Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-09-07
Sermon Of Fr. Tragesser

S6I IIIUII VI II. udSCSOCI
At Mount St. Mary's on the Occasion of
the Funeral of Victor Manuel
Avila, August 9th.
He was taken away lest wickedness
should alter his understanding, or deceit
beguile his soul. For the bewitching of
vanity obscureth good things, and the
wandering of concupiscence overturneth
the innocent mind.
Being made perfect in a short space,
he fulfilled long time:-For his soul
pleased God: therefore He fastened to
bring him out of the midst of iniquities:
but the people see this, and understand
not, nor lay up such things in their
hearts.
The just that is dead, condemneth the
wicked that are living, and youth soon
ended, the long life of the unjust.
WIS. w, Ills.
These words of the inspired writer give
US some insight into the motives of Divine
Providence in the death of many youth,
who is suddenly torn away from the en-
brace of his loved ones. 1t was, but AZ
yesterday when he, who is now lifeless
before US, entered for the first time this
college to pursue his studies and receive
the Catholic education which would en-
able him to fight we'll the battles of life.
His bright, cheerful disposition gave
promise of welcome companion, and
his respect for authority and his talents
forebode the commentator of his
superiOrs.
Here he met new surroundings and
found himself in strange land; far from
the country where he had spent the
greater portion of his life. But why
should | refer to any land as strange to
those of the household of the faith? The
Church of which we are members recog-
nzes only one land. 1.-THE earth is the
Lords and the fullness thereof Ps.
XIII |. "Ask of Me, and | shall give
Thee the gentiles for Thy inheritance,
and the utmost parts of the earth for
Thy posse ssion.' Ps. II, 8. Why should
any land be strange to the children OF
the faith, all of whom recognize one an
other as children of God their Father,
and members of Christ their head with
Whom they hope to be associated in
glory?
The sudden taking away of this youth
has changed into deep sorrow and bitter
sadness the joy and gayety that usually
prevade these walls and surroundings.
God summary requires of the boys
family and the College great sacrifice.
The sacrifice is indeed heroic for the
family, but the arm that has fallen heav-
lily, will support bleeding hearts; and, as
time passes on, loved ones will recognize
that the hand which appeared to chastise,
has been the bearer of precious blessings.
The pagans looked upon the calamities
of life as an expression of the ire OF the
gods; but the Christian believes that the
trials and crosses of life are tokens of
Gods love. "For whom the Lord loveth,
he chastiseth." Heb. XII. 6.
Sacrifice is the basis of all success in
the material and spiritual order, This
heart-rending sacrifice that God demands,
is like the seed that man deposits in the
soil Just as the seed will bring forth
fruit in due time, so this great sacrifice,
borne for Gods love and with Christian
resignation. will bring forth fruit hun
dred fold in Gods own time We may
we'll hope and pray that the fruits of this
sacrifice will rebound first of all favor OF
those who are the most stricken by the
blow, and next, in favor of the land of
their birth which is now rent asunder by
anarchy and irreligon. Let us hope that
very soon prayer and sacrifice will bring
to that prosecuted land what the sword
cannot give, namely, temporal and spirit
ual prosperity. May the prayers ard
sacrifices of Mexico's children hasten the
dawn of the brightest era in her history.
And last of all let US hope that the sac
rifce which this death imposes may
bring upon this well-loved college re-
| neWdl Ol heavenly ldVoTS.
This institution was born in sacrifice,
| it grew and waxed strong amidst sacri-
fees, it continues to make rapid strides
in favor of Catholic Education because
this home of science and religion is made
more and more fertile by sacrifices.
And now let me beg you upon whom
| Cod laid this heavy burden of sorrow to
raise your heads and with the eyes of
faith to behold beyond the dark clouds
of sorrow, the bright rays of Him Who,
in the days of His mortality, was seen
going about doing good. The gospels
say of Him that He gave sight to the
blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to
the bumb, and that He raised the dead
to life. 1t may seem that He is uncon-
scious of your deep grief, and that He
loves you not; but let me assure you that
the same Divine, Loving Heart that wit
messed and felt the sorrow of the widow
of Main at the loss of her only son, and
of the sisters of Lazarus at the death of
their brother, is as near to you at this
moment as He was to the bereaved widow
and to Mary and Martha in their sorrow,
and that the Sacred Heart of the Savior
loves you none the less than them. You
may not hope that He will restore life to
your loving boy as He did to the Widows
son and to Lazarus. The two last He
rose again to this mortal life of ours