me to keep that gladness by chastising our bodies2 she is warning us that we may lose ,god's grace1 as1 alas6 too many before us have lost it1 unless we are vigilant4 ,dear brethren1 listen to the church's voice to-day2 come1 all of you1 come and share her joy4 ,if you are not in ,god's grace do not let another day go by without making your peace with ,god4 ,oh6 how much you are losing1 and for what8 ,for some trifling satisfaction which cannot bring true happiness2 some mean gratification of your lower nature2 for sin you are letting slip by the offer of ,god's friendship and the joy of a good conscience4 ,do you want to die as you are living8 ,if you do not1 repent of your sins to-day2 before you leave this church promise ,god that you will sin no more2 that you will be in fact what you are in name--a ,christian4 ------------------- #ahg ,sermon ,,liv4 ,liberty ,of ,spirit4 ,by the freedom wherewith ,christ has made us free4 ,these1 my dear brethren1 are the concluding words of the ,epistle read at ,mass to-day4 ,they ought to be of unusual interest to us1 for they speak of a matter which we all care very much about2 which some care so much about that they are willing to fight for it1 and to die for its sake4 ,if you have listened to these words of ,st4 ,paul1 which ,i have just read1 you know what this is of which ,i speak1 and for which we all care so much4 ,it is freedom or1 as we often call it1 liberty4 ,many1 as ,i just said1 will even die1 if need be1 rather than abandon it2 and indeed thousands1 nay millions1 have actually done so4 ,man feels that he must have it4 ,life1 liberty1 and the pursuit of happiness he claims as his right4 ,especially do people nowadays ask for liberty1 and insist on having it4 ,the child is no sooner out of his mother's arms than he wants and tries in all things to have his own way4 ,obedience is a lesson that he seldom willingly learns4 ,he thinks that when he is a man he can do as he pleases2 and he does not see why he should not even now4 ,sometimes he succeeds in having his own way1 in spite of his parents2 he runs away from school and1 when a little older1 from church2 he passes his life among such companions as he chooses1 who help him to get the liberty which they think they have themselves got1 by defying all the laws of ,god and of man4 #ahh ,but is this really liberty which these foolish children1 and young men and women more foolish than children1 think they have got by trampling on all law8 ,no2 a thousand times no6 ,it is to true liberty only as the shadow to the substance1 as they find to their cost before they have travelled very far on this road4 ,they have but escaped from a light and easy yoke to take on their necks one far heavier and more grievous1 and which becomes more and more so every day4 ,they have left the service of the kind and good ,master to whom they belonged and entered into that of a hard and cruel tyrant instead4 ,he has filled them with base and beastly passions1 and made them slaves to these passions4 ,they are given over1 body and soul1 to impurity1 gluttony1 or drunkenness1 or it may be to a mean and miserable greed for money4 ,at last1 perhaps1 they try to turn back and shake themselves free from these accursed lusts1 which have fastened on them1 and are draining the very life-blood from their souls2 but it seems that they cannot do so4 ,they set out to do as they pleased1 and how has it ended8 ,in their being bound1 hand and foot1 in the slavery of sin4 ,but what was their mistake8 ,were they altogether wrong in wishing for liberty8 ,is the desire for freedom1 which is implanted in us1 all a delusion8 ,are we never to do as we desire1 but always to have a restraint and a yoke upon us8 ,no1 my brethren1 the idea of liberty is not a mistake4 ,we are right in wishing for liberty1 hoping for it1 and trying to secure it in the right way4 ,but the mistake these foolish people of whom ,i have spoken make is in going the wrong way in the search for it3 in looking for it in the wrong place4 #ahi ,where1 then1 is liberty to be found8 ,i will tell you2 and you may be surprised at what ,i say1 for it does not sound as if it could be true2 but it is true1 nevertheless4 ,true liberty1 then1 is in the service of ,god4 ,those who serve ,god best are the freest men on earth4 ,but how can this be8 ,i answer1 ,it can and must be very easily and very plainly4 ,for those who serve ,god best of all--that is1 the saints in heaven--always do just what they like1 and enjoy doing it most perfectly4 ,they have got rid of all the hindrances that1 more or less1 prevent every one here below from doing what he wishes4 ,and1 of course1 those who try to walk in the path of the saints here on earth also have much of this freedom4 ,the more they learn to do ,god's will the more they love it2 and so they are always doing more and more what they like1 and more and more easily all the time2 and that is just what liberty is3 to do what you like1 and to do it without pain or difficulty4 ,the servants of ,god1 then1 have their liberty1 because they have got free from sin1 which is the only obstacle to it4 ,and this freedom from sin is the gift of ,christ1 it is the fruit of his ,passion2 it is1 then1 the liberty which he has given us4 ,it is ours if we wish it4 ,try1 then1 my dear brethren1 in this holy season of ,lent1 when his graces are so abundantly poured out1 to gain that freedom which they will surely give us1 that freedom wherewith4 ,christ has made us free4 ------------------- #aij ,sermon ,,lv4 ,the ,lust ,of ,the ,eyes4 ,have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness1 but rather reprove them4 ,for the things that are done by them in secret1 it is a shame even to speak of4 --,ephesians v4 #aa1 #ab4 ,some weeks ago1 my dear brethren1 we had occasion to speak of the horrible and filthy vice of impurity1 which is every day dragging into hell thousands of souls with the mark of the cross of ,christ on them1 and washed in vain with his ,precious ,blood4 ,as was said then1 many ,christians do not seem to realize the enormity of sins against the ,sixth ,commandment--at least those of thought and of the tongue2 to which may be added those coming from the use of the other senses1 especially that of sight4 ,an immodest imagination or desire1 wilfully entertained or enjoyed1 is a mortal sin1 and gives the soul so harboring it instantly into the power of the devil4 ,let us hope that no one having the ,catholic faith will doubt this1 or think it too strict a doctrine2 for it is the unanimous consent of all the teaching authority in the church from the beginning1 amply supported also by ,holy ,scripture4 ,what shall we say1 then1 of wilful and deliberate gazing at immodest pictures1 or of reading matter directly calculated to inflame impure passions1 and certain to have its effect8 ,now1 ,i hardly need to say that a city like this is full of these temptations coming through the eyes into the heart4 ,the good and pure instinctively avoid them1 and scarcely know that they exist2 accustomed to watch the slightest movements of their souls to evil1 and instantly to repress them1 they shrink with horror from those filthy words and pictures on which others eagerly gaze4 #aia ,they know that1 as the ,apostle says1 it is a shame to speak of these things1 a greater shame to write or to read of them1 a greater shame yet to expose them to sight1 to incite temptation by them1 and thus to destroy the souls for which ,christ died4 ,i say that the good and pure are not likely to be caught in this net of ,satan2 by this ,i mean those who have been warned of the evil1 who understand its danger1 and from well-formed habits of virtue set themselves resolutely against it4 ,but there are others who are good and pure--in their baptismal innocence1 perhaps2 young1 at any rate1 and unused to sin1 at least of this kind--who are not forewarned and forearmed like those of maturer years1 who1 seeing bad pictures in papers sold even at stores otherwise of good repute1 and kept1 perhaps1 by ,catholics1 do not fully understand how bad they are1 and are led to look at them with pleasure1 to learn evil which they knew not of1 and thus to contract habits of sin which they will never overcome4 ,now1 what does our ,lord say of those who thus put temptation in the way of the young and innocent8 ,you all know his words3 ,he that shall scandalize one of these little ones who believe in me1 it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck1 and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea4 ,strong words these1 but they are those of the ,divine ,wisdom1 and beyond correction by human lips4 ,yes1 it is better to die1 better even to die in the state of sin1 than to add such a sin as this to our number4 #aib ,let us beware1 then1 not in any way1 however indirect1 to give sanction or encouragement to this work of the devil in our midst4 ,have no fellowship with these works of darkness1 but rather reprove them4 ,do not buy or even take up for a moment the indecent papers or books now unfortunately so common among us2 still more1 do not sell them2 do not allow them to be in the house2 do not suffer your children to look at or read them2 do not frequent places where they are to be had4 ,set your faces resolutely1 for the honor of ,god and the ,catholic name1 as well as for your own souls sake1 against this plague of immodest literature1 which has assumed such fearful proportions and become so bold and unblushing in these days in which we live4 ,think nothing to be light or of little moment in this matter2 mortal sin is much easier in it than you may believe4 ------------------- #aic ,passion ,sunday4 ,epistle4 ,hebrews ix4 #aa-ae4 ,brethren3 ,christ1 being come a high-priest of the good things to come1 by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands1 that is1 not of this creation3 neither by the blood of goats1 nor of calves1 but by his own blood1 entered once into the ,holies1 having obtained eternal redemption4 ,for if the blood of goats and of oxen1 and the ashes of a heifer being sprinkled1 sanctify such as are defiled1 to the cleansing of the flesh3 how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who by the ,holy ,ghost offered himself unspotted unto ,god1 cleanse our conscience from dead works1 to serve the living ,god8 ,and therefore he is the mediator of the new testament3 that by means of his death1 for the redemption of those transgressions1 which were under the former testament1 they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john viii4 #df-ei4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to the multitude of the ,jews3 ,which of you shall convince me of sin8 ,if ,i say the truth to you1 why do you not believe me8 ,he that is of ,god1 heareth the words of ,god4 ,therefore you hear them not1 because you are not of ,god4 ,the ,jews1 therefore1 answered and said to him3 ,do we not say well that thou art a ,samaritan1 and hast a devil8 ,jesus answered3 ,i have not a devil2 but ,i honor my ,father1 and you have dishonored me4 ,but ,i seek not my own glory2 there is one that seeketh and judgeth4 ,amen1 amen1 ,i say to you3 if any man keep my word1 he shall not see death for ever4 #aid ,the ,jews therefore said3 ,now we know that thou hast a devil4 ,abraham is dead1 and the prophets2 and thou sayest3 ,if any man keep my word1 he shall not taste death for ever4 ,art thou greater than our father ,abraham1 who is dead8 ,and the prophets are dead4 ,whom dost thou make thyself8 ,jesus answered3 ,if ,i glorify myself1 my glory is nothing4 ,it is my ,father that glorifieth me1 of whom you say that he is your ,god4 ,and you have not known him1 but ,i know him4 ,and if ,i shall say that ,i know him not1 ,i shall be like to you1 a liar4 ,but ,i do know him1 and do keep his word4 ,abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day2 he saw it1 and was glad4 ,the ,jews therefore said to him3 ,thou art not yet fifty years old1 and hast thou seen ,abraham8 ,jesus said to them3 ,amen1 amen1 ,i say to you1 before ,abraham was made1 ,i am4 ,they took up stones therefore to cast at him4 ,but ,jesus hid himself1 and went out of the temple4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lvi4 ,the ,precious ,blood4 ,the ,blood of ,jesus ,christ his ,son cleanseth us from all sin4 --#a ,epistle ,st4 ,john i4 #g4 ,we all know1 my dear brethren1 that when a man is born into the world he is born unclean before ,god4 ,he is then so unclean that he is not fit to associate with the sons of ,god and heirs of the kingdom of heaven4 ,he is then so unclean that he can never be anything but an outcast from ,god until he is made clean4 #aie ,is there any way in which he can be made clean8 ,yes1 for when he is baptized he is made a new creature2 he is cleansed from the stain of original sin1 made a child of ,god and heir of the kingdom of heaven4 ,he is then so pure and holy that if he die immediately he will go1 to a certainty1 straight to heaven4 ,for baptism applies the ,blood of ,christ to his soul1 and he is become truly clean4 ,but suppose he does not die immediately after baptism1 how is it with him then8 ,if he keep his baptismal innocence1 so far as never to commit a mortal sin1 he still has a right to go to heaven4 ,he can then demand of ,god permission to enter heaven4 ,can he1 however1 demand this permission to enter heaven immediately after his death if he has committed only venial sin8 ,that depends entirely upon his contrition at the moment of death4 ,if he is not so sorry for all his sins that his contrition is not perfect1 then he can't enter heaven immediately1 but must go to purgatory to be made perfectly pure1 so that he can be taken into heaven4 ,i have said that baptism applies the ,blood of ,christ to the soul and makes man pure and innocent4 ,now1 baptism is a sacrament4 ,it is the first one and is necessary to salvation4 ,without it no man can enter heaven1 nor even purgatory1 for the purgatorial state is the first and lowest state of blessed and holy souls who must go to heaven in the end4 ,but the blood of ,christ is applied to the soul of man in other ways1 although baptism must come in in the first place4 ,in what other ways is the ,blood of ,christ applied3 ,first1 by the ,sacrifice of the ,mass4 ,for by the ,mass we repair our sins1 get grace to keep from sin1 and make our purgatory shorter in consequence4 ,he who hears ,mass daily makes the best prayer that a man can make1 and he is more certain to have his prayer answered4 ,he also helps the living and the dead1 and brings down upon himself and his own special graces from ,god4 #aif ,secondly1 the ,blood of ,christ is applied to our souls by the ,sacrament of ,penance4 ,men defile their souls by sin1 by mortal sin after baptism4 ,he who receives the ,sacrament of ,penance worthily--that is1 with true sorrow for all mortal sin1 with a firm determination to lead a good life and repair the wrong he has done--that man receives again the grace of ,god that restores his soul to eternal life4 ,thirdly1 in ,holy ,communion we receive the ,body and ,blood of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in a hidden manner1 but in deed and in truth4 ,the consecrated ,host is the eternal and ever-living ,god himself4 ,you know1 my dear brethren1 the strength of this divine food4 ,how it gives new energy to the soul1 destroys the power of concupiscence1 banishes1 or at least weakens1 temptation1 always giving us the grace to hold our own against the world1 the flesh1 and the devil4 ,and there are ,catholics who refuse to make this ,communion once a year6 ,but there is one thing that ought to be said here4 ,a ,catholic ought never to consider as useless1 or as almost useless1 any one of the sacraments4 ,this too many do as regards confession4 ,they underrate it4 ,they think1 therefore1 it is no good unless they receive ,communion every time they go to confession4 ,now this is a grave error4 ,one is not obliged to go to ,communion every time he goes to confession4 ,those who cannot go to ,mass nor ,communion1 on account of their business or employment or work keeping them away1 can at least go to confession very often during the year4 ,all such an one has to do is to prepare himself carefully1 step into the rector's house1 make his confession1 and go on to work again4 ,if he but make an arrangement with some one of the priests he can always be heard at once4 ,frequent confession is a wonderful help to a good life and a happy death4 ------------------- #aig ,sermon ,,lvii4 ,christ's ,passion4 ,which of you shall convince me of sin8 --,john viii4 #df4 ,to-day1 dear friends1 is ,passion ,sunday1 and our long ,lenten pilgrimage is nearing its end4 ,heretofore our thoughts have been on ourselves1 our own shortcomings1 our own sins4 ,now we stand1 as it were1 on the hill overlooking the ,holy ,city1 and see before us1 as a map unrolled1 the scene of our ,redeemer's agony3 ,bethany1 the olive-garden of ,gethsemani1 and1 further on1 the barren mount of ,calvary1 with its three crosses standing forth1 black and cruel1 against the fair blue sky4 ,now our thoughts turn from ourselves to our ,lord4 ,we have seen what the effect of sin has been on us4 ,now we look and see1 and our shame should deepen as we see1 what sorrow and tears and agony it has brought on the eternal ,son of ,god4 ,to-day the cross is veiled1 the pictures are shrouded in mourning1 the ,gloria ceases to be sung4 ,so our sins covered our dying ,lord as with a garment1 and sorrow chokes the voice of holy church1 fills her heart to overflowing1 and stills all her songs of praise4 #aih ,what is this veil which obscures the cross of ,jesus ,christ and makes his ,passion of no effect8 ,o dear brethren6 is it not our sins8 ,what platted the crown of thorns1 and drove those sharp spikes deep into his sacred head8 ,our selfish pride4 ,what sent those nails through his hands and feet1 fixing them to the tree of shame8 ,our wicked deeds and our wanderings from the path of duty4 ,what parched his tongue with such burning thirst8 ,our shameless indulgence in drink4 ,what pointed the spear of the impious ,roman soldier1 and hurled it deep into the ,sacred ,heart1 whence issued the red torrent of the ,precious ,blood8 ,our inordinate appetites and sinful lusts4 ,as often as we sin we crucify our dearest ,lord afresh4 ,which of you shall convince me of sin8 ,what more could ,i have done for my vineyard which ,i have not done8 ,i came down from heaven2 took upon myself the form of a servant1 the likeness of sinful flesh2 set you a perfect example how you should walk2 was led as a lamb to the slaughter2 was scourged1 spit upon1 mangled1 crucified2 what could ,i have done more8 ,which of you shall convince me of sin8 ,which of you1 my brethren8 ,how many graces and blessings do you not owe to that crucified ,lord8 ,in how many sore temptations have you not been defended and strengthened8 ,in how many bitter sorrows have you not been comforted8 ,from how many shameful falls have you not been raised up8 ,o ,christian soul6 for whom ,christ died1 look upon that bleeding1 suffering1 dying ,saviour1 and1 if nothing else will move you1 let those ghastly wounds1 which your sins have made1 plead with you4 ,acknowledge your transgressions3 abase yourself in the very dust4 #aii ,let that sacred ,passion plead with you1 that infinite love plead with you1 that ,precious ,blood plead with you1 those last tender words plead with you1 and teach you1 for their sake and your soul's sake1 to love the ,lord more dearly1 to dread sin more effectually1 and never1 as long as you live1 to add to that heavy burden by any wicked deed of yours4 ,so shall1 a few days hence1 the veil be lifted from the cross1 and our sorrow be turned to joy1 for when the ,lord of ,glory shall arise we too shall arise with him1 and reign with him in glory for evermore4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lviii4 ,dangerous ,companionship4 ,walk circumspectly2 not as unwise1 but as wise4 --,ephesians4 v4 #ae-af4 ,to-day1 my dear brethren1 ,i propose to make a few remarks on the dangerous occasions of impurity1 so common in these times4 ,the danger of which ,i wish specially to speak is that which comes from the familiar acquaintance which now exists to such a great extent1 and is taken so much as a matter of course1 between young persons of different sexes4 ,this undue familiarity is too common everywhere in this country2 and more than anywhere else in a city like that in which we live4 ,young women here with us1 even though they be ,catholics1 and good enough ,catholics in some respects1 seem to forget1 or rather never to begin to realize1 the laws of decorum and modesty which well-instructed persons1 even though not professing to be specially religious1 have hitherto rightly taken for granted4 #bjj ,to take a flagrant instance4 ,a priest1 being a man educated according to the rules of respectable society1 is unspeakably surprised when he for the first time hears some young woman1 apparently of a careful conscience1 ask him if it is a sin to flirt4 ,for what is this which is called flirting8 ,it is simply deliberately and wantonly acting in a way to attract the attention of particular persons of the opposite sex1 to make signals which are to be understood as marks of preference for1 or of desire of acquaintance with1 some young man or men whom she may chance to see on the street4 ,a sin to flirt6 ,how can you ask such a question8 ,why1 outwardly and at the first appearance1 the act is not very different from that of an abandoned woman seeking to attract those whom she thinks will notice her4 ,the intention1 of course1 in your minds is often comparatively harmless1 it is true2 but by outward standards the act is simply disreputable4 ,furthermore1 it shows a feeling which any lady1 really worthy of the name1 would hesitate to show even to one whose character she well knew to be good1 and who had for a long time given to her respectful and proper attentions4 ,a woman or girl who flirts seems to be1 if she is not in reality1 lost to all sense of decency2 and those are almost as much so who shamelessly walk at night up and down the avenues in the hope of attracting attention4 ,this seeking to form unknown acquaintances of the opposite sex or to attract special attention among them is1 then1 a thing which no ,catholic girl should think of1 if she has any sense of shame4 ,but when such acquaintances are formed by an introduction in itself proper1 they should be very carefully considered4 #bja ,for a young woman to make one of the other sex her friend or familiar companion1 as she well may one of her own1 is a thing which should be unheard of4 ,she should have but one such friend1 and he should be one who has acted honorably to her by proposing to her to take the honorable part of her husband1 and whom she has before ,god and in her conscience felt to be worthy1 and accepted by a binding engagement4 ,before that1 and to all other men1 politeness with proper and modest reserve should be the constant rule1 affection and familiarity out of the question4 ,and yet we find girls keeping company1 as it is called1 and that without any sort of serious guarantee of the purposes of the other party1 not only with one after another1 but even with more than one at once4 ,for the reasons1 plain enough1 on which these directions rest1 promiscuous assemblies of both sexes1 such as those to be found at certain gatherings1 now unfortunately so popular1 are full of danger1 and had far better in all cases be avoided4 ,a freedom of manners prevails in them--to say nothing of direct temptations to the senses--and an ease of making acquaintance1 which opens a free door to sin4 ,i do not wish to be too severe1 but1 as a rule1 ,i do say1 leave such places alone4 ,young women1 respect yourselves2 demand the respect of others4 ,there is the moral in a nutshell4 ------------------- #bjb ,palm ,sunday4 ,epistle4 ,philippians ii4 #e-aa4 ,brethren3 ,let this mind be in you1 which was also in ,christ ,jesus3 who being in the form of ,god1 thought it not robbery himself to be equal with ,god3 but debased himself1 taking the form of a servant1 being made to the likeness of men1 and in shape found as a man4 ,he humbled himself1 becoming obedient unto death1 even the death of the cross4 ,wherefore ,god also hath exalted him1 and hath given him a name which is above every name3 that in the name of ,jesus every knee should bow1 of those that are in heaven1 on earth1 and in hell4 ,and that every tongue should confess that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is in the glory of ,god the ,father4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xxvii4 #fb-ff4 ,and the next day1 which followed the day of preparation1 the chief priests and the ,pharisees came together to ,pilate1 saying3 ,sir1 we have remembered that that seducer said1 while he was yet alive3 ,after three days ,i will rise again4 ,command therefore the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day3 lest his disciples come and steal him away1 and say to the people1 ,he is risen from the dead3 so the last error shall be worse than the first4 ,pilate said to them3 ,you have a guard2 go1 guard it as you know4 ,and they departing1 made the sepulchre sure with guards1 sealing the stone4 ------------------ #bjc ,sermon ,,lix4 ,hardness ,of ,heart4 ,to-day if you shall hear his voice1 harden not your hearts4 ,these words1 my dear brethren1 are taken from the beginning of the office recited by the clergy on this and the following days1 up to ,holy ,thursday4 ,they entreat us not to let this time1 precious above all others1 go by without making the use of it which our ,lord means that we should make2 not to let him show his love for us without giving him love in return4 ,harden not your hearts4 ,how is it that we harden our hearts8 ,it is by putting off our repentance2 by clinging to the world and its pleasures1 to the gratification of our sinful passions1 and waiting for some time to come when it will be more convenient to give them up1 or when we shall feel more strongly moved to do so4 ,we think that this time will surely come1 that the stream of ,god's graces will be uninterrupted1 and that when necessity urges we can avail ourselves of the one that happens to be then within our reach as easily as we could have done of the many that went by long ago4 ,but1 my brethren1 this is a great and a terrible mistake4 ,it may be1 indeed1 that ,god in his goodness and mercy has many graces yet in store for us equal in themselves to those which we have had2 but if we have despised and neglected the past ones they will not be the same for us as those were which went before1 #bjd ,a word of warning1 a single prayer1 the sight of the crucifix or of our ,blessed ,mother1 a pious picture1 an ,agnus ,dei1 is enough to move the innocent soul of a child to the love of ,god2 the most powerful mission-sermon often fails to make any impression on one who has spent his life in sin4 ,it is not the grace that is wanting on ,god's part4 ,no1 he is there in his power2 his arm is not shortened2 he is still mighty to save4 ,but his voice seems to the deaf ear of the sinner faint and indistinct2 his message is the same old story4 ,yes1 it is the same old story2 it must be the same1 for there is but one4 ,there is but one name under heaven whereby we can be saved1 only one ,gospel which we can preach1 and the sinner has heard it so often with indifference that its interest is gone4 ,then--most dangerous delusion of all--he comforts himself with the hope that at least he will die in the grace of ,god2 that somehow or other he will1 as he passes from life to death1 be brought from death to life4 ,he forgets that the sacraments were not given to give repentance to the sinner2 no1 they have for their object to give pardon and grace to those who have repented4 ,do you think it is of the slightest use to anoint with oil the senses of a man who lies unconscious1 and who has not1 while he had the use of his mind1 turned really and truly away in his heart from his sinful life8 ,the priest does it1 indeed1 in hopes that he may have repented2 but how faint is that hope for those who have suddenly been stricken down6 ,and even if there is more time2 even if some sort of confession can be made1 is it so sure that the hardened heart1 which has all its life loved and clung to its sins1 will now love ,god and hate sin8 ,god's mercy is great1 it is true2 he may now give extraordinary graces1 but he is not bound to do so2 and if the ordinary ones have failed before they may also fail now4 #bje ,yes1 my brethren1 now is the time--a better time than your last hour4 ,now in this ,passion season the ,precious ,blood of ,christ is flowing more freely for you than you can expect ever to find it again4 ,listen to his voice now2 do not wait till it becomes fainter4 ,if you have not spent ,lent well so far1 come now and make the most of the help so abundantly given you in these holy days4 ,harden not your hearts any longer2 it is a dangerous game to play4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lx4 ,spirit ,of ,holy ,week4 ,think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself4 --,hebrews4 xii4 #c4 ,the week which we this ,sunday enter upon1 my dear brethren1 is called ,holy ,week2 and of all the many sacred seasons which the church has set apart1 this is by far the most solemn and sacred4 ,everything which it is within the power of external rites and ceremonies to do has been done by the church in these services1 in order to bring home to her children the great lesson which this holy season should teach4 ,and while it is true that the church has not made attendance obligatory under pain of mortal sin1 yet it would argue a very poor and ungrateful spirit1 and one but little in accordance with that of the church1 if any one should without good reason neglect to be present4 #bjf ,now1 what is the truth which these services have it for their object to impress upon our minds8 ,no other than that fundamental1 distinctive truth--the ,passion and death of ,christ1 its reason and effects4 ,the church this week excludes from commemoration everything else1 and applies herself exclusively to tracing the steps of her ,lord and ,founder from his entry into ,jerusalem in the midst of acclamations and rejoicings1 to the entombment of his dead and blood-stained body in the sepulchre of ,joseph of ,arimathea4 ,now1 every one must have1 necessarily has1 in these events the greatest interest--an interest which surpasses every other4 ,and1 first1 as to those who are in the habit of going frequently to the sacraments1 who understand their great value1 and find in these means of grace their chief consolation in the midst of the troubles and cares which surround them4 ,for these the commemoration of the ,passion and death of ,christ can not but be profitable4 ,the author of ,the ,following of ,christ tells us that we ought not to consider so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver4 ,and we all know that we esteem the trifling present made by a dear friend more than much more costly things which we have ourselves bought or earned4 ,now1 the sacraments are not merely inestimable treasures in themselves2 they are also tokens and pledges of the love of ,him who instituted them1 bought by him at the cost of his own most ,precious ,blood1 given to us to show us his love to us4 ,every time a man goes to confession1 every time he receives ,holy ,communion1 he is receiving that which was instituted and established and bestowed upon him out of love2 and if he wishes to know how great that love was he ought to have a lively sense of what it cost our ,lord to merit those graces for us--namely1 his bitter ,passion and death4 #bjg ,but there are many who neglect the sacraments1 who come to them but seldom1 perhaps only to their ,easter ,communion2 perhaps not even to that4 ,what is to be thought of those who act in this way8 ,certainly1 however smart and keen and intelligent they may be1 or fancy themselves to be1 in lower matters which are nearer to them and fall beneath their senses--in money-getting1 in trade1 in art1 in literature--such men show but little sense and understanding about things which are of real importance and value4 ,in what way may these duller and obtuser minds learn to appreciate these higher things8 ,certainly the price given for a thing by a prudent man is a good means of learning what it is worth4 ,now1 if those who neglect the sacraments1 who make but little of them1 would during this week apply themselves to the consideration of the price paid by our ,lord for those sacraments1 ,i have but little doubt that they would be led to form a truer notion of their value and importance4 ,i wish ,i could conclude without alluding to another class which1 though ,i trust it is not numerous1 yet does exist--,i mean those who do not neglect the sacraments1 but those who do worse3 who profane them4 ,those who make bad confessions1 who conceal mortal sins1 who have no sorrow for their sins and no purpose of amendment1 who make the infinite mercy and goodness of ,god a reason and pretext for wallowing in vice and sin--what shall be said of these8 #bjh ,we know that our ,lord is reigning now gloriously in heaven2 that nothing which we can do can cause him loss or pain2 yet it is also true that those who act in this way do all that lies in their power to trample under foot that ,precious ,blood which was shed for them4 ,but while there is life there is hope1 and if even those would devote this week to meditation on the ,passion of our ,lord1 they might form a just estimate of what their souls cost our ,lord1 and turn to him while there is yet time4 ------------------- #bji ,easter ,sunday4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians v4 #g1 #h4 ,brethren3 ,purge out the old leaven1 that you may be a new mass1 as you are unleavened4 ,for ,christ1 our pasch1 is sacrificed4 ,therefore let us feast1 not with the old leaven1 nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness1 but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,mark xvi4 #a-g4 ,at that time3 ,mary ,magdalen1 and ,mary the mother of ,james and ,salome1 bought sweet spices1 that coming they might anoint ,jesus4 ,and very early in the morning1 the first day of the week1 they come to the sepulchre1 the sun being now risen4 ,and they said one to another3 ,who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre8 ,and looking1 they saw the stone rolled back1 for it was very great4 ,and entering into the sepulchre1 they saw a young man sitting on the right side1 clothed with a white robe3 and they were astonished4 ,and he said to them3 ,be not affrighted2 ye seek ,jesus of ,nazareth1 who was crucified3 he is risen1 he is not here2 behold the place where they laid him4 ,but go1 tell his disciples and ,peter that he goeth before you into ,galilee2 there you shall see him as he told you4 ------------------- #baj ,sermon ,,lxi4 ,easter ,joy4 ,hc dies1 quam fecit ,dominus3 ,exultemus1 et ltemur in ea4 --,psalm cxvii4 #bd4 ,,usccb3 ,psalm cxviii4 #bd4 ,this is the day which the ,lord hath made3 ,let us be glad and rejoice in it4 ,so sings the ,psalmist4 ,so sings the church today in ,holy ,mass1 and every ,christian heart beats with the response3 ,let us be glad and rejoice4 ,a happy ,easter1 then1 to you all1 my dear brethren6 ,a happy ,easter to the old1 to whom1 in the natural course of things1 many returns of this blessed day cannot come6 ,a happy ,easter to the young1 rejoicing in all the freshness and vigor of youth1 and confidently looking forward to many renewals of ,easter joys6 ,a happy ,easter to the rich1 upon whom ,god has bestowed an abundance of worldly goods6 ,and a thrice happy ,easter to ,god's own special friends1 the poor6 ,thus holy church bids all be glad and rejoice1 for to-day ,christ is risen1 the ,saviour of us all4 ,the joy of ,easter1 my dear brethren1 like that of ,christmas1 is all-pervading4 ,we feel it in the air we breathe1 we see it in the sparkling eye and radiant countenance of the child4 ,the quick and hearty salutation of our friends1 ,a happy ,easter to you6 increases our own joy1 for we perceive that all about us are sharers with us in this great gift of the risen ,christ4 #baa ,but the joy of ,easter differs from that of ,christmas in this3 that the latter brings to us the glad tidings of the coming of the true ,king1 the strong and valiant leader of the mighty host of ,israel1 and our hearts leap with joy as we go forth1 with buoyant step and strengthened arm1 and fight the great battle of life4 ,easter joy is the joy of victory1 for our gallant ,leader1 the strong ,son of ,god1 has gone before2 he has overcome the enemy1 and death is swallowed up in victory4 ,yes1 ,christ has fought the battle and won4 ,but there remains for us a battle to be fought1 but not an uncertain one2 for we have received virtue from the victory of ,christ1 and by following him faithfully1 by keeping our eye fixed steadily on the banner of ,christ--the banner of the cross--our victory1 too1 is certain4 ,this1 then1 is why ,easter time gladdens the heart of every true ,christian1 for it brings with it the assured hope of final victory over sin1 which is the sting of death1 by a glorious resurrection4 ,but1 my dear brethren1 mid all these rejoicings may there not be some poor soul among us who does not participate in the joys of ,easter time8 ,some soul for which ,christ on ,good ,friday poured forth the last drop of his ,sacred ,blood1 but which to-day finds itself estranged1 nay1 even in a hostile attitude towards its only true friend8 ,oh6 would to ,god there were not even one such ungrateful soul in the whole world4 ,but1 alas6 ,i fear there are many upon whom our loving ,saviour1 the risen ,christ1 must look this day as his declared enemies2 some wretched souls over whom hangs the thick1 black cloud of mortal sin1 unrepented and unforgiven1 and through which the bright rays of ,god's infinite love cannot penetrate4 ,yet even these need not despair2 the joys of ,easter time may still be theirs1 for the same loving and sword-pierced ,heart of ,jesus is still ready to be reconciled with them4 #bab ,oh6 if there be such a one present here this morning let him take courage1 come at once to the tribunal of penance1 become one of the friends of the risen ,christ1 and share with us the joys of ,easter4 ,and those who have been1 but are no longer1 strangers to ,god's grace1 persevere1 ,i exhort you1 during the short space of this life in the friendship of our crucified ,lord1 and yours1 too1 will1 like his1 be a glorious resurrection4 ,let us1 then1 my dear brethren1 on this happy ,easter day elevate our hearts to ,god in humble thanksgiving for all his benefits1 and let us unite with the holy church in the prayer of the office for to-day4 ,god6 who1 through thine only-begotten ,son1 hast on this day overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life1 we humbly beseech thee that1 as by thy special grace preventing us1 thou dost put into our minds good desires1 so by thy continued help we may bring the same to good effect4 ,through the same our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 thy ,son1 who liveth and reigneth with thee1 in the unity of the ,holy ,ghost1 one ,god1 world without end4 ,amen4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxii4 ,easter ,and ,the ,love ,of ,god4 ,this is the day which the ,lord hath made3 let us be glad and rejoice therein4 --,psalm4 cxvii4 #bd4 ,,usccb3 ,psalm cxviii4 #bd4 #bac ,familiar words these1 my brethren1 and for ever associated in our minds with this greatest of all ,christian festivals4 ,frequently on this day and through its octave does the church repeat them to us2 they sound now continually in our ears4 ,and no doubt they find some echo in our hearts4 ,yes1 we are glad1 we do rejoice2 surely no one who can call himself a ,christian could hear unmoved the outburst of our triumph and exultation yesterday as the ,gloria in ,excelsis was intoned in the ,mass1 telling us that the lion of ,juda has conquered1 that ,god has arisen and that his enemies are scattered1 that he has put death and hell under his feet4 ,for the moment at least we would say with ,st4 ,paul3 ,o death6 where is thy victory8 ,o death6 where is thy sting8 ,thanks be to ,god1 who hath given us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,but as the newness1 the freshness of the ,easter joy and triumph passes away1 does not another feeling come and mingle with it8 ,a feeling of awe1 almost of dread1 comes upon us1 like that terror which came upon the guards at the sepulchre as they saw the angel who rolled away the stone1 of whom ,st4 ,matthew says that his countenance was like lightning1 and his raiment white as snow2 like that fear which came even on the holy women as they saw the two angels in shining apparel standing at the empty tomb2 and upon the ,apostles themselves when ,jesus stood in their midst soon after2 for the evangelist tells us that they were troubled and frighted1 in spite of his words giving them peace and telling them not to be afraid4 ,indeed1 ,i think there was no one of those who saw our risen ,lord1 except his glorious and ,blessed ,mother1 whose love was so perfect that it quite cast out this fear4 #bad ,and still more is it in our poor and imperfect hearts2 we cannot shake it off4 ,how many are there of us1 unless1 indeed1 those innocent ones who have not yet known what sin is1 who1 if this were really and truly the morning of the resurrection1 and the risen one could be seen by those who should seek him1 would arise gladly and run to meet him1 and fall in loving adoration at his feet8 ,if we can in our inmost heart feel that we would1 we have reason indeed to be glad and rejoice to-day4 ,but to feel so there must be something in us besides that thrill of triumph and of victory which overpowers us as the splendor of the resurrection first breaks upon our souls4 ,there must be a true1 fervent1 and deep love of the ,god who to-day comes so near to us2 a hatred from the bottom of our hearts and souls of all that in the least degree separates us from him2 there must be1 beside faith1 also hope and charity1 such as the saints have had--that hope which knows that he loves us and has forgiven us1 that charity which would make us die sooner than offend him again4 ,and these we have not because of our sins4 ,yes1 it is sin which casts the shadow on our ,easter2 it is the love and affection for it which still remains in us2 it is that compromising spirit which is even at our best times holding us back1 keeping us from fully loving1 trusting1 and giving ourselves up to ,god1 for fear that we might lose something by doing so2 it is this that makes us afraid to approach him and to share in his joy4 ,as for mortal sin1 that1 of course1 takes the happiness of ,easter away altogether2 to one who is in its darkness the thought of meeting ,god brings1 and can bring1 no thought of joy4 ,but even venial sin brings its dread with it1too4 #bae ,and what is the remedy for this dread8 ,it is very simple4 ,it is only to try now to begin to love with our whole hearts him who has loved us1 and given his life for us2 whose delight is to be with us and to have us come to him2 to keep nothing back from him--in short1 to live here in our feeble measure the life we hope to live in heaven4 ,this is the way1 and the only way1 for us to enter now as we would wish into the joy of our ,lord4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxiii4 ,the ,triumph ,of ,christ4 ,this is the day which the ,lord hath made3 let us rejoice and be glad in it4 --,psalm4 cxvii4 #bd4 ,,usccb3 ,psalm cxviii4 #bd4 ,the festival of ,easter is1 above all things1 my brethren1 a day of joy4 ,just as we love the sunshine more after days of cloud and tempest1 so also is our joy keener and more intense when it follows sorrows4 ,it is for this reason that the joy of ,easter is greater than that of ,christmas1 or of any other season of the ,christian year4 ,for we have been passing through a time of sorrow4 ,we have beheld in ,passion-tide our dearest ,lord in suffering4 ,we have beheld him as the ,king of ,martyrs1 worthy of the title1 because his pains were so far in excess of anything that mere man has ever suffered or could ever suffer4 ,we have seen him in his agony in the garden1 when the sins of the whole world and of all time were presented to his vision and pressed heavily upon him1 filling his ,sacred ,heart with deepest grief4 #baf ,we have called to mind his betrayal by his trusted friend and disciple2 his arraignment before impious and unjust judges2 his cruel condemnation and death4 ,despised and rejected by his own chosen people whom he had come to save1 a robber and murderer preferred before him1 we have beheld him abandoned to the tortures of the heathen soldiers1 scourged1 and spit upon1 and crowned with thorns1 and finally led forth to die a malefactor's death upon the cross4 ,and worse than all is the thought that he was forsaken by those whom he held most dear1 those whom he had chosen to be his special friends and disciples1 and who had been his constant companions in his public ministry4 ,they all forsook him and fled1 leaving him to die4 ,then we have followed him along the sorrowful way of the cross2 we have meditated deeply upon his three last hours of agony2 we have almost heard his deep1 expiring groan as he rendered up his soul to the hands of his ,father4 ,now1 if we have thus learnt well the lessons of ,passion-tide1 the joy of ,easter will come to us in all its fulness4 ,if we have pondered well the depth of humiliation to which our ,lord subjected himself in his death upon the cross1 we shall well realize the greatness of his triumph to-day4 ,the joy that filled the hearts of the ,apostles1 of the holy women1 and1 above all1 the ,immaculate ,heart of our ,blessed ,lady when they knew that the ,lord had risen indeed will be ours to-day1 and we shall cry out in the words which the church puts into our mouths3 ,this is the day which the ,lord hath made3 let us rejoice and be glad in it3 for the ,lord is my strength and my praise1 and is become my salvation4 ,therefore1 to-day the voice of praise and of salvation is in the dwellings of the just throughout the world4 #bag ,for the right hand of the ,lord hath wrought strength2 the right hand of the ,lord--that is1 his almighty power--has raised up ,jesus from the dead4 ,he has risen glorious and triumphant1 and in his glory and triumph all mankind are sharers4 ,for by his resurrection he has overcome death and opened unto us the gates of everlasting life4 ,he has triumphed over sin1 which brought death into the world1 and which was the cause of his death4 ,his resurrection1 therefore1 means our deliverance from sin and death1 and is a pledge to us of that life which he will give to his faithful ones4 ,surely1 then1 we can have no greater cause for rejoicing than this4 ,pray1 then1 my brethren1 that your hearts may be filled with the true spirit of ,easter joy4 ,ask and you shall receive1 that your joy may be full2 and your joy no man shall take from you4 ------------------- #bah ,low ,sunday4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,john v4 #d-aj4 ,dearly beloved3 ,whatsoever is born of ,god overcometh the world2 and this is the victory which overcometh the world1 our faith4 ,who is he that overcometh the world1 but he that believeth that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god8 ,this is he that came by water and blood1 ,jesus ,christ2 not in water only1 but in water and blood4 ,and it is the spirit that testifieth1 that ,christ is the truth4 ,for there are three that give testimony in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and these three are one4 ,and there are three that give testimony on earth3 the spirit1 the water1 and the blood1 and these three are one4 ,if we receive the testimony of men1 the testimony of ,god is greater4 ,for this is the testimony of ,god1 which is greater1 because he hath testified of his ,son4 ,he that believeth in the ,son of ,god1 hath the testimony of ,god in himself4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john xx4 #ai-ca4 ,at that time3 ,when it was late that same day1 being the first day of the week1 and the doors were shut1 where the disciples were gathered together for fear of the ,jews1 ,jesus came and stood in the midst1 and said to them3 ,peace be to you4 ,and when he had said this1 he showed them his hands1 and his side4 ,the disciples therefore were glad when they saw the ,lord4 ,and he said to them again3 ,peace be to you4 ,as the ,father hath sent me1 ,i also send you4 ,when he had said this he breathed on them2 and he said to them3 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost4 ,whose sins you shall forgive1 they are forgiven them2 and whose you shall retain1 they are retained4 #bai ,now ,thomas1 one of the twelve1 who is called ,didymus1 was not with them when ,jesus came4 ,the other disciples therefore said to him3 ,we have seen the ,lord4 ,but he said to them3 ,unless ,i shall see in his hands the print of the nails1 and put my finger into the place of the nails1 and put my hand into his side1 ,i will not believe4 ,and after eight days his disciples were again within1 and ,thomas with them4 ,jesus cometh1 the doors being shut1 and stood in the midst1 and said3 ,peace be to you4 ,then he saith to ,thomas3 ,put in thy finger hither1 and see my hands2 and bring hither thy hand1 and put it into my side2 and be not incredulous1 but faithful4 ,thomas answered1 and said to him3 ,my ,lord1 and my ,god4 ,jesus saith to him3 ,because thou hast seen me1 ,thomas1 thou hast believed2 blessed are they that have not seen1 and have believed4 ,many other signs also did ,jesus in the sight of his disciples1 which are not written in this book4 ,but these are written that you may believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god3 and that believing you may have life in his name4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxiv4 ,how ,to ,use ,god's ,gifts4 ,if ye be risen with ,christ1 seek those things which are above1 where ,christ sitteth on the right hand of ,god4 --,epistle to ,colossians4 iii4 #a4 ,the feast of to-day1 my dear brethren1 brings to a close the solemnities of ,easter2 and it was the practice1 in the early ages of the church1 for those who had been baptized on ,holy ,saturday to put off1 on this day1 the white garments which they then assumed1 and to resume again their accustomed occupation4 #bbj ,the white garments were but an external sign of that internal purity and cleanliness which the soul received in the waters of ,holy ,baptism1 and the soul1 thus purified and strengthened by ,god's grace1 went boldly forth to the battle-field of life1 to meet again its three great and deadly enemies3 the world1 the flesh1 and the devil4 ,so we1 who1 during the penitential season just closed1 have faithfully observed the laws of holy church1 and1 by fasting1 have brought the flesh under subjection to the spirit2 by foregoing our accustomed pleasures and amusements have brought the world under our feet1 and1 by a good confession and ,communion1 have again enlisted in the ranks of ,christ1 and thus declared ourselves eternal enemies of sin and the devil1 start again to-day with renewed strength to follow our ,leader1 the risen ,christ1 to certain victory4 ,st4 ,paul1 in the ,epistle from which the text is taken1 reminds the ,christians at ,colossa that1 if they be risen with ,christ1 their thoughts must now be turned to where ,christ is--sitting at the right hand of ,god4 ,mind the things that are above1 he continues1 not the things that are upon the earth2 for you are dead1 and your life is hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,o brethren6 would that ,catholics did but realize this great truth6 ,would that their thoughts and affections were directed towards their eternal destiny6 ,absorbed1 as they are1 in the sordid pursuits of this life1 they cannot be too often reminded that we are here only on trial4 ,an almighty and merciful ,god has1 with a lavish hand1 surrounded us with the means of gratifying our reasonable desires and appetites4 ,but1 alas6 the very gifts of ,god serve not unfrequently to make us forget the ,giver4 #bba ,look around you and see what is the object for which this noisy1 bustling world is striving2 what the end for which most men seem to exist4 ,the fact is1 brethren1 that ,mammon1 the heathen god of riches1 has disputed ,christ's sovereignty over the hearts of men1 and has actually erected his altar in those very hearts where the grace of ,christ once reigned4 ,the only conception men seem to have of this present life is this3 that it is a place where we are to strive to become wealthy in the shortest possible time1 without being over scrupulous as to the means1 and then to retire from active pursuits1 the better to indulge our sensual appetites4 ,they thus invert the order of ,divine ,providence1 and make an end of that which was intended only as a means to enable us to attain our eternal destiny4 ,everything in this world1 my dear brethren1 was intended by ,god for our happiness here and as a pledge of an eternal and infinitely greater happiness hereafter4 ,it is a great mistake to suppose that ,christianity requires us to ignore these wonderful gifts of a kind ,providence1 and to forego all the pleasures of this life4 ,no1 not at all6 ,indeed1 we are absolutely obliged to make use of many of them if we would maintain our very existence4 ,god acts towards us as a kind and affectionate father acts towards his child4 ,the father knows that his child loves him1 and he feels confident that the little presents he makes the child from time to time will only serve to strengthen the fond affection which nature has implanted between them4 #bbb ,but what would you think if those gifts of the kind father served only to estrange from him the heart of his child8 ,you would1 undoubtedly1 say that such a state of things was unnatural4 ,well1 so it is1 my dear brethren1 with us1 who1 after all1 are only children of an older growth4 ,god1 our ,creator and ,father1 has given us life and all the things in this beautiful universe to enjoy4 ,and all he asks in return is our love--our hearts4 ,but1 remember1 he is not satisfied with an imperfect and partial love4 ,he is a jealous ,god1 and will allow no one to share our hearts with him4 ,so that when men fix their affections on the things of this world without referring them to ,god1 and use these gifts without regard to the ,giver1 they too are acting in an unnatural or1 at least1 in an irrational manner4 ,give your whole heart to ,god1 brethren1 and then you will enjoy his gifts1 and1 as ,st4 ,paul says1 ,when ,christ shall appear1 who is your life1 then you also shall appear with him in glory4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxv4 ,the ,christian's ,peace4 ,jesus came1 and stood in the midst1 and said to them3 ,peace be to you4 ,and when he had said this1 he showed them his hands and his side4 ,the disciples1 therefore1 were glad when they saw the ,lord4 ,he said therefore to them again3 ,peace be to you4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,he stood in their midst4 ,to-day he stands in the midst of us and utters the self-same words1 ,peace be unto you4 ,and he shows us his hands and his side1 and we are glad4 ,and again he says1 ,peace be unto you4 #bbc ,to be at peace with the world is the aim of many men4 ,but to have one's life run smoothly on1 to be hindered neither here nor there1 to be always in the sunshine and never in the shadow1 may bring us peace and gladness1 but not the peace and gladness that our ,lord would impart4 ,for after his words of gentle salutation he showed them his hands and his side impressed with the wound-prints of his ,passion1 as if to say3 ,the peace which ,i wish you is that which comes after strife1 conflict1 and sorrow2 that peace which is the rest and the reward for labor and endurance4 ,yes1 dear friends1 ours is to strive1 to contend with self1 with a nature that is fallen1 with a proneness to evil1 with desires that are selfish and carnal4 ,to contend with the world1 to disavow its principles1 not to listen to its temptations2 to realize and to confess that pleasure1 success1 ease1 money1 fame1 are not the objects for which a noble soul must seek1 but that ,god is our true end1 and that mortification and self-denial1 the cross1 are the true means to arrive at that end1 the way to come to union with ,god4 ,to be at peace with the world2 yes1 ,i admit that it is a thing to be desired1 but only so that we are at peace with ,almighty ,god1 too4 ,and how is that peace gained8 ,only by the keeping of his law4 ,at peace with the world1 because the world cannot disturb one at peace with ,god2 this is the ,christian's life4 ,but so great a boon is not gained without a strife1 as the joy of ,easter is not till the sorrow of the ,passion has passed4 ,our duty1 then1 dear brethren1 is to strive1 and to keep the law of ,god1 that first law written on our hearts1 that law which he has given to us both by his words and by his life on earth1 and which he still repeats to us through his holy church4 #bbd ,foolish1 indeed1 are we above all others if our ,easter joy is only that of the worldling1 and our peace that which the world gives4 ,this is not the peace that comes after looking at his hands and his side2 not the joy that the disciples felt as they gazed on the risen ,saviour1 who stands to-day here in our midst1 as he did among those his first followers1 and says to us1 as he said to them1 ,peace be to you4 ,we may have that peace1 my brethren1 if we are willing to obtain it and to deserve it as they did4 ,we shall have it descend upon us1 if1 while we gaze at his hands and his side1 we are conscious that we have indeed shared his ,passion and cross4 ,may indeed be ours this peace of ,god1 which shall keep our hearts and minds in ,christ ,jesus4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxvi4 ,true ,and ,lasting ,peace4 ,jesus came and stood in the midst1 and said to them3 ,peace be to you4 --,from the ,gospel of the ,sunday4 ,peace be to you6 ,this is our ,lord's ,easter blessing1 thrice repeated in the ,gospel of to-day2 and a blessing which all his faithful may obtain4 ,and it is the one for which we are continually seeking1 each in his own way1 but which we can find nowhere but with him who to-day offers it to us4 #bbe ,what is this peace8 ,is it freedom from conflict8 ,is the ,christian to have no battle to fight1 no enemy to overcome8 ,no1 surely our ,lord does not promise us such an easy road to heaven as this4 ,do not think1 he says1 that ,i came to send peace upon earth2 ,i came not to send peace1 but the sword4 ,we must make up our minds1 for the sake of the ,christian faith1 to sustain not only the assaults of the devil and of our own evil passions1 but also the opposition of those who should be our friends4 ,a man's enemies1 our ,saviour goes on to say1 shall be they of his own household4 ,in this sense1 then1 we cannot hope for peace in this world4 ,no1 our lot must be1 if we have really enlisted in ,christ's army1 that of all soldiers3 war1 and its turmoil4 ,as ,st4 ,paul says it was for himself so must it be for us3 combats without1 fears within4 ,struggles for our temporal life2 for ,god has said to ,adam our father1 and in him to us his children3 ,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread 2 struggles far more terrible and momentous for our spiritual life1 against flesh and blood1 also against principalities and powers1 against the rulers of the world of this darkness1 in which a single slip may mean eternal ruin1 a single wound instant death4 ,where1 then1 is our peace in this inevitable war1 this contest which demands all the energies of our body and soul8 ,what peace can we have while its issue is still uncertain1 its events yet unknown8 ,surely it seems a mockery for our ,lord to say1 ,peace be to you1 when he sends us not peace1 but war and its alarms4 ,but it is not a mockery2 he who cannot be deceived also cannot deceive4 ,his words are faithful and true4 ,he has really peace to give us--peace in the midst of combat1 calm even in the storm4 #bbf ,when the storm arose on the sea of ,galilee1 and he was asleep in the boat1 his disciples came to him1 saying3 ,lord1 save us1 we perish4 ,but he answered3 ,why are you fearful1 ,o ye of little faith8 ,was there not reason for them to be fearful1 to lose their peace of mind1 when death was staring them in the face1 and all their efforts to save themselves were vain8 ,no1 not if they had faith to show that ,god was with them4 ,this1 then1 should have been their peace2 this should be ours3 the possession of ,god4 ,he has given himself entirely for us and to us in the battle in which he has placed us4 ,he fights on our side4 ,what1 then1 have we to fear if we will only keep close to him8 ,we are sure of the victory if we