The New York herald., 1869-12-27
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Life and Virtues of st. Stephen-Sermol
by the Rev. DIR. Il. McSweeney.

The Life and Virtues of st. Stephen-Sermon
by the Rev. DIR. Il. NIcSweeney.
A very large congregation attended high mass Of
this church yesterday. The mass was celebrated
with ali the Impressive solemnity and 'pomp and
godn usual in the Catholic Church during this sea-
son. The procession OF acolytes, headed by the
master OF ceremonies, and followed by the Sub
Deacon, Rev. DR.. McGlynn; tho Deacon Father
Crnin, and the celeorant, Father Henry, was very
grand ana imposing. The Rev. Dr. Edward Nc
Sweeney delivered very interesting sermon, be.
ginning by sayiug:-"our churches are each desig-
mated by some particular name; that Is, they are
dedicated to God under the special protection OF
some saint or IN commemoration OF some miracle
mystery OF the Church. The reason that we honor
the SAINTS thus Is that we may honor those whom
God honors, and that remembrance Of themselves
and the teachings OF their lives may be kept
awe. He then said he intended to speak
of the character ana martyrdom OF st.
lnen worshipping m, as shown IN the sixth and sey
enth chapters OF the Acts. st. Stephen, said the
reverend doctor, Is called the FIRST Witness" he
having been the rst TO seal with his blood the truths
OF the religion OF Christ. The most striking quality
Of the character Of st. stephen was his ndomitabe
cOurage-that quality which inspires in men such
regard for It's possessor as chastity IN woman. The
reverend doctor defined the different kinds OF
courage, moral physical and the neadloDg courage,
which Is the attribute OF the brute and SAID that ST.
Stephen possessed moral and physical courage IN
the highest degree. stephen, after his appointment
as deacon, being full OF grace and Iortitude, did
wonders in the conversion OF the people, and van
pushed by the subtle powers OF his reasoning those
who opposed him, at which those whom he had
beaten sub0rned certain men to charge him with
blasphemy against Moses ana bring MN before the
council ST. stephen was aware that, even though
the accusation OF blaspnemy was not proved against
him. his preaching OF the doctrines Of Christ would
certainly result In his death. In his DISCOURSE or
rather that OF the Holy Ghost through HIM, In reply
to the accusation, he proved that the Jews had al
ways resisted the workings OF the Holy Ghost,
and, although this was received ID great
anger, he continued aud, being full OF
the Holy Ghost, he looked up to the hea-
vens and cried out. "Behod, ! see the hea-
vens opened and the Son OF Man standing at the
right hand OF God" This received sufficient
proof Of Llasphemy and he was Immediately cast
out OF The city and stoned, as they did which he
cried Saying, Lord lay not this sin to their chargen
and he fell asleep in the Lord. There never was
saint that possessed the attribute OF faith in greater
degree, having IL stronger even than St. Peter St
Paul. But The great glory Of the saint having
been the first to lay down his life Tor the doctrines OF
The Nazarene IL may be stated that there were mar
tyrs for the Jewish law, but how great the dlf
ference between the wide spread religion for which
they died and the almost unknown doctrines OF
condemned malefactorn for which he yielded his
life and in the blessed hope these doctrines taught
first tried the Journey over The tempestuous seas OF
eternity"
The choir during the service sang Maillard's mass
In to the end OF the Gloria and Weber's mass IN
& from the CredO, in the manner the choir OF ths
church has ever been noted for