Gilpin observer., 1913-03-20
SERMON ON
ST. PATRICK.

Ancient Order of Hibern.ars atterld'
ed Mass Gun full regalia, led by the
Marshal of the day, Edward O'Niel,
local Vice-President and State Treas
urer, and received Holy Communion
i'm a bdoy. Splendid choir and music
were furnished for the occasion,
ard Father Naughton, president of
the Hibernians, preached am able SER
mon, which was as follows:
Every recurring feast day brings
to light new ideas about the nation
ality, character and place of birth
of ST. Patrick. However, it suffices
fer us to know that ST. Patrick was
the God-sent messenger to convert
the Irish people to Christianity, that
he was the APOSTLE of the Irish peo-
pie, Some, in their discussions about
st. Patrick and his history, even go
so far as to say that he was a myth,
that he never really existed. Others,
whilst admitting his existence, claim
that he was not a Papist, or more
property speaking, Catholic. AS far
as l am concerned personally, my
dear brethren, I will say that, as re-
CARDS the argument that ST. Patrick
never existed, then to my way of
thinking, he was the greatest nobody
that ever lived, for to his memory,
as much, if not more tribute and hon
fsr NnT n
great characters the world has ever
known. Furthermore, as regards the
great apostle of Ireland not being a
Papist and a devoted member Of
Mother Church, then all have to say
is, that he certainly raised a fine
family of them, and l, for one, would
be perfectly willing. to have as many
more Protestant leaders, provided
that they raised UP as many devout
children of the church as ST. Pat
rick and his teachings did.
His work in the world, i'm the pro
vince of Almighty God, was the cen
version to Christianity of the Irish
people, and today thanks be to God
for it, we rejoice and praise the Mo5s
High in the thought that through
centuries of oppression, injustice and
tyranny, Ireland and her children
have remained loyal and steadfast
I'M the faith and teachings of St.
Patrick and to the See of st. Peter
at Rome. History we'll attests the
fact that not one drop of blood was
shed in the conversion of Ireland, and
ait the same time it attests i'm strik-
ing contrast to this, that the blood
of her children has flowed freely,
ah yes, but willingly and bravely in
ings of Christ and the See of ST.
Peter, flowed freely, l say, to pre-
serve that which was gained SO easi-
ly. Ireland and her destiny. st. Pat
rick's mission in the providence of
Almighty God was the conversion of
the Irish people. Did not the Almigh-
ty then intend the special work for
the Irish people? Is it fair and reas-
enable to suppose that all nations
under heaven seem to have their own
peculiar mission to accomplish in this
world and that Almighty God had
marked out none for the Irish ma
tion? l think not, and mostssasIsGlr-
edly so. To my mind, her mission.
the mission of Ireland and her peo-
pie is a divinely appointed one, of
spreading the light of the one true
faith throughout the world. History
attests this fact Though her blood
has run like rivers, though her lands
have been devastated, though her
children have been exiled, though her
rights have been wrung from her by
tyrants and even though at any mom-
ert she might have been spared all
this by mere apostasy, she has (may
God forever award herr she has.
say, sublimely kept the faith. To cuff
fer in order that others might know
the truth, to suffer in order that
others might be blessed, such to my
mind is the destiny of Ireland. Her
fidelity in preserving the faith has
been her glory and her crown. Pope
after Pope have from time to time
been caused the greatest worry in
the ages that have been passed and
gone, and even today, by reports Of
numerous defectiors from the faith
and by news of the spread of here's
les amongst the children OF the
church i'm almost every quarter of
the globe. But never once since st.
Patrick won Erin to the cause Of
Christ. not even once, / say. has any
Pope ever had cause to sorrow over
the news that Ireland was being led
astray. Even in the fake of the most
terrible and d!abolical prosecutions,