call him to our aid4 ,as ,st4 ,paul says1 ,if ,god be for us1 who is against us8 ,he that spared not even his own ,son1 but delivered him up for us all1 how hath he not also with him given us all things8 ,peace1 then1 we should have in our spiritual combat2 but how in the battle for our temporal life8 ,here we are not promised success2 no1 it must be defeat1 at least in the end4 ,we must lose at last by death all that we seek of the goods of this world4 ,the peace which the world gives is then a delusion2 it lasts but for an hour2 the shadow of death is upon it4 ,o death6 says ,holy ,scripture1 how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath peace in his possessions6 ,here again1 therefore1 our true peace is in the possession of him who is eternal2 this is the peace which the world can neither give nor take away4 ,all the storms of this world will not shake or disturb him whose house is built on this rock4 ,who1 again says ,st4 ,paul1 shall separate us from the love of ,christ2 shall tribulation1 or distress1 or famine1 or nakedness1 or danger1 or persecution1 or the sword8 #bbg ,this1 therefore1 is the true peace of the ,christian3 confidence in ,god1 indifference to all that is not ,god4 ,it is the peace of our ,lord himself4 ,my peace1 he says1 ,i give unto you4 ,let us ask him indeed to give it to us1 now and for evermore4 ------------------- #bbh ,second ,sunday after ,easter4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,peter ii4 #ba-be4 ,dearly beloved3 ,christ has suffered for us1 leaving you an example that you should follow his steps4 ,who did no sin1 neither was guile found in his mouth4 ,who1 when he was reviled1 did not revile3 when he suffered1 he threatened not3 but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly4 ,who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree3 that we1 being dead to sins1 should live to justice3 by whose stripes you were healed4 ,for you were as sheep going astray3 but you are now converted to the pastor and bishop of your souls4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john x4 #aa-af4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to the ,pharisees3 ,i am the good shepherd4 ,the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep4 ,but the hireling1 and he that is not the shepherd1 whose own sheep they are not1 seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep1 and flieth2 and the wolf snatcheth and scattereth the sheep3 and the hireling flieth1 because he is a hireling3 and he hath no care for the sheep4 ,i am the good shepherd3 and ,i know mine1 and mine know me4 ,as the ,father knoweth me1 and ,i know the ,father2 and ,i lay down my life for my sheep4 ,and other sheep ,i have1 that are not of this fold3 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice1 and there shall be one fold and one shepherd4 ------------------- #bbi ,sermon ,,lxvii4 ,the ,good ,shepherd4 ,for you were as sheep going astray2 but you are now converted to the pastor and bishop of your souls4 --#a ,st4 ,peter ii4 #be4 ,to-day is the ,sunday of the ,good ,shepherd1 and the church sings in joyful strains3 ,the ,good ,shepherd1 who laid down his life for his sheep1 yea1 who was contented even to die for his flock1 the ,good ,shepherd is risen again--,alleluia6 ,it is in this tender1 loving1 and1 to us1 most winning character that our ,lord presents himself in the ,gospel of to-day--the ,good ,shepherd1 who knoweth his sheep1 and acknowledges them as his own1 whose tender care for them is so great that he is willing even to lay down his life for their sake1 yet with the power to take it again for his own glory and for their eternal good4 ,we are those sheep for whom he died1 and for whom he rose again1 for they are in the truest sense his sheep who believe in his name1 and are gathered into his one fold1 the holy ,catholic ,church4 ,but it is not enough to believe2 we must also hear his voice4 ,how have we done this in the past8 ,have we hearkened to his voice as he spake to us through the offices of the church1 through the words of our pastors1 through the still1 small voice of conscience8 ,alas6 we have been as sheep going astray4 ,we have been deaf to his voice1 as it has so often spoken to us1 bidding us follow him4 ,and1 having strayed away from our ,shepherd1 we have refused to listen to the loving tones of that same sweet voice1 calling us back to our place in the flock1 but have wandered still further away into the pleasant pastures of sin1 where all seemed delight for a time1 but where the wolf1 the great enemy of our souls1 was lurking1 waiting for his chance to seize us as his prey for ever4 #bcj ,oh6 into what danger have we run by thus wandering from the right path6 ,but now1 during the holy season of ,lent that is passed1 the church has been appealing to us through her solemn offices1 and through the earnest words spoken by her ministers1 to forsake our evil ways1 to leave the deceitful pleasures of sin1 and return to where we can alone find pasture for our souls1 to the sacraments of the church1 wherein the ,good ,shepherd gives himself to his sheep4 ,many have hearkened to the call of the ,saviour's voice1 many have come during this holy time to the green pastures and the still waters1 where the ,good ,shepherd feeds his flock1 and1 with souls restored and renewed1 are prepared and determined to walk hereafter in the paths of righteousness1 where he leads the way4 ,even when at last they shall walk through the ,valley of the ,shadow of ,death they will fear no evil1 for he will be with them1 his rod and his staff shall comfort them4 ,but there are also many1 far too many1 who have not listened to the voice of ,jesus1 as he calls them in this blessed ,easter-tide4 ,poor1 wayward sheep1 they still wander in paths of their own choosing1 which can only lead them into danger and into death4 ,o foolish1 wandering ones6 take heed ere it is too late to the gentle voice that calls you4 ,your souls are soiled and sin-stained1 and you have need to be washed in the stream which flows from your ,shepherd's side1 his ,precious ,blood shed for you when he laid down his life for your sake4 #bca ,come1 wash and be made clean in the ,sacrament of ,penance which he has ordained for your cleansing4 ,you were as sheep going astray2 be now converted and return to ,jesus1 the pastor1 the shepherd1 the bishop of your souls4 ,you have been famishing for the food you need for your spiritual sustenance4 ,come1 then1 to him who so graciously and tenderly invites you to the table which he has prepared for you4 ,draw nigh with joy to the heavenly banquet of his ,sacred ,body and the goodly1 overflowing cup of his ,precious ,blood1 that your souls may be fed and have life eternal4 ,then will you be strong in the presence of your enemies1 his mercy will follow you all the days of your life1 and you will dwell in the house of the ,lord for ever1 even in that house of many mansions which he has prepared for those who love and follow him4 ,for he has said of those who hear his voice and follow him3 ,i give them life everlasting1 and they shall not perish for ever1 and no man shall snatch them out of my hand4 ,and remember that other promise of his3 ,he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood has everlasting life1 and ,i will raise him up at the last day4 ,yes1 poor1 lost sheep though we have been1 if we now turn from our wayward paths to hear his voice and follow him1 he will raise us up at the last day1 and place us among his favored sheep upon his right hand1 to be glad for ever in the light of his countenance4 ------------------- #bcb ,sermon ,,lxviii4 ,dead ,faith4 ,that ,christ may dwell by faith in your hearts4 --,ephesians iii4 #ag4 ,holy ,writ teaches us in many places1 my brethren1 that ,god dwells in our hearts by charity1 and here we are taught that he dwells by faith also4 ,of course1 the meaning is the same4 ,for an elect soul to know ,christ is to love him4 ,and even for a reprobate soul to know the truth of religion is that indescribable boon which makes a possible salvation capable of becoming quickly real4 ,how terrible the misfortune of the ,calvinist who believes that a bad life necessarily means absence of faith6 ,how consoling to know that our sinful friends1 if they have but the true faith1 have a seed of eternal life which may yet spring up into a fruitful tree6 ,yet it is terrible to think of how some men trifle with their faith4 ,brethren1 look at the end and judge the beginning by it4 ,the end of wicked men is damnation1 hopeless and eternal4 ,now1 what is the faith in hell8 ,something that makes the ,christian's torment altogether peculiar4 ,there the name of ,christian1 now so noble1 now entitling its bearer to pardon for every sin if but breathed forth with an act of sorrow--there the name of ,christian will be a nickname4 ,in one way he will have more faith then than now2 he will know more of revealed truth1 have a clearer knowledge of heavenly things4 ,but then the hand wounded by the nail1 and which now is never out of reach1 will be withdrawn finally and for ever4 #bcc ,imagine the agony of a soul in hell1 whom each article of faith will cause for ever to wail and weep only this one sentence3 ,it is all my own fault4 ,brethren1 you may complain that this sort of preaching does not provoke to much mirth4 ,but there are those who should know that for them this ought to be a time of weeping and not of being merry3 persons who have faith in their hearts1 but not ,christ4 ,for see how men in ,italy1 holding fast to the truth with one hand1 have with the other set up the abomination of desolation in the holy place4 ,and see how1 in ,france1 men who deem themselves insulted if called anything but ,catholics1 yet deliberately rob the children of the people of the bread of life by establishing paganism in the schools4 ,and see how many there are among us whose faith1 instead of being a rule to live by1 an irresistible attraction towards our ,lord in a true grief for sin and strict union with him1 sealed by frequent ,communion1 is but something handed down from father to son1 like name and color and race--a traditional faith--and this proved by their vicious lives4 ,but happy are they in whose hearts faith has prepared a dwelling for our ,saviour4 ,our ,lord is surely present within us if we are in the state of grace4 ,hear what he says3 ,if any one love me1 he will keep my word2 and my ,father will love him1 and we will come to him1 and will make an abode with him4 ,he comes1 indeed1 silently2 he hushes the festive greetings of the angels who escort him2 he hides the dazzling glory of his ascended triumph1 for now it is faith and not sight4 ,but there in the heart he none the less dwells4 ,we live with him4 ,the ,christian feels his presence4 ,he has an interior life whose very breath is that presence4 #bcd ,he is stamped with our ,lord's character4 ,such a soul is truly and literally called faithful--faith-full4 ,and once you are intimately acquainted with him you perceive in his ways and actions that our ,lord lives with him4 ,better yet1 he perceives it himself4 ,how different he is from one whose knowledge of religion is mere persuasion of the mind and empty talk6 ,with the true ,christian knowledge is power4 ,to know the true faith is for him to know how to live3 better yet1 to know how to suffer1 how to wait1 how to love1 how to die4 ,brethren1 this congregation is divided into two parts--those who are to be saved and those who are not4 ,those of you who are to be saved are those in whose hearts ,jesus ,christ actually dwells by faith4 ,those who are to be lost are those whose faith means that ,christ has a claim against them1 payment of which they will postpone till it is too late4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxix4 ,suffering ,false ,accusations4 ,he delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,i suppose1 my dear brethren1 that there is no grievance to which we are subjected more common1 and certainly there are few more distressing1 than that of being judged unfairly by others4 ,as ,catholics we are all specially liable to this2 we all know how ,protestants1 even those who profess to be quite friendly to us personally1 and who sometimes will say a good word or two for our religion1 still calmly assume1 as a matter of course1 that we believe and practise many things which we and all intelligent and honest men detest and abhor4 #bce ,they say1 for instance1 that we worship images2 that we pay money not only to have our sins forgiven1 but even for permission in advance to commit new ones2 that we believe the pope to be ,almighty ,god2 that we maintain that the end justifies the means2 and so on to any extent4 ,it was only a few days ago that it was unblushingly stated in an assembly of one of their sects that the ,catholic ,church was more guilty in the matter of permitting divorce than other denominations4 ,there seems hardly to be a falsehood about us so gross or so absurd that some of them will not be found to believe and to assert it4 ,and we of the clergy are more exposed to these slanders than any one else4 ,they say1 they take for granted1 that we are hypocrites and deceivers2 that under a cloak of sanctity we practise all kinds of vice2 that we do not believe a word of what we teach2 that our only object in our profession is to exercise power or to make money2 these things and many others pass current in the world about us1 so we are looked upon by many as detestable wretches not fit to live4 ,in us1 especially1 are our ,lord's words fulfilled3 ,you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake4 ,but it is not only from outsiders1 or in matters where religion is concerned1 that we have to put up with false charges and unjust suspicions4 ,in our own private character and actions we all find ourselves liable to them2 we find our neighbors and acquaintances judging and even speaking unfairly about us4 #bcf ,priests suffer in this way sometimes from their own parishioners2 the laity perhaps from the priest1 and often certainly from each other4 ,how frequently we hear people complain of slander or belying from those whom they supposed to be their friends2 one would think that it was not the exception1 but the rule4 ,now all this is certainly very hard to bear4 ,and yet as we go through life we cannot expect to be free from it2 and we must try to find a way of bearing it as well as we can4 ,what is the best way8 ,one way1 and a very good way1 of putting up with this trouble is to make allowances for the unavoidable prejudice1 ignorance1 and imperfection of those who say about us what we know to be false1 who do to us what we know to be unjust4 ,they may not1 they do not1 know this as well as we do4 ,father1 forgive them1 said our ,lord on the cross1 for they know not what they do4 ,we think others are slandering or injuring us through malice2 ten to one they think they are in the right4 ,probably we ourselves should act just the same way in their place4 ,make allowances1 then2 give our neighbors more credit for good intentions2 that is one way to put up with this suffering which we cannot altogether avoid or put a stop to4 ,but a better and perhaps an easier way is the one recommended by ,st4 ,peter in to-day's ,epistle4 ,dearly beloved1 he says1 ,christ suffered for us1 leaving you an example that you should follow his steps4 ,who did no sin1 neither was guilt found in his mouth4 ,who1 when he was reviled1 did not revile2 when he suffered he threatened not1 but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly4 #bcg ,he1 the holy1 the innocent one1 was more wickedly and unjustly accused and judged than any of us sinners have been1 or ever can be2 shall we not then bear1 if need be1 the same treatment for his sake8 ,to be spoken evil of falsely is to be like him2 it is the mark1 the badge of the ,christian4 ,this is the example he has left us that we should follow his steps2 shall we refuse to profit by it8 ------------------- #bch ,third ,sunday after ,easter4 ,feast of the ,patronage of ,st4 ,joseph4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,peter ii4 #aa-ai4 ,dearly beloved1 ,i beseech you as strangers and pilgrims to refrain yourselves from carnal desires1 which war against the soul2 having your conversation good among the ,gentiles2 that whereas they speak against you as evildoers1 considering you by your good works they may glorify ,god in the day of visitation4 ,be ye subject therefore to every human creature for ,god's sake2 whether it be to the king as excelling1 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of the good2 for so is the will of ,god1 that by doing well you may silence the ignorance of foolish men3 as free1 and not as making liberty a cloak of malice1 but as the servants of ,god4 ,honor all men2 love the brotherhood2 fear ,god2 honor the king4 ,servants1 be subject to your masters with all fear1 not only to the good and gentle1 but also to the froward4 ,for this is thankworthy1 in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,epistle ,of ,the ,feast4 ,genesis xlix4 #bb-bf4 ,joseph is a growing son1 a growing son and comely to behold2 the daughters run to and fro upon the wall4 ,but they that held darts provoked him1 and quarrelled with him1 and envied him4 ,his bow rested upon the strong1 and the bands of his arms and his hands were loosed by the hands of the mighty one of ,jacob3 thence he came forth a pastor1 the stone of ,israel4 #bci ,the ,god of thy ,father shall be thy helper1 and the ,almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above1 with the blessings of the deep that lieth beneath1 with the blessings of the breasts and of the womb4 ,the blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers3 until the desire of the everlasting hills should come2 may they be upon the head of ,joseph1 and upon the crown of the ,nazarite among his brethren4 ,gospel ,st4 ,john xvi4 #af-bb4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,a little while1 and now you shall not see me3 and again a little while1 and you shall see me3 because ,i go to the ,father4 ,then some of his disciples said one to another3 ,what is this that he saith to us3 ,a little while1 and you shall not see me3 and again a little while1 and you shall see me1 and because ,i go to the ,father8 ,they said therefore3 ,what is this that he saith1 a little while3 we know not what he speaketh4 ,and ,jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him2 and he said to them3 ,of this do you inquire among yourselves1 be cause ,i said3 ,a little while1 and you shall not see me3 and again a little while1 and you shall see me8 ,amen1 amen ,i say to you1 that you shall lament and weep1 but the world shall rejoice3 and you shall be sorrowful1 but your sorrow shall be turned into joy4 ,a woman1 when she is in labor1 hath sorrow1 because her hour is come3 but when she hath brought forth the child1 she remembereth no more the anguish1 for joy that a man is born into the world4 ,so also you now indeed have sorrow1 but ,i will see you again1 and your heart shall rejoice2 and your joy no man shall take from you4 ,gospel of the ,feast4 ,st4 ,luke iii4 #ba-bc4 ,at that time it came to pass3 ,when all the people were baptized1 that ,jesus also being baptized and praying1 heaven was opened3 and the ,holy ,ghost descended in a bodily shape as a dove upon him3 and a voice came from heaven3 ,thou art my beloved ,son1 in thee ,i am well pleased4 ,and ,jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years3 being 7as it was supposed7 the son of ,joseph4 ------------------- #bdj ,sermon ,,lxx4 ,devotion ,to ,st4 ,joseph4 ,go to ,joseph1 and do all that he shall say to you4 --,genesis xli4 #ee4 ,it is ,joseph's nearness to ,jesus and ,mary during his life that leads us now1 when he reigns with them in heaven1 to confidently call upon him for succor in our needs1 and especially do we go to him because to his patronage the whole church has been commended1 that by his intercession he may do for her and each of her members what he did for ,jesus and his ,mother when he was in the flesh4 ,wisely has the church made him her protector1 for his power with ,god must be very great4 ,of this we can have no doubt1 when we remember that to his care were entrusted the purest and the best who have ever walked this earth--,jesus and ,mary--,jesus1 the ,son of ,god2 ,mary1 his stainless ,virgin ,mother1 whose chaste soul the ,holy ,ghost made his dwelling-place1 delighted with its beauty4 ,above the seats of all the bright angels who serve in the courts of the ,most ,high ,mary's throne was raised1 and one day she would be the angels mistress and queen2 ,jesus was their ,lord1 their ,maker1 before whom they bowed in lowliest reverence4 ,and yet ,mary was ,joseph's spouse1 and ,jesus rendered him the obedience a son should give a father4 ,very worthy must he have been who held so high an office4 #bda ,joseph was a necessary member of the family4 ,he served as a veil to screen from the vulgar gaze the deep mysteries of the ,incarnation and ,nativity2 he led the way into ,egypt1 and his faithful arm supported the ,mother and the ,babe during the journey2 he brought them back to their own land and provided shelter for them2 their daily bread was the fruit of his labor--in a word1 during the boyhood and youth of our ,lord they were entirely dependent upon him4 ,such1 then1 was ,joseph's position in the ,holy ,family2 he was the master and guardian of the household2 and this is what the church would have him be in every ,christian family4 ,it is you1 ,christian fathers and mothers1 who should be especially devout to ,st4 ,joseph1 for he is your patron in a particular manner4 ,you1 like him1 have the cares of the household upon you2 you must provide for the life and health of the children ,god has given you2 it is your duty to see that they are instructed in the faith and attentive to their religious duties1 and that they study their school lessons2 you should guard them against the dangers they must meet with in a great city like this1 and keep them away from those who may lead them to evil2 and1 above all1 you should give them good example in the practice of virtue4 ,to fulfil your duties well you need divine assistance4 ,go to ,joseph--go to the foster-father of ,jesus ,christ2 he will intercede for you1 and obtain the many graces of which you stand in need4 ,go to him and tell him all your troubles2 you will find him very gracious4 ,but ,st4 ,joseph is the patron not of heads of families alone4 ,the church would have you all1 dear brethren1 go to ,joseph and do all that he shall say to you4 ,from him she would have you learn a tender love to ,jesus1 a love manifesting itself in deeds1 not simply in words4 ,joseph devoted himself to the service of our ,lord1 and so should we4 #bdb ,but how can we presume to say that we love or serve ,jesus if we do not keep his commands2 if we neglect our duties as ,catholics and as members of society8 ,let us show how much we love him by doing something for him1 as ,st4 ,joseph did1 and let us1 like him1 be constant in our well-doing1 permitting no day to pass without some acts of love to ,god4 ,and if we would hope to make progress in the ways of ,god1 let us daily ,go to ,joseph and do all that he shall say4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxi4 ,christ ,and ,the ,church4 ,i have yet many things to say to you1 but you cannot bear them now4 --,st4 ,john xvi4 #ab ,these words were spoken by our ,lord in his last discourse to his disciples4 ,what were those things which he had yet to say to them1 but which they could not then bear8 ,they were things pertaining to the kingdom of ,god--that is1 his church1 his kingdom upon earth4 ,he was about to leave the world and go to the ,father1 but he would leave behind him an organized body to represent him4 ,during these forty days1 then1 he sketched out the plan of the ,catholic ,church1 which the ,apostles were to bring to completion1 under the guidance of the ,holy ,ghost1 who was to teach them all truth4 #bdc ,these were the many things he had yet to say to them1 but which they could not understand till then1 because of their former imperfect and even erroneous notions of the nature of his kingdom upon earth4 ,he had spoken of his church before1 as it were1 in hints2 now he speaks no longer in parables1 but plainly4 ,listen to the few recorded words of those which he spoke during these forty days1 and you will find in them an outline of the ,catholic ,church4 ,he first asserts his authority to found a kingdom in this world1 saying1 ,all power is given to me in heaven and on earth2 and then declares that he commits this same authority to his ,apostles and their successors in the church3 ,as my ,father hath sent me1 ,i also send you4 ,and1 lest any one should say that this power and authority were given to the ,apostles alone and not to their successors1 he bids them go forth into all the world to preach the ,gospel to every creature1 and promises them his continual abiding ,presence even to the end of the world4 ,one of the ,apostles he invested with a special authority over the others4 ,the ,good ,shepherd would not leave his sheep in this world uncared for1 so he gave to ,st4 ,peter and his successors the office of pastor of the whole church in the words1 ,feed my lambs4 ,feed my sheep4 ,he also set forth the means of obtaining entrance into this earthly kingdom of his namely1 faith and holy baptism--,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved 2 and he declared the blessedness of those who would accept the faith upon the authority of his church3 ,blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed4 #bdd ,he provided a means by which those who should sin after baptism might find pardon and remission of their sins by instituting the ,sacrament of ,penance1 giving to his ,apostles and their successors the power to forgive and retain sins3 ,whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them1 and whose sins you shall retain they are retained4 ,he had already instituted on the night before his ,passion the ,sacrament of the ,holy ,eucharist1 and during those forty days he undoubtedly gave his ,apostles the necessary instructions concerning the rest of the sacraments of the new law4 ,the ,gospels do not pretend to give us all our ,lord's doings and sayings1 as ,st4 ,john expressly tells us at the end of his ,gospel4 ,but in these recorded sayings of ,jesus1 during this last brief time that he spent on earth1 we have the written constitution of the ,catholic ,church1 though but in outline4 ,the office of the pope as supreme pastor1 the plenary authority of the church1 and the necessity of faith upon that authority as a means of obtaining eternal salvation--all this is clearly set forth in the words that ,i have quoted to you4 ,go1 teach all nations1 said our ,lord to his church2 and he added1 teaching them to observe whatsoever ,i have commanded you4 ,on our part1 then1 is required faithful submission to his teaching1 as it comes to us through the voice of his church4 ,it is only by faith in this teaching and by a diligent observance of the commandments of ,god and his church that we can hope to save our souls and attain to the blessedness which he has promised4 ------------------- #bde ,fourth ,sunday after ,easter4 ,epistle4 ,st4 ,james i4 #ag-ba4 ,dearly beloved3 ,every best gift1 and every perfect gift1 is from above1 coming down from the ,father of lights1 with whom there is no change nor shadow of vicissitude4 ,for of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth1 that we might be some beginning of his creatures4 ,you know1 my dearest brethren1 and let every man be swift to hear1 but slow to speak1 and slow to anger4 ,for the anger of man worketh not the justice of ,god4 ,wherefore casting away all uncleanness1 and abundance of malice1 with meekness receive the engrafted word1 which is able to save your souls4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john xvi4 #e-ad4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,i go to him that sent me1 and none of you asketh me3 ,whither goest thou8 ,but because ,i have spoken these things to you1 sorrow hath filled your heart4 ,but ,i tell you the truth3 it is expedient to you that ,i go3 for if ,i go not1 the ,paraclete will not come to you2 but if ,i go1 ,i will send him to you4 ,and when he shall come1 he will convince the world of sin1 and of justice1 and of judgment4 ,of sin indeed3 because they have not believed in me4 ,and of justice3 because ,i go to the ,father2 and you shall see me no longer4 ,and of judgment3 because the prince of this world is already judged4 ,i have yet many things to say to you3 but you cannot bear them now4 ,but when he1 the ,spirit of truth1 shall come1 he will teach you all truth4 ,for he shall not speak of himself3 but what things soever he shall hear1 he shall speak1 and the things that are to come he shall show you4 ,he shall glorify me3 because he shall receive of mine1 and will declare it to you4 ------------------- #bdf ,sermon ,,lxxii4 ,evil ,conversation4 ,and he said to them3 ,what are these discourses that you hold one with another8 444 ,and they said3 ,concerning ,jesus of ,nazareth4 --,luke xxiv4 #ag-ai4 ,brethren3 ,suppose our ,lord should stand in our midst to-day and demand from each one of us1 as he did from these two disciples1 ,what are these discourses that you hold one with another8 ,do our conversations1 like theirs1 contain nothing reprehensible8 ,would our answer be as pleasing to ,god as theirs was8 ,if so1 brethren1 we have reason to thank ,god1 and go on our way rejoicing4 ,but of what do the majority of men most readily converse8 ,it is sad that we have to confess it1 but ,god and his works1 the soul and its wants are topics anything but agreeable to most of the men of our day4 ,and so every legitimate means must be resorted to in order to make the things of ,god and spiritual conversation at all palatable4 ,and you1 fathers and mothers of families1 what are these conversations which you hold one with the other8 ,what are the topics most commonly treated of in your ,christian homes8 ,is it the virtues of your neighbors that are spoken of and recounted for your own edification and your children's imitation8 ,would to ,god it were always so6 ,but there are homes supposed to be occupied by ,christians where ,god's holy name is never mentioned save to be blasphemed1 where the neighbor is never spoken of except to recall his follies1 his vices1 or even his atrocious crimes4 #bdg ,christian parents1 beware of the scandal your conversations may give to your family1 but especially to your innocent children4 ,remember that many a soul to-day steeped in vice received its first sinful impulse from some unguarded word1 some improper topic of conversation heard in the home that should have been the nursery of every virtue4 ,and from you1 young men and women1 an answer might be profitably demanded to this important question3 ,what are the conversations which you most readily indulge in one with the other8 ,are they in any way improper1 or such that you would be ashamed to have them repeated in the presence of your parents8 ,if so1 then your discourses are not concerning ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and you are not following the example of his disciples4 ,but if in your conversations1 following the ,apostolic rule1 the things that savor of uncleanness are not so much as mentioned amongst you1 what is to be said about the precious time you squander in idle1 frivolous talk8 ,remember that time is but the threshold of eternity1 every moment of which is of the highest value to you now2 and this is why on the last great day we shall be held to account for every idle word4 ,young men and women1 never admit into your company those whose conversations are unworthy of a ,christian1 and especially let your own language be always in harmony with your high calling4 ,indeed1 brethren1 to all of us this question of our ,lord brings home an important lesson4 ,for if we would lead good ,christian lives we must not only abstain from all that is unbecoming or scandalous1 but we must also regulate with all diligence our ordinary commonplace conversations4 #bdh ,let them be always such that we would not hesitate to repeat them before ,god or his most virtuous servants4 ,if we would have our conversations agreeable to ,god and men1 we should make it a rule never to speak disparagingly of those absent1 and never take advantage of their absence to say anything which we would not dare say in their presence4 ,and the other rule we should follow is this3 never to say in the presence of others anything which could give scandal or leave a bad impression4 ,brethren1 if we think often of this question of our ,lord1 if we are diligent in following these rules1 our conversations will be always edifying to our neighbors and useful to ourselves4 ,then1 if called upon at any moment by our ,lord1 we can answer with his disciples1 ,our conversations are concerning ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxiii4 ,temptation4 ,blessed is the man that endureth temptation2 for when he hath been proved1 he shall receive the crown of life1 which ,god hath promised to them that love him4 --,st4 ,james i4 #ab4 ,these words1 my dear brethren1 are from the ,scripture read in the ,divine ,office for to-day4 ,they also1 and very appropriately1 have a prominent place in the ,office read on the feasts of martyrs through the year4 #bdi ,blessed is the man that endureth temptation4 ,yes1 you may say1 certainly1 if a man does endure and resist temptation1 it is a good thing1 and one for which he has reason to be thankful2 but for my part1 ,i would rather get along without being tempted4 ,this is a thought which is very likely to occur to those who are in earnest about saving their souls1 and are therefore afraid that they may give way to temptation1 commit mortal sin1 and be lost4 ,they are inclined to envy others who seem to have a good and innocent natural disposition1 and sometimes they may1 perhaps1 wish that they themselves had died in their baptismal innocence1 before temptation and sin were possible4 ,now this wish is not altogether wrong2 it is certainly pleasing to ,god for us to desire that it might be impossible to offend him1 and that our own salvation might be made secure4 ,but it is a mistake1 when he does allow temptation to come on us without our fault1 to think that it would be better for us if he had not done so4 ,it is a mistake1 and why8 ,because far the greater part of us cannot acquire supernatural virtue in any high degree1 give much glory to ,god1 or be entitled to much reward at his hands1 without a good deal of temptation4 ,if it would please ,god to infuse all the virtues into our souls without any trouble or labor on our part1 it might indeed be very well2 but this he is not bound to do1 and generally he does not choose to do it4 ,he prefers that we should obtain our virtues partly by our own exertions4 ,and as we will not pray or meditate1 do penance or mortify ourselves enough to accomplish this end1 there is no way to make any virtue strong and hardy in us except by forcing us to oppose its contrary vice4 #bej ,it is quite easy to seem very pleasant and good-natured when one has no crosses or provocations2 but let a sharp or insulting word be said1 and it will soon be seen how much real patience there is in this seeming good-humor2 perhaps passion will flame out all the more violently for being long in repose4 ,but if one's patience is often tried1 and stands the test by means of our own earnest struggles1 it will become after a time something which we can really count on4 ,this1 then1 is one good in temptation1 that it makes our virtue really strong and solid for future use4 ,but another value of it is to enable us to make acts at the very moment which will have an eternal reward and merit1 and which we should never make were we let alone4 ,let one be tempted by impure thoughts for a day1 and faithfully resist them2 in that day he will perhaps have done more to please ,god and obtain merit and glory in heaven than in a year of ordinary life4 ,so if temptation comes without our own fault1 we may indeed rejoice and count ourselves blessed1 as ,st4 ,james says2 for it is indeed an earnest of the crown of life which our tried and strengthened souls shall win1 and which shall be decked with the innumerable gems which our battles with sin have merited4 ,but let us not allow it to come by our fault1 for then we cannot hope for a blessing with it4 ,lead us not into temptation1 we say every day2 profitable as the contest may be to us1 it would be presumption to offer ourselves to it1 or to ask from ,god an opportunity for it4 ,let us wait till he chooses to call us to the strife1 and then thank him for the trial which shall give us1 with his help1 the crown of life which he has promised to those who love him1 and for his love hate and resist sin4 ------------------- #bea ,fifth ,sunday after ,easter4 ,epistle4 ,st4 ,james i4 #bb-bg4 ,dearly beloved3 ,be ye doers of the word1 and not hearers only1 deceiving your own selves4 ,for if a man be a hearer of the word1 and not a doer1 he shall be compared to a man beholding his natural countenance in a glass4 ,for he beheld himself1 and went his way1 and presently forgot what manner of man he was4 ,but he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty1 and hath continued in it1 not becoming a forgetful hearer1 but a doer of the work3 this man shall be blessed in his deed4 ,and if any man think himself to be religious1 not bridling his tongue1 but deceiving his own heart1 this man's religion is vain4 ,religion pure and unspotted with ,god and the ,father1 is this3 to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation2 and to keep one's self undefiled from this world4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john xvi4 #bc-cj4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,amen1 amen ,i say to you1 if you ask the ,father anything in my name1 he will give it you4 ,hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name4 ,ask1 and you shall receive3 that your joy may be full4 ,these things have ,i spoken to you in proverbs4 ,the hour cometh when ,i will no more speak to you in proverbs1 but will show you plainly of the ,father4 ,in that day you shall ask in my name3 and ,i say not to you1 that ,i will ask the ,father for you4 ,for the ,father himself loveth you1 because you have loved me1 and have believed that ,i came forth from ,god4 ,i came forth from the ,father1 and am come into the world2 again ,i leave the world1 and ,i go to the ,father4 ,his disciples say to him3 ,behold now thou speakest plainly1 and speak-est no proverb4 ,now we know that thou knowest all things1 and that for thee it is not needful that any man ask thee4 ,in this we believe that thou camest forth from ,god4 ------------------- #beb ,sermon ,,lxxiv4 ,sins ,of ,the ,tongue4 ,and if any man think himself to be religious1 not bridling his tongue1 but deceiving his own heart1 this man's religion is vain4 --,st4 ,james i4 #bf4 ,my dear brethren1 we see by these words that we have a rule by which to find out whether or not we deserve to be called sincere ,christians or hypocrites4 ,in order to be a sincere ,christian1 what has a man to do8 ,he has to get control of himself2 to get his soul and all that it can desire subject to the law of ,god2 to get all pride1 covetousness1 lust1 anger1 envy1 gluttony1 and sloth under the control of his own will2 to get that will subject to and one with the will of ,god2 and1 what is more1 he must keep himself in this state of mind at least so far as to restrain himself from committing mortal sin and the graver venial sins if he desire sincerely to keep his soul well out of danger4 ,he who acts thus is a truly good man1 and that man's religion is not vain4 #bec ,what is the first thing to be done to begin to live in this way8 ,it is to examine and see in what way a man commits the greater number of sins4 ,one will soon find that the tongue of man is the means by which a man sins most frequently and in the most devilish manner4 ,for1 says ,st4 ,james1 ,the tongue is a fire1 a world of iniquity1 444 defileth the whole body1 444 being set on fire by hell4 ,we see from this how dangerous to the soul is the tongue of man4 ,as we do see this1 are we not bound to keep in check1 at all costs1 this source of evil8 ,any one can see that1 if he does not bridle his tongue1 his religion is vain indeed4 ,in fact1 it is nothing but a merely outward show4 ,it is hypocrisy of the worst kind4 ,but what are the sins of the tongue we most often hear8 ,they are blasphemies1 curses1 and oaths2 the retailing of our neighbors faults with delight and evident pleasure2 quarrels1 bickerings1 constant reproaches for faults that are past1 gone1 and even sincerely repented of long ago2 immodest and impure conversations1 with jokes and stories a heathen feels ashamed of2 hints and little words that seem almost nothing1 yet injuring seriously the reputation of some one1 separating friends1 and making even those near and dear to each other by every tie cold and distant for a long time1 if not for the rest of their lives4 ,god deliver us all from the evil tongue6 ,it works in our very homes4 ,the husband becomes by it bitterness and gall to his wife and family4 ,the wife becomes a torture to husband and children4 ,both by it make home a curse instead of a blessing1 and separate those of whom the word of ,god declares1 ,whom ,god hath joined together let no man put asunder4 ,too often do we see sad examples of this kind4 ,too often do we find such a husband1 who is like a roaring wild beast in his home1 and a wife whose tongue once set going1 even for a slight cause1 is like a clock running down1 or like the mill-clapper1 so often used as a figure of an unruly tongue4 #bed ,the bad tongue of a child is the ruin of all in the house4 ,that child is a tale-bearer and a traitor against those who begot him4 ,a detestable habit of the evil tongue is what the world calls damning our neighbor with faint praise1 or1 in other words1 praising him highly1 even to the skies1 and putting in a little word of evil that destroys him all the more surely4 ,one will excuse himself by saying3 ,but1 after all1 ,i spoke well of him4 ,it can't do any harm6 ,yet he knows in his inmost soul he has ruined or seriously injured his neighbor4 ,how would ,i feel if ,i were spoken of in this manner8 is the question one should have asked himself before he said a word4 ,how common is it to find persons the moment they see anything wrong done by another or hear of it hurry in great glee to tell it at once6 ,do we not know1 my dear brethren1 that such a one is a scandalizer of men1 and that the ,christian rule requires us to be silent then under pain of sin8 ,but the greater the evil done the more delighted are they to tell it4 ,it should be just the other way4 ,never reveal to any one the sin of your neighbor1 unless to save an innocent person or another from damage of some kind4 ,this damage must be serious to oblige one to tell1 even then1 the sin of another1 for he is equally obliged by ,god not to tell it under ordinary circumstances4 ,remember1 then1 that no one can be a true ,christian unless he keeps from these sins by bridling his tongue4 ,otherwise1 as the text declares1 this man's religion is vain4 ------------------- #bee ,sermon ,,lxxv4 ,perseverance ,in ,prayer4 ,yet if he shall continue1 knocking1 ,i say to you1 although he will not rise and give him1 because he is his friend2 yet because of his importunity he will rise2 and give him as many as he needeth4 --,st4 ,luke xi4 #h4 ,many people complain that their prayers are not heard4 ,again and again they have made some special requests for temporal1 or it may be even for spiritual1 blessings1 and nothing seems to have come of these petitions4 ,others get what they ask for1 but they are not so favored2 and they almost make up their minds that it is of no use for them to pray4 ,they think1 perhaps1 that they are too great sinners for ,god to hear them2 or that they do not know how to pray right2 or they are even tempted to believe that prayer is a mistake altogether2 that ,god's will is not moved by it2 that1 if any one does seem to get anything by it1 it is only by chance1 and would have come without it just as well4 ,now what can be the reason of the failure of these good people in prayer8 ,is it1 perhaps1 because what they asked was really an evil for them1 and so ,god could not in mercy grant it1 but had to give them something better instead1 which they have not noticed8 ,or is it that they did not strive to do their best to win what they wanted also by their own exertions as well as by prayer2 that they would not put their own shoulder to the wheel8 ,if it was some virtue1 such as charity or patience1 that they were asking for1 and meanwhile took no real pains to cultivate and practise it1 no wonder that ,god would not give it to them4 #bef ,or1 lastly1 is the reason for their disappointment that they were praying for others whose will was obstinately set against their prayers8 ,a mother prays for her son1 and her prayers are heard1 though they may not seem to be4 ,graces are granted to him1 but he resists them4 ,god has not promised to send them1 in such a torrent as to sweep away and break down all opposition1 though he may yet do so1 if she will only persevere4 ,persevere6 ,ah6 that word suggests what may be the real difficulty1 the true reason for the seeming uselessness of so many good prayers4 ,they are good as far as they go1 but there are not enough of them4 ,the effect that is to come of them is to come all at once2 it is like the fall of a tree in the woods under the blows of the axe3 the tree will come down1 but not at the first1 the second1 the tenth1 or perhaps even the hundredth stroke4 ,yes1 my brethren1 our ,lord could no doubt grant our prayers as soon as we made them1 but he does not wish to do so4 ,and ,i think we can see at least two reasons why he does not4 ,first1 if he grants what we ask at once we will go off with what he has given us1 and hare no more to say to him4 ,and1 strange to say1 he enjoys our society2 he has himself said his delight is to be with the children of men4 ,so he keeps us around him1 though it be only to tease1 as a father would the children he loved1 if he could not keep them any other way4 ,and1 secondly1 he knows that it is good for us to be with him2 and that every time we pray in earnest we come nearer to him1 and our souls become stronger4 ,so it is that1 both for his own sake and for our good1 he sometimes will not grant our prayers unless we persevere in them for a very long while4 #beg ,our ,lord has given us to understand this importance of persevering in prayer very plainly in the ,gospel read on these days1 called ,rogation ,days1 between to-day and the ,feast of the ,ascension4 ,he represents to us in the parable of this ,gospel a man who has gone to bed1 and is roused at midnight by a friend who wants to borrow some bread to set before an unexpected guest4 ,he at first tells the disturber to leave him alone2 he says that he cannot be bothered to get up at such an inconvenient time2 he pretends to drop off asleep1 and keeps his friend outside knocking and pounding for so long a time that he almost gives it up as useless4 ,yet1 says our ,lord1 if he shall continue knocking1 ,i say to you1 although he will not rise and give him because he is his friend1 yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth4 ,this is the lesson1 then1 it may be1 for those who have had no success at their prayers4 ,they did well to begin1 but they did not keep at it long enough4 ,let them go at it once again1 and keep on4 ,let them ask1 and keep asking1 and they shall receive2 let them seek long enough1 and they shall find2 let them keep knocking and making a disturbance1 and at last the door shall be opened1 and they shall obtain what they desire4 ------------------- #beh ,sunday within the ,octave of the ,ascension4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,peter iv4 #g-aa4 ,dearly beloved3 ,be prudent1 and watch in prayers4 ,but before all things have a mutual charity among yourselves3 for charity covereth a multitude of sins4 ,using hospitality one towards another without murmuring4 ,as every man hath received grace1 ministering the same one to another1 as good stewards of the manifold grace of ,god4 ,if any man speak1 let him speak as the words of ,god4 ,if any man minister1 let it be as from the power which ,god administereth3 that in all things ,god may be honored through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john xv4 #bf-xvi4 #d4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,when the ,paraclete shall come whom ,i will send you from the ,father1 the ,spirit of truth1 who proceedeth from the ,father1 he shall give testimony of me4 ,and you shall give testimony1 because you are with me from the beginning4 ,these things have ,i spoken to you1 that you may not be scandalized4 ,they will put you out of the synagogues3 yea1 the hour cometh that whosoever killeth you1 will think that he doeth a service to ,god4 ,and these things will they do to you1 because they have not known the ,father1 nor me4 ,but these things ,i have told you1 that when the hour of them shall come1 you may remember that ,i told you4 ------------------- #bei ,sermon ,,lxxvi4 ,after ,a ,mission4 ,there is nothing1 my dear brethren1 which can give more joy and consolation both to pastor and people than a mission such as that which was closed last ,sunday4 ,thank ,god1 there were many who had been living previously in sin1 but who really turned from it then with their whole hearts1 and who now have a happiness in those hearts to which they had long before been strangers4 ,this happiness ought to last all their lives4 ,god means that it should2 they can make it do so if they will4 ,but how will it be in fact2 how is it too often1 after such times of grace and fervor8 ,we have had missions before1 which really seemed as if they marked a new era in the history of our parish2 but we look for their fruits now and find them only few and far between4 ,too many of those who made them went back a month or so afterward to the old ways of sin4 ,what was the reason that they did not persevere8 ,why was it that they had the same sad story to tell when they came back this time that they had a few years ago8 ,was it that they never expected it to be otherwise8 ,perhaps so4 ,some ,christians--shame to say it--seem to think that mortal sin cannot be avoided4 ,such do not really try to avoid it2 how can they8 ,how can any one seriously attempt what he believes to be impossible8 ,no wonder that such as these fell2 the question is if indeed they ever arose4 #bfj ,for how could they have made the purpose of amendment which a good confession requires8 ,let them understand1 at least now1 that it is possible to abandon mortal sin at once and for ever4 ,but was it1 perhaps1 that they thought they could keep the grace they had got by their own unaided strength2 that they could fight the devil single-handed1 or even that he would never trouble them much again8 ,ah6 my brethren1 if any of you thought that he made a terrible mistake4 ,satan does not give up the souls which he has once possessed so easily4 ,he knows the advantage which all habits of sin give him1 and he is going to make the most of them4 ,he will surely attack you1 and you are weak1 while he is strong4 ,if you undertake to fight him alone1 you will go to the wall4 ,you cannot conquer him unless ,god helps you4 ,but1 after all1 there are not many ,catholics who do not know that it needs ,god's help to persevere4 ,oh6 yes2 almost every one will say1 when asked after confession if he is going to avoid sin for the future1 that he will1 with the help of ,god4 ,well1 then1 what is the matter8 ,if we know that we are in danger1 and that we can escape from it1 but only by ,god's help1 why does not that help come and save us8 ,i will tell you why it does not4 ,and to do so ,i have only to turn to the first words of to-day's ,mass3 ,he shall call on me1 and ,i will hear him2 ,i will deliver him and glorify him4 ,that is the whole story4 ,if we want ,god to deliver us1 we must ask him to do it4 ,in other words1 if we wish to persevere1 we must pray4 ,if we do not go to ,god to get the strength which we need1 we must be without it4 #bfa ,the sinner who repents1 and does not pray often and fervently afterward to keep the grace he has1 being especially careful of his morning prayers2 who does not1 above all1 make often the best of all prayers--that of again coming to the sacraments--is a fool1 and the devil's laughing-stock4 ,the great majority of those who have been leading a bad life1 and who abandon it at a mission1 or at any other time1 will not persevere unless they are willing to take the trouble to make frequent and earnest prayers1 and to come to confession again within a month4 ,that is simple fact2 it is the teaching of experience1 not mere guess-work4 ,are you1 my friends1 willing to take that trouble for your soul's sake1 or do you prefer to fall as you have fallen before8 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxvii4 ,bearing ,witness ,for ,our ,lord4 ,and you shall give testimony1 because you are with me from the beginning4 --,st4 ,john xv4 #bg4 ,it might be asked1 dear brethren1 what need ,god has of our testimony1 or why the creature should act the part of witness for the ,creator8 ,certainly ,jesus ,christ needed not the testimony of men1 but in his infinite goodness and wisdom he has seen fit to commit to each one of us a sublime and holy mission1 none other than that of giving testimony of him before the world1 for the sake of our fellow-man4 #bfb ,you are1 says ,st4 ,peter1 a chosen generation1 a royal priesthood1 that you may declare the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness4 ,this1 then1 is our mission1 to be witnesses for ,jesus ,christ2 and to-day we are going to consider how we are fulfilling it4 ,you know1 brethren1 with what a keen sense of criticism the world examines the testimony of those witnessing in behalf of others1 and how it values their testimony in proportion to their uprightness and integrity4 ,well1 so it is with regard to us and the testimony we are called upon to give of our ,blessed ,lord4 ,we ,christians are all on the witness-stand of this great world4 ,to-day the unbelieving world is passing judgment upon our testimony1 deciding whether it be for or against ,jesus ,christ2 but1 brethren1 there will come a day when ,christ himself will sit in judgment upon this same testimony and reward us accordingly4 ,since1 then1 this our mission is so important1 brethren1 how are we to fulfil it8 ,it seems to me in no better way than by leading truly ,christian lives1 and thus forcing the world to acknowledge that we are animated by the spirit of ,god4 ,the early ,christians brought the light of faith to thousands1 not by preaching1 but by the holiness of their lives2 and so1 when the pagans and infidels came in contact with them1 they were forced to admire and exclaim1 ,behold how these ,christians love one another6 ,would to ,god that the life and conduct of every ,christian to-day could force a similar confession from the unbelievers of our time4 #bfc ,indeed1 brethren1 all ,christians of our day have a great mission to fulfil in this regard2 but we especially1 for the reason given by our ,lord himself--because you are with me from the beginning4 ,you1 beloved brethren1 who have had the faith from the beginning--from your earliest childhood--have a special reason why your testimony for ,jesus ,christ should never be failing4 ,has it ever been so8 ,have your virtuous lives and edifying example brought home the truths and beauties of the ,catholic faith to those outside the church8 ,i fear1 brethren1 the conduct of bad and negligent ,catholics has kept back many from inquiring into the true faith4 ,such ,catholics1 wearing the livery of ,satan1 have given false testimony of ,god1 and will have to render an account for it4 ,we can all of us1 brethren1 give testimony of ,jesus ,christ by every action of our lives4 ,parents can and should render this testimony by the good example they give their families1 and the ,christian solicitude they have for their spiritual welfare4 ,young men and women should give this testimony by the profession and practice of ,god's law and the church's precepts4 ,let the consideration1 dear brethren1 of this our high mission1 our being called to give testimony of ,god1 be the means of animating us to renewed fervor in the service of ,jesus ,christ4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxviii4 ,the ,indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,watch in prayers4 --#a ,st4 ,peter iv4 #g4 #bfd ,to-day is the ,sunday of expectation1 and it brings to our minds that upper chamber in ,jerusalem1 where the little band of the chosen disciples of the ,lord were gathered together waiting for the coming of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,there were the eleven ,apostles and the faithful women1 and ,mary1 the ,mother of ,jesus1 and his brethren4 ,all these1 says the sacred chronicler1 were persevering with one mind in prayer4 ,hence the ,epistle of to-day urges us to imitate them1 and begins with the exhortation3 ,dearly beloved1 watch in prayers4 ,we too must watch and wait for the coming of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he has1 indeed1 already come into our souls in ,holy ,baptism1 cleansing them from original sin and making them his temples4 ,he has come again in ,confirmation1 with all the fulness of his sevenfold gifts1 to make us strong and perfect ,christians and soldiers of ,christ4 ,yet he comes to us continually every day1 knocking at the door of our hearts and begging for admittance4 ,every impulse of what is known as actual grace is from the ,holy ,ghost1 and such graces we are receiving all the time1 every hour of the day4 ,we must therefore prepare ourselves for his coming1 and when he has entered into our souls we must strive to keep him there4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is the life of our souls4 ,it is his constant presence and indwelling which is the state of grace which makes us pleasing to ,god4 ,to obtain and to preserve this abiding presence of the ,holy ,ghost we must imitate the ,apostles in their watchfulness and prayer4 ,we must watch lest the time of temptation should find us unprepared and off our guard2 we must pray that the ,holy ,ghost may come into our hearts1 bringing with him ever richer treasures of divine grace2 that he may take possession of our souls and make them all his own2 that he may guide our minds1 and with the fire of his love inflame our hearts to do his holy will in all things4 #bfe ,but we must first of all prepare for the ,holy ,ghost by cleansing our souls from sin4 ,where sin reigns the ,holy ,ghost can never dwell4 ,the ,apostles prepared for his corning by penance4 ,to that upper chamber in ,jerusalem came ,st4 ,peter1 who had denied his ,lord1 ,st4 ,thomas1 who had doubted his resurrection1 and the others who had wavered in their faith1 and1 in the time of trial1 had forsaken their ,master and fled4 ,but now they had been convinced of their error1 and they came together with sorrow for their past unfaithfulness1 and a full determination to lay down their lives1 if need be1 for him who had died for them4 ,this is the spirit in which we should prepare for the ,holy ,ghost4 ,if your hearts are defiled with mortal sin1 delay not the time of penance4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is ready to descend upon you4 ,he only waits for you to do your part4 ,make ready1 then1 a place in your heart1 that he may enter in and dwell there4 ,o my dearly beloved brethren6 exclaims ,st4 ,gregory the ,great1 think what a dignity it is to have ,god abiding as a guest in our heart6 ,surely1 if some rich man or some powerful friend were to come into our house1 we would hasten to have our whole house cleaned1 lest1 perchance1 when he came in he should see anything to displease his eye4 ,so let him that would make his mind an abode for ,god cleanse it from all the filth of works of iniquity4 #bff ,and they were persevering with one mind in prayer4 ,our prayer must be persevering if we would gain that which we desire4 ,this is what our ,lord meant when he said that we ought always to pray and not to faint4 ,unless we persevere in prayer we shall without doubt faint by the way in the journey of life4 ,and let us do as the ,apostles did1 join our prayers to those of ,mary1 the ,mother of ,jesus1 and we shall have a sure hope of obtaining what is most needful for us4 ,then1 as the ,holy ,ghost once descended upon her1 and wrought within her the ,incarnation1 so also will he come into our hearts1 and make them the abode of the ,holy ,trinity4 ,then1 if we listen to his blessed voice within us1 we shall grow in grace and in the knowledge of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 for the ,holy ,ghost will teach us all things1 according to the promise4 ------------------- #bfg ,feast of ,pentecost1 or ,whit-,sunday4 ,epistle4 ,acts ii4 #a-aa4 ,when the days of the ,pentecost were accomplished1 they were all together in the same place3 and suddenly there came a sound from heaven1 as of a mighty wind coming1 and it filled the whole house where they were sitting4 ,and there appeared to them cloven tongues as it were of fire1 and it sat upon every one of them1 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and they began to speak with divers tongues1 according as the ,holy ,ghost gave them to speak4 ,now there were dwelling at ,jerusalem ,jews1 devout men out of every nation under heaven4 ,and when this voice was made1 the multitude came together1 and were confounded in mind1 because that every one heard them speak in his own tongue4 ,and they were all amazed and wondered1 saying3 ,behold1 are not all these who speak ,galileans8 ,and how have we every one heard our own tongue wherein we were born8 ,parthians1 and ,medes1 and ,elamites1 and inhabitants of ,mesopotamia1 ,judea and ,cappadocia1 ,pontus and ,asia1 ,phrygia and ,pamphilia1 ,egypt and the parts of ,lybia about ,cyrene1 and strangers of ,rome1 ,jews also1 and proselytes1 ,cretes and ,arabians2 we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of ,god4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john xiv4 #bc-ca4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,if any one love me1 he will keep my word1 and my ,father will love him1 and we will come to him1 and make our abode with him4 ,he that loveth me not1 keepeth not my words4 ,and the word which you have heard is not mine1 but the ,father's who sent me4 #bfh ,these things have ,i spoken to you1 remaining with you4 ,but the ,paraclete1 the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he will teach you all things1 and bring all things to your mind1 whatsoever ,i shall have said to you4 ,peace ,i leave with you2 my peace ,i give to you3 not as the world giveth do ,i give to you4 ,let not your hearts be troubled1 nor let it be afraid4 ,you have heard that ,i have said to you3 ,i go away1 and ,i come again to you4 ,if you loved me1 you would indeed be glad1 because ,i go to the ,father3 for the ,father is greater than ,i4 ,and now ,i have told you before it come to pass3 that when it shall come to pass1 you may believe4 ,now ,i will not speak many things with you4 ,for the prince of this world cometh1 and in me he hath not anything4 ,but that the world may know that ,i love the ,father3 and as the ,father hath given me commandment1 so ,i do4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxix4 ,the ,holy ,ghost ,in ,the ,church4 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he will teach you all things1 and bring all things to your mind1 whatsoever ,i shall have said to you4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,on the day which we now commemorate1 my brethren1 the ,holy ,ghost came down1 as you know1 on the little company of ,christians assembled in the upper room at ,jerusalem1 to prepare them for the great combat in which they were about to engage against the devil for the conquest of the world4 ,he came down upon them to make of them the church of ,god2 to establish them in the truth1 and to bring to their remembrance1 as our ,lord had promised1 the faith which they had received from his lips4 #bfi ,he came to give them not only the knowledge but also the courage and strength which would be necessary for them to persevere1 to resist and overcome all the attacks of the enemy1 and to weather all the storms which heresy1 infidelity1 and worldliness were about to raise against the one true faith4 ,and he was to come1 and has come1 not only on them1 but on those who have followed them as well1 and for the same purpose4 ,we have received him1 and he abides in the ,catholic ,church to-day as he did in the times of the ,apostles4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is the life of the church2 it is his presence which distinguishes her from the human institutions which have appeared in the world with her and have one by one sprung up and passed away4 ,it is his abiding with her that makes her life perpetual1 ever the same and ever new4 ,but how is the ,holy ,ghost in the ,catholic ,church8 ,how is it that he is her life1 and that he keeps now1 as of old1 in the one true body which all who will but clear the mists of prejudice from before their eyes can see is the one which ,christ promised to form1 and to which all his promises were made8 ,in the first place1 the ,holy ,ghost is in the ,catholic ,church by the gift bestowed on the successors of the ,apostles in the ,apostolic ,see1 of infallibility in teaching the faith4 ,in this way the truth is sure to be kept in the world2 it cannot fail to be taught1 while the ,vicar of ,christ remains to teach it4 ,but it is not only in the ,holy ,see that the ,spirit of ,god abides4 ,the bishops throughout the world also teach the faith by his help and guidance2 and this help is also given to the clergy who assist them4 #bgj ,nor does the work of the ,holy ,ghost stop here2 he is also with the body of the faithful1 enabling them also to recognize the truth when they hear it1 and to distinguish it from error4 ,you have the unction from the ,holy ,one1 and know all things1 says ,st4 ,john2 ,i have not written to you as to them that know not the truth1 but as to them that know it4 ,yes1 the ,holy ,ghost is throughout the church2 he is her life1 and is not only in her head1 but also in her members4 ,were he not in the members1 though the pope indeed should remain to teach the truth1 the faithful would not have remained faithful or attentive to the truth which he would teach4 ,what a blessing1 then1 my brethren1 is this light of the ,holy ,ghost1 which is given in its measure to each one of us2 which keeps us in the one fold1 and which makes us1 out of many1 one body in ,christ2 which brings his words always to our minds1 and which preserves us from the ever-changing doubt and confusion which is the lot of those who arc separated from the one true church in which he dwells6 ,let us1 then1 preserve this unspeakable gift2 let us not quench the ,spirit of ,god within us4 ,and how is it quenched8 ,how do we lose the light of faith which he gives8 ,by sin1 and never except by sin4 ,though instruction be indeed good and salutary1 it is not the simple and the unlearned who lose the faith1 but such as give ear to their passions1 specially those of pride and impurity4 ,all the heresies which have torn multitudes from the church of ,christ have had their roots not so much in ignorance as in sin4 ,keep yourselves1 then1 my brethren1 as ,st4 ,john warns you1 from idols2 this is the only sure way to keep in yourselves the light of ,god4 ------------------- #bga ,sermon ,,lxxx4 ,the ,guidance ,of ,the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if any one love me he will keep my word1 and my father will love him1 and we will come to him and make our abode with him2 he that loveth me not1 keepeth not my word4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,to-day1 dear brethren1 the church sends up her voice of praise for the coming of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,on this day the ,holy ,ghost1 the personal love of the ,father and the ,son1 came upon the disciples in that upper chamber in ,jerusalem1 where they were gathered together in prayer awaiting the promise of the ,father4 ,he came upon weak and timid men1 but when he had poured himself upon them behold we have the great ,apostles1 the teachers of the divine word1 the fearless and untiring searchers after souls1 the founders of the church4 ,ah6 what a change had been wrought in these timid followers of ,jesus1 who had fled from him in the hour of his need1 and who1 after his resurrection1 lay hid with barred doors for fear of the ,jews6 ,their fear and their weakness have disappeared1 and the whole world is not large enough for the exercise of their zeal1 nor less than the conversion of all nations the end of their noble ambition4 #bgb ,but1 dear brethren1 the self-same ,holy ,ghost1 who brought about this change in the ,apostles1 comes to us1 nay1 abides in us1 if we fulfil the condition our ,lord lays down--namely1 that we love him4 ,and he makes the test of our love the keeping of his word4 ,if we love him the ,father will love us1 and the ,father and the ,son will come to us and make their abode with us through the indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is our sanctifier4 ,it is he to whom are ascribed the works of love4 ,he dispenses the graces which the merits of ,jesus ,christ have won for us4 ,he purifies from sin and unites our souls to ,god4 ,he dwells in every one who is free from grievous sin1 and by his light and strength he gives us help to overcome the temptations which assail us4 ,he is the ,spirit of joy and sweetness1 filling us with the fear of ,god1 urging us on in the love of ,god1 guarding us from the loss of ,god's friendship by the winning sweetness of his consolations4 ,how greatly1 then1 should we love and adore the ,holy ,ghost1 the third person of the ,blessed ,trinity6 ,we should often call upon him and pray to him4 ,we do not invoke the ,holy ,ghost enough4 ,we pray to the ,father and to the ,son1 and so indirectly honor ,god1 the ,holy ,spirit2 but we should pray more frequently to him directly4 ,we should call upon him to give us1 if we have it not1 the grace of ,god1 and to increase in us the fire of divine love that we may realize in ourselves the promise of the abiding of ,god in us by keeping his laws4 ,what folly it is for us to imagine that ,god can have a dwelling-place in our sin-stained soul6 ,how can the ,holy ,spirit find pleasure in one who by mortal sin has made himself ,god's enemy2 who has been guilty of a deliberate act of rebellion against his ,maker and been unfaithful to or left unheeded his own sweet drawing8 #bgc ,alas for us1 if this ,pentecost finds us in this awful state6 ,alas6 if the voice of our conscience has been silenced2 this day then brings no joy to us6 ,the ,holy ,spirit has no abiding-place within our souls4 ,we have not loved the ,son because we have not kept his words3 ,he that loveth me not keepeth not my words4 ,and because we have not loved him the ,father and he will not come to us4 ,the loving ,holy ,ghost is not master in our house2 we have driven him out who was our best friend and thrown open the gate to our enemy4 ,will you remain thus1 you who are in sin8 ,let not this day go by and to-morrow find you unrepentant4 ,grieve for your past offences1 keep the law of ,god1 and you shall have the fulness of the ,holy ,spirit4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxi4 ,the ,easter ,duty4 ,in this great feast and its octave1 my dear brethren1 we commemorate the last of all the wonderful events which brought the ,christian religion into the world4 ,to-day our ,divine ,saviour1 having ascended into heaven1 fulfilled his promise in the descent of the ,holy ,ghost upon his ,apostles2 to-day the ,catholic ,church was fully established1 and given power to convert the world2 to-day the order of things was begun which is to last to the end of time4 ,and with this octave closes1 therefore1 that especially holy part or season of the year which centres round the resurrection of our ,lord1 and which has1 for most obvious reasons1 been appointed as the time in which every ,christian is bound1 under pain of mortal sin1 to receive ,holy ,communion1 or make1 as we say1 his ,easter duty4 #bgd ,only one more week remains in which to attend to this most important of all the obligations of a ,catholic1 to fulfil this greatest precept of the positive ,christian law4 ,now1 what is exactly this precept of the ,easter duty8 ,strange to say1 you will often find people who do not seem to have any clear idea about it at all1 in spite of all that is said about it from the altar and in common catechisms and books of instruction4 ,and yet it is very simple4 ,it is just this3 ,every ,catholic of sufficient age to receive ,communion is bound to receive it on some day between the first ,sunday of ,lent and ,trinity ,sunday--that is1 a week from to-day--inclusive2 and it is very difficult for any one to have any excuse from complying with this law4 ,the ,easter duty1 then1 is not merely an obligation to receive once a year4 ,a person may receive a hundred times in the year1 and yet not make his ,easter duty2 just as one may hear ,mass every day in the week1 and yet not fulfil the precept of hearing ,mass if he stays away on ,sunday4 ,now this seems quite easy to understand2 but there are people1 and plenty of them1 too1 who will make a mission shortly before ,lent1 and then say at this time3 ,oh6 ,i went to ,communion not very long ago2 there is no need to go so soon again4 ,they might as well say on ,sunday1 if they had heard ,mass on ,saturday3 ,i need not go to church to-day2 it was only yesterday that ,i was there4 ,the law of hearing ,mass is not to hear it once a week1 but to hear it on ,sundays and holydays of obligation2 so the law of ,communion is not to receive once or twice a year1 but to receive at the time appointed4 ,no other time will do4 #bge ,but some may say3 ,i have not committed any mortal sin since my last confession2 ,i am just as good as these people who are running to church all the time4 ,very good1 perhaps you are2 though it may be that ,almighty ,god does not have so high an opinion of you as you seem to have of yourself4 ,but it is not the question whether you are good or not2 the law is not to confess mortal sin at ,easter2 far from it1 one ought to have no mortal sin to confess1 then or at any other time4 ,no1 the law is to go to ,communion4 ,one should get leave to do so1 of course2 but if you have no sin on your conscience1 what is easier than to say so to the priest8 ,you ought to be glad to be able to say it4 ,do not1 then1 make the foolish excuse either that you have been to ,communion at ,christmas or there about1 or that you have nothing to confess now4 ,come this week2 if you put your ,communion off one day beyond next ,sunday you are guilty of breaking this law4 ,if you are in mortal sin1 get out of it by making a good confession and ,communion2 if you are not1 do not fall into it by refusing to obey this most peremptory and most urgent command4 ,any one who has not received since ,lent began1 and refuses to do so on or before next ,sunday1 may1 indeed1 call himself a ,catholic1 but is not worthy of the name4 ------------------- #bgf ,trinity ,sunday4 ,epistle4 ,romans xi4 #cc-cf4 ,o the depth of the riches1 of the wisdom1 and of the knowledge of ,god6 ,how incomprehensible are his judgments1 and how unsearchable his ways6 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 ,or who hath been his counsellor8 ,or who hath first given to him1 and recompense shall be made to him8 ,for of him1 and by him1 and in him1 are all things4 ,to him be glory for ever4 ,amen4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew1 xxviii4 #ah-bj4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,all power is given to me in heaven and on earth4 ,go ye1 therefore1 and teach all nations3 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost3 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i have commanded you2 and behold ,i am with you all days1 even to the consummation of the world4 ,last ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke vi4 #cf-db4 ,at that time1 ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,be ye merciful1 as your ,father also is merciful4 ,judge not1 and you shall not be judged4 ,condemn not1 and you shall not be condemned4 ,forgive1 and you shall be forgiven4 ,give1 and it shall be given to you3 good measure and pressed down1 and shaken together and running over1 shall they give into your bosom4 ,for with the same measure that you shall measure it shall be measured to you again4 ,and he spoke also to them a similitude3 ,can the blind lead the blind8 do they not both fall into the ditch8 ,the disciple is not above his master2 but every one shall be perfect1 if he be as his master4 #bgg ,and why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye1 but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not8 or how canst thou say to thy brother1 ,brother1 let me pull the mote out of thy eye1 when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye8 ,thou hypocrite1 cast first the beam out of thy own eye1 and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxii4 ,the ,divine ,majesty4 ,for of him1 and by him1 and in him are all things2 to him be ,glory for ever and ever4 ,amen4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,to-day1 my dear brethren1 the church1 having completed the round of feasts and fasts which she began on ,christmas1 having brought to our remembrance our ,lord's birth1 his holy childhood1 his ministry on earth1 his ,passion and death1 his glorious ,resurrection and ,ascension1 and the coming of the ,holy ,ghost as he had promised1 finally brings us into the presence of the ,being by whom all these wonderful works have been accomplished1 and who is the sole object of our adoration1 the ever ,blessed ,trinity1 the three ,divine ,persons1 the one ,god4 ,she bids us contemplate1 so far as it is possible for us1 the great and ineffable mystery into the faith of which we have been baptized1 and to join with the angels and saints in the canticles of heaven1 ,holy1 ,holy1 ,holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 who was1 and who is1 and who is to come4 #bgh ,of him1 and by him1 and in him are all things1 says the ,apostle1 reminding us of this highest of all the teachings of the ,christian faith4 ,of the ,father is the ,son1 and by the ,son is the ,holy ,ghost1 who proceeds from the ,father and the ,son1 and in whom is their life and mutual love4 ,the distinction of the ,divine ,persons is thus intimated to us2 but the ,divine ,nature is only one2 of1 by1 and in that ,one are we and all things created4 ,we and all the world around us are of ,god2 not part of him1 nor born of him according to nature1 nor proceeding from his substance1 but still of him in that we owe our being entirely to him1 who drew us from nothing by his almighty power4 ,nothing could ever have existed outside of ,god himself except through the wonderful1 incomprehensible act of creation4 ,from nothing1 nothing of itself could come2 all things are from and of ,god1 who created them from nothing4 ,by his almighty power1 then1 we have been created1 and by it now we are sustained4 ,we could not live for a moment except by his continual support4 ,it is only by his aid that we can draw a single breath1 walk a single step1 or perform the simplest act4 ,the winds and the waters1 and all the powers of nature1 as we call them1 are his powers1 too1 which he lends to us1 and makes subservient to our use4 ,and in him we live and move and are4 ,he is nearer to us than we to ourselves4 ,it is not only that he makes us live2 it is his life by which we live2 our life comes from and belongs to his eternal life4 ,the life of ,god the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost is in himself2 ours is in him4 #bgi ,to him1 then1 the one and only true ,god1 be glory1 as the ,apostle says1 for ever and ever4 ,how often we say these words1 ,glory be to the ,father1 and to the ,son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost1 and how little do we think of what they mean6 ,if all that we are and have is from ,god1 by him and in him1 how can we set ourselves apart from him1 or claim anything for ourselves against him8 ,how can we glory in ourselves1 or desire glory from others1 when all glory1 praise1 and honor belong of necessity to him from whom1 by whom1 and in whom all things are8 ,for this is what it means when we say1 ,glory be to ,god4 ,not some glory or praise or recognition of his greatness from us1 as a sort of tax or tribute which we must pay to keep the rest for ourselves4 ,no1 when we have given glory to ,god as we should1 there will be nothing left for us to keep4 ,this is the perfection of the creature1 to prostrate itself at the foot of its ,creator's throne1 and to cast all the crowns it has received before him that sitteth thereon1 and to say with the angels and saints in heaven1 ,thou art worthy1 ,o ,lord our ,god1 to receive glory and honor and power1 because thou hast created all things1 and for thy will they were and have been created4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxiii4 ,the ,mystery ,of ,the ,holy ,trinity4 ,go ye1 therefore1 teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 --,st4 ,matthew1 xxviii4 #ai4 #bhj ,it was the faith in the ,most ,holy ,trinity that the ,apostles were sent forth to teach throughout all the world to every creature4 ,it is into this faith that every ,christian is baptized by the invocation of the thrice-holy name of the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 and because of this baptism he is bound to persevere all his life long in that steadfast faith in the ,holy ,trinity for which the church to-day teaches us to pray4 ,think it not strange that this doctrine should be so deep a mystery4 ,we are surrounded on all sides by mysteries4 ,there is scarcely a department of knowledge into which we can turn our minds where we are not met by things which we cannot understand4 ,there is1 therefore1 nothing wonderful in the fact that ,god is the greatest mystery of all4 ,we cannot solve the mysteries of nature and of life as we see them before us4 ,how1 then1 can we expect to comprehend the nature and the inner life of ,god8 ,it is not for us1 with our poor1 feeble minds1 to ask the how or the why1 but simply to bow down in humble adoration before the truth of ,god as he has revealed himself to us4 ,faith would not be the virtue that it is if everything were perfectly plain to us4 ,the chief merit of faith is in accepting on ,god's authority that which is beyond our own reason4 ,his revelation of himself to us is only partial4 ,the full light that we are capable of receiving will not come until we are before his throne1 and see him face to face1 for it is only when that which is perfect shall come that that which is in part shall be done away4 ,for now we see1 as it were1 through a glass1 in an obscure manner1 now we know but in part1 but then we shall know even as we are known4 ,meanwhile our time of trial remains1 and we must submit our minds as well as our hearts and wills to ,god4 #bha ,but he has not given us this partial revelation of himself in order to perplex and worry us4 ,he has told us all that is good and needful for us to know in our present state4 ,we should not1 therefore1 fix our minds upon that which he has chosen to hide from us1 but upon that which he actually has revealed to us1 and we shall find in this more than enough for our love and devotion4 ,each ,person of the ,blessed ,trinity has some special relation to us1 and there are1 therefore1 special acts of love and adoration which we can pay to each4 ,he has revealed himself to us as the ,father1 not only as the ,father of the ,eternal ,son1 but as our ,father as well2 our ,father1 because he has adopted us as his children4 ,nothing that we know on earth of a father's love can compare with the tenderness with which the ,eternal ,father regards his children4 ,we1 therefore1 must become as little children towards him1 looking up to him with love1 with reverence1 with simple trust1 striving to fulfil his holy will in perfect obedience1 knowing that he wills only our good1 here and hereafter4 ,god the ,son has revealed himself to us as our ,saviour and ,redeemer1 and because we are through him the children of ,god1 as our ,elder ,brother1 sharing in our human nature1 having been tempted like us1 and having suffered far more for our sake than we shall ever be called upon to suffer for him4 ,hence in all our trials1 in all our temptations1 in all our sufferings1 we have his example to cheer us1 knowing that we are but treading the steps that he trod and bearing our cross after him4 ,his ,precious ,blood is still flowing through the sacraments to cleanse us from our sins1 his grace is ever ready to help us in the hour of need4 #bhb ,and ,god the ,holy ,ghost is revealed to us and given to us as the life of our souls1 our helper1 our comforter1 our sanctifier1 stirring up the flame of divine love in our hearts1 urging us to good deeds1 and giving us the strength to perform them4 ,we1 on our part1 must listen to his voice and follow his guidance1 that so we may abide in the love of the ,father and of the ,son4 ,thus is the ,blessed ,trinity revealed to us1 as ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,let us not question1 but praise1 adore1 and love4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxiv4 ,the ,divine ,judgment4 ,and ,jesus coming1 spoke to them1 saying3 ,all power is given to me in heaven and in earth4 --,matthew1 xxviii4 #ah4 ,when these words were uttered by our ,lord he had risen from the dead4 ,on this occasion he had with him only the eleven ,apostles1 whom he had instructed to meet him by appointment at this time and in this place--a mountain in ,galilee4 ,a few words they are1 but full of meaning4 ,the ,apostles saw our ,lord in the flesh again2 they heard his own human lips utter this truth3 that all power is his in heaven and in earth4 #bhc ,how did they understand him8 ,they understood that the ,man they saw1 the human being who then stood before them1 was endued with all power that ,god would exercise in heaven and in earth2 that to rule this vast universe was his right2 that to sit on the throne of heaven1 to be worshipped and adored as ,god by every creature1 to shape the destiny of this world1 of its many nations1 of its many families1 of every single soul born and to be born in it2 to open and shut the gates of hell at his own will1 to judge all without exception1 each separately at the moment after death1 and all together in the great ,judgment day of ,god1 is his right and office as the ,man1 because he is ,man in ,god and ,god in ,man2 the ,man selected to be the ,one through whom the ,divine ,nature manifests himself in all the fulness of the ,godhead in human nature4 ,but what1 therefore1 is the first thought that must enter our hearts8 ,it is necessarily this3 ,how will that ,man receive us when we are called into his presence1 one by one1 as we leave this world8 ,how will that countenance look to us at that moment8 ,how will those ears listen to our reports of our own lives8 ,how will those lips speak to us in that dread moment8 ,but why do we ask ourselves these questions8 ,because we know that we are to meet that ,man in ,god1 face to face1 to give an exact account of all of our deeds in the body1 and that he is the ,one to praise or blame us1 reward or condemn us1 receive us into eternal blessedness or cast us out into eternal1 never-ending darkness1 and deliver us over to the rule of those who shall be our masters in hell4 ,can we tell what the result will be8 ,yes2 and to a certainty6 ,if our lives have been good1 or if we die in his friendship1 the ,man ,christ ,jesus will give us a blessed and glorious welcome2 but if our lives have been wicked1 that ,man will reject us for ever4 ,he will not have us anywhere near him4 ,he will not endure our presence a single moment1 nor permit us to speak in his presence1 nor ever again to mention his holy name1 but will cast us into that region of creation where holy names are not permitted to be uttered4 #bhd ,do we truly hope that this sad fate will not be ours8 ,then we are truly good1 leading good lives1 are faithful to our duties as good ,catholics4 ,if we truly hope for his approval we can judge ourselves now and know we shall receive it4 ,how is this8 ,if each one can say to-day1 the last of the ,easter-time1 ,i have obeyed the commands of the church and made my ,easter duty1 then each soul is free from mortal sin and knows the judgment of our ,lord will be in his favor4 ,let any such soul die at any moment now and the mercy of ,god is surely his1 for he is now in the friendship of ,god1 his soul is restored to its heavenly state1 and every soul in this state is so acceptable to our ,lord that he can not condemn it1 but must welcome it to the society of those who are saved for ever4 ,o unfaithful1 negligent ,catholic6 whose life heretofore has been a dishonor to ,god1 a shame to your family1 a scandal to your neighbor1 and a disgrace to the church of ,jesus ,christ1 have you turned from your sins and made your peace with ,god this ,easter-time8 ,have you washed your past life clean from sin by this ,easter duty8 ,then you1 too1 know you will receive the welcome of our ,lord1 the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 your ,king and your ,god4 ,otherwise you are still his enemy1 and have a right only to his eternal wrath4 ,how can you sleep a moment or be at rest a single instant longer while knowing you are condemned already1 because you have not made your ,easter duty8 ------------------- #bhe ,second ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,and ,sunday ,within ,the ,octave ,of ,corpus ,christi4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,john iii4 #ac-ah4 ,dearly beloved3 ,wonder not if the world hate you4 ,we know that we have passed from death to life1 because we love the brethren4 ,he that loveth not1 abideth in death4 ,whosoever hateth his brother1 is a murderer4 ,and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself4 ,in this we have known the charity of ,god1 because he hath laid down his life for us3 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren4 ,he that hath the substance of this world1 and shall see his brother in need1 and shall shut up his bowels from him3 how doth the charity of ,god abide in him8 ,my little children1 let us not love in word1 nor in tongue1 but in deed and in truth4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xiv4 #af-bd4 ,at that time ,jesus spoke to the ,pharisees this parable3 ,a certain man made a great supper1 and invited many4 ,and he sent his servant at supper-time to say to them that were invited that they should come1 for now all things are ready4 ,and they began all at once to make excuse4 ,the first said to him3 ,i have bought a farm1 and ,i must needs go out and see it2 ,i pray thee1 have me excused4 ,and another said3 ,i have bought five yoke of oxen1 and ,i go to try them2 ,i pray thee1 have me excused4 ,and another said3 ,i have married a wife1 and therefore ,i cannot come4 ,and the servant returning1 told these things to his lord4 ,then the master of the house1 being angry1 said to his servant3 ,go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city1 and bring in hither the poor and the feeble1 and the blind and the lame4 #bhf ,and the servant said3 ,lord1 it is done as thou hast commanded1 and yet there is room4 ,and the lord said to the servant3 ,go out into the highways and hedges1 and compel them to come in1 that my house maybe filled4 ,but ,i say unto you that none of those men that were called shall taste my supper4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxv4 ,holy ,communion4 ,a certain man made a great supper and invited many4 --,st4 ,luke xiv4 #af4 ,i suppose every ,catholic here to-day1 except some young children1 has once or many times in his life been to the ,great ,supper1 and eaten the ,bread of ,life which is served at it2 and those little ones of the ,lord's ,holy ,catholic family are looking forward to the bright day1 to be for ever afterwards the day of sweetest memory1 when they too shall have that honor and happiness--the day of their ,first ,communion4 ,if such be the case1 what is the use of the church repeating to us every year the threat in the ,gospel against those who made foolish and selfish excuses for staying away--,none of those men that were called shall taste of my supper8 ,we have been called4 ,we have answered the invitation4 ,we have been to the supper4 ,isn't that enough8 ,the ,gospel evidently does not apply to us4 ,but wait a bit4 ,i have two things for you to think about4 ,in the first place1 the calling to the ,great ,supper the ,gospel speaks about is a standing invitation for life4 ,by this ,i mean that the law of the ,catholic ,church obliges every one to receive ,holy ,communion annually--that is1 during the ,easter season4 #bhg ,it is then1 first of all1 an annual invitation2 and going one year is not answering the call for the next year4 ,every one who has learned his ,catechism ought to know that4 ,in the second place1 what would you think of a near relative whom you had invited to be present at your marriage anniversary dinner1 who should send for reply that he had already dined with you on the ,fourth of ,july8 ,this is like what people say who1 when asked if they made their ,easter duty1 tell you1 ,oh6 no1 ,i went at ,christmas1 or ,i was at the mission4 ,now the annual marriage supper which the ,king makes for his ,son1 and to which we are invited1 is at ,easter1 and neither ,christmas1 mission time1 the ,forty ,hours1 nor the ,fourth of ,july will do1 unless1 indeed1 the mission or the ,forty ,hours took place in the ,paschal season4 ,the second thing ,i want you to think about is that the invitation to partake of the ,great ,supper of ,holy ,communion1 whether at ,easter or at any other time1 is a call to make what is known as a worthy ,communion2 that is1 you must be absolved from sin and thus be yourself worthy4 ,that is requisite1 and that is enough4 ,there are some scrupulous people who fancy that they themselves have got to do beforehand all that the ,communion is intended to do and will do4 ,who is it that prepares the ,supper1 they or the ,lord8 ,if they will do the little that is asked of them1 they can safely leave to the ,lord the responsibility of doing his part4 ,a worthy ,communion should also be one that is worth something to the one receiving it1 and should not be a worthless exterior performance1 which has no interior act of communion in the heart to correspond to it4 #bhh ,and now this kind of worth of each and every ,communion depends upon what the communicant chooses to make it4 ,all is to be had that ,god can give4 ,the means of getting the good from ,communion is one and the same means for getting the good in receiving other sacraments--that is1 prayer4 ,prayer beforehand1 prayer daring it1 prayer afterwards4 ,the more you want and the more you ask of1 the more worth will your ,communion be4 ,suppose our ,lord should suddenly quit the sacramental form of the host and ask a communicant at the altar-rail1 ,what do you wish for8 and he should answer1 ,i don't know2 ,i never thought of asking for anything1 you would reasonably conclude that he was not likely to receive very much4 ,now1 ,i hope you who often come to the holy table are paying attention to this4 ,if you come often1 it is supposed1 and justly supposed1 that you want a good deal1 and that you are deeply in earnest about obtaining what you desire4 ,much as1 ,i am sure1 your ,communions are worth to you1 ,i wish you would set about making them worth still more4 ,in a word1 you must think more about what you need4 ,get your requests ready4 ,have them1 as it were1 well by heart1 so that if the ,lord should ask you what you came for1 your reply would come out quick and earnest enough4 ,of all privileges and honors1 in this world1 receiving ,holy ,communion is1 indeed1 something for us ,catholics to boast of4 ,how the outsiders envy us our faith and the comfort it brings to us6--the infidels of every name and kind1 the ,protestants and others1 who either have no ,communion1 or at best a sham one4 #bhi ,how would you like to have yourself thrust aside and one of them called by the ,lord to take your place at his table8 ,beware1 then1 how you treat his invitation2 come as often and be as well prepared as the ,spirit of ,divine ,love shall inspire you4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxvi4 ,the ,sacred ,heart ,of ,jesus4 ,the month of ,june has1 as you know1 my brethren1 been set apart by general consent for devotion to the ,sacred ,heart of ,jesus1 as that of ,may has in the same way been devoted to our ,blessed ,lady2 and on next ,friday1 the day following the octave of ,corpus ,christi1 the church solemnly celebrates the ,feast of the ,sacred ,heart4 ,this feast1 formerly observed only in some places1 has for about thirty years been kept everywhere4 ,as the devotion to the ,sacred ,heart has of late spread so widely in the church1 and is so plainly pleasing to ,god and most salutary to us1 it is well that we should understand it clearly1 that we may enter into it more fully4 ,in the first place1 then1 we will ask1 ,what is the nature of the worship which we render to the ,sacred ,heart of ,jesus8 ,and1 secondly1 ,why is it specially selected as the object of our devotion8 ,what1 then1 is the nature of our worship of the ,sacred ,heart8 ,it is1 of course1 the same as that which we pay to our ,lord himself--that is1 the worship which is due to him as ,god the ,son1 the second ,person of the ,blessed ,trinity4 #bij ,his human nature1 united to the divine nature in one ,person1 is truly worthy of divine worship and honor4 ,god1 having become man1 his human heart is the heart of ,god1 and must be adored as such4 ,let us1 then1 remember this3 the devotion to the ,sacred ,heart is one that is given to ,god himself1 just as that is which we have for the ,blessed ,sacrament in which he resides on our altars4 ,but why do we select the ,heart of our ,lord1 or rather why has he himself selected it1 as a special object of our adoration8 ,i say1 why has he himself selected it8 for this devotion to the ,sacred ,heart in modern times is due specially to a revelation made by our ,lord to the ,blessed ,margaret ,mary1 a nun of the ,visitation1 two centuries ago4 ,in answer to this question we may say that our ,lord's ,heart is the fountain of his ,precious ,blood1 which was shed for our salvation1 and was pierced by the lance1 like his hands and feet by the nails1 on the cross2 and it is in this way specially pointed out as the object of our gratitude and love4 ,but even a more urgent reason is that the heart is a natural symbol of love1 agreed on by universal consent at all times and in all parts of the world1 and therefore that the ,heart of ,jesus most perfectly represents his love for us4 ,in adoring the ,sacred ,heart1 then1 we adore in a particular manner the love of ,christ for sinners2 and it is for this reason that he has given us this devotion1 knowing that it is only by the thought of the love of his ,heart for us that our hearts can be won to the love of him4 #bia ,yes1 my brethren1 ,god wishes our love2 it was to obtain it that he became one of us and died for us on the cross2 and it is to win it now that he asks us to remember and to adore his ,sacred ,heart4 ,let us therefore1 says ,st4 ,john1 love ,god1 because ,god first hath loved us4 ,this is the spirit of this devotion3 that we should not try to save our souls merely for the fear of hell1 but that1 seeing how much ,god has loved us1 we should love him in return4 ,and also that1 seeing how much he has loved our brethren1 the same fire of divine charity may be kindled in our hearts1 and thus each one of us may do our share to carry on and to complete the work for which he shed his ,precious ,blood3 the bringing of the world to the knowledge and love of him4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxvii4 ,ingratitude4 ,a certain man made a great supper1 and invited many4 444 ,and they began all at once to make excuse4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,you know1 my dear brethren1 the parable given by our ,divine ,lord in the ,gospel of to-day4 ,the principal point of it is in the words which you have just heard4 ,the guests who were invited to the supper1 instead of feeling honored by the invitation and accepting it gladly1 began to make one excuse or another2 one had his farm1 one his oxen1 and another had just married a wife4 ,none of these reasons would have prevented them from coming to the supper had they really wished to2 they were mere flimsy pretexts put forward to hide their indifference to their host and to all that he had to offer them4 #bib ,you know this parable1 and ,i think you also know well its meaning4 ,as our ,saviour uttered it the coldness and ingratitude of those whom he had come to save rose up before him1 giving him a foretaste of the agony which was afterward to overwhelm and crush him in the garden of ,gethsemani4 ,his heart1 burning with love for men1 longed and thirsted for love in return2 it was all he asked2 could he but have had that all the pains of his sorrowful life and terrible death would have been as nothing4 ,but no2 he foresaw that1 after all1 those to whom he stretched out his arms on the cross in loving invitation would1 for the most part1 turn a deaf ear to his appeal2 would give him at the best but a reluctant and half-hearted service2 would keep as much as possible for themselves1 and give as little as possible to him4 ,and1 in particular1 he foresaw that the crowning gift which he had in store for his rebellious and ungrateful children--his own ,body and ,blood1 which he was to leave them in the ,blessed ,sacrament of the ,altar1 and in which he was to remain with them even after his work was done and the time come for him to return to his ,father--would be rejected by the greater part even of ,christians with the same indifference with which his other sacrifices were to be met4 ,he saw himself in our churches1 unwelcomed and almost unknown by the most of those whom he loved to call his friends4 ,he saw that1 though for a time in the first fervors of faith1 when the sword of persecution drove those to his side who were not overcome by it1 he would1 as he desired1 indeed be the daily bread of his people1 yet there would come a day when that faith would be dimmed1 and the love which sprang from it would grow cold4 ,he knew that an age would come when--shame to say it--his church would have to force her children by strict laws and threats of excommunication to receive him in the sacrament of his love even once a year4 #bic ,and he knew that1 in spite of all this urging1 many still would excuse themselves from the divine banquet1 offered so freely to1 nay1 almost forced upon1 them2 that millions every year would miss their ,easter duty2 would either turn from the bread of life to the food of swine by deliberate choice1 or at least would1 on some frivolous pretext1 put off the time of their reconciliation till the last day appointed for it had gone by4 ,alas6 my dear brethren1 children of this ,god and ,father who has done so much for us1 ,i fear that some even of you who hear my words have once more thus grieved his heart and despised his love4 ,in all this long time of ,lent and ,easter which1 has just gone by you have missed the duty to which the most sacred and solemn of all the laws of the church has called you4 ,but still our ,lord has not yet treated you as you have treated him4 ,he has not yet said to you1 as the host said in the parable3 ,none of you that were invited shall taste of my supper4 ,no2 once more1 in this great festival of ,corpus ,christi1 he makes yet another appeal to you1 to put aside your excuses1 and to come to him with all your heart and soul4 ,do not1 ,i beseech you1 continue to insult and despise him who thus humbles himself before you1 and still tries to remind you of his goodness and mercy4 ,come to him without delay1 and make amends for your past neglect2 all will be forgiven and forgotten4 ,but remember1 if tempted to reject him once more1 and to postpone your return1 that even his infinite mercy will at last have to yield to his justice2 that his loving ,spirit cannot strive with you for ever4 ------------------- #bid ,third ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,peter v4 #f-aa4 ,dearly beloved3 ,be you humbled under the mighty hand of ,god1 that he may exalt you in the time of visitation4 ,casting all your solicitude upon him1 for he hath care of you4 ,be sober and watch2 because your adversary the devil1 as a roaring lion1 goeth about seeking whom he may devour4 ,whom resist ye1 strong in faith3 knowing that the same affliction befalleth your brethren who are in the world4 ,but the ,god of all grace1 who hath called us unto his eternal glory in ,christ ,jesus1 when you have suffered a little1 will himself perfect1 and confirm1 and establish you4 ,to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xv4 #a-aj4 ,at that time3 ,the publicans and sinners drew near unto ,jesus to hear him4 ,and the ,pharisees and the ,scribes murmured1 saying3 ,this man receiveth sinners1 and eateth with them4 ,and he spoke to them this parable1 saying3 ,what man among you that hath a hundred sheep3 and if he shall lose one of them1 doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert1 and go after that which was lost until he find it8 ,and when he hath found it1 doth he not lay it upon his shoulders rejoicing3 and coming home call together his friends and neighbors1 saying to them3 ,rejoice with me1 because ,i have found my sheep that was lost4 ,i say to you1 that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance1 more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance4 ,or what woman having ten groats1 if she lose one groat1 doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek diligently until she find it8 ,and when she hath found it1 call together her friends and neighbors1 saying3 ,rejoice with me1 because ,i have found the groat which ,i had lost4 ,so ,i say to you1 there shall be joy before the angels of ,god upon one sinner doing penance4 ------------------- #bie ,sermon ,,lxxxviii4 ,sinful ,amusements4 ,be sober and watch1 because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion goeth about1 seeking whom he may devour4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,i need not tell you1 dear brethren1 that there is nothing more contrary to the spirit of our holy religion than melancholy4 ,the church would not have her children long-faced and mopish1 eschewing all pleasure as a thing sinful2 nor would she have them unhappy by depriving them of what is good and forbidding what is innocent1 but like a wise mother she permits1 nay1 sanctions1 harmless amusements1 knowing that this1 far from being an impediment to us in our efforts after holiness1 is rather a help4 ,but1 unfortunately1 all pleasures are not innocent4 ,there are some which are sinful--very sinful--and which1 instead of aiding us by begetting a holy gladness1 fill us with remorse and rob the soul of the grace of ,god1 which is the principle of all our joy4 ,such pleasures as these the church forbids2 such as these she would have us avoid1 and she warns us that they come not from ,god1 but from our adversary the devil1 who is seeking our ruin4 ,it is with regret that we say it1 still we say it with truth1 that of late years a very dangerous sort of amusement has taken more or less hold upon numbers of our young people1 and1 now that we are at the beginning of summer1 it may not be amiss to say a word or two about a certain sort of picnics4 #bif ,it is hard to conceive how a young man or woman1 who wishes to be deemed respectable1 or even to preserve self-respect1 can attend any of those moonlight gatherings known as picnics1 festivals1 etc4 ,call them by what name you please1 as a whole they are bad4 ,the places where these meetings are held1 the persons whom you cannot avoid coming in contact with1 make them dangerous at least1 and very frequently a real occasion of sin4 ,how can a young girl know the character of him with whom she is dancing8 ,she has been introduced1 to be sure1 but what of that8 ,does she feel quite certain that she may not be subjected to insult or worse8 ,is she satisfied that her mother would be pleased to see her with her present companions8 ,is she not engaged in a dance which borders on immodesty8 ,take care1 my good girl1 you have taken your first downward step to-night2 retrace your way1 and never be found at such a festival as this again1 if you value your good name4 ,nor can young men attend these moonlight rural gatherings without endangering their fair fame and interests4 ,a pure woman will not marry a man who consorts with bad characters4 ,she will not trust herself to the tender mercies of one who reaches home in the early morning in a half or wholly drunken state4 ,she cannot look forward to a happy life with one of this character1 and she will not encourage his attentions4 ,employers are not over-anxious to have in their service those who come to their occupations with evident marks of debauchery4 #big ,they believe that young men of this sort are not efficient1 and they believe so rightly2 they think that these are not altogether trustworthy2 that they are constantly exposing themselves to danger and theft4 ,it does not pay1 young men1 to go to moonlight picnics4 ,it is not to your interest1 either temporal or spiritual4 ,do not be carried away with the idea that you can be dissipated with impunity4 ,be sober and watch yourselves1 remembering that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches1 and certainly to be preferred to the gross pleasures of moonlight orgies4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,lxxxix4 ,divine ,providence4 ,casting all your solicitude upon him1 for he hath care of you4 --#a ,st4 ,peter v4 #g4 ,the doctrine of ,god's providence is one of those great truths which1 though accepted by every ,christian1 are often not apprehended practically in everyday life4 ,by the providence of ,god we mean that loving care which he takes of all his creatures1 and especially of man1 ruling1 guiding1 and protecting them1 ordering all things sweetly1 as holy ,scripture has it1 that each one of his creatures may attain to the end for which it was given existence4 #bih ,god's work does not stop with creation4 ,it would be absurd to suppose that he made all things and then left them to take care of themselves4 ,on the contrary1 we know that his sustaining power is necessary in order to keep us in existence at all1 and that if he were to withdraw his sustaining hand from us we should at once fall back into the nothingness from whence we came4 ,but ,god's providence over us means something far more than simply keeping us alive4 ,it enters into every circumstance of our life4 ,whatever befalls us1 day by day1 is with his permission1 is in accordance with his holy will4 ,whether he blesses us or smites us1 it is all the same3 everything comes from his loving providence1 and is intended for our good4 ,our ,lord's teaching concerning the providence of ,god is very clear and plain4 ,he tells us that ,god cares for the lilies of the field and for the birds of the air1 so that not one of them is forgotten before ,god2 and1 he adds1 ,are not you of much more value than they8 ,for even the very hairs of your head are all numbered4 ,o ye of little faith6 he still says to us1 why are you so slow and dull of heart to understand8 ,why will you not see the hand of ,god directing the whole course of your life8 ,men go on in their carelessness1 unmindful of ,god1 taking the good things that come to them as a matter of course1 or as the result of their own labor1 forgetting that every good and perfect gift is from above4 ,but ,god does not forget them4 ,in spite of their indifference1 he still watches over them1 providing them with all things needful for their souls and bodies1 and with his grace ever seeking to lead them to him4 ,how many1 too1 spend their time in foolishly worrying over their petty trials6 ,it is all owing to a lack of faith2 they refuse to recognize ,god's hand in their daily life4 ,yet again and again our ,lord and his ,apostles repeat the exhortation1 ,be not solicitous--that is1 do not worry--casting all your solicitude upon him1 for he careth for you4 #bii ,but it is especially in the great trials of life that the doctrine of ,god's providence is necessary for us1 and full of consolation1 and perhaps it is at just such times that it is the most often forgotten4 ,when some heavy trouble comes1 how often does the sufferer fail to acknowledge that it is sent by ,almighty ,god--that is1 an ordering of his providence1 and therefore to be submitted to with patience and humility4 ,dearly beloved1 says ,st4 ,peter in the ,epistle of to-day1 be you humbled under the mighty hand of ,god4 ,to be humble is to acknowledge our true position in ,god's sight1 to confess that we are his creatures altogether in his power1 and that he has the right to do with us as he pleases4 ,our faith assures us that he will not use this right to our disadvantage4 ,away1 then1 with all silly murmurings and complaints that ,god is unjust4 ,good sense alone will teach that that cannot be4 ,if you understood the full extent of the malice of even venial sin you would see that you receive but a small part of what you really deserve4 ,follow1 then1 the counsel of ,solomon1 and reject not the correction of the ,lord1 and faint not when thou art chastised by him2 for whom the ,lord loveth he chastiseth4 ,but if the burden seem too hard for you to bear alone1 ,jesus is ready to help you4 ,come to me1 he says1 all you that labor and are heavy laden1 and ,i will refresh you4 ,go to him in the ,blessed ,sacrament1 pour out your grief to the ,sacred ,heart1 and you shall find rest for your soul4 ,cast thy care upon the ,lord1 said ,david in the ,psalms1 and he shall sustain thee4 #cjj ,then1 having humbled yourself under the mighty hand of ,god1 he will exalt you in the time of his visitation and fill you with his peace4 ,and the ,god of all grace1 who hath called us unto his eternal glory in ,christ ,jesus1 when you have suffered a little1 will himself perfect1 and confirm1 and establish you4 ,to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xc4 ,how ,to ,bear ,burdens4 ,cast thy care upon the ,lord and he shall sustain thee4 --,gradual of the ,mass4 ,which of us1 dear brethren1 is without his burden or his care8 ,whatever our station in life1 however high or lowly we may be1 to each comes his portion of sorrow1 to each come difficulties and temptations4 ,if we escape one trial we are sure to find another1 and probably a worse one1 awaiting us4 ,it is our lot here upon earth to suffer1 and we ought to expect nothing else1 for if we hope for perfect happiness in this world we are doomed to bitterest disappointment4 ,the way in which to carry ourselves with regard to our difficulties is not to seek to avoid them1 or when they come upon us to run away from them1 but to accept them as the portion of our heritage and to make them a source of merit and sanctification4 ,if we would but cast our care upon the ,lord1 if we would but willingly submit to what his all-wise providence designs for us1 these apparent miseries would become for us real blessings and bring upon us the choicest of ,god's gifts--an increase of his holy grace in our souls4 ,god will help us sustain our burden if we receive it with resignation2 if we love it he will make it even sweet to bear4 #cja ,but1 you may say1 this doctrine is very pretty in theory4 ,how about the practice of it8 ,it is not so easy to be indifferent to the things of this life1 to the wants of the body1 so as to be quite as willing to be poor as to be rich1 to have a good1 substantial meal or a morsel of cold victuals4 ,people cannot be expected to prefer misery to happiness4 ,we are not asking you to prefer misery to happiness1 nor even to be indifferent as to what shall happen you4 ,although this would be far more perfect and would soon make him who had such disposition very holy1 still we do not ask so much4 ,what we would wish you to do is what we think all are bound to do--namely1 to have confidence in the providence of ,god2 to recognize his hand guiding the course of events in our behalf4 ,we know that he is good and merciful and ready to help us in our need2 we know that even when he punishes it is not so much in anger as in love that he does so2 yet we complain and are discontented1 and some even go so far as to blaspheme the ,god who1 at the very moment when we are treating him with such indignity1 is lovingly working all things together unto good1 who is doing for them more than they would ever hope for4 ,oh6 what pride is theirs1 who set up their judgment against ,god's and insist upon the ,almighty doing things according to their fancy4 ,they see no reason why they should suffer this or that4 ,why should they be treated so harshly8 ,other people have comfort2 why should not they8 #cjb ,oh6 what folly1 what blindness is there in the hearts of men and women who speak thus6 ,what ingratitude is theirs6 ,perhaps the ,god they are abusing has forgiven them hundreds of mortal sins2 perhaps he is withholding what they are demanding because he sees if he granted them the things they ask their salvation would be endangered2 yet all that he is doing in loving kindness is being misunderstood1 because men are unwilling to bow down to the holy and adorable will of ,god4 ,dear brethren1 let it not be said of us that we are ingrates or that we are so foolish as to think ourselves wiser than ,god2 but let us turn to him with all our hearts and recognize in all he sends us his unspeakable mercy2 let us ever see in him the ,all-wise ,god1 our ,father1 and never permit ourselves to be deceived by the rebellion of our lower nature4 ,let us1 in a word1 cast all our care upon the ,lord4 ------------------- #cjc ,fourth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,romans4 viii4 #ah-bc4 ,brethren3 ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come1 that shall be revealed in us4 ,for the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of ,god4 ,for the creature was made subject to vanity1 not willingly1 but by reason of him that made it subject1 in hope3 because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of ,god4 ,for we know that every creature groaneth1 and is in labor even till now4 ,and not only it1 but ourselves also1 who have the first-fruits of the spirit1 even we ourselves groan within ourselves1 waiting for the adoption of the sons of ,god1 the redemption of our body1 in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke v4 #a-aa4 ,at that time3 ,when the multitudes pressed upon ,jesus to hear the word of ,god1 he stood by the lake of ,genesareth4 ,and he saw two ships standing by the lake3 but the fishermen were gone out of them1 and were washing their nets4 ,and going up into one of the ships that was ,simon's1 he desired him to thrust out a little from the land4 ,and sitting down1 he taught the multitudes out of the ship4 ,now when he had ceased to speak1 he said to ,simon3 ,launch out into the deep1 and let down your nets for a draught4 ,and ,simon answering1 said to him3 ,master1 we have labored all the night and have taken nothing3 but at thy word ,i will let down the net4 ,and when they had done this1 they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes1 and their net was breaking4 #cjd ,and they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship1 that they should come and help them4 ,and they came1 and filled both the ships1 so that they were almost sinking2 which when ,simon ,peter saw1 he fell down at ,jesus knees1 saying3 ,depart from me1 for ,i am a sinful man1 ,o ,lord4 ,for he was wholly astonished1 and all that were with him1 at the draught of the fishes which they had taken4 ,and so were also ,james and ,john1 the sons of ,zebedee1 who were ,simon's partners4 ,and ,jesus saith to ,simon3 ,fear not1 from henceforth thou shalt be taking men4 ,and when they had brought their ships to land1 leaving all things1 they followed him4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xci4 ,how ,to ,suffer4 ,brethren3 ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come1 that shall be revealed in us4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,i think1 my brethren1 that there are few good and faithful ,christians who do not have1 as they journey through life1 a fair share of crosses1 trials1 and sufferings4 ,sometimes these crosses are not noticed much by other people1 but they are heavy enough for those who have to bear them4 ,the priest hears more of the troubles of the world1 as well as of its sins1 than any one else2 misery is a very old story to him2 and he has his own trials1 too1 in plenty1 though many think that in his state of life he has mostly avoided them4 ,yes1 trouble and suffering seem to be1 and indeed they really are1 the rule of life for ,christians1 happiness rather the exception2 unless we are willing to get what some call