The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-04
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.


Sermon by the Rev. Father McCready-
Want of liedccti0n the Great Want Of the
Christian--Tac Human viii and thc Word
of God-The fmmOrnlity OF tie Ace.
At ST. Stephens church yesterday morning, after
the gospel OF the high mass, the Rev. Father
McCready preached from the gospel CT the day,
Luke XII, 2S-"Yea, rather blessed are they VINO
hear the word of God and keep IT, He saia:-
II would seem at first sight il Lord re-
proved the woman III the crowd for what may have
been after all, but the thougntless expression OF
her woman's heart. without questioning whether,
or how far, she may possibly have been inspired on
this occasion the language attributed 10 her.
we know well that the womb that bore and the
breasts that nourished the infant God were H.
deed thrice Blessed anu that VINO held the
relation OF n
MOTHER Tue ETERNAL WORD
made flesh enjoyed SURPRISING dignity. the full
measure OF winch we never adequately realize.
No one dId, because other could, more fully APP
precate the bessedness OF that maternity than did
the son OF that Virgin Mother. Had not the anger
addressed her never woman was addressed
before? And did not the inspired mother OF the
BAPTIST salute her IN words almost Identical when
she sad-"BeSSed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit OF thy womD?' Why then
does He seem to correct the wcman's exclamation
by saying-"Yea rather blessed are they who hear
the word Of God and keep 1t Y II we examine these
words, however we shall tina that Christ does not
reprove che woman. On the contrary, rather, He
anrms and approves what she SAID, taking occasion
to add at the same time an instruction. "Yea.n
she says, ..Yea admit the bencdictIon pronounced
by you Is well mertted; not only is she blessed,
but | affirm IN addition that those are
also blessed .swho hear the Word OF God and Keep
It," The maternity Of our Lady was IN part the
reward OF her merits. She was therefore. blessed
not so much because she was the Mother of Cod as
because she kept the Word OF GOO. ''This Mother
kept all these Things IN her heart" IL was
HER IMMACULATE CONCEPTION,
her perfectly sinless life ana her strict observance
OF the Word and law of God In her heart that
merlted for her the honor of becoming the Mother
OF the saviour Those words of our Divine Lord
are similar In meaning to those other words o! the
Aposre-"Not the hearers but the doors OF the law
are Justified" 1t is not enough TO hear. but We
must also keep the Word, as Christ Himself explains
| in the parable-"By tue good ground are meant
| those who, with good ana perfect heart, hearing
| the Word OF God keep 1t. aud bring forth irut
In patience" Tney, then only are ranked among
| the works which the law prescribes. Il we desir
10 among this number we must treasure IL In our
| hearts, mediate upon 1t, search into Its hidden
| meaning, ana make 1t our rule OF life and conduct.
IL ls often SAID mat large NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS
traneress the laws OF God because faith Is extinct
In them; that everywhere seli-interesu relgns
supreme and ambition lords II over all; that
natneless vices passing The bounds OF ali decency
range at VIII over every meadow, tramplng under
foot every flower in their path and all this because
THERE Is NO FAITH.
THIS is scarcely the or the evil. For, sub
santally 1atn underlies the seeming unbeliel, and,
II we sound 10 IT'S depths the heart OF any Catholic,
we snail find that no matter now loose his life may
be- there is not one single article OF our holy faith,
however abstruse 1t may be, IN which he
OF Souls WITHIN the Catholic Church may be traced,
not to want Of faith, but 10 want OF reflection on
the truths which laith teaches NO one article OF
faith is dlsbeeved by worldhngs; but on the other
hand, no one article OF faltl meets WIN consldera-
AND nnee IS s peeve
Catn ole truths or give them no serious thought,
our VIII Is equally disnclined to good and prone to
evil: for In either the will Is not deferred from
philosophy teaches, IS Il bind power, which cannot
what Is bad moved 10 what IS good. Our VIII, as
have It's affections eXerted unless the intellect go be-
fore Swallowing the hight OF It's perceptions. What,
then does 1t avail us that the truths OF our ialtn
| nave in themselves q sovereign efficacy to remove
from ms every vice, to Keep lar from SIN? II the
Christian does ponder on the truths OF our holy
faith assuredy these truths can avall nm nothing.
''WIrH DEsoLATIoN Is THE WHOLE LAND MADE
| DEsOLATE"
says the prophet Jeremiah, because there Is no
| would occasionally direct Their thoughts even TO
some single OF all those many truths oftne Catho
! lie religion wnicn they mold with unwavering iaith
| we should no longer witness SO much righteousness
in their mode OF life or so much depravlty IN Their
moral character. This our blessed Lord lnculcated
by the example OF lis own life. And ms Is the
secret OF His frequent retirements all alone TO the
ana contemplation. lie needed not 10 pray lOr
Himself, ior lie was the God all mighty and all
powerful lie needed not retirement 10 smut out
all worldly distractions, for lie could AZ VIII tnrn TO
the contemplation Of the bcathc vision; but, IKE
all the other acts OF HIS mortal life MS retire.
ments were intended Tor our example. Amid
our daily distractions we are only 100 apt In the
pursuit. OF temporal Things, TO lose sight OF the eter.
nal and hence frequent rejection upon the truths OF
our holy Iaith becomes almost essential to our sal.
yati0n 1t may seem that this frequent reflection
ior man or tue world would impose uDon him %
puruensome iask, when should DC reserved only FOR
me reLglons, ior men and women living apart rom
tne WOri., devoted only 70 the service OF God; but
we must remenoer mat Christ died for all OF us,
anu tllaL lie wishes all should be saved Hence lie
WISHES tnat M should adopt the means OF salvation,
anu surely u would DC dnicult TO make progress
toward that end If all That Is essential To its aiian