The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-15

hoDan-MlSslon 1or CnlIufen CloSeu
in Afternoon.
The mission for the men of the cathc-
dral parish. which began on December
I. was brought to a. close last night,
when special sermon was preached
by Father Gregory. the most forcefully
eloquent of the Passionists who have
been conducting the services.
The cathedral was packed To the
doors with an immense crowd of men
wher the service was opened with the
recitation of the rosary. which was iol-
lowed by the sermon. Father Gregory,
the preacher. is a young man with II
splendid physique and II face cast III
the heroic mould. He has a deem and
powerful voice that found its way into
the farthest recesses of the cathedral.
His whole sermon was based on the
necessity OF his listeners living up to
the high resolves and promises OF bet
terment made by them during the mis-
sion. He pointed out in beginning that
the whole Christian faith is founded
upon II belief in immortality, and told
Of the glorious reward III store for those
who keep that faith during their life
on earth.
Home Beyond the Grave.
This beautiful world, he said. was
prepared by God rs the abode not only
of the just but of the unjust also. If
the sinner is provided with such n
habitation what must not the home
prepared for those who love God be
like? Man cannot do without heaven,
he said, and 10 matter what men may
say about Believing. everyone deep
down in their hearts has faith in some
home beyond the grave.
Christ told men. he thou faithful
unto DEATH" Father Gregory said, and
it is incumbent upon every true Chris
tim to keep these words ever before
his mind. Men must deny themselves
if they would fully attain the purpose
for which God created them, he said
1t is essential that they TO violence To
their enemies, not once but every time
they are assailed. The three great en-
emies of man. he said. are the world.
the aesh and the devil.
The world. he declared, is that spirit
Which is constantly at work against the
spirit of Jesus Christ and which sets
up mayims in opposition to His divine
teachings.
You men," said he. will find the
spirit Of the world tomorrow among the
very men with whom you are wont to
associate from day to day. They will
taunt you tomorrow because you have
resolved to lead a. better life. They will
point the finger of ridicule at you and
will tempt you into the ways of sin II
is for You to assert your better man.
hood and cleavc to your good rosC!v $
or to bow down to til m. as so many
have. instead of TO the God who created
YOU"
Father Gregory then discussed the
evil passions which beset men and
showed that these passions should be
made subservient to reason.
The Manly Man.
He only is the manly man." said he,
who has his passions under his COM
plete control
In order to keep down the natural
passions, he said, it is first of all neces-
sary to have Il holy fear of God. Take
that from a mans life and he goes
headlong into eternal perdtion. 1t is
the hedge about mans soul, as the
Holy Scriptures say. In order to foster
such fear of God. ii is absolutely
essential, he said, to keep constantly in
mind the great thoughts that every
man must die and face God to render
an account of his stewardship, ana that
there is both heaven and hell.
In controlling the passions, the grace
of God is also needed he said, and this
can be obtained only by Il frequent use
of the divine Instruments of grace, the
sacrements of penance and the holy
eucharist. 1t is also necessary, he said,
to avoid the occasions of sin. Some
men, he said, do not hesitate to go to
places where even the angels would fear
to venture, and yet expect to keep
themselves unsullied
The devil, he said is mans greatest
enemy, and it requires the exercise of
eternal vigilance to keep his influence
from being felt Every man is endowed
by God, he said, with sufficient will
power to say to all hell. Il will not lis
ten to your evil temptations.
II wish" said he in conclusion, that
I could indelibly impress upon your
minds these three little words, Never
give up l wish could drill them into
your brains so that they would remain
there forever and that they were print
ed all about.
"The devil may knock you down, but
don't let him knock you out. Don't
wait to let him count YOU out but be up
at him again before he has the chance.
Let those words be your battle cry
ever"
The Bishops Words.
After the sermon, the 5000 men in the
cathedral rose to their feet and with
lighted tapers in their hands renewed
the baptsmal VOWS. 1t was a most inn
pressive spectacle They also received
the papal blessing.
The service closed with benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament by Bishop Ho-
ban. Before pronouncng benediction he
would take occasion To say to the big
assemblage of men some things that
could not so well be said before Il mixed
assemblage,
Boycott the theater that produces
,,il. Sbpus and the villa resorts Df all