happiness by disregarding the law of ,god4 #cje ,now this is a very unpleasant fact2 but it is a fact1 and we have to accept it4 ,but how shall we best do so8 ,that is a point which it will be well to consider4 ,shall we simply take our trouble because we cannot help it1 and fret as little as we can1 because fretting only makes it worse8 ,or shall we take comfort by thinking that others are in the same plight as ourselves2 by believing1 though perhaps we cannot see it1 that our luck1 though hard1 is not harder than that of most of those around us8 ,these would be two pretty good ways of getting along for one who had no better4 ,but it would be a shame for us to fall back on them4 ,one who has faith should be able to find a better way than either of these4 ,yes1 you may say1 ,i know what you mean2 a ,christian ought to be resigned to ,god's holy will4 ,we are taught and we believe that all things come to us by the providence of ,god2 that he is all-wise and infinitely good2 so1 when he sends us anything hard to bear1 we must say1 ',thy will be done1' and know by faith that it is for the best4 ,now ,i do not want to say anything against this way of bearing trouble2 it is a good way1 and it is a ,christian way2 none more so4 ,and perhaps some times it is the only one that will seem possible4 ,but after all it is not exactly what ,i mean1 or it is not at any rate all that ,i mean2 and it is not what the great ,apostle ,st4 ,paul1 whose glorious and triumphant death1 after a life of suffering1 we commemorate with that of ,st4 ,peter to-day1 meant in those immortal words which ,i just read4 #cjf ,i reckon1 says he1 that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come1 that shall be revealed in us4 ,that is his consolation4 ,we have1 he says to us1 a little to suffer here1 but what is it after all8 ,a drop1 bitter it is true1 but still only a drop1 against an eternal torrent of joy with which ,god is going to overwhelm our souls4 ,truly it is not worthy to be compared in its passing bitterness to the ocean of delight of which it is the earnest for the future4 ,it is1 in fact1 the little price which we have to pay for that future2 and it is not worth speaking of when we think what it will bring4 ,indeed1 my brethren1 it must be a matter of astonishment to the angels1 it ought to be so to us1 that we think so little of the heaven which ,god has prepared for us4 ,we profess to believe in it2 we do believe in it2 but we seem to forget all about it4 ,we can have it if we will2 moreover1 these very crosses and trials1 if we have them1 are a sign that our ,lord means almost to force it on us4 ,let us1 then1 think more of heaven2 meditate on it1 look forward to it4 ,the thought of heaven was the joy and strength of the martyrs2 why should it not be the constant support of ordinary ,christians1 too8 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xcii4 ,good ,works ,done ,in ,mortal ,sin4 ,master1 we have labored all the night1 and have taken nothing4 --,gospel of the ,day4 #cjg ,the ,gospel of to-day tells us1 my dear brethren1 how ,st4 ,peter and his companions1 after wearying themselves with dragging their heavy nets the whole night1 had caught nothing for all their pains2 and how1 as soon as our ,lord appeared1 and they were able to work with his guidance and help1 they took more fish than their boats would hold4 ,there is a most important spiritual lesson contained in this simple story4 ,this miraculous draught of fish is1 as it were1 a parable1 acted out instead of told by our ,divine ,saviour4 ,and its meaning is this3 that those who work in the night of the soul which is caused by mortal sin have indeed much trouble1 sorrow1 and labor1 but it is all for nothing4 ,all that they do and suffer while remaining in this state counts for nothing in their favor in the eternal account of ,god4 ,whereas1 on the other hand1 the slightest action of one who is in the state of grace1 and who1 therefore1 works in union with ,christ1 has attached to it a great and imperishable glory in the kingdom of heaven4 ,st4 ,paul also teaches us this quite explicitly4 ,if ,i should distribute1 says he1 all my goods to feed the poor1 and if ,i should deliver my body to be burned1 and have not charity 7that is1 the love of ,god1 which makes the state of grace71 it profiteth me nothing4 ,whereas1 on the other hand1 he says1 for himself and others who are united to ,god by grace1 that what is at present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory4 ,this is1 ,i say1 my brethren1 a most important truth4 ,do you fairly understand it8 ,do you take in its full meaning and application8 ,let us look at and study it as much as possible in these few minutes2 then let us take it home with us1 meditate on it1 and make it thoroughly our own4 #cjh ,all of us have our labors1 trials1 and pains2 some arc heavily burdened with them4 ,to work and to suffer is the lot of all1 from which there is no escape4 ,we cannot avoid our destiny2 we must make the best of it4 ,yes1 that is just it2 we must make the best of it2 if we have any prudence1 any true love or care for our happiness1 we will make the best of it1 and not the worst4 ,why suffer this poverty1 this sickness1 this worry and distress of mind8 ,why do all this hard work8 ,why go through all these long and weary days1 and get nothing in reward for all our labor and suffering but the mere means with which to keep up this painful and toilsome life1 and to sweeten it1 perhaps1 with some fleeting sensual pleasures8 ,why not have something to show for all our trouble at the end of our time here on earth8 ,why not make it1 as we may1 into a crown to take with us into that life which has no end8 ,this is what those do who remain in the grace of ,god1 who commit no mortal sin1 or who1 if they ever fall into it1 repent and free themselves from it with out delay4 ,all their pains and all their labors are recorded in heaven1 and treasured up to be woven into a crown of merit for such as persevere to the end4 ,god is with them1 as with ,st4 ,peter on the lake of ,genesareth2 they work for him1 and in the light of his presence1 and their slightest actions obtain a rich reward4 ,but those who foolishly think that to remain thus is a task beyond their strength1 who pass their lives in mortal sin1 and only seldom and for a short time rise from it1 have the same trouble2 and at the end1 if indeed they come to ,god then and enter heaven1 being saved as by fire1 they find no treasure of good works gone before them4 ,master1 they have to say1 we have worked all night and have taken nothing4 ,we have worked in the night of sin all our life4 #cji ,let us not1 then1 follow their example4 ,let us not run their fearful risk of not obtaining salvation at all2 and let us also determine that when we are saved we will have a life well filled with the fruits of grace to lay at our ,saviour's feet1 for which we may merit to hear him say3 ,well done1 good and faithful servant2 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xciii4 ,fishing ,for ,men4 ,master1 we have labored all the night1 and have taken nothing4 ,st4 ,peter was without doubt a good fisherman1 and a patient one1 as all good fishermen are4 ,he was content to fish all night with such poor luck as to catch nothing at all4 ,but after he had taken our ,lord on board his ship it seemed as if all the fish in the lake were anxious to be caught4 ,such a wonderful haul was made that ,st4 ,peter and all the other fishermen were dumfounded with astonishment4 ,how mightily they were all pleased may well be imagined4 ,now1 ,i think there is in our day something going on very like ,st4 ,peter's fishing all night and catching no fish4 ,the ,catholic ,church is the ship of ,peter1 and he who exercises the authority of master in that ship1 together with his mates and other officers1 are holding the place which ,st4 ,peter was exalted to when our ,lord made him the master fisherman of men4 ,that is1 the ,holy ,father1 the pope1 the bishops and priests are fishing for men1 and our ,lord promised that they should catch them1 too4 #caj ,in a certain degree1 also1 everyone on board ,peter's ship--all ,catholics--have to do with this great work--the spreading out the nets and drawing souls into the true church4 ,for some time there have been some efforts made to catch a certain kind of fish known as ,protestants1 and there is another sort1 also becoming common in these waters of ours1 called ,infidels4 ,and it seems to me that there has been a good deal of fishing all night long1 and not half the haul made that was hoped for4 ,we feel like repeating ,st4 ,peter's complaint --,lord1 we have labored all the night and taken nothing4 ,the fishermen know their business1 and they have worked hard4 ,no trouble on that score4 ,when may we hope that the promise of our ,lord will be fulfilled and labor shall be crowned with success8 ,i'll tell you4 ,it will be after ,christ has taught his divine doctrine from the ship1 and when he can say to us1 ,now let down your nets4 ,if there is anything both true and astonishing it is the prevailing ignorance of their own or of any other religion among ,protestants and infidels4 ,you would think that1 among so many learned and well-to-do people who have every advantage of education and general information at hand1 they would not only know what they believed1 but also the reasons why4 #caa ,they make a great boast of knowing1 some of them1 all the good that there is in the ,bible1 and others all of what they call absurdities and contradictions in the holy volume4 ,you need not be afraid of all this supposed knowledge4 ,in fact1 some read the ,bible very little1 and great numbers of them don't hear half of what the majority of us ,catholics hear in church4 ,catechize them1 and it will soon appear that they are densely ignorant of all religion4 ,how can we hope that such people will admire all the beauties of our faith1 and appreciate all the powerful and logical arguments in favor of this or that truth1 who are so lacking in information about the very rudiments of religion8 ,i meet such people frequently1 who are1 nevertheless1 regular hearers and worshippers of the best preachers of our day1 or who pick up here and there some sayings of the pretentious philosopher of the hour4 ,christ must teach this multitude from the ship of ,peter1 and he will do so when he can say of us1 ,whoso heareth you1 heareth me--that is1 when you and ,i so live up to our faith that when they hear us they hear a ,christ speak1 and when what we speak is for their instruction and suited to their great ignorance of divine things4 ,we must be simple and plain in our instructions when directed to them4 ,moreover1 we must thrust this instruction of the first things every ,christian 7be he child or man7 ought to know upon them in all charity2 and be quick about it1 for without it they will be in imminent peril of losing their souls4 ,they are good enough according to what they know4 ,they1 like the best of us1 love truth1 and are really hungering for what is unquestionably for their greater happiness4 #cab ,oh6 if we ,catholics would only live like ,christ and speak like ,christ1 then it would be high time to let down the net4 ,protestants and infidels would rush in crowds to be taken4 ,priests would not know where to find room for the converts4 ,enter into the work of spreading ,christian doctrine1 then4 ,buy ,catholic books of instruction4 ,buy a good many and give away a good many4 ,it may set them thinking4 ,and the reading of good1 plain instructions1 like the simple words of our ,lord1 will set them to praying as well4 ,when a ,protestant or an infidel once begins to pray to know the truth1 it will be sure to lead him into the net that is let down from ,st4 ,peter's ship1 only too happy to be numbered among those taken by the divinely-appointed fishers of men4 ------------------- #cac ,fifth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 #a ,st4 ,peter iii4 #h-ae4 ,dearly beloved3 ,be ye all of one mind1 having compassion one of another1 loving brotherhood1 merciful1 modest1 humble3 not rendering evil for evil1 nor railing for railing1 but on the contrary1 blessing3 for unto this are you called1 that by inheritance you may possess a blessing4 ,for he that will love life1 and see good days1 let him refrain his tongue from evil1 and his lips that they speak no guile4 ,let him decline from evil1 and do good3 let him seek peace1 and pursue it3 because the eyes of the ,lord are upon the just1 and his ears unto their prayers3 but the countenance of the ,lord against them that do evil things4 ,and who is he that can hurt you1 if you be zealous of good8 ,but if also you suffer any thing for justice sake1 blessed are ye4 ,and be not afraid of their terror and be not troubled2 but sanctify the ,lord ,christ in your heart4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew v4 #bj-bd4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,i say to you1 that unless your justice abound more than that of the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,you have heard that it was said to them of old3 ,thou shalt not kill4 ,and whosoever shall kill shall be guilty of the judgment4 ,but ,i say to you1 that whosoever is angry with his brother1 shall be guilty of the judgment4 ,and whosoever shall say to his brother1 ,raca1 shall be guilty of the council4 ,and whosoever shall say1 ,thou fool1 shall be guilty of hell fire4 ,therefore if thou offerest thy gift at the altar1 and there shalt remember that thy brother hath anything against thee1 leave there thy gift before the altar1 and first go to be reconciled to thy brother1 and then come and offer thy gift4 ------------------- #cad ,sermon ,,xciv4 ,forgiveness ,of ,injuries4 ,if therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar1 and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee1 leave there thy offering before the altar1 and go first to be reconciled to thy brother2 and then coming1 thou shalt offer thy gift4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,there are few things in common life1 my dear brethren1 more surprising than the fact that some people seem to consider themselves good ,christians1 and well worthy to receive the sacraments1 who have a grudge against some of their neighbors and never speak to them2 perhaps never answer1 even if spoken to by them4 ,these people seem to think1 ,i say1 that they are worthy to receive the sacraments2 and this not only at ,easter1 but1 it may be1 quite frequently4 ,some of them1 ,i fear1 consider themselves to be pious and devout2 they say1 it may be1 long prayers every night and perhaps also in the morning--though1 if they really thought of the words on their lips1 ,i do not know how they could get through one ,our ,father4 ,as we forgive those who trespass against us ought to stick in their throats4 ,they will not speak to those persons who1 as they think1 have trespassed against them2 they wish1 then1 that ,god should have nothing to say to themselves4 ,forgive us1 they say to him1 as we forgive2 we will not speak to others1 so do not thou speak to us2 turn thy back on us1 pass us by2 that is what we do to our neighbors4 #cae ,cut us off from thy friendship1 send us to hell2 that is what every ,our ,father means in the mouth of these detestable hypocrites when they say1 ,forgive as we forgive4 ,how these people get through their confession and receive absolution is as surprising as that they should make the attempt to do so4 ,they are caught1 no doubt1 once in a while1 but it is to be feared that a large proportion of them slip through the priest's fingers1 either by saying nothing about the sinful disposition in which they are or by telling a lie to the ,holy ,ghost and to their own hearts1 if they would but examine them1 by putting all the fault on the other party4 ,when the other party appears1 then we come nearer to the truth4 ,i spoke to ,so-and-so1 they say1 but got no answer4 ,now1 let it be distinctly understood that to refuse to answer any one who speaks to us with a good intention2 to take no notice of a word or a salute1 given with a view to renewing friendship1 or even out of ordinary politeness1 is1 in almost every case1 a mortal sin4 ,of course ,i do not mean that is so when the omission comes from inattention or carelessness2 no1 ,i mean when it is intended as a cut to the other party4 ,about the only instance in which it can be allowed is that of a superior1 who has a right to take the matter in his own hands1 and can put off reconciliation for a time without danger4 ,a father1 for instance1 may keep his child at a distance for a while in this way as a punishment for an evident offence2 but ,i am speaking of equals1 one of whom can have no right to punish the other4 #caf ,but you may say3 ,this person has injured me grievously4 ,he or she ought to beg my pardon4 ,perhaps this is so2 though often1 if you could see your own heart and that of the other as ,god sees them1 you ought to beg pardon as much as he or she4 ,it is rare that an unprovoked injury is done by any one consciously and without what seems a pretty good excuse to himself4 ,but even granting that the injury is really grievous and unprovoked1 do you expect your neighbor to go down on his knees to you1 or to humble himself by a formal apology1 not knowing how it will be taken8 ,would you find it easy to do such a thing yourself1 however guilty8 ,no1 by turning him off in this way you put the balance of injury against yourself1 however great may have been the other's offence4 ,no one should dare to go to ,communion after such a slight unatoned for4 ,and yet even brothers and sisters have done such things1 and1 ,i fear1 received ,christ's ,body and ,blood with this sin on their souls4 ,let us have1 then1 no more of this4 ,if one is not willing to be in charity with his or her neighbor1 let him or her not come to confession1 or at least1 if coming1 take care to state the matter as it really is4 ,go first and be reconciled with thy brother2 and then1 coming1 thou shalt offer thy gift4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xcv4 ,feast ,of ,,ss4 ,peter ,and ,paul4 #cag ,to-day1 my brethren1 holy church celebrates the ,feast of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul1 one the prince of the ,apostles1 the other the great teacher of the ,gentiles4 ,their glorious martyrdom took place the same day in the imperial city of ,rome4 ,a glorious victory indeed was their death1 one being crucified1 head downwards1 the other beheaded1 sealing thus with their blood that invincible faith in our ,lord and in his religion which has made them fit to be cornerstones of his spiritual temple4 ,besides their faith1 they were most distinguished for confidence in ,god4 ,the two virtues1 faith and hope1 of course1 blended together in their souls1 borrowed from each other1 and in the fire of heavenly love were melted into one4 ,yet confidence in ,god1 or the virtue of hope1 was the very impulse that set them forth to preach1 gave them their gift of miracles1 and led them out at last with the deepest joy to offer up the sacrifice of their lives4 ,and it was by such heroic trust in ,god that our holy church was founded4 ,the beginnings of the true religion may be summed up by saying that ,god sent out men who were willing to stake their lives upon his fidelity to his promises4 ,the soil on which our ,saviour planted the true vine was watered by the blood of martyrs4 ,the ,breviary speaks of the blood of our two great ,apostles as the purple robe of immortal ,rome4 ,and their virtue of implicit1 instinctive confidence in ,god's love for us and for his church is the spiritual garment every ,christian puts on when he is made a member of ,christ4 ,looking across all those centuries1 my brethren1 and contemplating the martyrdom of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul1 our hearts should be strengthened4 ,what are the trials of the church now compared to those at the very beginning8 #cah ,we lament1 indeed1 that ,st4 ,peter's successor is a captive in his own house1 and also that in many regions of the world the true faith of the ,apostles has to struggle for its very life4 ,yet the struggles of the church are now those of a giant1 are against a world in great part doubtful of its own cause2 struggles which make us only the more evidently pleasing to ,god1 as they are gradually forcing us to strip ourselves of every human help and practise the ,apostolic virtue of trust in ,god alone4 ,some upon horses and some upon chariots1 but we call upon the name of the ,lord4 ,oh6 when we come to realize that the welfare of the church is not in numbers1 or in fine buildings1 or in the wealth and power of ,catholics1 but only and entirely in the practice of the virtues of our religion1 we shall not have long to wait for the triumph of the truth4 ,when the vast world-power that we call the ,catholic religion was 7seemingly7 but the frantic experiment of a handful of men1 just then it won its noblest victories4 ,heathenism could not be voted down nor fought down2 nor did ,god send earthquakes and floods to cleanse the earth of its foulness4 ,the men who founded our faith won the victory because they were penetrated with the conviction that the ,maker and ,governor of mankind was their ,lord1 and that ,jesus ,christ1 his ,son1 would never swerve from his plighted word4 ,such1 then1 brethren1 is the virtue ,i bid you learn from the example of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul3 confidence in ,god4 ,learn that and it will teach you all4 ,how the value of prayer is shown forth by this virtue2 how the practice of patience is commended2 how the purely spiritual side of religion is brought forward by trust in ,god6 #cai ,and to you of this church it is especially proposed to cultivate this ,apostolic virtue4 ,for is not your church named for ,st4 ,paul8 ,and is he not associated every way1 historically and in the devotions of our religion1 with the prince of the ,apostles1 ,st4 ,peter8 ,they are our first fruits2 they are most closely joined to ,christ1 the root of the spiritual tree of life4 ,st4 ,paul says3 ,for if the first fruit be holy1 so is the mass also2 and if the root be holy1 so are the branches4 ------------------- #cbj ,sixth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,romans vi4 #c-aa4 ,brethren3 ,we all1 who are baptized in ,christ ,jesus1 are baptized in his death4 ,for we are buried together with him by baptism unto death3 that as ,christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the ,father1 so we also may walk in newness of life4 ,for if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death1 in like manner we shall be of his resurrection4 ,knowing this1 that our old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin may be destroyed1 and that we may serve sin no longer4 ,for he that is dead is justified from sin4 ,now if we be dead with ,christ1 we believe that we shall live also together with ,christ3 knowing that ,christ rising again from the dead1 dieth now no more1 death shall no more have dominion over him4 ,for in that he died to sin1 he died once3 but in that he liveth1 he liveth unto ,god4 ,so do you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin1 but alive to ,god in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,mark viii4 #a-i4 ,at that time3 ,when there was a great multitude with ,jesus1 and had nothing to eat1 calling his disciples together1 he saith to them3 ,i have compassion on the multitude1 for behold they have now been with me three days1 and have nothing to eat4 ,and if ,i send them away fasting to their own houses1 they will faint in the way1 for some of them came from afar off4 ,and his disciples answered him3 ,from whence can any one satisfy them here with bread in the wilderness8 ,and he asked them3 ,how many loaves have ye8 ,and they said3 ,seven4 ,and he commanded the people to sit down on the ground1 and taking the seven loaves1 giving thanks1 he broke1 and gave to his disciples to set before them1 and they set them before the people4 #cba ,and they had a few little fishes1 and he blessed them and commanded them to be set before them4 ,and they did eat and were filled1 and they took up that which was left of the fragments1 seven baskets4 ,and they that had eaten were about four thousand3 and he sent them away4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xcvi4 ,the ,divine ,bounty4 ,and they did eat and were filled1 and they took up that which was left of the fragments1 seven baskets4 --,st4 ,mark viii4 #h4 ,the ,gospel to-day tells us of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes1 whereby our ,lord fed the multitude in the wilderness4 ,not only did seven loaves and a few little fishes satisfy the hunger of four thousand1 but seven baskets were filled with the fragments that were left4 ,this is the way in which ,god always works in the dealings of his providence with mankind4 ,he is not content with giving us enough3 he gives us more than enough--full measure1 pressed down1 and running over4 ,he hath opened his hand and filled all things living with plenteousness4 ,look at the earth which he has prepared as a dwelling for the children of men1 and see how bountifully he has provided for all their necessities4 ,oh6 that men would praise the ,lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men1 and cry out with ,david3 ,how great are thy works1 ,o ,lord6 ,thou hast made all things in wisdom2 the earth is filled with1 thy riches4 #cbb ,but if ,god has thus lavishly provided for the bodily wants of man1 he has been even more bountiful in providing for the needs of his soul4 ,he hath satisfied the empty soul and filled the hungry soul with good things4 ,just as air1 water1 and food1 the things necessary for the sustenance of our bodies1 are found in the world in great abundance1 so also does ,god's grace abound1 which is necessary for the life of our souls4 ,just as we must breathe the air in order to live1 so we have but to open our mouths in prayer1 the breath of the soul1 and ,god's grace1 which is as plentiful as the air of heaven1 is poured into our hearts1 filling us with new life4 ,and as we must breathe the breath of prayer1 so also we must drink the water of salvation which1 mingled with blood1 flowed from the wounded side of ,jesus4 ,that living water which ,he promised to give is his ,precious ,blood1 shed for all upon the cross1 yet continually flowing in copious streams through the sacraments to cleanse and refresh the souls of men4 ,we have but to approach and drink and our thirsty souls shall be satisfied4 ,he that shall drink of the water that ,i shall give him1 said ,jesus1 shall not thirst for ever4 ,but the water that ,i shall give him shall become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life4 ,draw near1 then1 with joy and draw this water from the ,saviour's fountains1 the sacraments which he has ordained in his church4 ,wash therein1 and you shall be clean2 drink thereof1 and your soul shall be refreshed4 #cbc ,and for food he gives us the ,bread of life1 the living ,bread which came down from heaven1 even his own most ,precious ,body and ,blood in the blessed ,sacrament of the ,eucharist4 ,he that eateth of this ,bread shall live for ever2 but unless you eat the ,flesh of the ,son of ,man1 and drink his ,blood1 you shall not have life in you4 ,his grace would have been enough to sustain us2 but he is not content with giving us his grace alone1 he must give us also ,himself4 ,this is the greatest instance of the wonderful prodigality of ,god towards us4 ,after creating the world1 and providing it with all that is needful for our bodily life1 after giving us his grace in an almost overwhelming abundance1 we might think that his generosity would have spent itself4 ,but no1 he goes still further1 and his last and greatest gift is himself to be the food of our souls4 ,surely there is nothing beyond this4 ,god could not do more for us than he has done4 ,in giving us himself he has done the utmost that is possible4 ,when1 therefore1 we behold the wonderful works of ,god in our behalf our hearts should swell with thankfulness to him who gives so abundantly unto us1 above all that we could ask or think4 ,since ,god has been so generous towards us1 let us not be guilty of the base ingratitude of despising his gifts1 and rejecting the mercies he holds out to us6 ,rather be generous towards him1 and as he gives us himself1 so let us give ourselves wholly to him1 striving in all things to please him1 offering ourselves daily unto him1 soul and body1 as a living sacrifice1 holy1 pleasing to ,god1 our reasonable service4 ------------------- #cbd ,sermon ,,xcvii4 ,feast ,of ,st4 ,john ,the ,baptist4 ,today we celebrate the ,feast of the ,birthday of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 of whom our ,lord said that a greater man than he was never born2 and we well know what kind of greatness ,jesus ,christ would make much of--the greatness of holiness4 ,looking at his life altogether1 we see in him a striking example of one wielding great power and acquiring an eternal fame1 who set out to do neither1 but rather avoided both4 ,no doubt as he grew up he must have heard something about his miraculous conception1 of the angelic prophecy concerning him1 and of that wonderful visit the ,mother of ,god made to his own mother before either he or ,jesus ,christ was born4 ,no doubt he felt himself to be consecrated to ,god1 and set apart in a special manner to aspire after a holy life4 ,and now it is just his fidelity to all those interior inspirations1 which1 costing him1 as it did1 so much self-abnegation1 and taking him apparently out of the way of obtaining a great name1 really made him great4 ,he was a notable example of those who gain all by giving up all4 ,only those who have this character in a marked degree are truly great in their souls1 for virtue is both the source and the glory of nobility4 ,no birth however high1 no station or office however exalted1 no good luck however extraordinary1 high honors1 great wealth1 nor heaps of badges and medals can make up for the lack of it4 ,a mean1 covetous1 selfish1 proud1 gluttonous1 sensual1 envious-minded1 overbearing1 spiteful1 unforgiving1 greedy king or emperor neither is nor can be great1 no matter how vast his dominions or countless his subjects4 #cbe ,on the other hand1 we ,catholics know of1 and recognize often1 the most extraordinary nobleness and refinement of soul in many who are among the poorest1 most suffering1 and often1 in book-learning1 the most ignorant of our brethren4 ,what is it that gives to many such that singular taste for and perception of what is pure1 beautiful1 and true1 which they unmistakably possess8 ,and1 in times of great trial and sacrifice1 what is it that often brings them out above and ahead many others of whom we might be led to expect so much more8 ,i'll tell you3 it is the greatness of their holiness1 the nobility of their virtue4 ,it is that manifestation of what is really great in the sight of ,god and his angels--their love of truth1 their ready self-denial1 their big-hearted charity1 their loyalty to ,god and religion1 the independence of the world1 their free obedience to superiors1 their sweet endurance of pain and sorrow1 their meek1 forgiving spirit4 ,such as these are the souls of the great1 whom the world1 the flesh1 and the devil attack and may wound1 but cannot conquer4 ,if sometimes we are tempted1 dear brethren1 to envy the apparent good fortune1 as it is esteemed1 of those whose greatness is not thus founded in virtue1 we may be sure that we are weighing something with a very light and empty weight in the other balance1 which may be very bulky1 sparkling1 and showy1 like a big1 bright1 sunshiny soap-bubble1 but with nothing inside1 and of very short continuance4 #cbf ,so you see how true greatness is within the reach of every one1 and within quite easy reach1 too4 ,one is not obliged to do a great many things1 nor labor many years1 nor accomplish what makes a long report with large headings in the newspapers4 ,one has only to take care how the work is done one is called to do--with what spirit one does it4 ,says the ,imitation of ,christ3 ,we are apt to inquire how much a man has done1 but with how much virtue he has done it is not so diligently considered4 ,we ask whether he be strong1 rich1 beautiful1 ingenious1 a good writer1 good singer1 or a good workman2 but how poor he is in spirit1 how patient and meek1 how devout and internal1 is what few speak of4 ,yes1 it is not so much the long and splendid record of the work1 but the spirit of the working1 the pure1 unambitious1 ,god-loving intention ruling our labors1 that makes them worthy of everlasting memory and meritorious of the renown of a great name1 which leaves behind one a memory held in benediction and the history of a life delicious to recall4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,xcviii4 ,idleness4 ,and they had nothing to eat4 --,gospel of the ,sunday4 ,the people who crowded about our ,lord had nothing to eat1 because out of love of the word of ,god they had for a time quit their work and their homes4 ,this docility1 this constancy argues well for their earnestness in the fulfilment of all their other duties4 ,they were out of food1 not through laziness1 but because of set purpose they preferred spiritual to temporal nourishment4 ,hence they merited this extraordinary and unlooked-for manifestation of our ,lord's goodness and providence in supplying them with food4 #cbg ,we may confidently expect1 my brethren1 the assistance of ,god even in temporal want and necessity if our honest endeavors fail4 ,we are not to be over-solicitous2 we are not to desire nor strive after an over-abundance of such things4 ,this promise1 however1 we have3 that our ,heavenly ,father knows our needs1 and he will come to our aid4 ,but we have a duty1 an obligation to discharge1 and that is to work1 to earn our bread4 ,now1 this is the point of my sermon3 that there are many people--the number seems to be increasing--who have nothing to eat1 or who say they have not1 and it is their own fault4 ,they do not merit any special interposition of ,heaven to save them from the consequences of their own laziness2 they do not seem to deserve1 they do not deserve1 the assistance of the charitable1 who are the stewards and the representatives of the ,lord4 ,now1 brethren1 do not imagine that this is a harsh and an unchristian way of regarding the necessities of the very poor2 do not suppose that ,i make no allowance for the sickness1 the lack of work1 the hard times1 the calamities which from time to time afflict the deserving and the laborious4 ,if you are in a position to know1 you cannot but be persuaded that the tendency to ask for help1 the inclination to throw burdens on institutions public and private1 the frequency1 the boldness1 the unreasonableness of such demands is on the increase2 the number of those who are unwilling to exert themselves1 to undergo the routine1 the strain of work1 grows day by day4 ,yet the ,apostle says1 ,if any man will not work1 neither let him eat4 #cbh ,he bids every one labor faithfully in the calling wherein he has been placed4 ,there is no such thing as true religion save in the faithful discharge1 first of all1 of our natural duties1 and in compliance with the first great law of labor4 ,now1 ,i have frequently noticed one peculiarity about many of those who say they have nothing to eat1 and that is1 they cannot be said to have nothing to drink2 and the presence of this kind of nourishment explains very often the lack of all other4 ,no1 my brethren1 let us be industrious1 saving1 and sober1 mindful that the law of ,god has imposed labor on us2 let us try to help ourselves2 then1 if we fail1 ,heaven will surely help us1 even in ways as truly miraculous as our ,saviour's for the multitude in the desert4 ------------------- #cbi ,seventh ,sunday after ,easter4 ,epistle4 ,romans vi4 #ai-bc4 ,brethren3 ,i speak a human thing1 because of the infirmity of your flesh4 ,for as you have yielded your members to serve uncleanness and iniquity1 unto iniquity2 so now yield your members to serve justice1 unto sanctification4 ,for when you were the servants of sin1 you were free from justice4 ,what fruit therefore had you then in those things1 of which you are now ashamed8 ,for the end of them is death4 ,but now being made free from sin1 and become servants to ,god1 you have your fruit unto sanctification1 and the end everlasting life4 ,for the wages of sin is death3 but the grace of ,god1 everlasting life in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew vii4 #ae-ba4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,beware of false prophets1 who come to you in the clothing of sheep1 but inwardly they are ravenous wolves4 ,by their fruits you shall know them4 ,do men gather grapes of thorns1 or figs of thistles8 ,even so every good tree yieldeth good fruit1 and the bad tree bad fruit4 ,a good tree cannot yield bad fruit1 neither can a bad tree yield good fruit4 ,every tree that yieldeth not good fruit1 shall be cut down1 and shall be cast into the fire4 ,wherefore by their fruits you shall know them4 ,not every man that saith to me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven3 but he that doeth the will of my ,father who is in heaven1 he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ------------------- #ccj ,sermon ,,xcix4 ,mortal ,sin ,the ,death ,of ,the ,soul4 ,the wages of sin is death4 ,when the ,apostle1 my dear brethren1 wrote these words1 he did not mean only to express the truth 7for truth it is7 that the inevitable result of sin1 even in this world1 is the misery1 and finally the death1 of the sinner2 nor even 7though this also is true7 that by sin death was introduced into the world4 ,but he wished especially to teach us that the direct and immediate effect of mortal sin is a death much more fearful in itself1 and much more awful in its consequences1 than any mere cessation of the life of the body--namely1 the death of the soul4 ,mortal sin cuts a man off from his last end2 it1 as it were1 disconnects the soul of any one who is unhappy enough to be in that state with all the springs of the supernatural state4 ,a soul which is in mortal sin is cut off from the mystical body of ,christ1 and1 like a limb cut away from the body of a man1 it ceases to have any part in the nourishment with which that body is supported and enabled to pass through the wear and tear of the every-day life of the world4 ,the soul from the time of baptism to the time of death is kept alive by the gift of sanctifying grace4 ,remove this and the soul inevitably dies4 ,restore this and it is alive again4 ,now1 it is just the removal of this sanctifying grace which is the immediate effect of mortal sin4 #cca ,as long as any baptized person remains free from the fearful stain of deliberate mortal sin sanctifying grace remains1 and every sacrament received1 nay1 every good act performed1 every good word spoken1 and every aspiration to higher and better things which passes through the mind1 increases the grace which is conferred upon that soul2 but the moment the will is deliberately turned away from its ,creator1 at that moment sanctifying grace ceases and the soul dies4 ,this death is a real death of the soul2 it prevents the soul from meriting anything towards the attainment of its last end1 and should any one be unhappy enough to die with mortal sin upon his conscience his soul must1 by the law of its very being1 be buried for all eternity in hell4 ,see1 then1 my dear brethren1 how fearful a thing this sin is which can have such fearful effects4 ,god has made us to enjoy him for all eternity in heaven1 and yet by sin we turn against ourselves1 and1 if ,i may so speak1 compel the good ,god to issue against us an eternal sentence of banishment from his divine presence4 ,we prevent our own souls from reaching that end for which alone they were created4 ,we reap for ourselves an eternity of untold misery1 instead of one of surpassing bliss4 ,let us1 then1 to-day make a firm and constant resolution that1 cost what it may1 nothing in this world shall induce us to kill our souls by staining them with sin2 and if any one is so unhappy as to be in that state now1 let him now resolve that he will by a good confession cleanse his soul1 and from henceforward1 casting behind the things that are past1 he will press forward to the things that are before4 ------------------- #ccb ,sermon ,c4 ,false ,prophets4 ,beware of false prophets4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,i think1 my dear brethren1 that you all know pretty well what our ,lord means when he says in to-day's ,gospel1 ,beware of false prophets4 ,you would tell me1 at least if you stopped to think for a moment1 that he means to warn us against those who were to come after him1 pretending to teach his doctrine1 claiming that theirs was the true and pure ,christian religion1 or putting on1 as he says1 the sheep's clothing1 but really striving to draw the faithful away from the unity of the church which he had established2 being1 in fact1 to use his own words1 ravenous wolves4 ,yes1 you would tell me this1 and you would be right in your explanation of his words4 ,it is1 indeed1 of these false ,christian teachers that he would warn us4 ,it is against the innumerable errors which are taught as ,christianity1 and against the countless self-appointed guides to his one religion who were to multiply as time went on1 that he wished to forewarn us2 to keep us from listening to them1 or allowing ourselves to be turned by them from the one source of truth which he has provided for us in his holy ,catholic ,church4 ,and no doubt1 in a way1 we listen to his warning1 and are not much deceived by their pretensions1 at least in these days4 ,if a ,catholic loses his faith nowadays1 it is usually easy enough to see that he does so1 not because he is really deceived by the false prophet and takes him for a true one1 but because he wishes to lead an easier life without being blamed for it2 because he objects to confession and the other laws of the church as imposing too much restraint on him1 or because his temporal interests will be advanced by the change4 #ccc ,but still1 in spite of this general security which we now have against being deceived by the persuasions of those who would lead us into error1 nay1 even on account of this very security which we feel1 we do not obey quite carefully enough our ,lord's warning4 ,we think we are in no danger from these false prophets1 and so we are willing enough to hear what they say4 ,we would not join with them2 far from it2 but we think there is no harm in hearing or reading their discourses1 or acquainting ourselves with their books4 ,we do not1 in short1 beware of them2 we think that there is no need to do so4 ,really1 however1 there is4 ,when our ,lord said1 ,beware of these false prophets1 he meant just what he said4 ,he knew that they would do us harm if we did not beware2 that1 if they did not destroy our faith1 they would at least mar its purity or diminish its intensity if we did not take care to avoid them and their teachings in every way4 ,and the church has always acted on the principle which her ,divine ,founder here laid down1 in her instructions to her children4 ,she does not wish even her priests to concern themselves with heretical or infidel doctrines1 except with the intention of confuting them as their office requires1 fortified though they be with the most thorough instruction in and knowledge of the truth4 #ccd ,we are none of us perfectly wise and above the reach of even the most absurd errors1 especially when our nature1 corrupted by sin1 is enlisted on the side of those errors2 and1 if not in danger of actually falling into any of them in particular1 we may at least1 by acquainting ourselves with those into which great men have been led1 be likely to fall into the most dangerous of all errors1 that of believing that truth is so hard to find that it cannot be expected that all should find it1 and that it makes no difference what a man believes1 as long as he does what seems to the world in general to be right4 ,the true course for us is1 then1 to beware of false guides in religion by keeping out of their way altogether2 and1 on the other hand1 to study as far as we can the truth1 which1 if we learn it and grasp it as we should1 conveys in itself the answer to them all4 ,listen to the true prophets1 and leave the false ones alone2 that is the highest wisdom from the mouth of our ,divine ,lord himself4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,ci4 ,the ,last ,sin4 ,for the wages of sin is death2 but the grace of ,god1 life everlasting in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 --,from this ,sunday's ,epistle4 #cce ,this is not the only place in ,holy ,writ1 my brethren1 where eternal life and death are set before us as the wages we shall some day be paid4 ,the word of ,god frequently admonishes us of the choice we are compelled to make between eternal sorrow and eternal joy1 and for this most evident reason3 we are always actually engaged in making the choice4 ,the very essence of our merit hereafter will be that we shall have freely and deliberately chosen ,almighty ,god and his friendship1 in preference to any and everything besides4 ,and the reason1 and the only reason1 why a man will lose his soul will be because he committed mortal sin and died unrepentant--that is to say1 choosing to love what ,god bids him hate4 ,what we call the choice between virtue and vice ,st4 ,paul calls the choice between life and death4 ,and with that choice we are constantly confronted4 ,not that we always realize it1 nor do ,i mean to say that the first time one grievously offends ,god he settles his fate eternally2 but that each mortal sin really earns the wages of eternal death1 and only the blessed mercy of ,god saves us from our deserved punishment4 ,and furthermore1 it is some mortal sin or other that at last breaks down ,god's patience4 ,if at any particular occasion he does not see fit to take us at our word1 so to speak1 and leave us for ever in that state of enmity that we have chosen1 it is not because we do not deserve it2 it is because he is a loving ,father to us1 and is often willing to stand a great deal of wickedness on our part2 or because we have some dear friends who are servants of ,god and who pray for us2 or because the ,blessed ,virgin has acquired some special attachment to us and intervenes for us2 or because ,god reserves us for a later day1 when he will make such an example of us as will save other sinners2 or because1 again1 he saves us for a later day to make us models of true penance4 #ccf ,but just look around you1 brethren2 just call to mind what you have heard or perhaps seen of ,god's judgments1 and the ,apostle's lesson becomes object-teaching4 ,have you not heard of a sudden and unprovided death and then remembered how years ago that man started a disreputable business8 ,it was thus that he made his decision for all eternity4 ,on the other hand1 a man now temperate1 once a drunkard1 will tell you that long ago he took the pledge and broke it1 and broke it again1 but still persevered1 and finally1 by the grace of ,god1 has managed to keep it4 ,he was fighting the battle of fate and he won the victory4 ,that dreadful appetite overcome1 the practice of religion became easy to him4 ,in another case a man is led away little by little from the rules of honest dealing2 at last he refuses to pay a certain just debt1 one that he can easily pay if he wishes4 ,after that avarice eats into the core of his heart and he is lost for ever4 ,and1 brethren1 what a relief to hear after a sudden death that the poor soul was a monthly communicant6 ,many are tested by ,almighty ,god demanding that they shall withdraw from the proximate occasions of mortal sin4 ,the voice of conscience1 a sermon heard in the church1 the private advice of some good friend--for all these are the voice of ,god--admonishing them against what leads them to mortal sin2 against very bad company1 or the saloon1 or the ,sunday excursion1 or dangerous reading1 or lonely company-keeping4 ,perhaps one's conduct about such dangers has more to do with his choice in eternity than any thing else4 ,i do not mean to say that this fateful decision is a mere lottery1 but it is a moment at the end of years of rebellion against ,god when an effort is made by the grace of ,god to save the sinner2 and for weal or for woe it is the last chance4 ,some time or other the last sin will be committed1 the last grace will be granted4 #ccg ,o my brethren6 how very reasonable is the holy fear of ,god4 ,oh6 how wise are they who have joined fear and love of ,god together so that the fire of love has burned the dross of slavishness out of fear1 and fear has mingled reverence and humility with love4 ,alas6 that so many should live as if eternal life and death had no meaning for the present hour4 ,some are like that millionaire ,i heard of4 ,walking home one day1 a heavy shower of rain began1 he stopped a hack and asked what the driver would take him home for4 ,fifty cents1 was the answer4 he began to beat him down1 and finally1 refusing more than twenty-five cents1 he walked home in the rain4 ,but he caught cold1 went to bed1 and died4 ,he had played the miser many a time before1 but the last time had come4 ,so many a one thinks his one sin more1 his one other rejection of grace1 is but like the multitude of other such offences gone before2 and all the time he is deciding an eternal fate4 ------------------- #cch ,eighth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,romans viii4 #ab-ag4 ,brethren3 ,we are debtors not to the flesh1 to live according to the flesh4 ,for if you live according to the flesh1 you shall die4 ,but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh1 you shall live4 ,for whosoever are led by the spirit of ,god1 they are the sons of ,god4 ,for you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear3 but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons1 whereby we cry1 ,abba 7,father74 ,for the ,spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit1 that we are the sons of ,god4 ,and if sons1 heirs also2 heirs indeed of ,god1 and joint heirs with ,christ4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xvi4 #a-i4 ,at that time3 ,jesus spoke to his disciples this parable3 ,there was a certain rich man who had a steward3 and the same was accused unto him1 that he had wasted his goods4 ,and he called him1 and said to him3 ,what is this ,i hear of thee8 ,give an account of thy stewardship3 for now thou canst not be steward4 ,and the steward said within himself3 ,what shall ,i do1 because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship8 ,to dig ,i am not able1 to beg ,i am ashamed4 ,i know what ,i will do1 that when ,i shall be put out of the stewardship1 they may receive me into their houses4 ,therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors1 he said to the first3 ,how much dost thou owe my lord8 ,but he said3 ,a hundred barrels of oil4 ,and he said to him3 ,take thy bill and sit down quickly1 and write fifty4 ,then he said to another3 ,and how much dost thou owe8 ,who said3 ,a hundred quarters of wheat4 ,he said to him3 ,take thy bill and write eighty4 #cci ,and the lord commended the unjust steward1 forasmuch as he had done wisely3 for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light4 ,and ,i say to you3 ,make to yourselves friends of the mammon of iniquity1 that when you shall fail they may receive you into everlasting dwellings4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cii4 ,spirit ,and ,flesh4 ,for if you live according to the flesh you shall die4 ,but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh you shall live4 --,romans viii4 #ac4 ,what does the ,apostle mean by this8 ,this only1 that the flesh with its concupiscence and lusts must never get such power over our will that it will carry us along with it and make us obey its longings and desires when we know these are forbidden by ,almighty ,god4 ,i say this only because to have the flesh is no sin2 neither is it a sin to feel the disorderly movements of the flesh that lead to sin2 but it is a sin to consent to these and to follow them4 ,for this reason we are told that if we mortify the deeds of the flesh1 to which these movements of the flesh lead us1 we shall live4 ,but what does the word mortify mean8 ,it means to destroy that which makes the life of a thing4 ,notice here the ,apostle does not tell us to mortify the flesh itself but the deeds of the flesh4 ,to do this we need not then attempt to kilt the flesh1 but we must destroy all that gives life to its deeds4 #cdj ,what are the deeds of the flesh8 ,they are the seven capital sins--pride1 covetousness1 lust1 anger1 gluttony1 envy1 sloth4 ,can we kill them8 ,in the most important sense we can4 ,we can get them so under our control that1 after awhile1 they will move us but slightly and cannot influence us to any great degree4 ,we shall feel from time to time that they are still present in us1 but that cannot disturb us much4 ,we shall have taken their strength away4 ,we shall have made them so weak that we can check them easily4 ,ought not each one of us strive to get ourselves into that blessed state8 ,but how can we do it8 ,make up your mind to do it4 ,form a good resolution1 one that will not change but that will be firm for life4 ,then live according to that resolution4 ,when pride is aroused1 refuse to follow its promptings2 when covetousness moves the heart1 stop the eager desire for gain2 when lust would lead you away1 contend against the thought until it is driven out2 when anger disturbs1 seal the lips with the sign of the holy cross2 when gluttony makes you long for feasting and drinking1 refuse to go where these things are going on2 when envy racks the soul1 pray for the one who is the object of envy2 when sloth tempts you to self-indulgence and inactivity1 stir up the fear of ,god and holy shame within the soul1 for sloth is a destroyer indeed of all that is truly manly and heroic in us4 ,but all this is about as hard to do as anything a man can do1 some may say4 ,yes1 it is hard to do1 but the success is sure4 ,shall a man do less for ,god than for himself8 ,see the time and labor spent to secure that which is necessary for the body and success in the life of only a few years in this world4 ,shall a man not do as much for the good of his soul and for eternal life in the next world8 #cda ,is it really so hard as it seems8 ,by no means4 ,we make it harder than it really is by putting it all together and by thinking we are to do it all at once4 ,this is not true4 ,it must be done by degrees1 slowly1 patiently1 perseveringly1 but surely4 ,the devil makes us think it harder by telling us1 when we feel the sharpness of the first struggle1 ,you can't bear it this way1 for life4 ,you can if ,god wills it and gives you the grace4 ,and most people1 almost all ,christian souls1 do not have it this way1 for life4 ,those who keep up the struggle get stronger day by day4 ,in them the flesh and the movements of sin grow less day by day4 ,the devil1 however1 wishes us to believe the lie he tells1 to make us give up the struggle4 ,do not listen to the lie and it cannot hurt you4 ,remember always1 it is a lie1 and the mind will not take hold of it4 ,we can make it all the easier by trusting ,god1 who will always help us in the struggle4 ,pray more4 ,go to confession often4 ,the confessor will then help us and remove much of the burden by good advice4 ,go to ,communion often1 and ,god himself will make it easier for us than we imagine by giving his own strength to the soul at that time4 ,only begin earnestly to control the flesh1 continue perseveringly to use confession and ,communion4 ,this1 with daily morning and evening prayer1 will take away very many difficulties4 ,soon we shall find we have truly mortified the deeds of the flesh1 and then indeed we shall live1 for the flesh will then be dead or dying fast and too weak to hurt the soul4 ,keep1 then1 in the mind the text from the ,epistle of to-day3 ,for if you live according to the flesh you shall die4 ,but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh you shall live4 ------------------- #cdb ,sermon ,,ciii4 ,the ,business ,of ,the ,soul4 ,the ,lord commended the unjust steward1 forasmuch as he had done wisely4 --,words ,taken ,from ,to-day's ,gospel4 ,one of the things which strikes us most forcibly in reading the instructions of our ,blessed ,lord as we have them in the holy ,gospels is the matter-of-fact1 common-sense1 business-like manner in which he sets before us the way we must act in order to save our souls4 ,we find no sentimentalism1 no rhetoric1 no fine-sounding flights of eloquence which delight the imagination and please the fancy indeed1 but which are too fleeting and flimsy to serve as a basis of every-day action4 ,no2 with our ,lord this matter of the salvation of our souls is a matter of infinite business1 a question of eternal profit and loss4 ,let me recall a few examples3 ,the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls1 who1 when he had found one of great price1 went his way and sold all he had and bought it4 ,here the way in which we are to act in order to get the kingdom of heaven is compared to the way in which the man of business acts who finds a good article--something worth his money4 ,what does he do8 ,why1 if it is really worth it--and the kingdom of heaven1 the salvation of our souls is worth it--he sells all that he has and buys it4 #cdc ,and yet again our ,lord places before us the salvation of our souls as based upon a calculation of what is the more profitable course to take in those words the realization of which has called forth the highest heroism of the greatest of the saints3 ,if thy eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee4 ,why8 ,because it is better for thee with one eye to enter the kingdom of ,god than1 having two eyes1 to be cast into the hell of fire4 ,here again it is a calculation of loss and gain--the loss of an eye in this world as against that of the whole body in the next4 ,shall ,i1 on the principle that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush1 keep my two eyes2 or shall ,i1 for the sake of saving the whole body1 pluck out the eye1 cut off the foot or hand8 ,but of all the places where this way of looking at things and of acting is inculcated and enforced1 the most striking is in the parable read in to-day's ,gospel4 ,here our ,lord1 in order to lead us to take a practical1 hard-headed way of acting with reference to the salvation of our souls1 brings before us the conduct of the unjust steward1 and1 strange to say1 actually praises it4 ,and how did this unjust steward act8 ,the unjust steward was a dishonest man4 ,he had been placed in a position of trust1 but had wasted his master's goods--perhaps speculated with his money1 made false entries in his books1 or something else of that kind4 ,well1 the truth came out at last1 as it generally does sooner or later1 and he was at his wits end what to do4 ,no thought of repentance enters into his head2 he has got on a wrong road1 and he found it1 as we all find it1 very hard to get out of it4 #cdd ,and so1 knowing the men with whom he has to deal1 he sends for some of his master's debtors1 and1 in order to make them his friends and to establish a claim on them for help and assistance when he gets into trouble1 he alters their bills and makes them less4 ,and the ,lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely4 ,our ,lord does not commend1 of course1 the dishonesty of his conduct2 this we all understand4 ,but he commends his clearness of sight as to what was for his worldly interest1 and his promptitude in taking wise and suitable means to further that interest4 ,what our ,lord wants to teach us is that we must act for our highest interest in the same clear-sighted1 determined1 wise1 and prudent way in which this specimen of a worldly man acted for the sordid and selfish and foolish ends of men of this world4 ,well1 my brethren1 take these thoughts home with you1 and ask yourselves1 each and every one of you1 how you are acting4 ,have you an intelligent view of the end you have to attain1 of its value and importance1 and of the means by which it is to be attained1 and are you acting earnestly in order to attain that end8 ------------------- ,sermon ,,civ4 ,the ,judgments ,of ,god4 ,make to yourselves friends of the mammon of iniquity2 that when you shall fail they may receive you into everlasting dwellings4 --,gospel of the ,day4 #cde ,my dear brethren1 there will come to each one of us a day when all those earthly goods we now enjoy shall fail us1 when we shall have to turn our backs on the world and all that it has to give us1 and prepare ourselves to stand before him to whom all things that we had and enjoyed