Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-23
TELLS WHY MARY
IS GIVEN HONOR
FATHER HANLEY EXPLAINS WHY
CATHOLICS VENERATE MOTH.
Err OF JESUS CHRIST.

| Behold from henceforth all nations
shall call me blessed" With these
words from the Magnificent, Father
Benedict Hanley began his sermon
| Thursday evening at the mission being
held in st. Patrick's church where an
| immense crowd has been attending the
daily services both morning and even
ling.
| The position given Mary, mother OF
Jesus by the Catholic church and what
honor and reverence are expected of the
faithful communicate towards the
blessed virgin; the honors and great
| favors shown her by God and by the
church from its very beginning, We're
| dwelt upon at length as was also the
powers OF Mary as an intercessor for
mankind before the throne Of God by
virtue Of her being mother Of the son
of God. The discourse was of an hours
duration and held the close attention
OF the large audience throughout The
church was said by the speaker to have
Set aside two months each year for
special generation Of and devotions to
Mary and that many beautiful prayers
and hymns have been provided for the
children of the church whereby suppl
cation is made and honor given Christ's
mother.
In answer to the question, why does
the church hold these devotions to
Mary In such esteem and why is such
honor given creature, the missioner
stated that 1t is because. God ,honored
Mary as no other creature has been
honoreds by making her the, mother of
His divine son, and that He continued
to shower favors and privileges upon
Mary that no creature save her was
ever accorded. He pictured the ecstasy
Of Mary caressing the divine infant;
the Joy Of her blessed motherhood and
privileges accorded her in having
charge of God himself in the person Of
Jesus who was boln of her womb and
who called her mother.
Father Hanley said that the divn.
iy Of Christ is attacked by many who
would deny Mary the honor the church
accords her, believing that by with
holding this regard for the mother they
slow greater veneration for God. In
attacking this position, sthe speaker
gave several illustrations of the great
love a mother has for. son and the
reciprocal regard Of even a thoughtless
or hayward son for his mother and held
that any son would resent being
praised when the mother who bore him
was debased and scorned for his adj
vancement.
The missioner referred to the act Of
Jesus on the cross when he addressed
John and His mother before. expiring.
saying 10 Jonn: son peHolu my Hoth.
er: mother behold thy son. This
said the speaker, made Mary the
mother Of all mankind for John was
but type Of mankind in this instance
whereby Jesus would have mankind
look to His blessed mother as their
spiritual mother, and she to them as
her spiritual children. Thus you can
see that while we may be unworthy of
ourselves to be heard directly by Jesus,
yet with the duplication Of her whom
Jesus called mother, praying in our be-
half and added to our own prayers. we
may expect to be heard and win pardon
and mercy, as well as the graces and
favors needed in this life with hope
for eternal happiness"
Rev Father ]. Walsh Of Abba opened
the evening service with the recitation
Of the rosary and closed it with bene-
diction.