The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-04-05

The following is the substance of Rev. j. J.
FarTells discourse at the Church of the Immac-
ulate Conception.
Text" He is not here. MARX 16: G.
Today we celebrate the greatest. the most i'm
portant. the most significant fact in the history
of the world. The wonderful and glorious scheme
of man s redemption was consummated with the
resurrection of Jesus. It had been prophecied
that the third day after His death upon Calvary
our Divine Savior would rise again. In three
days He shall rise again." The faith and hopes
of the Apostles hung upon these words of the
Prophets. By faith alone are we able to grasp
the wondrous meaning of this event. Faith
teaches us the supreme homage which we owe to
the Almighty for the unspeakable act of Divine
Love and Divine Clemency commemorated at
Easter.
The speaker then pointed out the truth of the
resurrection from triple source.
From the stubborn incredulity of Thomas. who
was absent when the Lord appeared the first time
to His disciples. In vain do they tell him that
they have seen their Master. that they have rec
ognized Him. that He has spoken to them. He
wished to see. Unless I shall see, Twill not
believe" He further desires that his fingers
Judge of the reality. /" Unless I shall put my
fingers into the place of the nails. will not be-
lieve." Jesus Christ. more solicitous to confirm
the faith of His church. than to. punish the OBJ
stinacy of His disciple desiring that his incre-
dulity would one day serve to dissipate our
doubts. acquiesces to his requests. Anew
appears in the midst of His disciples, and ad :
dressing himself to Thomas. says: Put in thy
finger hither. and see my hands. and bring hither
thy hand and put it into my side; and be no
incredulous. but faithful" Thomas plum ges his
fingers into the wounds of his Savior. His doubts
II II al
and love. he exclaims +" Ny Lord aud my God. :"
The Apostles give testimony of the resurrec :
ton Of Jesus Christ. st. Paul breaches at Athens
and calls himself a witness of the resurrection.
st. Peter. in proposing the election of an Apostle
in the place of Judas. says: "0ne of these must
be made witness with US of His resurrection -
If. says st. Ghrysostom. He is not risen. with
what likelihood of success could they undertake
to persuade the whole world? Simple as they
were. without sciences without influence could
they convince philosophers. and bring the pow
erful and influential to destroy their idols and
adore as the living God man of whom one could
have pointed to the ignominious Cross upon.
which he died. What advantage would, by it,
have accrued to them if Christ is not risen ?
Would it not be the most extravagant folly to
suffer contempt. exile. scourges. the sword. to
maintain falsehood without any hope of gain Z?
Can they reckon on the hope which He has Civ en-
them of eternal life if He is yet under the empire
of death
Human prudence. how despicable you are. how
blind.when you pretend to set yourself up against
God The more precautions the enemies of Christ
have taken to stop this miracle. the more proofs
they have left US to fortify us in faith.
The more numerous the guards they haye
placed round the sepurchre the more witnesses
they have furnished us with who confirm this
fundamental article of our religion. Havin g
recovered frem their first fear. the guards rush
to the city and publish everywhere what they
have seen and what had passed. The whole
synagogue is troubled, a council is called, the
high priests. instead of giving way to the rec
ognized truth, seek means to extinguish it
Pharisees. in vain do you say that the disciples
ofJesus came by night to break Pilates seal and
take away the body of their Master. This pre-
text is foolish, What Likelihood is there that
few people without influence. help, or courage
could have effected the removal of this body as
YOU pretendf Furthermore, either these SOL
diers whom you claim gave testimony of afore-
said pretext were asleep or they were not. II
asleep how did they know it how give evidence
of it? II they were not asleep. why did they
armed and prepared to do battle. allow its re-
movalP Why did they not make an -outcryi
Against whom did they defend themselves? One
of two things, either restore to us the body Of
our Lord, or if you cannot, confess that He is
risen. adore with us the power of God and ad-
NIT the truth of Christ's resurrection and of his
Divinity.