The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-27
TEE HOLY ROSARY.
Rev. Father MCCARTHY breaches an
Eloquent Sermon.

| Rev. Father McCartny Freecnes al
| Eloquent Sermon.
Rev. W. A. Mccarthy preached sn elo-
| quent sermon yesterday morning az the
high mass at the Cathedral His subject
was the rosary, which be handled in mas
| terly stEle. and hisdiscourse was atteHtively
/ lsteued 10 BY a large congTeg alton. Father
| Mccarthy took his text from the Caaticle
| ofCanticles 10: I'VE viii make the chains
/ Of gold, inlaid with silver
| 1.-THE simple but sincere devotion OF our
| forefathers,n said the speaker, in their
| faith 70 the ever blessed mother Of God, re-
vealed itself in the most lovely and touching
forms Flowers and shrubs, bushes and
trees served both in Europe and in Asia as
means for the remembrance OF her name.
New ways Of honoring her were constantly
discovered. and it was no Insignificant con-
ISOLATION TO the servants of the mother OF
God hen, in addition to the other prac-
tees of devotion 70 her was added the devo-
ton of the holy rosary, and our ancestors in
the faith who We'd With one another in hon
oring the blessed Virgin Mary were able 20
exclaim with King Solomon, in the Cantiole
OF Canticles: We viii make thee chains Of
gold inlaid with silver
What then Is the rosaryl We may smile,
perhaps, at this simple question, but do we
really know! The grams of which it is
composed-it matters little whether they be
pearls or coral, ivory or wood, silver or
gold-nerely serve TO count the number Of
prayers 30 sustain and fix the attention of
the mind and heart by sensible signs; but
the cross attached to them is a sign of
strength, life and salvation, the glorious
sign of redemption, a sign ever memorable
for christians. Well may we wear that cross
and let it shine on our breast. 1t is the true
and only cross Of honor.
Holding the cross we devoutly rscite the
apostles creed
This admirable profession Of faith is the
work of the twelve apostles. When they
were about TO separate to enter on the
preaching OF the gospel and to divide
amongst themselves the noble work of the
conquest Of souls, before bidding each other
a final adieu, being assembled together and
inspired by the Holy Ghost, they composed
this profession OF faith, so clear and con-
else.
In reclting the creed do we not feel that
it is not tbs words OF heSiteting, stammer-
ing philosophers who attempt to draw up
vague and skeptical system Of doctrine
Do we not feel firm and affirmative tone
pervading 1.-THE dogmatical accent of
men enlightened from above and sent on
divine missionl They believe In one God,
one only God, Almighty. creator Of heaven
and earth, in Jesus Christ, his only son, one
Lord, etc. They believe in the Holy Ghost,
etc.
All is there all christianity, all catholicity.
all that is vigorously Of faith and necessary
to salvation. After the creed we recite the
Lords prayer, composed by Jesus Christ
himself. 1t Is the most excellent Of all pray
ers it contains all that we can ask for; yes
all. The angelical salutation Yves composed
in heaven and brought to earth by the Arch
angel Gabriel, and the doxology refers all
things to God, as the first beginning and
last end of what this world contains.
Thus the cross, the creed, the Lords prayer,
the angelical salutation, and the doxology
are the parts Of the rosary, We recite the
creed once, the Lords prayer fifteen times.
the angelical salutation 100 times, termi-
mating each decade by the doxology.
The rosary is called the psalter Of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, aud also the queen
Of all prayers composed for the queea of
ali queens. Let US imagine, il we can, a
formula of prayer more universal, easier
and better suited to the capacity Of ALL
moro sublime, and at the same time more
simple. The rosary is a memorial, an
abridgment of all christianity; it is the
breviary Of all pious lairs, it is an alpha bet
for simple souls, for children and for old
people But for the learned, for men of
genius, for those who wish to mediate
deeply, it is a sublime book, the vastest
compendium Oh UueOAORy.
1t is an immense and unfathomable sea,
like the mysteries IL commentaries. Some
so-called intelligent people win say that the
rosary is fit only for children, devotees,
simple and ignorant persons. IL is all they
know about il. Shame to them, and to
their lack Of good sense and profound igno-
rance
What A ST. Dominic, founder of the
illustrious order Of Friars preachers, cele-
~ e. L. a -. 4
preaching-St. Dominic recIted the rosary
every day, and found in it more than his
intelligence could fathoin and his head con-
tain.
What st. Thomas Aquinas, the angeli-
cal doctor of the schools, the eagle of
theology, who had fathomed the depths of
metaphysics. who had gathered up and
christianized ali that was true and beautiful
in pagan antiquity-he who Is even con-
sidered to this day the loftiest and vsstest
human intelligence, st. Thomas Aquinas
recited the rosary, and he found therein all
that the sublimity of his genius and the
depths of his soul could desire.
What Father Lecordalre, that magni6-
cent intelligence, that noble heart, that
laundering and sympathetic orator, that
captivating apostle of enthusiastic and
studious youth, wore his rosary at his
girdle; he recited il as did st. Dominic and
st. Thomas, ana he found in it an abyss for
his mind and an ocean for his heart.
WHAT Daniel O'Connell, that warm and
true-hearted. noble and intrepid exponent
of Catholic emancipation. always realizing
the oath of his holy faith and the powerful
intercession If the mother Of God, never
undertook the severe task of cham
pioning the cause of his native land on the
floor of the British parliament without hav-
ing said his rosary.
I'D hot shan of +l,a -,
song2 Father Ryan. the poet-priest OF the
south, valuing its every grain, thus extols
it in his book of splendid poetry:
Sweet blessed beads would not part
With Que of you for richest gem
That CLEANS in kingly diadem,
Ye know the history Of my heart.
And we who have hardly caught glimpse