The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-09
FATHER KERRIGAN CELEBRATES MASS Delivers Learned Sermon on the Blessed Eucharist PROOFS OF REAL PRESENCE Discusses at Length the Words Used by Our Lord at the Last Supper,
 "This is My Body, This is
 My Flesh"
PROOFS OF REAL PRESENCE

The Rev. Father Kerrigan was the celebrant and preacher at high mass at St. Paurs church yesterday. His sermon dwelt on "The Blessed Eucharist, and Proofs for Real Presence from the Words of the Institution
 The speaker deduced proofs for the real presence of Christ in the Holy Lord when He instituted this sacrament at the last supper, i. e., This is my body This is my blood"
 The account of the institution is found in the three vangelsts-Matthew xvi. 26-8; Mark xiv, 22-24; Luke xxi. 14-2O- and also in St. Pauls first epistle to the Corinthians, xii, 23-25 Although St. Paul was not present at the last supper, still, being inspired by the Holy Ghost as to what took place, his evidence Is of equal authority with the other.
 Before laying down his line of argu- ment the speaker called attention to the intimate relationship existing between these texts and the words of the prom ise, St John vi, 4S-69 discussed in for mer discourse. He put his argument in syllogistic form, viz:
 Must be Taken in Real Sense.
 The words of the institution are, This is my body This is my blood" |" But these words must be taken in their real or literal sense and not figuratively. Therefore Christ is really present in the r,., tHa pran1iGn i. e., that the words of Chrust must be taken in their real or literal sense, the speaker stated there were no reasons why they should be taken figuratively, but on the contrary many reasons for literal acceptation. There were no req sons for a hguratiye acceptation, because, according to a universally accepted canon of hermeneutics, stating that the literal sense is not to give way to the igurative without necessity, but is to be preferred when the case will admit, these words must be taken figura- lively either because the subject matter will not admit the literal sense or be- cause from the formula of words used a figure is evident, or because, from the common usage of these words, in such combination, figure is obvious.
 The speaker stated that these reasons were not evident but on the contrary every reason was present for the litera sense, namely, the person of Christ him self; the circumstance of the occasion | Christ being then alone with His dearest friends and confldants to whom it was His constant custom, as many places in scripture show, to explain every obscurity In His parables and discourses to the people. On this occasion, especially, the night before His death, should he use plain, clear, unequivocating terms. He was making a new covenant to last un- til the end of time, a new law of per. petual observance, a new sacrament tc be frequented until He should come again, in fine a last will and testament in which He bequeathed the legacy ant pledge of His love. Framers of coven ants, laws, Nills, etc, intend that the, | be rightly fulfilled, therefore rightly un derstood, therefore they are scrupulousl! careful to avail all obscure expression. that may open the door to misunderstood lngs, contentious and law suits. Goo himself exercised such care In the Old Law. To imagine that Christ, in forming a new and lasting covenant, would de. part not only from the precedent of His Father but also from the precautionary methods of mere men, His creatures were to impeach his wisdom.
 Greek Version Clear.
 | Again the words of the institution ir the Greek version are so clear and em,