The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-21
ST. STEPHENS RoMlS cAraoMc CHURCH.

The Emciency or tho Sacrament Of Penance-
Sermon by tho Rev. John Hawley, OF ST.
Johns, Newfoundland.
There was no diminution In the usually large con.
gregation which attends st. Stephens Roman Cath
oic Church at the hafpast ten O'Clock mass
yesterday morning. DR.. McGlynn pastor OF the
church, assembled the pulpit after the Gospel and
announced thar Archbishop McCloskey had di-
rected that ON Thanksgiving Day mass would be
celebrated In all the churches throughout the city at
the same hour as on Sundays. He also
stated that the forty hours devotion would COM
mence next Sunday, and exhortcd his hearers TO
take part In that mos. beneficial aevotion All pos
sible facllties he said. would be Afforded during
It's continuance for nearing the confessions or The
devotionsts.
The Rev. John Hawley OF st. Johns, Newfound-
land, then proceeded to preach the sermon of the
day, the text OF which ne took from the first chap
ter, twelfth to fourteenth verse, OF st.
Pauls Epistle to the Colossans:-"G thanks
unto the Father which hath made us meet
TO be partakers the inheritance OF the saints In
lgnt; VINO hath delivered US from the power OF
darkness and hath translated US unto the kingdom
OF His der Son, In whom we have redemption
through His blood, even The forgiveness or sin ~
In another week. SAID he the Church VIII celebrate
shall not die again. ana having come on ear h once
shall not again return. We are called upon to
PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.
The gospel OF this day gives an awful picture or
that terrible day when God In all his glory and at
tended o. the heavenly hosts snail come To mete out
each one his desserts. 10 the good he shall say,
"Come We blessed OF my Father, come ana possess
ao s o yrs the "s
words stall be, depart from me- sc cursed, into
everlasting fire."
Tie preacher then went on to state That Christ
had eft on earth the means by when the day Of
judgment would cease 10 be terror TO His ulsct
pies he left the power OF forgivins sin, which they
landed
Of religion. There is no power OF iorgiying SIN
except that which comes from God. ST. Paul
| saws there can be no remission without the
shedding OF blood. In the Old law the blood
OF calves was sacrificed. but this void not avail to
| hill alone sulced 10 redeem mankind. And how Is
this to be applied to souls2 Has Lord
| contact with our sousa Christ Himself says, "As
the Father mas sent NE so send you.n &c; Behold
the connecting Ink between calvary and the soul Of
| man, Ia the sacrament OF penance.
GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SIN,
| but He has Invested his priests with that same
power, not only OF releasing rom sin, but also OF
| binding. Christians should embrace this means Of
freeing themselves or their burdens with JOY. The
first murderer Cain, did not confess his guilt. but be-
came an outcast from his fellow men, and gave him.
| self up TO despair. Even Tor the Sin of JUDAS
there would have been forgiveness Il ne had only
gone gone 10 that saviour whom he had betrayed, and,
coniessing his sinful crime, expressed his sorrow
for It, me work Of the kedeemer would have been
incomplete without this tribunal OF penance. What
feeling oil happiness one experiences a ter partak-
ing OF Its healing innuencesl The penance which
MORE EFFiCAClOU5 THAN ANY OTHER PRAYER,
and ascends to the throne OF God to ntercede the
sinner who has quit ed the confessional. The effect
OF this sacrament on society is very beneficial; aud,
had 1t no other results, this a. ne would make it
desirable In eleyating the pubic morals, In con.
cluson, Father Hawley said that the sacrament OF
pen was the best means OF opening our hearts
TO Cod, and urged the congregation to make use OF
1t during the devotions or Advent.
Tho part OF the mass which appeals TO the sense Of
hearlng-the muslc-and raises the thoughts 10 the
heavenly choir, which each hopes to enjoy the
| happiness Of hearing, was unusually Brilliant