The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-19
ST. PATRICK,S CATHEDRAL.


The Forty Hours Devoiion-sermon by
Archbishop McCl0skey the Blessed
Eucharist. h1
The ceremonies In this church yesterday were
characterized by unusual soemnity and impress
slveness. Solemn high mass was celebrated by
Rev. DIR. STAIRS, assisted by Fathers McNamee,
Kean and Kearney, as deacon, suD-deacon and
master Of ceremonies respectively. The Archbishop.
as is his wont, delivered discourse sav0ring OF
that exalted simplicity and beauty OF style which
may be said to be peculiar to men OF eminence and
sanctity In the Church. Having read the gospel OF
the day, ne 1T Is your great privilege at the
beginning OF this holy season Of Lent to be best
with special favors and graces which may aid you
In lis proper observance, and which may be OBJ
tanned in rich abundance by means Of that beauti-
tul devotion to the holy sacrament of the altar
called the orty hours alteration, which Will CON-
mence to-day. Tho holy season upon which we enter
is to be devoted to more assiduOus practices
OF prayer, modification, penance and almsglving
than all other portions OF the year. 1t Is the
in which, as children of the Church, we are earn
| estly invited to come and contemplate around her
affairs the great mystery OF mans redempuon--to
| mediate Oh the humiliations and sunrerings the
passion and death, OF the Son OF Manic accompany
| Him In spirit in
HIS WAY OF THE GROSS,
even to the Mount OF Calvary, and In this dev0ut
meditation 70 find OF o0ntrition for slns
which have been the occasion Of all His fretfu
sufierlngs aud cruel death. In this work we viii be
assisted by Christ himself. Whatever trial may be
In 1t will be made sweet and agreeable to US; all
the necessary graces Will be given US by ODser
vance OF the devonons OF the forty hours For mat
same Jesus VINO spent 80 many hours OF trial on
EARTH although He s gone TO take His place with Als
Father In heaven, Is sun with us-is with His peo-
pie IN the mystery OF HIS love- the sacrament OF the
altar. He Is there the object OF alteration, homage
and love o OF the angels and saints soove
ps$s:; MAJESTY ana T.! so.s sss but mslsss
eternal Son OF God. in the same divinity and
angels and archaDges and all the glorious most OF
Heaven DOW down. He Is here the great
the glory OF HIS Onurcn, the centre Of all that Is
grand and Of all that Is holy and beautiful and sub
alteration the OBJECT Of our faiin ana Of our love-
we see Him. NOS IN HIS glory but with the eyes Of
our n % Ss
US. We believe 1t because the apostles so taught
and Holy GaTrcn 50 teaches the SAINTS Of that
have 80 believed 1t. We believe 1t because we see
realized the ancient prophecy concerning it, We
cravings OF the heart throughout SO many ages Of
time. We believe II because we see something
love. | am speaking to believers and viii there
fore use no arguments-in fact argument now would
In rendering to Hun that homage due to HIS inanite
majesty. When you see Him surrounded by the
when you see Him surrounded by the gifts OF plous
hearts, bow down IN alteration and love before Him,
81 OF
| Him as the King Of Kings coming to scatter HIS
benedicsons, His blessings and graces.
TO Him, ~ believe Lordl help my unbelief;r
believe and recognize In you the object
as being the OBJECT OF our faith, He Is, as have
said the object OF love. for ne is the source and
that the rays OF His love rejected our hearts,
filing them with consolation and JOY as He exclaims
and viii refresh you.S Fear not to approach my
sanctuary; am here as your Father. ready to lis
ten to you and accept you applications. Come,
little, without distinction OF rank or sex nation
or tongue am the Father Of all: And. OIL VINO
the affiictons and cares that encompass us-how
many hidden sufrerngs and sorrows within
nave the greatest ali ou sSs
burden Of sinl What load is greater than this that
tracts your mind and Expresses your heartf Come
and lay at the feet OF your blessed kedeemer. IL
to make sacrifice, need be- Of joys that You have
long loved-of pleasures you have vainly sought
after.
sins and remember them no more. Come returning
for His countless mercies. Think OF the humllia-
lions 10 which He submits Himself In thus adorable
ways Tor love and alteration, but not unfrequenty
receiving SCOTS from MS rebeiOus children. Hence
we owe Him acts OF reparatiOn. Pray for them who
turn their backs upon Him; pray That the rays of
grace may penetrate their hard hearts, and pour
out your hearts, making known TO Him your wants.
Pray Tor your friends and your families, and pray
especially for HIS molly Church. 1t was in consider
alton OF the suerngs OF the Church Ia the sixteenth
century that Clement VIII. Instituted this iorty
hours devotion. And when have we mad more need
OF prayers for the church than now, when
our holy father Plus TX. is In SO
many dangers, and wnen his Church suffers
80 muchf And fail not to pray that you may be
made worthy 10 Join In that worship and devotion
at which you Will no longer behold Hin yelled In
the sacred elements but In the fulness OF His power
and majesty, to be refreshed forever In the torrent
OF inefable delight.
At the close or the MSS 100 young ladies', robed
in white and girt with sashes of various hues,
ing garlands on their heads, fled from the vestry,
many OF them bearing candles, banners or flowers
The acoytes followed ronnd the church, and the
Archbishop carried the blessed sacrament beneath
rich canopy. which was borne by four laymen
When the processionists returned to the sanctuary
the priests and acOlytes commenced The Litany OF
the saints, the church choir singing the responses
The blessed sacrament remains exposed until Tues
day, when solemn hign mass viii close the devo.
ton. The church will be kept open from SIX A. M.
till nine y. NJ.