Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-10
THE LAW AND the GOSPEL

A large congregation was present at the
half past ten o'clock mass at st. Mary's
yesterday. where Right Rev. James F.
Shanahan, bishop Of the diocese, was an
nounced to preach. The mass was cele-
bratrd by Rev. Father Hickey, and the
bishop preached from the 18th verse of
the 5th chapter of St. Matthew: 81 am
come not to destroy, but to fulfill the
general theme of his discourse being the
mission of the Saviour, and the effect of
His coming in working out the scriptural
law. Christ came into the world the union
OF projections, the absolute development
and fultilment of the law. He came bear
ing with Him the great truths of moral re-
sponsibility and of the life to come, Of
which the old philosophers were ignorant.
Plato and Socrates and Cicero and Aristo-
tie knew nothing of the resurrection and
the Judgment which Christ proclaimed
to mankind. In His coming Jesus
revealed to the world the Trinity
of the Godhead, the mystery of the
incarnation. OF redemption, and of the in
fallibility of the church, which constitute
the great doctrines of the New Testament.
The gospel of Jesus presents decisive
proof of the institution of the sacrament
of baptism Us an essential condition of sal
vation of confirmation, the eucharist,
extreme JUNCTION and matrimony. These
great dOgmaS are the embodiment of the
supernatural order of Christian truth
which our Lord gave to the world. Jesus
came to work out the fulfilment of the
law of grace. He unfurlcd to the world
the banner of peace, and the concise ex-
preston of His doctrine and of His works is
comprised i'll the simple word faith. Faith
is the sum and substance of Christianity.
Christ in his mission of grace tells man
kind to believe and they shall be, not
blessed, but saved they shall be saved for
all eternity, their sins remitted. He
speaks language that subjugates
men S minds, subducs their feelings and
appeals none the less forcibly to the sense
of illustrous men of science. philosophy and
letters, than to the untutored. lOwIy and
humble. Divinity is stamped on His every
action and on every doctrine that He has
given to the world. May not the author
of the mystery OF mysteries, of the har
monious blending of the greatest truths of
the law, we'll say, :" I am come not to de
stroy but to fulfil?
The latter portion OF the bishops dis
course was devoted to an exposition OF tie
4 ~
all who will enter. ''If any man will come
after Ne, let him take up his cross and fol
low Me Here is the invitation of grace
the gospel of love. 1t teaches the doe
trine of one brotherhood in Christ, where
there are neitherJews nor Gentiles, Greeks
nor Romans, slaves nor masters but only
men and brethren. Soul and charity are the
watchwor(s which the Saviour has given
to His disciples.
Bishop Shanahan occupied over an hour
in the delivery of his discourse, of which
the above abstract gives only a brief
glimpse in its leading features, and which
was marked by the same logical reasoning,
depth of thoughtful research, and ele-
gance of diction that are characteristic
Of his pulpit efforts. While the distin-
guished prelate avoids all attempt at
Oratorical display in addressing an audi
encc, there is an attractiveness in his
mode of speaking that engages the
hearers attention and at times mounts to
the height of positive eloquence. Despite
the heated atmosphere of the church yes
terday, the congregation were singu!arly
attentive.
During the services in all the Catholic
churches it, was announced that next
Saturday special services would be held
commemorative of the vigil of PentecOst,
and that forty hours devotion would begin
next Sunday at 6 a. IN.