The New York herald., 1874-09-14
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.
Sermon by the Rev. DIR. McGlynn-The
Feast OF the Holy Name of Mary-EM-

sermon by the Rev. DIR. McGlyn"-The
Feast Of the Holy Name OF Mary-Em-
cacy OF Her Interc essfOn.
large and respectable congregation assembled
In st. Stephens church yesterday morning TO cele-
brate the feast of he name OF the Virgin Mother OF
God. The high mass was celebrated by the Rev.
Father McCready and the Imposing ceremonies
were gone through in strict conformity with the
Roman ritual When the celebrant had finished
the singing OF the gospel the Rev. DR.. McGlynn en-
tered the sanctuary. Having prayed In secret at
the foot OF the high altar. he ascended the pulpit
and delivered an interesting and edifying dis
course on the feast or the day. He took as
the gospel OF the least, Luke, l.. $685. and said -
The church celebrates on this Sunday, the first
alter the festival OF the nativity OF the Blessed Vr
gln the feast OF the holy name OF Mary; and iJ is
with special fitness she has selected the gospel
which have just read for you. great revelation
was made TO the world IN the interview which the
angel Gabriel had with the humble maiden OF
Nazareth. The whole world had been longing for
the advent or the virgin, who was to usher in a
better day. Even among the pagans q belief had
grown up that It was necessary for God to inter-
iere or the world would 90 ruin, and that it was
avlrgin who was to be the dawn OF the better day.
The Jews,
GODS CHOSEN PEOPLE,
yearned for the coming oi this virgin, for they had
the clear light in the prophecy OF ISAIAH winch
very beginning OF the human family there was the
primeyai tradition OF the woman who was TO
was to be the mother of the better Adam and bow
the heavens to kiss the earth and raise up eartn
to the embrace OF heaven.
''Hall, full OF grace, the Lord is with thee t:
blessed art thou among women" such was the
salutaton OF the angelic bearer OF Gods message
TO the long expected virgin IN despised hamet
OF desplsed province Of Judea When he had
told Mary that she was to be the mother Of the
Messiah her love OF holy chastity would have led
fOreQO
angel told her that she would be a mother and
stii virgin she answered, with all humility,
''Behold the nandmad o; the Lord: be it done 10
me according TO tiny word" 1t is because OF that
message and that answer that We are assembled
Her name suggests the scene at Nazareth and
cans TO mind her snare in the redemption of man.
thing is IN name. Thou shalt not take the name
OF the Lord, tiny God. In vain" And the apostle
tells us that at the name OF Jesus every knee shall
bend. There Is, then, much In name; because
the name stands Tor the person who bears It, The
name Of Mary, therefore, Is no Idle sound because
GOD chose the virgin who bears 1t to be His
mother. IL tells US OF her wOndrous humility and
purity, winch were such as 10 bring down Tom
THE LowLY VALLEY
is rich IN pasture and produce, while the lofty
mountain tops are bleak and sterile. The name Of
Jesus, her history, her lifelong devotion to Him.
1t tells as OF the herolc part she acted during His
puoIlc lle ana especially at the last sad scene
Calvary. Her name reminds US OF the efficacy Of
ner lntercessiOn and calls up heresies eXtermi-
nateu, winch seemed Tor q lime to conquer the
son OF Man and destroy the Church, His mystical
body, and winch now exist only IN lew pages OF
history. Arlanlsm Is now, through her III terces-
sion mere historic name. 1t the spirit tnat
We find IN her Offices that it IS through ner here
sizes nave been rooted out. ''rhou hast over
come all heresles.n And therefore ner name
calls to mind this mother, who brings
back the children who made war on
her who bore them. The mIghtest in
telects have lavisheo on her name in prose
and verse the riches OF their minds. All that has
been SAID In her praise by st. Bernard, ST. Angus
tine aud ST. Thomas Is recalled by the name Mary.
Tae fathers OF tue Church sought their iDspira tion
not IRON pagan sources, but rom Mary. Read
ner litany. Sne Is at the same time 'the refuge Of
Sinners tine queen Of heaveu," "the comfort
ress OF the allctedn and '.tne health OF the
weak" In TACT, language Is too poor TO express
her attributes.
Let this name, which contains so much heavenly
truth and sweetness, sink deeper and deeper into
our hearts. Let Us emulate the virtues OF Mary
that we may be partakers OF her glory. In every
trial and temptation let as invoke the assistance
OF the Holy Mary, mother or God, and we shal
practically experience the power OF her interces-
sion. We Will pass unscathed through the fire OF
temptation as did the children through the fiery
furnace. Let those who learned in infancy to lisp
her name, and those VINO have not as yet hOnOred
il, address her IN the words OF the angel anu in
those OF the Church, "hoiy Mary, mother OF GOD,
pray lor u.s. Sinners now and at the hour OF our
death.n Amen.