The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-07


COURSE BY REV. FATHER KANE
large congregation present at the high mass
services ST. Patrck's Cathedral yesterday morning.
Acr the first gospel Rev. Father Kano delivered tho
Sermon taking his text from ST. John, xvi, %, 80.
The reverend gentleman alluded to tho fact that 1t
the first Sunday OF the month Of May, period do
voted the holy mother of God, and he considered
appropriate to speak on the subject OF this DEVOTION
Since the Reformation many truths of the Church had
been attacked by certain OF her enemies. Tho SUBJ
santal and actual presence of God in tho eucharist
had been then source OF great scandal to many out
side or tho Church. To the Catholic however, this
great truth OF JOY and consolation. So II
with tho confessional We were all aware that If
went to this holy place and confessed our sns with
the proper spirit would certainly be forgiven.
Outside OF tho Church the practice looked upon
with dread and horror in WOW OF tue necessity Of
humblng ourselves before human beng In
tons Many dcspsed the devotion
TO Mary, whereas every Catholic heart flies
her when they ioel that their supplicalions will be
readily answered through her intercesson. They
called her the mother OF GOD as well as The mother OF
our Saviour. Christ was God from all eternity, and
therefore came into the world ut Bethlehem with his
uivine nature Therefore the Blessed Virgin was the
mother OF God as well AS OF man. We should be de-
voted 70 her account of her great dignity. Tho
Church had not commanded us TO pray to her yet
devotion had always been encouraged from tho
great advantages to be derived from H. Mary had been
salulation bore with IL high compmens-"Hail
Mary, ul Of grace the Lord IS with thee; blessed art
thou among womcn.n He atterward explained to her
the meaning OF MS words and why She had been
chosen the mother OF the long expected Rcdcemcr
Tho sacred Scriptures also spoke OF her frequently
this connection She Was designated as The woman
who would crush the serpent's head, us the second
Eve, and was especially mentioned IN tho
writings of the prophets where they spoke Of
the coming OF tho Saviour When thus 50 compl-
mented by earth aud heaven was it not Just
aud right that should honor her Tor her dignity
and vruesy Christ had treated her with the greatest
love and consideration. He had been fondlcd III her
arms, and HIS first mrace-that OF changing water
into winc-had been performed at her request Ii the
Redecmer CT the world thus honorcd her surely be-
came DUTY 70 follow HIS example Devotion, in
the second place, consisted loving her. We honorcd
the SAINTS because they tho chosen friends and
servants OF God. How much moro should We respect
the Blessed Virgin, who queen OF ali the saints.
We were charged with taking away much OF the love
due GOO and giving 1t TO the Blessed Virgin. We
merely vcneratc her because OF the relationship
isting between her and God. Surely, as she is the
mother OF God her son would not DO jealous Of the
love lavlshed upon His parent.
Rev. Father Kane continued in this strain to argue
the justice Of the Catholic position in the
OF devotion to Mary and pointed out tho great benefits
which must accrue from such pious practice