belong1 and give an account to him of the uses which we have made of them4 ,we have1 like the steward in to-day's ,gospel1 a ,lord and ,master2 and to him we must sooner or later give an account of our stewardship4 ,and it is only too likely1 we may say it is indeed certain1 that when that dread moment comes at which this world must be left behind1 the charge will also be made against us1 as against the steward in this parable1 that we have wasted our ,master's goods4 ,our consciences will rise up and condemn us1 and anticipate the accusation which shall be brought against us when we shall actually come face to face with ,god4 ,then all the security we have had in the thought that we are not murderers1 robbers1 or adulterers shall vanish2 we shall not be able to console ourselves with the idea that we have done no great harm to any one4 ,we shall see how selfish and how sensual our lives have been2 that we have wasted for the pleasure of a passing moment the greater part of those gifts which ,god gave us for his service4 ,wasted our time1 our strength1 our knowledge1 and our abilities in getting for ourselves the means of gratification or amusement1 or in raising ourselves for our own sake to a position of honor or of wealth4 ,we shall see what we might have been1 what ,god meant that we should be1 and compare it with what we are4 ,fain would we then be able to say with ,st4 ,paul1 ,i have fought a good fight1 ,i have finished my course4 ,our faith indeed we shall1 it is to be hoped1 have kept2 but we shall feel that our fight has been but a poor and cowardly one1 and that we1 instead of finishing the course which our ,lord laid out for us1 have gone over only a very small part of it1 and that its goal is far1 far away4 #cdf ,what1 then1 shall be our hope8 ,for hope we must have if we would not offend ,god even more then than through life4 ,he commands us to hope2 but in what shall our hope be placed8 ,where or in what but his mercy8 ,he will take us1 grievously deficient as we are1 and make the little1 miserable offerings which we have to present to him1 the remnant of what he gave us1 into some kind of a crown of eternal life1 if only we will turn to him with our whole hearts2 if we will at least1 at that last moment1 really believe in him1 hope in him1 and love him4 ,he that perseveres to the end1 he that will not die in mortal sin1 shall be saved4 ,but what shall obtain for us at that last moment the faith1 hope1 and charity which we need8 ,who will help us to persevere when the enemies of our salvation are making the most of their last chance to snatch it from us8 ,will those with whom we have enjoyed life then stand by to help us8 ,it is to be feared that they and all that they have done for us will not avail us much then4 ,no1 the friends who will then be most valuable to us will be those1 if indeed we have such1 whom we have not sought for our own sake1 but whom we loved for ,god's sake4 ,and it is not the riches which we amassed that will then be precious to us1 but such as we have given away to those who needed it more than we4 #cdg ,these are the friends which our ,lord1 in to-day's ,gospel1 tells us to make1 that they may help us at the hour when our eternal destiny hangs trembling in the balance4 ,these are the friends which may be made by that mammon of iniquity1 those worldly riches which are too often the occasion of sin1 and whose prayers and blessings may indeed be the means of our being received1 in spite of our unprofitableness1 into everlasting habitations4 ,happy is the man who1 when he comes to die1 knows that ,god's poor have prayed for him1 and have blessed his name4 ------------------- #cdh ,ninth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians x4 #f-ac4 ,brethren3 ,we should not covet evil things1 as they also coveted4 ,neither become ye idolaters1 as some of them3 as it is written3 ,the people sat down to eat and drink1 and rose up to play4 ,neither let us commit fornication1 as some of them committed fornication1 and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand4 ,neither let us tempt ,christ3 as some of them tempted1 and perished by the serpents4 ,neither do you murmur3 as some of them murmured1 and were destroyed by the destroyer4 ,now all these things happened to them in figure2 and they are written for our correction1 upon whom the ends of the world are come4 ,wherefore let him that thinketh himself to stand1 take heed lest he fall4 ,let no temptation take hold on you1 but such as is human4 ,and ,god is faithful1 who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able2 but will make also with temptation issue1 that you may be able to bear it4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xix4 #da-dg4 ,at that time3 ,when ,jesus drew near ,jerusalem1 seeing the city1 he wept over it1 saying3 ,if thou also hadst known1 and that in this thy day1 the things that are for thy peace2 but now they are hidden from thy eyes4 ,for the days shall come upon thee3 and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee3 and compass thee round1 and straiten thee on every side1 and beat thee flat to the ground1 and thy children who are in thee2 and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone3 because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation4 ,and entering into the temple1 he began to cast out them that sold therein1 and them that bought1 saying to them3 ,it is written3 ,my house is the house of prayer2 but you have made it a den of thieves4 ,and he was teaching daily in the temple4 ------------------- #cdi ,sermon ,,cv4 ,justice ,and ,mercy4 ,and when he drew near1 seeing the city1 he wept over it4 --,from the ,gospel of the ,sunday4 ,which one of the children is best loved by the father and mother8 ,is there any poor little cripple in the family8 ,that is the favorite child4 ,it makes the parent's heart bleed to see the limping walk or the hunched back1 to see the sallow1 pain-marked face of the little one4 ,that is the one who receives the warmest caress2 for that one the kindest tones and cheeriest words and nicest presents are reserved4 ,well1 brethren1 it is the same in the spiritual order4 ,god has his best favors for his most unfortunate children3 for men and women in the state of mortal sin4 ,that is one reason why our ,lord lavished such affection on the ,jews2 they had most need of it4 ,their hearts were the hardest hearts in the world4 ,jerusalem was the most accursed city in the world4 ,it and its people were on the point of committing the most awful crime possible to our race4 ,hence our ,lord wept over it those bitter tears of rejected love1 and breathed those deadly sighs of a heart wearied and disappointed in fruitless efforts for their salvation4 ,it is true1 amidst those tears he told of the persistent obstinacy of the ,jews1 and of their final impenitence1 and of their terrific chastisement4 ,but he did it all with many tears and with a depth of regret better told by tears than words4 #cej ,brethren1 there is a deep mystery taught us by this scene4 ,it is the mystery of the union of two sentiments in ,god which to us seem essentially different--justice and mercy4 ,how could our ,saviour weep over a downfall so well deserved8 ,how could he regret what none knew so well as he was to be a punishment all too light for the crimes of the ,jews8 ,is there not a mystery here8 ,how can it be explained8 ,there is no adequate theoretical explanation of it4 ,but there is a practical one1 and a very excellent one1 too4 ,it is this3 ,put yourself in a ,jew's place2 fancy yourself one of that apostate race2 stand up before our ,lord and listen to his sentence given against you with infinite reluctance--every hard word a sigh of tender regret4 ,do you not see that this exhibition of mercy in the ,judge only renders the justice of the sentence more evident to you and more dreadful8 ,mercy thus lends to ,justice a weapon which1 while it only crushes down its victim the deeper1 at the same time elevates much higher in the culprit's eyes the rectitude of the sentence4 ,of course1 the justice of ,god and his mercy are perfectly equal4 ,yet in some true sense we may say that his mercy is more powerful than his justice4 ,does not the ,psalmist say that ,god's mercy is above all his works8 ,do we not know by observation and experience that where the wrath of ,god sets apart a single victim his tender love wins over a thousand8 ,why1 the very sentiments of our hearts1 the very convictions of our minds by which we earn forgiveness in the ,sacrament of ,penance1 are they not the free gift of ,god1 earned by us only because us means persons penetrated with light and strength streaming down from the throne of mercy8 #cea ,we offer our repentance to ,god in a kind of a way as children make ,christmas presents to their father4 ,where do they get money to buy them8 ,from their mother1 and she saves it up from the household expenses or gets it as a gift from her husband4 ,in the long run the presents were bought by the one to whom they are given4 ,yet they are very dear to the father2 he values them2 they are real presents to him2 they express a real devotion2 they lose nothing of their character of presents because he is at the expense of it all4 ,so with our ,heavenly ,father4 ,if he gives the gold we coin it2 we stamp the beloved form of the ,son of ,god on our poor prayers1 so that when they have made the circuit and are back again in the divine bosom from which they sprang forth1 somehow we have added something to them4 ,brethren1 let us hope that when our ,lord's tears concerned us it was not in view of our reprobation1 but of our salvation4 ,let us be inflamed1 too1 with a sense of our ingratitude that we are such unworthy children of so good a ,father4 ,a man may swagger and brag down his better self when merely threatened with punishment4 ,but who among you can face1 without flinching1 the tears of so good a friend as our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ8 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cvi4 ,neglect ,of ,divine ,warnings4 #ceb ,the ,gospel to-day tells us1 my dear brethren1 that ,jesus wept as he approached ,jerusalem2 not for himself1 nor for all he was so soon to suffer there1 but for the city itself1 and for his chosen people1 to whom he had given it for their glory and joy4 ,yes1 this beautiful city was their joy and their pride2 long before they had been taken from it into captivity by their enemies for a time1 and as the ,psalmist says1 speaking in their name1 ,by the rivers of ,babylon we sat and wept when we remembered ,sion4 ,and he goes on3 ,if ,i forget thee1 ,jerusalem1 may ,i forget my right hand2 may my tongue cleave to my mouth if ,i do not remember thee1 if ,i do not make ,jerusalem the beginning of my joy4 ,and now this city of theirs was to be taken from them again by a more grievous and fatal disaster than it had ever yet suffered4 ,they were to be scattered from it all over the world to do a long penance for their sins and their rejection of him who had come to redeem them4 ,and our ,divine ,lord's ,heart yearned for them1 for these his creatures1 and at the same time his brethren and his countrymen4 ,fain would he have saved them1 if they would but have been willing1 from the terrible sufferings they were to undergo4 ,gladly1 as he says himself1 would he have sheltered them1 if they would even now have come to him1 from the tempest which was about to break upon them from the justice of ,god4 ,he wept because they would not come and avail themselves of his love4 ,we should pray for them that the day may be hastened when they shall return and acknowledge their true ,messias1 their own ,lord and ,master1 the only true ,king of the ,jews4 ,but they are not the only ones to weep for2 they are not the only ones whom he has loaded with favors1 and who have been ungrateful2 there are others besides the ,jews whom ,almighty ,god has chosen for his people1 but who have rejected him and distressed his loving heart4 #cec ,who are they8 ,they are in general all sinners1 but especially such as are ,catholics2 they are those souls for whom ,jesus has done so much from their earliest years1 in the midst of whom he has lived and wrought so many works of power and goodness2 those whom he has enlightened with his truth1 those whom he has warned against sin1 those whom he has borne with so long and forgiven so often1 those whom he has fed with his own ,body and ,blood4 ,and yet1 through evil habits1 by frequent mortal sin1 they live on1 deaf to his warnings1 despising his love1 not knowing the time of their visitation1 until evil days and a sad ending come upon them4 ,can we wonder that their enemies1 the evil one and their bad habits1 compass them round about1 and straiten them on all sides1 and beat them down and leave them wasted and desolate8 ,can we wonder that1 since they would not bear the sweet and ennobling yoke of ,christ1 they will be forced to groan in the fetters of ,satan and be exiled for ever from the true ,jerusalem1 the home of peace1 which is above8 ,no1 brethren2 such is the fate of those who persistently abuse ,god's grace1 who reject his mercy and his efforts to save them4 ,god forbid that such a career1 such an ending1 be ours4 ,let us1 then1 take warning2 let us be careful about temptations2 let us not presume on our own strength nor on ,god's goodness in the past2 let us not make light of anything which is dangerous or forbidden4 ,let us endeavor not to grieve our ,lord by any infidelity1 great or small1 but try to be faithful to every grace in this the day of our visitation1 and to follow the things that are for our peace here and our happiness hereafter4 ------------------- #ced ,sermon ,,cvii4 ,living ,from ,day ,to ,day4 ,if thou also hadst known1 and that in this thy day1 the things that are for thy peace4 --,st4 ,luke xix4 #db4 ,the fault of the ,jews1 my brethren1 was twofold3 boasting of the past and waiting for the future4 ,it is especially on account of the latter fault that our ,lord in this day's ,gospel lays such stress on the words and that in this thy day4 ,it is a warning against trying to live in the future4 ,we all know1 to be sure1 that one may go to the other extreme1 and by a form of sloth be too careless of the future4 ,some things there are which are certain to come upon us1 and their coming must be provided for4 ,there is a judgment to come1 and every minute of to-day is like a bailiff busy gathering evidence for that ,divine ,court4 ,temptation is sure to come1 and its strain upon our virtue must be foreseen in every prayer of every day4 ,the common wants of life for one's self and family are inevitable in the future1 and must be prudently provided against4 ,in all such things we know that the future is an actual fact1 and is just as present to ,god as this very instant is to us4 #cee ,what our ,lord would rebuke is not a prudent foresight1 but that weak and idle state of mind which postpones to the future what should be done at once4 ,this is the commonest of human delusions4 ,in a temporal point of view it is condemned by the saying1 ,procrastination is the thief of time1 and it might be added of many other valuable commodities4 ,in a spiritual point of view the dreadful result of delaying till to-morrow what should be done to-day is expressed by the saying1 ,hell is paved with good intentions4 ,wise men resolve to do in the future only what they cannot do now4 ,many and many a poor soul has lost the kingdom of heaven for that one reason3 resolving instead of doing4 ,brethren1 a practically-minded ,christian lives his spiritual life from day to day4 ,he knows that the future is something entirely in ,god's hands4 ,as for himself1 his actual ability to do good begins and ends with each passing hour4 ,if he provides well for it as it comes and goes he has done his part2 ,god will not fail to take care of the future4 ,one's peace of mind is never secure till one has learned to be content with present duty well done4 ,oh6 what a happiness when one's soul is unburdened of care for the future4 ,do you covet that happiness8 ,it is yours if you leave nothing undone for the present4 ,if you can honestly say1 ,that is all ,i can do for the present1 you may add1 and the future also4 ,but1 you say1 what about a purpose of amendment8 ,does not that dwell specially on the future8 ,yes1 it does2 but it springs from a present sorrow4 ,and if the sorrow be as heartfelt as it should be the purpose of amendment will take care of itself4 ,a deep hatred of sin is the only true sorrow1 and such a hatred must be enduring4 ,the test of a contrite man is not what he promises but what he does4 ,his sorrow unites the past and future in the present4 ,warned by his past weakness1 he begins right here and just now by prayer and work to guard against a future relapse4 #cef ,learn a lesson1 brethren1 from our ,lord's warning and from the fate of the ,jews4 ,it is better to say one's morning prayers to-day than to resolve to become a saint next week4 ,to-day is here1 and next week is nowhere4 ,this day is mine2 ,i know not if ,i shall have so much as one other4 ,god has the past and the future4 ,i will thank him for the past1 ,i will beg him for the future4 ,as to the present1 with ,god's help1 ,i will set to work to do my utmost4 ------------------- #ceg ,tenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians xii4 #b-aa4 ,brethren3 ,you know that when you were heathens you went to dumb idols1 according as you were led4 ,wherefore ,i give you to understand1 that no man1 speaking by the ,spirit of ,god1 saith ,anathema to ,jesus4 ,and no man can say1 ,the ,lord ,jesus1 but by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,now there are diversities of graces1 but the same ,spirit2 and there are diversities of ministries1 but the same ,lord4 ,and there are diversities of operations1 but the same ,god1 who worketh all in all4 ,but the manifestation of the ,spirit is given to every man unto profit4 ,to one1 indeed1 by the ,spirit1 is given the word of wisdom3 to another1 the word of knowledge according to the same ,spirit3 to another1 faith in the same ,spirit3 to another1 the grace of healing in one ,spirit3 to another1 the working of miracles3 to another1 prophecy3 to another1 the discerning of spirits3 to another1 divers kinds of tongues3 to another1 interpretation of speeches3 but all these things one and the same ,spirit worketh1 dividing to every one as he will4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xviii4 #i-ad4 ,at that time3 ,to some who trusted in themselves as just1 and despised others1 ,jesus spoke this parable3 ,two men went up into the temple to pray3 the one a ,pharisee1 and the other a publican4 ,the ,pharisee1 standing1 prayed thus with himself3 ,o ,god1 ,i give thee thanks that ,i am not as the rest of men1 extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 nor such as this publican4 ,i fast twice in the week3 ,i give tithes of all that ,i possess4 #ceh ,and the publican1 standing afar off1 would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven2 but struck his breast1 saying3 ,o ,god1 be merciful to me a sinner6 ,i say to you1 this man went down to his house justified rather than the other2 because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled3 and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cviii4 ,sympathy for ,sinners4 ,o ,god1 ,i give thee thanks that ,i am not as the rest of men1 extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 nor such as this publican4 --,st4 ,luke xviii4 #aa4 ,did you never notice that pride and hardness of heart go together8 ,that miserable ,pharisee could not enjoy his self-glorification without condemning his neighbor1 a person1 as it happened1 far more deserving than himself4 ,indeed1 the worst vices seem to love each other's company as if they were all blood relatives4 ,coveting our neighbor's goods1 for example1 goes along with stinginess of our own2 gluttony and lust are twins4 ,almost the same may be said of oppressing others and disobeying lawful authority2 and in this hateful ,pharisee we behold the union of pride in one's self and contempt for one's neighbor4 ,the sinner seems to be bound with a chain every link of which is double4 ,now1 brethren1 this is a fault often found in far better souls than this haughty ,pharisee4 ,many of us have too little sympathy for persons whom we know to be in mortal sin4 ,to be sure1 it is no harm to rejoice that we are at friendship with heaven4 ,but the worst of it is that some of us are never really happy at the thought of our own virtues till we are quite miserable over our neighbor's wickedness2 and when we say with our lips1 ,how wicked ,so-and-,so is6 our heart whispers1 ,and how good ,i am6 #cei ,the spirit of correction possesses many good people--a spirit commonly the sign of hidden pride4 ,no sooner do we take the first steps in amendment of life than we are divided between rejoicing in our own goodness and lamenting over other folk's vice4 ,i know not what we good people should do for something to talk about were it not for our neighbor's shortcomings4 ,brethren1 this vanity is very foolish and very dangerous4 ,who dare say that he has nothing to fear from the judgments of ,god8 ,who can count himself safe so much as one day from his own natural feebleness1 or from the wiles of ,satan1 or from human respect8 ,and if we do rightly trust in ,god's favor1 how can we forget that progress in virtue is a necessary condition of our remaining virtuous at all8 ,now this progress means simply a right knowledge of our remaining defects and a solid purpose to overcome them2 something with which the vice of the ,pharisee is quite incompatible4 ,nothing so blinds us to our own little faults as too much regard for our neighbor's big ones4 ,doubtless it would have been just as difficult for the ,pharisee to correct his harshness of voice1 or his lofty bearing1 or his patronizing airs as to overcome his great sin of pride itself2 and such is the case with many of us4 ,the beam in our neighbor's eye looks so shocking that we quite forget that we have quite a squint in our own eye from various little motes in it4 #cfj ,be certain1 therefore1 brethren1 that1 if you find hard feelings in your heart toward sinners1 you have no long journey to make before you discover the capital sin of pride in your own4 ,why can we not leave judgment to ,god1 and treat poor sinners after our ,lord's example1 praying and suffering for them8 ,i do not mean to say that we should forget to mention to them the awful chastisements of ,god2 indeed1 a truer friend does not exist than one who warns us of our future destruction1 and some1 such as parents1 are in duty bound to give such admonition4 ,but in the treatment of moral maladies we should bear in mind that bitter words and harsh looks spoil good medicine4 ,and especially should we bear in mind that we have had our own wicked days4 ,let us1 therefore1 regard sinners with much tenderness1 dropping out of our view while we deal with them our own darling selves4 ,let us realize that we ourselves are poor souls1 quite capable1 but for ,god's singular favor1 of falling into the worst state of sinfulness4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cix4 ,morning ,prayers4 ,two men went up into the temple to pray4 --,from the ,gospel of the ,sunday4 ,the lesson of this day's ,gospel1 my brethren1 is prayer2 its necessity and its humility4 ,our short sermon must be contented with a little corner of this great field--that is to say1 morning prayers4 #cfa ,suppose that your child is sick1 what is your first word in the morning8 ,it is1 ,how is the baby this morning8 ,then follows much more3 ,i think it is a little better to-day2 it seems easier2 or it passed a bad night2 ,i hope the day will be cool1 for it suffers from heat4 ,so1 anxiety for your poor little child consecrates your first thoughts and words to its welfare4 ,and do you not know that your poor soul is either sick or runs the risk of catching a deadly sickness every day you live8 ,there are bad sights on the streets that tend to sicken it2 there are snares of the devil1 such as cursing and foul-talking companions1 bad reading and saloons2 there is a spiritual cancer within--,i mean the temptation of the flesh--which can only be kept from destroying the soul's life by constant and severe treatment4 ,now1 thoughts and words do your sick child little good2 but they are the very best things for the soul1 especially early in the morning4 ,the man or woman who kneels down and says the morning prayer guards against temptation1 heads off the noon-day demon1 and provides that happiest of evenings1 that is to say1 the one which follows an innocent day4 ,there's a saying against braggarts and promise-breakers that fine words butter no parsnips4 ,it is not true of words said in charity to our neighbor or in prayer to ,god4 ,sincere words addressed to ,god as the day begins sweeten every morsel of food the livelong day1 lighten every burden and weaken every temptation4 ,why1 then1 are you so careless about morning prayers8 ,it can only be because you do not appreciate your spiritual weakness or you do not care what becomes of your soul before bedtime4 ,but somebody might say3 ,father1 can't you tell us something to make the morning prayers easy8 ,it is very hard to remember them1 and then it is so pleasant to get even five minutes more sleep1 especially in the winter time2 and1 again1 ,i am always in a hurry to get off to work1 etc4 #cfb ,now you might as well ask me to tell you something to make you relish a good wash and a clean shirt4 ,if a man does not hate dirt1 it is preaching up the chimney to try to make him love to be clean4 ,prayer cleans the heart4 ,prayer clothes the soul with the grace of ,god4 ,prayer brings down ,god4 ,prayer drives away the devil4 ,or1 ,i might rather say1 that for a clean heart1 and in order to get the grace of ,god1 and in order to vanquish temptation1 prayer is simply and indispensably necessary4 ,once a man came to me and said3 ,father1 for years ,i was addicted to habitual vice of the worst kind 7and here he named a fearful sin71 but ,i began some time ago to say the ,litany of the ,blessed ,virgin every morning and the ,litany of ,jesus every night1 and this practice has entirely cured me of that dreadful habit4 ,some such story as that1 my brethren1 every man must tell before he can say that he is delivered from sin4 ,for my own part1 ,i look upon regular morning prayers as a plain mark of predestination to eternal life4 ,ask and you shall receive2 seek and you shall find2 knock and it shall be opened to you1 is our ,lord's promise to those that pray2 and the best prayer is the morning prayer4 ,be ready1 therefore1 to correct yourself for omitting it4 ,the day you forget it go without something you like to eat1 put a nickel in the poor-box1 double up your night prayers1 make a special request to your guardian angel to get you up in good time for morning prayer the following morning4 ,for the ,our ,father1 ,hail ,mary1 ,apostles ,creed1 ,confiteor1 and ,acts of ,faith1 ,hope1 ,sorrow1 and ,charity1 that you say in the morning will in the end give you a happy death and the kingdom of heaven4 ------------------- #cfc ,sermon ,,cx4 ,feast ,of ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen4 ,many sins are forgiven her1 because she loved much4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,my dear brethren1 no one who has faith can fail to be more or less anxious as to whether he will in the end save his soul4 ,we all know that our faith alone will not save us2 that faith1 as ,st4 ,james tells us1 without works is dead4 ,and we know that everything depends on the last moment2 that as the tree falls1 so will it lie for all eternity4 ,so we tremble to think that perhaps that last moment will find us with our sins unforgiven1 and all unprepared to meet our ,judge2 and that1 in spite of our having borne the name of ,christ1 we may be then cast away from his presence into the outer darkness for ever4 ,some people1 ,i know1 have a very simple way of reassuring themselves about this all-important matter4 ,they think that1 of course1 when they come to die they will send for the priest2 then1 if he gets there in time1 of course there can be no question about their salvation4 ,and even if he does not1 perhaps they would not altogether despair2 certainly their friends will not despair of them4 ,god1 they think1 will not utterly cast off those who have always believed in him2 their prayers and those of their friends will certainly obtain them a place in purgatory1 and at last they will save their souls1 at least by fire4 #cfd ,but1 after all1 do not even the most confident of us sometimes have a fear that even the last sacraments may not make our salvation absolutely sure8 ,the last sacraments are not so very different from the others we have received before2 and do we always feel fully prepared to die after every ,communion which we make8 ,no1 there is a haunting fear that something is not right which pursues us even at the altar-rail2 we would give much if we could only do something which would take it away altogether4 ,let us not be troubled because we have this fear2 it is better not to be entirely free from it2 above all1 let us not stay away from the sacraments because we have it4 ,if we stay away in any case except that of known and certain mortal sin which is not forgiven1 we shall only make matters worse4 ,but still this fear is generally a sign of something wrong2 it does not altogether come from humility1 or from the desire of salvation4 ,it comes from a want of something which we ought to have2 from a want of the greatest of all virtues1 of that which includes all others1 and brings all others with it--from a want of the love of ,god4 ,not an entire want of it1 but a want of strength in it1 a want of affection2 a want of that feeling which we have for our friends1 and which1 above all1 we should have for the greatest and best of all4 ,yes1 perfect love1 as ,st4 ,john tells us1 casts out fear4 ,it is the short cut out of all these worries1 difficulties1 and anxieties which all who are not hardened sinners must have without it4 ,it was the direct and simple road which ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen took in escaping from sin4 #cfe ,she followed the ,friend of sinners as he went on his mission of mercy2 she saw the miracles of his power and goodness2 she saw the love for men which shone in his face and inspired his every word and action1 and her heart was touched and melted4 ,she took it away at once and for ever from all those vain things to which it had been attached and gave it truly and entirely to him who had made it1 and who had come in sorrow and suffering to win back his own4 ,and her many sins were forgiven because she loved much2 because all the powers of earth and of hell cannot put an obstacle between ,god and the soul that loves him as he should be loved4 ,if we would only do as she did2 if we would put away all these bargainings about just how much we are bound to give to ,god1 and how much we can safely keep for ourselves2 if we would love him as she did1 not with a mere passing sentiment1 but with that devotion and self-sacrificing affection which it is so easy sometimes to give to a mere creature2 if we would let him1 as he wishes1 into our hearts as our dearest and best1 and make everything else give place1 then fear would pass away1 and we should say1 ,let ,god take me when he will2 let me suffer what my sins deserve1 but surely he will not keep me from loving him4 ,yes1 my brethren1 to love ,god is the one thing necessary2 to love him is to save our souls4 ------------------- #cff ,eleventh ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 #a ,corinthians xv4 #a-aj4 ,brethren3 ,i make known unto you the gospel which ,i preached to you1 which also you have received1 and wherein you stand3 by which also you are saved1 if you hold fast after what manner ,i preached to you1 unless you have believed in vain4 ,for ,i delivered to you first of all1 which ,i also received3 how that ,christ died for our sins1 according to the ,scriptures3 and that he was buried1 and that he rose again the third day1 according to the ,scriptures3 and that he was seen by ,cephas1 and after that by the eleven4 ,then was he seen by more than five hundred brethren at once1 of whom many remain until this present1 and some are fallen asleep4 ,after that he was seen by ,james1 then by all the apostles4 ,and last of all1 he was seen also by me1 as by one born out of due time4 ,for ,i am the least of the apostles1 who am not worthy to be called an apostle1 because ,i persecuted the church of ,god4 ,but by the grace of ,god ,i am what ,i am3 and his grace in me hath not been void4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,mark vii4 #ca-cg4 ,at that time3 ,jesus going out of the borders of ,tyre1 came by ,sidon to the sea of ,galilee1 through the midst of the territories of ,decapolis4 ,and they bring to him one that was deaf and dumb2 and they besought him to lay his hand upon him4 ,and taking him aside from the multitude1 he put his fingers into his ears1 and spitting1 he touched his tongue3 and looking up to heaven1 he groaned1 and said to him3 ,ephpheta1 which is1 ,be opened4 #cfg ,and immediately his ears were opened1 and the string of his tongue was loosed1 and he spoke right4 ,and he charged them that they should tell no man4 ,but the more he charged them1 so much the more a great deal did they publish it4 ,and so much the more did they wonder1 saying3 ,he hath done all things well2 he hath made both the deaf to hear1 and the dumb to speak4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxi4 ,want ,of ,confidence ,in ,god4 ,he hath done all things well4 --,st4 ,mark vii4 #cg4 ,the spectators of the double miracle related in this day's ,gospel were filled with admiration at our ,lord's power and goodness2 they could not help exclaiming1 ,he doth all things well4 ,would to ,god1 brethren1 that such a sentiment of our ,lord's love and power filled our hearts6 ,confidence in ,god1 however1 is the very virtue many ,christians lack most4 ,true1 we say and believe that ,god is infinitely good--that he is mercy itself4 ,but such language is very indefinite and may express a very dim conception4 ,it is something like saying that a stone is very hard or that water is very wet4 ,we are apt to form pictures of ,god's attributes in our minds1 just as a painter may make a portrait of some historical personage he never saw2 many of our notions of ,god are fancy portraits1 all imagination4 ,but just think of the actual grounds of our confidence in our ,blessed ,lord4 ,just realize that this wonderful being is filled with the tenderest human love for the worst of us1 and has all the divine power at his command--being both man and ,god--to make good his love by bringing about our spiritual and temporal welfare4 #cfh ,the ,incarnation is the divine ,mercy made man for the love of us4 ,can we suppose that such a being1 having begun the good work of our salvation by giving us the true religion1 will leave anything undone1 that we will let him do1 to bring us to the kingdom of heaven8 ,do you think that such a loving ,father would teach us1 his children1 ,a ,b ,c except with the set purpose of going clean through to ,x ,y ,z8 ,just think1 that it positively never happened that any wretched sinner1 how ever degraded1 ever implored our ,lord's forgiveness and was rejected2 nay1 that he himself secretly inspires sinners with their grief and horror for their evil ways1 and then imparts forgiveness in return for his own gift4 ,the fact is that the question is not whether ,god will forgive us1 but whether we will let him do it4 ,in a word1 this infinitely good and infinitely powerful being is bent and determined that we shall enjoy perfect happiness1 world without end4 ,what a wonder1 then1 that we can treat our ,lord in our cold-hearted way6 ,scrupulous persons treat him as if he were a tyrant2 lukewarm ,christians treat him like a stepfather2 obstinate sinners treat him with open contempt4 ,the practise of prayer1 the reception of the sacraments and other aids of religion--we treat them as school-children do their lessons3 we do it all because we are afraid of the consequences if we don't4 ,considering how much ,god loves us his service should come as easy to us as breathing the air2 it should be the element in which we live4 ,if our faith were a little more practical ,god's loveliness would be as plain to us as the open day and the sun in the heavens4 #cfi ,furthermore1 and this is still more practical1 lack of confidence in ,god is why we repine at his visitations4 ,it is easy enough to say1 be resigned to the will of ,god1 but how can we be content to suffer unless we are penetrated with confidence in the divine goodness8 ,brethren1 you know how we sometimes take medicine4 ,we wrap it up in a pleasant-flavored wafer or hide it in a spoonful of sugar1 and down it goes and we never taste its bitterness4 ,so a lively confidence in ,god1 if we only had enough of it1 is the sweetness to wrap around the bitter things of life4 ,temptations1 long and wearisome poverty1 ill-health1 unpleasant companions in the household--these and other such trials are the bitter pills of the soul2 when we fairly realize that ,god means them for our spiritual good we can bear them with patience1 even with thankfulness4 ,did you ever hear of the witch-hazel1 and how people used to fancy that a crooked branch of it thrown into the air would fall on the spot where a good spring of water could be found8 ,well1 the witch-hazel of the ,christian soul is just this question3 ,how much confidence have you in the love of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ for you8 ,if that does not reveal the hidden springs of your heart and bring the waters of love gushing forth1 then that heart is hopelessly dry4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxii4 ,devotion ,to ,the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,why do ,catholics pay so much honor to the ,virgin ,mary8 ,are they not doing an injury to her ,son by over-honoring his ,mother8 ,what is the reason1 the doctrine1 of the ,catholic's devotion to ,mary8 #cgj ,very fair questions1 brethren2 questions which you should be ready to answer with intelligence and kindness4 ,so that now1 as we approach the ,feast of ,our ,lady's ,assumption into heaven1 let us renew our faith in her dignity4 ,what1 then1 does the ,catholic faith teach us about her8 ,it teaches us that she is the ,mother of ,god2 and further1 that1 on account of the foreseen merits of her ,son1 she was preserved from the stain of original sin2 that she was always a virgin2 and that it is lawful and profitable to ask her prayers4 ,such are the articles of faith concerning the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,once you know something about her ,son's divinity you easily perceive her dignity of ,mother of ,god4 ,her title of ,mother of ,god plainly rests upon the fact that her ,son is ,god4 ,jesus ,christ is ,god2 his nature is divine and his person is divine4 ,and here you must bear in mind the distinction between nature and person4 ,he has the nature1 being1 essence of ,god4 ,and he has the person of ,god2 for our ,saviour is ,god the ,son1 second person of the ,most ,holy ,trinity4 ,what1 then1 is human about him8 for we know that he is as truly man as he is truly ,god4 ,the answer is that he has a human nature as well as a divine nature4 ,he became man2 and he did so by taking human nature from ,mary1 his ,mother4 ,but1 you ask again1 is he a human person also8 ,no1 for we have seen that he is the divine person1 ,god the ,son4 ,there cannot be two persons in ,christ4 ,he is but a single person1 one individual1 and that is divine4 ,so that the divine personality of the ,son of ,god takes human nature and unites it to the divine nature4 ,the one divine person whose name is ,christ1 and who is of both divine and human nature1 has no human personality1 but divine4 #cga ,and this is the ,son of ,mary4 ,is she not the ,mother of our ,lord1 personally his ,mother8 ,can any one be a mother and not be mother of a person8 ,is he not personally her son8 ,what a dignity6 ,what a mysterious and wonderful eminence1 to be mother of the divine person of the ,son of ,god made man4 ,no wonder that we honor her2 although we know full well that all she has of dignity and sanctity she has by no power of her own1 but by gift of ,god1 and that she is purely a human being4 ,those who do not honor ,mary fail to appreciate the majesty of ,christ2 fail to understand the doctrine of the ,incarnation2 fail to grasp the immensity of the divine love in ,god becoming man4 ,no wonder1 then1 that ,god should have saved her from the taint of ,adam's sin1 should have preserved her a spotless virgin1 should have saved her pure body from the grave's filth by the ,assumption into heaven4 ,the ,angel ,gabriel tells us what ,mary is3 ,behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb1 and thou shalt bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus4 ,he shall be great1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,most ,high4 444 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee1 and therefore the ,holy 7,one7 that shall be born of thee shall be called the ,son of ,god4 #cgb ,now1 brethren1 to be a mother is to hold an office4 ,it is to exercise by divine right the highest powers committed to a human being4 ,what wonderful rights a mother possesses6 ,an affectionate allegiance is due her from her son3 an obedience instinctive1 sacred1 supreme2 a reverential and hearty loyalty which arouses the noblest emotions in the hardest heart and gives birth to heroic deeds even in men of the weakest natures4 ,a mother is entitled to her son's love by the most sacred of all obligations4 ,well1 just think of it3 our ,blessed ,lord was1 and is yet1 bound to his ,mother by that imperative divine law2 he was1 and is yet1 subject to the sweetest and1 for a noble nature1 the most resistless impulse to do his ,mother's will and to make her happy4 ,he owes her love1 obedience1 reverence1 friendship1 support1 companionship1 sympathy4 ,and he that doth all things well1 would he not do his whole duty as ,son1 would he not be a model ,son8 ,would he not grant her lightest wish while he lived with her on earth1 will he not gladly do so now in heaven8 ,hence our ,lord ,jesus ,christ spent nearly his whole life in his ,mother's immediate company1 consenting to postpone for her sake his ,father's work of publishing his divinity and preaching his ,gospel4 ,hence he worked his first miracle at her request at the wedding of ,cana4 ,hence he inspired her to prophecy that all generations would call her blessed4 ,hence1 too1 our ,lord has instilled into every ,christian heart some little glow of his own deep filial love for her4 ,in truth1 brethren1 whatever ,christ's ,mother is to him by nature1 that she is to us by adoption4 ,just in proportion to our union with him are we bound to her4 ,and if we wish to know him well we can study in no better school than his ,mother's4 ,if we wish to love him tenderly1 her maternal heart can best teach us how4 ,and if we have favors to ask him we shall be glad1 if we are not too self-conceited1 to secure her prayers to assist us4 ------------------- #cgc ,sermon ,,cxiii4 ,gratitude4 ,my brethren1 we have had a word to say before this about the vice of ingratitude1 and of how mean a vice it is1 especially in a ,christian4 ,now let us consider the opposite virtue--gratitude4 ,it is1 to be sure1 one of the little virtues4 ,yet how can we call any class of virtues little8 ,no doubt there are1 strictly speaking1 grades of merit very much higher one above the other4 ,but that is not so much from the action done in each case as from the motive that inspires the action4 ,one saves a man's life for the love of money2 another gives a glass of cold water for the love of ,god4 ,the glass of water is nothing compared to a human life2 yet the glass of water will be rewarded for all eternity1 and the saving of the human life is paid for as we pay for a load of coal4 ,brethren1 beware of thinking there is any thing to be called little that has to do with ,god and eternal life2 and always bear in mind that1 by practising little virtues with an earnest purpose to please ,god1 your merit is according to your heart1 and not according to your hand4 ,i do not intend to speak specially1 just now1 of gratitude to ,god2 but between man and man gratitude is one of those gentle virtues that increase our fondness for each other4 ,gratitude is a short cut to sincere and lasting friendship4 #cgd ,and if a supernatural motive inspires one's gratitude to his friends1 then a holy friendship is the result4 ,some people complain that they have no friends4 ,i think they are most to blame themselves4 ,have they never had a favor done them8 ,why1 every one of us has had a score of favors done him every day of his life4 ,those who bear it in mind1 who say a word of hearty thanks1 who watch a chance to do a favor in return1 never lack friends4 ,brethren1 never forget a favor4 ,return it if you can1 at least in part2 but at any rate never forget it4 ,feel grateful at least2 say a thankful word2 offer up a prayer for your benefactors now and then4 ,the best use we can make of our memories is to remember our benefactors4 ,favors done and favors gratefully remembered are the two halves of a happy life4 ,it would be only simple justice if we looked on gratitude as we do on a just debt2 for gratitude pays debts1 first in good-will1 and before long in a more substantial manner4 ,you know that an honest debtor will always try to save a little from day to day to pay his debts4 ,so we can do a little from time to time by way of instalments1 so to speak2 we can say a daily prayer for our benefactors1 write an occasional letter1 pay a visit now and then1 often praise them to our friends4 ,of course1 those who have done us the greatest favors are entitled to the deepest gratitude4 ,now1 who has done so much for us as our parents8 ,certainly1 next to ,god1 our parents stand first in the list of our benefactors4 ,yet many1 especially after they have married and settled down in their own families1 are wanting in gratitude to their parents4 ,married persons who are badly treated by their own children should sometimes ask themselves if it be not in punishment for their forgetfulness of their own parents4 #cge ,of course1 when we are in middle life1 what was done for us in childhood seems very far away2 it was diffused over many years2 it was a regular habit and course of life2 it was bound up in our parents own happiness4 ,but let us bear in mind1 all the same1 how true and deep the love that inspired it2 how unwearied the patience2 how self-forgetful the devotion of our parents1 and let us seek every chance to make their last years happy4 ,brethren1 shall ,i say a word about gratitude due to us of the sanctuary8 ,has not some priest done you a favor2 converted you by a sermon1 inspired you to perseverance by his advice in the confessional1 soothed your sick and weary heart1 or reconciled you to a dreary burden8 ,if so1 you ought to pray for him1 and especially for your pastors4 ,but gratitude to ,god is1 of course1 the first and best of all4 ,from him we have received all1 and1 having forfeited every favor1 again and again received them back from the divine bounty4 ------------------- #cgf ,twelfth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 #b ,corinthians iii4 #d-i4 ,brethren3 ,such confidence we have1 through ,christ towards ,god4 ,not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves as of ourselves2 but our sufficiency is from ,god4 ,who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament1 not in the letter1 but in the ,spirit4 ,for the letter killeth2 but the ,spirit giveth life4 ,now if the ministration of death1 engraven with letters upon stones1 was glorious1 so that the children of ,israel could not steadfastly behold the face of ,moses1 for the glory of his countenance1 which is done away3 how shall not the ministration of the ,spirit be rather in glory8 ,for if the ministration of condemnation be glory1 much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke x4 #bc-cg4 ,at that time3 ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see4 ,for ,i say to you that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see1 and have not seen them3 and to hear the things that you hear1 and have not heard them4 ,and behold a certain lawyer stood up1 tempting him1 and saying3 ,master1 what must ,i do to possess eternal life8 ,but he said to him3 ,what is written in the law8 how readest thou8 ,he answering1 said3 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole heart1 and with thy whole soul1 and with all thy strength1 and with all thy mind3 and thy neighbor as thyself4 ,and he said to him3 ,thou hast answered right3 this do1 and thou shalt live4 ,but he1 willing to justify himself1 said to ,jesus3 ,and who is my neighbor8 #cgg ,and ,jesus answering1 said3 ,a certain man went down from ,jerusalem to ,jericho1 and fell among robbers1 who also stripped him1 and having wounded him1 went away1 leaving him half dead4 ,and it happened that a certain priest went down the same way1 and seeing him1 he passed by4 ,in like manner also a ,levite1 when he was near the place and saw him1 passed by4 ,but a certain ,samaritan being on his journey came near him2 and seeing him was moved with compassion4 ,and going up to him1 bound up his wounds1 pouring in oil and wine3 and setting him upon his own beast1 brought him to an inn1 and took care of him4 ,and the next day he took out two pence1 and gave to the host1 and said3 ,take care of him3 and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above1 ,i at my return will repay thee4 ,which of these three in thy opinion was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers8 ,but he said3 ,he that showed mercy to him4 ,and ,jesus said to him3 ,go and do thou in like manner4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxiv4 ,the ,good ,samaritan4 ,go and do thou in like manner4 ,st4 ,luke x4 #cg4 ,how few of us1 brethren1 are really naturally of a self-sacrificing disposition6 ,how few actually enjoy1 for example1 the offices of the sick-room1 or so much as a little visit of condolence to an afflicted friend6 #cgh ,that is why our ,blessed ,lord1 in this day's ,gospel1 has given us the beautiful parable of the good ,samaritan4 ,although a heretic and schismatic against the law of ,moses1 he is chosen as a model because he had a tender1 compassionate heart1 and was willing to put himself to trouble and expense for his neighbor's welfare4 ,the corporal works of mercy1 brethren1 are the easiest of the ways to the love of ,god4 ,people are fond of admiring the members of religious orders1 who1 for the love of ,god1 serve the sick and the aged1 the insane and the orphans2 often forgetting that if this is good as a life-work for them1 it is not bad as an occasional practise of virtue for us living in the world4 ,all around us there are shoulders bending under weary burdens and hearts breaking with insupportable cares3 yes1 even in one's own household4 ,how often do men deny their wives the pleasure of their company2 when ,sunday comes1 going off with any chance companions and leaving the poor mother to mind the children1 to miss ,mass1 and sit lonely at home the livelong day4 ,how very often do young men think of taking anybody's sisters to some respectable place of amusement rather than their own sisters6 ,i think that if a spiritual thermometer were dipped into such men's hearts they would be found pretty near the freezing point4 ,but1 brethren1 the sick-room--ah6 that is the place on the road between ,jerusalem and ,jericho where men and women are oftenest found lying in the direst distress4 ,have you ever been very sick8 ,if so1 you know the value of a little good nursing4 ,a man who was just recovering from a very dangerous sickness told me once that when his head was burning with the fever he would willingly have given a hundred thousand dollars for the cooling1 restful relief he enjoyed every time the nurse rearranged the pillows for him4 #cgi ,and if you cannot be a regular nurse for the sick1 there is no reason why you should not pay an occasional visit to the sick-room4 ,you can spend a pleasant quarter of an hour in cheerful conversation4 ,you can relieve some poor1 weary watcher1 so that she or he may get a little rest4 ,you can take the ailing child from the worn-out mother's arms and let her lie down and rest her stiffened limbs1 or go to church to refresh her anxious soul4 ,you can bring some little delicacy to soothe the sick person's palate4 ,you can read some prayers beside the sick bed morning or night2 for we all know that in time of illness it is almost impossible to pray one's self4 ,you can lend a hand to set things to rights1 to cook a meal of victuals1 or wash the dishes1 or run an errand to the drug-store or grocery2 and ever and always you can say a word of comfort1 of hope1 of resignation to the divine will--words cheap to give but precious to receive4 ,and when at last death is come your presence may be of the deepest comfort4 ,then is the time to come forward promptly and help to lay out the ,christian corpse2 to set up for a night beside that strange1 silent guest in the coffin2 and1 when you find two or three gathered about it1 to have the courage to lead in reciting the rosary for the soul's happy repose4 ,i know1 brethren1 that there are many kind hearts who zealously practise these lovely virtues4 ,but there are others1 especially among the men1 who nearly quite forget them4 ,and others still who do them grudgingly1 and only after many entreaties4 ,to obtain a kind act from an unwilling heart1 and after encountering many excuses1 is like blowing a dying fire3 before you see the bright coals your face is pretty well covered with ashes and cinders4 #chj ,brethren1 let us not be put to shame by the ,samaritan4 ,when confronted with persons suffering from poverty1 sickness1 death1 or any misfortune1 do like the ,samaritan3 forget all about their nationality1 or acquaintanceship1 or religion4 ,say something or do something in charity and for the love of ,god2 your neighbor's deepest gratitude and ,god's sure reward will amply repay you4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxv4 ,our ,neighbors4 ,which of these three1 in thy opinion1 was neighbor to him that fell among robbers8 ,but ,he said1 he that showed mercy to him4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,we are taught in the ,gospel of today to love our neighbors as ourselves4 ,now1 if we have this love it shows itself in deeds4 ,if1 when we see our neighbor in distress1 we pass by1 thinking some one else may help him1 but we cannot1 we are like the proud priest and the ,levite1 not like the good ,samaritan4 ,our ,lord1 after describing the charity of this ,samaritan1 says3 ,go and do thou in like manner4 ,we can not pass by our neighbor when he is in extreme necessity without sin2 and if his necessity be great we must help him1 at least out of our abundance4 ,it is a mistake to think that we are free of obligation in this matter4 ,st4 ,john says3 ,he that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need1 and shall shut up his bowels from him1 how doth the charity of ,god abide in him8 #cha ,are not all men creatures of ,god8 ,are not all men redeemed by the ,blood of ,christ8 ,does ,god give more of this world's goods to one man than to another because he loves one more than another8 ,not at all4 ,the poorest in this world's goods may be rich in ,god's grace4 ,it is plain1 then1 that if ,god has charity for all men1 we cannot have his grace if we do not exercise charity towards all1 and particularly our neighbor in distress4 ,we must love those whom ,god loves if we love ,god1 and this love must be active--not in word nor in tongue1 says ,st4 ,john1 but in deed and in truth4 ,we all pray to ,god for mercy2 but if we would find mercy we must show mercy4 ,blessed are the merciful1 says our ,lord1 for they shall obtain mercy4 ,but1 says ,st4 ,james1 judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy4 ,mercy shall be granted to the merciful1 but it shall be denied to the hard of heart4 ,deal thy bread to the hungry1 says ,isaias1 and bring the needy and the harborless into thy house4 ,then thou shalt call and the ,lord shall hear4 ,st4 ,jerome says3 ,i have never known a merciful man to have a bad death4 ,the word of ,god encourages us to redeem our sins with alms and our iniquities with works of mercy to the poor4 ,it says further3 ,for alms deliver from all sin and from death1 and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness4 ,we are taught also in ,holy ,scripture that ,christ considers as done to himself what we do for the poor1 but that if we refuse to help those in distress it is as if charity were refused to ,christ himself4 ,the sentence which shall decide our eternal happiness or woe will be according to our behavior towards our neighbor in distress4 #chb ,let us take care not to be deaf to the cries of the suffering poor2 let us rather embrace with affection the lovely virtue of mercy4 ,bishop ,challoner says3 ,it was mercy which brought the ,son of ,god down from heaven to us1 and it is mercy which carries us up to him4 ,he calls mercy the favorite daughter of the great ,king4 ,the reward of the merciful will be very great4 ,he that hath mercy on the poor lendeth to the ,lord1 and he will repay him4 ,those of us who labor in the sacred ministry and those who do work in the ,conference of ,st4 ,vincent de ,paul meet continually with persons whose distress appeals most powerfully to our charity4 ,how we wish the offerings for the poor were more generous6 ,how we wish ,god would inspire pious ,christians to send in donations for the poor6 ,if you would sometimes send into the church-office envelopes containing money for the poor1 what good use we could make of it1 and how it would call down the mercy of ,god upon your souls6 ,brethren1 we have ,jesus ,christ with us in the persons of the poor4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxvi4 ,occasions ,of ,sin4 ,who is my neighbor8 --,from the ,gospel of the ,sunday4 #chc ,this is a very important question1 my brethren4 ,we depend much for our happiness on the kind of persons who live around us and on how they feel to-wards us4 ,our ,lord answers the question by the famous and touching parable of the ,good ,samaritan4 ,by that parable he teaches us kindness of heart2 he makes that the mark of true neighborly conduct4 ,the good neighbor is the friendly and benevolent one4 ,but may we not turn the question around and learn another good lesson from it8 ,i think we can4 ,the ,gospel is like a piece of good cloth4 ,you know when a wise mother buys some cloth to make the children clothes she will get a piece that1 as they say1 will do to turn--that is1 when one side is worn out you can rip up the garment and make it over again with the inside turned outside1 and so it will last quite a while longer4 ,so we may learn1 perhaps1 another lesson from the question in the ,gospel by reversing it and asking1 ,who is not my neighbor8 ,the saloon-keeper is not your neighbor4 ,geographically speaking1 no doubt he is your neighbor4 ,he takes care to be handy to you4 ,he is on the ground-floor of the big tenement-house you live in1 so that you must pass his door to get to your own4 ,or he is on the corner you must turn twenty times a day4 ,if nearness were the only mark of a neighbor1 the saloon-keeper is very neighborly indeed4 ,but1 morally speaking1 and in the meaning of our ,lord's parable1 he is perhaps the last man who can claim to be your neighbor4 ,yet many honest fellows treat the saloon-keeper not only as their neighbor1 but as a partner in their business4 ,they do the hard work2 the workingman's share in the partnership is to bend under the heavy hod in the hot sun1 or to strike with the heavy sledge on the rocks1 or to be half-stifled the livelong day in the hot factory2 the other partner has for his share of the work only to smile and pass the bottle4 #chd ,you know which one gets the bulk of the profits2 or if you do not1 the working-man's wife and family know it all too well4 ,how many foolish men are there who have taken this bad neighbor into partnership the most confidential1 and not only give him most of their money in return for worse than nothing1 but have made him1 besides1 the managing partner of their leisure1 their friendships1 and their politics6 ,as to the sorrows that are bred by the saloon-keeper's traffic1 he manages to escape them for a time2 and may ,god give him the grace to repent of his sins and fly from their occasion--that is1 change his business--that he may escape the divine