The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-03
THE FUNERAL SERMON
Eulcoy OF Rev. A. ]. Barron BY Rev
o. J. O'SulliVan.

o. J. O'SulIiVan.
Rev. o. J. O'Suliivan OF ST. Adams
eulogist on the occasion OF the fun
eral OF Rev. 4. j. Barron, has pre-
pared 4 portion OF the sermon deliv-
cred at St Francis de Sales church
on the morning OF November &c. J;
Is as follows:
Thou art Il priest forever" rs. ciX'
Right Reverend and Reverend Faith
Their and Dearly Beloved Brethren:
These are bold words to speak
over the body of u dead priest. For
In the presence OF death, the most
betting sentiments are selfabase-
ment. and the acknowledgment OF
Gods supreme dominion over us, and
our dependence upon him. In the
presence OF death. there IS no room
Tor human pcmp, nor the praise OF
any man. In the death OF q good
priest, however, We find reason for
exultation and gratitude. When
death wrecks the body OF a good
Christian, il gnaws away. corrodes,
and breaks the snare; and when the
soul is set free, il escapes intact. I'M
scathed, still bearing the indellble
Impress OF the Christian character
For as one OF our poets has said
Dust thous art, was not skoken OF
the soul" When a good and valiant
prizes; has long been struggling in a
mighty duel with death, and Mt last
has succumbod, the tongue that mas
been SO often insangrined with the
blood OF Jesus Christ, that has spok-
en- 80 fearlessly the words OF truth.
ana warning 10 stilled; the consecrat
cd hand so often raised in blessing
and forgiveness is powerless. but his
soul escapes from the thraldom OF
It's human habitation in all it,
strength and beauty, and still bear
tho Indelible character OF the priest
hood oil. Jesus Christ So that VIC
may cry ous with humble joy THOU
art 4 priest forever 70 grave
where is thy victory. o death, where
l.; ny stIngi For that triumph, IL
tho midst OF our humiliation and be
rgKlvcment, we thank and glorify oH
God. We thank God first OF all ion
the eternal priesthood OF his divine
Son. For the priesthood OF the son
shares in the eternity OF God him
erlr From all eternity the Father
decla rcd 10 the son: "Out OF the
womb, before the day star bego,
thee. Thou art Il priest forever
From All eternity as priest and vic
tim, Inc Son has been immolatns
himself in 4 sacrifice OF love 20 the
Father. We thank God Tor Inc
priesthood OF Jesus Christ which i
tho ttansplanting OF the eternal
priesthood OF the Son to this low
earth. In the exercise OF the office OF
our RedeemeT and Savior. We thanh
Cod Tor the priesthood OF Jcsuf
Chris. extended and communicated
TO men. preserved and perpetua,ed
IN his church. We thank God for all
that that priesthood is. and means
on. what barren desert, what an
abode OF horror would this world
hsvo been. without the priesthood
Of Jesus Christ in his church. II has
been. il is the light OF the world. the
sal. OF tho earth. the redemption OF
mankind. the glory OF God. u is the
bearer OF Gods message to men. II
j. the light that ENLIGHTENMENT every
man that cometh into this world
1T makes clear without fear or favor
10 the individual, 10 the family. 10
the state. their duty and their rights.
To the mighty ones OF earth, whether
their power come. from wealth or
position. when they are prone TO ~
ranny and injustice. that priesthood
proclaims. thus far. ard no farther
sbsll YOU 90" Thanks. therefore. 10
God Tor what the priesthood means
20 this world
Thank God. also. for the priest
hood OF Faihor Barron. For his v0.
cation. ana his calling 70 that hoiy
and sublime state. We offer thanks.
Foi. from an eternity. in the mind
Of God he had been set apart for The
york q the priest. and from all
eternity God. In his love. had g1is-
l-ered 70 Tire soul that he was 20
create. "Thon art a uficst fOreFerF