St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-09
A OoLoKED MISSION
lnaugurated at st. Peter Claver's
by Archbishop Ireland.

by archbishop Ireland.
Archbishop Ireland delivered the in
itiatory sermon OF the mission which be-
gan at st. Peter Ciaver'5 colored Cath
Ollie church last evening. The pretty
little edtice was crowded to the doors.
His grace spoke substantially as fol-
lows What was the purpose in view
when we Invited you to this temple to
listen to words preached in it. to unite
in the prayers and SacrilceS offered in
it, to partake of che sacraments therein
administered? The purpose is that you
practice holy religion. adore and worship
Almighty God. learn his laws and OBJ
serve them, and obtain through his
mercieS the grace and spiritual
helps needful in order to be
pleasing 10 him. For this is
religion. Religion means linking men
to God, uniting us with the omnipotent.
Now, why religion? 1t imposes upon
US severe burdens; it marks out duties
ana demands sacrifices from us. We
may as we'll al the outset know that for
weak human nature it were easier to
have no religion than to practice re-
lIgion. and this is very often great
reason why there are those who practice
no religion. They live to suit them
selves, and want no further trouble.
Why, then impose all these burdens,
these sacrifices? The question is re-
sumed in another way. Are we to live
as men, or as mere animals ? If we pre-
sumo to live as mere animals there is no
need of religion. whatever the conses
quenceS be, and we can take the rule of
life to be our pleasures. But if we pro-
feSS to be men, and live as men, then,
of course, we must follow out the obliga-
tons imposed on men by virtue of their
human intelligenceS and noble faculties
which make up the human soul.
The first duty imposed on intelligent
beings is to recognize their superiorS and
to treat these SuperiOrS according 10
their deserts. The child coming to use
reason recognizes, obeys and honorS Its
father and mother; the citizen. the
authority of the state. In like manner
is the >,uty imposed upon the creature
of recognizing. loving and honoring the
Father and Lord of all; Giver of all
good hings-Almightv God. If we set
Him aside and neglect Hin, we are de-
nying the very first teachings of our
own reason; we are acting towards Al
mighty God as we would not towards
our fellow being. He is great who
uOco 0lldJ ID IlSHJ DIT WIldIENGr COSU.
He rises to the very skies and partakes
of the grandeur of God Himself.
Another instinct of our reason and
hearts teaches us to be grateful for bene-
fits received. We abhor ingratitude to
our fellow-b9ing, then how much more
should we abhor ingratitude to the giver
of all good! o hard the heart of the
man who lives without raligion Re-
ligion is the prime duty of mortaIs. 1t
should reign throughout our whole
lives. But religion demands of us du-
ties and :rifieeS, and herein lies the
diifere.i. ,ttween man and the animal.
The animal follows pleasure OF avoids
pain and has no sense of duty. Religion
implies the regulation of our lives ac-
cording to TIL e teachings and laws of
God. Without these laws TO govern all
would be disorder and chaos. What a
sublime spectacle to see human being
defying his passions and saying: Il will
do riyhtW Greater than hero, greater
than conqueror, the man who has the
courage To say to the passions of his
heart. ''Be STILL"
The archbishop closed his sermon by
defining salvation and pointing out
what was necessary to be done III ordar
to be enrolled among the elect in
eternity.