The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-07
CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER.

The Life ind Virtues of 81. 1anntius-sernlon
by the Rev. Father Wirsch.
There was no sermon at this church yesterday
morning but In the evening a discourse upon the
life OF lgnaius delivered by the Rev. Father
Wirsch, OF the order Of Redemptlonists. The text
was the first Psalm
Blessed the man that wactb not In the counsel of the
ungody, stadeth ia the Of sinners, stitch
The seat of the scontu But his delight in law the
Lord and his Jaw doth mediate day and night And
he sha be Ike Tree planted oy the rivers Of wasr tia,
wither, whatsoever he doeih shall prosper.
TO all the saints or the Church these beautiful
words may be applied. God gave special graces to
the blessed st. Ignatius. whose feast we this day
celebrate. God endowed hin with special talents
and ntted him for his work. He never inclined to
the counsel OF the ungody, stood in the way OF
sinners, sat In the chair OF pestilence The re-
Fiction OF his virtues calls together. BY CO.
operating with the grace OF God he succeeded in
perpetuatng the frni Of his labors. ST. Ignat; us
was born ia Spain IN the year l49l.
WAS SOLDIER
and was wounded at PampelOna- At the hospital
by reading The lives Of the saints and medItatinp
upon them he became converted. Cured IN body he
made pilgrimage TO Montserrat, the only shrine IN
MS country. Here he secluded himself, and by
meditation and prayer prepared for his future labor
He then undertook pilgrimage 10 Jerusalem, not
with an idea OF converting, but merely TO visit the
sacred city. In 1924 he returned. AT Venice he pre-
pared for his missionary labors in the vest After
studying at various places finally reached Paris
wnere ne met ST. Francis Xavier and others OF his
associates While In Paris he and his compa Mons
made vow IL offer their services to the HOW
Father and obtain permission to fight soldiers OF
tie fzlth with
THE WEAPON OF TRUTH
their special mission being To extermlnate the
heresies then springlng Up on all sides. But 1t
not until 1910 that Pope Paul III. approved
5aeH s 1TSe TO t snow NOV nd wso WAS WAS
been soldier at the age OF thirty voluntarily en-
tered school and studied Latin with llite chill ~,
kinds. HIS fellow students rldiculed him; the pro-
lessons also suspected him OF beresy. His faith
tanned nm under all trials, and In Paris inspired his
companions and associates. He no opportunity
III ms own country and he turned his eyes toward
the East. but II was In Germany that the greatest
efforts of himself and followers became manifest.
Tux s0-CALLED REFORMATION
by Luther was the worst attack made upon the
Catholic Church. 10 this beresy was confined an
the beresies that had existed. Luther taught
that all that was necessary for salvation was faith
in Jesus Christ, which justified all Things. Faith by
good works was denounced and the very foundation
OF the church was assailed. In this time OF her
all others 70 refute this heresy Al the Council
OF Trent 1t was those inspired by the teachings OF
St Ignatus who 80 boldly stood forth 10 defend the
church. THAT IS the reason why the enemies OF the
Church hate
TIE SOCIETY or JESUS
with greater hatred than they DO The Church ITSELF
since tue tine OF ST lgnatus his followers have
been the champions and soldiers OF the faith all over
the world. Trained like soldiers TO obedience.
patient, earnest and brave, they nave, armed only
with the truth, fought the enemies OF the Church.
they her uuest soDs and defenders,
and the enemies Of the Church know full well their
value IL Is true that there has been time IN
which Their ardor leo them 10 display what was
considered by the Church 10 be too great zeal and
The order was for "a time suppressed. But after a
little wDie 10 WAC re-estaDitshed and the spirit
Dreaihed into II by iGs founder gave It, OF DID, that
real lie which has made IL always go I'm
portant an order and the great bulwark Of
our Church. The urder OF ST. Ignaius may AZ times
be under cloud, but IL viii last as ioEg as this
world Is Inhabited, and will shine with renewed
brillIancy Ia heaven. IL was the order OF Jesus
that saved 10 The Church portion OF Germany and
Austria and kept the Rhine provinces 1rrn IN the
saItb. To tDts society also are indebted for the
nlsl introduction Of Christianity Into this continent
HUMAN INSTITUTIONS
endnrc only a Dtte while, divine institutions for
ever. ST. Ignailus founded an order when wa