The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-12

A Gorgeous EdiGcc for Catholic Worship
The Doctrine Of the Immaculate Conception
First Pronounced by the ANGEL Gabriel
Sermon by The Rev. Father Lennon. sNt
Az the usual hour yesterday morning High Mass
was celebrated ut e. Patrck's Roman Catholic
church, Kent avenue Brooklyn. This is one Of the
largest and most beautiful churches In the country
The entire Of the past summer was devoted to Its
Improvement and decoration, leaving 1t, as 1t now
stands, a magnificent monument OF the energy and
zeal OF It's eminent pastor, the Rev. Or. FITZPATRICK
as well as OF the $50 8,
Et5 GENEROUS pIErY Nn NNsG
OF his mock. Yesterday being the first Sunday fol
lowing tie feast OF the Immaculate Conception Of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, which occurred on Thurs
day last, that interesting dogma 0f the Catholic
Church formed. OF course the subject OF the sermon
The preacher was the Rev. Father Lennon, the Doc
tors senior coadiutcr--an amiaDle looking gentle
man, VINO breaches, Is usual in Catho-
lie churches without note manuscript
His sermon yesterday was delivered in q
placid and thoughtful style or eoquence, which
showed that though the preacher devoted little or
no time 10 the mechanical composition OF his dis
course, the subject was one 10 which he had given
much study and on which he loved TO dwell. He
said that instead or speaking to the congregation
Of the manner Of preparing for the great advent of
the worlds Redecmer OF the virtues OF which the
Baptist was possessed who said, III am the voice OF
one crying to you in the Wilderness or the other
beautiful and most important topics suggested by
the gospel OF the day. lie would speak only or the
virtues and graces and gores OF one who was far
more humble than the Baptist. At all times and in
every age and every country II mas been the custom
TO celebrate fHt mn
EVENTS OF SOLEMN INTEREST
TO mankind. The Jews had their festivals, and tho
Greeks and the Romans had their periods oil re-
jolcing and celebration and 80 nave had every
nation and people down 10 our own day. IL IA thus
Saints, ana, II we would respond to the kind and
loving invitations Of The Church, We should honor
land praise her who is the queen OF saints, 81 mar
tyrs and or cOnIessOrs. Talking OF the immaculate
Conception, the preacher said he should remember
the SANDERS and the caumny and the ridcnle
which the PRONUNCIATION OF that doctrine brought
upon the Church. Our enemies SAID we wanted 10
raise the Virgin Mary to the level OF God Himself,
wanted to have her alored aud worshpped even al
the Greater, and that We contemplated Various
other acts OF homage TO her which the Catholic
Church mas always looked upon az biasphemy; and
AS 1t Is our lot 70 live among those VINO are prone TO
believe ali that has been said against our Church,
1t Is but right that We should
REGULATE THE FALSE CHARGES
made against her. Our urst parents fell in the
garden OF Eden by not complying with easy pre-
cepL Adam smiled and through nim aii men nave
his sin. That sin is called original because II comes
to US from those rom whom we have our origin
The effect OF this sin Is to destroy the sanctity
OF the soul: but the waters Of baptism take
it away. The soul Of the Blessed virgin,
conception was adorned with all the grace and the
purity of sanctity. Mary was always pure. always
immaculate. The angel Gabriel SAID Mary was ..full
OF gracen When vessel IS completely full OF any
substance then there ~ no room in IL for auy other
substance. And II a human being be "fnlr OF grace
there can be no room for Sin OF any kind. actual
original. The angel also said TO Mary, 'Blessed art
thou among women that Is, ABOVE all women.
Mary therefore blessed above Eve; yet Eve .
once guiltless OF the stain OF original sin How then
could the stain Of original sin be ever upon Mary,
who was more blessed than Eve ever wasf No;
Mary came INTO the world beautiful rs the moon,
brilliant as the sun. and
PURE Az THE AIR OF HEAVEN
because her soul stained by the breath OF
the Evil One. In promulgating the doctrine Of the
immaculate Conception the Catholic Church merely
announces what was always believed by me fathers
by the faithful Tie only effect OF it's promulga-
ton Is that, while we might reject the doctrine be-
fore, we cannot reject IT now except under
pain OF SIM How could Mary be otherwise
than immaculate when she was the Mother OF GOD 7
Would the Son allow himself TO become the Son OF
woman who was Infected with sinr Would the
Holy Ghost select u spouse that was stained with
sin yes thou art llnnacuate, daughter OF God
the Father. mother OF GOD the Son and spouse OF
Holy Ghost We should pray constantly to Nary
| for her intercesslOn Is all-pOwerfu. How cOuit
Christ forget the miseries and suerngs she endured
from His birth to His death Mary brought Christ
to us and II we have recourse to her she Will bring
US TO Christ