The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-01-07
Chapel Services.

Catholic services were held in the
prison chapel Sunday, Rev. Father
Corcoran officiating. The hymn "Pre-
cious Promise" sung by the congrega-
ton opened the services. The lesson
for the day, the first Sunday of the new
year. was taken from Romans XII. 1-5
and the gospel from Luke II. 42-45.
After the choir singing the anthem
Scatter Sunshine Father Corcoran
preached sermon appropriate to the
new year, saying in part:
We have now entered upon the du-
ties Of a new year; another division of
time has begun, carrying us along
nearer to the end of the journey of life.
1t is time for reflection, when our
thoughts dwell on the past, with its
memories of the good we have done,
the evil we have committed and the
opportunities that have been embraced
or neglected. AT this season, we should
review our failings, resolve to resist
the temptations that nOurish them and
endeavOr to correct the bad and i'm
prove what is good in our characters.
TO study the causes that effect wrong
is to guard against it and prepare the
mind and heart for what is right, noble
and God like. The strength for resist
ing temptation and guiding thought,
word and action into channels Of sim
cere devotion to Gods purpose, comes
from hating sin, avoiding its influences
and refusing to mingle with its associ
ations, together with the following of
the precepts and examples of right
eOuSneSS which are the underlying
principles of the religion of Christ.
Life becomes easier and happier for
us as we learn to sweeten it with good
acts Virtue has more beauty, more
happiness and more blessings than
vice; the one is bright star that guides
safely and serenely, the other the dark
selfish love of base pleasures that lure
and wreck on the rocks of sin. TO cling
to one and avoid the other is the duty,
heaven and selfimposed, which we
must keep in mind if we hope to attain
the rewards promised in this life and
the spiritual one, beyond the grave
The sense of freedom we enjoy when
released from the letters of bad habits,
of thought and body, is the immediate
reward gained by the change from vice
to virtue, and the more thorough the
change the greater the degree of free
dom. Dwelling on what is beautiful,
sincere and righteous, inspires love and
reverence for them, teaches their value
as moral helps for building good char
acter and brings us into sympathy with
the purer and higher life which we are
now preparing for and which is to be
gained only by devotion to the good
and forsaking what is bad.
Some of us who are now beginning
the new year will, perhaps, be num-
bered with the departed. We can not
peer into the yelled changes the year
may have in store. 1t may be fraught
Will veal VI WOc, llllCH VI llCJlc. UUJ III
has it's opportunities for improvement,
and as they are taken advantage of. i'm
that measure will the year be one of |
profit. We know not which one of us
may be summoned to our Maker to
give account Of the lives we are now
living, the talents and faculties with |
which we have been entrusted and the
acts, good or bad, that have marked |
our course in our dealings with others.
The duty before us is to make the year
now dawning one in which we can look
back at its close with pleasure and not
regret, JOY and not sorrow, hope and
not despair. Every little endeavor for
good, every resolution we'll kept and
every thought prOmotive Of charity
and responsive sympathy to those in
distress bring us nearer to the One who
is now pleading, but who in the end
will be our memorable Judge.
The services closed by the congrega-
ton singing the gospel hymn ''The
Precious Name" /