The New York herald., 1871-02-27
CEURCH OF ctr LADY OF MERCY.

\
The Mission Of the Jesuit Fathers.
On Sunday week a mission was opened at the
handsome ednce OF the congregation OF '0ur Lady
OF Mercy" IN Debev0se street Brooklyn, under the
pastoral care OF Rev. Father Taae by six Fathers OF
the learned and sefsacrincing order OF Jesuts.
During the past week the utmost religious enthusi-
asm and devotion have been exhibited by those for
whom the mission was instituted-the careless in
different and uninformed. The attendance at the
morning masses, which commence at five O'Clock,
and at the lectures morning and evening of each
day, has been immense. The learning, research
and argumentatve logic OF these good men
have already worked wonders so to speak,
In bringing back the stray sheep to the
fold. and conversions cannot fail to follow in the
tracks OF these untrlng assaults upon the barriers
OF the Evil One, which have so long beset the
progress OF the careless Christian. The sacraments
OF Penance and the Holy Eucharist have been ad-
ministered to upward OF a thousand persons, who
have thus far enjoyed the benefits and
INpuLGENCEs OF THE MISSION.
Confessions are heard from early hour in the
morning until ten O'Clock at night The mission
will extend over this and the following week.
Front seats are reserved, morning and evening" for
the accommodation OF Protestans, for whom a real
treat prosp In hearing the truths of the Cath
olic Church logically defined ana cxpounded by
these able Fathers OF the Church.
Mass, at halfpast ten O'Clock, was celebrated by
Rev. Father Taafle, assisted by Rev. Father Mclll-
ROY as deacon, and the assistant curate sub-dea.
con. The splendid choir attracted to the church
was In full attendance and lent its harmonious
inspiration to the Dious solemnity OF the order OF
services. Immediately after the gospel Rev. Father
Cochan ascended tne pulpit and preached lengthy
sermon, taking for his text the words Of the royal
Prophet Davd-"Lord, make known to me my end,
that may know what is wanting TO me.o These
words, said the speaker, should be on lips
tnually at the present holy season, when should
withdraw from the material things OF this life and
enter into rigorous scrutiny OF the condition Of
soul and seek TO prepare ourselves for the Judgment
| before God. When we look around us we never can
fan to observe the study and pains which men
| devote to science. How unwearingy and unfinch-
lngly the astronomer watches the heavenly bodies
from observatory, regardless OF the chill blasts
of winter or the heat of summer! They regard the
long hours and time well SPENT as something which
VIII benefit the race by developing
THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE.
| But the subject to which we would call attention
the anities OF matter, or scientific discoveries OF
| any character; not that we acquire the things OF
which we all must tend to the precious wisdom
| and happiness OF heaven-to point the way when
WHAT and Why she snoaa
placed here below is the question we should put
TO our soul. When we see anything which is novel
In the way OF mechanism or aught else material we
inquire its formation and Its use. Then how much
greater must be mans sollcitude to know why he Is
| placed on this earth and brought into existence.
st. lgnatius says the end of man is to
i KNOW, REVERE AND SERVE GOD
| In all things, and to save his soul.n Ninety
| years ago you were not in existence. Yet
at that time things were going on even
set as at present The stars twnikled in the frma-
| msnt by night. The atom was in existence and the
| insect crawled upon the Earth.
You were nothlngness You were no part or par
| ticle OF the Earth. You had no existence. II you
admit that you nave an existence then you are
existence. Who gave you your existences Atheists
tell you that you came out Of
| ATOMS THAT FLOATED IN CHAOS
of nothingness and that these atoms became hooked
and looped together. Where did he md his infor
too enlightened at this advanced age to believe In
| God, and that the Earth. In Its intrinsic ma
How was e eec Is anS
| soning facutiesg That. they say. also sprung
from matler-lrem aitenuated pnospnorus; thar
the particles OF phosphorus which tmpregnate the
formed spiritual matter The absurdity OF this as
sertion Is apparent. Matter is lnert 1t cannot
| move of ITSELF The mind Is something in action
therefore the ntellec OF man is essentially different
| from matter. II phosphorus, then, forms the intel
ect most bony part is the seat OF reason the
bone contains the largest proportion OF phospho-
bone, are the most Intelligent beings The elephant
shouid, under such state Of nature, boast the In
telllgence of on angel for has he not the largest
| amount of b0ny substance In his body Such an
A VIOLATION OF COMMON SENSE.
| Yet there are men that would dare to contradict
the works Of God, and such men are all
the more culpable, because they know
i
regulates the heavenly bodies and controls them for
! our well being by His power and wisdom The IN
| 1des may deny His existence, but they cannot in
the light Of reason believe it. They are still the
| creatures OF Goa. Life, breath, the senses and
| reason were given by God. The power to bring
| something from nothing must be an Infinite one.
You may aud 10 that which Is created, but you
| not bring into existence Where Infinite distance
Is in rnte power is necessary to bring tintO exist
ence. Man cannot create even grain OF sand.
| Thus the one who gave him existence must be an
infinite being Being created by Goo out OF nothing
| we must belong entirely to Him. We are His TO be
disposed OF as He pleases. Therefore we owe Him
| our services. he created man for some
OF this world wherein the greatest
| rulers are often humbled until they exclam in the
| end 'vanty OF vanites. and all Is vanity" The
slave OF avarlce Is not happy; the more he possesses
| the more miserable he becomes in his greed Tor
more The ambitious politician, when he has gained
the highest goal Of his worldly desires, not happy.
| The soul OF man Is empty when he has forgotten his
| God. when the
GATES OF ETERNITY LOOM UP
before the eyes OF the soul then are the words OF
| Solomon impressed indelibly upon the mind. Ex-
cept In the love Of God there no happiness in this
| world or in that which Is to come. You cannot,
therefore aside from the object Of your creation
| The reverend Father closed his sermon with most
/ he held up u crucifx, to shun the Indulgence OF
the senses and faculties which God has given US. IN
! the way Of sin, which opens afresh the wounds OF
Our saviour crucihed by renewing the cause Of pas
| sion and death. Against the SIN OF fmpurity and
| scandal he spoke with force and concluded with
| PRAYERS for the good resolutions OF his hearers.