The times., 1897-06-10

! pe1ehce anu pniiosopny concerning the
temporal affairs OF men In the capacity OF
citizens OF the state
In disnissing the graduates Cardinal
Gibbons addressed them as follows:
Among the many institutions exist
ing in this diocese, there is none that
has given me more concern and anxiety
than the Catholic University.
From the day of its foundation to
the present hour, it has been to me an
object of fatherIy solicitusfe. / have re-
joiced in its prosperity and have grieyed
at every v!cissltude of adversely through
which it has passed. And now, when I
contemplate around me so many evidences
of its healthy growth and progress, my
heart is enlarged. and / am filled with
| profound gratitude to Almighty God.
81 congratulate you, gentlemen of the
| lay department. on the merited hcnors
which have been conferred upon you to-
Gay. What Is the greatest need of our
times? Is 1t churches? Certainly, tenn
| pies ofprayer are necessary for the preach
| ing of the gospel and for the decent per-
| formance of divine worship: but our
| fathers worshiped in the catacombs, and
| they were excellent Christians Is II
! schools that we need? These, indeed. are
| most important for the development of
! Christian faith in the rising generations
| But what would they avail IL we had
| not ingenious Christian youth to fire.
| quent them? Is it hospitals and asyIums
| that are most needed? These, indeed, also
| contribute most effectually toward the
mitigation OF human sufferings
''The great need OF our times are men
sturdy, upright men; men of character;
men who have the courage OF their coa
victions. We need men who are guided
by conscience rather than by expetliency:
men that are controlled by principles
rather than by popularity; men that walk
in the path OF duty rather than of self
interest, but men, above all, OF Christian
faith, and who are ready to profess their
faith and live up to Its teachings In the
face OF obioquy and derision. But this
force of character requires no smai, degree
OF moral courage and heroisrn. Many
man who would run up TO the cannou's
mouth has quailed before the shafts Of
sueers and ridicule. / hope. young gen.
tlemen, that you VIII be always guided
by such principles. aud remember that
your success in life is not to be guagtt
by the accumulation of wealth aud hOnors
that may be poured upon you. but by
faithful attachment to conscience and
duty.
Allow Gle, Rev Fathers, 10 congratulate
you also Oh the dlgnities bestowed upon you
To-Day. The Success of your ministry viii
largely depend upon your thorough appre
/. Ciatlon OF the dignity and responsibility of
your sacred office. How sublime is the
message you have to communicate 70 the
peoplei How far-reaching its applicafil-
ityl How awe inspiring Is your authority!
You viii not discuss from your pulpits sub
jects or transitory or political nature, IN
less moral issue is involved In them. The
same decalogue that Moses proclaimed On
Mount Sinai is the decalogue that you will
preach to the people. The same prophetic
warnings which the prophets uttered on
the mountains and valleys OF Judea; the
same gospel of peace which Christ preached
upon the Mount; the same lessons
Of morality that the Apostles pro
claimed throughout the Roman empire. this
is the Gospel that you viii preach from
January To December. You will speak Of
God and distributes; OF God whocreated |
all things by His power: who governs ali |
things by His wisoom. whose superintenJ- |
ing providence watches over the affairs of !
this world, froInthe greatest TO the smallest |
You viii spce& OF man, and of his dignity |
and responsibility: of his origin and des |
tiny, and of the means or attaining IT. |
You viii speak only those great eternal |
truths which have engrossed the at /
tention OF philosophers in every age. These |
were indeed probeus which they could not |
solve without the light of Revelation They |
were always Learning, and never attain |
ing to the knowledge OF the truth.
Another feature OF the message which |
you viii proclaim to the people ls it's
universal applicability. There is vast |
difference between a political discourse
and a sermon Of "a Catholic priest. The
influence OF a political harangue depen Is
on circumstances OF time and place and |
on the political bias of the hearers. The
memorable discourse of Mr.. Bryan at the
Chicago convention, which was hailed by
his audience with shouts of applause and
adhesion. was condemned In New York and
London as seditious aud incendiary. But
the gospel which you VIII preach Is not
affected by circumstances Of time or place
or person It's influence is not restricted
by State lines or national boundaries. 1t
has the same intrinsic force in Toxic and
Pekin which il possesses in New York or
in Paris II appeals as foTcibly 10 the
conscience of the nineteenth century as 1t
|
because the truths which it contains are
based upon the eternal and Interchangeable
law of God Then reflect how great is
your authority.
"The trumpet of the Gospel, unlike the
teachings OF the philosophers, gives out
no uncertain sound. Yol can say with
all the earnestness Of the prophets OF
old, Thus saith the Lord" Like your
Divine Master, you VIII speak as one bav-
ing authority, and not as the scribes and
phaIisees. But you carry This power and
grace in earthen vessels. that the excel !
lence may be of God and not Of your |
selves. You will stand before the altar
IN Gods sanctuary, clothed with gorgeous
that these robes may
never be soiled or tanished by your sins
and delinquencies-but that the splendor
Of the external ornaments may be the re-
Election of your private life. The Lord |
puts into your hands the sword Of the
spirit, which is the word of God but this
sword will be blunted If it Is not sherp-
en- ed and tempered in the fire CT the Holy
Ghost.
pray that you may be clothed with al
the panoply of Christian warrior, wear
ing the helmet of SALVATION having on the
breastpIate OF Justice; bearing on your
arm the shield of faith; having your loins
girt with truth and your feet shod with the
Of the gospel of peace. God
mas endowed you with mental capacity |
above the ordinary standard. and your in
5ellect has been developed and improved |