The New York herald., 1873-11-10
ST. STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH


ST STEPHENS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Aid for the Posr-An Encouraging Dis
coursc-The Heavenly Home that Awaits
the Lovvly-Sermon by the Rev. Father
McCready.
AS Is usual at this season of the year a large
congregation worshipped in this church yesterday
morning, presenting an appearance OF fashionable
attire fully up to all the requirements OF the open
ing winter. The pleasant weather no doubt had
much to do in developing the preparatory efforts
Tor such display Of the novelties Of the season,
apart from the fact that 1t is much easier to pray
when feeling comfortably than when the mind is
laboring under depressing difnculties So much is
due to music as an aid to arousing religious
spirit that the music at high mass may be con-
sidered as Q most important external part OF the
service, and at this church yesterday the
music of the mass must have proved OF no
small assistance in inducing bssfu state Of SOUL
The mass sung was Rossis in minor, the 'Sanc-
tusn being the work OF Danforth, the organst OF
the church. The orertory piece was pastoral
from sonata By Moderni, which was excellently
given by the organist, and after the elevation
"Benedictus. was well sung by Signor Colletti ana
Miss Munier. The vespers In the afternoon, SER
vice which draws large crowds from all parts OF the
city to this church, were Aslolis.
AN APPEAL FOR THE POOR.
The high mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father
Power, and after the first gospel the Rev. Father
McCready ascended the pulpit. but before preach
ing the usual sermon he announced that during
next week an effort would be made to relieve
the great distress which seemed likely
20 M pc the ns ssee Of
ness. He then announced that that evening the
Rev. J. L. Spaulding would lecture in St. Anne's
nhn Alt cfra md hat fhn Dnvr nr
Braun would lecture in Irving Han-the former Tor
for the poor OF st. Annes parish and the latter for
also announc ced that on Thursday next the annual
festival in aid OF the Roman Catholic orphan asy-
lums OF this city would be held In the Academy OF
Music. Father McCready. in few pointed re-
marks, urged upon the congregation TO lend
all the aid they could to these charitable objects
for the poor as the present Christian hearts should
not refuse sympathy to their brethren in whose
ears was already ringing the CRY Of children for
bread
Father McCready then proceeded to read the
he took his text. Philippians i'll, so:-The
Church at all times and in all seasons d.
rects her children to raise their thoughts from
earth TO heaven. Thus in the sursunl c0rda OF her
daily mass she asks US to elevate our hearts and
minds TO the Lord, to turn from the attractions Of
earth, which are fatal to our true interests and TO
contemplate with the eye OF faith the pure joys
and the endless bliss reserved for us in tnar c0un-
try OF which we are the enrolled citizens. But at
no time or season does she seem so urgently to de-
mand our attention as in the interval between the
Feast OF All Saints and the anniversary OF the CON-
ing OF that Saviour God whom with such drm hope
we are so eagerly looking for. Now she
asks us to rejoice with those or our brethren
have gone to their eternal reward; aeatu, in her
compassion for her suffering children, she ASKS US
to join her in suppicatlon to the God and Father
OF all, that He would be graciously pleased, in view
OF the merits OF His only Son, and the good works
OF the saints. His children, shorten the period OF
separation for those departed souls who are yet
glory. Now she arouses US from our spiritual
sleep by recounting for Us the thunders and the
terrors which are TO usher IN and to follow the day
OF eternal DOOM and again, after little WHILE she
invites US to salute with truly grateful and joyous
the body OF our lownessn So with thus object in
view she selects the epistle read in the
mass Of to-day. and in contrast with those
world, who dx ali their thoughts and atiections
our conversation is or ought to be in heaven; that
while the end OF the former Is distraction and
their reward eternal misery, ours is, or ought to
conversation Is not meant here what Is ordinarily
understood by that word. 1t means our manner
oflving, our general conduct, our ordinary rela-
tions In iife As Christians our mode OF life ought
to be in keeping with our professions; as enrolled
citizens OF heaven. we ought TO look forward TO
rights and privileges In that blessed country,
regarding ourselves as aliens having no perma.
nent resting place until we shall have been
world into that promised land, with whose fulness
we shall be enriched, and which the Lord has
promised He shall give us to lnhert. 1t Ia then
our duty and our privilege to raise our minds and
hearts to the contemplation Of our heavenly home.
Whatever our lot in the land Of exile
may be, will 1t not be profitable to look
beyond2 II we enjoy the good things OF this world
the contemplation OF the Infinitely better things
OF the next Will teach us to remember that these
are but earnesJs OF the bounty OF our Heavenly
Father. II mediocrity II poverty, or even destitu-
tion, is ours then blessed the poor for theirs
is the Kingdom OF heaven. Take comfort, tnen,
those who are poor. Tor your poverty and your
misery shall give you still stronger claim on the
bounty and compassion OF your Father In heaven.
The preacher then went on to speak OF the Joys
which awaited those who were faithful to God In
this LIE. In contrasting the earthly pleasures
Meeting ana remorseful-with the everlasting joys
in store for the just. he gave an eloquent descrip-
tion of the kingdom which God has prepared Tor
those whose lives here below are passed in OBJ
of He Hyno