The New York herald., 1874-12-28
ST. PATRTCK'S CATHEDRAL.
SERMON BY ARCHBISHOP M'cLosKEY-TuE Fl


ST. PATRTCKS CATHEDRAL.
SERMON By ARCHBISHOP M'cLosKEy-THE FEs
q. TIvAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST.
Archbishop McC!oskey preached the sermon yes
terday in the Cathedral at the morning services
Taking for his texs The 2lst chapter OF the Gospel
according to st. John, he said:-H0w rich are the
treasures and graces and blessings which are be-
slowed upon US how plentiful the sources o
spiritual JOY which everywhere spring up around
US during these days OF holy and happy Iestlvity
To the Christian soul what subjects are offered for
plous and lofty contemplationi what Incentives to
virtuous and holy desires what motives for great
and generous resolves How much to elevate, to
purify TO cheer. to strengthen, to console! The
unspea kable and wondrous mystery OF a God-made
man, of q God coming down from heaven and
being born as little infant Of humble virgin in
/ a poor, bleak stable;
| THE MYSTERY OF HEAVEN.
as 1t we're, coming down to earth, taking 1t once
| more in fts long lost embrace and placing on Its
lap that peace which is pledge OF reconcilia-
tion, OF glory given to God. peace proclaimed
to men-sach Is the grand and beauteous
festival which the Church has been celebrating
| and stiH continues to celebrate, which It has
been celebrating through more than eighteen
hundred years' time, and which it will con-
/
with joyful and eKultant heart Her tones OF glad
ness have not yet died away-their echoes seem
still sweetiy lingering on our ears, and now we
! have commingHng with them new songs OF tri-
/ umph, new cantJcies Of grace And other lesti-
walls will come 10 their turn to receive higher and
hotter and mora beautsous light from the great
Christmas iestlvaA. Yesterday you celebrated the
triumph OF the martyr stephen, who was the
nrsr to shed his blood for tue cause OF his Dl.
vine Mas ter, ana who, when falling beneath the
stones thrown by his cruel prosecutors, prayed. like
his saviour on the cross Tor the forgiveness Of those
! who sought bis blood and now to-day we celebrate
another teStyai, that VI 81. John the Apostle and
His constant and most ultimate con,panion. as His
dearest and bosom 1riend-lOhn, TO whom was
permitted Inc privilege Of laying his head on he
Savlour's breast at the Last supper; to whom
waen He was expiring on the cross. He lntrustad
His own dear virgin mother, and to whom aso
mysterious vision the future fortunes Of HIS
Church on ealth. And do we not desire to pause
asrs TOT time to l9ok non nd ,St & gooa ana Geaa.
| traits OF that most remarkable ,;,..eendsh'p-a
friendship where the human and divine ble,.....d
together IN 0ney DO we not desire TO trace It's in
nucnces and results and seek ourselves from it
some saulary lessons TO carry away with Us In
our hearts, that we may mediate upon 1T not
once but ofen2 That winch distinguished John
rom the rest OF toe disciples was the singular
privilege bestowed upon nim OF not simply being
| called, but In reality and truth being,
/ TIE BELOVED DISCIPLE.
others OF the apostles were nignly honored. and
Peter was given the great and Sign prcrogative OF
being the ciuef among his fellows. TO him were
also given the keys OF the Kingdom OF heaven; he
| WAS made the rock on which the Christian Church
was to be built. James aud Andrew likewise re.
In various proportion did all the aposties but OF
John. and OF John only. was Il said that he was
/ the disciple ''wh0m Jesus ovedu This was his
distinctive trait and feature and it is that which
/ comments him to Us, which challenges our ad.
miraton our snecton ta ~ ana our iSys and 50 true
/ to pronounce his eulogy-tle best way TO show
faithfully 6is shining perIectons, we would NOT
represent him as the eagle OF The Ap0caly pse
the imperial anxellst not as the martyr exile OF
Patmos or as the founder and father OF the East.
etn Whom Jesus 0ui ana a. noa a SeioHsd
brethren, you would ask me what 1t was that won
divine Master; in what way he merlIed IL; what
claim he had TO such a privilege We know that
they are all gratuitoas. and none Of us have any
claim upon Him nor merit anything 4 ON Hun OF
own acsord; yet He Is drawn to Certain Of HIS HIS
I creatures By special virtues which He behods In
them. The virtues and qualities which SO espe-
/ ci3liy recommended John, as we learn from the
Gospel and tradition Also were-First, his original
purity; second. his constan. and unninchinp ndei
ity. and third, MS marvellous charity. or John
above all the apostles 1. can be said tnat his heart
I always renamed nee aud unshackied by any mere
ture; so tnat in coming to tnat divine Master lie
was able TO give 10 Him
Az USDiyIDgD HEART,
! and present 70 Him buth BODY and soul virgin
ally pure and cnasie. And was it not most Just
d anu even most uAtus tbdt lie " no hdu tdkcH
virgin Tor Ills .nef shoud choose as HIS bosom
/ friend that one who most resemDled her 7 John
was at all tunes especially in trials ana dangers,
I at his Masters side. When the other apostles Eed
in lear. and abandoned Him FOR a time John'a
! fidelity wearled not He IL was who followed Him
step by step IN HIS dreary anu sorrow fui way TO
Calvary. lie II was, when the others followed lar
( b hind, VINO Btrodo forward to take his place at
tic loot OF the cross there with Mary and Mary
Magdalene 10 stand earlessly yet at the same
lime win heart rent vim grie. looking npon
that Savi9ur's agony aud waiting to catch HIS
/ last dying accents. There 1t VAS that the great
crown or glory was gwen 20 John; therc was
bestowed upon him legacy sucn as was
never given to mortal man before or
/ since; for that dying SAVIOUR looking down from
the summit OF the cross and beh0lding that latin
J lul three, bethouQnt himself what lie coala best
/ do for her who had borne Him In her original
/ womb and brought Him.
LITTLE INFANT,
/ into the world. He Is now about to leave her, TO
! break ner heart. Would lie leave her without
4 any one TO Whisper word OF consolation TO her
I exposed TO the world without guardian whom
/ she could rely upon as she pad relied upon HimY
But whom could she choosef Is any one worthy
TO act His part2 ies, one. HIS eye Is resting
| upon him, that very disciple. He calls him, not
| by the name OF John, but that by which He had
] often been addressed Hilnseli-"S0n son, behold
/ thy mother;n and, speaking to His mother,
/ Woman, behold thy son." John taking the
| and Mary loving John for ner adopted son. Thrice
happy apostle Would we could share thy priv
fege. Would we couid be abic to cali Mary our
mother and she call US and recognzc US as her
/ children,D
| His Grace then closed by saying that we could
gain the love OF God by Initiating Johns
! ylrtnes. In proportion as our hearts we're pure
would God comAlunicate 10 US His grace. Like
some OF the apostles, many OF us, while willing
| to accompany the Saviour to Jerusalem to take
\ m n a IN On