The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-11-09
ROSARY SUNDAY
Sermon BY Cardinal Gibbons at Bal.
tmoro Cathedral,

Sermon BY Cardinal Gibbons at Bal
| timore Cathedral.
| In an eloquent sermon in the Cath
edral, Baltimore, last Rosary Sunday
morning, Cardinal Gibbons paid a
beautiful tribute to the Blessed Virgin
Mary and explained why The Catholic
Church pays homage to her. The
large edifice was crowded. Men in all
walks of life and of many religious
beliefs listened intensely to his Emin-
ence.
1t was the first time the Cardinal
had given a discourse there since last
January. His voice rang clear, and
those who stood at the rear door of
the church were able to hear every
word. The Cardinal retains his ora
torical fire. At times his eloquence
rose to lofty heights.
His Eminence took for his text:
Blessed art thou amongst. women /"
He said:
In the Christian world for two
thousand years down the ages. Mary,
the Mother of Jesus, whom we espe-
cially honor today, Holy Rosary Sum
day, has been most potent factor in
the moral elevation and sanctif1cation
of the female sex. Therefore her
name should be religiously enshrined
In the hearts Of every Christian wo-
man.
IF today woman is the equal of her
husband and not the slave of his con-
supiscence: if she is the queen of the
domestic kingdom, and not a tenant
at VIII, she owes her emancipation
and dignity under Christ to His
blessed Mother. For the Christian
world in revering and paying homage
to Mary could not hesitate to nav
homage also to woman, who is made
after Mary's image and likeness.
Dialogue With the, Angel.
THE question is often asked: whv
does the Catholic Church pay so much
honor to the Blessed Virgin? The an
swer Is contained in the Gospel nara
tive Let us carefully weigh each
word of the dialogue between the an
gel and the Virgin, and, like the bee
that fits from flower to flower, let us
extract the honey of the truth and
devotion from every blossom of the
bed of spiritual roses that is set be-
fore us.
"The Angel Gabriel was sent from
God into a city of Galilee, called Naz-
areth, to virgin, and the virgins
name was Mary. And the angel said
to her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord
IS with thee. Blessed are thou among
women Mary, who having heard
was troubled at his saying. and
thought with herself what manner al
sanitation this should be. And the an
gel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for
thou shalt conceive with God. Behold
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
shait bring forth Son, and thou shalt
call his name Jesus. The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Most High shall overshadow
thee, and therefore the Holy One that
shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God And Mary said: Be
mold the handmade of the Lord, be II
done to me according to thy word"
NO greater honor was ever con.
1erred upon a human creature than
was, on this occasion, bestowed on
Mary, whether We consider the per-
sonal dignity of the envoy or the mo-
mentous character Of the message. or
the language Of respect in which II
Is conveyed.
"our Tainted Natures Solitary Boast
Hail. full of grace" The angel
does not commend Mary for her per-
sonal charms though she is the fair.
est lily Of Israel. for he knows that
beauty is vain and favor is deceitful
but the woman who feareth the Lord
shall be praised. He does not praise
her on account of her distinguished
birth, though she is descended from
lsraers kings. No. but he admires
her because she is the elected child
of benediction, and because Of thu hid.
den beauty of her soul. He sees in
her our tainted natures solitary
boast who had never been sullied b,
the sin of Adams disobedience. And
as the diamond reflects every color O,
the rainbow according as it is exposed
to the SUMS rays, SO did the soul OF
Mary from the moment that the sur
of justice shone upon her reflect every
virtue as occasion called it forth.
y And let it always be borne in
mind that the homage we pay to the
Mother rebounds to the Son. The
halo that encircles her brow is but an
emanation of the effulgence that radi.
ates from Him. And therefore there
Il Is not a prain ~ 1ncouao h,rooa T.,