The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-17
ST. PATRIOK'S CATHEDRAL.

ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL.
Arraig nmcnt OF the Sims OF the Age
The Holy See Its Past GIcries, Present
Condition and Future Triuinphs-
Eloquent Sermon by the Most Rev.
Archbishop McCloskcy.
The beautiful weather and the announcement
that Archbishop McCl0skey was to preach attracted
large numbers yesterday to st. Patrick's Cathedral
which was filed to overlooking with q devout and
attentive congregation. The music was OF unusual
excellence, the organist, Mr.. schmitz, ana the
quartet and chorus exerting themselves to the
utmost to make 1t worthy OF the OCCASION which
was the annual sermon and collection for the Pope
The solos by Mme Chome, Mrs. Unjer, Mr.. II.
schmitz and Mr.. A. Urchs beautifully rendered,
and the choruses were in every way equal to them.
The selections consisted OF Mass No. s, by G.
schmitz; "veni Creator" by Rauch, and the usual
chants ana psalms OF the day.
High mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Father
STAIRS and the sermon preached by the Archbishop,
from the gospel OF the day. the fifth chapter Of st.
LIKE, from the first to the eleventh verse, detailing
the narrative Of the miracle OF the wonderful haul
OF fishes which were taken by the disciples at the
command OF Jesus, who spoke from Simon Peters
boat The Archbishop said THE gospel Of the day
leads us naturally into train OF thought which is
In happy unison with the subject which 1t will be
my duty to call your attention to to-day You are
aware that the offerings this day will be directed,
In common with the contributions OF all the faithful
in the city and archdiocese to the relief OF molly
father the Pope, whose trials and captivity in the
inscrutable providence Of God, are still permitted.
These offerings are not intended merely TO minister
to his many temporal wants, mt are TO be a token
OF fia love and affection to the august mead Of our
most holy Church, and OF attachment to his person,
and through him to the most Holy See, which Is the
sec OF Peter. by singular coincidence the gospel
OF this day speaks of Peter, his bark and his zeal
in the service of his Master The beautiful nara
tive iOreshadows the intimate relations which were
to subsst between the son OF the living God ana
his chosen apostle, Peter and even a token of the
foundation oil the holy Office Peter to establish,
which was to guide the destiny ana the hopes or
the Church in all ages. There were two boats
was into the OF Peter that Jesus en-
tered, tue one from which He preached to
the people and performed his Wonderful miracle
What must have been the feelings OF surprise, de-
light, mingled wonder and awe which sat upon the
faces OF those gathered around, as they watched
the stupendous proccedngi They saw that He that
came among them was man, but a man clothed
with more mortal authority and power than
any VINO had preceded Him. Notwithstanding all
they saw, they did not comprehend all that the
scene took In. They did not understand that the
little bark OF Peter was type OF the Church, and
the little lake or the great ocean OF life; That
that ocean would be launched q statelier ana
nobler craft, with Peter at the helm, directing,
fishes taken into the boat were symbolic
Of the hosts OF men who would be gath
our Lord more particularly revealed Himself He
gave them instructions to preach, to baptZe and
to administer the sacraments, but on Peter He
joined more particular duties. To him were COM
United trusts and charges thai none Of the others
received. His name was changed rom Simon to
Peter, which signifies rock. 'For thou art Peter,
and on this rock will build nv Church, and the
gates or hell shall not prevail against it." The other
Apostles perceived and acknowledged tho supe
rlor1ty OF the chosen Apostle, and comprehended
That he was clothed with more sacred Office and
invested with higher prerogative than they. When
the DAY OF Pentecost came and the Holy Ghost de-
scended, Peter commenced his work. lie preached
as Jesus the great invisible Head OF the Church,
were into the d Of Grs Fo
Jerusalem the Gospel spread to Ephesus and
from Ephesus to Rome, and thence to the isles of
the sea; and so the Church was organized on the
plan OF Its divine Founder, and a system given it
which was to remain with it all ages. Peter, the
Church and the vicar Of Christ, never dies; and In
that city which has been made eternal by the holy
have maintained his splendor and his fame. For
three centuries succeeding the first establishment
OF the Pontlfcate the Popes sealed their faith with
their blood and counted no glory greater than to
lay their bodies in the Vatican beside the bones OF
the glorious Peter The work spread in
looked to the Apostolic See at Rome for
direction ana guldance; to 1t all disputes
We're submitted both Of doctrine and practice,
and the hearts OF the faithful much bound ND
with the Popes in the Catac0mbs, they with
their successors seated IN the more than triumph
ant chair OF Peter The test OF Catholics devo-
ton came TO be measured by his devotion to the
Holy see, and none deserved the honored name
of Catholic who were not in constant communica-
ton with the Vicar OF Christ earth. The whole
history OF the Church is the history of Peter aud
his successors, and is inseparaby connected with
them. IL is true neresics and schSIns did arise in
the early history OF the Church. but 1t not until
the sixteenth century, and our later and called
enlightened ages that any attempt was made to
overthrow the authority OF the Holy See, and the
principle on which the Church founded. In the
days OF the socalled Reformation. Luther rebelled
against the authority OF the Pope, but held to the
Bible and the divinity of Christ. But progress
went on and his followers and successors said,
Away with the Pope, we want the Bible: and then,
Away with the Bible, let us have religion without
1t; and then, Away with Religion, away with the d
power, let us have money-and these are the idols
that the men OF the nineteenth century bow down
to.
But. although this deluge of human reason, sin
and hnpiety continues 10 surge and break over the
surface OF the globe, there Is one ship which rides
securely on the waters, dashed to the rock ON
which II Is founded and buoyed up by
Divine assistance, Drawing all the dangers
and the pillows that threaten It, That
bark Is the Catholic Church and that those
within her, look out upon the dark waters with
feeling OF thankluness and security. Oh, let faith
be deeper and deeper in your hearts, and your de-
voton will be the greater to Peters successor, the
Holy Father, and you are his Children whom he
daily prays for and loves. Let your offerings to-day
be worthy OF him and Of yourselves. He has
than once presented his thanks to this church do
cese for its generous support, and give him an op-
portunty TO do so again. Tomorrow he enters
upon the twentyseventh year of his pontifcate.
OF the most glorious in the annals OF the Holy See.
And let your prayers and contributions sustain him
in the dark hour OF his afijicti0n.
ST Andrews CHURCH.