wrath in the future4 ,another very bad neighbor1 and one very unworthy of that name1 is a certain class of newsdealers4 ,i say a certain class1 for ,i hope that not all news dealers are alike4 ,but there are very many of them who are guilty of the loss of human souls by selling periodicals and books which can only corrupt the mind and heart of the reader4 ,i ask you1 ,christian parents1 what do you think of those who dress out their windows1 with bad pictures to lure passionate youth to the early wreck of soul and body8 ,what do you think of persons who actually make a living in selling journals which are but the pictured proceedings of the police courts8 ,o my brethren6 how often is the grace of a good confession and ,communion destroyed by a few minutes bad reading6 ,how many there are whose first mortal sin has been some act of youthful depravity suggested by what was bought at a newsdealer's6 ,such news dealers hold ,satan's certificates to teach the science of perdition4 #che ,what need has the ,evil ,spirit to fear the ,catholic ,church and ,catholic school as long as he is not hindered from laying his snares for youthful virtue in every direction1 as long as the laws against obscene literature are a dead-letter8 ,therefore1 let ,catholic parents furnish their families with good reading1 both secular and religious2 let them take at least one ,catholic paper1 and let them patronize and direct their children to patronize news dealers who do not sell dangerous matter4 ,of course there are other bad neighbors1 such as those who invite you to a public dance1 or a moonlight excursion1 or a ,sunday picnic1 or a low theatre4 ,but ,i think you will agree with me that the commonest vices are intemperance and impurity1 and that our worst enemies are those two bad neighbors1 the saloon-keeper and the vender of impure literature4 ------------------- #chf ,thirteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,galatians iii4 #af-bb4 ,brethren3 ,to ,abraham were the promises made1 and to his seed4 ,he saith not1 ,and to his seeds1 as of many3 but as of one1 ,and to thy seed1 who is ,christ4 ,now this ,i say1 that the testament which was confirmed by ,god1 the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years1 doth not disannul1 to make the promise of no effect4 ,for if the inheritance be of the law1 it is no more of promise4 ,but ,god gave it to ,abraham by promise4 ,why then was the law8 ,it was set because of transgressions1 until the seed should come1 to whom he made the promise1 being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator4 ,now1 a mediator is not of one3 but ,god is one4 ,was the law then against the promises of ,god8 ,god forbid4 ,for if there had been a law given which could give life1 verily justice should have been by the law4 ,but the ,scripture hath concluded all under sin1 that the promise by the faith of ,jesus ,christ might be given to them that believe4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xvii4 #aa-ai4 ,at that time3 ,as ,jesus was going to ,jerusalem1 he passed through the midst of ,samaria in ,galilee4 ,and as he entered into a certain town1 there met him ten men that were lepers1 who stood afar off3 and lifted up their voice1 saying3 ,jesus1 master1 have mercy on us4 ,and when he saw them1 he said3 ,go1 show yourselves to the priests4 ,and it came to pass that1 as they went1 they were cleansed4 ,and one of them1 when he saw that he was cleansed1 went back1 with a loud voice glorifying ,god2 and he fell on his face1 before his feet1 giving thanks3 and this was a ,samaritan4 #chg ,and ,jesus answering1 said3 ,were there not ten made clean8 and where are the nine8 ,there is no one found to return and give glory to ,god1 but this stranger4 ,and he said to him3 ,arise1 go thy way1 for thy faith hath made thee whole4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxvii4 ,thanksgiving4 ,where are the nine8 --,st4 ,luke xvii4 #aa4 ,,usccb3 ,st4 ,luke xvii4 #ag4 ,of the ten lepers whose cure is related in this day's ,gospel1 only one returned to give thanks1 and he was a ,samaritan2 the others went their way2 they were cured indeed of their dreadful disease1 but disgraced by our ,lord's sad question1 ,where are the nine8 ,thanksgiving1 brethren1 should follow after ,god's mercies to us1 not only as a matter of justice1 but in order to secure the effect of those mercies themselves4 ,just as1 in our bodily life1 in order to get the benefit of fresh air1 breathing in must be followed by breathing out1 so the giving of thanks must follow the reception of all divine favors4 ,the grace of ,god is to the soul what the breath is to the body2 and the body1 to live1 must not only draw the air in1 but give it forth again to make room for new and fresher air4 ,so in the life of our souls we breathe in ,god's grace and we breathe out thanksgiving4 ,thanksgiving is furthermore a matter of justice4 ,the holiest debt we owe to ,god or man is the debt of thanks4 ,every honest man gives thanks for favors received from other men1 and every upright soul gives thanks to ,god4 #chh ,it is the most indispensable of all our obligations1 because it is the least that we can do4 ,in all our traffic with heaven1 gratitude is the only coin we can mint ourselves4 ,thanksgiving is that part of our sanctification necessarily our own4 ,well1 brethren1 if this be really true and who can deny it8--then a great many of us are insolvent debtors of the worst kind4 ,now you hear it said sometimes that the man who does not pay his debts is as bad as a thief1 and in many cases this is perfectly true4 ,so the difference between an open sinner and a thankless ,christian is that between a thief and a man who by his own fault does not pay his debts4 ,indeed1 we sometimes feel as if ,god ought to thank us for the favor we do him by condescending to serve him4 ,confession and ,communion and daily prayer1 forgiveness of in juries and resisting temptations so puff us up with conceit that we are apt to blame ,god because in view of our holiness he does not exempt us from the ordinary ills of life6 ,as a matter of fact it is with ,god and us as with a storekeeper and his customer4 ,you know why a man cannot get trust at a store2 it is because he was trusted before and didn't pay his debts4 ,now pretty nearly all the pay that ,god asks for his favors is that we shall give him thanks1 and if we will not do that much he can hardly think us worthy of his further bounty4 ,if we do give thanks he multiplies his favors2 for he is determined to keep us in his debt1 and as fast as we return thanks so much the faster does he lavish his love upon us4 ,so when we ask why we suffer this miserable stagnation in our spiritual career1 perhaps the true answer would be that we are members of a big multiple of that original thankless nine4 #chi ,oh6 let us thank ,god that we have the blessings of the true religion1 that he is our ,father1 ,jesus ,christ our ,redeemer1 and the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary our ,mother4 ,let us thank him for his gracious promise of the everlasting joys of ,paradise4 ,for these unspeakable favors our thanks should be ceaseless4 ,let us give thanks1 too1 in our fervent morning prayers that we have escaped the dangers of the night1 and in our night prayers that we have been saved from the noon-day demon4 ,when we rise from our meals let us offer a word of thanks1 making at least the sign of the cross1 blessing ,god for the health he gives us and our family4 ,let us thank him for our afflictions--yes1 even for temptations2 for the pains we suffer thereby are the growing-pains of the soul4 ,especially after receiving ,holy ,communion let us give long and heartfelt thanks for all ,god's dealing with us2 for we have then received the greatest of all his gifts1 his only-begotten ,son4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxviii4 ,shamelessness ,in ,sinners4 ,there met him three men that were lepers1 who stood afar off and lifted tip their voice1 saying3 ,jesus1 ,master1 have mercy on us4 --,the ,gospel of the ,sunday4 ,leprosy1 my brethren1 is often spoken of in ,holy ,writ1 and is considered a type of sin4 ,it is a loathsome and contagious disease1 and when a man was so unhappy as to contract it1 besides being driven away by the ,mosaic law1 he fled in very shame from the company of others4 #cij ,so it is with the common run of sinners2 one of their direst sufferings is shame1 from which comes such remorse1 such self-detestation1 such reasonable envy of the happy state of the innocent1 that1 standing afar off1 the poor sinner at last lifts up his voice and cries to our ,lord for mercy4 ,so there is always some chance for a poor sinner while he is ashamed of himself2 where there is shame there is hope4 ,but1 brethren1 it happens in our times that there are many sinners without shame4 ,many great sins are done almost as a matter of course1 and some even made matter of jest1 perhaps of boast4 ,need ,i mention them8 ,time was that if a man wished to see a vulgar play he was forced to creep up some dark alley2 now he may go to a filthy opera in a coach and four1 and with the lords of the land1 ay1 even the ladies of the land4 ,when you and ,i were boys there was but one commonly known illustrated paper with immoral pictures and bad reading matter2 the news dealers now hang their stands all over with them1 and young men1 and even young women1 buy and read them without a blush4 ,you and ,i can remember when it was a disgrace for a man to idle behind a bar-room counter and get his living from the drunkard and spendthrift4 ,these men make our laws now4 ,it used to be the pride of a young man to get to work as soon as possible to help the old folks along2 we hear now too often of hearty young men shamelessly dependent on their parents4 ,and we know of too many parents who are not ashamed of habits of intoxication nor of cursing in the hearing of their little ones4 #cia ,and how many mothers of families are there whose harsh voices are heard all over the neighborhood1 quarrelling with their husbands and scolding their children6 ,time was when a drunken woman was what ,scripture says she is1 a great wrath1 and her shame shall not be hid4 ,now they publicly send their little boys and girls to the saloon for beer4 ,do ,i exaggerate8 ,am ,i not1 on the contrary1 forced for decency's sake to pass over other shameless sins1 which all but the blind and deaf know of among us8 ,indeed1 dear brethren1 the word of ,god is true now as of yore that sinners preach their shame like ,sodom4 ,the lepers laugh at their leprosy4 ,they run in among us to blight us4 ,their disease1 that blight which withers the soul with eternal decay1 they rub off upon us4 ,they do it by bad example1 by laughing at the simple virtue of good ,christians1 by jesting and mockery1 by bullying1 by ill-gotten riches and ill-gotten power4 ,but we must remember that they are all this time really sinners1 and worse than ordinary sinners1 because without shame4 ,here1 then1 is our first duty2 not to permit human respect1 worldly position1 or a bullying tongue to silence our love of ,god's honor1 our detestation of what does it harm and our pity for the sinner himself4 ,a good remedy against shamelessness in sinning is just a little plain talk4 ,if sometimes1 instead of laughing at a vile jest1 we should say1 ,you ought to be ashamed of yourself1 we should please ,god and save souls4 ,in the family1 especially1 parents should create a sound family opinion about places and persons and reading and amusements and all things else that lead to sin3 bad theatres1 moonlight excursions1 public balls1 liquor stores1 and beer-gardens4 ,a little plain talk1 accompanied by good example and much prayer on the part of good ,christians1 will do a great deal1 if not to cure the leprosy of sin in those who have it1 at any rate to keep the lepers standing afar off from the uncontaminated and innocent4 ------------------- #cib ,sermon ,,cxix4 ,dangers ,of ,venial ,sin4 ,i know thy works1 that thou art neither hot nor cold4 --,apocalypse iii4 #ae4 ,it is plain that these words of ,holy ,writ describe a person in the state of venial sin2 or rather one who is in that state wilfully and quite careless about it4 ,now1 my brethren1 ,i do not wish to make you scrupulous1 but there is no mistake about this2 all experience shows that persons careless of venial sins are pretty sure to slip down into mortal sins4 ,indeed 7on the other hand71 about the only ones who manage to keep clear of mortal sins are those who are fearful of falling into venial sins4 ,save the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves2 or1 waste the pennies and the dollars will waste themselves4 ,scripture applies this as follows3 ,he that despiseth small things shall fall little by little4 ,if one keeps the dogs and goats out of the garden the cows will have small chance to get in4 ,keep a watch on the venial sins and the mortal sins will keep out of sight4 #cic ,and does it not stand to reason that1 if one is habituated to look keenly after little sins1 it is morally impossible for him to be carried away by great sins8 ,if you are anxious and distressed because your soul seems less pure1 less holy1 less beautiful than it ought to be1 with what horror will you be filled at the bare thought of becoming a regular slave of the evil spirit6 ,and how much easier is it1 brethren1 to keep a sharp lookout for a few little trifles1 rather than to be always running the risk of eternal woe6 ,and now ,i will tell you of some of those who are full of venial sins1 and pretty sure to be sooner or later in a state of mortal sin4 ,those who are content with their ,easter duty--a soul content with a spiritual meal once in twelve months cannot have very vigorous spiritual health or a very strong appetite for divine things4 ,those who are often late for ,mass--once in a while they will miss it altogether1 and for no particular reason1 except that they feel it a great bore to have to do anything for the love of ,god4 ,those who continually neglect their morning prayers3 even though they make an effort to say their night prayers1 they have omitted deliberately the most necessary religious act of the day4 ,those who are addicted to idleness2 for that is one of the worst occasions of sin1 both mortal and venial4 ,those who are stingy1 especially to their near relatives and the poor2 to love money is to love something our ,lord has a great contempt for4 ,those who are touchy and resentful2 for they cannot live in peace with anybody1 and peace is necessary for our spiritual welfare4 ,those who tell improper stories1 and are fond of hearing others do it2 but as to this class1 ,i am not sure but that they are in mortal sin already3 ,can a man put fire in his bosom and not be burned8 ,those who are fond of gossip2 for ,god will not permit us to trifle with our neighbor's good name1 and gossipers and tale-bearers are often not in mortal sin1 only because1 malicious as they are1 they are just as stupid4 #cid ,those who1 though they don't get drunk1 yet hang around saloons1 and those who are fond of drinking and treating2 and this is a case1 my brethren1 where only judgment-day will tell where venial sin ends and mortal sin begins4 ,dear brethren1 the only really safe way of dealing with ,god is the generous way4 ,arouse yourself with high and noble motives to be a real friend of ,god1 faithful and true in things little as well as great1 and religion will seem something new and ever so much pleasanter to you4 ,otherwise you will not have the comfort of being sure of ,god's friendship at all4 ,you may be like an old lady who once told me very sorrowfully about how her daughter died4 ,i was watching at her bedside1 she said1 and1 after a long spell of suffering1 she dropped off at last into a gentle slumber4 ,i turned down the lamp and stepped softly into the next room1 waiting to hear her call me when she woke up4 ,an hour passed1 another hour1 a third1 and still she slept on4 ,finally the doctor came1 and so we had to wake her up4 ,but oh6 when we came to the bedside we found her dead1 cold and dead1 while ,i thought her asleep4 ,so your soul may seem to you only sleeping1 only lukewarm in ,god's service1 only careless about your religious duties2 whereas it may be all the time1 if not in the very state of spiritual death--mortal sin--at least in the torpor which goes before it4 ------------------- #cie ,fourteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,galatians v4 #af-bd4 ,brethren3 ,i say then1 walk in the spirit1 and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh4 ,for the flesh lusteth against the spirit3 and the spirit against the flesh2 for these are contrary one to another3 so that you do not the things that you would4 ,but if you are led by the spirit1 you are not under the law4 ,now the works of the flesh are manifest1 which are1 fornication1 uncleanness1 immodesty1 luxury1 idolatry1 witchcraft1 enmities1 contentions1 emulations1 wrath1 quarrels1 dissensions1 sects1 envy1 murders1 drunkenness1 revellings1 and such like4 ,of the which ,i foretell you1 as ,i have foretold to you1 that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of ,god4 ,but the fruit of the spirit is charity1 joy1 peace1 patience1 benignity1 goodness1 longanimity1 mildness1 faith1 modesty1 continency1 chastity4 ,against such there is no law4 ,and they that are ,christ's1 have crucified their flesh with the vices and concupiscences4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew vi4 #bd-cc4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,no man can serve two masters4 ,for either he will hate the one1 and love the other3 or he will hold to the one1 and despise the other4 ,you cannot serve ,god and ,mammon4 ,therefore ,i say to you1 be not solicitous for your life1 what you shall eat1 nor for your body1 what you shall put on4 ,is not the life more than the food1 and the body more than the raiment8 ,behold the fowls of the air1 for they sow not1 neither do they reap1 nor gather into barns3 and your heavenly ,father feedeth them4 ,are not you of much more value than they8 #cif ,and which of you by thinking can add to his stature one cubit8 ,and for raiment why are you solicitous8 ,consider the lilies of the field how they grow3 they labor not1 neither do they spin4 ,and yet ,i say to you1 that not even ,solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these4 ,now if ,god so clothe the grass of the field1 which to-day is1 and to-morrow is cast into the oven3 how much more you1 ye of little faith8 ,be not solicitous therefore1 saying3 ,what shall we eat1 or what shall we drink1 or wherewith shall we be clothed8 ,for after all these things do the heathen seek4 ,for your ,father knoweth that you have need of all these things4 ,seek ye1 therefore1 first the kingdom of ,god and his justice1 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxx4 ,the ,poverty ,of ,christ4 ,for after all these things do the heathen seek4 --,st4 ,matthew4 vi4 #cb4 ,in this day's ,gospel our ,blessed ,lord would teach us that the difference between men is the difference between the objects for which they live4 ,and he lays down the fundamental law of his kingdom1 that if the chief object of one's life is the enjoyment of the things every where about us--eating and drinking and money and lands--he has therein a mark of belonging to the kingdom of this world4 ,to belong to our ,lord's kingdom we must live for none of these things as the end of our endeavors4 ,we may1 indeed1 have and use the things of this world1 but for higher purposes than the world itself can offer2 as far as any enjoyment in them is concerned1 it is too trifling a matter to engage our serious pursuit4 #cig ,yet1 brethren1 is not the whole ,christian world absorbed in seeking after what should be the heathen's peculiar treasure8 ,is not this the most anxious inquiry1 ,how shall ,i get rich8 ,is not the possession of riches deemed the most enviable happiness8 ,is it not the best praise of an individual that he is prosperous1 and of a nation that it is wealthy8 ,what a serious lesson it is1 therefore1 that our ,lord expresses his contempt for what is deemed the height of human wisdom among us--a contempt no less profound because so gently expressed6 ,if--he as much as says--if you and ,i are to make choice of beauty1 you may choose ,king ,solomon's wardrobe with all its jewels1 and ,i will take the new-blown lily2 if you talk to me of foresight and skill in the business of life1 you may admire the successful speculator1 but the little sparrow is my model4 ,and our ,lord's life was fully in accord with his doctrine4 ,for it was of set purpose that he saw fit to lack those things that nearly all men covet most2 that he was the child of a poor maiden1 and the apprentice of a country carpenter2 that he was a wanderer barefoot and needy about ,judea1 yet all the time the only-begotten ,son of the ,lord of all majesty2 that he was seemingly a tried and convicted malefactor1 and died naked and all but alone upon the gibbet1 yet all the time the immortal ,king of ages4 ,the truth is that this unhappy overvaluing of the more lowly things of life is a fault deeply rooted in our fallen nature4 ,that the eager pursuit of wealth is not compatible with ,god's service2 that it is the peculiar province of the heathen we indeed know4 #cih ,and we know that the human soul is too noble a being to expend its dearest action to purchase any perishable thing whatever4 ,yet very many persons who deem themselves good enough ,christians are quite proud of their success in the heathen's way of life4 ,and many other ,christians fall into downright despair because ,god has deprived them of the things that the heathen seek4 ,far be it from us indeed to underestimate the burden of poverty1 or to say that it is an easy thing to suffer it4 ,god knows that it is a terribly hard thing to be poor2 to see one's family suffer actual hunger2 to wander about the streets with no roof to cover one2 to lie helplessly sick and be too poor to get proper food or medicine4 ,but on the other hand it is wrong to act under such circumstances as if all were lost1 or as if ,god hated us2 that is the very time to arouse one's faith in ,god's love and one's reliance on his promises2 to seek his consolation in the holy sacraments2 to raise one's eyes hourly to his countenance by fervent prayer that he may relieve the burden1 or at any rate grant patience to bear it4 ,oh6 how few there are who gladly and heartily choose the ,kingdom of ,god and his justice in preference to the treasures of this world6 ,how few there are who do so even grudgingly and doubtfully6 ,yet the doctrine stands3 to labor for a postponed reward is the ,christian's life1 and for a present reward the heathen's4 ,to pass by a seen and present joy for the sake of an unseen joy is the ,christian's wisdom4 ,to trust the voice of an unseen benefactor--in a word1 to walk in the darkness of a supernatural faith--is the fundamental virtue of our religion4 ------------------- #cii ,sermon ,,cxxi4 ,brotherly ,love4 ,but the fruit of the spirit is charity4 --,epistle of the ,sunday4 ,mark these words1 brethren2 for they describe the ,christian religion1 at least as far as its practical effects are concerned4 ,the presence of the ,holy ,ghost is known by a kindly disposition1 a friendly feeling towards others1 a longing to make others happy1 an affectionate sympathy for their sufferings2 and all this for the love of ,god4 ,so ,st4 ,john says3 ,we know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren4 ,the necessary result of sanctifying grace is a deep attachment to our friends and a loving forgiveness towards our enemies4 ,for all the law1 says ,st4 ,paul1 is fulfilled in one sentence3 thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,kindness of heart1 generosity1 self-forgetfulness1 done to be like ,jesus ,christ1 is the beginning and the end of our holy faith4 ,i give you a new commandment1 said our ,lord to his disciples1 that you love one another2 as ,i have loved you1 that you love one another4 ,again3 ,by this shall men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another4 ,he thus tells us what his law is--fraternal charity2 that is the newness of life man got from heaven above2 that is the torrent of heavenly influence rushing down upon us and bearing us away upon its billows2 and that is the mark set upon us by which we know ourselves1 and others may know us1 to be the fruit of the ,holy ,spirit4 #djj ,but somebody might say1 ,how about the love of ,god8 ,is not the love of ,god the end of all religion8 ,is it not our first duty to love ,god so strongly that we prefer him to all things else1 even our nearest relatives8 ,is not the love of ,god the one absorbing duty of our lives8 ,in answer1 my brethren1 ,i have only to say that that is but another way of looking at the same thing2 for since the coming of our ,lord among us ,god has become man1 and we are born in holy baptism1 not of blood1 nor of the will of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god4 ,when our ,lord1 true ,god as he was1 took human nature1 he took our poor nature just as it is1 saving its sinfulness2 and it is his blessed will that one by one every man1 woman1 and child in the world should personally be joined to his divine nature by baptism1 and1 as ,st4 ,peter says1 be made partakers of the divinity he possesses4 ,and even the poor1 unbaptized heathen1 they are to be gifted with this divine privilege by our love for them and our loving efforts to give it to them4 ,now do you not see why our ,lord1 his ,apostles1 and his church made so much of the love of one's neighbor8 ,and do you not see that1 whether you begin to love with ,god or with man1 if you do it along with ,jesus ,christ1 you do it with the ,god-man1 and therefore always in ,god and never out of man8 ,yet another might say3 ,but1 ,father1 what about the sacraments1 and what about the practice of prayer1 and what about the laws of the church8 ,i answer by a comparison3 ,why do men plant and then reap a field of wheat8 ,that they may in due time get the grain1 make bread of part for themselves and families1 and sell the rest to their neighbors4 #dja ,now1 some may use the very old-fashioned way of thrashing out the grain by the tread of oxen1 and others by the beating of the flail1 and others by the great1 roaring thrashing-machine4 ,the last way is the quickest and cleanest and best4 ,so our ,lord1 when he became man1 invented the sacraments2 he established his church as the new and best way of obtaining the ripe fruit of the ,holy ,spirit1 and that way he commands us to use4 ,so the man who really loves his neighbor as himself learns to do it by using our ,lord's methods1 the sacraments1 and he cannot get along without them4 ,so1 brethren1 cultivate more and more this sweet ,christian virtue of fraternal love2 and especially in your families4 ,when the children cry1 when they are sickly and peevish1 when others are cross and exacting1 when some are dull and stupid1 when the meals are too late or the food is not cooked right1 when the thousand-and-one annoyances of living with others vex and harass you1 remember that you are a ,christian1 and that loving patience1 great good nature1 fondness for friends--to say nothing of zeal for the conversion of poor sinners--are virtues that will win you the kingdom of heaven4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxii4 ,religion ,for ,week-days4 ,no man can serve two masters4 444 ,you cannot serve ,god and ,mammon4 --,gospel of the ,day4 #djb ,what does our ,lord mean by this1 my brethren8 ,no man1 he says1 can serve two masters4 ,why1 you might perhaps answer1 ,i do not see any difficulty about serving two masters4 ,what is to prevent a man1 for instance1 after his regular hours of work are over1 from hiring himself out for the evenings to some other employer1 if he has strength enough to spare8 ,or1 if he can make such an arrangement1 why should he not work for one in the morning1 and another in the afternoon8 ,and are there not1 in fact1 many people1 teachers1 for example1 who give private lessons1 who have a great number of employers whom they agree to serve at stated times8 ,yes1 this seems true enough4 ,it seems so true that ,i believe there are many people who1 in spite of our ,lord's statement to the contrary1 divide their service between ,god and ,mammon4 ,they hire themselves out to the devil1 or at least to the world during the week1 and when ,sunday comes round1 and they put on their good clothes1 they change their master at the same time1 and1 at least for the time that they are in church1 read certain words out of their prayer-books1 in which they offer their service to ,god4 ,and they do not appear to think that there is anything strange about this4 ,they think that1 of course1 decency requires that ,god should want part of their time for his service1 and that he is quite reasonable in only asking for one day out of seven2 but that he should have any claim on them during the part of the week that he does not specially reserve does not seem to occur to their minds4 ,that is the time engaged to the other master--that is1 to their worldly interests or pleasures4 ,they find no difficulty in reconciling the service of ,god and ,mammon at all2 they can be good ,christians and also men of the world like others without the slightest trouble4 #djc ,but ,i seem to hear some one say1 ,father1 are you not pushing this matter rather too far8 ,surely one cannot be in church or saying his prayers at home all the week4 ,some people may find time to come to early ,mass and all the devotions1 and live what you may call a pious life generally2 but ,i have to go to my business or my family will starve4 ,what would you have me do8 ,well1 ,i will tell you4 ,i do not find fault with any one for attending to his business during the week1 and working as much as he is obliged to provide for himself and his family properly2 but ,i must say1 by the way1 that many people1 under this excuse1 fall into the snare of avarice1 and work early and late to hoard up riches which neither they nor their family need1 and which1 left to their children1 is only too likely to be an occasion of sin4 ,however1 ,i repeat1 no one is to be blamed for attending to the proper duties of his state of life2 for working at his business1 if it is a legitimate and useful one4 ,but what one is to be blamed for is for attending to it as if1 instead of being ,god's business1 as it ought to be1 it was no business of his at all2 as if he had nothing to say about it1 and his laws did not apply to it4 ,the delusion that too many ,christians are under is that their religious life and their life in the world are entirely separate concerns2 that religion1 morality1 ,god's laws in general1 have nothing to do with politics1 business1 buying or selling1 or what they call practical affairs4 ,they say1 ,if we did not do as others do about these things1 we could not get on at all2 so they calmly take for granted1 even1 perhaps1 in the confessional1 that such things have no moral aspect whatever4 #djd ,this is a great delusion and a fatal blunder4 ,a ,christian has got to be a ,christian first1 last1 and all the time2 one cannot be a ,catholic on ,sunday1 and to all intents and purposes a ,protestant or an infidel during the week4 ,if you can't get on on the principle of serving ,god and trying to find out and do his will on ,monday as well as on ,sunday1 then all ,i have to say is1 ,don't get on4 ,i dare say there is some truth in your complaint2 a man who manages his business and daily life generally1 as if there was no ,god in the world1 will probably make money faster1 and have in some ways a better time1 than one will who believes in ,god and tries to do his will4 ,very well1 then1 if you prefer this world to the next1 act according to its standard ,sunday1 ,monday1 and all the time2 but don't try to cut inside of it and get a pass to heaven on the ground that you have used another standard now and then4 ------------------- #dje ,fifteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,galatians v4 #be2 vi4 #aj4 ,brethren3 ,if we live in the ,spirit1 let us also walk in the ,spirit4 ,let us not become desirous of vainglory1 provoking one another1 envying one another4 ,and if a man can be overtaken in any fault1 you1 who are spiritual1 instruct such a one in the spirit of mildness1 considering thyself1 lest thou also be tempted4 ,bear ye one another's burdens1 and so shall you fulfil the law of ,christ4 ,for if any man think himself to be something1 whereas he is nothing1 he deceiveth himself4 ,but let every one prove his own work1 and so he shall have glory in himself only1 and not in another4 ,for every one shall bear his own burden4 ,and let him who is instructed in the word communicate to him that instructeth him1 in all good things4 ,be not deceived1 ,god is not mocked4 ,for what things a man shall sow1 those also shall he reap4 ,for he that soweth in the flesh1 of the flesh also shall reap corruption4 ,but he that soweth in the ,spirit1 of the ,spirit shall reap life everlasting4 ,and in doing good1 let us not fail4 ,for in due time we shall reap1 not failing4 ,therefore1 whilst we have time1 let us do good to all men1 but especially to those who are of the household of the faith4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke vii4 #aa-af4 ,at that time3 ,jesus went into a city called ,naim3 and there went with him his disciples1 and a great multitude4 ,and when he came nigh to the gate of the city1 behold a dead man was carried out1 the only son of his mother2 and she was a widow3 and much people of the city was with her4 ,and when the ,lord saw her1 he had compassion on her1 and said to her3 ,weep not4 #djf ,and he came near and touched the bier4 7,and they that carried it stood still47 ,and he said3 ,young man1 ,i say to thee1 ,arise4 ,and he that was dead sat up and began to speak4 ,and he delivered him to his mother4 ,and there came a fear on them all3 and they glorified ,god1 saying3 ,that a great prophet is risen up among us3 and ,god hath visited his people4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxiii4 ,the ,fruits ,of ,a ,bad ,life4 ,be not deceived1 ,god is not mocked2 for what things a man shall sow1 those also shall he reap4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,one would think1 my dear friends1 that the ,apostle would hardly have needed to remind any one having common sense1 or even a little experience1 of such an obvious truth as this4 ,surely no one expects1 when he plants some kind of seed1 to have some other kind of crop come from it4 ,do men1 says our ,divine ,lord1 gather grapes of thorns1 or figs of thistles8 ,no1 we are all well aware that if we want to grow any kind of grain or fruit we must sow the seed or plant the tree which produces it4 ,and yet1 strange to say1 though we all do acknowledge this law of nature in everything outside of ourselves1 we fail to apply it to ourselves1 and especially to our souls4 ,in matters simply pertaining to the body we do indeed know that the cause will produce its effect4 ,if we sow the seed of some fatal disease in ourselves we expect it to break out and run its course2 we do not believe that1 as a rule1 tears or even prayers are going to stop it4 #djg ,but when it comes to the soul1 many ,christians seem to think that everything regarding it may be shifted at their own will2 that they may go on for years sowing the seeds of all kinds of abominable vices in their souls1 and that1 later on1 whenever they may desire1 all this work can be undone in a moment1 and those souls1 which sin has rotted through and through1 can be put right back where they were as they came from the baptismal font1 or even set on a perfect level with those in which the seed of every virtue has been implanted and carefully nurtured from childhood4 ,ah6 my dear brethren1 this is a great and a terrible mistake4 ,hear the words in which ,st4 ,paul continues3 ,he that soweth in his flesh1 of the flesh also shall reap corruption2 but he that soweth in the spirit1 of the spirit shall reap life everlasting4 ,he that soweth in his flesh1 of the flesh also shall reap corruption4 ,here is the great evil of sin1 which repentance1 however sincere1 cannot utterly undo4 ,true contrition will1 no doubt1 especially if accompanied by the ,sacrament of ,penance1 take away the guilt of sin2 but unless it be very intense1 and accompanied by an extraordinary love of ,god1 like that of the great saints1 it will not1 in releasing from guilt1 remedy all the deformity which long-continued habits of vice have worked in the soul4 ,yes1 sorrow may come in such an overflowing torrent as to break down and sweep away all obstacles in its path2 but how often does it come so8 ,to have such sorrow for sin is a rare and remarkable grace from ,god which the sinner has no right to expect4 #djh ,all this is specially true1 as the words of the ,apostle teach us1 of the sins of the flesh1 such as drunken-ness and impurity4 ,the body will hang on to sin after the soul has given it up1 and will drag the soul again down with it4 ,oh6 that those who are addicted to these horrible sensual habits would realize their danger1 and feel the net which the flesh has been weaving round their spirit4 ,but no2 they go on from week to week1 from month to month1 making1 it may be1 now and then a feeble effort to escape2 but too often it can be seen after each confession1 though they are indeed on their feet again1 that the odds against them are greater than ever1 and that their weapons are dropping out of their hands4 ,brethren1 grace is powerful1 surely2 but you are much mistaken if you think it is going to destroy and make of no effect the law of nature4 ,rouse yourselves to the combat which is before you while there is yet time2 for the time may come1 and perhaps sooner than you think1 when the corruption of the flesh will quench the feeble spark of contrition which ,god has hitherto given you1 and in which lies your only hope4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxiv4 ,sins ,of ,parents4 ,and ,jesus said1 ,young man1 ,i say to thee1 arise4 --,st4 ,luke viii4 #ad4 #dji ,many mourning parents1 brethren1 are represented by the poor widow of ,naim1 told of in this day's ,gospel2 and their mourning is for sons dead in mortal sin4 ,these are indeed days of many and various vices1 and our young people are far from being exempt4 ,blasphemy and religious indifference2 neglect of prayer1 ,mass1 and the sacraments2 drunkenness and impurity2 such are the plague-spots on the spiritual corpses of many of our young people4 ,yet1 alas6 as parents raise their eyes to our ,lord's gracious countenance and beg his pity1 they should sometimes confess that they are not without blame for their misfortunes4 ,many parents spoil their children by bad example4 ,for if they profane the name of ,god in the midst of their families1 they need not be surprised to find that in after-years their children have no reverence for ,god or for his church or his sacraments4 ,fathers who come home smelling strong of drink1 and now and then plainly intoxicated1 may indeed hope to save their own souls by thorough repentance1 but are likely enough to have drunkards among their children4 ,parents who tolerate improper language in the household1 and can laugh at a double-meaning joke1 and see no harm in a lascivious dance or a doubtful novel1 need not be surprised to find that their daughters have lost maidenly reserve1 and that their sons are given to open debauchery4 ,parents who neglect their ,easter duty1 and who easily excuse themselves from ,sunday ,mass1 need not be surprised if their children fall quite away from the practice of religion and even from its belief4 ,now1 it often happens that children who have been treated too leniently while quite young are treated too severely when a little older4 ,too much authority should not be used with boys and girls who are some years in their teens4 #daj ,with them authority is at best a medicine1 and not a food4 ,to strengthen a boy's virtue1 to make him love religion1 to give him a bright notion of the next world and of the value of his soul1 the exercise of authority is one means1 but perhaps the least useful of all4 ,in some cases authority can only do harm4 ,to make a person who has full use of reason a good ,christian it is necessary to put him in the way of intelligent instruction1 by giving him good1 readable religious matter1 books or papers2 by persuading him by such inducements as an occasional little present1 and by a continual interest in his progress1 to keep his place at ,sunday-school2 by introducing and discussing religious topics in family conversation1 and by interesting him to attend sermons and lectures4 ,meantime let there be many kind words and much sympathetic conduct1 forgetfulness of past offences1 patience with natural difficulties and with youthful folly2 let all this go beforehand and authority will find nothing left to do4 ,brethren1 do not suppose that it is always best to force one to do what he ought to do2 try rather to induce him1 to attract him4 ,st4 ,francis de ,sales says3 ,you can catch more flies with one drop of honey that with a barrel of vinegar2 and he also says3 ,for every ounce of good advice add a pound of good example4 ,therefore it is that so many scolding parents end by becoming weeping parents4 ,parental authority1 which should be merely the supremacy of all that is worthy of affection1 has made home hateful and driven the children into occasions of sin--the saloon and the low theatre for the boys1 the stolen interview and the common dance for the girls4 #daa ,but1 some one might say1 what if your child has got beyond you and will be bad in spite of every best endeavor on your part--what then8 ,well1 at any rate there is no sense in railing at him4 ,if you can not make him better1 what is the sense of making him miserable8 ,and is not then the very time to lay him1 spiritually speaking1 in his coffin1 and lead our ,lord up to him1 and1 kneeling down1 say3 ,o ,lord6 have pity on me1 for this is my dear son1 dead in mortal sin8 ,say but the word2 touch his dead soul with thy loving hand2 stir him up to repentance6 ,many such prayers cannot be said without producing their effect3 the resurrection of your child's soul from the death of mortal sin4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxv4 ,the ,law ,of ,charity4 ,bear ye one another's burdens1 and so you shall fulfil the law of ,christ4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,the law of ,christ1 dear brethren1 is essentially a law of charity4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole soul and with all thy strength1 and with all thy mind1 and thy neighbor as thyself4 ,this is the whole law of ,christ summed up1 and it is plain that this is a law of love4 ,but the ,apostle bids us bear one another's burdens that we may fulfil this law1 which1 as is evident from the text just quoted1 imposes upon us the love of our ,god and of our neighbor4 ,how1 then1 will the bearing of others burdens help us to serve ,god better8 #dab ,that we have burdens1 and some of us rather heavy ones1 is clear enough2 and that most of us are only too willing to have some one help us to carry them will be1 ,i think1 generally agreed to4 ,every one has his own difficulties2 every one has something which he would like to get rid of if he could1 because it interferes with his comfort4 ,now1 ,i do not think the ,apostle wished us to suppose from his words that ,god would have us free each other from all suffering1 since that is not possible1 as we know that hardship forms a necessary part of our probation4 ,we must expect to have something to suffer always4 ,but what he would have us do1 it seems to me1 is to help each other by counsel and material aid1 to make what otherwise might be almost unbearable easier to carry4 ,my yoke is sweet and my burden light4 ,this is the spirit he wishes us to strive after4 ,it is an unselfish spirit he desires for us1 such as will make us forget our own sufferings in ministering to the wants of others4 ,he wants us to cultivate charity2 to look beyond ourselves and our own interests1 and take up the troubles of our brethren4 ,but you say to me3 ,i do not see what advantage there is in all this2 if ,i take another's burden1 ,i am but adding to my own4 ,it is just here that our really helping each other appears4 ,it is by this very assistance we give our neighbor that we fulfil the law of ,christ1 which demands suffering of us4 ,for by our sympathizing with others and sharing in their difficulties our own burdens become lighter4 ,if we simply took care of ourselves and were forgetful of all the rest of the world1 we would chafe beneath our load2 we would be so wrapped up in ourselves that nothing could persuade us that our sufferings were the very best things that could befall us4 #dac ,by helping our neighbor we help ourselves4 ,we are led to be reconciled to our lot1 to expect nothing more from ,god for ourselves than what we see others getting4 ,we know that they have as just a claim upon him as we1 yet they have their troubles as well as we4 ,the road to heaven is open to all1 but all must take what they get as they go along1 and be thankful for it and make no comparisons4 ,all get a goodly share of what is disagreeable to nature on the way2 our own portion differs only in kind and quantity from that of others4 ,by helping our neighbor1 too1 we fulfil1 as the ,apostle tells us1 the law of ,christ1 for the law of ,christ is charity--love towards ,god1 love towards our fellow-man4 ,our stooping to our neighbor's need fosters ,god's love in our souls no less than love of our neighbor4 ,it makes us go to ,god as our ,father and recognize his justice4 ,we perceive the necessity of mortifying our rebellious appetites and placing ourselves entirely in ,god's hands4 ,how much happier1 how much better ,christians we would be did we but bear each other's burdens6 ,then we would soon learn what now seems so hard3 that the yoke of ,christ is indeed sweet and his burden truly light4 ------------------- #dad ,sixteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,ephesians iii4 #ac-ba4 ,brethren3 ,i beseech you not to be disheartened at my tribulations for you1 which is your glory4 ,for this cause ,i bow my knees to the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named1 that he would grant you1 according to the riches of his glory1 to be strengthened with power by his ,spirit unto the inward man4 ,that ,christ may dwell by faith in your hearts3 that being rooted and founded in charity1 you may be able to comprehend1 with all the saints1 what is the breadth1 and length1 and height1 and depth4 ,to know also the charity of ,christ1 which surpasseth knowledge1 that you may be filled unto all the fulness of ,god4 ,now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly than we ask or understand1 according to the power which worketh in us3 to him be glory in the church1 and in ,christ ,jesus1 throughout all generations1 world with out end4 ,amen4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,luke xiv4 #a-aa4 ,at that time3 ,when ,jesus went into the house of a certain prince of the ,pharisees1 on the ,sabbath day1 to eat bread1 and they were watching him4 ,and behold1 there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy4 ,and ,jesus answering1 spoke to the lawyers and ,pharisees1 saying3 ,is it lawful to heal on the ,sabbath day8 ,but they held their peace4 ,but he1 taking him1 healed him1 and sent him away4 ,and answering them1 he said3 ,which of you whose ass or his ox shall fall into a pit1 and will not immediately draw him out on the ,sabbath day8 ,and they could not answer him to these things4 #dae ,and he spoke a parable also to them that were invited1 marking how they chose the first seats at the table1 saying to them3 ,when thou art invited to a wedding1 sit not down in the highest place1 lest perhaps one more honorable than thou be invited by him3 and he who invited thee and him1 come and say to thee3 ,give place to this man2 and then thou begin with blushing to take the lowest place4 ,but when thou art invited1 go1 sit down in the lowest place3 that when he who invited thee cometh1 he may say to thee3 ,friend1 go up higher4 ,then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee4 ,because every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled3 and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxvi4 ,christian ,humility4 ,he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,as we hear these familiar words1 my brethren1 some of us will perhaps be inclined to say1 or at least to think1 that this matter of humility is just a little threadbare1 so to speak2 that we have already heard pretty much all that can be said about it4 ,i dare say this is true2 but when a thing is very important it has to be spoken of quite often4 ,and humility is very important2 after the love of ,god and of our neighbor1 there is nothing more so4 ,in fact1 the difficulties in the way of loving ,god and our neighbor as we should1 come1 we may say1 entirely from our inordinate love of ourselves2 and this inordinate love of ourselves generally takes the shape either of pride or sensuality4 ,in other words1 pride and sensuality are the two great causes of all our sins2 what wonder1 then1 that our ,lord should warn us so frequently about them8 #daf ,and the very fact that we think we have heard enough about humility shows that we are not so humble as we ought to be4 ,if we think that we are well up in this matter1 it is a good sign that we are not4 ,many people will say1 especially when they are on their knees1 ,oh6 ,i am a miserable sinner2 ,i am everything that is bad2 but when they get up from their knees1 and look around them1 you will find that they think themselves in point of fact pretty nearly as good as anybody else1 and perhaps1 on the whole1 rather better than most people whom they know4 ,it is not1 however1 after all1 about the matter of goodness that pride is most sensitive4 ,most ,christians1 unfortunately1 do not try very hard to be saints1 and are not very much tempted to be proud of their achievements in that direction4 ,but almost every one considers himself tolerably well gifted in the matter of natural common sense2 he thinks his brains about as good as any one else's1 though he may readily admit that he has not had so great advantages as another1 or1 in other words1 that he is no scholar4 ,so1 to be thought or called a natural-born fool is a very hard trial for any one's humility2 almost all of us1 ,i am afraid1 would rather be called a rascal4 ,to be considered bad-looking1 that again is a great mortification to some people2 or to have one's birth and family despised1 to be thought low and vulgar1 how many can you find that will put up with that8 ,that is the real reason why you so often hear some one find fault with somebody else for being stuck up2 it is that when he or she is stuck up ,i am stuck down4 #dag ,you notice1 my brethren1 that this matter of pride is mostly comparative1 as ,i may say4 ,we should not mind other people being stuck up1 if we could only be stuck up too4 ,and it is just here on this tender point that the parable of our ,lord in to-day's ,gospel touches4 ,he says3 ,when thou art invited to a wedding1 sit not down in the first place1 lest1 perhaps1 one more honorable than thou be invited4 ,this is where the shoe pinches1 this admitting that some one else is more honorable than we are2 especially in this country1 where every one shakes hands with the ,president1 and all are made1 as far as possible1 equal4 ,still1 we can manage to admit that there are some who are better entitled to the first place than ourselves2 indeed1 we cannot well help that4 ,but our ,lord would have us go farther than this4 ,he says3 ,sit down in the lowest place4 ,that is the great lesson of humility that is so hard for us to learn4 ,not to say1 ,i am a miserable sinner2 ,i am blind1 weak1 and fallible4 ,oh6 yes1 we can say that easily1 because we feel that everybody else ought to say it of himself1 and probably will say it4 ,but to be ready to acknowledge1 especially if the general opinion goes that way1 that we are inferior to anybody else1 whoever it may be that we may be compared with2 to take this for granted1 and not be surprised if others agree with us1 this is that true humility which is exalted1 not by being put in a place where it can be able to crow over others and thus be turned into pride1 but by being granted the exaltation of being brought nearer to ,god4 ------------------- #dah ,sermon ,,cxxvii4 ,vanity4 ,when thou art invited to a wedding1 sit not down in the highest place4 --,st4 ,luke xiv4 #h4 ,it is not many ,sundays ago that our ,lord's words taught us humility by the spectacle of the ,pharisee's pride contrasted with the publican's lowliness4 ,yet holy church repeats the same lesson to-day by telling us what our ,lord thinks of one who is vain enough to take too high a place at the wedding-feast4 ,and indeed1 brethren1 it takes much teaching for us to learn the corruption of our own hearts4 ,if there is anybody we lack close acquaintance with1 it is our own very selves4 ,if there is one book harder for us to read than any other it is the book of our own hearts4 ,yet in spite of this ignorance of ourselves1 either before ,god or in comparison with our neighbor1 we are always tempted to set ourselves up for something far better than we really are1 and no less tempted to depreciate our neighbor4 ,we are too anxious to exercise the same certain judgment about relative merit in spiritual things as we fancy we can do in temporal affairs4 ,you doubtless know the various standards of worldly preference4 ,one person looks around at others and exclaims in his or her secret heart3 ,with what shocking bad taste do such and such ones dress6 ,they must be very vulgar indeed2 surely ,i cannot be expected to demean myself by going in their company4 ,another says3 ,there is a great deal in social standing4 ,let every one know his place in the world and keep it2 as for me1 ,i am certainly quite above the company of such and such persons4 #dai ,another says3 ,brains is the standard2 good clothes and social position--what are they but miserable vanity and prejudice8 ,but ,i have brains2 and ,i know it1 and can show it2 therefore1 stand aside for me1 for ,i am entitled to preference4 ,now1 brethren1 what is there in the spiritual life that answers to good clothes8 ,i will tell you3 it is certain external practices of devotion4 ,external devotions are indeed necessary for the soul just as clothes are for the body1 and if used in the right spirit give one spiritual warmth and adorn the soul with interior virtues4 ,but we must not be vain of them4 ,and what answers in the spiritual life to the consciousness of social position8 ,the remembrance of many years spent in ,god's service and the various spiritual gifts received from him4 ,but beware of spiritual pride4 ,and what answers to human talents and ability8 ,facility in prayer1 glibness of speech about spiritual things1 knowledge of devotional books1 and the like4 ,and these may be made a cause of vanity4 ,so when our ,lord looks in among the guests at his spiritual table we may well imagine his saying to one or other of us3 ,friend1 ,i perceive that you have been trusting a trifle too much to certain external practices2 they are very good in themselves1 but should be joined to a deeper and truer contrition for your sins and a more practical use of penance and mortification4 ,i am sorry to make you blush1 but really you must step down a few seats lower4 #dbj ,to another he says3 ,friend1 you are in the wrong place2 ,i know that you have received many graces from me in the past1 but ,i also notice a great want of gratitude on your part2 besides this1 ,i see from your present disposition of mind that1 if you are left where you are1 you are likely to be quite puffed up with vanity4 ,so ,i will set you down a little lower to a place opposite a good dish of thanksgiving and an other of humility4 ,to another he says3 ,what are you doing there1 you who are so fault-finding and overbearing8 ,do you trust to your knowledge of spiritual things and your pious talk8 ,your religion consists of words1 words1 words1 and what ,i want is deeds4 ,so1 down with you to the last place at the table2 and if ,i had any place lower than the last you should certainly have it4 ,brethren1 let us be glad to sit down anywhere at our ,lord's banquet2 glad of so much as the crumbs from the table4 ,that is to say1 the friendship of ,god is too precious a thing1 and too much all his own to give1 that we should presume to glory in it4 ,humility1 detachment from our own excellence1 willingness to think poorly of our own merits--such are the virtues that underlie all true piety4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxviii4 ,behavior ,in ,church4 ,and he spoke a parable also to them that were invited1 marking how they chose the first seats at the table4 --,gospel of the ,day4 ,our ,blessed ,saviour in this day's ,gospel teaches us a lesson of good order and practical conduct which may be applied in many ways4 ,i will make the application of it this morning to our conduct in church4 #dba ,we will consider the ,holy ,sacrifice of the ,mass1 the great feast to which we are invited1 the church the banquet-hall1 and the pews the places set apart for the guests4 ,there is nothing more conducive to the pleasure and purpose of an assemblage than the good order and proper arrangement of everything connected with it1 and we often hear persons speak of some event in which they participated as being most enjoyable because everything was so well ordered and arranged4 ,now1 all this applies with double force to the public services of religion4 ,catholics greatly enjoy the public services of the church when every is well ordered and arranged1 and there is nothing to distract them or jar upon them4 ,for at every service there is the divine presence1 and where perfect order reigns it soon makes itself felt3 its calm peace steals in upon the soul1 it communes sweetly1 and worships in spirit and in truth4 ,but in order to secure an external condition of things in our churches so essential to recollection and prayer1 each one must know his place and occupy it without delay or confusion1 and in our present system of church arrangement each worshipper is supposed to have his or her special place assigned1 and the regular seat in the church has become a requirement of devotion as well as a necessity of church finance4 ,hence1 to secure a permanent place in the church is a duty of devotion as well as something of an obligation2 and we find that truly pious ,catholics almost invariably try to secure seats in their parish churches1 be they ever so humble4 ,indeed1 ,catholics who fail to do this are not apt to be very steady in the practice of their religion2 and there can be no doubt as to the neglect of duty in the case4 #dbb ,to contribute to the support of religion is as much a positive law of the church as to attend ,mass on ,sundays1 and the ordinary revenue for the support of religion comes from the pew-rents4 ,we insist1 therefore1 that every ,catholic who can possibly afford it should have his seat in church2 good order requires this as well as duty and devotion4 ,it is a poor business to be all the while occupying other people's pews1 and sometimes1 perhaps1 be required to vacate them4 ,pew-holders have their rights1 and they must be protected in them4 ,nevertheless1 to secure good order and harmony at the services of the church1 pew-holders must be willing at times to waive their rights and allow strangers and others to occupy the vacant seats in their pews4 ,this is no more than politeness and common ,christian charity demand4 ,to refuse a vacant seat in church to a stranger is selfishness gone to seed1 and they are few1 ,i hope1 who would be guilty of such vulgarity4 ,but while all who possibly can should have their regular places in church1 there will1 no doubt1 always be a very considerable number who1 through poverty or perverseness1 will be pew-holders at large1 and to them ,i would also address a few remarks4 ,the ,catholic ,church is the church of the poor6 ,this is our glory and our pride4 ,no one can be too poor to attend the services of the ,catholic ,church4 ,god is no respecter of persons1 nor is his church4 ,the poor are always welcome in her grandest temples1 and none should ever miss a single service of religion because they are too poor to hire a regular seat4 ,in this church1 thank ,god1 everything is free to them1 and there are always vacant seats for them to occupy4 #dbc ,we not only wish non-pew-holders to occupy the vacant seats in our church1 but we insist on their occupying them1 for the good order and harmony of the services require that1 as far as possible1 all