The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-01-19


LATE CONCEPTION.
January IA, 1882, second Sunday after
Epiphany and Feast of the Holy Name
OF Jesus" FatherD. j. Spillard, preached
| from Luke ii, 81. after eight davs were
accomplished that the child should be
circumcised; his name was called Jesus
which was called by the angel, before he
was conceived in the womb"
The Christmas decorations OF evergreen
and Texas moss, and the little Bethle.
hem, so tastefully arranged by the good
Sisters of the Holy Cross, still remain in
the church, keeping before the mind all
| the great events concentrated at this
happy season.
IL was u sermon just to sit and look as
many thoughts occupy the mind, of G DDS
goodness and mans obligation to corre-
spond to such great graces. All rehec-
| tons, however, are silenced to attend TO
the ever welcome instruction of the
/ worthy pastor, eloquent in its simplicity.
Having read aloud the gospel in Eng
lisb, Rev. Father Spillard spoke of the
| holy name of Jesus-the reverence in
/ which IL has always been held by Gods
people the honor paid il by the church
its frequent PROCLAMATION, its sanctity and
| power and PREPARATION due because Of
| cursing and blasphemy.
| The children of the church have ever
held the name of Jesus in particular rever-
ence and honored it in various ways,
bowling the head when hearing it men,
toned; and in some places, instead of the
| salutations common here of show do YOU
do" or "good morning. it is the beau
| tiful custom of recognizing an acquain-
lance by the expression, praises be TO the
| holy name of Jesus" answered by "now
and forever more, amen" Now, in par
ticular, should these practices be abserved
| more faithfully and the feast of the holy
name celebrated with greater devotion
| to make some atonement to God
for the fearful profanity of this
age. The apostle tells us that the
very devils in hell fear and tremble and
bend the knee ut the sacred name of
Jesus. This holy name is now habitually
proianed everywhere, but particularly
in America. 1t is heard in irreverent
exclamation, in ordinary conversation,
even in cursing and blasphemy. on the
street corners, in public places, at the
home circle, everywhere, so very COM
mon in this heinous crime in our coun-
try particularly, that America has been
called "a country of curses" and it
would seem she emulated also the APP
pellation of"a country of blasphemers."
The child just beginning to talk utters
this holy name in profane language. he
has required the habit before he I'M
derstands the great sin. He has learned
IL lTOH 30 frequently uCdTlug IT, lie re-
peats what he has heard perhaps tom
his own father or brother; it is not
probable from his mother. 1t can hardly
be supposed a lady is so degraded. Then
tor this excessive crime make reparation.
Take the habit whenever we hear 1t,
prepared to repeat it with devotion,
without ostentation, and known by God
alone.
The holy name of Jesus is the light of
the world, the light shining forth In the
darkness, obscured by the increasing
sins OF generations; again at the birth
of Jesus Eliminates the earth. 1t Is
light to all who honor it or see in the
spread of Christianity ''the scales
OF error falling from the, eyes"
OF the holy name is carried,
miracles are wrought by its power.
The acts of the apostles are full of them.
On one occasion st. Peter and John,
about TO enter into the temple of Jerusa-
lem at the gate called beautiful" were
asked an aims by cripple lying there.
st. Peter answered "LoOk upon u.s." see
eur whole appearance show us to be poor
men and not such as have money to give,
and sald, ''Silver aud gold have none,
but what have give thee. In the name
of Jesus of Nazareth, arise and walk, and
the lame man, leaping up, stood and
walked and went into the temple,
walking and leaping and praising
God" A crowd gathered around Peter
and John because of this notable mira
Gle. Had Peter, weak, timid Peter, who
had before denied our Lord in this same
temple, now strong in the light and power
OF the holy name, publicly addressed the
people for the glory of God, I'VE men
of Israel, why wonder you at this and
why look you upon us as If in our own
strength and power we had made this
man to walk? Be it known to you all,
aud to all the people of Israel, that by
the name OF our Lord Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you crusifled, whom
God hath raised from the dead, even by
Him this man standeth here before you
whole"
Neither have miracles ceased in this
day aud age. In the church they are still
wrought by the power of this holy name,
only the frequent manifestations OF them
are not SO necessary now.
We two are strengthened III our
temptation by the piOus invocation of
the holy name of Jesus. The evil one is
put to flight, and we are prevented from
falling into sin and protected from evil.
The Reverend Father closed his re-
marks by desiring that PREPARATION
should be made for the great
PROCLAMATION of the holy name. To
repeat IL with devotion and affection I'M
observed but by God Whenever It was
heard profaned on the street or in any
place, then and there secretly in the
heart to utter it with reverence. He
hoped this practical lesson would be
learned from his instruction, and 1t was
for the same intention that he had intro
duced the little plOus phrases after the
mass.