The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-21
BISHOP CHATARD,s SERMON.
The Feast of the AnnunciatiOn Fur
nishes the Subject.


of the annunciation, one of the most widely
observed by the Catholic Church. At ST.
Johns Church last night Bishop Chatard
preached a very impressive sermon pre-
paratory to the feast A synopsis of what
he said follows
I'm few days we are to celebrate the
feast of the annunciation of the blessed
Virgin Mary, when the angel told her she
was to be the mother of the Messiah. The
Importance of the feast leads me to speak
of it, 1t is the initial feast, we may say
of all our feasts, for Easter and Christmas
follow from it logically. 1t is important too
for another reason, The divinity OF Christ
is assailed nowadays, and the literature of
the day ignores the divinity of Christ and
speaks of it as a, dogma that has seen it's
day. We must be prepared to defend it,
and to give a reason for our faith. The
Importance of. the Teaching demands this.
That Importance cannot be exaggerated
When q great event that makes an epoch
is commemoratedI, all that led up to it, all II
placed before us, that we may appreciate
its value.
the elevation of Charlemagne, by, deeds.
and the consequences are carefully mar
rated, that we appreciate him and his prov
idential work. 1t like manner this infiu-
ence, that led to the formation of our
Union, the providential work of Washing
ton, the consequent adoption of our, Con-
stitution that not only has gained the re-
spect of the world but the admiration of
the great pontiff--who rules the ehurch-all
derstand better the remarkable movement
inaugurated and carried out.
Ascending higher we. see Moses-the
prophet of God selected for his work. 1t
was foretold four hundred years before that
the Israelites would be brought out of bond
age. Joseph knew it, We have still more
coming Of Christ. we must expect to see
it foreshadowed more conspicuously, oc-
curing with circumstances of greater note,
and more pregnant in results. 1t was
prophesied in the garden of Eden. All ma
lions were to be blessed in Abraham; in
Isaac; in Jacob; in Juda; in the House or
FINALLY, when Achog, the King of Judea,
was with the House of David threatened
place, son of Romelia, King OF Israel,
the Propset Isaias was told by God to go
meet Achog; encourage him and give him tna
a sign. AS Achog would have no sign the
prophet turned from him to the House of
David-his family that surrounded him, and
addressing them used the. words of our
text: Behold a virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and he will be called Emanuel.
THE importance of this text cannot be
a virgin in Hebrew is alma. This word
means a young woman living a retired,
hidden life in the house of her father, who
has not known man. There are other words
TO designate young woman-in Hebrew,
naara--a young woman marr1ageaDle,
without regard to virtue; bethula, a young
woman who is a virgin in the order of ma
ture, though absolutely she may not be
such; and alma, virgin really such IN
but seven times in the whole Of the Scrip
lures, and in every instance means the
virgin in the sense have given: Rosen-
muller admits that the usage of language
demands this meaning. Martin Luther Of
fered a hundred forms to any Jew or
Hebrew scholar who would show the con-
trary; he defied them to give any other
meaning but virgin Voltare, unfortunately
for himself, undertook to speak of this text,
| times in Scripture. and in Ruth and Joel
was used in the sense of a woman not a
virgin. The fact is it is found only seven
| times in holy writ-and no time in Ruth or
| Joel. Rosenmuller's attempt to explain
| away the prophecy by saying there was a
| virgin standing by, to who the prophet re-
| ST Paul in the second chapter of
Hebrews, Verse 3, cites the words
Of the prophet showing that ,,, the
| the two of his own and the third that of
| the virgin who was to be born ages after.
| He saws Christ shared their nature, human
| nature. not the human nature of one This
| does away with Rosenmuller's supposition
| of the virgin, imagined present, being the
mother of the second child Makers challal.
This prediction also was a sign and a
| source of courage to the house of David,
| for it assured them that they would not
be destroyed, as the Messiah was, to be
| born of the house of David in a period yet
! afar off This they believed and the recall
| ing of this belief gave the confidence that
| was interpreted by the evangelists. Mat
thew saying that son should be born to
| a virgin whose name should be called Elm
manuel God with us, Mat. i, 2O-23. Luke
| showed in most unmistakable language that
the angel appeared to virgin. the refer
ence to another pointing clearly to Mary s
cousin Elizabeth, Luke i, 31-35. Christ there
| fore was foretold as one to be born of a
| virgin-to be God with us-and this gospel
narrative tells us he was so born and that
| he was called Jesus-whose reign was to
be eternal. and he was to. save his people
from their sins.
The discourse ended with a recommends
ton to the bishops hearers to trust in the
power and intercession of the mother of
Christ all powerful with Him.