Morning journal and courier., 1885-03-16
tnis onsrnyANoHs oF nENr.

The Rev. Father Lynch Breaches an
 EloGuent sermon at St. Francis
 Chnrcfia
 At St. Francis church, Fair Haven, yes terday morning, Rev. MT. Lynch preached an eloquent discourse, in the course of which he said: As business man examines his accounts so should we examine ourselves as to what pertains to our duty to God, duties that are. of vital importance to our salvation. In this holy season of Lent we should, there fore, perform those duties that are obliga- tory to us and which God commands us to observe We see how God forgives us all our sins out of pure goodness; the mercy of God is something that we are not easily tired of contemplating. But it would be scarcely fair to have our own side of the account uneonsidered. Let us turn over the leaf and figure up what we have done for him. Well, about all that we can find is that we have been guilty, all of us, one more and another less, of mortal sin.
 Now to perform these duties which God commands us to observe, especially in the season of Lent, we should have perfect contrition for cur sins, the greatest of all things necessary to salvation. By contrition is meant hearty sorrow for our sins and detestation of them, with firm resolve to commit sin no more There are two kinds of contrition, perfect and i'm perfect. Perfect contrition is sorrow for sin when we have offended God, a sorrow for sin because we have offended Jesus Christ Imperfect contrition is sorrow for our sins and detestation of them, when we know we have offended God, and that we will be punished for it. It is the fear of the punish ment that gives us imperfect contrition, while perfect contrition comes from the heart and. is willing to be punished for having offended God. The person who has perfect contrition in his heart thanks God for the affiictions as well as the blessings he sends, for he is the same God to their contrite hearts in storm or in sunshine. In word, one of the channels of the love of God in their lives is a deep sentiment of gratitude for his having for given them. Perfect contrition, therefore, sanctifies the soul while imperfect contri- tion never benefits the soul, but harms it by committing the crime of sacrilege
 Contrition must be accompanied by firm resolve to sin no more. We must also avoid the occasion of sin as well as the motives and places in which we have sinned. Our con- triton must De supernatural, based upon supernatural motives besides supernatural it must be universal it must extend to all. If man commit six sins and have a per feet contrition for five of them it availeth him nothing.
 Supreme sorrow for our sins must be great, above sorrow for all earthly things. We should estimate God as above all things earthly. If we lose God we lose all. If we lose all things that we own on earth we do not lose place left us in heaven. Another thing necessary for our salvation is penance. u. The person who has perfect contrition for his sins and doeth penance for them God in his infinite goodness forgives. Neither eye hath seen nor ear heard, nor hath it been conceived in the mind of of the great blessings prepared for those who observe Gods commands.