The morning call., 1890-10-01
REASON AND FAITH.
Mysteries of Nature and Mys.
teries of Religion.
Father sasia, ST., Lectures Before Large
Audience at St. Mary's Cathedral.
Views and Contrasts

An audience of fully 1000 persons occupied
seats in st. Mary's Cathedral last evening,
when Very Rev. Joseph Sasia, Sd, deliv-
cred lecture on 1.-The Mysteries of Nature
and the Mysteries of Religion, or Reason
and Faith" The discourse was given for
the benefit Of st. Joseph's Day Home, a
worthy institution for children, on Hayes
street. From financial view it was quite
successful. Its delivery took about an hour,
but interest did not lag once from beginning
10 end as the subject was treated in popu-
lar as we'll as in masterful manner.
Father Sasia began by stating that among
the many gifts bestowed by Gods infinite
goodness and liberality on his creatures,
there is none more beneficial nor more
precious than the gift of Christian divine
faith-the supernatural gift enabling men to
believe without doubling all that God has
revealed. And it proposes, to Catholic be-
lief, that the church is infallible in all its
teachings that concern the spiritual welfare
: of men. 1t is truly the life that illumines
every man " hO comes into the world.
|: with all your boasted progress of civili-
Zaton and enlightenment" said the speaker,
what, ask, should we know of the mean
: ing of our existence upon earth, of the
eternity which we are ever approaching,
what should we. know of these questions
without the torch of faith? ~.
A MoNlENTOUs: QUESTION.
:"The great question which: must always
occupy the human mind is how to settle the
problem of life. Why are We here for a
short time and then disappear never to re-
turn, are questions which will not permit of
comparison with any other. All others
dwindle into nothing and disappear when
set side by side with that of the purpose Of
mans existence on earth and his destiny
beyond the grave. This momentous
question meets man Mt every turn.
It's voice cannot be stifed; and should man
ignore it during life it will wait for him on
the edge of the grave to meet him on the
brink of eternity. How are these questions,
on which depends eternal happiness or
misery, to be answered by men VINO imagine
that the great prObleT of life in this world
and in the next should be solved without an
peaing to faith, and by re ason alone? We
see nothing behind the cradle, and our eyes
cannot penetrate. the secrets OF the grave
An answer was given by men who rely on
reason. 1t was this, We Expect IN the next
world we shall have more comprehensive
view Of the mysteries of this.
SHALL LEARN TOO LATE.
"When shall have reached eternity, then
we shall learn what we should have done
during our lifetime. If they cannot tell us
about cur future destiny they console us by
telling us nothing about it.
the Catholic Church teaches that this world
is but place of probation for the next, and
that purity of life Is necessary to find eternal
happiness.
.Ehe unbeliever sets forth that the doc
trines Of Catholic faith fail to recommend
themselves to the, human mind because they
contain incomprehensible mysteries. and NO
rational being should believe what he does
not comprelIend. TIE speaker would an
swer him that the universe itself III which
men dwell is swarnIng with incomprehen-
sible mysteries. What is tangible to the
five senSes is often what cannot be l.nder-
stood, and yet men believe it. This reason
ing is bubble of human pride, he thought,
and should be broken.
The mysteries OF science vegetation, ETC..
were quoted as instances which defied the
scientists. Men can promote vegetation, but
how explain it? All scientific men together
GSuld not fashion a blade of grass. the lily
OF the Lsl,i. iiley say IL IS a phenomenon
of nature, but that explanation is not Salts
factory enough of mystery. These are not
scientific facts, but mysteries. equal to those
of faith.
"It is only PRIDE" added Father Sasa,
that prevents man from acknowledging
these truths which shall remain forever.
On the other side of the grave God will lift
the veil that hides from our view the myste-
ries OF this world as we'll as of the next"