The New York herald., 1872-08-19
ST. PATRIOTS CATHEDRAL.


Bibles. On oil proper occasions and In all prope
ways they should make Its blessedness known.
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
Sermon by tho Rev. Father McNamce-
The Lcpr0sy OF sin-H0w . Sinner Cal
BE Justified Before God-C0nfessi0n On
Of the Most Necessary Means.
No matter how elaborately the religious air of tn
surroundings ana the devotional aspect OF the In
terror of the above well known edihce may bo de
scribed, there always remains something new Il
give fresh ideas to the writer, thing hitherto
unheard Of to be made known and something still
sacred to dwell upon. 1t is the srchiepiscopa
centre Of the large. important diocese which the
mitred rector Of II represents, and from whose
hands 60 forth those mandates intended for the
further promotion OF religion and the spiritual well
fare Of the numerous nock committed to the care OF
his subordinate ministers. This fact alone Is sum-
cient to render 1t the most attractive religious
temple in the metropolis. It Is consequently, as o
general rule, even during such scorchlng Sundays
as yesterday, pretty largely attended by respecta
BILE and edifying congregation.
Although the burning sunshine Of yesterday
poured nercey upon the brown granite walls Of the
exterior, the interior was nevertheless cool %
could have been expected. The seats Of the entire
church were partially thronged, and the imposing
sanctuary presented Its usual glitter OF mingled
brilliancy and devotional grandeur. The Rev.
Father Kearney 0fciated as celebrant, attended
by the usual number facoytes. The "Asperges Me- -
.kyrie" and "Glors were rendered unusually % well
effort. The lively tones Of the "Cred0'' were not 80
impressively executed, but deserved much appre-
Gregorian rendering Of the 10 salutaris Hostis" at
After the singing Of the Gospel by tho ceIebrant
n,,l <ha oho nf hn lNoni nroo tAr,1h hv ha
THE REV. FATHER MNAMEH
took his stand In the pulpit, gave the requisite
day from st. Luke, xvii 11-19-"As Jesus was
going to Jerusalem He passed through the midst Of
there met Him ten men that were lepers and
lifted up their voice, saying, Jesus, Master, have
on n TO- e hs
pass that as they went they were made Clean"
The corporal atllictlon under which the lepers
to be cured may be compared to that spiritual
leprosy with which the children Of Adam are so
universally afflicted
As the bodies OF lepers are made loathesOme by
the very nature Of the disease which torments
81 80 ao IN by Are se
wckedness and their crimes. But as the lepers
who presented themselves to Christ our Lord
found eff1ccnt physicians through Him, so also
may sinners, by appealing to Him. saying, "Jesus,
Master, have mercy on u.s." find through His COM
passionate neart
AN EFFICIENT CURE
for this spiritual leprOsy through His mediating
ply ysiclans. Christ, cur Lord, who Is Omnisclent,
knew the special nature OF the disease of the ten
and could have healed them immediately; but. in
order to show that their individual cooperation
was in certain sense also essential he referred
them to the priests "GO show yourselves to the
priests" that Is to say the priests are thy phyal
clans, through whom you can be cured by the power
Of Your disease, and the cure shall be administered
"And II came to pass that as they went they were
made clean" And how were they made clean
and dictates Of Christ, aud through the mediaIing
action Of His priests. In this example, In which
the compassion OF our Lord shines forth so promi-
nently we perceive a vivid Illustration and expla-
THE SACRAMENT OF rENANcE,
one OF the most necessary means BY which the
sinner can be cleansed from the leprOsy of his
actual sins. As in the case OF the lepers we can
also imagine the sinner, buried in the horror Of
have mercy on him" and through the inspirations
OF the Holy Spirit, afterwards presenting himself
the tribunal OF confession, where, If he has com-
Piled with the necessary conditions which render
the sacrament Of penance truly effective, he is
entirely cleanBed from his Gins. These
NECESSARY CONDITIONS
full narration OF our sins by which the priest,
physician may be enabled to Judge the precise
q hearty sorrow for having onended our compass
sionatc Lord, Arm purpose Of amendment, or
the abs0lutlon OF the priest by which, under these
circumstances, our sins shall be forgiven, through
that Divine power which Christ communicated to
the pastors OF the Church when he said, "Receive
ye the Holy Ghost; whose sins you shall forgive
they forgiven, and whose sins you shall retain
earth shall be looscd also in Heaven, and whatso-
ever you bind upon earth shall be bound also In
Heaven" Thence we see
THE NECESSITY OF CONFESSION.
1t is one OF the most necessary means by which
our salvation may be secured: Without It the soul
not be certain OF its condition. He may call upoI
Jesus to have mercy upon him." but Jesus vii
~ s@ c he "Ss ne
OF his leptosys Many endeav0r, bpt nlas too fool
ishly, to persuade themselves 1t will be
TINE ENOUGH WHEN DEATH CONES;
but such persons then, and not till then, generally
find out their mistake. The guilt OF lifetime nOat
In upon their weakened memories and forms tot
hidcous sight for them to look upon. Worldly
cares crowd IN upon them. and In their eagernesl
to give their last attention to them they forget the
terrible importance o! the end for which they were
created-the salvation OF their immortal souls
Hence the chances OF
THEIR SALVATION ARE HANGING UPON THB SLENDER
EST THREAD.
They lost sight Of the great means Of justification
which through lifetime OF guilt was held prom
Ss before the aM tribunal OF c
the sacrament OF penance, then Is the surest hope
THE BRIGHTEST BEACON
which leads him to the harbor Of salvation. Al
baptism cleansed him from the darkness and stains
OF original ain, so also does pcnance purify hi.
soul In the presence Of his Creator from the nctua
sins by which he himself has stained II. The elo
quent preacher. In conclusion, exhorted the con
gregatlon to put the lesson Of the Gospel speedily
In practice, and afterwards like tho good Samari
tan among the lcpers, to give thanks and glory Il
God.
PLIMPTON HALL UNIvERSALIEr CHURCH.
Tho Rcv. Abel c. Jordan preached before the con
gregation OF this church yesterday morning
and took for his text Romans Kill, IL be
seech you therefore, brethren, by the mercie