The New York herald., 1877-01-22
THE FESTIVAL OF ST. AGNES.
st. Agnes Eve All. bitter chill IL WAS!
The owl for all his fertilizers was a'cold.


The owl for all his fertilizers a'cold,
and Yesterday the festival Of St. Agnes In the Catno
lie Church was cold aud unpleasant day, although
as cold Keats has represented in his beautiful
poem The Church Of st. Agnes. in East Forty third
street, was crowded to its utmost capacity at the
solemn high mass yesterday, on the occasion Of the
celebration OF the festival OF tho patron saint tho
Church. An especial musical programme had been ar
ranged by Sg Marco tho organst aud choir DIRECTOR
and tho missionary priest, the Row. Father Langcake
$. j., preached a sermon the lessons be drawn
from the story OF St Agnes. Tho music OF the Kyrie
Eleison, Gloria in Excelss and Agnus Dei from
lie Prevosts Mass in A. and that OF The Crodo Sanclus
and the solo Sautari, from Gionza's grand Easter
Mass. The ordinary choir OF the church had been
largely augmented The Christie Elcison, soprano
solo, charmiugly sung by Miss Lottc Simpson, the
Sig. Brignoli.. Mrs Robinson, Prot. salmson aud
Messrs. Redcl and Baldwin also took solo parts
during the service. The services of this
church ut present held in the basement,
the church Itself not yet being finished.
1t expected to be ready Tor occupation the latter
part OF April or beginning OF May. Father Langcake
took text for hts sermon, but aftor reading the
gospel for tho day, Immediately commenced his dis
course. st. Agnes lived the beginning Of the third
century and was the only daughter OF wealthy and
noble parents living in Rome but these parents, IN
addition 70 Their worldly weam n amo mo,, n"oy III pos
tianty, and they early instructed their dauahtcr In
the mysteries Of the Christian faith. and she became
"
years old she sought in marriage by several noble
Romans, but she refused them ALL saying that she
bctrothed to Jesus Christ tor Which she was put TO
death, and thus asccndcd to heaven with the
greatest palms. those OF vrgnity ard martyrdom.
Marriage holy state the Catholic Church teaches
that II Is sacramento but there is a better part
more holy state-that OF virginy. The preacher
here gave numerous examples OF this AMI quoted
largely from ST. Paul aud others IN support of this
postion The Christianity OF the present day OF the
free and STYLE but Christ has told that
not serve God AMI Mammon. II Is our duty not only
to admire these heroes and hcroines OF the Church.
but endeavor initiate them. We do II If
will the grace of God is with US to
make us strong TO daro and suffer for His
sake Between the world and Christ there is
enmty, and must choose the other,
we cannot have BOTH In this story of ST. Agnes there
are three lessons to be drawn--rst, to parents to
watch closely over their children, teach them by
ample less than by precept; keep them from evil
associates give them Christian education, inspire
them with a love for the Church and firm faith in
Christianity, always remembering that they only
lent us and that parents rcponsblc for the saliva
tion of their children. Second, TO tho young, to re-
member that purity OF life only be had and kept
by constant seifrcsrant, that uninterrupted fol-
lowing Of worldly pleasures Avill wcan them away from
Christ and Jeopafdze their chances for heaven, and,
finally, both young and old 10 cultivate iruc manli-
ness or spirit courage to do what Is right and say
MOI to what is wrong. St. Agnes, although but lit
tie girl OF thirteen years. had all this and awarded
the crown OF martyrdom.