The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-08
CHURCH or ST. FRAiCls XAVIER.

in West Sixteenth street. yesterday were more than
usually impressive. For over year past 1t has
been undergoing the most extensive alterations and
repairs, ana mas been rescoed and redecorated In
manner that makes 1t one OF the most attractive
looking places of public worship in the city, TO
add to the attractiyeness Of the church q new and
costly altar, the gilt Of one OF the ladies' Of the
gregation, was completed and erected Few days
ago. The expenses incurred in the frescolng and
redecorating. including the cost or the altar,
amounted to $4,000. Yesterday was the day liked
for the dedication Of the altar and long before the
hour at which the high mass commenced had
arrived the church was crowded to repetion. The
altar was dedicated according to the Catholic ritual
when the mass was begun, Vicar General STAIRS
being the ceebrant, assisted by Rev. Father Renaud
az deacon and Rev. Mr.. MCGEE as sub-deacon.
After the Ci'edO had been sung the
Rev. Father OConnor, formerly Bishop OF Pitts
burg, but now a member Of the Society OF Jesus,
preached the sermon. He took his text from the
Book Of Genesis, " 17:-"How terrible is this
place; this is no other but the house OF God
length on the subject OF doctrines OF religion that
appeared contradictory. but which were found TO be
perfectly harmonious when taken in their entirety,
he said:-
''Thls house is verify the house OF God, the
gates OF heaven. It is In the first place, the house
own eternal nature but IN the human nature that he
assumed for our love. The same Christ that
became man In the womb Of the Virgin, that
Is there and 10 there with the same body IN which
He suffered, with the same blood that lie shed for
our salvation on the cross. He is there living at
the right hand Of his eternal Father in heaven, God
anu man, He is there with that sacred heart that
throbbed for on which we are engraven, that Is
throbbng now with our love, with His eyes fixed
upon Us, with the same merciful designs that ami
mated Him in becoming man, that led Him to per-
form so many wonders, to give expressions to such
touching appeals; to 20 before us leading In the
the ransom Of our sins and to provide
for US all the ,,graces that VIII secure
ments. day and night; there whether surrounded by
devout worshppers or neglected and forgotten; nay.
injury He is there seeing and loving and pouring
out His graces though we do not see His amiable
sSo II Inn s m pe ks
behind our wall, looking through the windows,
looking through the attces.' He sees, but IS not
seen. He Is watching even when neglected. Though
conceang Himself for time for Ills own wise
purposes He is there Is all tho perfection OF His
fections that adorned Him from eternity,
with all the love bearing upon US which
But ough the Soy
the veil with which He covers himself for the pres
ent, faith Is able to pierce through IT to great
extent and see Him with glory equal 10 that with
which lie was surrounded on Thabor; for to the
faithful beholder Christ in the Eucharist Is the
manifestation OF all the PROJECTIONS OF God. II Is
more 1t Is the application 10 US OF these periectons
raising Us up to that level that brings us nearto
the Divinity. giving US at the same time isnt
and wrap us up in His periectons II is In the
Eucharist teas we are truly brought near 70
presence OF the Deity; we might believe even es
paean did, who IN the words adopted by the apostle
being but it is only in the Eucharist tnas wo learn
how near lie L 70 us-how truly ana how July lie y
came man lie was indeed one with u.s. He was flesh
OF our flesh and bone OF our bone, and one OF the
most important things IN rsiglon II to realize tins
religion Is often spoken OF persons who do not enter
INTO its full import. The fact is that
srutss even though there be s"s Correct enn uIe
clatlon OF them. The expression OF them remains
vague and vet is thought sulcient because the soul
has not seized their depth. II has been ven said
that all error in religion arises from an imperfect
grasp OF the great my stery OF the INCARNATION. We
say true things OF it, but we stop at the surface. II
is only the neart enlightened by faith that can 90
down INTO the depths which God has made accessi-
the Eucharist above all else that the fulness OF The
incarnation Is brought home to us. In kneelng
ana mis- blood coming mo us TO be our food and
nourishment, living in Us with his bodily life making
us I'VE N Him; 1t y Ia aaorlng Liln thanking Elm
hold OF Him and OF His humiliation. II Is strengthened
80 as TO realize as man Is able to realize the great
dogma OF HIS condensation in assuming truly ma
ture like our own. Sins and iniqutlas cover the
whole surface OF the earth. Seeing their vile cha
racter, their accumulated malice. their number be-
You'd reckoning, we often woader how the insuled
majesty OF God YET bears them. Greater in ali pro.
ba6iliy than The crimes which brought down d
deluge on the world more filthy than those OF Sodom
and Gomorrah, on which God raned down nre from
heaven; worse than those OF Dathan and
ryng them down into he'll: more grevous than
the prevarcations on account OF which he so often
reduced his people to bondage. Yet the nations and
the individuals that are guilty OF them enjoy the
things OF earth In abundance on IL Is because while
lneir crimes are crying out to heasen for vengeance
another voice Is going up from the Christian altar,
calling with still greater power Tor mercy and ask
ing the Eternal Father to withhold MS chastsement
be saved" The reverend gentleman then went on
TO speak OF the Church the home of Cod in which
al the graces of which 1t is the minister are
impaired and said:-'It is here that tue blooming
youth and the blushne maiden como to invoke
Goa,s blessing on the union they have resolved to
disc, made by Him a type OF His noblcst
works, the source whence inmates are pro-
with peculiar blessings IL IL In the Church that 1t is
perfected most appropriately where everything
the reward OF their faithful performance In the
Church and In the presence OF Its sacred mysteries
the feelings are purified without being deadened;
dross Of earth. aud therefore acquire temper which
the world could not give them, temper That VIII
enable them 10 stand the shock which they will often
be subjected to In thla miserable world, where the
fairest flowers fade. the most ardent hopes are
blasted, where every human Calculation falls, ana
yet where stability Is IN tins essential that the
mere thought OF the possibility OF change IS enough
TO Introduce poison into the happiest OF unions.n
The reverend father closed his eloquent sermon with
an earnest appeal to the congregation TO contribute
toward the collection to DO taken up to delray the
expenses Of the church repairs and donations
THE MUSIC
on me occasion deserves especial mention. Rerge's
h hn,,u MISS and one that many consider his
ues., was the musical feature. There has been o
.naInea Improvement In the cnor OF this church
nnr,,o INC dsvortc organst composer resumed his
nns clear well cultivated, sympathetic voice which
"sv pyssesses those peculiar qualities requisite
s cnlrcn music, and the alto Miss Jacobs IL
svcnnn a ,a,'aue IN ensemble and her voice has