The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-03-27
Term Easter is Of
German Origin.

Oul lSIul LdSLSF Is Ol IeruQdu OTl.
gin, but the name by which the festi-
val is designated from the beginning
is the Paschal, name derived from
the Hebrew: it commentaries the de-
HYerance of the Jews from Egyptian
bondage when the destroying angel
spared the first-born of the Hebrew be-
cause their doors were marked by the
blood of the Paschal lamb.
The Easter festival rs the greatest
In the Christian calendar; it is the
climax of the events in the life of
cur divine Lord-his birth, his labors,
his miracles, his betrayal, the bitter
ness of his agony at Gethsemane, and
his cruel death on Calvary all culmi-
mated in the victory we commemorate
on this glorious day.
The church has always held that
the miraculous deliverance of the He
brew people from Egyptian bondage
was the type and figure of the far
greater deliverance which would fol-
low when Christ, our Pasch, as st.
Paul says, would be sacrificed and by
his blood would save us from eternal
death.
The Christian Pascn was instituted
on that night when our Savior, Jesus
Christ, surrounded by his disciples at
the Last Supper which he held with
bread and wine his body and his blood
to drink. There is nothing in all the
gospels set forth in language more
unequivocal than this fact. The church
has always taught, as he himself de.
ciared, that our divine Lord is truly
and really present, under the forms
Of bread and wine, consecrated by the
words uttered by himself, and spoken
by those authorized by him to use
them.
1t is true that he suffered and died
that all men might be saved, yet we
know, from his own words and the
teachings of his apostles, that many
may not be saved because they will
not make the necessary effort and sac
Many are called but few cho.
sen." Faith alone in the redeeming
sacrifice will not bring salvation; the
mere fact that we believe in the divin-
ity of Christ, in the teaching of Christ,
in the redemption purchased for us
by the death of Christ will not bring
us salvation unless we ourselves do
our part to make ourselves worthy
thereof. 1t is not enough to have
faith; we must also labor. 81 have
fought the good fight, have kept the
faith" st. Paul says; he did not con-
slider it enough to have the faith only
it must be accompanied by good
work.
The church, therefore, celebrates this
day with more of joy and gladness and
ceremony than any other in commem-
Grafton of the institution of that Chris
tian Pasch which means so much to
humanity! for millions of her chill
dren, under her guidance and direc-
ton. through PRAYER and repentance,
and other penitential works are made
worthy to participate in this divine
banquet. They are restored to the
friendship Of God and have earned for
themselves eternal life, for our Savior
has said: IF any man eat Of this
bread he will live forever. and the
bread that will give is my flesh for
the life of the world" (John viz
And she celebrates this day with
unusual Joy and gladness for the fur
ther reason: That it is the anniver.
sary of that day on which the Founder
by his own inherent power raised him
self from the dead, thus giving the
strongest possible proof of his divin-
ity, and leaving to us, who believe in
him and love him, reason for the
faith that is in us.