The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-04-13
The Meaning of Mass.

Charles church. He explained. that the
subject became extremely timely at the
opening Of Holy Week, during which the
Christian world devoted particular at.
tention to the tragic sacrifices Of Christ
upon the cross; as the mass is the con-
stent renewal of that tremendous sacri-
Gee. A brief outline Of his discourse is
here given: A Protestant, pagan or an
unbeliever, on entering a Catholic church
for the first time, during the solemnities
Of its divine service, is amazed and be-
wildPred at the scene before him. His
eyes have never before rested upon such
. scene. He sees before him an altar, on
which Lights are burning, at which the
priast iss officiating in q language and az
tsr manner ri to him. Ths
priest is clad in peculiar and strik-
ing robes. An earnest crowd Of devoted
worshippers is intent upon the move
mentsu of the priest OF the altar, fully
realizlng that an impressive and solemn
act OF religious worship is being per-
formed. As the mysterious service pro-
cseds, the earnest worshippers stand and
kneel alternately, each one, however, in
tent upon his private devotions. The
grandest music that ever vibrates upon
human ear, the unequalled compositions
OF the worlds greatest masters of song,
lends dignity and grandeur to the ele-
waiting scene. The Catholic Church
music, inspired by the genius Of melody,
is the noblest and most sublime that has
ever stirred human soul. 'Tis the Ian
guage Of heaven moving the minds and
hearts of men. No other religion has
given birth to such enchanting combina-
tion OF melody and dedicated it to the
religious services Of God. But it is the
mass that has inspired the music, not the
celesti8l song that has created the mass.
The giant intellects Of the world, like
st. Augustine, st. Thomas, Abelard,
Gallileo, Copernicus, Michael Angelo,
Guido Reni, Columbus, Martin Luther,
Shakespeare, would not have believed in
the mass and revered it as the grandest
act q divine worship, unless it's inspired
meaning could. be made clear to the hu-
man mind. ss. I'll \
aAll our Christian traditions testify
that the mass has come down to us from
the days Of the apostles. The grand
liturgy Of the church, which is the un.
impeaehable witness Of unbroken Chris
tian worship, proves. beyond ell doubt
the apostolic origin Of the mass. The
mass is offered up as the most sublime
act Of Christian worship, the only act Of
worship that can be fully worthy Of. God,
for it's God himself that Is offered il,
this wondrous saorlfice. Thepurposes OF
the sacrifice of the mass is to honor and
glorify God in the highest degree, to-
thank him for all his benefits. to satisfy
his offended majesty for hIlmsn sin and
to plead for heavens graces and bless
ings. The imposing ceremonies attend
ing this most sublime act Of religious
Worship increase our reverence exotic
our devotion, attract the soul to the
homaee of God, and eloquently express
the elnotions Of believing hearts,
The mass ls the oentre of Catholic wor-
shiip, il to The Chris han rslie ion what
the run q the l1sIysns siis % the p1anet-
NJ The source of hest and light,
os ltseng md enduring yieor Es.
. .hss hi [ of ~. q q, Is pre-
scented Il the appeall ffors j new trial Tor
Haz1s Iaywarii, has tbeln received By
| fto1nsy A- 3. Hall. Thirrttesn