The New York herald., 1871-02-27
cEraCR OF THE HOLY Caoss.

Penance q Weapon of Defence AgaiHst the
sRarcs Of the Dcvil-Sermon BY the Rev.
Father NJ. j. Brophy.
As most people are aware yesterday was one OF
the most disagreeabe days OF the season, and the
generality OF the church-going population, unless
stimulated by more than ordinary piety, preferred
TO stay at home. However the Church OF the Holy
Cross, in West Forty second street. was well flled
though not, as usual, crowded This place OF wor-
ship, presided over by the Rev. Patrick Mccarthy,
has been completed within the past year.
and, as regards light ana acoustic pro-
pertiea, it Is certainly success. Yesterday
high mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father w. p.
Fannelly, music by volunteer choir under the
direction OF the organlst Prof. Gomien. AS 1t was
the first Sunday IN Lent the sermon, by the Rev.
Martin ]. Brophy, was peculiarly appropriate to
this season, taking for MS text Matthew iv,, Ill.
lie said the whole fe OF man. from the cradle TO the
grave Il continual warfare and stri te, not against
nesh and blood, hui against the rulers OF darkness
aud the spirits OF wckedness. as We are told in the
time during the year when have TO be more on
our guard against the seductions oI the evil spirit
than during this time Of Lent, when that
MALIGNANT ENEMY or THE HUMAN RACE
especially seeks 10 turn men away from the con-
sideration OF their salvation. We have lively
image OF this contest IN that OF the giant Goliath.
who, as We read IN the Book or Samuel .g0ing forth
from the camp or tne PhstInas, provoked with the
greatest pride all The 1sracliies TO single combat
Behold mere type OF our adversary, the devil, who
at this holy time, specially ordained for us by the
supreme Ruler, inat we might purify our sonls by
pray and penance. forth 70 tight as 1t were,
with Christ and With all Christians. During these
forty days. then We must be watchiul of the snares
Which viii be placed in our path by this untiring
enemy 20 prevent us reaching The goal we seek.
and The power Of this our enemy, we might have
Just reason 10 fear were there not on the
o:her side great and many inducements which IN
against the adversary. God animaes us by His pre-
sence. He sees ali our struggles, and as we are
Esvlf nf,fla tytl hon dam Ap-t f0
aid Will not be distant The angels were with sses
OF our Saviours contest with the devil, and a ter
wards came and ministered unto Hin. We have
angels but the whole Chrisuan world and the Lord
ol the World Himself. Now, my brethren,
THE GREAT WEAPONS OF DEF E:CE
Which the Church places IN our hands are fasting
aud prayer. To be convinced OF the necessity Of
practising TIL, form OF penance we neei only con-
slder the number aud elormity OF offences tnst
God the violence OF our passions and The many dam
gels and temptations to which we are exposed. Our
sins pave insutcd the majesty OF the Almighty, and
perhaps at tbs present moment cry aloud 10 Heaven
Tor vengeance. What penancc have We dones
What atonement anu saisfacsloa have we made for
our trans2Tessions? II we compare Our lives with
ihe lives OF those holy men who looScd upon one
mortal sin as sufficient TO make sinner weep and
do peuaDce Tor whole LIFETIME; II We measure
OUR LITTLE PESASCES
with those prescribed OF old by the canons OF the
Church. whicn IN the first ages commanded a PEN
ance OF ave, seven, ten or fifteen years. tasting
We snail ind ourselves very deficient. In the old
Testament We have the memorable fasts OF the
and the weekly monthly and yearly fasts precrlbed
by the Jewish law proving the utility and necessity
of fasting. Let us not then. imagine or natier our
selves with The Idea that freed IRON this obi
CATION under the new dislensatlon, as the free
thinkers ol our DAY pretend Out rather let suffer
here a little or mat punishment which our sins
deserve .'fou are 70 fast, says 81. Basil, because
you have sinned and you arc TO fast tnat you may
not sin.r But alas
CABNAL AND EFFEaiNATE LIFE
has now become so common In this country that
many Catholics are bat too ready to Initiate The
lives aud example or the unprincipled and IRE
ligous men By whom they are surrounded. Nay,
some OF them are neither AFRAID nor ashamed TO
speak aga this precept and to cry down tue days
OF abstinence. rs ir they had no God but their own
miserable bodies. They tell US that what goes into
the mouth does not dehle the soul. IL Is true the
very fact OF eating does de6!e the soul. But If
what goes into the mouth be transgrcssion
against the precep OF God the disobedence thereby
incurred VIII defle the soul or the offender.
TAKE COURAGE
then, nv brethren during the holy time or Lent. Let
fasting, mat great shield which God places in
our hands protection against onr evil passions,
fghtlng, Ike David, In the name OF the Lord Of
Hosts, and God, whose soldiers you are, VIII pro-
tect you In tie trial. Tor 1t IS written rhe Lord your
God will fight for you as he hath promised.'
AT the conclusion of the mass the officiating cler-
gyman repeated five Daters and ares IN behaf OF the
Pope, as desired by MS Grace the Archbishop, the
whole congregation responding.