should be seated4 ,the only condition we impose is the ,gospel injunction3 ,do not sit down in the first place or in the place of another2 and if you are told to move up higher1 do not refuse4 ,crowding around the doors is more objectionable than anything else1 for there is nothing else that interferes so much with the good order and arrangement of the services4 ,let me repeat1 then1 in conclusion1 the words of the parable3 ,friend1 go up higher1 and don't crowd around the doors4 ------------------- #dbd ,seventeenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,ephesians iv4 #a-f4 ,brethren3 ,as a prisoner in the ,lord1 ,i beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called1 with all humility and mildness1 with patience1 supporting one another in charity1 careful to keep the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4 ,one body and one ,spirit3 as you are called in one hope of your vocation4 ,one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 one ,god and ,father of all1 who is above all1 and through all1 and in us all1 who is blessed for ever and ever4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xxii4 #ce-df4 ,at that time the ,pharisees came nigh to ,jesus3 and one of them1 a doctor of the law1 asked him1 tempting him3 ,master1 which is the great commandment in the law8 ,jesus said to him3 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with thy whole heart1 and with thy whole soul1 and with thy whole mind4 ,this is the greatest and the first commandment4 ,and the second is like to this3 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 ,on1 these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets4 ,and the ,pharisees being gathered together1 ,jesus asked them saying3 ,what think you of ,christ8 ,whose son is he8 ,they say to him3 ,david's4 ,he saith to them3 ,how then doth ,david in spirit call him ,lord1 saying3 ,the ,lord said to my ,lord3 ,sit on my right hand1 until ,i make thy enemies thy footstool8 ,if ,david then called him ,lord1 how is he his son8 ,and no man was able to answer him a word3 neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions4 ------------------- #dbe ,sermon ,,cxxix4 ,prayer ,for ,sinners4 ,and the other is like unto this3 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 --,st4 ,matthew4 xxii4 #ci4 ,how great must be the dignity of human nature1 my brethren1 since1 as we learn by this day's ,gospel1 our ,lord couples the love of his fellow-men with the love of his own sovereign and divine self6 ,perhaps if we appreciated the native worth of human nature we should be a trifle more patient with its faults4 ,i mean1 of course1 other people's faults1 for with our own faults we are all too patient4 ,the practical lesson conveyed by the commandment1 ,love thy neighbor as thyself1 is that it is our duty to love sinners and to pray for them4 ,to love good people is easy enough1 and we think a man a kind of a monster who has not at least one or two dear friends whose virtues have won his love4 ,but it takes a good ,christian to love what at first sight seems so hateful--a drunkard1 a libertine1 an apostate1 a bully1 a thief4 ,to have an actual1 practical affection for such persons1 even when one is related to them1 seems quite a special thing--a peculiar vocation1 a side-path in the spiritual life1 and not by any means the common business and regular vocation of every-day ,christians4 ,yet a moment's thought shows that it is1 without any doubt1 our ,lord's blessed will that we should have a special affection for just such hardened sinners4 ,are they not men1 and are they not purchased by the ,blood of ,christ8 #dbf ,how much we mistake our duty in reference to such poor wretches6 ,when you say of one1 ,oh6 he is a most worthless creature1 how surprised you would be if you could hear a whisper coming from his guardian angel3 ,jesus ,christ thought him worth dying for4 ,and when you say of another1 ,oh6 ,i can't bear him2 ,i can't stay a moment in his company1 how surprised you would be to hear1 ,and ,i1 an angel of ,god1 ,i gladly keep him company day and night4 ,surely1 brethren1 there is something worth loving1 heartily loving1 in a soul that our ,lord would die for1 and to whom ,god would give a bright angel as a constant companion4 ,we are like men going through a picture-gallery3 we admire only the brilliant and unmistakable beauties displayed there--here a gorgeous sunset1 there a fine battle-scene1 and again a ship tossing upon the waves4 ,but one of better taste than common1 without forgetting all these1 will be able to detect the work of a great master1 though faded with the lapse of many years and covered all over with dust4 ,so it is with the poor sinner's soul3 it is the work of a great master4 ,and what though it be all stained and spotted with mortal sin2 is there no such thing as true repentance8 ,are there no fountains of living waters in the sacraments in which it may be washed whiter than snow8 ,are there no gems of divine grace with which it may be decked out as a bride waiting for the bridegroom8 ,prayer for the conversion of sinners should be far more practised than it is4 ,why1 brethren1 look around you in this great city1 and if you can count the stars of heaven or the sands of the sea-shore you can count the men and women in mortal sin2 and1 alas6 very many of them belong to our religion4 ,nay1 look about in your own families4 #dbg ,how seldom will a family be found where there is not at least one member living openly at enmity with ,god6 ,now1 just here1 in the midst of the worst wickedness1 are many thousands of devout servants of ,god1 and in every family one or two souls whose very names might be ,faithful and ,true4 ,and ,god arranges this mingling of good and evil1 that the good souls by their prayers may save the bad ones from eternal death2 just as in southern countries men plant eucalyptus-trees in low1 marshy places1 for the eucalyptus1 with its fragrant leaves1 counteracts the poisonous vapors of the swamp4 ,if1 therefore1 you pray for yourself you do well2 but do not forget that1 if you are a true ,christian1 the poor sinner is your other self4 ,and if you pray for the souls in purgatory1 do not forget that there are many souls about you who are always in danger of hell1 and unless many prayers are offered for them they are likely enough to be lost for ever4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxx4 ,the ,christian ,vocation4 ,i beseech you to walk worthy of your vocation in which you are called4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,in the ,gospel our ,lord says that the perfect love of ,god and of our neighbor fulfils all the law and the commands of ,god through the prophets4 ,at another time he said3 ,be ye perfect as your ,heavenly ,father is perfect4 ,it is plain that every ,christian has a vocation--that is1 is called to a ,christ like1 a ,god like life4 ,something more is expected of him because he has received infused light to know by divine grace how to do more4 ,in general1 we call that a higher1 a more exalted spiritual state4 ,now1 there are degrees even in this depending upon the particular grace it pleases ,god to give to one person or another4 #dbh ,one star differeth from another star in brightness and glory1 and so shall the glory of the ,christians differ in heaven1 according to the perfection to which they have brought their souls while in this school-time of the world-life4 ,over and above what are called strict ,christian laws1 which one must obey or lose heaven1 there are certain principles of ,christianity called ,evangelical counsels--namely1 poverty1 chastity1 and obedience4 ,some folks fancy these counsels apply only to monks1 nuns1 and priests4 ,that is a great mistake4 ,monks1 nuns1 and priests receive grace and are bound by their vocation to practise these counsels in a high degree1 and yet not even all these in the same manner4 ,a secular priest1 for instance1 is not called to practise poverty in the same manner as a priest of a religious order1 although he or even a layman living in the world may practise that counsel1 as he may the other counsels1 too1 just as perfectly as any monk ever heard of4 ,all depends on the grace one has4 ,his vocation and his responsibility and his position in heaven all hang on his fidelity to grace4 ,all ,christians should practise the counsel of poverty4 ,yes1 both rich and poor4 ,the spirit of poverty is detachment from created things4 ,one's heart must not be set on them4 ,one must not love riches for their own sake4 ,one must feel obliged to share with the poor4 ,one must not despise the poor1 but love them for ,christ's sake4 #dbi ,one must give a good deal for religious purposes4 ,one must keep his baptismal vows to renounce the devil and all his pomps4 ,one must1 therefore1 deny himself in many things that savor of the pride of riches1 even if he is rich4 ,why8 ,not because he is a monk1 nun1 or priest1 but because he is a ,christian4 ,every ,christian must practise the counsel of chastity4 ,heaven help us6 ,in these degraded times1 to judge by the fashionable indecencies sanctioned by so-called society people--the horrible abuses of the holy state of marriage1 the filthy accounts appearing every day in the newspapers--one would think that even the ,sixth ,commandment was abolished4 ,now ,i need not enter into particulars1 but you know1 without further argument or illustration1 that every ,christian man1 woman1 and child would be unworthy the name if they did not1 almost every day1 make many sacrifices and struggles against temptation--all of which mean practising the counsel of the ,christian perfection of chastity4 ,so also of obedience4 ,one must obey the ,ten ,commandments and the laws of the church4 ,oh6 yes4 ,and have we not also to obey the special decrees of the ,holy ,father1 of our bishop1 and of our pastor8 ,what sort of a ,christian is he who is his own shepherd1 or one who is always standing up for his own rights1 as they say1 submitting just within law and only when he cannot help himself8 ,and does ,christian humility mean nothing in act8 ,that is a narrow road of obedience and a long one1 as you all know2 and blessed is he who joyfully walks therein4 #dcj ,instead of wanting to shirk these counsels1 and put all upon the shoulders of religious1 every one ought to be praying hard that ,god will1 of his divine bounty1 give us1 too1 men and women living in the world1 more and more grace to practise all that our worldly condition will allow us to do1 convinced by faith that he is most truly happy here1 as he will certainly be hereafter1 who is filled with high ,christian aspirations1 striving to walk worthy of his vocation and realize in himself the picture of a perfect ,christ-like life4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxxi4 ,erroneous ,views ,of ,vocation4 ,as a prisoner in the ,lord1 ,i beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called4 --,ephesians iv4 #a4 ,brethren1 has it ever occurred to you that each one of us has a vocation in this life8 ,i refer not to our ,christian vocation1 which we all have in common1 but to the particular state of life to which each one of us has been called4 ,it is not an uncommon error for people to think that priests and nuns are the only privileged mortals who are called by ,god to some special work1 and that to their vocation alone ,god has attached peculiar and extraordinary graces4 ,this is an error we must correct4 ,we have all1 thank ,god1 the vocation to be ,christians and the call to be saints1 but we have1 moreover1 our own special calling1 suitable to our character and disposition2 and our common ,christian vocation1 and in a great measure our eternal salvation1 depends on our fulfilling worthily the particular vocation in which we are called4 #dca ,some of us ,god has called to be priests1 to serve continually at his altar4 ,some to be fathers of families1 and others to remain single all their life4 ,some he has called to the higher professions1 and others to the hard but manly toil of every-day life4 ,but to all these vocations1 to all these different states of life1 he has attached certain duties1 peculiar obligations1 which must be met and fulfilled4 ,the great danger1 brethren1 that we have to avoid is the common and stupid error of those who hold that their every-day vocation has nothing to do with this ,sunday calling2 that there is little1 if any1 connection between their own special calling and their general calling to be ,christians2 who maintain that as business men they can and must act in their own business-like way1 banishing ,god from their hearts and his law from their lives1 at least during their hours of business4 ,this error1 stupid as it is1 is not so uncommon as one might at first imagine4 ,take a few practical cases4 ,how many are there who1 when they examine their conscience1 ever think of questioning themselves upon the duties of their position in life8 ,how many fathers of families1 listening to these words to-day1 question themselves daily as to how they govern those whom ,god has put under their charge2 how they watch and provide for the spiritual and temporal welfare of those whom they are called upon to support8 ,how many young men ever think of asking themselves how they have fulfilled the obligations they are under to parents1 now perhaps unable to take care of themselves8 ,how many business-men question themselves as to the honesty or propriety of this or that mode of action they have been following8 #dcb ,alas6 they are few indeed4 ,and this is the practical outcome of not recognizing the close connection there is between our every-day calling and our ,christian vocation4 ,as every vocation1 brethren1 has its duties and its difficulties1 so every calling has its special helps and graces4 ,god saw each one of us from all eternity--just as we are to-day1 with all the weaknesses of our character1 with all the difficulties that surround us1 and all the temptations with which we have to contend4 ,he foresaw all these things and provided for them1 regulating his helps and graces according to our wants1 and directing all things towards our final destiny4 ,his grace is always sufficient for us1 and as long as we remain in his friendship there is no vocation or calling so difficult or trying but what can be cheerfully and manfully borne and worked towards our soul's salvation4 ,the lot of some is certainly not an easy one1 but ,god always fits the back for the burden4 ,the practical question ,i would have you ask yourselves to-day1 brethren1 is this3 ,granted that ,i have a vocation in this life2 granted that ,providence has placed me in a position that involves duties and obligations to ,god1 my neighbor1 or myself2 how am ,i fulfilling these obligations8 ,how am ,i walking in the vocation in which ,i am called8 ,worthily or unworthily--that is the all-important question for me to answer to-day to the satisfaction of my conscience1 as ,i will have to answer it one day to ,almighty ,god4 ,am ,i the father or mother of a family8 ,if so1 do ,i discharge the duties of my calling8 ,do ,i make my home pleasant and agreeable for my children8 ,do ,i supply them with suitable home amusements8 ,do ,i furnish them proper reading matter1 or do ,i allow them to waste their time and ruin their souls with the vile penny literature of the day8 #dcc ,do ,i oblige them to come to ,mass and approach the sacraments1 while ,i neglect these duties myself8 ,or am ,i a business-man who deals squarely and honestly with my neighbors1 never on the alert to take advantage of the ignorant and weak8 ,am ,i in the employment of others1 and1 if so1 do ,i fulfil my calling worthily by doing all that strict justice or ,christian charity requires of me8 ,or am ,i just to men who work for me8 ,these are some of the questions regarding your vocations that ,i would have you ask yourselves to-day4 ,brethren1 when we come to render our account to ,god1 be sure of this3 he will not trouble us with the question as to whether we have been experts in our respective professions1 whether we have been successful business-men or skilled mechanics2 no1 but whether we have been just and honorable1 whether we have walked worthily in the vocations to which we have been called4 ,walk then1 brethren1 worthy of your vocation1 worthy of the church which has reared you1 worthy of the hope that is in you1 worthy of the name you bear1 that of ,christ1 who has redeemed you4 ,imitate him1 live as he lived1 and suffer in your calling the things he suffered4 ,then the prayer of our patron ,st4 ,paul will not be in vain1 and we will walk worthy of the vocation in which we are called4 ------------------- #dcd ,eighteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,i ,corinthians i4 #d-h4 ,brethren3 ,i give thanks to my ,god always for you1 for the grace of ,god that is given you in ,christ ,jesus1 that in all things you are made rich in him1 in every word1 and in all knowledge3 as the testimony of ,christ was confirmed in you3 so that nothing is wanting to you in any grace1 waiting for the manifestation of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who also will confirm you unto the end without crime1 in the day of the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew ix4 #a-h4 ,at that time3 ,jesus entering into a boat1 passed over the water and came into his own city4 ,and behold they brought to him a man sick1 of the palsy lying on a bed4 ,and ,jesus1 seeing their faith1 said to the man sick of the palsy3 ,son1 be of good heart1 thy sins are forgiven thee4 ,and behold some of the ,scribes said within themselves3 ,this man blasphemeth4 ,and ,jesus seeing their thoughts1 said3 ,why do you think evil in your hearts8 ,which is easier1 to say1 ,thy sins are forgiven thee2 or to say1 ,rise up and walk8 ,but that you may know that the ,son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins 7then saith he to the man sick of the palsy71 ,rise up3 take thy bed and go into thy house4 ,and he rose up1 and went into his house4 ,and the multitude seeing it1 feared1 and glorified ,god who had given such power to men4 ------------------- #dce ,sermon ,,cxxxii4 ,presumption ,of ,god's ,mercy4 ,unless you have believed in vain4 #a ,corinthians xv4 #b4 ,dear ,brethren3 ,the ,apostle appears to be of a different mind from some of us1 who seem to think that there is no such thing as believing in vain4 ,do not sinners rest quite secure in their wickedness just because they believe in the true religion8 ,do they not feel sure of salvation because they know how to be saved8 ,is not the blessed privilege of the holy faith the secret reason of many a person's delay of repentance8 ,it is against all such that ,st4 ,paul stands when he speaks of a vain faith2 and our ,blessed ,lord himself when he says that pagan ,tyre and ,sidon shall rise up in witness against those who had the true religion and used it only to puff them selves up with spiritual pride4 ,to be guilty of an unused faith is the high-road to eternal loss among ,catholics4 ,some poor souls will be lost because1 though born in error1 they have refused to follow the light of reason into the church4 ,but we shall be lost1 if at all1 because we have believed in vain4 ,some outside of the church shall be lost because they have sinned even against the simplest precepts of nature's law4 ,but we shall be condemned for believing all that our ,lord revealed and making it vain by our wicked deeds4 ,a vain faith is like the background of a picture3 the eye catches and dwells on the objects in the foreground1 but these could not be seen clearly but for the tints in the background against which they are drawn4 ,so what we do will one day be contrasted with what we know2 the strong light of faith will only cause the black1 filthy sins of our life to be more fully revealed to the ,judge4 #dcf ,have you never seen a blind man whose eyes seemed perfectly good1 clear1 and bright1 and yet utterly blind8 ,there is such a kind of blindness2 some men really have eyes and see not1 because the nerve is dead1 and the nerve is like the soul of the eye4 ,so with our faith3 ,god gave it to us to see by and walk by and live by2 to know his law and live up to it1 to know our sins and to confess them with true sorrow--in a word1 to practise what we know that we ought to practise4 ,but some become like the idols of the nations you read of in one of the ,vesper psalms3 ,they have eyes1 and see not2 they have ears1 and hear not4 ,wicked ,catholics perceive the right way2 they hear of the dangers of the wrong way1 and go right along with this knowledge1 and neglect prayer and ,mass1 blaspheme and fight1 get drunk and debauch1 and steal1 yet having all the time full assurance that somehow or other their faith will save them4 ,brethren1 their faith is vain2 their hope of eternal life is not reasonable or well founded2 the beauty of the truth they possess is like the cold beauty of a corpse1 which makes one shudder only the more from its incongruity with the putrid decay so surely approaching4 ,yet how rich a treasure is the true faith6 ,what a comfort to know the truths of religion6 ,what a privilege to know our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 and to be in communion with him1 his ,blessed ,mother1 his glorious saints1 his holy church6 ,what a perversity1 then1 to use all this as a burglar uses his rope-ladder3 a means of making a criminal life more secure4 #dcg ,but it cannot be4 ,it is a delusion4 ,there is no means of making a criminal life secure1 except by turning quickly away from it1 detesting it1 confessing it1 and1 by the light of faith and the strength of charity1 leading a good life4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxxiii4 ,drunkenness4 ,take heed to yourselves1 lest perhaps your hearts be over charged with surfeiting and drunkenness1 and the cares of this life4 --,luke xxi4 #cd4 ,these words of our ,lord recorded by ,st4 ,luke contain a very direct admonition against intemperance and its associate vices4 ,gluttony and drunkenness are closely allied1 inasmuch as the former is generally associated with excessive eating1 and the latter is used to denote excess in intoxicating drink4 ,not only from a religious standpoint1 but from medical science1 ,st4 ,luke knew and could teach the injurious effects on the human system produced by the unrestrained gratification of the appetites4 ,his knowledge in these matters was evidently recognized by those associated with him in preaching the ,gospel1 for ,st4 ,paul speaks of him as the beloved physician 7,colossians iv4 #ad74 ,there are many passages of ,holy ,scripture that show forth the dangers of drunkenness4 ,in the ,old ,testament we read that ,noe and ,lot were both taught by sad experience the shame and degradation arising from the loss of self-control through the excessive use of intoxicating drinks4 #dch ,no sanction can1 be found in the ,bible for the opinion that intemperance is a pardonable weakness4 ,it is a very long time ago1 indeed1 since this vice of drunkenness was first condemned by the authorized teachers of religion4 ,among the vices it is properly classified with gluttony1 which is one of the seven deadly sins4 ,the ,apostles sent forth by our ,lord to teach all nations strenuously inculcated the duty of sobriety and watchfulness on each individual ,christian4 ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,paul especially insist on this personal vigilance as being of the utmost importance4 ,being sober1 hope perfectly for that grace which is offered you at the revelation of ,jesus ,christ4 ,be sober and watch1 because your adversary1 the devil1 as a roaring lion goeth about1 seeking whom he may devour 7,first ,epistle of ,st4 ,peter v4 #h-ac74 ,st4 ,paul teaches the same lesson of personal vigilance in these words3 ,let us watch and be sober1 having on the breastplate of faith and charity1 and for a helmet the hope of salvation 7#a ,thessalonians v4 #f-h74 ,for the grace of ,god our ,saviour hath appeared to all men1 instructing us that1 renouncing impiety and worldly desires1 we should live soberly1 and justly1 and piously in this world 7,titus ii4 #c74 ,a great doctor of the church1 ,st4 ,augustine1 in the fourth century declared that there were at that time drunkards1 plenty of them1 and that people had grown accustomed to speak of drunkenness1 not only without horror1 but even with levity4 ,this condition of things was brought about by the vicious teaching of the pagans1 who sanctioned every form of sensual gratification4 #dci ,in one of his sermons ,st4 ,augustine uses these words3 ,the heart of the drunkard has lost all feeling4 ,when a member has no feeling it may be considered dead and cut off from the body4 ,yet we sometimes are lenient1 and can only employ words4 ,we are loath to excommunicate and cast out of the church2 for we fear lest he who is chastised should be made worse by the chastisement4 ,and though such are already dead in soul1 yet1 since our ,physician is ,almighty1 we must not despair of them4 ,again in a letter to a bishop1 written in the year #cic1 ,st4 ,augustine refers to the intemperance then prevalent in the city of ,carthage4 ,the pestilence1 he says1 is of such a magnitude that it seems to me it cannot be cured except by the authority of a council4 ,or1 at least1 if one church must begin1 it should be that of ,carthage4 ,it would seem like audacity to try to change what ,carthage retains4 ,then he proceeds to urge that the movement against intemperance be conducted in the spirit of meekness1 saying3 ,i think that these abuses must be removed1 not imperiously1 nor harshly2 by instruction rather than by command1 by persuasion rather than by threats4 ,it is thus one must act in a multitude3 we may be severe towards the sins of a few4 ,from the words just quoted we see that ,st4 ,augustine was justly opposed to the indiscriminate condemnation of a multitude for the sins of a few4 ,and it is very necessary to bear this in mind while dealing with the vice of intemperance1 which is so widely prevalent at the present time4 ,the crimes of drunkards are frequently exposed to view in the columns of newspapers1 yet the unvarnished truth is seldom stated concerning those who co-operate with them in the nine ways of being accessory to another's sin2 and this means especially those who1 in cities infected with intemperance1 keep saloons1 and those who invite men to drink whom they have reason to fear will abuse it4 #ddj ,we know that there are leaders in the ways of vice as well as in the ways of virtue4 ,special severity is needed with those who deliberately persist in doing wrong with malice aforethought4 ,men who strive to make laws to defend iniquity1 who teach and foster vice for their own personal profit1 may properly be called blind leaders of the blind1 whose fate has already been predicted by our ,lord1 the ,supreme ,judge of the world4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxxiv4 ,the ,dignity ,and ,happiness ,of ,obedience4 ,children1 obey your parents in all things2 for this is pleasing to the ,lord4 --,colossians iii4 #bj4 ,brethren1 there are many new things found out nowadays2 but there are also some old ones and good ones being forgotten4 ,among other things we are apt to forget the happiness of obedience4 ,of course ,i do not mean obedience to the church2 perhaps there never was an age when ,catholics rested so content in the gentle restraint of our holy mother the ,church4 ,but ,i refer to the practice of obedience one to another1 done after the pattern of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the loveliness of this virtue is best seen in the bosom of the ,christian family4 ,affection1 indeed1 is the bond of the family1 but the fruit of affection is obedience4 ,there is nothing more pleasing to ,god than the son who is always at the service of his father and mother4 #dda ,few families are without at least one such son4 ,he is often the one of whom at first the least was expected2 of poor natural talents1 of delicate health1 of irascible temper1 or one whose earlier years were wayward4 ,but all the time he was observant1 though no one1 not even himself1 gave him credit for it4 ,year by year the spectacle of father's and mother's affection and sacrifice penetrated him1 till he became deeply attached to them4 ,how much this reverent love for his parents had to do with his religious state as a boy and a young man6 ,it may be true that scarcely any boy ever grows up to be a man and is never a liar to his father and mother1 or a pilferer of cake and fruit and pennies about the house4 ,but the good boy drops all this at ,first ,communion or when he goes to learn a trade1 and he becomes honest and truthful in little things as well as great4 ,one of the happiest days for him between the cradle and the grave is when he runs and puts the first dollar he has earned into his mother's hands4 ,that good son lets all his brothers go away from home to seek their fortunes2 he stays with the old folks1 comforts their old age1 closes their eyes in death1 and with much love and many tears follows them with his prayers beyond the grave4 ,the others were1 perhaps1 good children1 but he is the hero of the family4 ,then there is the good daughter1 who in childhood is the sunshine of the family1 and in maturer years everybody's other self4 ,how many parents1 too poor to hire a servant1 have living riches in an industrious daughter6 ,how often do parents find one at least of the girls who from very infancy is the joy of the whole family2 who seems to have received in baptism such a fulness of the ,holy ,spirit that charity1 joy1 peace1 patience1 long suffering1 kindness1 and piety are the common qualities of her character6 #ddb ,the faith also finds an apostle in such women4 ,an intelligent woman1 though perhaps unable to argue skilfully1 can establish the truths of religion by methods all her own4 ,a friendly jest1 good-natured silence1 a patient return of loving services for ill-treatment1 the spectacle of her good life1 not an hour of which lacks a virtue--all this in one instinct with religion is an unanswerable argument and often irresistible4 ,how did it happen1 people sometimes ask concerning this or that person1 that she did not marry8 ,she had good enough looks1 excellent sense1 a bright mind1 affectionate disposition1 and saw plenty of company4 ,why did she not marry8 ,my brethren1 the day of judgment will tell us that it was because ,god had set her apart that she might be for her widowed mother or her shiftless1 unhappy brothers and sisters the pot of meal that should not waste and the cruse of oil that should not diminish4 ,brethren1 ,i know of no order of nuns more pleasing in ,god's sight than the devout women who live a dependent1 obscure1 hard life in the world1 and are old maids for the love of ,god4 ,finally1 you may say that such sons and daughters are hard to find4 ,i answer that there are multitudes who approach the standard we have been considering1 and more1 perhaps1 than you fancy who actually attain to it4 ------------------- #ddc ,nineteenth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,ephesians iv4 #bc-bh4 ,brethren3 ,be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind3 and put on the new man1 who1 according to ,god1 is created in justice1 and holiness of truth4 ,wherefore1 putting away lying1 speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor3 for we are members one of another4 ,be angry1 and sin not4 ,let not the sun go down upon your anger3 ,give not place to the devil4 ,let him that stole1 steal now no more1 but rather let him labor1 working with his hands that which is good1 that he may have to give to him who is in need4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xxii4 #b-ad4 ,at that time ,jesus spoke to the chief priests and ,pharisees in parables1 saying3 ,the kingdom of heaven is like to a man being a king1 who made a marriage for his son4 ,and he sent his servants to call them that were invited to the marriage3 and they would not come4 ,again he sent other servants1 saying3 ,tell them that were invited3 ,behold1 ,i have prepared my dinner2 my beeves and fatlings are killed1 and all things are ready3 come ye to the wedding4 ,but they neglected1 and went their ways1 one to his farm1 and another to his merchandise4 ,and the rest laid hands on his servants1 and1 having treated them contumeliously1 put them to death4 ,but when the king heard of it he was angry1 and1 sending his armies1 he destroyed those murderers and burnt their city4 ,then he saith to his servants3 ,the wedding indeed is ready2 but they that were invited were not worthy4 ,go ye therefore into the highways1 and as many as you shall find1 invite to the wedding4 #ddd ,and his servants going out into the highways1 gathered together all that they found1 both bad and good3 and the wedding was filled with guests4 ,and the king went in to see the guests1 and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment4 ,and he saith to him3 ,friend1 how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment8 ,but he was silent4 ,then the king said to the waiters3 ,having bound his hands and feet1 cast him into the exterior darkness3 there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth4 ,for many are called1 but few are chosen4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxxv4 ,lying4 ,wherefore1 putting away lying1 speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,of all the vicious habits into which we are prone to fall1 there is none more common1 and none more miserable1 mean1 and contemptible1 than this one of which the ,apostle here speaks4 ,there is also none about which ,christians in general have so lax and careless a conscience4 ,true1 every one regards lying as in some sense at least sinful2 and many would hesitate about going to ,holy ,communion if they had told a lie after confession4 ,but in spite of that1 when the ,communion is once made1 the tongue which has just received the ,god of justice and truth will immediately begin again to offend him by telling falsehoods which are too often unjust as well as untrue4 #dde ,still1 when there is an injustice done by telling a lie2 when some one else suffers by it in his character or his goods1 there are1 ,i hope1 few who do not see what a sin they have committed1 and understand that they must make reparation by taking back what they have said1 if they wish to be good ,christians4 ,but1 for all that1 how many injurious lies are told1 even by those who think themselves good ,christians1 and never properly retracted or even thought of afterward by those who tell them6 ,the most abominable slanders pass from mouth to mouth2 they are listened to and repeated with the greatest interest and eagerness1 without any trouble being taken to ascertain whether what is said is true or not4 ,these people who are so free with their tongues never seem to imagine for a moment that1 even when circumstances would justify them--and it is very seldom that they do--in telling a fact bearing against their neighbor they are under an obligation first to find out by careful examination whether it be indeed a fact2 otherwise the sin of an injurious lie will rest on their souls4 ,there are1 however1 some1 and indeed many1 who abhor slander1 and who are really careful about telling injurious lies1 and who hasten to retract what they have said against others1 if they find out that1 after all1 the fact was not as they had good ground to believe4 ,but there are not by any means so many who are careful about the truth for its own sake1 and who do not scruple to tell white lies1 as they are sometimes called4 ,what are these white lies8 ,they are of two kinds4 ,the first are those which are told for some end in itself good1 to get some advantage for one's self or for another1 or to get one's self or some other person out of a scrape2 to conceal a fault1 to avoid embarrassment1 or to save somebody's feelings4 ,these are called officious lies4 #ddf ,then there are others1 called1 jocose1 which do no good to any one1 but are told merely for fun2 such as the little tricks on others which are often indulged in1 or boasts made about things which one has never done4 ,they may be taken back before long1 and only meant to deceive for a moment2 still they are meant to deceive1 if only for a moment1 and are1 therefore1 really lies4 ,now officious lies are really forbidden by ,god's law as well as injurious ones1 though of course not so bad as those4 ,and yet how few act as if they really were sins at all6 ,people will say1 ,i told lies1 perhaps three or four every day1 but there was no harm in them4 ,no harm6 ,no harm to other people2 no1 perhaps not1 except by bad example and the loss of confidence in your word and that of others2 though there is great harm even in that way4 ,but there is a greater harm than this3 it is that which the liar does to the sacredness of truth itself1 and1 as far as he can1 to ,god who is the eternal truth1 who loves truth unspeakably1 and requires that we should love it for his sake4 ,he will not allow us to tell the most trivial falsehood1 though by it we could save the whole world from destruction1 or bring all the souls which have been damned out of hell and put them in heaven4 ,remember this1 then3 there are lies which are not injurious1 but there are no lies which are not harmful and sinful2 no lies for which you will not have to give an account at the judgment of ,god4 ,stop1 therefore1 ,i beg you at once1 this mean1 disgraceful1 and dishonorable habit of falsehood2 it will never be forgiven in confession unless you make a serious and solid purpose against it4 ,put away lying then at once and for ever1 and speak the truth in simplicity2 you may sometimes lose by it for the moment1 but you will profit by it in the end1 both in this world and in the world to come4 ------------------- #ddg ,sermon ,,cxxxvi4 ,truthfulness4 ,wherefore1 putting away lying1 speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor1 for we are members one of another4 --,ephesians iv4 #be4 ,st4 ,paul here teaches us that truthfulness of speech should be a mark of those who profess the true faith4 ,he speaks of the darkness of understanding1 the ignorance1 the blindness of heart of those who are alienated from the life of ,god2 but you1 he says1 have not so learned ,christ4 ,you have been taught the truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,you have been taught to put off the old man who is corrupted according to the desires of error1 and to put on the new man1 who1 according to ,god1 is created in justice and holiness of truth3 wherefore1 putting away lying1 speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor1 for we are members one of another4 ,yet1 even without these supernatural reasons and motives1 the duty of truthfulness is plain to everyone by the light of natural reason alone4 ,the gift of speech which so strongly marks the distinction between man and the lower animals enables us to clearly communicate our thoughts to each other4 ,if1 then1 we make it a means of deceiving others1 we plainly offend against the law of nature1 which is ,god's law4 ,in every relation of life we are obliged to depend upon the statements of other men2 we have a right to the truth from them1 and it is therefore our duty to tell the truth to others4 #ddh ,we can have no feeling of security if we cannot trust the word of those with whom we are brought into daily contact4 ,if lying is common in any class or community1 it creates a spirit of distrust and uneasiness instead of that mutual confidence which should prevail4 ,a high sense of honor in men of the world will often make them strictly truthful4 ,such men despise a lie as something base and mean and utterly beneath them4 ,if1 then1 purely human motives1 a mere sense of worldly honor1 will keep men from lying1 how much more should this fault be avoided by those who claim to be trying to serve ,god1 and who are constantly assisted by his grace4 ,our ,lord has told us that liars are the children of the devil1 for he is a liar and the father thereof4 ,but we are called to be the children of ,god1 who is the eternal truth2 we have been given the light of the true faith4 ,we glory in the certain truth of our religion2 should we not then be zealous for the cause of truth in all things1 even in the least4 ,absolute1 unswerving truthfulness in speech should therefore mark the true disciple of ,christ4 ,but1 some may say1 a lie is only a venial sin4 ,yes1 it is true that a lie which is not malicious1 which does not1 and is not intended to1 harm our neighbor in any way1 is not a mortal sin2 but it is the meanest of venial sins1 and we know that a long and terrible purgatory awaits those who are guilty of deliberate venial sin4 ,moreover1 carelessness about the commission of venial sin leads to mortal offences1 and there is nothing which will more readily lead a man into other and graver faults as the habit of deliberate untruthfulness4 #ddi ,cultivate1 then1 a love for truth1 and seek to acquire the habit of truthfulness even in the smallest matters4 ,every one despises a deceitful person1 and there is nothing a man resents so much as being called a liar4 ,if you do not like being called a liar1 do not be one4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxxvii4 ,white ,lies4 ,wherefore1 putting away lying1 speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,there is perhaps no sin1 my brethren1 for which people seem to have so little real sorrow1 or for which they so seldom make a practical purpose of amendment1 as this miserable one of falsehood1 of which the ,apostle here speaks4 ,you will hear it said3 ,i told lies1 but there was no harm in them2 they were to excuse myself1 or to save trouble4 ,they are matters to be confessed1 oh6 yes2 the liar will perhaps even run back to say that he is a liar1 if he 7or quite likely she7 has forgotten to mention it at the time4 ,but as for correcting the habit1 that is quite another matter4 ,it would seem that the ,sacrament of ,penance is expected to take effect on these sins by mere confession1 without contrition or purpose to avoid them for the future4 #dej ,but the liar will say3 ,i am sorry2 ,i have contrition for these lies4 ,let me ask1 however1 what kind of sorrow have you8 ,you are sorry that things were so that you had to tell a lie2 but if things were so again to-morrow1 would not you tell the lie again8 ,if you are sincere1 ,i am afraid you will say3 ,yes1 ,i suppose ,i should4 ,where1 then1 is the purpose of amendment8 ,without purpose of amendment contrition is nothing but a sham4 ,let us1 then1 my friends1 look into our consciences about this matter1 and get them straightened out properly4 ,i do not want to be too harsh about it2 for after all there are some expressions which people call lies1 which are not really so1 because the one to whom they are addressed is not expected to be deceived by them1 but merely to be prevented from asking further questions4 ,some people1 too1 call it a lie when they do not tell the whole truth1 but we are not always required--though we often are--to tell the whole truth2 and when we are not1 there is no lie1 as long as what we say is actually true as far as it goes4 ,but it would take too long to go into all the cases concerning what is or is not a lie2 and as a general rule one can by a little common sense find them out for himself4 ,find them out1 then2 if you cannot surely do so by yourselves1 get advice2 and when you are certain that you are all right1 do not call it a sin to act according to your conscience and reason1 and do not make a matter of self-accusation out of it4 ,but when you cannot see any way to make out that what you say really is not a lie1 then do not fall back on the idea that1 if it does not injure anybody1 there is no harm in it4 ,you are false to yourself in this2 for you know there is harm in it1 otherwise you would not feel uneasy about it4 #dea ,and what is the harm8 ,the harm in a lie is simply that it is a lie1 and therefore an offence against ,god1 who is the truth4 ,this is what ,st4 ,paul tells us in this very ,epistle of to-day4 ,put on1 he says1 the new man1 who1 according to ,god1 is created in justice and holiness of truth4 ,wherefore1 he continues1 putting away lying1 speak ye the truth every man with his neighbor4 ,yes1 my brethren1 ,god is the truth1 and he infinitely loves the truth1 in himself and in his creatures4 ,he does not wish us to sacrifice it in the slightest degree1 even to save the whole world from destruction4 ,there is harm in a lie1 then2 harm1 if ,i may say so1 to ,god himself and to his dearest interests4 ,do not think1 then1 to save his interests1 or any one else's1 by lying4 ,tell the truth and let him look out for the consequences4 ,tell the truth for ,god's sake1 because he loves it1 and hates a lie2 tell the truth1 and love the truth1 for its own sake4 ,we are1 as ,st4 ,paul says1 created according to ,god1 in holiness of truth2 let us keep the pattern to which we have been made4 ,stop1 then1 deliberate lying for a purpose1 which is but too common4 ,but also be careful in what you say2 try not even to fall into falsehood thoughtlessly4 ,let it be your honest pride that your word is as good as your oath4 ------------------- #deb ,twentieth ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,ephesians v4 #ae-ba4 ,see1 brethren1 how you walk circumspectly3 not as unwise1 but as wise3 redeeming the time1 for the days are evil4 ,wherefore become not unwise1 but understanding what is the will of ,god4 ,and be not drunk with wine1 wherein is luxury1 but be ye filled with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns1 and spiritual canticles1 singing and making melody in your hearts to the ,lord3 giving thanks always for all things1 in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to ,god and the ,father3 being subject one to another in the fear of ,christ4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,john iv4 #df-ec4 ,at that time3 ,there was a certain ruler whose son was sick at ,capharnaum4 ,he having heard that ,jesus was come from ,judea into ,galilee1 went to him1 and prayed him to come down and heal his son1 for he was at the point of death4 ,then ,jesus said to him3 ,unless you see signs and wonders1 you believe not4 ,the ruler saith to him3 ,sir1 come down before that my son die4 ,jesus saith to him3 ,go thy way1 thy son liveth4 ,the man believed the word which ,jesus said to him1 and went his way4 ,and as he was going down1 his servants met him3 and they brought word1 saying that his son lived4 ,he asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better4 ,and they said to him3 ,yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him4 ,the father therefore knew that it was at the same hour that ,jesus said to him1 ,thy son liveth2 and himself believed1 and his whole house4 ------------------- #dec ,sermon ,,cxxxviii4 ,christian ,marriage4 ,my dear brethren1 we shall1 on this occasion1 occupy the short time allotted to us with some remarks on a most important subject1 namely1 that of ,christian marriage4 ,we ask for your especial attention to what we have to say on this matter1 on account of the great bearing which it has on your happiness both here and hereafter1 and hope that you will endeavor to understand thoroughly the teaching of the church regarding it1 and that you will resolve not only to obey the laws1 but also to follow her suggestions and be governed by her spirit in an affair in which your welfare is so deeply concerned4 ,the great majority of ,christians1 as well as of the world in general1 are called in the providence of ,god to the state of marriage2 and their calling is as truly a divine vocation as that of others to the religious life and to the priesthood4 ,if1 then1 the priest or the religious cannot expect to save his soul if he neglects the virtues and the duties proper to his state1 neither can those who enter the state of matrimony1 if they do not appreciate and endeavor to fulfil the requirements and conditions which ,god has attached to it2 if they rush into it without thought1 and remain in it simply from convenience or necessity1 without realizing its responsibilities or feeling the burden which it imposes on their consciences4 #ded ,and yet this is what very many seem to do4 ,of course we take it for granted that a ,catholic1 worthy the name1 will not marry a person of a different religion4 ,but one should not marry a bad ,catholic4 ,many appear to be indifferent in this matter to their eternal salvation and act as if conscience and religion had nothing to do with it1 but they disregard and fling to the winds even the most common and obvious dictates of prudence as to their comfort and peace in this world4 ,what possible hope of happiness in married life1 for instance1 can a young woman have who unites her destiny with that of a man who is evidently falling1 if1 indeed1 he has not already fallen1 into confirmed habits of intemperance2 whose past and present life gives no assurance of advancement or worldly success1 but1 on the other hand1 every indication of the drunkard's failure1 ruin1 and degradation8 ,what can she be thinking of who1 for a mere fancy or caprice1 accepts the offer of one to stand as her protector and support whose selfish and beastly appetites are sure to make him soon trample her under his feet1 and treat her merely as a drudge to be starved with her children in order that he may gratify his passion for drink1 and to be kicked and beaten if she so much as implores him to reform8 ,or how can she dare to take for her husband one whose sensual passion is certain soon to extinguish every spark of true love he may have felt for her1 and who will1 before long1 be unfaithful to her for the very reason that made him at first seem faithful8 ,it is painful to speak of these things2 but1 unfortunately1 the frequency of such cases obliges us to do so4 ,such miseries in marriage cannot be considered1 at least in cities like this1 as exceptional and extraordinary2 no1 they must be taken into account1 not as mere possibilities1 but as actual realities4 ,and1 of course1 there are others which we have not time to enumerate2 the ones of which ,i have spoken will serve as examples4 #dee ,it is1 then1 the part not only of ,christian prudence but also of worldly common sense1 to make sure1 as far as possible1 to avoid these dangers4 ,it is far better to remain single than to make a bad marriage2 let every one1 then1 before taking this most important of all steps in life1 look carefully where it will lead4 ,let every one1 and certainly every ,christian1 before selecting a companion for life1 whose place no one else can take1 satisfy himself or herself that the one who is thus selected has the qualities that are calculated to insure happiness to both parties2 that he or she has natural virtues and good habits1 well and solidly formed2 at least industry1 sobriety1 and those qualities in general which business-men1 for example1 try to secure in those who are to be charged with matters of far less consequence than the support and care of a family4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxxxix4 ,mortification ,of ,our ,lower ,nature4 ,now if we be dead with ,christ we believe that we shall live also together with ,christ4 --,from the ,epistle of the ,sunday4 ,the meaning of the ,apostle1 my brethren1 is expressed in one great ,catholic word--mortification4 ,the lower nature that is in us must be put to death that the higher may live4 ,the animal must die that the man may live4 ,and if literal death be not hereby signified1 yet so really destructive of mere appetite is the ,christian's union with ,christ that mortification or putting to death is one condition of obtaining it4 #def ,human ease and pleasure are opposed to the soul's fulfilment of its destiny4 ,in itself no doubt the natural joy of this life is not evil4 ,but there is no joy of man simply in itself4 ,it all flows from that root of bitterness which original sin planted in our hearts1 and which makes it necessary that we be not simply obedient to ,god's law1 but born again2 for1 says the ,apostle in this same ,sunday's ,epistle1 we are buried together with ,christ by baptism into death1 that as ,christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the ,father1 so we also may walk in newness of life4 ,knowing this3 that our old man is crucified with him1 that the body of sin may be destroyed4 ,for he that is dead is justified from sin4 ,these are very strong words1 my brethren4 ,they and the many other such words in ,holy ,scripture have much to do with explaining our religion--the cross on our churches1 the crucifix over our altars1 the shamefaced confession1 the constant self-denial2 even the plaintive tones of the church's voice in her chants1 even the touch of sadness in her most joyful offices4 ,indeed1 the true joy of a ,christian is in the theological virtue of hope--is placed in a paradise which for him is yet to begin4 ,he is too hardly pressed with the conflict of his higher and lower nature to be quite happy1 except in anticipation of a victory never fully gained this side the grave4 ,and it is only when the very taste for ease and pleasure has become blunted that the consolations of the ,holy ,spirit begin to be felt4 ,the whole inner life of a ,christian is regulated by his power to deny himself1 and to deny himself1 especially in outward things--in eating and drinking1 in working and resting1 in seeing and hearing4 #deg ,to noble spirits the very innocent care of the body is irksome2 and this from no sin of sloth1 but because the soul1 absorbed in high spiritual things1 is vexed by the mean things of our animal nature4 ,hence the every-day business of a religious man is to restrain the headlong folly of corrupt nature by the bit and bridle of mortification4 ,and this is every ,christian's duty4 ,though one may feel no call but to the ordinary ,christian state1 yet is he plainly called to self-denial4 ,outside the church there is little or nothing of the practical self-restraint of the ,gospel4 ,and even among ourselves many are forgetful of this war of the spirit against the flesh1 except at the rare intervals of infrequent confession or during such seasons as ,lent and ,advent4 ,the need of constant self-denial is one of those truths that the ever-flowing waters of forgetfulness wash out of our memories the quickest4 ,hence it is related of ,st4 ,philip ,neri that he was accustomed to say in the morning3 ,lord1 keep thy hand upon ,philip to day1 or1 ,lord6 ,philip will betray thee4 ,so1 my brethren1 there is no grace you have more need to pray for than the strength of will to practise some daily mortification4 ,nay1 pray for the grace to accept those that ,god sends every day and it is enough4 ,oh6 if we could bear patiently for the love of ,god with his own visitations1 with such things as sickness of body and dulness of mind1 with poverty and disappointment1 with the evil temper of other members of the family1 their stupidity and selfishness1 we should soon be safe4 ,brethren1 we are all novices1 and ,god is the universal novice-master1 and these are his daily mortifications4 ,others he gives us1 too1 through the ministry of holy church4 ,not a week passes over but we must give one day to ,god and to our better selves by abstinence from flesh meat4 #deh ,not a season goes by but the three ,ember days are set apart for hunger and thirst4 ,holy ,advent1 the penitential season of ,lent1 make a loud call--would it were better heeded--on our higher nature to reduce the beast to subjection4 ,meantime1 if one wants more self-denial1 let him advise with his father confessor1 let him consult spiritual writers1 let him hearken to the spirit of ,god within him1 always bearing in mind that beyond such mortifications as are of obligation it is not prudent to go1 except by advice of a prudent spiritual adviser4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxl4 ,the ,value ,of ,time4 ,redeeming the time4 --,epistle of the ,day4 ,there is a precious treasure1 my dear brethren1 which is always partly1 but only partly1 in our possession4 ,now and then we wake up to the conviction how valuable it is4 ,there is something which must be done1 and there is only just time to do it in2 we wish there were more1 but no1 only just so much is allotted to us4 ,then we realize how priceless time is4 ,the sinner1 suddenly struck down by some terrible accident1 and with only a few minutes to live--what would he not give for a half-hour more2 for time to look into his confused and disturbed conscience2 for time to rouse himself to real contrition for his sins2 for time1 at least1 to send for a priest1 and with his help make some sort of preparation for eternity6 #dei ,but it is not only at the end of our lives1 or in moments of such supreme importance1 that we would pay for time with gold1 or with other things upon which we set great value here4 ,often we would give much to be able to put ourselves back a day or even an hour in our lives2 what an advantage it would give us6 ,we look back on many hours and days in the past2 there they were1 once at our service1 but now squandered and gone for ever4 ,time1 then1 is this precious treasure1 which we shall never wholly lose till we pass out of this world for ever4 ,its golden sands are running rapidly away from us1 but still some remain4 ,the uncertainty how much of it is still left should make us put to the best use each instant as it passes4 ,who would not draw prudently from a chest in which his whole fortune was locked up1 if its amount were unknown to him1 if the next demand might exhaust it2 and who would not put to the best use each penny that he drew8 ,this is the instruction1 the warning that the ,apostle gives us in to-day's ,epistle3 ,to walk circumspectly2 not as unwise1 but as wise1 redeeming the time4 ,saving it--that is to say1 not letting it slip by us idly and unprofitably2 not only having it while it lasts1 but receiving also the precious fruits with which it is laden4 ,how much this caution is needed6 ,how careless we are about this priceless possession which is ours from moment to moment6 ,some part of it indeed we are generally obliged to employ1 and fortunate we are that it is so1 in some occupation of profit to ourselves or to others4 #dfj ,yes1 fortunate2 for that man must earn his bread by the toil of his body or mind is hardly after the fall a curse1 but rather a blessing4 ,place fallen human nature in the paradise of our first parents1 and its final loss could hardly be averted4 ,but the rest3 how often do we see1 when work is over1 that the only thought1 even of ,christians1 is to get rid of this invaluable gift1 the precious time which ,god has given them6 ,they seem to have no thought but to lose themselves and it in some mere sensual pleasure1 to fritter it away in gossip or some foolish and needless diversion1 or to forget it and throw it away in slothful and unnecessary sleep4 ,brethren1 some day we shall want all this time that we are now wasting4 ,then it will stand out before us in its true value2 we shall see that it should have been redeemed1 and that it is now irredeemable4 ,and what is more1 ,god1 who gave it to us1 will require an account of it at our hands4 ,he gave it to us for an object2 there is not a minute of it that he did not mean us to turn to good use4 ,and we can carry out his purpose if we only will4 ,let us1 then1 beware of idleness2 even our recreation and rest should be such that we can feel that he would approve of them1 and that they will help us in our remaining hours to do the work that he has required and expects us to do4 ,to kill time--let this be a word unheard among us2 to kill time is to trample down the seed of eternal life and to invite death to our souls4 ------------------- #dfa ,twenty-first ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,ephesians vi4 #aj-ag4 ,brethren3 ,be strengthened in the ,lord1 and in the might of his power4 ,put you on the armor of ,god1 that you may be able to stand against the snares of the devil4 ,for our wrestling is not against flesh and blood3 but against principalities and powers1 against the rulers of the world of this darkness1 against the spirits of wickedness in the high places4 ,wherefore take unto you the armor of ,god1 that you may be able to resist in the evil day1 and to stand in all things perfect4 ,stand1 therefore1 having your loins girt about with truth1 and having on the breastplate of justice3 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace3 in all things taking the shield of faith1 wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one4 ,and take unto you the helmet of salvation2 and the sword of the ,spirit 7which is the word of ,god74 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xviii4 #bc-ce4 ,at that time ,jesus spoke to his disciples this parable3 ,the kingdom of heaven is likened to a king1 who would take an account of his