The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-06
BISHOP CONFIRMS
SEVERAL CLASSES
Solemn Rites at the Catholic
Churches Yesterday
BISHOP ALIENS SERMON
Confirmation Administered to Nearly
Two Hundred Persons-CIass at
st. Paul's Numbered One Hun
bred and Twenty.

L
Mobile, confirmed two classes in Bir-
mlngham and a class at Pratt City yes
terday. At the Church Of Our Lady Of
| Sorrows he administered confirmation to
a class of thlrty-seven Immediately after
the s o'clock mass. Al st. Paul's he
confirmed class of 120 after high mass
at 1870 o'clock. and at st. GATHERINGS
church. Pratt city, he confirmed a class
of thirty-four at p. m.
The services at St Paurs were espec-
tally impressive The spacious edlhce
was completely filled. pews in the mid
die aisle being reserved for the candi-
dates for confirmation. The boys and
girls and the adults who were to be con-
flrmed assembled in st. Pauls hall and
marched in body to the church. The
girls were arrayed in regulation white
and the boys wore the conventional
black There were about sixty boys in
line They headed the procession and
sang spirited professional hymn as they
moved through the aisle. The high altar
was tastely dressed and many candles
added to the brilliancy of the scene.
The Rev. Father Kerrigan was the
st. Cecilia mass
Bishop Aliens Sermon.
The mass being concluded Bishop Allen
read the epistle and the gospel of the
day in English and then delivered a SER
mon from the text: Suffer little children
to come unto me and forbid them not.
for of such is the kingdom of heaven"
| The bishop said In part:
MY dear children. God created us for
Himself. He made us to enjoy with Him
in heaven blessful eternity. He created
us with a free will in order that of our
own yolition We should turn to Him and
merit the reward He has prepared for
us. He will not force us to love and
serve Him for He would have a willing
service from all his children.
HE created us without our concur
renee but He will not save us without
cur cooperation. He gives to every man
who comes into this world sufficient
grace to be saved and He holds out ev-
cry inducement to us persevere and gain
those rewards to which ST. Paul refers
when he says: Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard neither hath 1t entered into
the heart of man what things God hath
prepared for those who love Him Il Cor.
II, 50
To Gain the Reward.
What then must we do to gain these
rewards? We must have faith for without
faith says st. Paul, Tt is impossible to
please God He that believeth and is
! baptized says st. Mark shall be saved
and he that believeth not shall be con-
demned.
Faith Necessary.
Faith therefore is absolutely necessary
for us. We must believe what the church
teaches for the church is the living mouth
piece of Jesus Christ and speaks In His
rame and with His authority. To her min
listers He says, As the Father sent Me |
also send you Before He ascended into
heaven He said to his apostles. Matt.
28:1S) All power in heaven and ON earth
is given to Me- Go teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Fa-
tner and of the Son and OF the Holy
Ghost teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever have commanded you and be-
hold | am with you all days even to the
consummation of the world Thus we
see that the apostles and their successors
taught and still teach with divine au-
thofty. Ard we know that Christ prom
Use to be with His church has not failed.
Hence she can make good her claim to
be called the pillar and ground of truth
the one institution which is impershable
because Jesus Christ who is the way, tho
truth and the life has pledged His sac
red Word that He will abide with her
forever and that the Holy Ghost will
teach her all truth
The Sacrament.
The bishop then explained the means
by which the soul is sanctiiied First by
prayer and secondly by the sacraments.
After explaining each one in detail, the
bishop showed the effect of confirma-
ton on the apostles and said that the
same Holy Spirit Wild came on the apos-
ties on Pentecost comes to each lnd-
vidnaI soul when this sacrament is adj
mnistered.
The Confirmation.
The bishop then extended his hands
over those who were 10 be confirmed and
said the following prayer:
70. Almighty and Everlasting God who
has vouchsafed to regenerate these Thy
servants by water and the Holy Ghost
and has given them the remission OF all
their sins; send forth upon them Thy
seyenfold Holy Spirit the Comforter from
Heaven, Amen"
Then the bishop made the sign Of the
cross with holy chrism on the forehead
of each one. saying
i sign thee with the. sign of the cross;
| confirm thee with the chrism of saliva
ton, in the name Of the Father and Of
the Son and of the TIolv Ghost Arnar .