The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-31
CHURcH'S MESSAGE
TOLD IN SYMBOLS
Father LAWYER breaches Elo-
quent Sermon at Tenebrae
Service at Cathedral.

The cathedral was packed to the
doors at the rTenebrae. service last
evening. The seminarians executed the
musical numbers in manner that
showed careful training, their rendition
of the Lamentations of Jeremiah" be-
ing particularly acceptable.
Father Lawler, in his sermon, gave
the principles ON which the church
rests her plan of impressing her mes
sage on the minds and hearts of men.
He said in part:
In her wisdom and knowledge of hui
man nature the church does not deSpise the
method of teaching truths by symbolism.
By types and figures and emblems and
by all her object leSSonS-the church
keeps the great truths and facts of re-
ligion before the senseS-before mankind.
When we symbolic an idea we give it a
body in order to make it more palpable-
more easily understood. All people in all
ages have made use of the apt and beau
tiful language of symbolism 1t is a
mode of expression natural to man. We
find it everywhere in every day life. When
we see people bow the head and bend the
knee we know at once that they are CIV
ing outward form to feelings of respect
or of submission When we see them
dressed in garments of mourning, no other
language is needed to assure us that they
are grieving for departed loved ones.
Need of Symbolism.
And especially is symbolism the Ian
guage of the supernatural. If symbolism
is frequent in religious worship it is
because it is a powerful aid in bringing
difficult truths within the grasp of the
human mind. 1t is a ladder on which we
ascend to the consideration of super
natural verities. 1t is sometimes Thought
lessly said that symbolism is objection
able because it is an appeal to the imagin-
alton and the senses. Ii is such an ap-
peal, but it is more than that. 1t is an
appeal to the imagination and to the
senses, and through them to the intellect
and the will. Let it be remembered that
what does not strike our senses does not
make deep and lasting impression upon
US.
Are not the imagination and the senses
often great hindranceS to fervor In re-
ligion? What is wrong in turning those
stumbling blocks into stepping stones to
higher perfection? Where is the evil in
leading the soul captive to its future
home by the very means that are wont
to bind it down to earth? By the aid of
visible things we can better think of the
invisible mysteries of religion. Outward
observances, religious rites, are employed
in worship because they are necessary
from our very nature. We are created,
composed of body and soul. Were we
pure spirits without bodies we would
render no material homage to the Creator,
nor would we need external forms as aids
to the contemplation of the things of
God. The everlasting doxology of the
heavenly multitudes is purely spiritual.
Were we beings without soul we would
glorify God in manner wholly external.
The grains of sand beneath our feet and
the mighty bodies that roll in space above
our heads are ever sending up hymn OF
glory to the Creator and Preserver OF ali
things. That is the great law and man
is no exception to it. In harmony with
his complex nature he renders homage in
ternal and external to his Maker. The
two are united to make up true wor-
ship.
Church Utilities the Beautiful.
The church is on this earth to lead
end she utilizes all that is beautiful in
nature-all that is noble in art her
and soul, intellect and emotions, and to
spiritual themes. The church, which
knows every fiber of human nature, knows
well that mans senses are the avenues
through which his soul is reached-that
he cannot be separated from his senses
and that ceremonies and music ana
under her guidance can be made to lift
weak mortals from the sensual things
around them to the spiritual things above
them, from earth to heaven, from nature
up to natures Cod Mans complex ma
ture demands it, God is worthy of it all
worthy of all the magnifieence which
human genius can shed around his home
on earth.
In the Catholic mind the temple of re-
ligion should be a home of beauty, of
Beings are to be instructed and spirit
ualized our motto is: Let. every cere-
mony, every emblem, every tone of voice,
every posture of the body be a manifesto
ton of piety within. The meaning of
them all is told in the words ''sursum
corda," lift up your hearts, lift up your
hearts to God.
Let every painting be a sermon on can
vas Let every piece of music be an ex-
hortation to rise to the sunlight of bet
ter things Let every sacred edifice be a
prayer in stone Let all the arts give
glory to our great God. The bidding of
them all is: Lift up your hearts.
Then will the house of God be place
of rest and peace and instruction and
spiritualizng influences for the weary
pilgrim on life's journey-a vestibule of
heaven in which he may feel and ex-
claim: This is none other than the
house of God and the gate of heaven,