The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23
Services Held at St.
Ignatius Church.
SERMON BY FATHER WOODS
SOLEMN HOMAGE TO BE PAID TO
THE LORD CHRIST.
The Project of Universal Expression
of Religious Feeling Is Fully
Approved by the
Pope.

Impressive services were held last night
at st. 1gnatius Church in accordance with
the recommendation of an international
committee, with Cardinal Jacobini at It's
head, organized to bring about 1.-The
solemn conservation of the coming CEN
tury to Jesus Christ, our Savior and King,
by the whole Catholic world" Pope Leo
XIII fully approves the project, and
agrees with representative men that there
should be solemn and universal express
sion of religious feeling in connection
Herewith.
This solemn homage will take the form
OF services of more than ordinary solem-
nifty in all the churches throughout the
world, and the fourth Sunday of the
month has been specially set aside in st.
1gnauuS with that sacred object in view.
Solemn benediction was held and dele
gates from the Gentlemens Ladies and
students, sodaltties and the League of the
Sacred Heart were present, wearing their
distinguishing badges.
Rev. Father H. j. Woods preached the
sermon on the subject "ChristS Claim
Upon Us as Our Creator" He introduced
his remarks by explaining the objects of
the work in which the whole Catholic
world is now engaged. No one," he said,
ever before heard of the conservation of
century, why then should We be prepar
ing ourselves to consecrate the coming
century to Christi The world is divided
into two camps-the camp OF Christ and
the camp of anti-ChriSt. Between the two
there is an unceaSing war, and believers
or the latter think they nave gained Such
advantages as will bring about the speedy
ruin OF the cause of Christ. They nave
taken the city Of the Popes and made it
one Of their own capitals. Governments
are in great measure in their hands and
education by which they form the minds
Of the rising generation. Why, then should
they not triumph and that speedily! In
this anticipation they claim the twentieth
century as their own, not merely the
days, weeks, months and years, but the
will
of the men who will live in them.
1--WE see now why Catholics are uniting
to consecrate the coming century TO
Christ. If their enemies nope Tor triumph
It belongs to them under God to Illustrate
that triumph. If their enemies are brac-
ing themselves to action they must actu-
ate all their own energies in opposition.
We are not cOnsecrating the mere sue
cession of time TO Christ, for that is his
already. We are conseCrating our ener-
gies. our activities, our zeal and that OF
our children and of their children yet un-
born, to the cause Of God, of his church
and of its king, Christ Jesus, the incar-
nate word by whom all things were made,
in whom by divine decree all things con-
sist, that in all things he may have the
primacy."
The international Council points out
that as this solemn homage is an act of
Christian faith, an essential part of the
preparation for 1t is an increasing of our
knowledge and love OF Christ, and it indi-
Gates three means of obtaining this in
erease-preaching, prayer and pilgrimage.
AS uniformity in the use of these means
is desirable, his Grace Archbishop Rior-
dan has offered the following practical
suggestions
One Sunday evening in every month
will be set apart in the churches on which
will be preached a special sermon directed
to the work Of preparation. A form of
prayer has been issued in this connection
to be used during benediction. Sodalities
and other societies of spiritual charac-
ter should attend the services under the
leadership of their officers. Particular
pains should be taken to prepare the
young for this great act, and a ceremony
analogous to the "Saluting of the Flag
will be practiced in our Catholic colleges
and schools and in all Sunday schools
The feast of the Most Holy Redeemer
will be celebrated with special solemnity
D., on October % or on the Sunday following.
The pilgrimage for 1899 is TO the Holy
Land. The month of October will be de-
voted to a spiritual participation in this
pilgrimage. The congregation will be led
In spirit Of fervent piety to the holy
places Of our Lords birth, life and pas
sion. In 1900 the pilgrimage will be to
Loreto and Rome, and should be made in
a similar manner.