servants4 ,and when he had begun to take the account1 one was brought to him that owed him ten thousand talents4 ,and as he had not wherewith to pay it1 his lord commanded that1 he should be sold1 and his wife and children1 and all that he had1 and payment to be made4 ,but that servant1 falling down1 besought him1 saying3 ,have patience with me1 and ,i will pay thee all4 ,and the lord of that servant being moved with compassion1 let him go1 and forgave him the debt4 #dfb ,but when that servant was gone out1 he found one of his fellow-servants that owed him a hundred pence2 and laying hold of him1 he throttled him1 saying3 ,pay what thou1 owest4 ,and his fellow-servant1 falling down1 besought him1 saying3 ,have patience with me1 and ,i will pay thee all4 ,and he would not3 but went and cast him into prison1 till he should pay the debt4 ,now his fellow-servants1 seeing what was done1 were very much grieved1 and they came and told their lord all that was done4 ,then his lord called him1 and said to him3 ,thou wicked servant6 ,i forgave thee all the debt1 because thou besoughtest me3 shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow-servant1 even as ,i had compassion on thee8 ,and his lord being angry1 delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all the debt4 ,so also shall my heavenly ,father do to you1 if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxli4 ,forgiveness ,of ,injuries4 ,shouldst not thou then have had compassion on thy fellow-servant1 even as ,i had compassion on thee8 --,st4 ,matthew1 xviii4 #cc ,these words of to-day's ,gospel are spoken by our ,lord to every one who has been wanting in charity to his neighbor4 ,each one of us1 as a servant of ,god1 as a steward of the gifts1 both temporal and spiritual1 which he has entrusted to us that we may use them for the furtherance of his honor and glory1 is a heavy debtor to the divine justice4 ,but his mercy and love are always ready to temper his justice1 if only we show the proper dispositions1 if only we bend our rebellious wills to the condition he requires of us1 without which it is impossible for us to obtain forgiveness4 #dfc ,this condition is found in the oft-repeated but little thought of petition of the ,lord's ,prayer3 ,forgive us our trespasses1 as we forgive those that trespass against us4 ,the servant in the parable received forgiveness from his lord for the sum of ten thousand talents 7a very large sum of money71 yet he was unmerciful to his fellow-servant1 who owed him a hundred pence4 ,the difference between these sums is by no means so great as the difference between our offences against ,almighty ,god and those of our brethren against us4 ,if we could only realize who it is that we have offended1 and then reflect as well upon our ingratitude in offending him1 as upon the innumerable benefits he has showered upon us1 we might form some faint idea of the gravity of our sin1 and of the immense debt that we owe to his justice4 ,we could not then refuse forgiveness to our neighbor for the trifling1 and perhaps merely fancied1 injuries that we may have suffered from him4 ,with what measure you shall mete1 it shall be measured to you again4 ,if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts1 you cannot hope for pardon from ,god4 ,how1 then1 can we best practise this forgiveness which is so necessary for us8 ,in the first place1 it must be earnest and sincere forgiveness4 ,it must be from your hearts1 as our ,lord says4 ,no mere outward show of forgiveness will be enough1 for ,god sees the heart1 and no appearances will satisfy him4 ,but1 on the other hand1 the forgiveness will not be real and earnest unless it be shown outwardly4 ,many profess their willingness to forgive who yet show resentment and a spirit of revenge in many little ways1 by looks1 words1 and actions which prove that there is no real forgiveness in the heart4 #dfd ,then again we find persons who1 when they are urged to forgive some wrong1 answer3 ,well1 father1 ,i suppose ,i must forgive1 if you tell me so4 ,it is plain that this is but a very unwilling and faint-hearted forgiveness1 which1 will not answer before ,god4 ,why will not the generosity of ,god towards us lead us to show a like spirit towards our brethren8 ,we should strive to forgive offences the moment they are committed against us4 ,our natural impulse when any insult is offered to us is to resent it at once1 and pay back in the same coin4 ,how different is this from the example set us by our ,lord1 ,who1 when he was reviled1 did not revile2 when he suffered1 he threatened not4 ,we should check the first uprisings of resentment1 and keep back the angry reply1 in imitation of our ,blessed ,lord's silence before his accusers and tormentors4 ,by the practice of this ,christian silence many a feud of long continuance would be prevented4 ,we must also lay aside all malice1 and be ready1 when an injury has been done1 to be reconciled with our offending brother4 ,this is often very hard for us to do1 and very repugnant to our natural inclinations1 but it is1 nevertheless1 absolutely necessary4 ,if we bear malice towards any one1 we are not worthy of the name of ,christians1 or followers of ,christ4 ,try1 then1 to put in practice the teaching of this day's ,gospel1 and forgive from your heart those who have offended you1 showing your forgiveness by your words and acts4 ,there is nothing more scandalous and injurious to the ,christian name than constant quarrels and long-continued animosities between those who go regularly to the sacraments4 ,follow1 then1 the injunction of ,st4 ,paul3 ,let all bitterness1 and anger1 and indignation1 and clamor1 and blasphemy be taken away from you1 with all malice4 ,and be ye kind to one another1 merciful1 forgiving one another1 even as ,god has forgiven you in ,christ4 ------------------- #dfe ,sermon ,,cxlii4 ,gossiping4 ,laying hold of him he throttled him1 saying3 ,pay me what thou owest4 --,words ,taken ,from ,to-day's ,gospel4 ,the ,gospel of this ,sunday1 my dear brethren1 inculcates in the strongest possible way the distinctively ,christian virtue of brotherly love--the duty1 that is1 of cherishing a spirit of charity and consideration for other men1 and especially of forgiving any injuries which they may have done us4 ,this obligation is1 however1 so clearly and frequently and earnestly enforced in the ,new ,testament1 and from our earliest days has been brought home to us in so many ways1 that at first sight it might seem that ,i could do something better this morning than to go back to such an old and familiar subject4 ,and yet1 old and familiar as it is1 every-day life affords so many proofs that we do not carry our knowledge into practice that ,i am sure that nine in every ten1 perhaps ninety-nine in every hundred1 stand in need of being reminded of this old and familiar though badly learned lesson4 #dff ,for of what is the every-day talk of most women and a great number of men made up1 if not of ill-natured criticism and depreciation of their acquaintances1 neighbors1 and even friends8 ,in the words of ,st4 ,paul1 are we not continually biting and devouring one another8 ,are not the newspapers filled with stories which pander to this uncharitable spirit8 ,what1 in short1 is more common than detraction1 and even slander8 ,yet even these evils1 grave and deadly as they are1 are but small compared with other manifestations of this same uncharitable spirit4 ,why1 ,i have been told of people who have worked side by side in the same work-shop1 attended the same church1 even knelt at the same altar-rail1 and yet1 for some trifling cause or other1 have refused to speak to one another for years6 ,what trouble priests have with people who come to confession to them6 ,sometimes the very most they can get is a vague1 half-hearted expression of forgiveness1 but on no account can they in some cases induce their penitents to extend to one another that which is due to every man1 be he ,jew or ,turk1 ,catholic or ,protestant--the ordinary salutations which civility requires4 ,now1 that all this is wrong is evident4 ,not one of us is so blind as not to be able to see that4 ,but what the ,gospel to-day points out1 and what ,i wish to present to your serious consideration this morning1 is the very unpleasant consequences which will infallibly follow upon such conduct4 ,we know the story very well4 ,a slave is in debt to his master for a very large amount--an amount which1 while quite willing1 he is utterly unable to pay4 ,his master releases him from this debt4 ,whereupon this fine fellow1 meeting a brother-slave who owed him a paltry sum1 accosts him in the brutal manner mentioned in the text1 demands immediate payment of the money1 and1 not withstanding the debtor's entreaties and his willingness to make it good as soon as possible1 locks him up in prison until the amount is forthcoming4 #dfg ,thereupon his conduct is brought to the knowledge of their master4 ,he at once summons the wicked slave before him and delivers him to the torturers until he pays all the debt4 ,then our ,lord says1 and ,i ask for your serious attention to his words3 ,so also shall my ,heavenly ,father do to you if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts4 ,of course1 it is unnecessary to point out how strictly this applies to us4 ,many other texts might be cited from the ,gospels to the same effect4 ,one only ,i will mention1 and that is1 that we cannot say an ,our ,father without making the very forgiveness of our sins1 which we ask for1 dependent upon our forgiveness of the faults of others4 ,we must forgive if we wish to be forgiven1 and this forgiveness must be from the heart2 no mere form of words1 sufficient to satisfy men1 but it must be a forgiveness sincere and genuine1 such as to satisfy ,god1 the searcher of hearts1 before whom we must appear to give an account of our whole life4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxliii4 ,mixed ,marriages4 ,i wish to give a short instruction on the ,sacrament of ,matrimony this morning4 #dfh ,if a marriage with a merely nominal ,catholic be fraught with dangerous consequences1 and be the cause of much disturbance and anxiety to one who wishes to be a ,christian in deed as well as in name--and that it is so ,i think all will agree--what shall we say of a mixed marriage1 as it is called--of the union of a ,catholic with one who holds religious views opposed to the faith of the church1 or who1 perhaps1 has no belief or religion at all8 ,how can any true harmony or peace be expected when there is discordance in the matter of religion1 which lies nearest to the heart1 and is more thoroughly interwoven in all the ideas1 opinions1 feelings1 and practices of a practical ,catholic than any other whatever8 ,sympathy1 union of interests and desires1 of plans1 hopes1 and efforts1 must exist in all true friendship2 nay1 more1 without it association or companionship of any kind soon becomes a burden4 ,there is no remedy for this except by dropping or putting in the back ground those aspirations and affections which are not shared by the other party4 ,and what is true of all friendship is1 of course1 true above all of that which should be the highest1 nearest1 and dearest of all friendships--namely1 that of marriage4 ,the only way for a ,catholic to be at all happy in a mixed marriage is to put religion in the background2 to regard it1 as1 unfortunately1 too many do1 as a matter of very little importance2 as something to be professed1 indeed1 and occasionally practised1 but which is to have no special influence on the general course and tenor of one's life4 #dfi ,how can a ,catholic wife1 for instance1 who is earnest about her religion be really happy with a husband who cannot attach any importance to1 or see any sense in1 her practices of devotion2 to whom holy ,mass1 ,benediction1 the sacraments1 the veneration of the saints and angels1 and many other things which are her great helps and consolations in life1 are mere idle mummeries and superstitions2 who looks contemptuously on her observance of ,lent1 of ,fridays1 and fast days2 who considers all the teachings and laws of the church an imposition and a fraud1 to be done away with as far as possible2 who1 in short1 either looks forward to nothing at all beyond this life1 or1 if he hopes for heaven1 has a different one from hers1 and seeks for it in a different way8 ,the only plan that can be followed to secure even a seeming peace and agreement is to bring down the ,catholic religion to its lowest level1 to make out that it is not so very different from ,protestantism after all2 to be content with ,mass on ,sundays2 to eat meat on ,fridays whenever it is more convenient2 to let the pope and the church generally get on as best they can1 and to say no more about them than can be helped4 ,yes1 this mixture even in the ,catholic party of ,catholic and ,protestant is only too likely to be the result of a mixed marriage4 ,i know that it may be said1 and with truth1 that ,protestants are not always prejudiced against our religion2 that sometimes a ,protestant husband is not only willing but anxious that his ,catholic wife should attend thoroughly to her religious duties2 and we find cases of ,protestant wives even becoming ,catholics1 mainly1 as it would seem1 to induce by their example a more faithful practice of religion in their ,catholic husbands4 ,but these are results which we have no right to expect--no1 not even if they are promised beforehand4 ,and too often we find a state of things in a mixed marriage much worse than what ,i have described4 #dgj ,we find1 in spite of the most solemn promises made beforehand1 a bitter and shameless persecution2 ,mass and the sacraments forbidden2 children denied not only ,catholic instruction1 but even the grace of baptism2 the priest not allowed in the house even in time of sickness1 and nearly all hope gone of receiving the last rites of the church at the hour of death4 ,we do not wish to blame the ,protestant party too much in these cases2 he may be acting according to his conscience1 but such a conscience1 though perhaps good enough for him1 is not one which a ,catholic should run the risk of being governed by4 ------------------- #dga ,twenty-second ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,philippians i4 #f-aa4 ,brethren3 ,we are confident of this very thing1 that he1 who hath begun a good work in you1 will perfect it unto the day of ,christ ,jesus4 ,as it is meet for me to think this for you all3 because ,i have you in my heart2 and that in my bonds1 and in the defence1 and confirmation of the gospel1 you all are partakers of my joy4 ,for ,god is my witness1 how ,i long after you all in the bowels of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and this ,i pray1 that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge1 and in all understanding3 that you may approve the better things1 that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of ,christ4 ,replenished with the fruit of justice through ,jesus ,christ1 unto the glory and praise of ,god4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xxii4 #ae-ba4 ,at that time3 ,the ,pharisees going away1 consulted among themselves how to ensnare ,jesus in his speech4 ,and they sent to him their disciples with the ,herodians1 saying3 ,master1 we know that thou art a true speaker1 and teachest the way of ,god in truth1 neither carest thou for any man2 for thou dost not regard the person of men4 ,tell us1 therefore1 what dost thou think1 ,is it lawful to give tribute to ,csar1 or not8 ,but ,jesus1 knowing their wickedness1 said3 ,why do you tempt me1 ye hypocrites8 ,show me the coin of the tribute4 ,and they offered him a penny4 ,and ,jesus saith to them3 ,whose image and inscription is this8 ,they say unto him3 ,csar's4 ,then he saith to them3 ,render1 therefore1 to ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and to ,god the things that are ,god's4 ------------------- #dgb ,sermon ,,cxliv4 ,obedience ,to ,the ,civil ,authorities4 ,render therefore to ,csar the things that are ,csar's1 and to ,god the things that are ,god's4 --,matthew xxii4 #ba ,our ,lord made this reply1 my dear brethren1 to the question of some who asked him whether it was lawful to give tribute to ,caesar or not2 or1 in other words1 whether it was right to pay taxes to support the government of the ,roman ,empire1 to which the ,jews were then subjected1 and which was a pagan1 and in many ways an impious and ungodly power4 ,they hoped that he would say that it was not2 for if he did1 they would have a very good charge to make against him before the ,roman governor1 as one who was a rebel and a disobeyer of the laws2 and could thus bring about his ruin1 which they earnestly desired4 ,now1 if it really had been wrong to pay these taxes ,christ would of course have said so2 for1 as they had said to him in truth1 though they meant it as flattery1 he was a true speaker1 and would not betray the truth to please any man or to escape any danger4 ,but instead of answering in this way1 as they hoped1 he surprised them by saying that they ought to pay the taxes which were imposed on them2 he commanded them to obey the power1 hateful in many ways as it was1 whose subjects they were4 ,we must1 therefore1 conclude that the power of the state1 or the law of the land as it is called1 has a real claim in the name of ,god and of ,christ to our obedience4 ,for if our ,lord required those who heard him to obey the ,roman authorities1 he would also require us to obey the duly constituted authorities under which we live at any time4 ,for the cruel and persecuting pagan empire of ,rome was surely no more worthy of respect and obedience than any other under which our lot is like to be cast4 #dgc ,and if we could have any doubt as to our duty in conscience on this point1 ,st4 ,paul confirms this lesson most emphatically4 ,there is no power1 he says1 but from ,god2 and those that are1 are ordained of ,god4 444 ,and they that resist purchase to themselves damnation4 444 ,wherefore be subject of necessity1 not only for wrath 7that is1 for fear of the consequences7 but also for conscience sake4 ,and coming to the very matter of which our ,lord has spoken1 he proceeds3 ,render1 therefore1 to all men their dues4 ,tribute to whom tribute is due2 custom to whom custom4 ,we see then clearly1 my brethren1 that the laws of the land bind us in conscience4 ,and we do not by any means need to go back to apostolic times to find instruction to this effect4 ,the successors of ,st4 ,peter1 and those teaching in union with them1 have always insisted on this duty of obedience to the civil power very strongly4 ,only last year1 for instance1 our ,holy ,father1 ,pope ,leo ,,xiii41 has1 in an encyclical letter1 taught it to us very clearly4 ,the church1 he says1 rightly teaches that the power of the state comes from ,god4 ,and he tells us that1 whatever the form of government may be--that is1 whether the rulers are chosen by the people or not--it is not simply from the people that their right to rule and to be obeyed comes2 the people in an elective government do not make the power1 although they designate the person or persons in whom the power of ,god is to rest4 #dgd ,of course no one denies that the civil power may1 in particular cases1 forfeit its claim to our obedience by requiring of us things manifestly unjust or plainly contrary to the law of ,god or of the church2 as1 for instance1 if it should require us to attend ,protestant worship1 or should forbid us to make our ,easter duty4 ,but such cases are very rare1 at least here in this country4 ,we shall know easily enough when they arise4 ,there is little fear1 as things now are1 of too great respect for law among us2 the danger1 rather1 is of our regarding laws as the mere decisions of a majority1 to which we have to submit as far as we cannot help it1 and because we cannot help it1 but to which we owe no interior reverence1 and by breaking which we commit no sin4 ,whereas the truth is that we do sin by breaking any law of the land which is not manifestly unjust or contrary to the rights of ,god and the obedience we owe to him4 ,remember1 then1 my brethren1 to render to ,csar the things that are ,csar's4 ,the ,president1 ,congress1 our governors and legislatures1 and the other powers that be are really ,god's vicegerents1 though not in so high an order as the spiritual2 still in their own place they truly act in ,god's name4 ,find out and consider what they require2 confess and amend any disregard or disrespect for their laws1 unless you wish to be guilty of contempt and disobedience to him from whom all law comes4 ------------------- #dge ,sermon ,,cxlv4 ,thanksgiving ,day4 ,giving thanks to ,god the ,father4 --,colossians i4 #ab4 ,this week1 as you know1 my brethren1 a day has been appointed by the civil authorities1 according to long-established custom1 which we are invited to devote specially to thanksgiving for the many blessings which we have received from ,god during the year4 ,and though the observance of this day is not an ecclesiastical obligation1 yet there is a singular appropriateness in it for us on account of its falling just at the close of the year which the church celebrates4 ,at this time1 when we have completed the round of the mysteries of our faith1 and are about to recommence it in the season of ,advent1 it must naturally occur to us to look back and thank ,god1 not only for all his temporal benefits1 but also and especially for the spiritual blessings which he has given us1 and which we have just finished commemorating4 ,even in the temporal order1 however1 we have abundant cause to be grateful to ,god4 ,true1 we have had our trials and sufferings1 some more1 some less2 though even these we can perhaps even now see1 and shall see more clearly hereafter1 to have been blessings in disguise4 ,but we have had much happiness and comfort in spite of these trials4 ,surely we ought not to pass this by unnoticed4 ,but this is just what we are too likely to do4 ,somehow or other1 we are all apt to take things when they go right as a matter of course1 and only to notice them when they go wrong4 ,when we are sick we complain and make a great fuss1 and perhaps are not satisfied unless we can make everybody else unhappy as well as ourselves2 but when we are well1 that is just as it should be3 no thanks to anybody for that4 #dgf ,no thanks to ,god1 whose loving care and providence are necessary1 and are given to us at each moment of our lives1 and who is continually warding off from us a thousand dangers to which we are exposed1 often through our own fault2 no thanks to him whose angels watch over us to keep us in all our ways4 ,by our ignorance and imprudence we are frequently endangering this wondrous life which he has given us2 with all the science in the world1 we do not understand it and could not direct it2 it is he who causes our breath to come1 our hearts to beat1 and our blood to flow in our veins4 ,so also in the common affairs of life1 our industry and skill would avail nothing if ,god did not come to our assistance4 ,if our work or business prospers at all1 it is due to him2 it is his free gift4 ,and all the conveniences of modern life which we pride ourselves so much on are the fruits of his power and skill which he lends us4 ,it is he who shines on us1 not only by the sun and moon1 but also in those lights which we think that we ourselves produce2 it is he who sends our telegraphic messages for us1 who carries us where we will in our steamers and railway trains4 ,these perpetual and ordinary comforts of life1 then1 in which we all share1 as well as our very life itself1 are ,god's gift4 ,and beside these1 are there not more blessings which we can see if we look back on the year1 standing out from the rest8 ,have we thanked him for all these8 ,if not1 let us then really make this a time to atone for past neglect2 a time of thanksgiving in deed as well as in name4 #dgg ,but1 above all1 let us1 whom he has given the signal and unspeakable blessing of the true faith1 thank him for that4 ,to those who have just come from the doubt and confusion of the world outside this true church this is a happiness which outweighs all troubles1 a perpetual sunshine which drives away all clouds4 ,why should it not be so to us all8 ,this is what ,st4 ,paul in his epistle wishes that it should be4 ,giving thanks1 he says1 to ,god the ,father1 who has made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light1 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness1 and hath translated us into the kingdom of the ,son of his love1 in whom we have redemption through his ,blood1 the remission of sins4 ,let us think on these words1 and see if there is not enough in them to make at least one ,thanksgiving day4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxlvi4 ,the ,communion ,of ,saints4 ,we are so near the ,feast of ,all ,saints and the commemoration of all the faithful departed--,all ,souls day--that we may well let our affectionate thoughts follow after our brethren who have gone before us and sleep in the peace of ,christ4 ,there is scarcely one of us1 dear brethren1 who has not been familiar from childhood with the article of the ,apostles ,creed1 ,i believe in the communion of saints2 and there are few1 if any1 who have not derived consolation from this dogma of our faith1 teaching1 as it does1 that we are not entirely cut off from those who have gone before us1 but form with them one great family1 of which the head is ,christ and the members the souls of the just1 whether in heaven or in purgatory1 or still in the flesh4 #dgh ,but if this truth of holy religion brings consolation1 it brings also the duty of praying for our brethren who are passing through the cleansing fires of purgatory2 who1 because of sin or the debt due for sin1 cannot enter their eternal home until they have repaid the last farthing4 ,they can do nothing for themselves--their day of meriting is past2 they look to us who are their friends to help them4 ,while they were with us they were very dear to us--bound to us by ties of blood or friendship4 ,let us do our duty to them now2 let us1 by our good works in their behalf1 show how much we love them2 let us show that our affection for them was not selfish nor pretended1 but so real and strong and lasting that death has but strengthened it and brought it to its fulness4 ,what one of us but has his daily task--his allotted work8 ,yet as each day brings its own burdens1 so each day is full of opportunities of gaining indulgence for the souls in purgatory4 ,the many inconveniences we all of us are called upon to suffer1 the many sacrifices of comfort and of pleasure we make1 the disappointments we meet with1 the fatigues we bear--all these may be made sources of refreshment to our friends beyond the grave4 ,if in the morning we would but offer to ,god all we shall do and suffer during the day for his honor and glory1 and for the relief of the departed1 oh6 how soon would the angels welcome them to their true country1 and how many advocates we should have before the throne of ,god6 #dgi ,but if so much can be done without any particular effort on our part1 what shall we say of the efficacy of the special prayers we recite for them and the ,masses we have offered for their repose6 ,how shall we tell of their gratitude1 of their unceasing supplications for us6 ,we lose nothing1 dear brethren1 by praying for them2 be assured we are rather the gainers1 for not only do they pray for us1 but more--our charity towards them deepens in our souls our love for ,god1 and makes us thirst the more after virtue and holiness1 and wins for us a higher place in heaven and a brighter crown of everlasting glory4 ,let us be generous1 then2 let us storm heaven with our prayers for the souls in purgatory1 and we shall find rest for ourselves as well as for them4 ------------------- #dhj ,twenty-third ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,philippians iii4 #ag2 iv4 #c4 ,be followers of me1 brethren1 and observe them who walk so as you have our model4 ,for many walk1 of whom ,i have told you often 7and now tell you weeping7 that they are enemies of the cross of ,christ3 whose end is destruction1 whose ,god is their belly1 and whose glory is in their shame3 who mind earthly things4 ,but our conversation is in heaven3 from whence also we wait for the ,saviour1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who will reform the body of our lowness1 made like to the body of his glory1 according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself4 ,therefore1 my dearly beloved brethren1 and most desired1 my joy and my crown2 so stand fast in the ,lord1 my most dearly beloved4 ,i beg of ,euodia1 and ,i beseech ,syntyche to be of one mind in the ,lord4 ,and ,i entreat thee1 my sincere companion1 help those women who have labored with me in the ,gospel1 with ,clement and the rest of my fellow-laborers1 whose names are in the book of life4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew ix4 #ah-bf4 ,at that time3 ,as ,jesus was speaking these things unto them1 behold a certain ruler came1 and adored him1 saying3 ,lord1 my daughter is just now dead2 but come1 lay thy hand upon her1 and she shall live4 ,and ,jesus1 rising up1 followed him1 with his disciples4 ,and behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years1 came behind him1 and touched the hem of his garment4 ,for she said within herself3 ,if ,i shall but touch his garment ,i shall be healed4 ,but ,jesus1 turning about and seeing her1 said3 ,take courage1 daughter1 thy faith hath made thee whole4 #dha ,and the woman was made whole from that hour4 ,and when ,jesus came into the house of the ruler1 and saw the minstrels and the crowd making a rout1 he said3 ,give place1 for the girl is not dead1 but sleepeth4 ,and they laughed at him4 ,and when the crowd was turned out he went in1 and took her by the hand4 ,and the girl arose4 ,and the fame hereof went abroad into all that country4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxlvii4 ,mixed ,marriages4 ,from the simplest lessons of experience1 my dear brethren1 ,i think it ought to be plain enough how miserable a thing a mixed marriage is likely to be4 ,even if the faith and practice of the ,catholic party and of the children is what it should be--which is certainly hardly to be expected--there will be great and continual suffering to them on account of the separation of the ,protestant father or mother--who is all the more loved the better and kinder he or she may be--from the unity of the church and from the ordinary means of salvation4 ,in fact1 it can hardly be imagined how any one having a lively faith in the ,catholic religion can marry a ,protestant or infidel1 unless under the influence of a hope that some time or other the conversion of the other party will be effected4 ,this hope does occasionally prove not to be a vain one4 ,there are cases1 no doubt1 in which a ,protestant1 who would not probably otherwise have turned his thoughts to the question at all1 does become a ,catholic by means of marriage4 #dhb ,but the best chance to obtain such a conversion is before the marriage is entered on2 that is the time to try to secure it2 and it is the duty of every ,catholic who thinks of marrying one outside the church to do the best in his or her power to bring the other party over1 not only in name but in fact1 to the true faith4 ,i say in fact1 for1 unfortunately1 many a non-,catholic1 who has no strong conviction about religion in any way1 will be willing to call himself a ,catholic1 and even to be baptized1 in order to remove objections which may be made4 ,take care1 then1 that the conversion which is professed is a sincere and genuine one1 and not merely got up for the occasion4 ,i have heard of a case in which the ,protestant party1 when his religion was urged by the priest as an objection to the marriage1 which would make trouble1 most cheerfully replied3 ,well1 father1 if it would be any convenience to you1 ,i am quite ready to be a ,catholic4 ,such converts are not so very uncommon1 though it is not often that they let their state of mind be seen so plainly4 ,they will sit through several instructions given to them by the priest1 making no question or remark about anything which he says1 that they may get through as soon as possible2 and when they do get through1 that is about the last of their ,catholic profession1 or at least of their attendance to any ,catholic duties4 ,if1 then1 a conversion1 and a real and true conversion1 cannot be obtained before marriage1 there is certainly much fear that it never will be accomplished afterward4 ,be warned1 then1 in time2 do not indulge false hopes in this regard2 do not marry in haste and repent at leisure4 #dhc ,and about this matter of conversion ,i will say a few words1 with reference not to ,protestants1 but to careless and negligent ,catholics4 ,a ,catholic who is negligent of his duties has1 it is true1 if he keeps his faith1 a resource which the ,protestant has not2 he knows what to do to be reconciled with ,god at the last2 he will probably try to do it1 and he may succeed4 ,there is then more hope for his final salvation in this way than for the ,protestant2 but that does not make him a better companion during life2 and many of the miseries of a mixed marriage are met with1 and some1 perhaps1 even in a greater degree1 with nominal ,catholics than with ,protestants4 ,if1 then1 you contemplate marriage even with a ,catholic1 be sure to see that he or she attends to the duties required of ,catholics1 and has not contracted vicious and dangerous habits4 ,do not delude yourself with the idea that a confession and ,communion must be made at the time of the marriage1 and that the priest will attend to all that is necessary4 ,for this confession and ,communion may be in some cases not so very good and fervent2 they may be something like what some ,protestants1 as ,i have said1 go through with for convenience or necessity4 ,no1 do not leave it all to the priest1 but do your own part4 ,if the behavior of the other party before marriage is not such as becomes a ,christian1 both with regard to the frequentation of the sacraments and also in the matter of temperance and in others of which you are the best and indeed the only judge1 it is not likely that it will be so afterward4 ,take care1 then1 before taking a step which you cannot retrace4 ,you1 not the priest1 are the one to secure now the amendment of life which is so necessary4 ,a word to the wise should be sufficient4 ------------------- #dhd ,sermon ,,cxlviii4 ,imitation ,of ,the ,saints4 ,my fellow-laborers1 whose names are in the book of life4 --,philippians iv4 #c4 ,thus does ,st4 ,paul in the ,epistle of to-day speak of ,st4 ,clement and the others who had labored with him in the ,gospel4 ,do you wish that your name1 too1 should be written in the book of life8 ,follow the path trodden here below by the saints of ,god1 and then1 even while yet on earth1 your name will be recorded in heaven4 ,for holy church commands us to observe this festival of ,all ,saints1 of which we are now keeping the octave1 not only in honor of those whose names are in the calendar1 and whose feasts come round in the course of each year1 but also in praise of that great multitude which no man can number--of all nations1 and tribes1 and peoples1 and tongues--who stand before the throne and in sight of the ,lamb1 clothed with white robes and palms in their hands4 ,the saints whom the church has honored with canonization are but a small number in that vast multitude4 ,they were the heroes of the ,christian army1 but the great majority of those who are now receiving the homage of the church were the rank and file--common every day ,christians1 like ourselves4 ,the festival of ,all ,saints1 therefore1 especially appeals to us by showing us that sanctity is not something away off out of our reach and entirely beyond our powers1 but that it is what we must each strive after if we hope to win heaven4 ,for nothing defiled can enter there1 and without holiness no man shall see ,god1 ,as1 then1 we hope to be one day saints in heaven1 we must try now to be saints on earth4 #dhe ,that is why ,st4 ,paul addresses all the faithful as the beloved of ,god1 called to be saints4 ,yet many ,christians are forgetful of this high vocation4 ,they seem to think that ,god has laid down one rule1 one course of life for saints1 and quite another for ordinary people4 ,this is all a mistake4 ,god's law is the same for every one4 ,there are1 indeed1 special duties belonging to particular states of life1 but apart from these there is no difference in what is required of every ,christian4 ,we are all of us bound to follow the strait and narrow way which leadeth unto life4 ,the chief happiness of that life will consist in the sight of ,god1 to be always in his presence1 serving him continually in joy and thanksgiving4 ,and the way to this life our ,lord has told us in the sermon on the ,mount3 ,blessed are the clean of heart1 for they shall see ,god4 ,so1 then1 in order to attain to this life1 to dwell for ever in the sight of ,god1 it is not necessary to imitate the saints in their extraordinary deeds1 their heroic acts of penance and self-sacrifice1 their suffering for the faith4 ,some of us are1 indeed1 called upon to stand out conspicuously among other ,christians1 as they did1 and show to the world an example of courage and heroism4 ,but for all of us the hidden virtues are the ones required1 and if we cultivate these1 ,god1 who seeth in secret1 will himself reward us openly in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed4 ,the one thing needful for each one of us is purity of heart1 to cleanse our hearts from sin and from all affection towards sin4 ,dearly beloved1 says ,st4 ,john1 if our heart do not reprehend us1 we have confidence towards ,god4 #dhf ,see to it1 then1 that your heart is all right towards ,god4 ,cleanse your soul from mortal sin by turning your heart away from the sin you have committed by sincere and hearty contrition and by a good confession4 ,then keep your heart right towards ,god by giving it to him who says to you1 ,my son1 give me thy heart4 ,god alone is worthy of the full love of our hearts1 and he alone can satisfy the heart of man4 ,if we set our affections upon sin or upon the passing things of this world there is reserved for us in the end nothing but unsatisfied longings and bitterness of heart4 ,but if we purify our hearts from every affection that would lead us away from ,god we shall indeed be called blessed1 and our names shall be written in the book of life4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cxlix4 ,heaven4 ,blessed are the poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4 --,st4 ,matthew4 v4 #b4 ,,usccb3 ,matthew4 v4 #c4 ,all ,saints' day is a solemn and glorious festival for all heaven as well as for all the world2 for to-day ,god is praised1 and the great salvation by our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ magnified and lauded by a common1 universal act of holy congratulation and worship among all the saints--that is1 among all souls that are united to ,god in the communion of saints1 whether in the church triumphant1 in the church suffering1 or in the church militant4 #dhg ,it seems to me that none but ,catholics believe in heaven1 the eternal home of the saints after death1 because they alone appear to understand what a saint is1 as the church has proved herself to be the only power which has been able to train and canonize one4 ,yes1 all we can know of heaven is1 that it is the reward1 the everlasting life1 the new and divine state of being which the saints enter into and enjoy when they have left this world--that is1 when they die in the church militant and rise in glory in the church triumphant4 ,if any ,christian1 then1 or so-called ,christian1 fancies he can meditate about heaven1 and hopes to get there without knowing what a saint is1 and without striving to be as near one as he can1 he is simply deceiving himself4 ,i fear that the kind of place some people think would be a good enough heaven for them1 if we are to judge by the way they live1 is1 in fact1 not much above what the state of hell really is4 ,many are the souls who ought to have been saints1 and are damned because they were unfaithful to the vocation ,god gave them1 and too sensual to make the necessary sacrifices that such a vocation demanded4 ,what kind of a heaven1 for instance1 do you think the many intelligent ,protestants we meet with every day will likely get1 who know they ought to become ,catholics to save their souls1 and are yet afraid to take the step2 who stand still and count the cost1 and cheat their consciences with the false doctrine that no real sacrifices are demanded of them1 because ,god will be more glorified if they leave all to him and do nothing themselves8 ,and yet these people1 and a good many ,catholics1 too1 are living just such lives1 and in their deaths they will not be divided4 #dhh ,and now do you say3 ,o ,father6 tell us1 then1 what a saint is1 that we may be sure we are not all wrong1 but may have some hope of imitating such1 and so join the company of the glorified ones in heaven when we die6 ,i answer3 ,a saint is one who does everything he feels that ,god wants him to do1 and carefully gives up and avoids everything that he feels is not pleasing to ,god4 ,apply that to yourself4 ,god does not want the same thing of everybody1 nor require all to make the same sacrifices4 ,so that1 as a fact1 there are all kinds of saints1 as we know4 ,but in what he does require he demands that one should aim at doing it perfectly4 ,be ye perfect1 as your ,heavenly ,father is perfect1 said our ,lord4 ,be perfectly honest1 be perfectly pure1 be perfectly sober1 be perfectly charitable1 be perfectly obedient to the laws of ,god and man1 be perfectly humble1 be perfectly free from loving money or other riches4 ,don't let me ever hear you say again that you are a man of the world and must live in it as an excuse for the wretched apology for a ,christian life you lead4 ,you know that is a lie4 ,you are a man1 and a ,christian man of the kingdom of ,god and of his saints1 and that is the kind of a place you live in1 and must square your life accordingly1 or you will never see the kingdom of ,god and of his saints in glory1 which is heaven1 when you die4 ,in to-day's ,gospel our ,lord pronounces the eight beatitudes4 ,think on them1 and1 if you do not know them by heart1 take out your ,bible when you go home and read them at the beginning of the fifth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew's ,gospel4 ,so live that you will merit to be one of those our ,lord declares to be blessed1 and you will surely be a saint4 ------------------- #dhi ,easter being a movable ,feast which can occur on any day from the #bb;d of ,march to the #beth of ,april1 the number of ,sundays between ,epiphany and ,septuagesima1 and between ,pentecost and ,advent1 varies according to the situation of ,easter4 ,there are always at least two ,sundays1 unless ,epiphany falls on a ,sunday1 and never more than six1 between ,epiphany and ,septuagesima4 ,likewise1 there are never fewer than twenty-three ,sundays after ,pentecost1 or more than twenty-eight4 ,the ,gospel and ,epistle for the last ,sunday after ,pentecost are always the same4 ,when there are twenty-three ,sundays1 the ,gospel and ,epistle for the last ,sunday are substituted for those of the twenty-third4 ,when there are twenty-five ,sundays1 the ,gospel and ,epistle for the sixth ,sunday after ,epiphany are taken2 when there are twenty-six1 those also of the fifth after ,epiphany2 when there are twenty-seven1 those of the fourth1 and when there are twenty-eight1 those of the third1 in order to fill up the interval which occurs4 ,in any year1 in which there are more than twenty-four ,sundays after ,pentecost1 proper sermons for these ,sundays are to be found among those which are arranged for the ,sundays following the ,feast of the ,epiphany4 ,if one sermon is wanting1 it is taken from the sixth ,sunday after ,epiphany2 if two1 three1 or four are needed1 the last two or three or four sermons which precede ,septuagesima are to be taken1 in their order4 ------------------- #dij ,twenty-fourth or ,last ,sunday after ,pentecost4 ,epistle4 ,colossians i4 #i-ad4 ,brethren3 ,we cease not to pray for you1 and to beg that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding3 that you may walk worthy of ,god1 in all things pleasing3 being fruitful in every good work1 and increasing in the knowledge of ,god3 strengthened with all might according to the power of his glory1 in all patience and long-suffering with joy1 giving thanks to ,god the ,father1 who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light3 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness1 and hath translated us into the kingdom of the ,son of his love3 in whom we have redemption through his blood1 the remission of sins4 ,gospel4 ,st4 ,matthew xxiv4 #ae-ce4 ,at that time ,jesus said to his disciples3 ,when you shall see the abomination of desolation1 which was spoken of by ,daniel the prophet1 standing in the holy place3 he that readeth1 let him understand4 ,then let those that are in ,judea flee to the mountains4 ,and he that is on the house-top1 let him not come down to take anything out of his house3 and he that is in the field1 let him not go back to take his coat4 ,and woe to them that are with child1 and that give suck in those days4 ,but pray that your flight be not in the winter or on the ,sabbath4 ,for there shall be then great tribulation1 such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now1 neither shall be4 ,and unless those days had been shortened1 no flesh should be saved3 but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened4 #dia ,then1 if any man shall say to you3 ,lo1 here is ,christ1 or there1 do not believe him4 ,for there shall arise false christs and false prophets1 and shall show great signs and wonders1 insomuch as to deceive 7if possible7 even the elect4 ,behold ,i have told it to you beforehand4 ,if therefore they shall say to you3 ,behold he is in the desert2 go ye not out3 ,behold he is in the closets2 believe it not4 ,for as lightning cometh out of the east1 and1 appeareth even unto the west1 so shall also the coming of the ,son of ,man be4 ,wheresoever the body shall be1 there shall the eagles also be gathered together4 ,and immediately after the tribulation of those days1 the sun shall be darkened1 and the moon shall not give her light1 and the stars shall fall from heaven1 and the powers of the heavens shall be moved4 ,and then shall appear the sign of the ,son of ,man in heaven3 and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn3 and they shall see the ,son of ,man coming in the clouds of heaven with great power and majesty4 ,and he shall send his angels with a trumpet1 and a great voice3 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from the farthest parts of the heavens to the uttermost bounds of them4 ,now learn a parable from the fig-tree3 when its branch is now tender1 and the leaves come forth1 you know that summer is nigh4 ,so also you1 when you shall see all these things1 know that it is near1 even at the doors4 ,amen1 ,i say to you1 this generation shall not pass till all these things be done4 ,heaven and earth shall pass away1 but my words shall not pass away4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cl4 ,marrying ,out ,of ,the ,church4 #dib ,in our course of instructions on marriage1 my dear friends1 we have so far spoken chiefly of the care which should be taken in the selection of the person who is to be one's constant companion through life1 and shown that not only earthly happiness1 but even the salvation of the soul1 may depend on this choice being made wisely4 ,we will now go on to consider the ceremony of marriage itself4 ,some people1 though they have always been ,catholics and lived among ,catholics1 seem to be entirely ignorant of the laws and requirements of the church on this subject4 ,they appear to think that nothing has to be done but to call on the priest some fine evening1 and that he will marry them then and there4 ,and if it is not convenient to go to the priest1 or if he makes any difficulty about it1 why1 then a ,protestant minister or his honor the mayor will do at a pinch4 ,now there are several points which these people need instruction about1 and several mistakes which they make in this very important affair4 ,we shall have to consider them separately4 ,and we will begin with the greatest mistake of all which can be fallen into by ,catholics who wish to get married1 and that is to go to a ,protestant minister for the purpose4 ,what is1 then1 the harm exactly of going to a ,protestant minister to get married8 ,is it that a ,protestant minister is an immoral or vicious character1 with whom we should have nothing to do8 ,by no means4 ,he is1 indeed1 more likely to be to blame for his errors in religion than his people1 for he has1 from his greater knowledge in religious matters1 a better chance to know the truth2 but even a minister may be in good faith about his doctrine4 ,and in other respects he may be a worthy and estimable gentleman4 #dic ,but the reason why ,catholics should avoid going to him for marriage is that marriage is one of the seven sacraments which our ,lord has entrusted to the keeping of his church4 ,these sacraments1 then1 belong to the church1 and we cannot recognize the right of those who separate from her to administer them or to assist officially at them1 though they may have the power to do so validly4 ,therefore1 though marriage be real and valid when contracted before a ,protestant minister1 and though his own people1 of course1 are not to blame1 if in good faith1 for availing themselves of his services1 we cannot do so4 ,in deed1 this would be the case even if marriage were not a sacrament1 but merely a religious rite or ceremony2 we cannot allow the ministers of any sect separated from the church to act as such for us in any religious function2 to do so would be to allow their claim to act in the name of ,christ4 ,this we can never do1 and1 above all1 where the sacraments are concerned4 ,another1 and a very weighty reason1 why ,catholics cannot go before a minister for marriage1 is that no one but the ,catholic clergy can be supposed to be sufficiently acquainted with the laws of ,god and of the church regarding ,christian marriage4 ,there are impediments1 as they are called1 which make marriage invalid unless a dispensation is obtained from the proper source4 ,some of these are commonly known1 such as those which proceed from a near relationship of the parties2 but there are others which are not known even by name to the great mass of the faithful1 and which a ,protestant minister1 even should he happen to know them1 would never for a moment regard4 #did ,catholics1 therefore1 if they go to a minister to get married1 run a great risk of not being really married at all1 owing to these impediments not being detected or attended to4 ,by the law of the ,state their marriage may be a good and real one1 but in the sight of ,god it will not be so1 if any such impediment should exist1 and not have been removed by dispensation2 and this holds1 even though no suspicion of such an impediment should have arisen4 ,you see1 then1 how important it is in this matter to consult those who are competent to advise them4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,cli4 ,joy ,in ,god's ,service4 ,let the peace of ,christ rejoice in your hearts1 444 and be1 ye1 thankful4 --,colossians iii4 #ae4 ,of the several great lessons contained in to-day's ,epistle1 the one most insisted on and brought out is that of thankfulness and joyfulness in the service of ,god4 ,in the labors of ,st4 ,paul 7and his labors were more abundant than all the ,apostles71 in his frequent tribulations and crosses1 he never ceased giving thanks in all things--nor did he ever tire of inculcating this same duty on the first ,christians4 ,if1 then1 my brethren1 thankfulness and joyfulness are such a great part of religion1 it would be well this morning to see if they be characteristic of our service4 ,we have a multitude of reasons for being thankful to ,god1 if we but thought of them--the gifts of nature--life1 health1 strength1 the pleasures and gratifications of the mind1 learning1 objects of interest1 of study and beauty1 both in nature and art1 the pleasures of home1 the joys of friendship4 #die ,these are real and great benefits2 they are causes of joy and motives of thankfulness4 ,our good ,god intended us to find enjoyment in the moderate use of them1 not1 indeed1 as ends in themselves1 but as means to our one great end4 ,and so he has spread the charm of beauty over this place of our sojourn and made it pleasant and interesting1 lest we lose heart and become sad1 and languish on our journey to heaven4 ,but to speak of higher gifts and benefits3 ,what motives of joy and thankfulness ought we not to find in the knowledge of ,god1 his truth1 mercy1 and goodness as made known to us in the ,scripture and in his ,divine ,son1 our ,saviour and friend1 the ,god-,man2 in the gift of the faith1 the spiritual riches of the church and the sacraments1 his mercies to us personally--blessings on our labors1 the removal of dangers from our paths1 his gracious forgiveness of our sins1 time and again4 ,then1 too1 what we expect and through his mercy count on for the future--the joys of heaven1 those delights which pass our understanding4 ,the life of heaven will be pure joy1 and its one occupation thankfulness4 ,surely1 then1 this life should be a figure and foretaste of it2 and so ,st4 ,paul thought1 for he bids us be thankful1 rejoice and rejoice always2 singing in grace in our hearts1 and in every word and work giving thanks to ,god4 #dif ,it is plain that1 since ,god has done his part in bestowing the benefits in such abundant measure1 we should do ours in returning thanks1 for gratitude is the correlative of benefit4 ,it is equally plain that the true religion is joyful4 ,now1 is such our religion8 ,is this the way we act8 ,is it the way we consider ,god's service8 ,we see1 ,i think1 more anxious and sad faces than thankful and glad ones2 and ,i fear that the joyfulness of the latter does not come generally from the reasons ,i have given4 ,it comes too often from worldly causes1 from success in temporal things1 from hopes and prospects which relate to indifferent things1 if they are not dangerous and positively bad4 ,whereas the common idea of religion is that it is an unpleasant1 sad1 up-hill sort of a thing1 which imposes restraints upon us1 and1 far from being a cause of thankfulness and joy1 is a great interference with the pleasure of life4 ,pious people1 too1 are regarded as dull1 simple1 spiritless creatures1 quite the opposite of joyful4 ,this is all wrong1 all false1 and1 if it be our religion1 then we have not the true religion1 at least practically4 ,for as ,god's benefits are real and great1 so our thanks and joy should be in them and correspond to them4 ,religion1 being our highest duty1 should be and can be our highest pleasure4 ,god says it is1 and he is truth2 those who have tried say the same4 ,what shall ,i render to ,god for all he hath rendered to me8--better one day in thy courts than a thousand years in the tents of sinners--taste and see how sweet the ,lord is4 ,our consciences and experience bear out the same truth2 for surely evil cannot be compared to good in fulness1 in intensity2 and1 above all1 it will not wear1 it will not last1 and it leaves us dissatisfied1 fearful1 sad4 ,the pleasure and joy of a good life to a good man even here are far greater than the pleasure of sin to a sinner4 #dig ,let us1 then1 make up our minds1 once for all1 that not only is religion the most necessary1 but the wisest and the happiest thing for us4 ,let us serve ,god with thankfulness1 both for what he has done and will do for us1 if we are faithful4 ,if he has done so much in this state of probation1 exile1 and punishment1 what will he not do when the time of reward and enjoyment arrives4 ,surely1 considering what we are and what we have done1 the pains and crosses bear no proportion to the benefits1 and we have cause even in present labors to be thankful and in every word and work to give him praise through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ------------------- ,sermon ,,clii4 ,forgive ,and ,be ,forgiven4 ,bearing with one another and forgiving one another1 if any have a complaint against another4 ,even as the ,lord hath forgiven you1 so you also4 --,colossians iii4 #ac4 ,this1 my dear brethren1 is the law of ,christ4 ,it is a law we are bound to keep4 ,we cannot save our souls unless we do keep it4 ,there is no possible way to escape its requirements1 for our ,lord himself declares positively3 ,but if you will not forgive men1 neither will your ,father forgive you your offences 7,matthew vi4 #ae74 ,therefore1 there is no way to save our souls1 no way to be true ,christians in life1 unless we forgive all and every one1 without exception1 every injury they have done us4 #dih ,but one may say3 ,i do forgive all who have injured me if they repent1 say they are sorry1 and ask pardon6 ,my dear brethren1 this won't do4 ,you must forgive whether they repent or not4 ,nothing less will satisfy the ,lord4 ,the best reason is that since the ,lord has forgiven us1 so we also are bound to forgive all4 ,a true lover of the ,lord doesn't want a better reason4 ,a greater or a better cannot be given4 ,our ,lord himself has set the example4 ,he has taken our sins upon himself1 and caused the ,eternal ,father to forgive us our sins for his sake beforehand1 before we have even repented or shown by a single sign that we want to belong to ,god and to hate sin4 ,do we not receive in our baptism1 as infants1 the grace that destroys original sin8 ,original sin placed us under the power of the devil1 and made us unworthy to be called the sons of ,god1 but our ,christian baptism made us again the sons of ,god4 ,does not ,god forgive us also our mortal sins1 giving us time to repent1 and even waiting patiently for our repentance8 ,remember1 these sins after baptism are all the greater because after being made innocent we again become guilty4 ,but some try to excuse themselves and say3 ,it is hard to have to do this2 ,i can't do it4 ,the sin against me is too great2 it ought not to be forgiven4 ,this is not true4 ,there is nothing we can't forgive1 nothing we are permitted to leave unforgiven4 ,we can forgive any sin against us if we will4 ,if it is hard1 pray and it will become easy4 ,sincere prayer for him who is our enemy is sure to remove very soon all feeling against him4 ,this is certain3 that it will1 without fail1 prevent the malice and revenge in our hearts from overcoming us and causing us to sin grievously against charity4 ,remember that everything we do well for our ,lord is hard at first1 but is made easy by prayer and faithful1 persevering effort4 #dii ,again1 some object3 ,i try to pray but cannot1 because when ,i pray ,i think of my wrongs and begin to hate my enemy1 so that my prayer is insincere or stops on my lips6 ,then pray for all poor sinners1 and don't mean to leave your enemy out of your prayers4 ,this is a good beginning1 and keeps you from mortal sin1 for pray we must for our enemies4 ,this is a fundamental law of the ,christian life4 ,if we intentionally leave out one single soul when we pray for all poor sinners1 we sin in the very presence of ,god1 and our prayers are rejected2 nor shall they be accepted until we include that soul also4 ,let us remember1 my dear brethren1 that we are called by our ,lord to show to the world that being the friends of ,god means that he puts into our souls his loving1 merciful1 long-suffering ,spirit1 and thus makes us like to himself4 ,does any one want to be ,god-like8 ,then let him forgive from his heart every injury and all who injure him4 ,to gain courage to forgive1 let us see what forgiveness does4 ,it saves ,god's honor4 ,it prevents his being insulted4 ,for example3 when one insults us1 he sins against ,god and insults him also4 ,if we answer back1 we also insult ,god1 and make two sins instead of one4 ,next1 our angry answer makes our enemy reply again2 for another sin are we responsible4 ,so it goes on until a number of sins are committed by each one4 ,silence on our part would have prevented these insults to ,god and left our souls unstained4 ,we were not silent4 ,the consequence is we not only increased another's sin1 but we added our own and lost the friendship of ,god4 #ejj ,had a forgiving spirit been in each soul this could not have happened4 ,had it been in one of them1 one soul at least would have been kept from sin4 ,cultivate1 then1 a forgiving spirit1 and even as the ,lord hath forgiven you1 so you also forgive all4 -------------------