Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-11
MORAL COURAGE
IS NECESSARY
SAYS YOUNG MEN SHOULD BE
NOT ASHAMED
Rev. Thomas Fahey breaches an Elo
quent Sermon at st. Vibiana's
Cathedral ON Duties of
Christians

Force. bone and muscle are the wea.
pons of the slave and coward, but intel.
lect, will and conscience are those of the
manly. one may be u Samson or d
Hercules and still weak i'm character
| physically a lion, but a mere poltroor
in religious convictions. The young
man today that Is ashamed of his re-
| ligiOus convictions; the one whose re-
ligion is hid behind the button on his
coat collar who allows human respect
to interfere with the pratical part of
his religion has no manliness. He is a
mere ethical jelyfish with no moral
backbone. The sooner such para
site Is taken to the hospital and metal
poured into his backbone, the better
for religion I'm general. Our holy
church fosters the virtues of meekness,
patience and humility and abhors the
abomination of an effeminate mar of Il
masculine woman" said Rev. Thomas
f. Fahey yesterday morning at the
Cathedral Of St Vibiana in an elo-
quent sermon on the duties of Chris
tians to their religion.
Father Fahey took for his text the
gospel of the day, taking as an example
the life of st. John the Baptist; his
penance, austerities and sufferings. lie
said in part
'Si'S SIlIIotldH IIClT OuAy
"St. John the Baptist, the wonderful
man of God, comes forth from the
desert a perfect model of humility,
sanctity and zeal to preach penance
the remission of sins and to announce
the coming of one who is to take away
the sins of the world. His was the
voice heard in the wilderness, crying,
DO penance!' His was the voice heard
along the banks of the Jordan which
excused no one from the duty to make
way for the birth of Christ in their
hearts. These same lessons are preached
from our pulpits today during this pen
tecostal season of advent that ST. John
echoed along the banks of the Jordan
and the deserts of Jericho. 1t is the
undisputable duty of every Christian
to open his heart to the voice of the
church that has divine authority to
give knowledge of God unto the saliva
ton Of souls.
"St. John prepared himself for his
life Of preaching by long fasts in the
desert. He would ask no Christian to
do what he himself would not do.
He was the son of the high priest
and a true watchman who in the dark
days of the Old Testament called the
people to u life of religion; taught them
the horrors of sin and preached the
necessity of sincere repentance. He had
the courage to tell all who asked what
ever they must do to be saved, the
plain frigid truths.
Should Heed Words of st. James
"St. John always bore witness to the
truth. He was thrown into prison be-
cause he condemned King Herod's life
and defended the rights of the kings
brother. This imprisonment was no
dishonor to him.
"How many Christians today are
leading such lives that they are able
to bear witness to the truth? How
many are ready to defend the weak by
the testimony of their own lives?
How few unmask the base deceiver
silence the blasphemer and teach the
sanctity of the marriage bond? That
Christian who selects the great st.
John the Baptist as his model will
have no fear of them who kill the body
but rather fear them that can destroy
both body and soul ST. James said
that when any one by advice. warning
or correction causes a sinner to be con-
Verted from the error of his ways, he
shall save his soul from death, and
shall cover a multitude of sins.
"Today's gospel teaches us two
things-Christ's divine power and mis-
sion and his magnificent reference to
the life and zeal of st. John.
Quotes Words of ST. John
The simple folk of Judea witnessed
the miracles of Christ; the deaf hear
ing; the dumb speaking; the lepers
cleansed in their midst. Christ who
created matter and gave it force and
law, can make it obey his will. Ma
ture's laws cease or are suspended.
This proved him God and his mission
divine. Our blessed Savior then turns
to the multitude and praises st. John
for the zeal and the truth in his every
phase of life Christ selected st. John
because of his pure life, to give testi-
mony of his life was so perfect that
the Jewish people believed him the
Messiah.
Our holy church places st, John
before us today as our model, especial
ly as regards manlinesS.
1--WE must distinguish. We are all
human and therefore fitting to be
manly.
1--WE must say no to the tempter
Let the worl1 call you towards ana
craVens. Such can only come from the
flesh and evil spirit. Say the manly
no, and merit the crown of eternal life
Let the spirit of st. John the Baptist
enter into our hearts today and make
us ready to confess Christ before men
for he that confesses Me before men,
him shall 1 confess before my Father
who is in heaven"
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