The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-23
Npecial and Solemn Ceremonies in the Catholic
Churches in Honor of the Festival.
The Prerogatives of the Popes Discussed
by Father Brann.
The Battles ard Triumphs of the Church
Viewed by the Rev. Father Preston.


st. Michael on the west side of town, and also In
St. Gabriel's on the east side. The sermon OF the
day was preached in the former sanctuary by the
Rev. Father Brann, OF Washington Heights, and
was listened to by an immense congregation with
marked interest and attention. The text chosen
by the reverend gentleman was taken from st.
Matthew, xvi. 19-"And give unto thee the keys
or heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever
chou shalt loose op earth shall be loosed in heaven"
INFALLIBILITY AND TEMPORAL POWER.
Taese words said Father Brann, from the mass
or the day, were very appropriate to the OCCASION
md this was true because of three reasons: first,
because it was the occasion of the celebration OF
The feast OF st. Peters chair at Antioch; second,
because OF the grand objects OF Catholic union
WAS to keep up the love and admiration OF people
Tor the people. The words OF the text contain a
summary OF
ALL THE PAPAL PRERoGATIvEs
But it was not for these two reasons that he had
chosen the text. 1t was not necessary now to I'M
Hertake any special defence OF any papal preroga-
live. Since the General Council at the Vatican no
Catholic had any doubt of their verify The great
EST Of them was That Of infanibility. None
of the privileges OF the popes would
human passions had not been brought upon
the scene. If there had been found in the
pride and passion had opposed them. The doc
tr1nes OF papal nallibility now that the text had
been 80 well explained by the General Council, was
found to be clearer than any other doctrine in the
New Testament. There was no other expression
In the Scriptures that contradlcted In any respect
the principles of this doctrine, though other dOgmas
were found to be embarrassed by conflicting texts
which were scattered all through the Bible.
THE POPEs CoNSERvAToRs OF LIBERTY.
IT. then any OF the spiritual prerogatives OF the
pOpes have been Denied it Is because they implied
moral obligations which excited In kings, princes
a
generated by human PRIDE. Their ambition re-
sisted being crushed
son that makes this text more appropriate still on
this day, when all citizens are celebrating a
of the greatest representative republican Of the
M0rld's time. He found In the text something ap-
propriatc even to this national holiday. The most
absolute power ever given to man given TO st.
Peter and mis- successors How, then, did this be-
come an appropriate theme on the day which COM
memOrates the birth OF the man who resisted with
such great herOism the tyranny OF absolute powerY
Ut was appropriate because it recorded the appoint
ing of popes to be the friends OF the people; to
stand between them and kings; to protect them
rom ey despotsm; IT was was, shown by the Sharac
that tile authority OF the popes
THE GREATEST SAFEGUARD
Tor the liberties OF the masses They were the pre-
ship OF human liberties. No power OF the Pope had
been so persstentIy. decried. by Protestant and
cised in the Middle Ages. 1t was said by some
writers that this power was then publicly admitted
Ss the Ps1pe as "a right dgno But however this may
power OF control over the governments of the
world. The predecessors OF George Washington,
the cOnservators OF lberty-the popes-in every
instance never deposed any man out he was
despot. II they 'bOund" any man 1t because
he was despot. ii they loosed any man 1t was
direct
THE FAMILY AND THE NATION
are only an assemblage OF different families The
government, therefore, is a representative
deputy OF the family. The Church is coextensive in
fur fam
the right to Interfere In the family the Pope, Its
head. has the same right In the State In claiming
claim by virtue OF his profession. il the State
makes laws repugnant to humanity 1t is his bust
ness to protest The Pope is the head clergyman Of
the world. Therefore his duty Is to preach and to
teach against private iniquty and public iniquity,
whether represented by an emperor, king, or the
government OF republic. The jurisdiction of the
Pope must be directive in all matters Affecting the
welfare OF the people: This argument Is unanswer-
able, and holds good in the minds those not be-
longing to the bosom Of the Catholic Church.
IN THE MIDDLE AGES
fell before this and the people felt
The Pope during the Middle Ages was one OF the
spirit throughout Europe. He defended the people
against the kings and barons, the warriors and
power then, and now, although oppression was
less common in the world, the necessity for the
exercise OF such prerogative at times still
existed
Father Brann closed with an eloquent eulogy Of
the doctrine OF the temporal power and the in
aalibility OF the Pope.
Sermon I'm st. GabrfcI's Church by the
Rev. Father Preston.
Yesterday morning solemn high mass for the
Catholic Union was celebrated in St. Gabriel's
church, East Thirtyseventh street, between First
and Second avenues. The ceebrant was Father
Canary, and the sermon was preached by the Rev.
Father Preston. Father Preston chose for his text
Go ye into the whole world and preach the
Gospel TO every creature He that believeth and
Is baptized shall be saved but he that beeveth not
shall be damned"
Father Preston said
THE CATHOLIC UNION OF NEW YORK
takes advantage Of our national holidays to come
before God with prayer and with earnest thanks
for the blessings that have been showered upon our
land from the Most High. Whatever may be
thought in this age Of inndety OF the source from
which those blessings come q Catholic can never
forget that national honor and national prosperity
are the gifts Of God. We live in all age OF faithess-
ness, an age OF danger, an age OF infdeity and
paganism, age which, processing to be one OF
tight, is one OF darkness, because God is shut out
The text have read to you this morning gives to
the chosen ministers Of God . divine commission
They sent forth as ambassadors, con-
the dominion OF Christ The Church is now battling
with the adversaries OF our faith For nearly
nineteen centuries she has been on the field OF con-
troversy, and she has gone on struggling against
every attack that heresy and malice have made
upon her, and she has conquered them all Out
OF her own breast came vpers to sting her, but
she has overthrow them.
SHE HAS TRIUMPHED THROUGH FAITH,
which God has given to that mystical body, the
Church of Christ In our own day with what heresy
has not the Church contendedi Tho dog
matte heresies OF the days that are
gone by are as nothing compared with
the nhde theories OF the preseng. The age
Is characterized by spirit OF unDenef and re-
turn 10 pagansm Men in their folly, having for
saken the temple OF truth fee into error and for
xet tne Church wherein the incarnate God abides.
inc iaitn wnlch was brought into the world by the
son OF uod Is necessary to salvation. and Is found
only IN tae Catholic Church, and those who would
teachings and embrace her tenets.
salvation Is the gift or God The postertty OF
Adam as they come into the world are the Subjects