The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-10
Strong Sermon from Gospel of
 the Day
SIN MAKES MEN CAPTlVES
Impressive Ceremony in the Afternoon, Fifty Postuants Received as Chil- dren of Mary-A Picturesque
 and Edifying Scene.

Benedict, O. $. B, was the celehrant and preacher at high mass. The eheir rem dered Farmers mass and at the offertory James Blainey sang a beautiful Ave Ma ria The choir-soloists and chorus-was in exceptionally fine form. Seldom, indeed, has solo quartette been heard with more satisfaction.
 After the gospel sung at the altar, the pastor the Rev Father Coyle, read the notices fer the week, following which Father Benedict ascended the pulpit and read in English the epistle and gospel for the day-the second Sunday of Ad- vent The gospel was frem St. Matthew xxi: to 10, verses, inclusive, beginning, At that time when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his-dis- ciples he said to Him, Art thou he that are to come. or look we for another?
 Father Benedict delivered the following discourse:
 John in prison; Herod on the throne innocence in bonds, vice at liberty What a contrast is pictured in the gospel or today! This is often the way of the world; it casts out the virtuous and holy; it admires the implous and wicked If we turn over the leaves of the sacred scriptures we will find nothing more Ire duent than that the innocent are perse- cuted and the just are killed, while the wicked are permitted to live at liberty
 This fact is illustrated in the person of John the Baptist and in the person of Herod. Herod is clothed in silk and purple-John in camels hair, John is cast IJarnl lives in a palace. John was innocent but he loved truth and virtue, therefore he is im- prisoned, while Herod committed adul- tery, but he enjoys perfect liberty, But then comes the question: Which was the happier of the two? Which was freer? If the world is expected to answer thls question it would no doubt maintain that John was unfortunate, while 1t would consider Herod prosperous and happy. But l will show you that Herod, in spite of his throne, was captive while John, in spite of his captivity, was free.
 It sometimes happens that robbers and murderers are thrown into prisons be- cause they have abused the talents which nature had given them, but it should be an unheard of injustice to imprison the pious and innocent man. Such an in nocent man was John. He was a saint and a great saint, because our Lord Him self who is the test of enternal truth, has said it. that John was an angel, a prophet, even more than prophet. that he was the greatest of all that are born from woman This John is in prison be- cause he told the truth, and without fear ,,f +, ,i- legitimate marriage to Herodas, his brothers wife.
 Bound, But Free,
 And yet, my dear friends, John is free, although his hands are bound with chains. He is free, because he is with out sin. A pious and good man, says St. Augustine-"A man whose conscience does not accuse him of any sin is always free were he even sold as a slave; but a man whose conscience is burdened with sin and vice, is a prisoner and slave not of men, but of as many evil spirits as he has sins upon his conscience
 What a miserable freedom when the soul of a man Is held captive by the bonds of vice and sin. What a happy cap tivity when the heart and soul are free from sin Therefore, St. Ambrose ex- plains: "The sinner is a slave of avarice, of concupiscences, of malice, of anger, and thinks that he is free; but he is less free than if he were a slave of the most cruel tyrant. only those are truly free who live according to the command ments"
 By the parable of the prodigal son. Holy Scripture illustrates in striking manner the truth of what I have said that a man never is less free than when he enjoys the excess of liberty. The prodl- gal son was tired of obeying his father He demanded his share of inheritance and went into the distant country, where he squandered every cent of his Inheritance in the excesses of an evil and dlssipating life. He became so extremely poor that as last resource went to a country, as the Bible relates. and would have been satisfied to live of the husks with which he had to feed his masters swine. Such was the contemptible servitude to which his liberty has reduced him. In this mis- erable condition the prodigal returned to his father and asked to be permitted to be the lowest of his fathers hired servants. w nat lndue nm ueSlfe 10 De a hired servant of his father, when before he had refused to be an obedient son? Why does he give up the liberty for the sake of what he left his fathers house?
 The story of St. Peter Chrysologus gives the answer. Because the prodigal had learned in a foreign country that the lib- erty which he desired so much was no real and true liberty at all, but rather obedent son to his father he had been freer than he was during the days of his dissipations.
 You may remember this, all ye who like to shake off the commandments of God to be independent and free as you call it. It is no liberty; 1t is the service of sin and Satan. for our Lord says. Every one that doeth sin is slave of sin," and St. Peter write. By whom man is overcome, of the same he is also a slave"
 Evil Passions.
 Whosoever, therefore, follows his evil habits and gratifies his passions becomes slave of sin. John the Baptist, though fettered in prison, is free. Herod, the adulterer on the throne. is slave, be- cause he is a slave of sin
 Thus it is with all kinds of sinners. Look at the miser. Is he the owner of his riches? No, the riches own him, for q master does whatever pleases him with