National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-23
AN APPEAL FOR THE POOR.
DIScOUBSE OF REV. FATHER COLL
IN 81. D0M1NIC's CHURCH..

THE GRAND AND ENROLLING VIRTUE OF
| CHARITY-THE QUEEN OF ALL THE VIE
TUEs-TAE WAY TO GET TO HEAVEN
THE TERRIBLE SENTENCE OF THE FINAL
JUDGMENT DAY.
Its sassenary in all the Catholic eharehss Il
preach ct least one sermon every year for the ben
| eat Of the peor. The means collected On these
scsassons ere usually distributed BY the Society
Of 81. vinesnt d Psal. and organization devoted
especially 70 shs relief OF the Suffering poor The
msnbers Of this excellent society visit the homel
Of the deaitute and satisfy themselves from per
sonal observation Of the needs and merits Of the
| eases. In this way imposition Il prevented, and
snly the deserving are provided for. Tho society
has been instrumental In relieving much suffer.
Ing; yetit has many demands upon IT, charity,
nSSt,wh,tnatandinE the ,EInglike weather With
scarce, and there Is consequentlysn unusual mum
Der Of 1eedy spong the lsborinS classes.
ssa9s = south ~ y MAJ.
ssrmo. Tor ths bsnsat Of the poor Of his parish,
| its perussl may induce some who did not hear It
to send their contributions to the church for the
the eloquent appeal was made.
TIE SERMON. 80
The reverend speaker said that the object of his
virtue OF charity. OF iii tie virtues that sdorn
n s s sSsf i
the three theological v1rsnes Faith shall no
longer sxist yssn e zee God in alp his majesty
live sksf - shaii have p1ised through. this vale
OF tesp = the realization Of eternal lcys; but
cHARITY WILL LIVE 1oREvKR,
because its true aim 10 GSd-to be united forever
with him. The distinctive mark between Chris
tianity and Paganism was chsrity. The world
said love Jour friends and hate your enemies; but
God said, "love those who hate and prosecute
ire ny diieipies." ST. Psui had said that though
he sho1ld gfve all the wealth of the world, and
had mt Il Mould be bit
ligstions-the substance of all that Odd com
manded-wss comprehendcd by charity.
This greatest. OF oil the virtues was to the soul
what wings were to . brd-enabling us to soar
alett and contemplate the beautieg end glories Of
Heaven. 1t was. . st. Luke had oppressed 1t,
divine virtue, inviting US to love God for his own
sake, aud our neighhors as ourselves. That It was
necessary to make 1t PrecePt to love God was
that il was Alone in the POSSESSION Of God that we
true love. Hs was hnnitsly powerful, wise and
"a ali its beauty proclaimed his glory. He was
heard In the Grabbing thunder, and seen In the
lightning's fash. He had axed the stars in the
there. But Il hls greatnes; and power called
JUSTICE AID MERCY
excite our noblest affections. He slone could sat
niy the yearnings Of man's heart, Tor he was the
eentrc Of all good and the dyerRowtDG source OF
~ delight. In him We moved end bfeathed ane
notIhe called US into being and STAMPED upon our
souls his image and likeness. But he I'D pot stop
there. When man had sipned, God exteSded to |
Aim pardon which he had refused the rebess q. |
gels. He became man for US, ard died on tn
cross Tor mans redemption. Surely no one, after
sil this, could say It was difficult to love God.
Tbe reverend Father then referred to
THE TERRIBLE SENTENCE
- the final day, when all shall be judged. God
will descend surrounded by all the pomp and
glory Of heaven. WIN he lock for purity: viii
DO look for .sobriely? No; but he will look for
charity, and he will say, Come, ye blesse nd
enter Into the Joys prepared for you; for sn I
naked you clothed me-" SC. And turning to the
cursed. Into everlasting Are; for when was hun.
cry you gave me not TO eat; when was naked
you clothed me not" &c. And they will ask,
1when, oh Lord! did We refuse you food or raj
mentf"' And he Will answer, "Inasmuch as You
refused to giye 70 my poor, you rstssee to give to
choose between heaven and hell. Out Of our
God has commanded that we shall
give, and even II We havc little, We should give
Something. Behold the example OF the poor /
widow! While the rich were pouring In their
gold tho widow gavc her poor mite, and Il was the
only Offering God recognized. "Behoidi this poor
woman gIvesmoro than all the rest; for they gave
from their abundance, while she gave all she had"
The reverend Esther concluded by earnestly i'm.
ploring his hearers by the love OF Jesus, to give
to the poor, and their recompense would be the
everlasting reward Of heaven. r...
A liberal collection was the result Of the rev.
erend Fathers si5qS..ae appeal