The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-31
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL.

Passion Sunday COmmemOrated in Pur-
pie and Sunshinc-SermOn by the Rev.
Father McNamee ON she SufYertngs and
Death OF the GOd-Man-What He suf-
fered-Why He SuHcred-With What
Results to Mankind.
The morning OF yesterday ushered in as cheerful
and beautiful Sabbath as the sOltness of early
Spring could bestow. Sunshine glittered on the
pathways OF the righteous and as it sparkled on
the roof OF every temple In our fair extensive CITY,
won many reverent heart to the shrine of prayer.
St.l Patrick's Cathedral found it's own devoted
chldren-large in number and cheerful in appear
ance-within its consecrated walls at the usual
hour. The sanctuary presented lovely
and striking picture for the cOmmemora-
ton of Passion Sunday The magnificent
high altar, with It's solid massive cross
OF FURNISHED gold, was hid in sllken purple CLOTH
SO were the side affairs, statues, vases, pulpit and
candelabra. Yet there was a neatness in every
thing which threw peaceful brightness over the
gloom of the decorative emblems of sorrow. The
sunlight beaming through the stained windows
rested upon every spot, until all that at first
seemed indicative Of mourning appeared to vanish
.'Missa Cantata,n the music of which was rendered
by the organist, as usual, IN ianltess and pleas
ing me HeT w. f ta aSea az
respectful and pretty-looking acolytes.
After the singing Of the "Veni CREATOR, the Rev.
Father McNamee proceeded to the pulpit to preach
the sermon. After reading the Gospel-St John
vin. 46-59-which treated OF Christ's justification
Of His doctrine, he opened his discourse the pas
sion of our Lord as fOllows:-'Ihe eventlul season
when our holy Church commentaries the agonizing
suiferings of the Son OF God upon earth is now at
hand. The decorative trappings OF JOY and glad
ness are put aside from our affairs, and they are
clothed instead in the purple garments OF suffer-
ing, OF sorrow and of sympathy. The beginning of
that time which the Church devotes TO the COM
memoratiOn OF our SaviOur's passion is to-day
IA Christians Passion
To-day, then, commences the season, above all
others, of prayer and meditation, OF patience,
resignation and OF returning gratitude and love In
some manner for the wonderful compassion which
Jesus evnced for men in all the pain and agony He
The reverend preacher here, in words most elo-
quenty appealing to the sinners heart drew be-
lore the minds Of all VINO listened to MIN picture
weeping in agony and sweat IN the Garden OF
Gethsemane; scourged at a pillar where he re-
ceived 5000 wounds; crowned with an eXcruciat-
ing crown Of thOrns; again bearing His heavy
cross amid the taunts and mockenes OF the multi
tude up the rugged heights OF Calvary, and,
He pronounced with the last quivering OF His
sacred lips the contamination Of His Fathers de-
signs ana proclaimed to the whole universe
in the darkest moment of His grief His
triumph over sin and hell in the grand
Why did the Son OF God suffer all this Because
His love for mankind was the love OF Greater for
The enornty of sin outraged the majesty OF God
to an infinite extent, and never could sufficient
atonement or Precipitation be made by the offender
to the offended, had not an Infinite Being assumed
the fallen nature OF man and offered up His blood
and His life in satisfaction for our transgressions
against the majesty of His Eternal Father. Hence
it was that Jesus came upon earth, made His
life living and continual sacrifice and offered
p IN or he rooG Of hs ke
was to nOurish them for ever and be to them
source of eternal lie.
The happy, inestimable results accruing to man.
kind from the passion and death OF the Son OF God
will be discovered by serious meditation on this
unparalleled mOurnful tragedy. In contemplating
1t you will behold before your mind victim of your
ingratitude, whose spirit Is radiant with the hight
of every virtue of unequalled charity, Of undis-
turbed peace, Of the most enduring patience of the
calmest resignation, OF the most supreme faith,
never-varying hope and boundless love. These are
the bright, shining lights which to be seen in
the iabors the lite, the sunerings and the passion
OF our Lord Jesus Christ The reverend Father con-
cluded, while tears flowed from the eyes Of many in
his congregation by exhOrting all to study and
initiate the life OF their Redeemer as near as posi-
BILE and thereby merit the blessings OF His king
ON.