The Irish standard., 1911-09-02
THE CARDINALS SERMONS.

THE CARDINALS SERMONS.
Probably there is no other clergy
man in the United States who, with
out a press bureau to exploit his
works, is more widely quoted than
Cardinal Gibbons. His monthly ser
mons in the Cathedral at Baltimore
appear in part, at least, in secular as
| we'll as in Catholic papers all over the
country. There are two special rea-
sons why the Cardinals sermons
should make a broad appeal: they
! are biblical in their simplicity and the
| finest fruit of ripe old age Here are
few extracts from a recent sermon
of his Eminence. 1t will be noted that
not fine phrasing but sound philosophy
| is the basis of their appeal:
1--WE are filled with admiration when
we hear OF some good philanthropist
| who has bestowed millions for chari-
| ties, but those little neglccts of cour-
| tesy, kindness and charity which are
seen only by the all-seeing eye Of God
we do not notice. We are not to meas
urc those splendid acts of benevolence
! by their splendor or greatness, but by
| the motive which prompts them. You
will remember how our Lord was
pleased with the gift the woman
brought into the temple and said that
| she had given more than the Scrbes
and Pharisees, on account of the pur-
| ity of her intention"
| Again he says: Our sanctification
here. our friendship with God, our sal
walton hereafter, do not depend upon
the performance of any great or strik-
ing achievements, but rather depend
| upon the faithful performance of those
duties connected with our station in
| life and our avocation. In the great
day, our Lord will not ask US, What
| done it?' He will not ask whether a
man was king or peasant, but he
will ask whether he performed his part
well. God commands us all to
aim at righteousness. If righteousness
and sanctity were to depend upon
great and striking achievements, how
few men could acquire them. How
few acts of life are worthy of sound
ing the trumpet of fame. Most are the
common actions of life. AS there are
few officers in the rank and file of the
army there are few achievements
worthy of being recorded on the pages
Of history.
Brethren, therefore, bear this in
mind that in order to please Almighty
God you are not Obliged to make a pill
grimage to the Holy Land, you are not
obliged to visit the tombs of the
apostles, nor to convert nations as
Paul, the apostle was. The words
which Moses addressed to the children
of Israel in order to encourage them
were This commandment 1 command
you this day is not above you or far
off from you. The command that 1
give you this day is within thy heart
and within thy very REACH
The Cardinal looks askance at any
influence that tends to detract from
home life. On this ground he has often
expressed himself as not in sympathy
with woman suffrage. In his recent
sermon he said: "In the last part of
the Book of Proverbs it speaks rela-
tive to a beautiful Wife and good
mother. Her husband praised, her chill
dren rose up and called her blessed.
What had that woman accomplished?
Had she achieved great social VIC
tories? Did she succeed also in advo-
eating successfully female suffrage or
was she prominent in some great
club? Nothing said about that at all.
She was an affectionate wife, a loving
mother, kind and considerable mis-
tress of the members of her house
hold, and she did not cat her meat in
idleness. Woman as mistress of the
domestic kingdom is cXtolled and ad-
mired.'
Here is a final memory gem: Char
ity, forbearance. self-denial and light
ening the burdens of others, they are
trifles indeed, but those trifles make
the perfect man and the Christian man
is the roE'cst work Of Cod"
Elghte,,. /. ~uliG women from various
places in America and abroad were re-