The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-12-18
VALUE OF THE SOUL.
Rev. Father Pryor Preache d
An Eloquent Discourse Sun
day Morning to a Large
Audience i'm st. Johns
Catholic Church.


Johns Catholic church on Sunday
morning, at the hour of half past ten
o'clock, every seat was occupied by
those who entered the edifice. for the
purpose of worshipping the Almighty
in the manner their consciences die
tated. Rev. Father Pryor was assist
ed by four chancel boys robed in all of
the paraphernalia of their office.
The singing by the choir was in
tensely sweet and interesting and
one of the important parts of the re-
ligious exercises.
The congregation heartily respond
ed to the responsive devotionals, and
while the weekly offering was being
gathered the organist rendered Sc
lection that was edifYing and apprec-
lated blythe large concourse of people.
Father Pryor took for his text the
words found in ST. Mark, VIII chap
ter 36-37 verses. In part he said: I'm
the two sentences l have quoted to
you from the inspired word of God, we
behold the sublimest conception and
dignity of the soul of man. Crowns
and sceptres will pass away, but the
soul of man shall live forever and for
ever.
Things of the earth are material,
while the maker of them all is spirit
ual. They are made for man, while
man is made for God. The soul of a
child is greater than the world itself
or anything that we can count on the
earth. God has made us little low
er than the angels, but equal so far as
our souls are concerned.
We may lose gold, silver, age, our
good name, but if we are faithful to
God, we cannot, will not, lose our
souls. Again, there is nothing that
can be given in exchange for the soul,
that will benefit us and lift us up to-
ward heaven. Let me impress upon
you this morning that we are brothers
of Jesus Christ and heirs Of the King
dom of Heaven. God is the maker of
the sun, moon, stars and fishes of the
sea and of everything on this immense
planets, but when He came to make
man, He made him after His own
image. The King of Creation did not
say as He did to the sun "Come
FORTH" but He said: Let us make
man after our own image and likeness.
God thinks, reasons, loves. He has
made man to think, reason and love.
No being can lift his head to God and
say ~ love you,n except man. The
great enemy of God is the great enemy
of man, and that enemy is SIN. When
sin first entered the portals of the
heart and soul there was confusion.
After speaking of the fallen angels
of heaven, he said: eve find that no
matter where we go, God meyer aban-
dons US.
Pretty creatures, trifiing bubbles
that are not worth the seeking, are
often cherished, loved, caressed.
Why this is so, is a mystery. Man
knows in his heart that the world
cannot give peace and tranquility of
mind and SOUL which is mistress of
the body"
In vivid and realistic manner he
recited thestory Of Jacoba and Rachael
and held his audience spell-bound.
From this beautiful biblical picture he
traced the difference between the
soul and body and said the body was
made for the soul. Lifting his hands
upward he cried out in an eloquent
manner, ''One day we shall see Him
face to face and know the value of
our souls. After speaking of the mons
frosty of sin, he concluded his elo-
Quent discourse by saying: ''He did
not come for a few-He came for all.
No matter where we go, no matter
how unfaithful we have been, God
stretches out His hand and says:
Come back, come backr And if we
do go back to Him and serve Him.
He will say at the last day: well
done, good and faithful servant, enter
thou unto the Joy of the Lord"