Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-08-25


of SO many cares, the cause, perhaps,
of so many sins, this, too, you must
part from But, my friends, will death
leave us nothing at all? Yes, it viii
leave us our works and joy or re-
gret, according as our works shall
have been good or bad. What things
a man shall SOW these also shall be
reap" Oh, death, how wholesome
are thy counsels! How well thou
teachest us to appreciate everything
at its proper value and to regulate
our affections 1t is good to adhere
to the Lord. He that clingeth to
the creature" says the author of the
invitation, shall fall with his falling.
He that embraceth Jesus shall be firm
ly rooted forever
Death, my brethren, is the mightiest
of preachers. He speaks not, but his
silence rs more eloquent than words,
and perhaps sooner than we expect,
that we are like the flower of the field
which cometh forth in the morning
but droops and withers with the noon
day sun. one day strong and vigorous
and perhaps before the shades of night
gather westling and struggling with
the fell destroyer. He warns us not
to delay our conversion to use our
days with profit to our souls, no longer
to postpone doing penance for our sins.
The sermon never varies, it is ever the
same pathetic, impressive and power
full exhortation that touches a respon-
sive chord even in the most indiffer-
ent heart. Slow and solemn the deep
toned funeral bell sounds forth, the
blessed water is sprinkled, and clouds
of incense float upward, fit emblems
of the prayers which ascend to God
in his holy temple for the departed
soul. All these with the solemn re.
QUEEN music, like hollow murmurs
from the grave, serve to remind us
that one who but a little while ago
sat in those seats as you do now, is
gone. forever gone, from our midst
Why then should | speak to you at
greater length? Death himself speaks
TO you before these altar rails. What
could more forcibly appeal TO you than
those pallid lips, those fast closed
eyes, those still pale hands folded over
the quiet breast? What could more
powerfully urge you to good than that
rigid form clothed in the silent majesty
nr fri =
emn spectacle of death do not move
your hearts of what avail will my
words be? At funerals we do not
speak for the dead. They are already
naught. The inexorable decree has
gone forth, their eternity is decided,
and they have received their reward
according to their works.
The object of funeral sermons is to
benefit the living. We urge you to
Seek him whilst you can find him,
whilst you are living and in health
Seek him whilse you can find him,
seek him before disease has fastened
upon you its merciless grip. "Oh that
we would be wise and would under
stand and would provide for our last
end. Behold now is the acceptable
time, now is the day of salvation" To-
day If you shall hear His voice hard
en- not your hearts"
1t is a great mistake for us, my
brethren, to consider an early death as
a misfortune. To sinners it undoubt
eddy is, but not to the just. The souls
of the just are in the hands of God and
the torment of death shall not touch
them. In the sight of the unwise they
appeared to die, but they are in peace
An early death was terrible to the pa.
gans of old, but not to the Christian.
1t Is often great, an inestimahle
blessing, because thereby the young
person escapes a spiritual, an eternal
death. He escapes many sorrow and
many pitfall in life. When we see
50 many men around us today so care
less and negligent of the one thing
necessary-their souls salvation, and
when we remember that these were
once innocent devout boys and youths
of promise we realize in all their full
ness the words of Holy Writ, He
was taken away lest malice should
alter his understanding or deceit be.
guile his soul" When we say that
this young man was devout practical
Catholic we have said a good deal in
his favor He was aIwayc tn he caap