The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03
ST, STEPHENS CHURCH.

Sermon by the Rev. Thomas b. Lynch
on the Eucharist-Tho Saviour's Love
Observation-Disclosures Union or Christ
With tho Soul.
At st. Stephens church yesterday morning high
mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Hickey, of
California; and, after the first Gospel, the Rev.
Father Lynch preached from the Gospel Of the day,
the leading point OF which was the Eucharist
The Church, said he, calls our attention in the
Gospel Of the day to great banquet to which all
are vinted. This banquet Is no other than that
which Jesus Christ sits before In the Eucharist
But few days ago we celebrated the feast of Cor
pus Christ-a feast especially designed to honor the
Blessed Sacrament. And the Church to-day, within
the octave presents to us this parable of the banquet
with the evidert design of still keeping before our
minds this great treasure OF love which divine
Lord has left us In the Eucharist Passing over alto
gether the proof of the institution and nature
OF the blessed sacrament we shall consider its
effects upon the soul. The blessed sacrament
untes intimately with Jesus Christ; 1t preserves
the life OF the soul and promotes our spiritual
growth. In regard to the wonderful unison be-
tween Christ and the soul st. Chrysostom says
GLOW splendid the honor to which we are raised |
How wondrous the banquet which we have tho hap
piness to enjoy-what the angels themselves behold
with dread-what they hardly dare look on on &C.
count of the dazzling glory which beams around 1t
With this we are fed to this we are united and be-
one body one ssh Win C Wns v Wh nn sha
all His pras Where is the shepherd who feedeth
4 his flock with his own bloodS And why DO l say
4 shepherd for there are even many mothers who,
n after the pains or childbirth give their offspring to
a be fed by the milk of strangers But not so our
"a dear Lord; He teedeth us with His very blood, and
q thus in all things unites to Himself" But let
u understand tins unity. The body and blood OF
Christ DO not dissoye.as many nor
g-oou. duae rJhe 'Hppcarances OF bread and wine
OSlrist descends into our bosoms; but He Is only
Sp Sporay present as long as the appearances Of
! Is =, awhile He dwels here in the pure
greatest graces The soul Sa tSe sancnnGR
4 In which, by wonderful union, He communicates
US tine no ma OF his merits Christ speaks
him.
lmparts to it an increase Of slnctlying grace pur
ies IL and enables 1t to resist with 1rmness the
God; it beauti1es it, and in the attraction for
heavenly things It receives it becomes more and
more IKE sS unto the Deity As st. Peter says ut
sharer OF His life; 1t lives in and through and for
Him alone"
This spiritual food advances us in the way OF God
and makes us increase daily in grace. 1t rereshes
the weary, strengthens the weak restores courage
to the timid and consoles the afflicted. The com
|munlcaton OF divine grace gives the Christian o
ship Of God. This sacrament leads ads tn" the
its Saviour, to desire to love Him in return /
and to exclam with the Psalmist "Who will give
me wings like dove and will fly and be at rest ~
II was this spirit OF love that led the primitive
Christians to approach this holy sacrament daily /
aud sustained them with miraculous force to com /
bat the designs of their prosecutors and to triumph
over them even with their blood. st Cypran
says;-"Hc Is not ready for martyrdom who Is not
anguishes and sinks II not supported and innamed
by the participants of the Eucharist
But the grand st Of all the effects OF the blessed
q Wnr Inv iria nfe
pledge OF happy Immortality Nor is this pledge
doubtful one, for the saviour said HE that eateth
My flesh and drinketh My blood hath everlasting
life, and will raise him up on the last day. These
considerations should lead improve every Op
portunity of pattakng OF this heavenly food. The
more frequently partake Of 1t the more strongly
grows our desire for fuller participation
OF It's great consultations. Unfortunately only
too many are almost wholly ignorant OF the
taste OF heavenly, food and consequently can never
understand the great relish with which devout
souls 80 ardently approach the altar. Let those
then, who have been negligent In availing them
selves OF their Savour's Invitation to partake Of
His body and blood, reflect upon His wonderful
affection In giving them this infinite treasure.
Those who are stOd to refuse to hear His
loving invitations should remember that stern SEN
tence uttered by Himsef-.Uness you eat the flesh
Of the Son OF Man and drink His blood you cannot
have life in YOU" Let them remember, moreover,
the threat against those who had refused,
with which the days Gospel concludes--"Amen.
say to you that none Of those who were invited
hall partake OF my ba nquet.o