Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-09-26

Confirmation. Mass was celebrated at
the Catholic church by Father Cunningham,
Ri. Rev. Jas. Gibbons preaching the sermon,
on last Sunday.
Announcing his text, 81 will have mercy,
not sacrifice, Archbishop Gibbons said that
in the character of Christine sum and
perfection of all virtues-were one virtue
brighter than another that virtue was mercy :;
1t has Illuminated his whole life and with be-
nehcent light beans forth from every page of
the Gospel. Though the embodiment of Di-
vine Justice and the Son of God, Christ in his
walk with and among men never exercised
his divine attributes of Justice and mighty
power as did Joshua in commanding the sun
to stand in TIE heavens. He was manifest in
deeds OF mercy His voice was not the terror
OF Mount Sainai, hut the calm of Pentacost:
instead OF terror-inspiring evidences he incul-
called the proofs OF Himself and His wonderful
love in works of charty--in making the
blind 10 see, the lame to walk and admins
tering consolation and comfort. The power
lul was subordinate TO the merciful, and we
are struck with the difference in spirit with
which Christ wrought his miracles and that
which marked the other miracles in Sacred
History. Moses, Joshua, Elias exercised the
full telner Of their power, but We are i'm
foxes have dens, the birds of the air have
nests but the Son Of Man has not where to
lay his head" The parable of the Good
Samaritan is succinct history of the manner
OF Chrlsl's work. When all means of help
have failed us Christ appears to wretche6 and
fallen humanity as the Good Samaritan -
That parable may fifty represent the grand
scheme of Christianity Journey from
Jericho 10 Jerusalem is nothing but the walk
from time 10 eternity; the poor traveller who
has fallen among robbers and left wounded
and robbed is humanity robbed of divine
grace by the fall of our print tive parents,
the priest passes by and represents the old
Pagan religions, from which no succor is TO
be realized; the Levile passes by bestowing
no relief upon the sufferer, representing the
Jewish religion, imperfect and unsatisfying
religion of types symbols and ceremonies
the Good Samaritan comes and is Christie
stops by our side and into our gaping wounds
pours the precious ointment of His cOnsola-
ton. Aud this, the spirit of our Saviour, has
fallen upon his church A s much as ad-
mlre the church for the completeness of its
discipline, the peerless purity of its moral
code, the broad catholicity of its teachings
and the sublime apostoicity of its govern
ment, my soul is more securely fastened in
love and admiration because of the Christ
like charity which is of its grandest fields
There is no phaze of human suffering the
church does not reach and alleviate TO the
extent of her means. Her little children have
reared home for the aged, 81 am old and in
want are the magic words 10 which its 2or-
tails open Asyums are provided and there
is no kind Of human suffering that is not pro-
vided for. Florence Nightingale, noble
English-woman, has gained The praises and
prayers of an age, but in every Sister of
Charity we have Florence Nightingale, bnt
with this diference-her presence at the side
OF pain knows no hindrance, is uuheralded
and transformations. All need of wor lIy
praise is abnegated, and like the true angel Of
GOD she moves 10 her mission without noise
Her sole ambition is to help the fallen aud
build up for herself an inheritance in her
Masters house. How laudab'e the ambition
These two purposes are the two greatest COM
mandments, they are the two pillars upon
which the church IS founded, the mission and
end Of n Christian life. Faith without works
is insufficient. Be charitable and upright.
st. james declares that "Religion clean and
indebted before God and the Father is this
10 visit the Fatheress and widows in their
tribulaiion and to keep ones self unspotted
from this world"
After the sermon class of forty was con-
irmed, the candidates being dressed in white
and adding 10 the impressiveness Of the most
solemn ceremony. At St. Roses church on
Tuesday twenty were confirmed, and on
Wednesday tw,nty-three were confirmed at
Darnesville.