The New York herald., 1872-11-18
ST. PETERS CHURCH, JERSEY
CITY.

Sermon by Father Lory, s. j., ON tho
Efficacy Of Prayer-He Strikes ut the
Matcrialfsm Of Our Day-How tho
Goods OF this World Should Bc Used.
At st. Peters church, Jersey City, solemn mass
was celebrated by the Very Rev. Father Beaudevin.
The sermon was preached by Father Lory, on 1.-THE
Efcacy OF Prayer" He took his text from st.
James, "You ask and you receive, not because you
ask amiss." The words Of our Lord on this point
are SO forcible that 1T is impossible to under
stand them in any other sense than the
words themselves plainly imply. Experience
teaches us that we ask for many things and receive
not. st. James gives US the explanation. Our
prayers are not what they ought to be. The prom
lse of the Lord is infable, SO that the fault lies
entirely with ourselves. There are
TWO REASONS
Why we do not receive what we ask for in prayer.
The first is that we ask what we ought not to ask
and the second, prayers have not that condition
which our LORD requres-we do not ask in
q proper manner. St. Thomas, the great the
ol0gian, puts this question in very few
words. lie says there are certain things we can
ask from God without reserve, such as that His
holy name may be glor1ed, and supernatural
grace. There are other things which, though good
In themselves, may be abused and therefore they
are withheld from us. David says:-"One thing
have asked OF the Lord this will seek, that
may dwell in the house Of the Lord oil the days Of
my life; that may see the delights OF the Lord and
visit His temple.n We are troubled about many
things, and yet there is thing which should
therefore,
We SHOULD ASK FIRST OF ALL
In our prayers. Seek first the kingdom OF God
and His justice.0 We have to use created things
because we come in daily contact with them and
the use of these creatures Is necessary; nay, by
them we can obtain our ete nal salvation. But we
are only to use them as means to attain salvation.
Our Lord says in the most clear terms that II we
% e a Ms W
shall eat or what You shall drink nor wherewithal
you shall be clothed for the body is more than the
raiment." Our bodies are to be glorifed in heaven.
Sickness, msforunes and loss Of earthly goods are
reckoned evils but
In the world, and tnat is sin. We should receive
sickness, misfortune and losses with resignation,
and we should not ask to be delivered from them,
ings. The first great Virtue we should practice il
we would obtain from God what we ask for is
goverty Of spirit blessed are the poor in spirit,
1t Is the detachment OF our affections from all
created beings. Those who use this world should
and he gives the reason: "for the figure Of this
world passeth away 1t is a very common saying
at the present day, that we must be men OF our
age and 1t Is but too true that we share too much
the prOpensities OF our age.
THIS IS MATERIAL AGE,
m age In which matter Is wOrshpped to the detri-
ment OF spirit. The progress of the time Is that
every man bends all his energies to secure large
fortune. Every man goes into trade and specula-
tf0ns with the view OF becoming millionaire. This
Is not using the things Of this world as If we used
them not. We are bound to make all reasonable
provisions for the support OF our families, but
when we set our hearts on the goods Of this world
for their own sake, then are not looking for our
salvation.
The music calls for few words. At the o1ertory
Mr.. Vierling, who as q bassO has no rival in New
Jersey, sang the 80 Salutaris" in Q manner that
would If rendered In any but sacred edifce
bring down the house. The text OF this hymn was
set by Professor Neuendorf to the melody OF the
aria OF Don Carlos in "Ernani" The latest access
sion to the choir is Miss Feretti, who made her ap-
pearance with Nilsson as the page in "Mignon.n
Professor Neuendorf the well-known conductor,
who needs no words OF praise, is organizing
choir for ST. Peters, which will be the envy OF any
even in the great metropolis. Next Sunday vier-
ling will sing that gem OF Rossinis, "Pro peccatis"
0Om the 'Stabat Mater.n