The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-18
INTERESTING
WAS DISCOURSE
OF FIR. TURNER
CONGREGATION AT SACRED
HEART CHURCH YESTERDAY
HEARD FINE TALK FROM
PRIEST ON LIFE OF GREAT PA
IRON SAINT.

ne SeTVGe dL the CdCTeu ffSdTb
church at o'clock yesterday morning
was a very interesting one. Rev.
Father Patrick Turner had for his sub
ject the Feast of ST. Patrick" and his
text was selected from verse II of the
32nd Psalm. He spoke as follows:
The Feast Of st. Patrick.
The purpose for which each man
was created is the same but all are
not bound to use exactly similar
means to gain that end. Hence what
we know as a vocation or a special
call from Almighty God to work out
our salvation In a certain specified
manner. A nation is an aggregate of
individuals and as such may have its
vocation. The Jews were chosen TO
preserve for centuries the knowledge
of the true God. The Greeks and Ro-
mans had a mission, though they knew
1t not. The former by the doctrines Of
some of their philosophers prepared
the way for the acceptance of the
Gospel and the latter by their world
wide empire facilitated the spread of
Christianity. But for other nations
was reserved the favor of preaching
religion of which the Jews possessed
but the shadow. of educating teachers
who applied the highest ideals of
dreamt of in the Acrojolis, and of
sending forth legions to rule where
Caesar failed to conquer. whose weap-
ons were not sword and shield, but the
powerful ones of truth and justicei
OF such nations none was more
favored than Ireland. She received a
triple call from Almighty God and her
faithfulness to His Grace has placed
upon her brow a tiara studded with
the brightest gems of faith of con-
stancy and of hope. Her vocation was
to receive the faith as no other nation
has received it, to preserve that faith
as no other nation has preserved it,
and to spread the knowledge of the
faith as no other nation has spread it.
Being destined for such a noble
work we are not surprised to find the
Irish people specially adapted for it's
fulfilment. Till the coming of st.
Patrick they were a pagan nation.
Historians assure US, however, that
they we're free from many of those
vices which degrade human nature
and harden the heart against the ac-
'ceptance of the truths of Christianity.
Their natural character was lofty.
They gloried in ideals and their highly
imaginative nature was not satisfied
with the grosser forms of paganism.
They were always a most revential
people. They practiced from merely
natural motives, the virtues Of chastity
and love of country which elevated
and purified by Christianity, have with
) profound faith, ever been the noblest
characteristics of the Irish people.
They were therefore prepared for
the reception of Christianity, if suit
able teacher would come amongss
in
their great apostle, st. Patrick, whose
feast we celebrate today.
For some of us, who have received
through an unbroken line, the faith
handed by Patrick's forefathers this
day has a special significance. We
celebrate not only the feast Of a great
saint, but the glory and the honor of
our people SO signally favored by
Almighty God. To Catholics of every
nationality, this should be an occasion
OF Joy, for they see in the history of
the Irish people another proof of the
vitality Of the church of Christ and the
fulhllment of His promise. The gates
Of hell shall not prevail against it,
To every lover Of fair play and JUS
tice, whatever his race or religion, we
can apply for sympathy for We COM
memorate a wonderful example Of suf-
fering for the sake of principle and I'M
swerving fidelity to duty in spite of
every obstacle.
Speaking of future preachers of the
gospel, Christ said: by their fruits
you shall know them" Let us there
fore apply to the preaching Patrick
this God-given test. It is not for us to
Judge of the relative holiness Of Gods
saints. But anyone who examines the
visible results of their preaching must
remark that some men were chosen
instruments in the hands of God for
the foundation and preservation of His
church. OF such none, except perhaps
the princes of the apostles, can lay
greater claim to the gratitude of man.
kind than the chosen patron of Ireland.
st. Francis Xavier may have preached
the faith to as many pagans, but the
effects of his work have not been so
permanent. Through lack of followers
10 carry on his apostolate the countries
evangelical by him have for the most
part relapsed into paganism; but, the
Hight of faith kindled by Patrick on the
holy hills of Ireland still shines as
brightly as when first its beams dis
PEELED the darkness of paganism and
now as through the centuries sends
forth its rays to the uttermost bounds
of the earth.
The early years of Christianity in
every pagan land have produced their
martyrs. Ireland alone is an excep-
ton. When Patrick landed upon it's
shores to preach the gospel it was
pagan country. When sixty years later
he passed to his reward it was Catho-
lie. During his lifetime he travelled
through the island from north to south,
from east to west. People f1ocked to
him in thousands and received the
faith with joy. Priests were ordained
bishops consecrated and churches
built to place on a solid basis the work
inaugurated by Patrick. The converts
were not of any particular tribe or sta
tion in life. Every part of the country
and all classes of the population were
affected. The bards, at first bitter
enemies of Christianity, forgot the
names OF Wodan and of Thor They
cried no NOR for vengeance on their
ensuaieS. Their Tyres were tuuei to