New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-09
FATHER TIGHE ON "SIN."
THE JERSEY CITY PRIESTS ELOQUENT
SERMON.
SIN THE ONLY BLOT ON CREAT1ON-RAT1ONAI-
ISM AND INFIDELIsM THE CRIMES OF THE
CENTURY-REFoRM IN LIFE WILL
FOLLOW REFORM IN PHIL
)SOPHY.


The Rev Father Tighe Of Jersey City, prominent
In the Catholic diocese Of Newark for his eoquence.
occupied the pulpit of st. Augustines Roman Cath
Ole Church. Union HILL last evening. and delivered
an able discourse on Sin He said in part
"Sin is the great mystery of ages and is difficult
to understand creation itself. II is distinct from
evil, which may exist in irrational creatures Sin
is possible only in being which has reason and
free will When the reason knows evil and the will
chooses It, evil becomes sin. The god-like in
teligence Of man contains the possibility of sin.
St Augustine and st. Thomas Aqunas under
stood the nature of man and the source of evil.
"Sin is the negation of divine order and the viola
ton Of divine law 1t is the only blot on the fair
face of creation. 1t is the illustrator of mans ex-
istence and Of Gods plans. God constituted man in
the supernatural order when He created him. AS
pledge or means of attaining his final destiny. God
gave man supernal aid. called In Revelation a
crown a vesture,' sometimes life or the light
and gift of God After mans fall his super
natural destiny remained, but he lost the original
Gift whereby he might attain that destiny He was
wounded and weakened even in his natural powers.
blight came the beauty of his soul, and he
walked the earth shattered existence. frail and
darkened image of his former self The life to
come was henceforth out of his reach and beyond
his powers.
Following the great fact Of the fall came the
promise of redemption. This redemption was
necessary on the hypothesis Of the fall though
many theologians hold that Christ would have be
ever this may be. atonement. satisfaction redemp,
ton necessary after the fall because the fan
God became the child of wrath. The heavens above
grew dark. divine love ceased to now There was
a schism between the soul and God, and man des-
tiny close union with his Creator God, there
fore came to save from sin. Fallen creatures
could not pay the debt; angelic effort coud no, NOT
atone for sin. Sin was treason against God The
the destruction of the infinite II strikes at the heart
of the absolute, the eternal the irst ana the asl,
-hnoa ola aims ire
served love
Justice is the nvariable law Of Gods providence,
and in virtue OF Il He has to condemn sin. wncn
is Injustice. Every man must render to his Gre
ator a return worthy of the great sovereign ere
atve act by which he has his being ny SIN ma, man
him and who holds him in His hands Justice
called for the redemption. -, -,
many Ii is given to man through a life OF painful
toll, faith. prayer. sacrifice and sacrament GnrSs
is merely historic fact Mere belief IN HIN rdra rs
error of the sixteenth century refcrmers. Chrst
st travels along the road Of humanity by his grace
and sacraments, to touch. heal and bless MANKIND;
Faith alone can never justify. Personal contact
with Christ is necessary and when Christ would
make the truth almighty TO save lie became man,
crucif, ID. ,,, -.
''The spirit of ratonalism, of materalism' of
foodgates Of sin and niquity. IT has strlppe @
Christ of His DIVINITY ard men ~. ~ l rnan,
fest in the flesh the full manifestation . Of
God in being OF our species. The fan is an OF
entail myth original sin an Srgna afne the be
crimson light of the glorious of Jesus Christ Is
beshrouded with the msts Of error and unbelief
This is the sin of sins, the crime Of crimes against
and battle necessarily. Belief in living punhs,
personal God Is the worlds great tonic. But 10
tepnHa truth. a far-off cause We must reform
our philosophy and then we can reform our lie