The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-28
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL.

THE MYSTERY OF, THE TRINIrY-DIscoURsE By
VICAR GENERAL QUINN.
High mass was celebrated as usual at half-past ten
o'clock yesterday morning al ST. Patrick's Roman
Catholic Cathedral before large congregation. The
sermon was preached by Vicar General Quinn. He
prefaced his discourse by announcing that next
Sunday, June g. the atieth anniversary of the Popos
cpiscopatc Ts Deum" will be chanted by the choir
after high mass. All who approached the sacrament
of the eucharist that day would receive plenary
indulgence.
The reverend gentleman then proceeded with his dis
course, after reading from Sc Matthew. XVIII -'.Go-
ing, therefore, teach ye all natons baptizng them
tho Of the Father, and Of she Son, and OF tho
Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever have commanded you; and behold am
with you all days, even to the contamination OF tho
world" This was the record made by tho inspired
writer Of the last words spoken by Saviour before
His ascension IRON Mount Olivet They words OF
great power and great significance He had called
around Him few fishermen who had been constituted
His apostles and to them He addressed those
words. These poor men hal been His constant COM
panlons and associates. They had followed Him from
hamlet to hamlet from town TO town, throughout tho
whole OF Judea; had been witnesses Of His miracles
and almost entirely lied IRON Him when lie was
drawn up on the cross OF Calvary Forty days aitcr
this time the apostles gathered together fear
and confusion. They followed Christ after the
rection Encouraged and strengthened by the ire-
quent visits made by dim then they went TO tho
Mount OF Olives and witnessed that wonderful specta-
Gle OF HIS ascent into the clouds, piercing the
itself Before He goes He brings back 10 their recol-
lection the remembrance OF what He has been. Then
He inparts TO them tho authority that He possessed
TO teach all nations They were 10 go out to
tho whole world. the mandate OF teaching the world
meant conversion The whole world outside Of Judea
was lying in the darkness OF Fagansm and ldolatry.
THIS great duty He Entrusted to the poor unletcrea
but 10 make their hearers brothers OF
Christ himself and heirs TO heaven; to impart
the truths that the Saviour had taught and then purify
them in the recenerang waters OF baptism. telling the
apostles TO baptzo In the lame OF tho Father aud or
tho Son, and Of the Holy Ghost The world could not
be converted by lew apostles 1t was be the
OF centuries through tho fundamentally of their sue
ccssors He promised that His spirit and that OF the
Holy Ghost should remain with thcm even 10 the con-
summation Of the world. II was such u commission
was presented to US In the gospel OF the day. Tho
festival commemorated the doctrine OF the Blessed
Trinity. liz His concluding words on Mount Olvet
Christ alluded TO this trinity In the Godnoa He told
the apostles TO 60 and baptze IN the name Of the
tinction made. The Church. therefore, celebrated
this mystery. Before the apostles separated Tor tho
they formed the creed 50 familiar TO all per-
sons In this was contained q profession OF
faith In three persons OF tho Blessed TRINITY. The
world to be converted TO the belief oil three per-
sons In tho Godnead Faith in such doctrine
necessary for salvation. Theologians called 1t an
absolute necessity OF profession or knowledge OF
iaith. II mystery which lar exceeded our
limited powers Of understanding II did not oppose
our reason, but IL was tar beyond our natural capa
city TO understand All mysteries surpassed reason,
but some OF them approached nearer than others.
Tho mystery OF the Trinity was one which reason
could never fathom. We were told that We
made IN the image and likeness OF God. He said,
LET us make man 10 our own image and likeness"
God did say, ~ will make man -
In God there were then three persons; IN man three
faculties vi the soul distinct entirely ono from the
other. These were memory, will And understanding.
The Vicar General went on to explain the particular
attributes OF these faculties He also narrated several
striking incidents In history which prove tue
philosophy oil this mystery, and the absolute Jolly OF
any attempts 10 explain or fathoIn It