The New York herald., 1870-04-04
ST. PATR.CK,s CATHEDRAL.


Passion sunday-Decorations Of the Church
Tho Congregation-A Sorrow that Cheers
Solemn Service aud Sermon by Rev. Father
KeRrney.
Yesterday being Passion Sunday the services In
the Catholic churches Of the city were OF grave
and solemn character. The celebration had REFER
ence to that point in the Savours life when AIS fol-
lowers, seeing Tie miracles He had wrought recog
nized His divine character ana sought Him out that
they might make HIN king; but Christ, knowing the
destiny that He came on earth To fulfil, ned TO the
mountains alone and remained concealed till the In
augura.on OF the tragic events OF His passion The
symbols OF rejoicing which used to bear the mind
OF the worshpper heavenward are removed from
the church tnat day, ana an air Of loneliness Is
visible.
THE ALTAR
is draped In purple, and the statuary and paintings
are covered with the same material. The music Is
OF an eloquenIy sad character aud its effect rem
dered by the fine organ and finished choir OF the
cathedral went far IN expressing the spirit OF the
church IN the celebration OF the day.
A5 usual. the church was flied with large and
aevou. M consresasol, anu the usneis aspiayed more
seats. The difficulty OF 0frOrding satisfactory
commodaton VIII be at once conceded wnen 1t Is re-
menbered that the total number OF persons who
attend tile morning service on Sundays IL enough TO
iii the church four times over, and that an immense
rush ls made for the ten O'Clock service Ihe
MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH
are drawn nom all grades and classes OF society.
The wealth OF the vicinity the merchant, the manu
facturer and the :rader are always largely repre-.
seuted ia the congregation, while the array OF ui-
kenps and disheveied nair, seedy garments and I'M
washed faces proved conclusively that the squaor
and wretcnedness OF the Fourteenth ward mad
turned out TO Its devolions in meek ana Christian
spirit believing III Tue efficacy or the Redeemer.
Inc cnoir gave Conc0nl's grand mass In excellent
style, In winch the following voices took part
A. schmfz, tenor and Sianor A. Sonzr' Dasso.
DuilnR the ceeDration the . S1tutarss Nosta OF
MIsoni was rendered By Mrs. Werner with fine
effect.
THE SERMON
WAS preached BY Rev. Father Kearney, who took
his text from the gospel read In the niass-"Whicn
OF you shall convince me OF sin p, Tne
reverend gentleman dwet on the inconsistency
ana depravy OF tae & world 6 as Illustrated BY us
hearers tna they would In their meditatI0ns during
the remainder VI the
follow the blood.stained marks Of the Redeemer
from the day when In His divine Indignation lie put
forward the query (Which 0fyOu snall convince me
OF p' 10 the day when In obedience to the divine
nat, lie yielded up His sOn TO His Father and calmly
bowed Hts head IN death on the Mount OF Calvary.
He SAID this was season OF grief and sOrrOw but
the grief and repentance tnat wash out sin must
have peculiar characteristic; aud on thus point
those who differ from IN Deller have enltey mis-
understood and mlsnterpreted US. The pang OF re-
morse VIII not enace the stain OF crime.
COMES FROM THE HEART.
II Is an outrage against the majesty Of Heaven and
athorough reformation OF heart and Total and abs0
lIte remuneration OF sin and OF the OCCASIONS or
first stage IN hi3 upward course; then the sinner
must have recourse to tie sacramens OF the Church.
In tie manner ana form prescribed by her. before
he can ootaln forgiveness; and to obtain tins sorrow
aud reach this desirable END no means witnn the
reach or man can be more Desirable Or erectual
tIan mediation CnrisLa life and saiierlngs &c.
conpSaied by the pray ers, fasting and aims deeds
winch the Church prescrlbes iOr this season. The
sorrow that viii reach the divine heart must not
be selfish or narrow; 1t should be universal
and should extend as well TO the general depravIty
and wickedness OF our brother men as to our
own shortcomings. But, my trends, let not the
sound OF the words grief and sorrow cast gloom
your souls aud forbid to enter On The road TO
repentance and well-dolng. The sorrow that Is In
spred by heaven IS not melancholy: 1t Is the live
active feeling OF the man who has determined at all
hazards 10 follow the dictates or his conscience re-.
gardless OF the opinion OF those around him. when
man has acquired this rare desideratum his eye
brightens and nus power or effecting good aud be-
coming useful to his nelghbors is lnaniioided. His
very frame becomes changed, his form more 1.-THE
and elastic and he departs on the execution OF any
purpose he has formed as freely aud directly as the
arrow bounds from the bow.