The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-27
THE FIRST LENTEN Sermon
Delivered at St. Peters Cathedral by
Rev. j. A. Mcnugh.
EMPHASIZES GOOD EXAMPLE
Tho Only Evil In the World II When Man
Turus Ills Back on God for the vsni-
tics of This world-Fssting and
Prayer Necessary for Salvation.

Rev. j. A. McHugh preached the first
sermon of the Lenten devotions at the
cathedral last evening. The church
was crowded and the large congrega-
tion was highly edited by the impress
siVe and eloquent discourse of the
speaker. The text was from the Lam
entation of Jeremias and was: BE
aStonished, o ye heavens! for my peO-
pie have done two evils. They have
forsaken me, the fountain of living
waters, and have digged to themselves
cisterns, broken cisterns which hold no
water"
Father McHugh gave very scholar
ly sermon on this subject. He held that
the only evil is the one deplored by the
prophet. where people turn their back
on the Lord and forsake Him to busy
themselves with the vanities of the
world.
We are all sinners and must do PEN
ance or shall all likewise perish. There
is no getting around this fact. God
placed us in the world: He thought OF
us from all eternity and has created
US. After creating us He has given life
by coming down from heaven and dying
ON the cross of Calvary.
The glories of the world are like a
skyrocket; it goes up in the air and
breaks forth into many beautiful colors,
but it returns to the earth in nothing
ness. ts..
-
the end that God has destined us for
and every means is given that We may
reach that end; what does ii profit a
man to gain everything but the object
OF his creation?
SEASON OF PENANCE.
Therefore, to overcome the tempta-
tions of the world. in this season of
penance, we must fast and pray. EV-
cry sin that is committed Is cruci-
fiXiOn over again of the divine savior;
we turn our back upon Him and we are
cruel and unSrateful as the Jews have
been.
We do not realize 1t nor can we real
ize it until we depart from this world
and come face to face with our Father.
What have we done here? Have we
gone on for the purpose of acquiring
riches and wealth? Is that the end for
which we We're created? If so, we'll and
good, go on; but if we are here to save
our souls we must feed the soul with
prayer and with the good works that
are within our reach.
The speaker dwelt upon the idea that
some people have of the way they think
God will be satisfied Some think that
it is all right If they say few prayers
in the morning and go to mass every
Sunday and in an outward way appear
as good Catholics.
This will not do: God is jealous and
even when we turn our back upon Him
the mercy He extends invites us back
while we are in the act of offending
Him.
st. Augustine says that we were Gre
ated without our own consent, but we
will not be saved without our consent.
TO be saved we must adopt the means
furnished to us, and the most efficacious
is prayer.
ON GOOD EXAMPLE.
The speaker laid stress on the neces-
sity of being of good life not only for
our own good. but also for the example
shown to others. The person who leads
a bad life has an awful responsibility
on his soul: he is not only sending his
own immortal soul to eternal punish
ment but a number of others who have
been led away by the force of example.
On the last day. when mankind APP
pears to be judged for the actions of
this life. God will then appear in the
light of justice; mercy will no longer be
extended and there will be an account
ing for every moment of our life.
The Judge will not then appear as He
does now in robes of forgiveness Fa-
ther McHugh eXhOrted his hearers to
hasten to the Savior in the present time,
not to delay 1T until too late.
After the sermon the reverend speak,
err impaired benediction of the blessed
c. nj m