Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-23
CLOSE OF ST. PATRICK'S MISSION
rancscan Fathers Conclude Two Weeks Labors With Ser
 Truth Sabbath Observance, Prayer Faith and Perseverance Societies of the City Attended Sunday Evening Service in Body-Made Imposing Spectacle They Marched Up Broadway in Double File

i the 5 o'clock mass in St. Patrick's church Saturday morning for the | Franciscan Father, Matthew, assisted 1 by Father Seraphim. to give commun- ion to the men attending the mission. 1 Between $50 and 400 men received the Holy Eucharist.
 | Because of this, Father Matthew shortened his morning instruction, which was on the Efficancy of F're- l Guent Communion.
 l At sle o'clock mass, Father Chrys- ostum preac'sad on the sinfulness of lies in any form.
 Inspiring Temperance Sermon. The evening sermon by Father | Seraphim was on the Enormity of 1 Drunkenness, rousing plea for total 1 abstinence and a rebuke to those men who forget their obligations as Cath olics and fall into the terrible vice l of intemperance.
 Three Priests Give Communion. 1 As one of the first fruits of the mis- l sion, during the ' o'clock low mass 1 read as usual Sunday by Rev. J. H. l Frederick, nearly every person in the 1 great congregation received holy com | munion, including over 400 members l of the Holy Name Society. Father l Seraphim preached and he and Father | Cuny assisted Father Broderick in l giving communion.
 At the o'clock (children's) mass, Father Matthew preached on the ne- i cessity of prayer and the strict ob- servance of the Sabbath.
 Keeping Holy the Lords Day. The preacher at the high mass at 10.30 was Father Chrysosrum, whose text was the eighth commandment Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. This command was given by God to Moses, amid thunder and lightning, on Mount Sinai. A rainy morning. an icy sidewalk cient excuse for keeping one away from giving God the worship which He demands, in His holy temple. the preacher said. Jehovah is a God of might jealous God. the Creator of man, His creature. whose service He demands. Works of charity or neces- sity on the Sabbath day may excuse the non attendance of a Catholic at holy mass but this does not mean bus- mess, unnecessary manual labor, the pursuit of pleasure or sloth,
 The privilege a Catholic enjoys through Gods favor in assisting at the august sacrifice of the mass, the mystery of Love, where the God. who will one day be mans judge is now. through His ineffable love for man, his victim. sacrifice offered to His eternal Father, was pointed out to the attentive congregation. The Saw four not only instituted the sacrifice of His body and blood. but commanded Me"
 What greater privilege then. than to be present at this sacrifice. to offer ones homage to the Most High through His Only -begotten Son, in whom He is well pleased! To offer it in atonement for our sins, in thanksgiving for Gods favors, for daily needs!
 VcstibuIes to Hell. I The preacher drew a picture of the way many so-called Christians spend Sunday, in dens and localities of vice which are the vestibules 10 Hell. In gambling and carousing, in Saturday night and early Sunday morning dances and the like. This Is not the spirit of the earlier Catholics, who frequently rose at o'clock so as to walk long distances to be present at mass at 8.
 Obligations of Parents. The duty of parents in seeing to 1t that their children are prompt in at- tendance at church was emphasized; l; and in general the necessity of ob- | serving the Lords day with reverence and decorem and with freedom from 1 all sinful pleasures.
 Urged to Perservere.
 In referring to the wonderful fervor and zeal displayed by the parishoners during the past fortnight, Father Chrysostum urged them not to relax. but to continue in the path of right eousness, admonishing them that only
 'he who perseveres unto the end shall 1 be saved"
 Memorial for the Dead.
 The Franciscan Father stated that this (Monday) morning, the 2 o'clock mass is to be offered Ror all the de- ceased members of the parish and for all the souls in Purgatory.
 For the closing day of the mission the high altar was beautifully dec- ) orated with chrysanthemums in white pale pink and yellow, while palms were on the altar steps.
 Evening Services.
 It was estimated that 1900 people heard Father Mathew deliver the final sermon Sunday night. Father Mathew spoke on Loss of Faith, taking his text from the gospel of St. John 10th, 18th verse. Father Mathew pointed out the , prophecies which were made by the prophets regarding the life and death of Jesus Christ, and of how Jesus came into this world, and of how the people did not believe Him. As the disciple John said: He came into this world among His own and they would not believe Him. When the disciples , told Thomas that the Lord had risen. what did he say? 1 will not believe until I have seen the nail prints in the hands and put my hands in His side and when the, disciples were gathered together, Thomas amongst them, Jesus appeared in their midst Turning to Thomas, He said: See 2 my hands, the prints, and the hole in 2 my stde." On that occasion our Savior wished not only to show His love for US in dying for us, but He wished to shame the disbeliever. He wished tc strengthen faith. Be not a disbe1iever hold fast to your faith and hold fast , to your religion. There was never a |. time as the present to hold fast tc your faith, when unbe1;ef and lack ot faith seems to threaten the founda- tions of our families and our social life.
 Unbeiief Is Unreasonable.
 Unbelief. Is unreasonable. Unbelie1 Is dishonorable. It is fatal to the , Individual, to the home and to the , nation. The disciples knew the
 promises of Jesus Christ; they knew o1 5 His work; they knew of His wonders of restoring sight to the blind, loosen ing the tongue, opening the ears and ! l oF calling back the Head to life