The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-07
Diocese of Los Angel

done even through sore suffering and unto
death.
Father Yorke pictured the failings of the
present day and generation, and con-
tinued;
A great battle is now being waged between
truth and calumny-a contest between right
and wrong. The ideas of modern progression
are often antagonistic to and against God and
his Gospel. Let US not deceive ourselves by
imagining that the life OF amodern Christian
is less exacting than in the days of the mar
tyrs. We have, 1t is true, outgrown the ak,
fagot and stake, but the duties and vigils of a
Christian life require all the care, attention
and rectitude of the earlier times. We should
and vanity-common and besetting sins-the
lusts of the flesh and the snares lurking in the
pomp and praise of the world
Men are often led away from the paths Of
Christian rechtude by the allurements OF q
political life. The environments of politics
often blind well-intenuoned citizens to their
real duties in this life. With these things for
gotten or ignored society loses much of what
such an individual may be capable of doing in
the line Of duty to the Christian life. 1t may
be, alas, the love OF the mighty dollar which
has lured the man away from career that is
truly Christian. This is a common and de-
plorable fact. 1t is well to remember that the
requirements OF religious life are unchange-
able. Nothing that society may do or progress
suggest can abate a single duty we owe to re-
ligion. The law remains, those who obey shall
be saved; those who are in violation of it shall
be lost.
Catholics, furnished with Mammon wor-
ship, forget the honor due their holy mother
church. Can it be true that men are so grow
cling as to deny the church into which they
were baptized? There has been no society so
grand as the Catholic church from the days of
the martyrs down TO the present In past
ages princes kings and others in high author
ity have tried to put her down, but could not
even soil her spotless robe. Why, then, should
you shirk your duty or be ashamed of that
mother whose faithful dutfful children you
should be only too glad to acknowledge your
selves? Her record is a glorious, splendid
one. Is fitting, therefore, that on an occa-
sion like this our thoughts should be turned
to the church our forefathers estab lished CEN
tu1ies and centuries ago.
All honor to those jealous pioneers who
paved the way tor what we now en- joy-the
blessed fruit of a religious lifel When the
history of those early times shall be adequately
written by competent hands then the need of
praise which is justly the due of these exalted
and pious men shall be accorded them
But the time has come for new order of
things; for those who speak the English Ian
guage 10 take control of the great Interest of
this diocese. A new commonwealth has
grown up with new population. These are
the changes of the times which must be rec
ognized.
To-day new bishop takes his place among
you. BY the will Of the holy father he is to
take charge of this great work. 1t is his privi-
lege to take possession of the foundation which
has been laid so broad and deep by his prede-
cessors he has now come to build the super
structure. Him we know and greatly admire
ms coming 10 you IS our loss. We know OF his
zeal. his ability and his un firing devotion to
the welfare of his people.
We almost grudge him to you. ask you to
strengthen his hands. His priests are about
him to sustain and help MIN; set your hearts
TO the self same task.
His is no easy work. He has great warfare
ahead of him. Let him realize IN his very soul
that every one OF you are loyal to him and to
the church. Let him feel that you are a friend
OF your Bishop, of his church, and then there
are no heights to which you may not attain
under his leadership. Finally let him under
stand that you are always with him in every
good act and word, and that he need only to
stretch forth his hands to accomplish his great
work,