The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-07
THE APOSTLES CREED.
SUBJECT OF LECTURES IN CATHE-
ORAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

SUBJECT OF LECTURES IN CATHE-
1irst of Them on 81 Believe" DeIiv-
cred by Rev. Father p. A. Halpin,
< J.-Lectures to Be Continued
Until June-Bishop Kelley and
Father r.. +. kennedy Also to De-
liver Some of the series-Father
HaIpin Professor of Logic ana
philosophy at st. Xavier's.
Rev. Father P. A. Halpin, S. j.,
professor of logic and philosophy, and
for a time connected with st. Xavier's,
New York, but who is now in Savan-
nah on account of his health, has be-
gun at the Cathedral of st. John the
Baptist a series of sermons on the
Apostles Greed, one of which will be
delivered each Sunday night by Father
Halpin, Bishop Kelley or Father r. F.
Kennedy.
At the request of many Of his hear
ers Father Halpin consented to the
publication of the first address of which
the following is in part:
Il believe"-The Apostles Greed, ex-
plains St. Augustine on this subject,
is the simple short and comprehensive
summary of our faith. In it's simplic-
ity it suits the most uneducated: by
its brevity it relieves the memory of
an extraordinary BURDEN and it's full
ness is such that the necessary and
fundamental truths are all included in
uy11o OF all
for the Catholic to admit is referable
and reducible to some or other head in
it.
Being couched in human language.
it is clear, systematic and permanent.
Clear-each word telling it's own story
in accents that cannot mislead: Sys-
tematic-it begins with the first of all
facts, Gods existence, and comprises
the progress of man from his creation
till he reaches his term in eternity
1t commences with the first super
natural act of man, which is an act of
faith, and closes with the perfect out
come of that act, which is charity pos
sessing God in everlasting life.
Whether we consider it as a reve-
lation of God to man, or refer it to its
divinely appointed custodian-the
Church it is permanent. 1t was no
beautiful morning tracery shaped by
the finger of the frost, to be kissed
away by the first beam of the morning
sun; but solid structure built on i'm
perlShaole foundations, and guarded
by the strong arm of that unique SOW
ereignty we call the Church. The only
organization that will survive the
wreck of things--the solitary exception
in favor of which has been issued-a
divine decree preventing the gates of
He'll from prevailing against it.
Time and change which make such
sad havoc with all other things, leave
unchanged every feature of the divine
truth. Neither has, it been a reed
shaken by the wind-but an oak lift
ing all its branches skywards-with
shade for those overcome by the bur-
dens, and fresh springs for those
athirst under the heat of the day.
Storms pass over it but to drive it's
roots into Securer fastenings till they
grasp the center of the universe.
Neither has it been a thing clad in
purple, but the one right royal being
for which no loom worked by human
hands can weave the raiment fit for it's
peerless dignity. Thoughts like these
must rush into our minds as we stand
in reverential attitude before that
faith which by that great declaration
of independence from the slavery of
error the Apostles outlined for US,
which has become the legacy for each
one Oh US 10 ciedVe unto UNTIL tn6 QedIh
or to barter away, as so many do,
for the mess of pottage which so soon
sows within them the seeds of disap-
pontment, WEAKNESS and despair.
How painfully aware of our limita-
tons we become as we stand confront
ed by the vast proportions of our faith
who shall enter here? To what man is
it given to pass beyond these sacred
portals?
The open sesame which unlocks all
the gates of this treasure house is the
act of faith, I believe But this be-
lief man does not find in himself or
of himself. The touch which sets in
motion the springs of faith is not a
human touch. Man may exert as he
pleases all his faculties but his most
strenuous efforts will never of them
selves procure the acts of belief neces-
sary to put his mind in possession of
the truth of faith.
mo matter how far-seeing or inven-
tive the grasp of his intelligence may
be-no matter how energetic or in
domitable his will may be-both will
and intellect, whether united or apart
lie inert and impotent of themselves
to elicit an act of faith. 1t is an effort
beyond his nature-it is an attempt
to rise to a hight inaccessible to his
nature alone. Faith belongs to the SUI
pernatural order-and the natural, no
matter how extensive it's range, can
not exceed the limits of the natural.
And hence to elevate him into the
sphere of the supernatural something
higher than man himself must stoop
from it's station and take him up to
itself.
There is a gulf between the natural
and the supernatural and supernatural
agency only is permitted to bridge it
over That supernatural agency is
Gods condeSceISion and the bridge