The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-18


| in Holy Cross church last night. the
occasion being the opening service of
the mems mission. which is to continue
throughout this week.
There We're upwards of loo earnest
dcvout men present, but this large con-
gregation was no larger than the con-
ErcSation of women which gathered
every night last week to listen to the
splendid sermons delivered by the three
dominican fathers, who are conducting
the mission. Fathers Splinter, Dinhan
and O'Neil Last nights sermon. which
was preached after the recitation of
the rosary and before the Bcncdiclion
of the Most Blessed Sacrament, was
! delivered by Father Dinihan. who chose
his text from one of st. Paul's cpislics
as follows:
81 eXllort YOU not to receive the grace
of God in vain, for now is the accepted
time. now is the day of salvation.' lie
spoke. in part, as follows:
"A few years ago discussion was rife
among us regarding the paramount is
sue III our national affairs and consid-
cradle heat was often displayed in de-
bate. When the conclusion was reached
| it was vague and indefinite, as are all
| conclusions reached in the great affairs
| of human life.
"a discussion has never arisen, my
friends as to what is the paramount
issue of human life. 1t has been recoC-
ni2ed by all and admitted by all to be
an issue upon which depends not your
temporal welfare. but rather your cter-
nal happiness. IT is not an issue upon
which depends Il paltry gain or loss.
1t is upon which depends your souls
all. 1t is the issue of salvation; it is
the question of life or DEATH
TINE OF SPECIAL GRACE.
| Father Dinhan went on to explain
that a mission is Il time of special
grace. or, in other words, the accept
able time. the day of salvation.' Con-
tinuing, he said:
II declare openly and positively that
| the man who refuses the invitation
which God extends during this mission
ana who rejects His offered grace, is
| exposing himself to the danger of never
being converted and of dying as he is
| lVing-in sin.
There are three requisites or essen
| tia things, before the sinner who has
straycd from the flock can return again.
These are, briefly: First, time to re-
operation of his vii! with Gods will.
Each of these is as important as tho
others. though the first is perhaps the
most important There must be time TO
repent. but that time should be now.
this very day. We cannot count on one
moment of the future with certainty
st. Paul says, Use the things of this
world as if you used them not and
Christ himself has declared Watch,
for ye know not the day or hour ana
Ee ye, therefore. ready also.
There is nothing so uncertain on earth
as the thing called time.
"rherc are too many Christians Of to-
morrow, who are continually procras-
tinating ana putting off repentance
until later on. Such are deliberately
putting off the grave duty they owe to
God and to their immortal souls. They
are acting contrary to common sense
and to reason.
MUST HAVE HIS GRACE.
"God may give us long life, but We
must also have His grace before we
can hope to be saved. God is continu-
ally showering uswith blessings enough
to make us as great as the saints who
people heaven. if we only take advant-
age of them. He is not obliged
to send us grace. but in His infinite
mercy and love. He does. Men are not
obliged to accept His grace. but every
time they reject it they darken their
minds. weaken their wills and drift
further and further ont into the sea of
death to be shipwrecked. perhaps, at
last upon the 1reacherOus rocks,
Man is free agent. He can accept
or reject Gods grace. He can say, I
| will not he saved, and God Almighty
| himself could not save him.
''rhe sinner must correspond with
| God. His will must work in unison with
Gods; will, and no man who continues
| q life of sin and who constantly weak
| ems his will by SO doing can ever en-
pect to be able to have his will work in
| harmony with Gods
There will be mass every morning this
week ut : and o'clock. and services at
| 80 o'clock every night except Sntdr-
day. Confessions will be heard every
| afternoon. beginning with tomorrow,
and in The morning between the
masses.