The New York herald., 1870-11-14
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Sermon by the Rev. Father Henry" Dcvo-
tiOn to the Blessed Virgin,


tiOn Ia the Blessed Vir9in.''
The Rev. Father Henry delivered the sermon at
ST. Stephens church, Twenty street. near Lex
ngton avenue. He took for his text that portion Of
the epistle OF the day which reads, " From the be-
ginning ana before the world was created,n &C.
He then went on TO speak OF the veneration that
was due to The Virgin Mother OF God. The Church
had set aside that day celebrate the feast OF her
patronage, and In celebrating 1t and all the other
feasrs the Church observed In her honor we were
DOING MUCH FOR OUR SALVATION
as well as performing duty which was pleasing In
the sight of God. When we showed veneration for
the Virgin we professed our faith IN that mystery
Of religion which is the origin OF her greatness
the incarnation Of our Lord Veneraton Tor her
showed That one entertained sentiments OF grati-
eternal ruin. The thought that He selected her as
the instrument by which the Redeemer was to come
into the world for sake only and not 10 add to His
own glory, should OF itself make us love God
and worship Him devotedly. II she was pleasing TO
HIM why should she not be worthy OF respect. If
we admired her Tor Ter many virtues why should
we hot honor her to whom God had done such
honor2 There were many reasons why we should
SENTIMENTS OF LOVE AND RESPECT
Tor the Motner Oh God. ''The Lord possessed me in
the beginning Of His ways,I was set up from all
She was chosen from all eternity to do special
work. When the redemption OF the world
part in the great act.
There was no person on earth then In whom G God
could rest the pentltude OF His divinity he made
her perfect TO accomplish His design. Thus it was
that the sness conception or the Saviour took place.
All Gods works displayed
WONDERFUL. CONSISTENCY
ana harmony. The means He mpoyed were always
beautifully adap'ed to The end which He desired TO
attain He was the Holy OF Holes, and although
the ancient temple, 80 beautifully decorated, was
never dwelt IN by Him. yet lie chose as His
dwelling the body Of the Virgin. She
came out OF Ifs hands. She had a
mission TO perform on earth besides bringing into
the world ITS Saviour. She was the model OF every
virtue, and she was set up as it were, as example
OF purity for all Of us. Though she was Queen o.
Heaven, now she knew what 1t was to suffer
poverty and persecution. So II her virtues excited
our admiration her suferngs ought TO eXclle our
love. We should follow with her in
THE BLOODY FOOTSTEPS
or her Divine Son to Mount Calvary We could
sorrow with her when the hammer struck the
nails into His divine hands, and when all
was over and the sacrifice was COM
pete, and we saw her stand at the foot
OF the cross, her maternal heart torn with agony
because our sins had put TO death Him she loved SO
dearly; she was, indeed, worthy OF pity and ad-
she, who suffered SO In witnessing his suiferlngs,
were Still in heaven, the same son and Mother they
were on earth. Their love for another was just
the same as 1t was then; their love for mankind still
existed and she was as powerful now In interceding
with Him US sne ever was in this world Hence we
could approach her with confidence and beg her in
teTcession without fear. The reverend speaker then
closed with an earnest exhortaton to the congrega.
ton to always be devoted to the Mother OF GOD.