St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-19
THE HOLY EUCHARIST.
Father Shaniey's Remarks on the
Anniversary of the Society of
Perpetual Alteration.

Anniversary of the Society of
Perpetual Alteration.
Father Stanley preached the sermon
at the cathedral yesterday. After MAX
ing the customary pulpit announce
ments, the reverend father spoke as
follows: This afternoon society will
hold reunion at its anniversary meet
ing, which is deserving of more than
passing notice. | refer to the Society
Of Perpetual Alteration. This society
was instituted for the purpose of adOr-
Ing the blessed sacrament perpetually.
The greatest Of all sacramentS, the
hottest which Christ has left us, is,
without doubt, the sacrament of the
holy eucharist.
This society has as its object to adore
constantly, to keep a watch over the
everything Savior of Mankind, the in
earnate Jesus. This bare statement is,
am convinced sufficient TO aWaked in
The Catholic heart love for this con-
fraternity, and desire to join the good
work. one OF the greatest devotionS of
the @hurch is the devotion to our Savior,
present in the holy eucharist, and in
The multitude of little devOtionS in the
church. Catholics must not lose
sight OF this one great devo-
ton, The center of all others
md from which they receive whatever
Of sanctity and
POWER THEY POSSESS
The. devotion to the holy bucharest. 1t
seems to me that the devotion to the
blessed bucharest is not as deeply
rooted i'll the hearts of Catholics as it
should be. There seems, at times, a
lack Of appreciation Of the presence of
Jesus Christ in the holy euchreSt. If
Dur blessed Lord were to come into the
church or into our houses, and we knew
Him to be really the Son of God, with
what deep reverence would we not ap-
pear to His presence? How devout we
would be i'll entering the room He was
In. If We had stood on Mt. Calvary,
what sentiments of piety would we not
have entertained on that SorroWful oc-
caSiOn.
In the blessed sacrament, Jesus, our
Lord, is as truly present as He was on
Mt Calvary or at the last supper, and
that which appears to our senses to be
bread and wine is really the body and
blood Of the Savior of mankind. This
Is the doctrine OF the real presence and
can easily be derived. In the first place,
since our Lord designs to live in our
churches. we should feel it a privilege
to be permitted to come into His pres
pnce and to make known our wants to
Him. We should find a happiness in
coming to church. How many of us
fritter away our time in idleneSS, having
nothing TO do, and drag along a good
for-nOthing existence?
HOW MUCH BETTER
would our lives be if we spent some of
those idle moments in the presence of
our Lord, asking Him for graces and
thanking him for favOurS received. We
should respect and honor the church in
which the tabernacle is kept. In pass
ing we should enter for moment and
offer up little prayer. How often we
pass the church without ever thinking
that within is the greatest treasure the
world has ever seen. We should, at
least, in passing, salute by reverently
raising our hats. When we enter the
church we should bend the knee in
reverence. We should genuilect to-
wards the altar While passing the taber-
nacle. 1t is most singular that so many
Catholics forget to pay this little mark
OF respect, passing and repaSSing the
altar in the most uncOncerned manner.
The most respectful conduct must be
shown at all times while in the church,
and levity and conversation of whatever
nature must be excluded. If we are
thoroughly filled with the truth that
Jesus Christ, our Judge and Saviour, is
present before US in the holy sacra-
ment of the eucharist, all thoughts
will be banished from our minds
save doing Him all honor
eve have duty further than this, and
that is to make reparation to our Savior
for the insults He receives from the
hands of impious men. Every sin COM
mitted is an insult to Him, but more di-
rectly is He insulted by certain sins
profanity, for Instance. Besides the
abuse of His holy name, he is very often
abused by those outside the true fold
who disrespect and caluminate the doc
trine of the church regarding the real
presence. Again is He insulted by the
ScandalouS conduct of men as the priest
passes along the street carrying the
holy eucharist. Again, when entering
the houses OF the sick with the sacra-
ment and there is no preparation made
TO receive, in becoming manner,
Christ, our Lord. Now, it is the object
of this society to make PREPARATION for
these insults offered the blessed sacra-
ment. There are 800 members in the
society, and from the report which will
be read this afternoon you will notice
there has scarcely an hour of the year
gone by that did not find faithful soul
ad0ring before Gods altar. The only
obligation imposed by the society is
that of spending one hour of each week
before the blessed sacrament.
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