The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-01-28
BY SIGNS AND CEREMONIES.

H..
Prom st. Demands Sermon on the
Canticle of Canticles.
BY SIGNS AND CEREMONIES.
Symbolism as Practiced in the Cath
Ollie Church
There are ceremonies of our religion
which we constantly repeat without
7ausing TO inquire the meaning of our
action. We bless ourselves, take holy
water genunect. assist at mass until
=. nine makes the epformance of
-.ch acts if not entirely meaningless,
In least half SO. from the want of at
r.ution they receive dc we perfmctor-
5ry 90 through them Starting from
I,ne then, as you set out for church,
l.r as pass quickly over Il part of the
1uad which you traverse every Sunday.
coming to greet your Heavenly
King. of course. you are decked out in
>,ur most presentable apparel. You
are wearing the best clothes your
wardrobe boasts because you are to
present yourself TO the Lord who has
lven what you possess, and who eX-
roUts YOU TO show him the courtesy
7i hfrh hOmOra BILE ones are rendered. To
appear in his presence attired with
u.bccoming dress would be mark Of
disrespect to the Lord you should
lonor To reserve fine adornments for
worldly use and to think of satisfying
religious duty with secondary wear, is
am indication that the love OF God IL
not your strongest affection. God asks
7ho outward marks of respect which re-
ouire his servants 10 come TO service
in the most -decorous manner.
Being well-bred people of the world
and used to the niceties of social re-
ourements you are in time for service,
and do not therefore disturb the wor-
SLIPPERS with a taTdy entry There IS
lie question of sin if the delay is con-
siderable and through your own tault:
1sut we suppose that you are punctual
md without lingering outside you pre-
rare to enter Gods house as soon as
You reac hthe temple. The holy water
font confronts you in the Vesubule OF
the church. You dip your finger IN the
1.ater, signing yourself with the cross,
a. Won bring the sanctifying drops to-
ward your person. Apart from the
irherent virtune which the water pos
s. Sses-the power. that is to cleanse
from veual sin-the ceremony at the
door of the church is a reminder of the
7urity of soul which one should enjoy
before asking admittance to the mouse
a. the Savior IN the early days of the
7.ith Christians were obliged TO pour
water over their hands and face, pray
ir- With Peter that God would mean
time cleanse their hearts.
And as we supply the water to hand
aad head we should beg God to make
~ worthy to appear before him. As
-,e use the water we make the sign OF
III, cross. That is the gesture which
7rrows open the door of Gods house
Her hv the cross were we returned 10
7Ha l5insliD of Cad Otter Adams SIN
nd made us stranger. The virtue
hich is i'm that simple act Of signing
oneself proceeds from the talth OF
which it is symbol one who ap-
1uoaches God must believe in him. says
lauI-and by the sign of the cross we
- 7rafess our belief not only in the eN-
i-,anca of Cod. but in the Trinity-the
Father. Son and the Holy Ghost. AS
w. touch the forehead We confess that
81 was the Infinite Mind that evolved
The ylan of creation. As the hand Qe-
sends We declare that the Infinite one
came down to the world to raise crea-
Ion from the depths into which. SIN
lad hurled it. We bind the Father ana
s..u in the embrace of infinite love as
ON. hand crosses over the heart. From
inat embrace the Holy Ghost proceeds
and creation is united with the uhree
persons on the cross which Christ lell
as rs the emblem of salvation.
With dignihed measure we walk w
fn, aisle and not with unseeming haSte
'ur gazing about with curious Chances
but conscious Of the sacredness OF the
place Weseek to conform our bearing
s. the hallowed surroundings Before
entering the pew we must honor WIN
Crafsauce the hidden Lord who, though
unseen is nevertheless watching. I'm
rnrhly courts subjects bend the knee
g. their king, and we ought surely oo
o. much for our Heavenly Monarch
S. n. -cuunect-slowly bowling ano
touching the right knee to the floor
Itueon Of our entire submission lo
Christ whose throne is the altar.
Before the service begins we may
reliance have moment to wait
'N. sir facing the tabernacled LORD VINO
i.E speak a message to our heart VI
1..naus. the stiffness may cause re-
g.Hus quiet to steal over our tfoupie-
=ed soul or the organ may Whiepei
r soothing note and we may be stirred
g. wonder why the church uses music
o. Worship 1t is but another voice U
r.a-lz 10 The eoul of God. For religion
r.urt make use of whatever has loICt
o. raise men un towards heaven No
90 one sense or one faculty does rellglol
appeal. bat her message is addressed =
every power in the soul that ma1 vs.
rmployed I'm leading man on 10 san q
Hon. As music speaks to the soul WIN,
H. the church cloaks her doctrine WIZ
ne'o7v's garb that her words may eA'
srt a pleasing and yet saving influence
The grandeur of the organ burst lu'
iubimitv of harmonious chant impress
The nearer with q religious awe OF Iht
mysteries of which the services are
tcmmemoration.
or perhaps the altar catches your
ffance and Won notice the strange 1oI
nation which makes one think OF mos o.,
Did fashioned tOmbStOnes. In fact ! ile
Altar has always been shaped AFTER ln m
fashion of tumbs-though the uppel
part is intended TO serve as a taoie-
fhis regulation is to recall the lis'
celebration of the eucharistic sacrlnce
when Jesus blessed bread changing lhe
tubstance into His body, Whlch n
tiaced on the supper table Tor IN
tpostles to eat ere He permitted w
Jews to force Him into the sepulcil ~ =
You remark the white cloths on "
altar table and YOU remember IN
Rinding sheets i'm which the oouy ~
christ was embodied. While you wa -
he server begins to light the ca iiu IrS5
F.ith which the altar is adorned az ~
The dancing flame seems TO reap
tresfioning springs-asking you
he Church battles the altar IN Dts ~
hess. Ia q
Light has ever been thought 70 pe :
bild of heaven. as darkness Is 9up
,csed 10 invest the realms OF torIlleillo
h. our minds light is inseparaplS -
located with godliness, with ElieS
md With meritorious conduct. hls!',,