Gilpin observer., 1912-03-21
Sermon on
St. Patrick


celebrated with all the elaborate
ceremonies of her ritual. High mass
wal5 sung and a special sermon de-
livered by the pastor, Father Naugh-
ton, en- the Life and Times Of St.
Patrick" The Ancient Order Of Hi
bernians, about go in number, ap-
preached Holy Communion in a body.
St. Mary's new altar boys in their
beautiful new cassocks and surplices
made their initial appearance on that
morning and the splendid music and
singing Of the choir were remarked
by all. Father Naughton, the pastor,
Is president CT the Central City Di-
vision Of the A. o. H., and he SEEM
ed to have left nothing undone
in making the occasion a most event
FIJI and memorable one III the history
Of st. Mary's parish.
The following is the sermon de-
livered by Father Naughton on ST.
Patrick's day at High mass:
Text-"Let us praise men and our
forefathers in their generation. These
men Of mercy whose goodly deeds
have not failed. Let the people show
forth their wisdom and the church
declare their praise
Next in value to the life of our
Blessed Lord as a model of holiness
for men, come the lives of the Saints.
In them as modes We behold our
brethren and fellow citizens of Gods
church, our fellowsoldiers and fell
low servants of Christ. Possessing
poor week human nature like our
selves, being in all things like unto
US, naturally their deeds appeal to
us most strongly. They at least have
labored in the same vineyard as our
selves and borne the same burdens
and heat of the day. They have
fought in the same warfare and
against the same enemies as we
must certainly struggle. They have
experienced the same difficulties and
temptations in their efforts against
the forces cs evil from without and
the frailty of the flesh from within.
Naturally therefore their deeds and
labors impress us most deeply. Their
actions in other words, inscribe them
selves upon the minds of men and
it seems providential that Almighty
God has SO willed this observing in
stinct of our nature that it may be
for us the occasion of much practical
good; an incentive to higher, better
tand holier lives; to grand and merit
oriors imitation of deeds well done.
| For US then the lives Of sanity
men and women should serve as bea-
con lights to guide US ever safely
onward and upward in the path of
life. In fine they should serve simp-
ly as models for our sincere and
earnest imitation. Their though. their
words and their deeds are the very
soul of the worlds best history and
hence it is our duty as wayfarers
here below, seeking light and help
in this vale of tears and darkness to
learn from the lives of the vlrtuous
and great. In the duty of honoring
such of her noblest sons and daugh-
ters, Mother Church has been most
faithful. Each day and month of the
year finds her celebrating their feasts
in her canticles of praise or with
the elaborate ceremonies of her rit-
ual. They are her heroes and there
fore she honcrs them as the world
honors its heroes, records their IL
lustrious deeds and builds up monu-
ments to perpetuate their names and
glory.
Hence on the 18th day Of this first
spring month of March she bids US
recall to our minds the life and
works of st. Patrick, the great Apos-
tie Of Ireland. OF Him 1t may be
truly said that amongst the sanity
men and women whom Mother Church
delights to surround with halo OF
sanctity, He stands pre-eminently
among the foremost. His life though
most remarkable, even miraculous in
many respects was nevertheless at
all times most practical. Surely, for
those who first saw the light Of day
from the hills Of the Emerald Isle
this day has a special significance.
II recalls to their minds the aw
full sufferings Of people for their
faith. 1t recalls the days in Ireland
when church and altar disappeared
| when M sanctuary lamn or mass
candle burned; when no church organ
pealed forth its melodious notes but
all was desolation for centuries. But
my dear brethren. the happiest ant
greatest thought Of the Irish people
on that day Is in the fact that theii