The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-01
ST. MARY,s STAR OF THE SEA.

Tho Church Graded in Persecution and
Enduring Forever-BaitIe by Prayer for
the Successor Of st. Pcter-Sermon by
Rev. Father Cassidy.
At ST. Mary's Star OF the Sea, Court street, near
Luqneer, South Brooklyn, Rev. Father Hefernen
celebrated the sacrifice OF the mass, and the pastor,
Rev. Eugene Cassidy. preached, taking Tor MS text
the gospel of ST. John, xvi, l6-22-"At that time
Jesus said to his disciples, little while and now
you shall not see me, and again little while and
you snail see me; because 60 TO the Father. Then
some OF His disciples said one to another What Is
this that lie saith unto usY Amen,
amen, say to you, that you shall lament and weep,
but The world shall rejoice and you shall be made
sorrowful; but your sorrow shall be turned into
Joy So also you now, indeed have
sorrow: but will see you again, and your heart
shall rejoice. and your JOY no man shall take from
yol."
These were the words OF the Holy TIE scher OF the
Church, which lie preached, founded and PROMISED
should
LIVE FOREVER.
He that He would endure all the pains, sorrows
and privaions OF the divine passion that the highest
example possible might be given TO those who seek
salvation by the way of the cross. You also Shall
suffer If you inherit the Kingdom OF the Father pre-
pared for the faithful Ye who are the children OF
the Church shall rel lice because you have suffered
for me and in my name. Your Joy shall be great.
This was the hope oI the martyrs.
THE CHURCH WAS GRABBED IN PERSECUTION
and we must walk in His footsteps. Peter, the
prince OF Apostles en1eavorcd to escape the cruelty
OF Nero when the latter set Rome on fire by leaving
the city. While passing through one OF the gates he
was met by Jesus, whom lie asked WHITTIER lie was
gong. christ replied that he was going 10 Rome to
DC cruclhed again. TINS called Peter TO a sense OF
Ills duty and he returned To the city where at his
own request, he was crucined with his head down
as an example Of
HUMILITY AND FoRTIrUDE.
He did not deem himself worthy to suffer upon the
tree OF The cross In The same attitude as his divine
worshlpped God in the bowels OF the earth-ln the
subterianean catacomos or Homeland during tnat
suffered martyroom The persecution OF the Church
continued on lor many centuries but sun the Church
lvea and triunpned. Neither human Vaccinations
and ingenuity combined with the powers OF he'll
could suifice 10 overtn. 0w the
PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH
which Christ Himself Dad founded. In The commence.
ment oil the sixteenth century new feiormer rose
up who would grant liberty to the Church and uni
versa liberty to all VINO had been wont 10 accept Its
teachings. We have seen the progress OF this
new revelation. In the flight OF three cen.
tnries, which have since interviewed, many
different religions as there days In the year have
sprung into existence. Tnis new revelation OF the
slXteentn century was hailed on all quarters an
epoch Of worldly qualification. England adopted
IL and iostered 1t 80 bitterly that Tor century
scarcely one dare acknowledge that he was Catho-
lac. How dlnerent Is The prospect OF to-day In that
country, where four millions OF Catholics ENJOY
equal respect and nghtsf And
ENGLISH CATHOLICS ARE THE MOST INDEPENDENT
IN the Catholic world. For Three centuries what
strenuous efforts were there not made by the enc
mics OF religion to drive the faithful followers OF
Jesus Christ from our own country. Yet we lind
them at the present time among The strongest aud
waTmest adnerents to the Church anu chair OF Peter
Rome presents spectacle OF the greatest cruelty
experienced there since the days Oh Nero Forty
lty converts and monasterle5 have been taken
possession OF by the government
IN TIE NAME OF LIBERTY.
His Holiness, the successor OF Peter, Is himself q
prisoner IN his palace, the priests are dragged nom
the altar to prison. those who administer ncip TO the
poor nsulted IN the streets ald other gross ana
manifold sacrlegioUS atrocities are daily and hourly
peIpetra.ed unaer the Name OF liberty. THIS state
Of iliamy cannot last much longer. This speclac
snail soon be removed. How foolish II is say
'Catno.Icty Is on Its last legs never more TO be
tabllshedl
Truly these are
SAD DAYS FOR THE CHURCH.
But without suffering there Is no perfection. We
must prepare ourselves 10 do battle Dy prayer. And
Gods Word, which can never pass away, though
heaven and earth may, assures us tnat what we
ask In the name OF the Father shall be granted 10
us. IL Is, then. our duty, as followers oil tnat
Church which he has established TO ask the help or
Him in eehai OF the Head OF The Church on earth;
TO approach the throne Of mercy in suppance and
help in the hour OF suffering Pray that the blessed
Virgin, to whose homer the month OF May Is specially
devoted, and st. Joseph may unite their powerful
lntcrcc5sien with our humble petitions before the
throne of grace in benalf OF Plus NINTH the Sove
reign Pontlff. now the twenty-nith year OF his
pontiicate, who has done more Tor the Church than
any or his predecessors
With few further iervent exhortatons, In which
the congregation, devoatiy kneeng, silently joined,
the reverend gentleman closed his remarks.
NEW JERSEY CHURCHRG