Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-03

Rev. Father o'Reilly Expresses Appre'
citation of Aid Extended Congregation

Below we publish the address deliv-
cred by Rev. Father O'Reilly TO his
congregation of St. Mary's Catholic
church at the holding of first mass IN
the new edifice:
MY DEARLY BELOVED misunderstanding
here before the altar Of church. and about
70 offer up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the
frat time assure you that my feelings Of JOY and
gratitude more easily imagined than described
Yes, dear brethren. have reason 70 rejoice that
/ have been selected by Almighty God for the ae-
complishment Of such glorious work, IL was.
indeed difficult and arduous task; but nov. when
see my labors crowned with success and my most
sanguine hopes realized, forfeit the many hard
ships which it entailed and the many sleepless
nights / spent devising schemes and cOgitating
plans TO bring this glorious work 70 successful
issue Yes. my brethren, the hardshtps and SUI
ferings which have experienced IN my efforts TO
provide for YOU place of worship, though they
were greater than any of you imagine. SOU they
are insignificant when compared TO the 1oy and
consolation which feel today.
For the past three years / have looked v It'll
sorrow and sympathy on the deplOrable coDdit IN
Of the Catholics Of Viroqua. saw you deprived
% that which is nearest and dearest TO the nea
of every Catholic. / heard you frequently expires
the fondly cherished hope which you hardly ever
expected to be realized But thank Goo, yoIr
hopes are now realized and the fond desires of
your hearts are abundantiy satisfied and foT the
first time you come 10 worship Almighty God IN
your neat little church which in a few Weeis VIII
be solenlnly dedicated to the service Of God and
placed under the special patronage OF His Blessed
Mother. Now. dear brethren. such inestnnabie
favors received from Almighty God should evoke
the most profound sentiments Of gratitude and
love, and in the words Of the Royal psalmist eaeh
Of you should say today What shall I render 20
the Lord for all that He has rendered 70 meF
nd SINCE you have nothing TO give Him only what
you have received from Him. give him at least all
! that you have give Him your hearts, ana here
before this sacred altar upon which He IS about 70
offer His body and blood for in sacrifice, prom
/ Use Him unswerving loyalty until death. and con-
] q liyeg n His love and service
/ But while you must be grateful TO God, in the
1 first place. for the marvellous success which at
tended this undertaking, you must not forget that
next TO God you owe undying sentiments Of graf
| itude 10 your many generous friends whose kind
ness and hberahty during this difficult campaign
/ far surpassed my highest hopes and expectations
/ But while you have reason to be grateful 10 all
| your benefactors. you should feel particularly
grateful TO your Catholic friends Of Viroqi ?.
! Being only few in number, you needed SOME
encouragement before any attempt could be made
! to undertake such difficult work. You looked 20
your non-Catholie friends for that encouragement.
and thank God. you did not 'ook in vain. You
! found them all ready TO speak an encouraging
word and 10 extend to you a helping hand in the
hour Of need. This is something. dear friends.
never 10 be forgotten: something for which you
should always entertain the most profound feel
! ings of gratitude,
But now dear brethren, having a neat little
church, the material ediice been constructed. you
/ may ask. is there anything more 10 be donef All.
! yes. the important work Is only commencing. The
/ end in view Is the salvation of your immortal
/ souls and the church is the only means 10 that
end. You must now begin to build up spiritual
edifce in your souls in which the Divine Spirit OF
! God may always find an abiding place. In other
| words. 20 this little church you must come 70 be
| instructed In the knowledge and love Of God. to
listen 10 the gospel Of Jesus Christ. and to culti-
! vate those virtues which indispensable for
1 every Christian. Yes, and when the wounds Of
sin have injured YOUR souls 10 this little church
! you must repair and present yourselves before
| the spiritual physician TO have those wounds re-
/ moved In the holy Tribunal of Penanee. And
| when the soul becomes languid and exhausted
| for want Of spiritual nonrishment here you must
| come 10 psrtake of he Bread Of Life" the body
and blood of our Bora Jesus Christ In Holy Com
munion. In word. you must be members of the
church. not only In name, you must be good and
| practical members If you wish TO gain any spirit
| ual benefit. Our Divine savior. when He estab
! lshed His holy church for the salvation Of man
| kind. compared the members Of His church to the
/ says. and you are the branches He that abideth
! In Me. the same bareth much fruit, for without
Me you can do nothing. that is to say. as the
! branch that Ia separated from the tree cannot
bear fruit because IL IL destitute of life. neither
can we bear spiritual fruit when by sin are
separated from Jesus Christ. Therefore il you
wish to derive any benefit "a members Of the
Catholic church. If you wish to save your immort-
al souls. you must be sound and healthy members
not diseased brancha of that mighty tree planted
by the Savior OF the world. you must observe all
Gods commandments and keep your souls free
from sin And II you have the misfortune of fall
ing into SIM with contrite and humble heart
you must hasten TO the holy tribunal of penance
| to obtain pardon. Always remember that our
| holy Mother the church Is divinely commissioned
10y God TO guide US our pertlous journey 10 our
/ heavenly home, Listen then with docility To her
| teaehings. and let your lives be irreproachable
before God and man. that you may never re-
| fleet any discredit such tender mother.
In conclusion | recommend this little congre-
cation TO the sacred heart Of Jesus, and 10 the
fostering and protection of His blessed moth
or Mary. Re faithful imitators of your Divine
model jesus Christ. honor and respect His loving
Mother and in times OF temptation have recourse
To her in prayer and she will obtain for you from
her Divine Son the necessary graees to repei the
attacks of the evil one