The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-17
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. Father McCrendy-
The Work Of Life and How 1t Ought To
BE Donc-Man's Soul and the Motive
Which Should Guide It-A Happy Etcr-
nifty the Reward for Fidelity to God.
Yesterday was the day appointed by Archbishop
McCloskey for the collections in the churches OF the
archdiocese in aid OF the Holy Father, and was
therefore OF especial interest to both clergy and
aity. The experience Of former years in regard to
this annual collection has made the day one OF
pleasant anticipation for the Catholic population
OF this city give with unbounded generosity when
the call for help from the head of the Church,
especially from the good old man who now wears
the tiara. The congregations OF ST. Stephens
church were unusually large at the masses yester
day morning. and at the high mass the Rev. Father
McCready, In announcing the collection made an
eloquent appeal for the Holy Father. The Rev. DR..
McGlynn also at the several earlier masses referred
to the Holy Fatner's present needs and claims.
The Rev. Father Lynch celebrated mass. After
the first gospel the Rev. Father McCready preached
from Luke w. 5:-"Master, we have labored all the
night and have taken nothing" II there be one
idea more than another especially put forward
throughout the sacred Scriptures, 1t Is the idea Of
work. Even the Divinity is represented to us as
active in its works OF creating conserving and
sanctifyng. Our divine Lord tells us "the Father
workcth even until now and work." and again,
81 must work the works of Him that sent me whilst
1t is day; for soon the night cometh when no man
can work" The angels who stand before the
Throne are continually employed in the glorious
work OF praislng Him "who stteth on the Throne,
and the Lamb.n Even in inanmate nature, the
globe we nhabit and the countless worlds OF stars
and planets are perpetually in motion, per-
forming their part in creation, obedient to
the command OF Him who ordered their
times and seasons. We read in Genesis that the
Lord God took man and put him into the Paradise
delight III.
the earth was cursed, and Adam was told that he
and his posterity should work, should earn their
bread in the sweat of their face. The aborers in
the vineyard, who represent the people Of God,
under the old and in the new dispensation, worked
In the vineyard; some through the heat OF the day,
others in the evening. SO incumbent indeed, on
man Is this necessity Of working that the ider he
who does no honest labor who Is not employed in
doing something for his neghbor or for the we'll
being OF society, Is drone, who has no place in the
company of his fellow men. II Is true that II man
were merely working for the goods OF this world,
for present gain and temporal happiness, he could
find in these sufficient Impetus for his industry.
But man has a higher and a nobler destiny. IL
the Creator had intended that man should be salts
fed with the goods OF this world He would have en-
dowed him with faculties merely sufficient for their
enjoyment and have left him TO grovel on the EARTH
He has, however, given him an immortal soul, with
supernatural cravings that can never be satisfied
in this world, While to man alone OF all created be-
ings He has given that upturned look to teach him
that he must expect his reward in the upper world
rather than seek IL here. Therefore, immortal
man. with that immortal soul Of his, stamped with
the impress Of the Deity,and therefore belonging to
his Creator and Sovereign Master, should raise
himself above the vantics OF this world which
unworthy Of his pursuit, and look to Zion, whence
his aid must come. 'Serve the Lord In fear and He
shall be your reward exceeding great
When our Lord, iu another portion OF the Gospel,
said to the Iaborers in the market place, "Why
stand You here all the day idle 7" lie implied by this
seeming repro0f that 1t Is wrong for man to be
idle. Men may, as they do toll from day to day,
from week to week and from year to year, but In
most cases they work for the enemy-not for the
Master. They have labored all the night Of their
natural lives, and have gained nothing for life eter-
nal. They may reap TEMPORAL reward In the hour
in which they earn 1t, which, like all temporal
things, vanishes but when evening comes and the
lord OF the vineyard commands his steward to give
to each his wages they receive not the penny
which is the passport to eternal life. They have
worked and wasted themselves In the pursuit OF
temporal happiness, accepting what crumbs OF
pleasure the prince OF this world bestoWs on
them, never casting thought on the world to
come. Gods laborers deny themselves here OF
even many legitimate enjOymcnts, looking for fll-
ture reward when the shadows OF death close
around them, and they are adjudged worthy OF
eternal reward.
Each OF u.s. then, has certain work to perform
q work which we must do or merit the reproaches
Of our Master, az In the case OF st. Paul lie was
called by God TO preach the Gospel ana Woe to
me,n he says OF himself, ''f do not evangeizc.o
SO may we, too say Woe to me II do not work
for God In that avocaton In which 1t has been His
viii to place me woe to me II | do not sanctlfy
my work by referring IL to Ills glory; II do not, In
q word whether eat or drink or whatever else
do do all for the honor and glory Of God. The
special work OF the Christian, the work to which all
Own soul In becoming 6siAer af man this IL the