Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15
GOOD SHEPHERD IS
PREACHERS TOPIC
Choir Of Holy Cross Church Sings
Special Musical Msss-Father
Fahey breaches the
Sermon

A large congregation attended the
Holy Cross church yesterday morning
at the 1O:9O o'clock mass, at which Rev
T. F. Fahey, the pastor, preached on
"The Good Shepherd"
The church choir of eight voices sang
a special musical mass, and alternated
with the sanctuary choir of boys in the
singing of the "Credo." Sixteen boys
compose this choir, which answered all
the intonations of the celebrant of the
mass. The offertory solo was sung by
Miss Edna Masonave, contralto.
Father Fahey said in part
THE parable of the Good Shepherd
which has just been read was spoken
by our blessed Savior on the feast Of
the tabernacles-a great solemnity of
the Jewish people. The people gath
cred from the confines of Judea and the
adjacent countries far away from
Greece and Rome, and the gathering in
the Holy City was chosen by Christ as
one we'll fitted to make known his di-
vine mission. Just a few days previous
Christ had cured blind man by re-
storing his sight, who had been scoffed
at and ridiculed by the Scribes and
Pharisees. who drove him from their
assemblage simply because he had en-
braced the faith of Christ. The return
of this man to Jesus complaining of the
way he had, been treated saddened the
all-merciful heart of Jesus and caused
him to utter the parable of the good
shepherd read in the holy mass today.
Pictures Familiar Address
Jesus the Lamb of God came upon
the earth to gather the scattered flock
of Israel while men were making him
the butt of ridicule, rejecting his faith
and doctrine and preventing others
from believing in him. To them Jesus
said: Seeing they shall not see and
hearing they shall not hear
I'm this parable Jesus pictured a
scene so familiar to memory of the
people of Israel: I am the Good Shep-
herd; l know mine and mine know me.
They were reminded of the Sheep
fold of their home country among the
hills of Judea-an inclosure where the
sheep were gathered, fed and protected
surrounded by a thick wall upon which
thick bushes of thorns grew. At the
first fall of evening shadows the shep-
herd entered with his flock, safe from
the prowling wolf or ravenous panther
that would bring ruin and desolation
if unprotected. The robber and thief in
the night were put to flight by the good
shepherd, who is ever watchful over the
tender and innocent flock. At the dawn
of day he led them to fertile pastures
and now and then gave them a warning
call to point out approaching dangers.
They knew not the voice of a stranger,
and should it have been heard the flock
would have become restless, frightened
and scattered until the good shepherd
could have calmed by his tenderness
and comforting voice.
''The Prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of
the Good Shepherd gathering his flock
from all points of the world, feeding,
nourishing and protecting the sheep,
even raising them up after death. Isiah
tells us that he shall feed his flock like
shepherd and the whole people of
Israel heard the Prophet David sing
We are the people and the flock of his
PASTURE and today we see that these
fragmentary illusions to the Good Shep-
herd are verified.
Ezekie's Prophecy Fulfilled
"In todays gospel Jesus declares all
this. All that Ezekiel foretold is full
filled in all this. Jesus the Good Shep-
herd came down from heaven to bring
back the wandering sheep to nourish
| those of his own fold and to pray for
those whose hearts are hardened to the
pleadings of his voice.
I'm the Old Testament Israel was the
chosen people of God-the synagogue,
the religion of Israel. Both have their
| priests and prophets. Jehovah had
formed this fold for the coming of the
Messiah. They could be saved by obey
ing the natural law. The promised
Good Shepherd came in the fulness Of
time and extended the fold to all ma
tionS, for he is their inheritance. Sc
henceforth not the natural law. but a
supernatural law henceforth no saliva
the name of the Good Shepherd. I am
the DOOR says Jesus, If by me any
man enters he shall be saved.
Baptism First Sacrament
Christ is the door, His first sacra-
ment is baptism. His first food is his
own body and blood His doctrine Is
found only in the sheepfold. His doc.
trine is our food and his example ours
That first feast Of the tabernacles wa.
great, but we have greater feast days
greater sacraments and greater graces
for us who believe in the one true folG
of Jesus Christ.
| He that follows me Walketh not II
darkness, but shall love the true light.
Jesus tasted to feed us; he suffered
that we might compassionate him. Ht
defends and raises us up as we fall aut
gives to all the grace of eternal life
Let us be faithful to the voice of tn,
Good Shepherd, keep his command
ments and the precepts of his church,
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