St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-02
THE CATHOLIC NEW YEAR.
How the Churches Celebrated
the Opening Year.


the Opening Year.
What is generally known as New
Years day is known in the Catholic
church as the feast of the Circumcision.
This festival was fittingly celebrated
and COMMUNICATED yesterday by the
Catholics of the city, divine service be-
iEg held in all the churches of that de-
nomination. At the cathedral pom
tifical high mass was sung. Bishop
Shanely, of Jamestown. was the cele-
brant; Father Byrne and Rev. Petit
grew, deacon and subdeacon; Father
Harrison assistant priest. In the
sanctuary during the services were
seated Archbishop Ireland, Archbishop
Grace, Monsignor RavouX and Monsig-
nor O'ConneIl. of the American college
at Rome. The sermon was preached by
Bishop Cotter, of Winona. The new
bishop has a commanding presence. a
clear cut and forcibe delivery. He
spoke substantially as follows:
THE SERMON
t'In distant land, my brethren, under
Eastern skies, many long years ago,
Jesus was named, as we are told in the
gospel of this day, amidst men who
lived their little day, died and We're
buried. This same Jesus lived and
wrought mighty works among the
children of men and died and rose again
from death, and the clouds of Olivet hid
Him from the sight OF men and He will
never appear again until that day when
He shall come in His majesty to judge
all men. to crown His work on earth.
And yet, though the clouds of Oivet
hid Him from the sight of men so many
years ago His words still come down to
us and find an echo in our hearts; His
words still sound Sweetly in our ears.
His words and gospels have found a
home in every nation in every part of
the world. They have adapted them
selves to every tongue, and made for
themselves an abiding place in every
condition of human society. His words
were taken up and passed on from gen.
Grafton to generation, the parents re-
peating them to the little children,
who were to become the men Of their
generations, and they in turn to other
generations, and, meantime, the church
kept all his words in her heart pure and
undetied from the touch of the world,
aud gave his gospel into the conse-
Grated hands of her priests, impreSSing
upon their lips the sacred obligation of
keeping alive in the memory of the
people his words and deeds. The Cos
pei of to-day brings us to the side of
Jesus, brings us near to witness his cir
camcision, his naming, and as we stand
there we find ourselves in society
after all not so ancient, and much like
the society of to-day. A society just as
careless and indifferent as to the things
of God, part of which buSieS itself in
IaI, o..fc l,r,
live only for the fleeing pleasures of
sin; parts. again, who are cruel, who
seek every opportunity to do wicked
things, and only the few were about the
business of the world to come; the
many about this world and for this So
ciety God has an object to accomplish,
and this was the
MESSAGE OF GLAD TIDINGS.
to the children of men, the highest, the
hottest, the grandeSt object that could
be accomplished in this world of ours.
Jesus had taken on our nature; this
Jesus whom we have seen named to-day
had come to bring message of great
JOY to the people. He had come to re-
claim us. lie had come to purify ma
ture Ill the person of his blessed moth
err: He had come to redeem-to build up
a kingdom in this world, the kingdom
He was God and omnipotent, He might
have founded this kingdom by word,
just as He made the world. 1t was easy
for Him to do, but He did not do so
easy. That kingdom he founded
through much suffering and agony.
Many time and oft while founding
His kingdom, His works seemed to be
spoiled by the agency of earth and hell |;
many a time the fate of His kingdom
seemed trembling in the balance,
but all the time its fate
was secure in the hands of God
as that kingdom was founded with tears
| and blood more precious than the ram
! som of the world. so it has been main
| tanned. Ages have seen the cause of
| Christ apparently about to fall. Christ's
| captains have been SOrely beset; the
| standard of the cross has been trailed
| in the dust, and hundreds and thou
sands OF its defenders have laid down
| their lives beside it. Yet, whatOccurred
| then will occur again. In the darkest
| hours of the storm Gods power will be
| lifted up and Gods church will be seen
standing bright and beautiful-another
| gem added to her crown. Think how
| the church has been tried. This is a
| day for holy memories, sad memories,
| glorious memories. Think of the glories
that have come through the tears, suf-
fering and death of martyrs and con-
fessors of the faith, through virgins
who have trampled on their passions OF
| weak hearts and brains and made theiI
| hearts glorious
| GARDENS OF CHASTITY AND VIRTUE
martyrs who have given up their lives
! for their faith, confessors who have
preached the faith, saints who have
| jved in all ages and our ag e, making
] the earth blessed. How have you main