The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-03
SERMON SUBJECTS
FOR JANUARY
PRESCRIBED FOR THREE SUM-
DAYS OF THE MONTH IN THE
ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL.

The Most Reverend Archbishop has
prescribed the following subjects fol
the sermons in all the churches OF
the Archdiocese on three Sundays OF
the month of January:
l. The Holy Name of Jesus.
(a) The symbolism of name: it
brings into vivid picture the personal
ity it recalls, and challenges the be
stowal of honor and reverence merited
by such personality In it's physical
nature a name is sound of the air:
in its metaphorica1, moral aspect, it
is the. living being whom it evokes-
as, for instance, when the name is
spoken of parent, of friend, of coun.
try.
(b) Who is Jesus, whose name is
now brought to our hearing? He is
God eternal-God made man, because
of us and of our salvation our Re
deemer-the coming Judge of the liv.
ing and of the dead. How much we
owe to Him of alteration, fear, love,
reverence!
(c) Therefore, when the name OF
Jesus is spoken, or heard, be there
given to it supreme honor. The
Church tells of it, as ''the Most Holy
Name" Of this name st. Paul says:
"That in the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of those that are
in heaven, on earth and under the
earth
We should often pronounce the
Holy Name, in love, in gratitude. In
it is comfort in suffering, strength in
trial: in it is hope; in it is redemption
Whenever the Holy Name is spoken
or heard, we should bow the head in
reverence and alteration.
II. The Shame, the Sin of BIasphemy
(a) Blasphemy includes the ire
weren't use Of holy names-the name
of God-the name of the Saviour
the name of Saints or Angels, of holy
things or places-and, also, all forms
of malediction against the neighbor
Blasphemy is what in more common
parlance is known as cursing and
swearing.
(b) Taken on lowest grounds, bias
phemy, in all forms, is shameful vul
garity, justly censured by all rules
of social culture. No gentleman, nc
one holding himself above the habits
of the slum, curses or swears. Herein
lies a special responsibility upor
fathers of families, who should never
pull down their children to low depths
either by personally giving evil ex
ample, or allowing into their homes
others capable of giving like example
(c) The sin of irreverent treat
ment of holy names! Thou shall
not take the name of the Lord, tn.
God in vain," is the solemn command
of Jehovah. But I say to you
these the words of the Saviour mo
to swear at all, neither by heaven
for it is the throne of God, nor by tn
earth, for it is his footstool, nor b,
Jerusalem, for it is the city of tn
holy King" Irreverent treatment o
into the face of God, of the Saviour
A mystery it is of human depravity
that men do this injury to God, thei
Creator, to Jesus their Redeemer.
(d) Speaking malediction to tn
neighbor, is gross violation of tina
charity, which enjoins upon us t
love the neighbor as we love oul
selves. So hateful to God is such a
act, that, in penalty of it, the male
diction is made to return upon oul
selves! Cursed be he that curset
thee" "And he loved cursing, and
shall come to him: and he would NO
have blessing, and it shall be ia
from him."
III. The FrightfuI Prevalence of
BIasphemy.
i (a) Blasphemy one of the evil
of the day! The Holy Names ar
banded to and fro in jest, in fits Q
anger, in common converse, as mer
by-words, taken for use when non
others seem adequately vile and col
temptible And Catholics-certai
classes of them-fall into this fright
full habit!
j (b) The special shame and sin c
Catholics addicted to blasphemy
They know who God, who the Saviou
is: they know the reverence, the low
due to God, to the Saviour-and we
they blaspheme.
/ (c) The scandal given by sue
Catholics! Children and youth ours
and swear, and when the evil is il
quired into, the cause is that the
speak the awful language of the fl
Their and of his associates. Non-Catf
olics listening to blasphemy spoke
by Catholics, lose respect for the n
; ligion those Catholics profess and ar
willing to defend.
! Cd Something must be done, an
done vigorously, to eradicate froI
Catholic families and communities tn
frightful use of blasphemous words
AS one means, we will organize in tn
parish branch of the Holy Name Sc
ciety Ali, old and young, will be eI
rolled as members, the solemn pledg
being given that cursing and swearin
cha11 ho ovoidod once and for ever