The morning call., 1891-06-22

Aloysus undertook to vanquish them all,
and he succeeded. The cOncupiScence OF
the flesh has a harsh aud displeasing sound,
and yet We must consider that when our
sensuality. BY breaking through the law
which protected them the whole flood Of
passion was let loose on the world.
The preacher then entered into plain,
unvarnished tale of the evils of seusuality
and the understandable federation of the idea
that it is impossible for men to be virtuous
or women chaste. He charged the re-
formed church with being the means by
which the marriage tie. whereby two souls
are united by God. has been made a mere
obligation, whereby man and woman
are bound by tie dependent only on pas
sion. He reaffirmed that there are corrup-
tiOns and errors springing up in Cbrsten-
dom challenging the possibility of virgin
life in men and women; such a life was
that of St. Aloysius. such a life as the
Apostle Paul had indicated. Against this
he set the testimony OF recent French
writer that on a certain night in certain
year 100000 young persons had cheertully
renewed their vows OF confluence with the
holy sacrament as pledge of their sin
certy.
He spoke Of the manner in which st.
AlOysiuS had entered on his work in an era
when all Europe was vexed with disturb
ances, and the church was convulsed by
great vices among its members, fearful
apostacies among priests and departures
from that sacerdotal virtue which the church
required. 1t seemed as if hell had broken
loose. The gates of hell seemed to prevail
for time in the eyes of men, and the waves
seemed to sweep over that rock which Christ
had made the foundation of his church.
But thank God, In the midst of all that dark
ness, noise and chaos truth and holiness
were found.
Saint Aloysius gave up all that could
tempt mortal man in order TO embark in a
career of many sacrifices later on to peril
himself on the al ar of holy purity. He was
like a pillar of fire; he rebuked the fallen
priests; lie stands to-day as he appeared 300
years ago, an angel Of life, preceding men
toward the throne of God. He came not
simply TO arouse the world not simply 10 in
splre men to lead pure life, bnt to do that
which most men found so difficult to be-
come so pure in heart as to see God.
The pTelate then adVerted to the second
evil spoken of by st. John-the desire of
riches, the cOncupiscence of the eyes.
Christ said: BLESSED are the poor. How
hardly shall rich man enter into the king
dom Of heaven" In this community, and
in this State of California, founded and
coloniZed by men seeking for gold, it would
really seem that men still worship golden
idols. The ambition of their life is to
achieve great fortune in order that their
children may lead luxurious and perhaps
corrupt lives But what was true in our
OdFiOI Idy IS true IN tulS DAY, ana Will De
true in all ages, even unto the last day.
Riches will always be nm obstacle and a
snare to those who would love God unto
perfection. Nothing is more emphatic than
the testimony that in Greece, Egypt and
Rome those who desired to attain unto Wis
dom had to f0rsske riches. Even in the far
Orient the seekers after wisdom among the
Brahmins and Buddhsts pursue the same
course.
Ii there was any class on which Christ
lavished the deepest condemnation it was
the very rich man. OF none other did he
say: "WOe unto you richv' and again, "the
rich man died and was buried in hell" To
no man was there so great an obstacle as
riches in the becoming an apostle. To the
young man who desired to follow him,
Christ said: 'Sell all thou hast and
give to the poor" The young man went
away sorrowful, for he had great posses
sions, but in his dying moments he must
have remembered that injunction.
Still, IL is possible for a rich man TO be
blessing, to be a servant of the poor; the
steward OF Gods gifts, not an owner, not
considering himself as the pOssessor, but
looking on himself as bound to give an
account Of his trust. Were such spirit to
prevail there would be an end of the present
fierce struggle between the rich and the
poor. There is no remedy for this evil con-