The morning call., 1891-04-06
ON CATHOLICITY.
An Interesting Lecture by Rev.
Father SASHA.
An Instructive Argument to Show That the
Church Is the Work Of God-To Benefit
the Francesca Society.


ton deyotes its attention to helping the de-
serving poor of the city, and the proceeds
of the discourse being for such worthy
purpose the attendance at the church was
unusually large.
when the Christian traveller or observ-
ing tourist" said Father SASHA, "attentively
examines the majestic cathedrals of the old
world; as he gazes on the gorgeous paint
ings and noble sculptures Of classic genius
which adorn their sacred, venerable walls;
as his eye elances admiringly along the
clustered columns that rise in stately gram
deur to the lofty vault above; as his
eye catches the sweet strains Of harmony
that are made 10 flow in waves of solemn,
s0ul-stirring notes from the massive organ;
as he reyelS in these more heavenly than
earthly delights he cannot resist the e0nylc-
ton that religion, daughter OF heaven, has
been truly welded to Christian art Paint
ing, sculpture, architecture, music, poetry
and eloquenee have all been enlisted as
powerful agencies to draw mems souls TO
him who is the author of all that Is beau
tiful.
a DIVINE WORK.
"When we reflect on the noble purpose,
for the accompll snment Of which structures
are raised to the honor of the Most High;
when we behold the temples erected by
mans genius to the glory OF this Creator,
and witness lofty spires arising to
the sky and proudly towering over
the city's monuments beneath, we
are at once reminded of another
magnificent structure which they symbolic
and representa- structure not OF human
art DOf the result of human skill. All the
architects that ever lived could not have
fashioned the building / speak of nor any
part OF il. From the foundation stone, which
Shall never be moved, to its proud pinnacle
reared high above the clouds all is the work
of God Man would no more make such
structure as this than lie would make a
world. 1t is the masterpiece of COD $
omnipotent power; it is the most perfect
conception of his wisdom it Is the mirror
in which Gods uncreated beauty and at
tributes are most clearly reflected: 1t Is the
incense of unruttled peace, unbroken units
and greatest liberty that human creatures
have ever kGown-the liberty Of the children
of God"
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
when at last the hour arrived more than
eighteen centuries ago in which this temple
OF the great King was to be set up among
the nations that its courts might be hlled
with human guests; when the same omnlpo-
tent voice that called the universe into
existence uttered on the plains OF Palestine
the mighty words, Upon this rock VIII
build my church. that church, obedent TO
the voice of the master, sprang at once into
being, so beautiful i'll her charms, so per-
lSCL III nCT lUbGllH6SS Gldl even uCl ClChtOL
was enamored OF her. called her his bride
and promised 10 abide with her even to tile
end Of time"
"Other works which God has made might
be allowed 10 fall into decay, to perish,
crum6le into dust and come to an end, but
not this, for he would keep it always in the
hollow OF his hand. Like other structures,
this building has also name-a name
known in heaven and on earth, anu to us
who dwell within its walls is as music In
the ear Men call it the Roman Catholic
Church, ami it is Of this church, this temple
set up by the almighty among the nations,
tina. intend to speak TO you this evening,
by unfolding before yOu the divinity OF her
origin, the truth OF her teaching, as revealed
10 the eyes of men in this tNO-ioid teSti-
mCny.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
"Catholicity is truly the work of Cod the
church of Christ, for she alone reflects on
herself the attributes of God; she alone eX-
hibils in her mistaken stability and ever
enduring vitality the uninterrupted presence
and power OF GOd.
Now, we may ask this pertinent ques-
ton Is it in the Roman Catholic Church
or elsewhere that the divine presence and
attributes are reflected" If We have any
true conception of God, even as he may be
known by the light OF reason, it is this, that
he essentially consists OF eternal harmony
and inyiolable order. For if there is any
Gcd it is confusion and disorder.
'As TO the unity of government behold
the wonderful evidence of the power of God
as seen in the submission Of two hundred
and fifty millions of human intellects to the
teachings and pTecep pts OF the one head
over thousand Bishops subject 10 one
P0ntiff, tens of thousands of priests subject
To their Bshops and millions OF the faithful
subject TO their prestS-thuS exhibiting to
the world one compact organization, thor
ough in its union and energetic in Is action;
a system of moral government which no
human legislator would deem capable of
mpliShment, and which is seen actually
carried out at this very hour as it has ever
been since the day when the savior of man
kind uttered the words, Thou art Peter,
and upon this rock | will build my church..
STRENGTH OF CATHoLICITY.
Like an immoyable rock cathOlicity sur
wives every tempest and braves every storm.
She Is tile only institution that has pre-
served her life, her vigor and her autonomy
unim paired for the last 1850 years. King
doms, empires, republics and time-hon0red
dynasties are swept away by the inevitable
current of time, and yet caih0lcily remains
a standing monument of enduring trnIness
whose equal the world has never seen. She
is confident because her hope rests in the
divine assurance that can never fail. Again
and again the world has proclaimed her dis
solution, ruin and destruction, and one oil
her bitterest foes proudly boosted a century
ago that he had already prepared The cpl
taph to be written on her grave. But lol
whilst her enemies are one by one sum-
moDed to their accounts she still lives, ever
extending the boundaries of her spiritual
domain, the only empire upon earth On
which the sun never sets"
1.-THE Catholic Church has mighty work
to do IN this world, and she shall do it. This
Is the preservation of her members, the con-
version of her enemies and the bringing of
oil IN ffna li,rtn If Ehris ia
has never yet fiinched from the task and
never will. To accomplish her mission of
saving souls, by dlffusing her light and life
on all around her, she asks no faVors from
her opponents. She seeks no patronage of
court rulers, and ouly claims fair dealing
and impartial justice. She only demands
to be let alone and free to exercise her
unity. the development of her growth and
the display of her strength"
In Concluding Father SASHA said the Roman
Catholic Church had not been overthrow
because it is the work of God.