The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-15
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL.
The Parable of tho Good Shepherd-A
Sermon by Father McNnmee.

The Parable of the Good Shepherd-A
Sermon by Father McNamee.
The regular services solennized in ST.
Patricks Cathedral yesterday morning at the usual
hour, and were marked by the excellence OF the
music and the plain good sense of the homily de-
llvered by Father McNamce. During the early por-
ton of the service Father Kearney of,lcated as
ceebrant. Father McNamee took his stand in the
pulpit and preached, with the parable OF the
GOOD SHEPHERD
for text. II was appropriate subject. as II oc
Cured in the Gospel for the day. The reverend
father commenced by pointing out those sub
jects especially worthy OF attention In
relation to this parable-drst, with what
view and justice could blessed Lord
call Himself the Good Shepherd; second, how great
and how excessive was His love for His flock third
how precious in His estimation must be each indi
vidual member Of that fock, when, to save them,
He offered His life for their redemptionl AS the
Gospel says, "The Good Shepherd gives His life for
His hock, that they may be saved" His great
love then demonstrated by Father McNamee,
who proceeded to quote several paragraphs from
scripture Illustrating his point. The beautiful dis
position, which can only be compared to love, en-
beshed with heavenly radiance that lit up in
sparkling eifugence the many striking acts OF His
brief career on earth. How aniectionately He
called His betrayer, Judas, by the endearng term
OF niendl for when in the act or receiving
the Kiss of betrayal he said, Friend, whereunto
art thou come ~ Secondly, according to the writ
ings OF St. Thomas, when he performed the hui
initiating and lowly act OF washing the feet of his
apostles, he commenced with Judas: singing out
membered that at the Last supper he turned round
and said to Judas the memorable words "rhat
which thou doest do quickly, intimating how ready
lie was to suffer for the redemption Of his nock.
That great love which he exhibited were not only
for the souls OF men collectively. but for each ndyi
dual one. IT. PAU says, Il live IN the faith Of the
SON OF GOD,
! who loves me mot us) ana delivered Himself up
/ for me- Then again, in the parable of the Good
/ shepherd, we lind in the Writings OF the Apostle
| Mark the description OF his shepherding and how
| he left the nock Of nnety-nine In the desert in
/ order 10 seek and find the one lost sheep, which
plainly shows that in his loving mind The value Of
one was equal TO all tine others collectively. Third
| ly-lloW precious in Ills estimation was each mem
Der OF His nock. This point the reverend father
clearly demonstrated In distinct and comprc-
| hepSivc manner. lie said, at the very begin
I ming lie made the soul something separated and
distinct from all the other created objects. In pro-
ducng AL other created objects He had merely said
| let II be done, and II was DONE in support
/ of which Father McNamce quoted, LET the
| eartb produce the green herb, &c" In word
whatever the earth Is or contains came into exist
! ence by that one Gat or command Of the Eternal
God but TO create the soul something more than the
nete command was necessary, as instanced in the
following quotation Having formed man from
the slime OF the earth He breatled into his face the
breath Of lie and then he became living soul.n
IL,
the order OF the Affairs Of life. the intrinsic merit OF
thing may be considered by the price which has
been paid forl how infinitely precious in the sight Of
God must DC the soul Ofmdn TO redeem which his only
begottcn son took upon himself anu lived, died &C.
lie sent not an angel or an archangel, nor one or
the blessed spirits who inhabit the
CELESTIAL EMPIRE,
but Ills son. omnipotent, Co-equal, coeternal with
Himself-hin lie sends to rescue from the enemy
and restore TO the true fold the longlost member of
His aock. One drop OF the precious blood. one
breath, one tear even one interior act OF the viii
ol the son Of God would have been more than SUM-
Gent 10 encompass the work Of the redemption
Hence lie could have in view no other end than to
show how grand and sublime IL the soul OF man.
IN conclusion the preacher said that we only had
TO give some particular proofs OF our love TO Cod
by the strict observance Of His commandments to
learn from him TO feel how important is the eternal
salvation Of that soul which each OF us pos
sesseS, ana therefore 10 remember the end for
which We Were created. and 10 love God and serve
Tim 10 insure the gain OF everlasting life.