The herald., 1896-05-04
At the Cathedral

At the Cathedral
The sermon at vespers in the Cathed-
raj yesterday was preached by the Rev.
Father Noonen, who took for his text
the words Of st. Luke, And the name of
the Virgin was Mary" The preacher
pointed out that the institution of the
name was divine; 1t was from God Him.
self. The name embodies a wondrous
idea and presents q wondrous person.
The speaker divided his discourse into
three subjects for consideration; first,
how exalted the name was: secondly, a
few of it's many significations, land, third
ly, the wonderful effects from the fire.
quent invocation of the name. God ex-
tracted the name from the treasures of
His divinity, and as pronounced by him
how different was 1t from its usage by
men. The name possessed an eminent
dignity and an Incompatible signifi-
canoe. God alone was it's author and
could alone comprehend it's full signifi-
canoe. In Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac,
Greek and Latin, all conspired to give
it different interpretation. There were
many deriviations for it, but perhaps
the most satisfactory was the suggestion
stella Maris." the star of the sea.
Mary had nobly been called our guide
to the port of safety and to the shores
OF our true fatherland. The ship was
the cross and Mary the bright, guiding
star. Again, she had been called the
illumination of the world. Another in
depreciation was the bitterness of the
sea-" and the Blessed Virgin tasted, in
deed. Of the bitter waters.of sorrow and
tears. Mary is the only name amongst
the multiplicity that others use which
st. Luke applies to the Virgin and thus
emphasizes the singularity of the name,
even as also he always speaks OF Our
Lord as Jesus; despite all the names and
titles given by the prophets this name
embraces them all. The frequent invo-
cation of the name Mary would prove
10y to the heart, honey to the mouth
and music to the ear; 1t would be found
to be the panacea Of all ills. This world
was one vast hospital where men weep
and suffer: all mans trials and all his
sufferings can alone be wiped away by
one single word-the name of Mary. By
the constatn invocation Of the. Blessed
Virgin passing clouds will fade away.
The preacher accepted the interpreta-
ton Of st. Ambrose as to Christ's utter
ance Of the word Mary" In answer to
Mary Magdalene. believing thatHe spoke
the name Of His mother. The greatest
sinner could be redeemed II baptised in
the name Of Mary. The name of those
we love is always in our mouth. and the
use of the name of Mary is as necessary
as the breath of the air. It's continual
use Is a constant endowment that we
live in grace. In temporal trials and diff
f1culties, in tears and tribulations, in
yoke the name of the Mother of Sorrows.
who loves us with a love only surpassed
by God Catholics and Christians buoyed
up by thrice blessed hope should honor
her always in public and private, in the
heart as on the lips. Let her name be
spoken with reverence and devotion.
Thesophical
Mr.. H. B. Leader lectured to a large
audience at the Odd Fellows hall last
evening on the subject of Providence,
Chance or What?" The speaker said in
part:
The teachings of Jesus nowhere admit
Of what the modern churches call a spe-
cial providence. On the contrary. he
was emphatic in his declarations of law.
With what measure we mete, it shall be
measured to you again, and Judge not
that We be not judged; inasmuch as We
have done it unto the least of one of
these ye have done it unto me. The par
BILE of the talents also points to the same
idea, viz: the government of the uni
verse according to law. In Matthew we
are told, For every word that man shall
speak he shall give an account. st. Paul
says, Brethren, be not deceived; God is
not Knocked, for whatsoever q man sows
that also shall he reap. And yet there
are people so deluded by the systems
built up by priesthoods as to believe that
sins can be wiped out. forgetting that
effects cannot be wiped out; these cred
ulous folk do not understand that action
and reaction are equal and in opposite
directions, and that this law applies on
all planes, mental, moral and psychic as
well as physical; If they did they would
never expect to be able to shift their
just debts on to the shoulders of another,
and SO sneak into a heaven they have
not deserved.
This law of Karma, or exact Justice
and retribution, is believed in today by
800 1000, 900 of human beings, two-thirds
OF the human race, and has been held as
an accepted truism by the majority of
the race throughout all ages II the
teachings Of Jesus had been fully UNDER
stood. the doctrine of the atonement
would never have survived from Juda-
ism. to which it belongs; but it has suit
ed the priesthoods Of the world to incul-
cate such belief in order that their
power might be consolidated.
The whole of science, from the time Of
Galileo to the present day, is an affirma-
tion of the reign Of law; from the atom
to the solar system, everything proceeds
from cause to effect in cyclic routine.
and the farther we go the more evident
and certain this becomes, so that chance
has become the refuge Of ignorance.