The New York herald., 1871-01-09
ST. BR DGET's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Solemn Mass Of Father Mooney-sermon by
Father 1Ieisser.
The fine old church of St. Bridget can boast OF as
large and respectable congregation on Sundays as
churches In more arstocratic quarters of the city.
There is q charm about the -honored, familiar
name OF Its patron saint that fills the hearts Of the
Irish congregation with jealous love for this old
edifce, IN which the memory or her upon whom
they look as the virgin Apostle OF Ireland, and espe
ca example In her chastity OF the purity of an Irish
maiden, Is so nobly enshrined. II Is no matter OF
wonder then, to ind that this temple bearing
the name OF the first great Irish nun,
and the great founder OF the long Inst OF virginia.
coisters that has since followed her footsteps,
should be especially attended by the women. AS
usual, every available seat within the church was
occupied during the solemn mass yesterday fore
noon. Father Mooney. the pastor OF St. Br1dgets,
offciated. Father Mester preached, taking for his
text the gospel Of the day-secoRd Matthew, from
the first to the twelfth verse. He said:-Tne portion
Of the gospel just read TO you opens up much cen-
temptation upon the birth OF our Divine Redeemer;
and the festival OF the Epiphany. hanowed by time
and all the wonderful surroundings which belong to
1T, surely can CLAIM something more than passing
interest In our love and afford much edify us and
be worthy OF our imitation. The Church to-day cee
biaues the manifestation OF the Jews to the Gen.
tiles.
HIS INFINITE GOODNESS AND LOVE
OF mankind were not to be clrcumscribed by the
sures Of his boundess love he was pleased TO EN-.
brace In one great God-llke clasp OF mercy and
favor the whole world. Two thousand years before
the completion OF this mighty act of love He FORE
told it through the mouth of Abraham and the pro-
phets-ioretold that the wall Of separation between
longer would HIS divine justice be exercised, but
that His mercy would be powerful and strong TO
tude OF man. the prescribed limits which. in His
eternal wisdom, lie mad hitherto put to it, as were,
IN combining his communication, his graces and
favors to one chosen people And thus IN the gospei
OF this day, do we receive the first great lesson
Of this unyersallty Of Jesus love; here find that
Jews and Gentlles participate In alteration of the
infant Saviour, for the wise men were not OF the
home OF Israel, and yet unto them granted the
special favor OF beholdng Son OF God to obtain
which precious right they were led through dfoul-
ties ana dangers by miraculous agency. There is
macn cause eau i0r Us TO reJoce IN all tns tor we VINO
called into the presence Of Christ through the wise
men ont OF the East. These three men, kings they
are supposed To have been, lett all the Injuries OF
their regal state to follow the Divine Inspiration
which had come upon them, and told them
MIGHTIER KING
was about to be born. We can picture their suffer-
ings as they journeyed from their distant homes,
following the light OF the miraculous star way
to bethlehem. Considering the state OF the world
at that time their faith deserves the greatest praise
All men saw the star as we'll as they, and yet they
alone of all mankind followed 1t.
Here the learned preacher gave succinct account
sects OF philosophers, or their inability to direct
man on the way TO
TANGIBLE, TRUE HAPPINESS,
ana drew thence an argument to prove him much
greater than were the wise men who sought the
infant kmg-than ali the disputatiOus stoics, who,
| puned up with their scholastic vanity were yet
unable TO add one impetus TO the true advancement
OF man. When they arrived IN Palestine, pursued
the preacher, they found that nobody knew anything
OF the great King just born. They went TO Herod,
at that time King OF the Jews, and surprised
MIN a much by as asking I,n where the mighty Lord Of
summoned his learned doctors OF the laws and
others to consultation, but they could not tell.
The three kings went on their way, and 10 the star
over the stable at Bethlehem. So they went IN and
offered to the Babe in this lonely place gold franklin
cense aud myrrh. Gold is emblemauc OF that charity
] which we ought to have one for the other. They
saw the Infant Redeemer poor, without shred Of
clothes to cover Him. and debasing HIM
| self Tor us; yet they believed Him to be the
| Son of God and knet down and adored Him.
| Franklncense they offered; this Is emblematic OF
| prayer; and, lastly, they offered myrrh, q sweet
! perfume, with which dead bodies used to be
anolnted and enbalmed, and hence is 1t explained
| to us here
AN EMBLEM OF MULTIPLICATION.
Thus we see tnat the prophecy was fulfilled. "He
came unto His own and HIS own received Him not.u
| On the contrary Herod wanted the wise men to
born king; but they were told by supernatu>Nl
means to depart home by another road.
Thus, continued the preacher, bringing his sermon
| TO close, we may learn noble lesson from the
| conduct OF the wise men and from all the mighty
Christian emanati0n from the gospel history OF the
Epiphany. Let us particularly profit by the great
fatn and good WORKS OF the Gentle Kings. Let us
have the
SWEET GOLD OF CHARITY
for all the distressed offer up the frankncense OF
prayer to the throne OF the Almighty and mortfy
our bodies here by subduing them to the spirit re-
membering That they are temples OF the Holy Ghost
so that In the world to they may shine In the
face OF God on that last dreadful day.