Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-03-08
LABOR OF PENANCE.

Rev. Father De Cantillon, One of tho
Brightest Lights of the Dominican
Order, breaches an eloquent Sermon
at st. Mary's r.. @. Church-Listened
30 by a Large and Attentive Congre-
CATION.
One of the ablest disciples of Dominic de
Guzman, Rev. Father De Cantillon, preached
an eloquent and instructive sermon at St.
Mary's Or. CO. church last evening The
order of Dominicans numbers ameng it's fol-
lowers some of the greatest preachers of the
present time.
Father De Cantillon has national reputa-
ton as being one of the brightest lights of
this famous order which oombats for supre-
macy only with the Franciscans.
Every seat in the large edifce was taken
when the noted orator assembled to the pulpit
attired in the symbolical white garment, black
cloak and pointed cap of the same color.
''The Labor of Penance" was the subject
on which the Dominican discoursed.
After preliminary remarks he cautioned all
against leaving repentance until the last
hour. He depicted in graphic and thrilling
manner the terrible s1fferings which person
endures when he lies on his deathbed after
having put off contrition until the death
sweat is on his brow.
Imagination does deadly work then"
said he. "Your sins will come trooping up
before your mind like SO many devils. The
evil spirits will battle against you with de-
moniacal glee. With devilish cunning
they will depict all your sins in their greatest
and worst light Every evil act, every sin
that yeu had committed during life will be
brought before you with startling and hor-
rible distinctness.
Chow will you be able to combat them
'EIt is sheer lethargy and sophistry that is
leading go many of our Catholics into the
treacherous mire of sin which ends in hell.
You say there is time enough. Ali it is just
| because you think you have SO many days to
| repent in that you are in danger of eternal
| damnation. You wait until at last you lie
PROSTATE. You fear that every moment will
| watt you into eternity and from eternity to
hell. 1t is then that you conclude to make
| your peace with God.
During life you said tomorrow 1 will re-
pent, tomorrow and to- morrow, and yet again
tomorrow.
"This is your cry.
"You have no will of your own. Your
| evil passions control you absolutely. You
l would REFORM but will not supply energy
| enough to accomplish it. You will go to
confession and communion, but they will be
| null and void for want of contrition.
''If you lived for one thousand years each
| succeeding year would only afford the devil
| the pleasure of registering your name deeper
1 down in hell.
Chow many miserable people of this de-
/ scription have come under your own obser-
| vance. L also have seen many.
che who leads bad life shall at least
have very doubtful end. They who keep
the flower and fruit of their youth from God
he shall give them but the refuse of the
table,
''It requires special and very powerful
grace of God to recover them. q.
"In the case where one wishes to continue
| in sin delay is damnation
Beware of Gods patience.
''If You think observing one commandment
| will suffice for the observance of The other
nine you deceive yourself most woefully.
Mediate then and you will with Gods
| grace be able to detect the folly of the bonds
which the devil is trying to place around
you.
| ''Do not heed the tempter.
| "You see that all is fair and gay and beau
tiful before the footlights of the stage of ths
world. But what is behind the scenes
| Dreariness and darkness, sickness and death
sin and hidden crimes. Don't heed the
i tempter If he cannot recover you from God
| he will use all his devilish efforts to drive
| you to despair He will appear before you
| at the last tribunal when you are covering
| with remorse. He will try to have you aban-
| don all hope of ever returning to God OF
| working out your salvation. He will say you
now see your damnation written in your life.
You have sinned too long to reform. Heed
him not.
eff you wish to reap any wages excepting
eternal death and damnation commence this
/ very night. Beware, do not tempt yeu1
maker too far, for to morrow the handwrit-
| ing may be on the wall.
"All those trusting to death-bed repent
| ance drag their baptismal robes through the
| mire of their multitudinous sins.
"The unlocking of heaven or hell depends
on yeur answer. If you wish TO remain in
| mortal sin and meet with eternal damnation
l consider it but just punishment.
| Cease insulting God then by pretending
1 contrition."