The New York herald., 1876-09-18
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL.

THE VALUE OF PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD
SERMON BY THE REV. FATHER FARLEY.
Despite the inccmcnt state OF the weather there was
quite largo congregation at the high services in
ST. Patrcx's Roman Catholic Cathedral Mott street,
corner of Prince yesterday. Tho celebrated
by tho Rcv. Father Kane. The sermon was delivered
by tho Rev. Father Farley, secretary 10 Cardinal
McCoskcy. Tho reverend gentleman took for his text
Luke, vii, 1l-l6 He said that death was common
enough among Us and grief at the loss OF
to us was great that OF tho widow of Main
faith unfaItcring was hers But it never
given us to what tho multitude OF Main sawto sec
God stretch ont his hand, pour lie into dead body
infusc the warm blood into lfolcss and bid the
dead arise This not given to though faith
was strong was the poor Widows Was
tho charity Of Jesus Christ less than
u was then? Was His shortened
His compassion less for tho afflicted and tho bercavcd
DO prayers and tears now fall arid soil Do
they ascend to the throne OF mcrcy9 Was nothing
lcfl us but the barren memories OF tho dead9 No
Jesus Christ whom in the Gospel sanction
mourning for the dead, who sanctcd tho OF the
when He, too, wept Lazarus, would not
let tears be barren He who wcPt with Martha
had not condemned that feeling of grief which nature
and God had planted IN the heart OF and which
found expression In tears when God called away
Us OF those VIC loved. Christ had said once
'Amcn say unto you II ye have faith, greater things
will yc do than do" so II was with the prayers We
offered for the dead They powerful than the
tears of the widow OF Main. She back TO iic her
only son--won hun back 10 the midst Of the tcm?ta
tions and dangers OF this worid where his salvation
was again impcrcd. our prayers for the dead did a
greater thing-plcrccd the realms OF purgalory flung
open wide the gates OF heaven and placed them
In tho presence OF God. That his hearers might
better understand tho duties they owed their
dead the reverend gentleman called attention
to three questions First Who arc the souls IN pur-
gatorys second, How Is 1t known that the sous can
DC asar ra means y. b" arc s,ad 70 &c S rmpcyca TO
those fer whom the prayer rrays at tue altar when
rays. "Rcmembcr, . Lord Thy servants who have
gone be orc US with sign OF the true faith, aud who
s.ccp tho sleep OF peace" Therefore tho souls who
stood
IN NERD or OUR PRAYERS
were those who have died IN the peace of God. not
those who have died of God not children who
die in their bsptsmai innocence the saints
izcd, but those who. hndng thcr last hour at han,
called The priests OF God TO pray over him ths they
may be ccansed from their SINS, whose souls have
been yurined by the sacrament OF absoutiop.h They
The souls OF those who probably IN tho same
bench with Us At school, who had knccled at the
altar with us, companions In sin OF ours II nigh, be-
whom VIC Ind taught to basphemc and otherwise Of
tend God. The souls in pursatory prisoners
placed in our hands BY Gods mercy. HIS justice
had shu, the gates OF heaven against them
till tho stain OF the last vcnal sin
had been erased; for, ST. John sa,d, moth
ing dcnled could enter tho New Jerusalem. At the
sacrlncc of tue mass these souls in charge
The priest who prayed ut the altar for their rcposc
the pleadcr the congregation the jury the Church
was the court aud God was the Judge We had II in
our power :" procure their admlttancc TO the realms
OF everlasting JOY. The reverend gentleman then went
on 10 prove by the Scriptures and the decisions OF the
Council of Trent thar there was
alpDiK STAIN WORLD
which wc call purga,ory. The Council OF Trent 800
years ago said IA regard to the existence OF this
state -Srhis is the faith which has handed down
by the holy fathers OF the Church through all ages
bv the teachings OF the Church Seven hundrcd
years ago Bernard the last OF tho fathers" he
was called, had said to the hcaihcn:-'lf you bclcvc
net in tho existence ofa purgng nro after death then