The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-11
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Sermon by tho Rev. DR.. Mctslynn-The Mira
clio Of tho Lonves and Fishes-H Holy Com-
mumion-Preparat10n for Easter-Humnn
Judaos OF Mons Souls.
Though the weather was so wretchedly bad yes.
terday morning, ST. Stephens church was filled as
usual with large congregation. The music OF the
mass was rendered by the eficient choir with Gus
tomary ability, the singing at the vespers being
especially fine.
High mass was celebrated by the Rev. J. j.
Boyle, young clergyman just ordained, and who
now, after most distinguished collegiate course
has been h0n0red with professorshp in the Eccle'
sastical Seminary OF Philadelphia
After the first gospel the Rev. DR.. McGynn
preached from the gospel OF the day, in which Is
related the miracle OF the loaves and flshes:-The
miracle Of the oaves and fishes Is the type Of the
blessed Sacrament. The Gospel speaks OF both III
the sixth chapter Of ST. john and In time and place
they are closed together The miracle occurred
about year before the Savours death, when He
with His disciples, went apart for rest from the
city. The disciples had returned after preaching In
the provinces ana needed quiet after their labOrs.
But the multitude must have heard that Christ had
crossed over to the opposite coast from the city.
and they hocked around Him in large numbers being
rhey might faint by the way" the Saviour performed
s these e. as9
Of the Eucharist. 1t was not by the DISPLAY He
made In performing miracles that the people were
that He was dong Miraculous deeds for the
diseased; that He was compassionate 10 the SICK
man; that lie was dong these things because His
heart was touched This was one or the tests OF
His divinity. He told us to 'earn Of Him, because
OF His life IN this regard should not be lest sight
Of II we are Christians, then We must learn to
conquer ourselves We must be meek, charitable,
humble, when nature would prompt us to
sHs ans ss we as ws as the the
vanity 1t might cause to expose their failngs God
alone must punish and ne alone can read mems
great miracle and wins men to God. The multi
Jude who Hooked around the Saviour as told In the
Gospel, followed Him because lie was ''meek and
humble OF hearth The charity which man prac-
tises towards his fellow man Is light from another
heart of an Incarnate God. This miracle of the
oaves and fishes was in some respects the greatest
largest number Of persons, aud 1t IS plainly the type
Of the Holy Communion; When the mul.
ttudes had eaten they cried aloud That that
Saviour had to ret ire to distance lest they might
insist upon hailng Him as King and treating Him
with kingly hOnOrs. But in this miracle we may
learn how that other miracle OF the Eucharist was
given 70 us, and may understand His Invitations to
the sraeltes lest their returning to their homes
they "might faint by the way" And, during all
the ages since the institution OF the blessed Sacra
ment the Saviour's love mas continued to Feed the
tainting souls OF faithful CHRISTIANS with thai other
Sc to inc on rs n s s he w SO
the holy Fathers and the opinions OF great theolo-
gtans am persuaded mat the early Church tncul-
cateu Tue receiving VI tlio blessed sacrament every
day. We must remember that we should not walt to
be perfect before receiving Holy Communion. Were
we 10 do so we should never receive lt. The blessed
Sacrament was instituted to help US to greater love
Saviour. 1t was given TO US TO make us better, to
draw us nearer to God, to make us feel more con-
stantly our dependence on Him. and, by the bond
OF love which constant union with Him would form,
10 sustain ana protect us and bring down upon rs
more abundant graces from heaven.
The reverend preacher then went on to speak
about the necessity OF preparing Tor the Easter
communion and advised his hearers especially
10 praCtse CHARITY Fathers OF families should learn
from the gospel oil the day to help sick men and lead
them by their own example OF Christian virtues to
q reconciliation with God. They should, Dy being
"meek and humble OF heart" illustrate the lesson
OF the gospel and, by Conquering themselves, at
tract to morality and good life the nearess SIM
ner, stepped In crime, or encourage those VINO had
been recently at confession. Eagerly as The Saviour
invited US to partakc OF His sacred body and blood,
II should be remembered that He Himself, appear
ing, as 1t were like asghted lover told us that there
was vet q terrible condemnation for those who had
neglected TO prepare properly for the sacred FEAST
The reverend doctor concluded with some forcIbe
remarks concerning those people who, as it were,
put themselves in the judgment seat OF God ana
presumed TO read the most secret thoughts of men;
TO pronounce upon the exact limit for light which
the Almighty had given to many of His creatures,
and then to Judge whether or not the Almighty
SHOULD or should not act otherwise toward these,
His creatures than as the feeble minds of these
poor human judges would direct. God alone was
Judge; God alone could read the heart and under
stand the aspirations OF his creatures souls.