The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-12
ST. PETERS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Devotion or the Primitive Christians TO the
Euchnrist-Sermou by tho Rev. Father NJ. Q.
O'Fnrroil, Jr.
In spite OF the great heat yesterday the Church OF
ST. Peter was crowded In the morning at High Masss
The sermon. which was preached by Father O'Far-
re, was listened to with marked attention by the
congregation. tie reverend gentleman said:-Be-
loved brethren already had the Apostles enjoyed the
great pleasure Of witnessing the ascension Of their
Divine Master into the heavenly Jerusalem;
already had they experienced the promised descent
OF the Holy Ghost, strengthening them and enabling
them to set at naught the enmity OF hell Then
they went forth into the world preaching salvation
through Christ, and administering the sacraments
instituted by Him to thousands who from time i'm.
memorial had dwclt In the horrors Of darSness
and In
THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
Though the Apostles were natives OF Galilee
they did not conhne their teaching to their own
people. but went forth and preached to all nations
Unfortunately, astonishing the world by their
wondrous knowledge. They are no longer poor nsh.
ermen, but chosen few, a kingly priesthood, am
bass dors OF the Most High receiving their creden
tlals from the hands OF Christ They are no longer
towards, no longer men OF passive minds; they are
men OF fixed and terrible determination, for they
Uold!y unur amid the destructive storm OF Judaism
the flag OF Christianity, ana invite ALL IN the
most pressing language, regardless OF the sword
or 81 persecution TO rally roun5 it. they preach
to whom lie was stumbling block-and TO the
Gentes, to whom He was scandal. In the history
Christians TO the Eucharist. The Neophytes. full OF
enthusiasm. revived the Holy Communion as the
residence In their hearts. What IS meant by the
breaking OF breads Is that feast called aoap or
token or the union, friendship AMI harmony thai
existed among them? NO, 1t was not. 1t is that
these infant Christians were become
PARTICrAToRS OF THIS GLORIES OF GOD,
that they received the HOLY Communion In perpetu-
alton OF The memory OF bloody sacridce-the part
eternity never knew speok or stain, ana before
whoms seraphim and cherublm are not without
OF the bread as is evidenced from the words Of ST.
La came to pass when Jesus was with
them. and their eyes were opened, and they knew
Him in the breaking OF the bread' clearly showing
the eucharlslc sacrifice. st. Gregory offers most
excellent remark on this passage. The disciples, he
says, were in darkness whie Christ was expoundlng
tine sense of the Scriptures to them, but knew Him
quickly when they came to execute The mandates OF
Hospitality: they were enlightened, not by hearing,
but by fulfilling the divine precepts. According 10
the saying OF the Apostles OF natlons:-"Not the
hearers, but the doors, shall be justified" The
bread sustains the body 30 the supernatural bread
OF the Eucharist preserves the soul. In the first
same as TO be u saint. Wesse young mSidens and
youths sacrificing everything and conquerlnR their
passions IN the service OF Christ, and even mounting
on the scanold rather than
WORSHIP FALSE GODS.
Where uld tney get THIS strength? In that holy
bread whereof whoever eats dies not. Glance
through the history OF the Apostles, that concise but
admirable history OF the birth and infancy or Gods
Church. There you Will discover the affecting sim.
plicty with which 1t describes the behavior and en-
ployment OF the principal Christians. There you
will behold prayers that from their continuance,
may be styled perpetual, austere fasts. Unsuitable
thirst for the Holy Eucharlsts, constant attention
to the will OF Heaven. charity refined and cecs.
iia that Notwithstanding differences OF ages ana Of
conditions. Of character and OF climate, they all
seem actuated by one spirit and
DIRECTED BY ONE MIND
When prosecutions prevailed through the land they
had the Holy Eucharist concealed In their homes in
order that they might have constant communication
with their God. Trave with me In spirit across the
Atlantic to ireland, the island OF the martyr and
ad0rn u Christian nation CingIng through long
| ages of suffering and sorrow to the faith with
tenacty which neither the glbbe tie rock nor per-
secutons could relax. Read the history OF that
noble but down-trodden people, whose history Is
written Ia letters Of blood. From its pages you will
learn how during the direst prosecutions they re-
paired TO the lonely mountains the trackless woods
and uninhablted places and there on affairs formed
by nature, with
THE BROAD EXTENDING PERMANENT FOR ROOF,
they offered up the holy sacrifice OF the mass and par
took OF the blessed Eucharist. During the penal laws
they preserved, unsued by the foul stain Of hcresy
the faith brought to Ireland by her glorious apostle
Eucharist was most intense. Let us walk in the
path they have marked out for us-those thorny
paths which they watercd and sanct1ed with their
blood and show that we are indeed the descend
ants OF the noble martyrs who Kept alive the lamp
or faith In the caverns and hicIng places of the
earth during centuries OF the dtrest persecution.