The New York herald., 1870-03-07
ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Jesuit Father ON TeMptatiOn-The COngre.
'gaiion-The Edifcc-The Season OF Peni-
tence.
The congregation at st. James church Is always
large. Yesterday was no exception to the rule. 1t
cannot be SAID as general thing, thar the mass OF
the congregation are dressed In velvets, feathers,
silks and satlns, but there Is enough to even the
most worldly observer to denote that those who
attend influenced. while present at divine SER
vice, with devotional sentiments. Looking around
the galleries and asles, there Is nothing to be seen
out kneeling forms ana pended heads. The outside
world seems TO have no place III the minds OF the
silent devoees. 1t is worthy OF remark that the in
gress ecress OF worshppers takes effect on the
large congregation. Prayer books are IN every
hand, and ali eyes, never diverted, are fixed upon
tine altarhe repository or the sacred elements. ST.
James church Is one OF the Oldest the city, and
perlor building, where many hundreds or
boys and girls receive thorough business besides
Inora education. The celeorant az hign mass yester
DAY was Rev. Father McKenna. As usual, he was
attended by numerous acoytes. the vestments
worn were purple, indicative Of the Denitental
son OF Lent The interior or the edlce IS not,
the custom, highly ornameptcd There 10 no altar
painting To supply this want there Is presented,
on wood, the Crucifxlon, with Mary and Martina
weeping at the foot or the cross.
After the nrsL gospel the choir sung the Vent
Creator. Rev. Father Tnebaud, OF the Society OF
Jesus then read the gospel OF the day from ST. Mat
thew w., wherein IL related the temptation Of CHRIST
by Satan alter his forty days last lie proceeded 10
say that the temptation was threerod- -sensuallty,
pride and covetousness. Although presented In Tie
Gospel very different from wnat II seems to human
creatures, yet the temptations we undergo or are
subject to comes, after all to the same thing. Tno
temptation OF sensuaity TO which mOrta5 are VIC
TINS, though more gross than that described by
Satan to our Blessed Lord, yet, as The reverend
Fatner SAID, In o few words, are embraced IN the
category to which the devil sought bindly to attain
his bad ends. Sins OF that description are TO be re-
sisted IN the same way as our saviour resisted
Satan-by words Of Scripture. mot by bread alone
dotn man live, but In every word that proceedeth
from the mouth OF G0d.n The bread here means
evidently the disposition OF sinners TO crafty their
passions, and sad Father Thebaud, II Is not OF such
q nature a. 10 procure happiness. The only hapi-
ness the banishe0 sons OF Eve obtain at this side
OF the grave Is by strictly observing the laws pre-
scriDed by the Almighty and all merciful God. In
was not usually tempted to throw himself from the
Bteeple OF church: out by pride We are tempted TO
exalt ourselves above our true positions; To d0mi-
neer over those that accident may place under our
tyrant5 towards those WHO should enlist sympathy,
or at least impel to treat with Christian
lorbearance, and tyrants and hard task
masters inflated with pride should remem-
Der the words "Inou Shalt not tempt my
Lord thy God, (" and toe proud and heartless man
tempts Goa by placing himself superior TO Gods own
creatures. CoveIousness as presented 10 our Lord
asked Him TO accept The whole world aB HIS pro-
perty. II would be unreasonable on the part OF any
moral BENG TO expect any thing OF TINS kind We
are often tempted TO increase our possession Dy un
fair means, Dy cunning fraud ahd other vicious
practices. III lS often the case we are tempted TO
override the just claims OF others, to secure pro-
perty tnat Is not justly our own, and even TO go
Tar a8 TO be lmpOrtunate ana violent Inc poor man
with opportunity before nim and who BY an act OF
injustice could relieve himself and family from want
when they are suffering and refuses to DO so Is .
hero In the sight OF dod The reverend Father fur
ther dllated upon temptation and concluded ~