The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1909-05-01

| Nieh T0penIdnC- lot nel
NE OF shame, and no one dared tt
speak a slanderous word, but only won.
| oered at the power of the love and
| mercy of Jesus that changed Mary, the
sinner, into Mary the Saint. Yester-
| day despised by men, to-day, she is
| honored, not only by the best of man.
| kind, but by the all-holy God Him.
| self. All through His life, Mary re-
manned with Jesus, and when others
| deserted Him in fear, Mary remained
| even to His death. At the foot of the
cross, stood Mary the Virgin Mother,
John the Virgin Disciple, and Mary
| Magdalen, the repentent harlot. The
Blessed Virgin was not ashamed, and
st. John was not ashamed to have
Magdalen so near. Yes, while Jesus
hangs on the cross, Mary Magdalen
stands beneath, an everlasting proof
OF Gods love and mercy.
Do you still hesitate; do you still
doubt Gods mercy? Oh. look upon
the cross. Jesus had lived and labor
ed and suffered to show His love for
sinners He could do but one thing
more, He could die for them, and this
He did to prove His love.
Greater love than this, no man
hath, than that he lay down his life for
his friend Jesus would be the sim
Eers' friend; He would die to prove
His love-
And His was not the glorious death
of a soldier who dies for love of coun-
try; nor the noble death of a friend,
who dies from disease contracted
while attending others. MOI to show
His love; to win your pardon, He Suf-
fered the ignominious death of GRIM
inal. Behold, your Saviour hanging on
a cross to show His love for you His
arms are outstretched appealing to you
to come to Him. The wounds of the
thornS on His brow; the wounds of the
nails in His hands and feet; the
wounds of the lance in His side; are
as so many tongues proclaiming how
He loved you; and every drop of blood
that He shed is a pleading word of
pardon.
There He hangs, in eloquent silence,
during three long hours; proof of in
finite love and mercy. That silence is
broken only by the signing of break
ign hearts, that chung to the foot of
the cross.
On high, weak voice pleads. 1t is
the voice of the dying thief. At the
last moment he repents, saying: Lord,
remember me when Thou shalt come
shalt be with Me in Paradise" answe
cred Jesus. The thief is saved, and a
mighty example of Gods pardon is CIV
en- to sinners.
ners listen. Jesus is praying; praying
for you No father refuses the dying
request of His only Son. Surely God
will hear that prayer: Father" prays
know not what they do'' The heav-
ems open to receive that prayer, and
God the Father comes to take His
Son, as Jesus says: Father. into Thy
hands, I commend my spirit The
sad eyes close; the crowned head sinks
to rest; Jesus, the Son of God, is dead,
and by His death, He has won your
pardon and proved that He loved you.
Oh, who can resist such a merciful
God? If there be any here tonight
who have been away from God a long
time; or any who have sinned deeply
and have not determined to go to con-
fession and ask Gods pardon; if there |
be any such, I entreat them do not
leave. the Church this night until you |
have made your peace with God"
All week long, hundreds have con- |
ressed and have arisen in peace and |
Joy with souls as pure and spOtlesS as |
an angel. And why should you not |
also? All, let nothing stand between |
your soul and the peace and happiness |
Tor which it now yearns. Your soul |
,alls to you, and asks you to have |
mercy on it. Your God calls to you /
that He will be merciful. Be conf
lent, dear soul, be courageous. Say to /
your soul and to your God, Eyes, i I
n His mercy, will pardon me-"
Oh. God, our Father in heaven, show
myself this night, in all Thy mercy
and strengthen those who
,esitate. Fill every heart with its |
'weetness of Thy love. Jesus has died |
or all. We pray Thee that not one
nay be lost.
There will be no services tonight as
he entire evening will be devoted to
ion sermon will be preached by
Father Moran at the late mass. The
closing exercises of the mission will
axe place at 7:30 o'clock Sunday night |