The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-16
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
Sermon by the Rev. Father Flattery-
The Rich and the Poor.

The Rev. Father Flattery preached the sermon at
she nigh mass services at the Cathedral yesterday.
He tsOk for his text the gospel ofthe day. according
TO St. Luke, chapter eighteen, from the twenty
70 the twenty-iith verse; The reverend father said
that Notwithstanding the knowledge the saviour
had Of what was to happen to Him His thoughts
were all bent on the salvation Of mankind. When
He babe that the blind man should be brought to
Him He questioned not mis- faith, but simply asked
''What shall do for thee2" and on the man max
ing known his necessities He healed him. This
was In keeping with His mission. When John sent
from prison, asking by what signs the Messiah was
known, the answer was, go and tell him that HE
makes the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dumb speak ana the
Gospel is preached TO the poor.n The attention,
the reverend father said, OF Catholics should be
called to this at the opening OF
THE sEAsUN OF LENT,
because II was time when the Church prescribed
certain conditions which had in view the recog-
milton of the weakness OF the flesh. IL was q time
when we were reminded that we should live less
luxuriousiy, when even some OF our very necessi-
ties, SO to speak, should be dispensed with. The
motive of the Church in so calling upon the fat IN.
luxurious than usual In their ways Of living was
10 teach US that we should mortify our flesh, be-
come. IN TACT, masters OF ourselves. Above all we
GIVE AID TO THE POOR.
This was one OF the chief objects OF Our Lords
mission earth, and though He might have.done
away with every species OF human suffering and
misery as easily as ne ruDDed away TIE MIN tndC
hid IRON the eyes OF the blind man the
hight OF the DAY, He did not. because,
by special order OF Providence, 1t, was
decreed that poverty and plenty should
exist in the world This being an ordinance OF
God u could not be done away with. He left these
TWO things In the world as He had found them, In
order that every man might have sympathy with his
1ehow man. There was no unequal distribution OF
anything that was necessary TO their existence
among animals. The birds OF the air and the fishes
OF the sea did not find that inequality that exists
among men. The reverend preacher then went on
10 show how God gave riches 70 one class OF men,
30 that they might be blessing to them; that is,
blessing when they shared them with the poor. IL
was not an injustice on the part OF God 10 give an
abundance TO some men more than TO others but
He made 1t the duty Of those To whom He gave
plenty to aid those who had but little. IL was
TIE BOND OF CHARITY
shat made the rich and the poor OF the church one
IN tne sgnt of God. ~ was true that there was no
bounden law that compelled the rcn tc share their
Weaitn with the poor but Tor all that It was the
christian duty Of all who were well to do in the
world 70 do what they could to smooth tue path Of
sne Iowiy ana the needy. God had placed ia the
neaIt OF a rlch man feeling OF pity and sympathy
Sof DIS poor neghbor, and If I've did not give aid
ana assistance 10 MIN ~ was because he refused 70
give heed 10 the feelings God had Implanted 10 has
heart The reverend Father then closed by ahow.
ing that one OF the missions Of The church was to