The sun., 1897-11-22

the hands of the most skilled artificer
of the time, and when this great build
ing was erected and furnished with al
the wealth of man, God was plcasct
with it, for it spoke of his peoples faith
But this building in all its grandeur was
but mere t,pe of the Christian edilic'
to come, with the one true sacrifice. II
the Catholic Church we have Christ
truly, really and substantially, present
on our affairs and without the real pres.
ence, the grandest piece OF architecture
is but tomb, as is the case with West
minister Abbey to-day, 1t was rc-
served for Christianity to provide
God with noble cdiIicee in which he
might dwell sacramcntal y, making them
actually veStibule- Of heaven. When.
ever Christianity has been established,
then soon sprang up architecture crea-
tions inspired by faitlI, built for the pur-
pose OF connecting earth and heaven.
The visitor to the Catholic countries OF
Europe to-day is lost in admiration as he
stands before some grand Cathedral
built in the eyes Of faith. lie sees
there the grand altar at which holy
mass is offered, the same mass that
was offered the apostles, the same
mass that was celebrated in the cat;l-
combs in times of Roman persecution
more than fifteen centuries ago, the same
mass that was offered by the Catholic
priest and monk in Westminster Abbey
in the days Of Edward, the Confcssoa,
and the same mass which your beloved
bishop offers to-day in this beautiful edi-
flee erected by your generosity to the
honor and glory of God.
1t is this faith that has consecated all
the arts to the service OF religion, making
them her handmaids.
A visit to these grand monuments Of
faith and picty will convince all that we
love the glory Of Gods house and the
place where he dwclls.
And yet all these noble edifccs con-
stitute the expressive, sign, language,
which God uses to reach the heart of
man.
The real sanctuary is the heart, when
God alone is worshippcd. God has
made the heart capable of loving him
and the penalty for neglec4ing this is
the loss of happiness. As st. Augustine
says our hearts are made for God and
can never be happy except in loving
Him. Evcrthing in this beautiful house
of sacrifice and prayer bcspeaks
our love for God, our loving faith in
Him, our profound alteration Of Him.
This cditicc to day is rcdedicted to the
true service Of God, and while we con-
gratulate ourselves on this memorable
and joyous occasion, let lis also dedicate
our hearts unrcservcdly to God As God
is The Only occupant of the tabernacle,
so let Him he the only object OF our
hearts affections. Let us cherish the
hope that all who are assembled here to-
day to worship God really present on
this alter, may for all eternity sing His
praises in heaven.
Bishop Monaghan then turned to the
vast congregation and paid a high COM
piment to Father NJ. X. Fallon, for his
untring devotional zeal in his high work
as pastor of st. Paul. He also paid a
tribute to Father Quigley, the assistant.
Continuing, the bishop said that he
hoped that the day would not be far dis
tant when he would be called upon by the
people of the church to consecrate
St. Pau's.
The reading of the litany, which
followed, was the preliminary opening
of the forty hours of devotion. The
blessed sacrament was exposed and the
services which are commemorative of
Christ's suffering were bugun. They
will conclude on Tuesday evening.
At vesper services last night the
new Church was crowded and
Father Flynn assisted by Fathers Fallon
and Quigley otficiated at the benediction
)f the sacrament Rev. NJ. Y.
Fallon, pastor of the church
an intellectual service.
His subject was "Thc Bible,' and in
l most interesting and instructive man
,er he carried his hearers through the
wonderful "Book of Books,' explaining
he many different situations described
herein
The program was as follows:
1890 o'clock.
)rgan prelude Sclumann
isperges Palestrina
rriumphal chorus, "praisc the Father
Gounod
F,ntree de Procession Schumann
Mass, "Non La lIache' Gounod- Marco
Vcni Creator, arranged by L. B. Preston
Dedicatory sermon by the Rev. Dennis J.
Flynn. :
)ffertory, "Salve O, Mater" . . Haydn
.ntermezzo, ave Maria (vioIin)Gouno
Professor George Albert.
'ostIude, 'IIallclujah" Handel
Mary Conner-Preston,
Miss Mary A. McNulty, Miss Anna
Long, Mcssrs. William +. McNulty, ,
John J. Gilbride, Joseph f. McCafferty
and John A. MahOney.