The New York herald., 1844-12-24

| by, without adverting to a circumstance. which
not long since occurred in this city before nume-
| an orator arose, took into his hand Catechisrn,
and attempted to turn into rldicue that portion OF
il which relates to the " Hail, Mary :; and with
out attempting to give the slightest explanation, he
put the question, as if it had been in the Cate
chlsm, =" Who made the Hail, Mary - and il was
really astonishing that in the attempt to turn into
rdicule the Catholic doctrine, he turned into ridi-
cue Christianity itself-although l am perfectly
confident ne did not know what he was doing, and
felt no other desire than to pray" Father. for
give him, for he knoweth not what he doeth." Ii
IS my duty as teacher OF the CATHOLIC religion,
and my pride as free-born citizen OF this commu.
nifty, to speak out, and explain to the whole re-
public, if 1t could hear me, that very point
which was SO dlsingenuously turned into
rldicule on so great and solemn occasion.
The question in the catechlsm is thus -irst Of all
we say the hail ,Mary-"Hail, Mary, full Of Grace;
blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus" This is what is called
the first part of il, and which gives the name to
from the first words-as is usual in other cases.
for instance in the Excelcis,th Magnificent" the
" Benedctus." The catechism then asks,
"who made this first partl" and the answer,
Gabriel and Saint Elizabeth made the first part"
And how is this proved! Go to the first chapter OF
Luke, and 18th verse, and you will thus read:-
" And tine angel came in unto her, and said, Hail!
thou that art highly favored; the Lord is with
thee; blessed art thou among women" AND
again in the 42l verse, Elizabeth continues it
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
oy writ hsi the anss Gste and ST.
Elizabeth composed the first part Of the Hail,
Mdry!'' and we must believe SO, if we believe
Scripture at all; and, therefore, if the Archangel
Gabriel, arrayed in celestial light, descending on
cloud, the messenger OF the courts of heavea, to
woman, could address her in these words, should
like to know what superstition IT IS IN me, an hum
BILE, poor to address her in the same strain
as Gabriel. Therefore, when this point was
brought before that audience, and when it was so
brought before it as TO make the audience suppose
II was ssuperstition-and specimen Of what the poor
Catholics believe, and proof Of their Ignorance
and OF their perfect want OF knowledge OF scrip
ture-it was not perhaps understood at the time by
those addressed. that this part was truly composed
by Gabriel and Elizabeth The second part Of Hail
for US, sinners now, and at the hour, Of
death" According to all the arguments hav.
adduced in my preceding lectures, it is use
fu, proper, and scrIptural. to pray to Saints
main objection is this: that we call her the mother Of
God. Now, how do we call a woman the mother
Of God? Do we not believe that Christ was God
sd man sna mat Mary the mSnr q
aud if Christ was God made man, therefore Mary
was the mother OF God made man therefore there
can be no possible objection by these who believe
in the divinity Of Christ, to the title we give Mary.
From the elements Of the catechism, then, which
learned by every child, II IS manifest that chill
dren so instructed, know how to distinguish be-
tween the worship OF God and the mere external
reverence we pay to sacred images. Again, it is
impossible that any Catholic, instructed in the prin.
ciples Of his religion, far forget his instruc
tion, as to offer alteration to mere statues-to
mere mage when en- ne Tha, is con
forbids any favor to be asked OF the image.
Of the Saints forbids any confidence to bt
placed in them, and asserts that in images
Catechsm OF the Council of Trent and the second
Gil of Nice expressly states that W h good and useful to
Saints The Catholic Church a ali tines has been % sedu
ons in watching the pure faith Of her members
rhe Pops who have been SO long and frequently mis-
represented and whose names have become In this
enlightened country, 80 many bugbears will be found
from history, always the rsto explain the doctrines
The church. particularly the doctrine relsting to sacred
images. We may refer to the epistle of Gregory III,
Great Cy renus in 599 The Bishop Of Marselles had
ordered some Of the sacred neEes be
unfortunately he tainted by lconoclpsm. The Pop
Immediately addressed him letter. which must be re
worthy the present days Of christianty-"" said he
you had forbid them to be adored we should only have
them. Tell me, my brother, have you ever heard ha
any other priest did attempt what you have dsne7 by
nothing e.se, you should have been restrained b,
the confederation that you set important pattern
before your brethren br it is one thing to ador.
the painting and another to lea from what should
adore What scripture shows to those VIII, read thu
paintings show TO the iliterate who cannot" Now is
this not the most enlightened doctrine and confrma
ton Of all that have ated. Can it be objection to
how to feel properly on Regarding national social. o.
cs: cs.s ss ssassr
church would have been the first to raise her voic.
against their abuse for the church has within her bosom
ss estabshed by Christ and fortified with u
tallblity-that is to teach the truths Of her greet
from generation generation, the end oftme Ithey
who under pretext OF reforming abuses had only listen.
ed to the sage counsss Gregory the Great there woald
markablc images o antiquity. The Painters and Sculp.
ofthe present day must be- indeed thankful to the
ancient Church Tor having perpeuated these beautiful
and instructive arts for spirit of herssy and revolt
IL display ed itself in the 9th century had succeeded
there nave . Sesn an emo az me me
marble because have showed you, when those who
opposed the sacred images in the days OF Constantine
and black art the Church raised her voice and condemn
ed the snd the vandalism Of the Iconoclass Who
does not feel the charm Of painting well as the charms
Of beauty He that is insensble to the il
f for treason he who insensble to the other Hear
sill. in discourse one Of the martyrs, hurting forth
with his coquence into this sti ain appear ye admra
Bile painters, let your pencils give the last finish to
your colors bring forth the those charms
have feebly described shall cheerfully yield the
palm" Thus; we find ST. Basil one Of the ancient fa
theirs and saints Of church, doing justice
TO the painter and showing the utility Of representing
canvass some martyr great champion Of the Christian
Gays" have often II, but never without shedding
tears because represented so accurately the eyes
fCeHc, tndt none OnCc secs
me, after this that there utility in sacred images
Augustine speaks in high terms of beautiful compost
ton on the subect-but why should continue t.
descant on this subject continue bring before you
those burning passages of the elsquence Of the primitive
times There never yet was great or venerable cha
racer the earth-no matter what was his creed but
must on beholdng in st. Peters Church that master
piece ef Michael Angelo Of the Last Judgment, feel all
the Of that great catastrophe Tell me- then
there utility in such paintings, which place in terrific
colors before the eyes, az well the imagination, that
dread day. when the supreme Judge Of the living and dead
appears with his angels coming with great glory Judge
heqnick and the archangel sezes his rum
pet whose sounds we almost hear, By looking at the
living canvass proclaiming ye dead and come to
judgment" Tell me that sinners not awakened at
that awful scenehst they will not be reused at the
for Il And if there 10 any stupid to suppose that
the of such representation would lead any
Catholic to commit dolatry II really seems aston.
ishng, that II becomes necessary for me before
Ightened community, to vndicate the doctrine. Ard