The record-union., 1895-04-29

| ator; let us go among them and sing
tnere 10 our Lord the canonical hours"
But the birds sang in such NUM- bers
that st. Francis and his companion could
not hear each others voices as they
chanted alternately the divine Office. 4 nd
! St. Francis spoke to this novel choir:
! Sister birds, leave off your songs till we
have made an end of paying our Lord
HIS due praises" And the birds were
silent until the saint had finished his
prayer. and then they sang as before.
Ihere Is one who, in every deed, found
COO verywhere-who is by all revered
as man of God. And yet this man de-
parts not from the experience of the ages
that had gone before him, but gathers to-
gether a chosen band and sends them
throughout the world TO build churches
III Inc spirit OF divinity gifted Solomon,
wondering that the Divine Majesty whom
heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot
| contain should be pleased to dwell in
special manner in the houses set apart for
| DIS worship by the sons of men.
His first call to work publicly for our
Lord was by voice which thrice said to
MIN, as he prayed before the crucifix in
the church OF st. Damian: Francis, go
and repair my house, which thou seest
Is failing" The church was indeed old
and Fastening to decay At first
father, he was obliged to renounce the
inheritance that would otherwise have
peen his, and which he would gladly
have expended in rebuilding the house
OF COO, but, dlsinherited and cast off by
ms family, he became poor for Jesus
Cnflst, carrying stones upon his own
shoulders; and, helped by the generous
aims OF those who were moved by his
example, he brought his work to sue
cessful termination.
Ihe same he did for the Church of ST.
Peter, and then he set about the restora-
tlon OF the ruined and deserted Church of
ST. Mary Of the Angels, where he took
up his abode, and where some time
after he set about establishing his world
famed order-ever foremost in spreading
religion and civilization among bgrbarOus
nations, anu enjoying the enviable dis
tlnctlon OF having been shown in "a vision
to Pope Innocent III. as a pillar OF the
church. But why was il that the man so
true'a lover OF God in nature should labor
SO strenuously in repairing and build
ing temples in which mankind might
worship? 1t was because he we'll knew
the condition and the needs OF men.
we must not be mere theorists, but
must have regard even for the weak
nesses and Observation-Disclosures of our
nature. The world is indeed Gods
grandest temple, but alas how often
denied by the sins and crimes and
WayWardness of mani The world is
Gods noblest temple. but how easy for
US, IN the daily routine of life, to over
look Gods presence. God is ever within
us and around us. but let US confess it, in
the sincerity of our consciences, that sell
dom if ever do we practically realize that
truth.
Hence 1t is that special places have been
set apart for Gods worship, TO curb the
Wanoerlngs of our fancy and enable US
the more easily to render Him His need
OF praise. The church is Gods house.
We bend our steps thither TO deal more
Ielsurely with Him. The altar. the sacred
pictures, the solemn chant, all act on the
soul, ana sense of reSt!ul peace steals in
to strengthen us in our battles with the
world. But for we who believe in the real
presence of God in the Holy Eucharist
there Is SILL more powerful reason for
the erection of churches. In our taber-
nacles is the Goldman abiding-the same
genie, loving Savior that centuries ago
loved, and suffered, and died in tar-off
Judea.
Could we listen to His loving complaint
that THE foxes have holes, and the birds
OF the air have nests, but the Son OF God
has not whereou to lay His head" and
not otier ourselves all that we are and all
that we have to prepare Him a fitting
aDlulng-place? Would not our con-
sciences reproach Us, as David's con-
science reproached him, and force from
our lips the cry: behold! l live in a
house of goodly proportions, and Christ,
my Savior, IN a hovel. 1 in honor and
de in shame?"
1t is with this voice of love that I would
have you, my brethren, give generously
TO GOD, rather than that lie will never be
outdone In generosity, and for the one
seed that you cast in His name will re-
turn hundred fold. No, give to God
for His own sake, and because you are
but stewards TO whom more or less is
lent to traffic with until He, the Master
OF all, shall come for the reckoning. Let
him that has more give of his abundance,
ana him that has less give of his poverty.
The eyes that looked benevolently on the
widows mite, and the lips that praised
her generous sacrifice, are living realities
here 10 see and praise your own.
The things Of this world should indeed
be to us ladder Of Jacob, binding earth
to Heaven, up and down which angels of
brightness alone are passing. But to
many OF US, alas, they are but a ladder
leading to the fathomless abyss, along
which angels of darkness hasten to take
US further from God.
Father Riordan closed his sermon with
an earnest and eloquent appeal to ali to
give generously, according to their
means, toward defraying the cost Of the
new church building and the improve
ments connected with it,