The times., 1899-05-29
THE FESTIVAL OF
THE HOLY TRINITY
Solemn High Mass Sung by
Archbishop Martinelli.
The Services Attended With Pomp
and 0StentatiOn.
The Rev. Father Dewitt, :. J.. De-
Iivers an Interesting Sermai on
the Dogma of the Church.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church yesterday
morning at II o'clock by Archbishop Mar
tinelli Apostolic Delegate TO the United
States. in commemoration OF the titular
festival of the Holy Trinity, which was
observed in all Catholic Churches
The service was attended with much
pomp and ostentation in consequence of
the presence of the Archbishop. The
canopy, draped in yellow and white, the
papal colors, was placed at the left Of the
altar. around which the attending priests
were grouped. Rev. James D. Whitney,
S. J., and Rev John A. Galligan, 5. j.,
ofiiciated as deacon and subdeacon, re-
spectively. and Rev. Hector Papi, S. j.,
assisted the ceIebrant in singing the mass
The masters of ceremonies were James A.
Mullin and Patrick a. Ford.
During the service, the following pro-
gramme was rendered by the choir: ''As
perges Me, Domino" Wiegand; 'Kyrie
Eleison," Gloria in Excesis," 'Credo, y
"Sanctus ct Benedictus, and "Agnus Del.
from Mercadante's mass in fiat; "Veni
Creator" from Handel, soprano solo, Mrs.
Armand Gumprecht. AT the offertory, 70
Guam Suavis,' Cagliero; trio for soprano,
alto, and bass, Mrs. Gumprecht, Miss Nc
dered in magnificent style, the solo number
being especially good. The choir. which
was under the direction of Harry Howard,
comprised the following: Quartette, Mrs.
Armand Gumprecht, soprano; Miss G.
Edith Mccoy, alto; Mr.. John c. Weidman,
tenor, and Mr.. Joseph C. Murray, bass.
Chorus, Misses Rose Kearney, Mary Kear-
ney, Maggie Sweeney, Kittie Doering
Mary Harnedy. Nellie Sullivan. Gertrude
TFn IT.lsy Tay1fa limo
Dora Collins, and Mrs. Virginia Maher;
Messrs. Weidman, Murray, Grau, Cannon,
and Maher. Harry Wheaton Howard,
| organist and director.
The Rev Father Dewitt, S. J., preached
an interesting sermon on the Mystery of
the Holy Trinity after reading the gospel
of the day He spoke of the fundamental
dogma of the Church which placed three
persons in one God and one God in three
| persons. He told how Christianity had
| not been understood until the day of Pen
| tecost, when Gods light was given to the
nations and the teachings of Christ began
| TO be spread Inasmuch as the dogma of
our Church requires thorough knowledge
of the Trinity and that salvation depends
| upon our belief in it, the Church has al
ways taught three persons in one God.
| one God in three persons" So is the holy
sacrament conferred by the invocation of
|
and the Holy Ghost. The mystery OF the
! Holy Trinity does not consist of faith in
the truth. but in the understanding of the
| three Gods without confoundment AS
| God is the Father so is the Son. and so
| also is the Holy Ghost. Therefore the Fa-
| ther is the God, the Son is the God. and
| the Holy Ghost is God, while all of them
| are Almighty God to be praised, reyered,
and loved. We ask how is it possible that
there are three persons in one God and
one God in three persons? The Church
cannot explain. If it could the mystery
would cease. God has said, so far shall
you come, but no farther; so far shall
you know, but no farther" We cannot
comprehend Gods wondrous ways. He
may do things, but We may not under
stand. 1t is his to give and he may give
when he pleases.
The only question, continued the speaker,
that concerns us is Has God really spok-
en?" When We know this all other cares
may be brushed aside. as we are not bound
to understand his workings. There can be
| no conflict between revelation and science.
| God is truth, and truth can not conflict
with truth. 1t is absurd TO think that there
! is no truth beyond the power of mans in
vestigations, which is especially true re-
| garding the Holy Trinity. We can not
start with what we know OF the creation
and travel back TO the Creator But we
must start with God and come down. We
| know Creator must be and science can
not disproye it. An example of the truth
| of the Holy Trinity was given by ST. Pat
rick before one of the Irish kings. He
wanted to illustrate the doctrine of the
| three persons in one Cod, and one God in
three persons, so he took to the king a
shamrock and showed the three leaves
growing from the one stem. While his
example was crude and would not have
served in these days, it was sufficient to
convince the king of his idea. When We
! have left this world and reach the gates
OF heaven we shall see God and understand
| Until then we must love and obey him
in order to reach his holy presence.