The Washington herald., 1909-02-01

With all the pomp and rltualistic
spIendor which the Catholic Church
brings 70 her altar FOR the celebration OF
her greatest feasts, the Conversion OF St
Paul the Apostle was yesterday COM
memorated in St PauFs Church. this
city.
This festival is universally observed by
the church, usually on January 2. but
the solemn observance Of the patrOnal
feast. at St Paurs Church. was post
poned until yesterday.
Solemn high mass was celebrated in
the presence Of Right Rev. D. J. O'Coa-
nell, Auxiliary Bishop OF San Francisco.
Right Rev. Mgr. James T. Mackin, and
a congregation Of lsity that taxed the
capacity Of the church
The bishops throne 10 the right q the
sanctuary. the purple OF MS robes. the
rich hue Of cassock and mantelletta worn
by the mOnsignor. and the vestments OF
similar color used upon this occasion
BY the altar bows, enhanced the beauty
OF the scene within the church. Count
less wax tapers giimmered upon the
altar. which was surrounded with ferns
and tau palms and adorned with white
lilies aud roses.
The celebrant OF the mass was Rev.
DR.. William II. Keteham, director OF the
Indian Bureau. Rev. Father Thomas A
Walsh, q St PauIs Church, was the
deacon, and Rev. Father James E. Krug.
subdeacon. William r Brown and James
Naughton acted as masters Of ceremonies.
The music OF the mss was sung by the
sanctuary choir OF forty-fiYe meE and
boys
stately Discourse.
The sermon was preached by Rev VIII
IAN J. Kerby. doctor Of social anu politi-
cal sciences and associate professor OF
sociology IN the Catholic University. HIS
stately discourse was a feature OF the
service that viii make the celebration Of
the patronal feast memorable.
Drawing from the Hfe Of Paul the
Apostle stirring lessons for mans edihca-
ton. DIT. Kerby said;
"Onlv on the assumption that man is
incomplete and that a fundamental in-
stinct drives him on toward self conf
pletinR. can we understand human life.
Only by the principle that Christ is the
final ana completing factor in each life,
can we understand the religion OF God
toward man and OF man toward God
through Christ
Christ completes our knowledge, quail
tatively at least BY His revelation giving
Us final truths and a whole outlook OF
existence and the law Of proportions
among its parts. Christ completes our
equipment in energy for our supernatur
seIf-re2lizst1On by his grace, which, added
to natural resources. makes Us equal &c
every demand. Through this completing
knowledge and power comes the spiritual
peace which IS the foretaste Of Heaven
and the final form OF happiness on earth.
The Power OF Paul.
From this standpoint Of the relation
OF Christ to the individual. It is rot
difficult 70 understand the Saints: not
difficult to understand Paul standing in
almost solitary grandeur and incredible
power among them Saints may lose
their power as social types for the multi
tudes Of Christians. In fact. they seem tc
be less regarded as types. though devo-
ton TO them may. on the whole. hold its
owu.N But as revealing the ways OF God
the relations Of Christ 10 the soul. the
larger duties which fall 10 the individual
1 soul obeying its basic instinct for self
completeness. the saints forever teach the
way.
Among them. prominent stands Paul
( The highest type OF natural energy. com
bined with the highest share of revels-
ton and spiritual power, perfected by
anqUestioning conservation and absorb
/ ton IN the work Of Christ. this great
/ soul win command reveTent admiration
while the Christian Church endures.r