The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-24
ST. AGa's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.


by the Rev. Fniher Preston.
The large and beautiful Church OF ST. Ann on
Twelfth street, between Third and Fourth avenues.
was wen filled yesterday. High mass was cele.
GRATED by the Rev. Father Poole ana the sacrament
was administered 10 a young couple in regard to
whose marriage the bans had been published The
gospe OF the day was read by Father Preston from
the Gospel OF st John x, IL to 10, inclusive,
from which the eloquent gentleman delivered
his discourse. This portion OF Scripture details
the duties and characteristics u good and faithful
shepherd as contrasted with hireltng, who has no
interest In The mock save that which brings money
at ease t. himself IL also LOOKS forward hopefully
10 a time when III ere shall be but one fold and one
shepherd. Hence the subject OF the sermon based
upon this portion of Scripture, was
THE UNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
and the sacred Office OF the priesthood "a the sue
c~ssors OF the Saviour IN the oversight and care of
His Church. There had been, he said, pastors over
the Church before Christ came into the world. God
had never lett himself without line OF minister's
first in the patrlarchal and afterwards IN the Jewish
Church, But In Christ God proposed to bring Him.
sell near To Ills children, to unite them in one even
as the Father and the son are one, and that so He
Ike good shepherd, might bring them to a haven
OF rest. The pastoral ONCE Is one OF the greatest
fruits well greatest proofs Of Chriss resurrec
ton. When the Lord declares that lie is the Snep-
herd, the Good Shepherd all the characteristics OF
that office must be supplied In Him. The Shepherd
rules, guides and feeds his flock and SO also Christ
rules guides and feeds his people, whom lie hath re-
deemed with His most precious blood. Order ana
unity are essential TO success III this as In other
works and relations OF God TO US. They are OF the
very FIRST necessity. There must be unity In the flock
as well as in the shepherd. There Is but one end to
which All shall be uuluod--Onp faith IN which
ALI. SHALL BE oosFoRMEp.
chat they all may be onen prayed the blessed
Saviour "as Thou, Father, art in Me and in Thee,
that they also may be one IN US; that the world may
believe that Thou hast sent Me.n But perfect unity
does not yet exist in this fold. "Other sheep
have" saith the Lord, (which are not OF this told
them also must bring In, and there shall be one
I'D and one shepherd But there must be both
internal and external unity IN the Christian Church
Not only must the unity OF the fold be preserved
outwardly but there must be unity or charity and
OF faith IN one spirit. As the shepherd guides his
nock to green pastures and beside still waters so
does Christ lead his Church TO the undying waters OF
salvation.
MANS DESTINY is NOT HERE; IT Is BEYOND rHE
and that faith which we receive from The lips OF
cred,oiry which II may present TO our senses, not
IRON any sympathy OF our natures with It,
but because 1t IS from God 1t cometh
must be fed and sustained alone by supernatural
food, because Its life IS supernatural life. 1t must
feed by iaith Christ. How does Christ thus iced
his people, lie died for all. But ali will not be
saved, because all do not accept His passion and
death He gives IN Ills blessed sacraments grace Ill
our hearts-grace to do His VIII; grace TO become
meritoru u; ace which Will stand the divine test
at last But the Shepherd not only died for the
sheep but He has given His flesh that we may eat
the bread which came down FROM heaven, and He
caeth Us continually to this nuptal banquet "And
E, the living naher hath sent Me ana LIVE by the
Me- IT'S FOR no earthly or common ends that the
Good Shepherd laid down His life, hut to to
US crown OF eternal life. And those VINO have not
learned TINS nave not learned The
HIST PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY.
The Church must have one visible fold. There can
no more be two folds than two shepherds; no more
two true Churches than two Chrlsts. But though
Christ Is not visible to u he Is as positively present
and powerful to-day in his Church as lie ever was.
When He sent His disciples forth 10 preach the go5-
pei lie assured them that He would be with His
Church even unto the end OF the world and that oil
power IN heaven ami In earth had been given TO
Him. "And as the Father hath sent Me even so send
you ana Le VINO ,eoelvetn you ieeeive.h me- ana
Here we haze the apostolic aud pastoral Ot1ice de-
clared and Christs presence with his Church
affirmed The ministers OF Christ are His repre-
sena.ves in II presty ONCE. IL lssnot, therefore,
the priest who baptzetn, but Christ IL Is not the
priest who lteth up the visible bread OF angels bat
the invisible priest by whose power the bread Is
THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST,
and brings 10 every soul OF man the grace5 which
lie hath purchased by His death and resurrection.
And Christ sent the priesthood into the world He
be With them the end, ana the character
istics Of Christ VIII be In them and he will assmilate
them to Himself and breathe upon them the Holy
Ghost. There must therefore be unity OF operations
and end In this pr esthood. Men may change and
pass away in death; still the priesthood, In ann and
end. Is one all over the world. Any other view Of
Christs priesthood would he Intellectual TO accom-
pllsh the ends for which He died and for which His
nock was established. Any other view Will lead 70
error and 10 the destruction OF the fold II is not
simply In name that the priesthood are commanded
TO oner sacrifice; not simply In name that they came
so near a. 10 touch the body which was pierced on
ttft tt,nsn hall htnh
the blood OF the great sacrifice. No They therefore
kneel TO be consccrated ana open their hearts 10
receive the Holy Ghost. They must become self
denying, forseke al earthly ties.
LEAVE FAMILY, HOME AND ALL FOR CHRIST.
They must be ready to sacrifice their own lives for
His sake a. well as 10 minister the bread oil lie 10
Others and 10 bind up the broken hearts. And in
spite ~ oil the railties which inhere In our poor
humanity we may point TO the Catholic priesthood,
earth IN the unity OF the faith and OF the spirit aud
ever ready TO lay down tner lives for tue ock Aud
in Tie long weary round OF pastoral duties many
young life is broken down before 1t has attained It's
maturity These are the proofs Of Chrlsps divinity
and passion that His servants are ready TO Law down
their lives for His sake and for that OF His Church
And We who are the fock Of Christ, ought to enter
into Inc spirit OF self-sacrince. You are royal
PRIESTHOOD and God mas sent yod TO snow His grace
and 10 bring others INTO that pathway which Is 10
lead you 10 your reward IhaDhs DC " Oou Jor thls
privilege and honor and for
THE NATION HE HAS ENTRUSTED US WITH.
And mere may we with tatn make TO ourselves
friends OF the mammon o. INJUSTICE, tnas Wncn we
Happy the man VINO In the dying hour can look back
over life well spent IN deeds OF love ana charity,
and 10 whom the Master will come In that hour ana
saw "Weu done. when thou passeti through The
water viii be with thee, ana the floods suaI MOI
overflow thee. ] VIII lead thee 10y the banks VI the
river wnere thou shalt find eternal peace"
FINANCIAL. CONDITION OF ~. AIMS ROMAN cATHo
Lie CHURCH.
Al rho close OF the mass yesterday morning, and
,n accordance with previous Intimaion Of tie pas
Tor n large part Of the congregation remained W
receiye from Father Preston statement OF
the financial condition oi 81 AIMS cnurch
ana rnrochial school, made no TO Wilnln
one week ago lie said nc had been
Ten wears In the Old church In Ei2hth street anu u
nad become altogether insufficient 81 that Tor the