Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-18
SAYS CHILDREN
TEACH LESSON
YOUNG ONES SHOW DESIRE
TO LEARN
RI. Rev. Mgr. Hsrnett breaches Forces
fuI Sermon at ST. Vibiana's Upon
the Life and Work of
ST. John

Don't kick the benches to remind
the priest that he has been talking
too long. Why Is it the people do not
desire to hear the word of God? The
man who does not desire it is stepped
In sin and does not want to hear the
word of God exhorting him to give up
his pet vice, and is anxious that the
priest should stop preaching rather
than that he should stop SHINING. The
priest has to speak from the pulpit,
and to use common phrase. has to hit
some one hard said Rt. Rev. Mgr.
Harnett, V. c.. yesterday morning at
the cathedral of st. Vibiana, in force
ful and eloquent sermon on "The Du-
ties of Christians" The large church
was thronged with worshippers. many
standing throughout the long service.
Monsignor Harnett spoke at some
length upon the life and work of ST.
John the Baptist, making application
to the priesthood of the Roman church.
He said in part:
when we hear the priest speaking
from a Christian pulpit we ought to
know the voice is his. but God makes
use of the voice Of the priest. st. John
did not say L am the word but L am
the voice So is 1t likewise with the
priest of God, the voice is his, but God
uses it.
Should Be Anxious to Learn
'From the Catholic pulpits priests
of God speak In his name. Moses came
from Sinai and proclaimed the word of
God. The priest of God is another
Moses proclaiming the word. If you
doubt this, does not our divine Lord
say, He who hears you hears me-?
My dear people, if this be true, what is
the spirit that should characterize the
Christian in approaching the church of
God?
when children go to school they go
with an anxiety to learn. At times
they ask questions, and when the
teacher speaks they hang upon the
words. If God imposes the obligation
of teaching, he must also impose upon
the people the obligation to learn.
I'VE should say, What is God say
ing to me just now?' If we come
home some great truth. We should be
anxious to know God, Jesus Christ, and
to know our duties, and if we have
sinned how we can place ourselves in
Gods grace, and we should know the
folly of all things earthly.
IF priest reproves a certain vice
we should ask ourselves if we. have
tudI vice. we SnOulQ measure our
selves by the word of God. Let us set
to work under the influence of Gods
holy grace to reach the standard re-
quired by God.
Should Eradicate Vice
"Erom time to time we look at the
mirror to see the mere defects in our
lcountenances. or if our toilet is correct
Gods word is a mirror. We should
see our Souls as they really are and If
we find defects we should use all en-
ergy to remove them. If we find vices
we should eradicate them. If there he
stains on our countenances, how quick
ly we remove them, and if there he
like blemishes on our souls, let us use
like quickness in removing them.
do not think that a sermon, in order
to be a sermon. should be in high
sounding language. If we speak to the
rich in language of learning the poor
will not understand, but if we preach
in simple language the poor will un-
derstand and so will the rich.
Don't say you do not come to church
because you cannot bear high-sounding
language, for it is brass and tinkling
symbol. There are many who come
to criticise. There are many who
when a priest criticises a certain vice,
knowing themselves guiltless, crticise
their neighbors, knowing them to be
guilty If we are not guilty ourselves,
let us thank. God, and while we know
others are guilty, let our prayers as
cend to the throne of God that they
ppf g.ftn