The New York herald., 1871-03-06
S.. PATaiCK,s CATHEDRAL.


The Lille Of Our Lord-Tra nsnEuration ON the
MOuEt-Exposition OF tho vision-Somo
Fncfs About the Disciplcs-A Lenren
Lesson.
The beautiful, balmy weather which greeted
Gotham on its awakening yesterday morning was
IN Itself sufficient to inspire In every heart feelings
OF the NEST grateful kind and elevate the soul to the
contemplation OF holy and sacred things. The
bright sky and soft sunshine were IN marked con-
trast with the dark ana sombre weather Of recent
Sabbaths. Nature was
IN A MOST CoMPLAcENT MOOD,
and happily selected the first Sunday OF spring as
the day upon which TO assume the seasons appro.
prate characteristics, and thus by exciting an ad-
mlration Of her beauties raise up the
soul to dwell upon the benefcence Of the
supreme Author. Hence as might have
been expected, people were seized with devotional
incllnation, and the churches OF all denominations
were 1.led with congregations eager TO pray. At
St. Patrtck's Cathedral yesterday morning during
the high mass every pew was nlled, and even in the
aises crowds OF persons stood knelt while the
mystic ceremonies OF the most ancient Christian
faith being celebrated. AS Is usual In Catholic
churches The sanctuary was brilliantly lighted and
q large number OF wax tapers burned on the altar
but the lights were dimmed and seemed feeble be.
meath the halo OF sunshine IN prismatlc hues which,
formed ny the large stained glass window above,
mad most beautiful effect even from any part OF
the church Added to this was
THE FINE CHOIR uF THE CATHEDRAL,
composed OF aadame Chome. soprano; Mrs. Werner.
alto: Mr. Groschel, tenor; Mr.. A. sohst, basso;
organist-evcrythIng thus consrirIng 10 make the
Uece Ma e oa sas Ho from sossns
.,slapat Matern which can was sung well BY Madame
brated by the Rev. Father Kearney. and after tae
Grsr gospel the Rev. Father Mclean preached,
taking his text from the gospe OF the day-Matthew.
1,i.n nSylt .t..rv nft t1a ao6,
or CHRIST is told in this days gospel. Jesus took
Peter, James and John with HIM 70 Mount Tabor,
these three disciples. The face OF Jesus shone as
the sun and His raiment was nite as the light As
soon as Peter saw the divinity OF Jesus ne ex:
claimed 'Lord, 1t Is good for us tobe heren and
while he was speaking
BRIGHT CLOUD oyERsHADowED THEN.
and voice out OF the cloud said.-"lhiS Is my be.
loved Son, In whom am well pleased; hear ye him.
Then the disciples got afraid and fell upon their
faces but Jesus told them not to fear, and when
they got up they saw Jesus only; and on coming
down from the mountain Jesus cautioned them not
asked why it was that Jesus Tor the first time dur.
ing his career on eartn showed Himself to His disc
the Saviour he was often taunted with being
POSSESSED BY ELZEBUB,
for IN no other way could the things He had done be
Him any proof Of the divinity, and in order to con-
firm them In the faith lie proposed to prove HIS d.
ones-Peter who was to confirm his faith by words,
James by martyrdom and Jshn by love. Christ
TO oLoRIFY HIS HUMANITY.
Il was natural for the disciples 70 think that the
Messiah should come with power, majesty and glory.
The life Christ had led was one or suffering. He
feared that the disciples might become scandaized.
lie was himself The desplsed OF mankind-poor, ab-
ject and humble. We, In our day, might well become
scandalized under the circumstances Therefore, 1t
was that he took his three chosen disciples to Mount
Tabor, there to confirm them in the faith, and to
snow them the wisdom with which His life was being
led. On Tabor FOR the first time he gave
PROOF OF BIS DIVINITY,
wbi
But at the same time, the disciples were unable to
bear the sight OF the Divine Being and hence he
proved to them how wise was the course He had
adopted for the salvation Of men. Peter had loved
his MASTER but It was the love for Chrlsts humanity
correct him In this Peter was lmpetuous and
PRONE TO MAKE PROMISES,
and, like the other disciples, wished to share In the
glory OF being follower Of the Messiah but old not
wish to bear the pains The life Of our divine Lord
was to 0aya wsa Hs @ 0Tetd re to s
Peter urged Him not 70 go thither that 1t could not
be SO. We cannot tell. but we may guess with sad.
had he not been confirmed in faith by the vision on
Tabor. With reason alone the divinity Of Jesus
to appear IN all the Majesty OF HIS divinity who
would dare to look upon Hims Even HIS CHOSEN
asw anS sms ;sp their faces when when
SPEAK 70 ,9;. y v. ne spoke ossr tie grave q
inGs were not TO try to gain the things OF this
world In His divine wisdom He allotted portion
ment and submission to the divine will. As He
says Himself Heaven must be gained through VIC.
ience In looking at the lie He led we see the end
for which man Is In this world. life owly, hum
ble depressed was His. Yet IN HIS innermOst heart
He FELT THE PAHG5
which the humanity lie put on for sake OF men en-
tailed upon Him. He bore mems slns though sim
less But look a. the wisdom Of that life and see
one lesson it inculcates daily. Jesus poor. He
sits at the right hand OF the Father In all majesty
and glory, with the heavens at His feet. He, before
whose divine presence even the disciples hid their
faces Tabor, subsequently led the life OF the per.
secuted. He wanted the disciples TO remember,
when they saw Him
DYING ON THE CROSS
| on calvary, that they had seen His Divinity and
| thus were confirmed In the faith. The disciples,
however, except john, did not appear al the cruct
descended on them, and they were net strong
enough TO be there. is not for to Judge OF the
disciples. il Is for us to learn from their acts the
l mysterious goodness OF God, who afterward gave
them the light OF faith and the tongues with which
to spread that faith. Poor human reason Is weak.
| was II not Peter, who, when 4hrist was before
PLATE, thrice denied that he knew his Masters We
must place ell our hopes our aspirations faith
4 In God. The greater the 81 lnerings we undergo In
| this Life the greater shall be the reward In the
1 next; and this is evident from the life OF the Sa-
vi0ur, who taught this one belief especially by every
act OF HIS own life The sacraments are
| TUE REFUGE OF THE SINNER.
the aids and meaus by which an offended God may
be appeased. In this pentental season OF Lent ali
WHO have gone astray should return TO the business
OF their lle--tletr eternal salvation. There Is In
store for the Just ana righteous heaven hereafter,
vhere thar dfyntp before whom the three diaCfDl0a