Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-26
GREAT WAR MORAL ERROR.
BISHOP O'CONNOR ASSERTS
FFsas Christmas Sermon the Cathedral Declares That
Europe Has Apparently Forgotten the Teachings of Jesus
Christ and Civilization

Peace. concord and true progress;
have their source in submission and
obedience 20 the teachings and pre-.
cepts OF Christ, declared Blshor
C'Connor, head of the Catholic do
cese Of Newark, in his annual Christ
mas sermon at solemn pontifical high
mass N st. Patrick's Cathedral yes
terday forenoon. Nations in their
Workmanship" said Bishop O'Con-
nor, forget Christ and His church.
with results that are shown in the
conflict now devastating Europe The
same principles that appy to the
peace and friendship Of individuals
apply to the peace. prosperity and
progress Of nations"
Because of the fact that the
preacher was a student years ago In
the University of Louvain, Belgium,
special significance was attached to
his expressions touching on the great
Rrar. Louvain has figured promi-
nently in the early part Of the great
conflict
Bishop O'Connor was the celebrant
OF the mass He was assisted by
Monsignor l. P. Whelan, as arch
Oriest and four seminarians from
Seton Hall College as deacons, sub
deacons and deacons of honor, Rev.
Charles A Smith. chancellor OF the
diocese, acted as master Of cere-
monies.
Professional and recessional hymns
we're sung by the chancel choir and
an elaborate Christmas musical pro-
gram was rendered by the quartet
choir and Suenderhaft's orchestra.
The sanctuary was embeinshed with
palms and flowers and cloaked with
handsome laces.
Bishop O'Connor's sermon follows:
To-day We celebrate the joyous
feast of Christmas, the happy day
which commentaries the birth OF
Christ our Lord. We return in spirit
TO the humble stable of Bethlehem to
adore the Infant saviour Of mankind.
On this day we forget the cares OF
advancing years to become children
again in the simplicity. earnestness
and sincerity Of our faith and love
towards Him Of whom the angels
sang: Behold we bring you good |
tidings of great Joy. which shall be
to you and TO all the people. for this |
day is born to you a Saviour who Is |
Christ the Lord With the shep- |
herds. as with Mary and Joseph, we /
adore Him and pay Him the homage |
which is due from the creature to
she Creator.
Prophecies Fulfilled.
For with the eyes Of faith We
discern in the child wrapped in swad-
ding clothes and laid in the manger
the expected of nations. the Messias
predicted for centuries, the Eternal
Son of God made man. In Him are
fulfilled the prophecies OF the old
law. In Him repose the hopes Of
mankind during all the ages even to
the end of the world. He is the
Word made flesh, the second person
of the Blessed Trinity who for us
and for our salvation descended from
heaven and became incarnate. assum-
ii1g our human nature and becoming
like to US in all things except sin.
This is He TO whom ST. Peter said:
Thou art Christ the Son of the Liv-
Eng Cod and who answered: Blessed
art thou Simon Rar-Jona, because
flesh and blood have not revealed IL
70 thee, but my father who is In
heaven
i'This is He of whom st. John de-
elared that all things were made by
film and without Him was made
nothing that was made, the word
who in the beginning was with God
And who God, who came on earth and
awelt amongst US and we have seeil
f5is glory the glory Of the only be-
irotten Son and Father. Referring to
Christ the apostle of the gentiles
sffirms that by Him and In Him all
ahings are created and subsist, that
Me upholds all things by the power
Of His word, that in Him dwelleth all
the fullness Of the God-head corpor
ally, for being in the form OF God Ht
thought it not robbery to be equal
with God and yet He humbled Him
self taking the form of a servant, be
slng made in the likeness Of man and
In habit found as man.
/ ut Is indeed a mystery Of Gods
providence that this most important
event in the worlds history should
occur amid surroundings SO poor and ,
lowly as those which accompanied the ,
birth and infancy of Christ. But be-
,ieying as we do In the incarnation ,
of the divine word and therefore in I
lbe divinity OF Christ, we know that
q sever exalted or magnificent those
might have been, they .
Mould have fallen infinitely short of .
The grandeur appropriate to a mani
festation Of Gods mercy which so ,
Ear surpasses the power Of the human
mind even to conceive. 1t was fitting
hat the poverty and privation of the
stable OF Bethlehem should indicate +.
he utter impossioility of any human ,,
splendor to be worthy Of the sub ,,
Unity Of the occasion. Thus we con- ,
.
The main fact which this festival COM
nemorates, viz: that He who is its :,
central figure is God Himself, clothed :
n the garb Of our humanity.
Gods Power shown. :
1.-THE more precious the jewel, the !
ess need is there of a setting de- t
signed to enhance the effect which its |
intrinsic value and beauty produce IN {
he mind Of the beholder In the mys
.ery Of the human birth Of the eternal 6
ION of God, we are brought face TO {
ACE with an exhibition Of Gods 7
bower and goodness which IS too l
overwhelming IN itself to require the {
lid Of earthly grandeur.
I'VE behold IN Christ the new born !
Saviour OF the world, the proof of {
he infinite love OF God for mankind
which constrained Him to send His I
5nly begotten Son that all who would
believe in Him might not perish, but |
night find life everlasting.
I'VE see in Christ the ConsummatiOn |
81 Gods designs for the welfare of
humanity and the restoration of the !
auman race 10 the high position In |
he order of grace from which 1t had
seflen through mans dsobedience.
God had elevated man to the super
Natural order This included destina-
slOi 10 All CAi1i INC pSatiilc a4SlOAi VI
God which eye hath not seen nor ear
feard, nor hath It entered into the
aeart of man to conceive.
reslt also included an endowment Of
sHnctifying grace and gifts which
ran could not have merited by the
Utmost exertion of his natural pow
tsfs of intelligence and freedom. This
grace and these supernatural gifts
mad been forfeited by sin. Man re-
yDained destined to q super natural
end but was powerless to attain It,