Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-09

angry GOQ came to reDuke d1SODeOlenC Adam and Eve; to punish sinful man kind. in the Deluge, to destroy five popGous and wicked cities, notable among which were Sodom and Gomorrah, then, in the surest way to win human love, at Christmas, when His love took the form of little Child. Coming again at the time of mis- sion, He is not the God of vengeance or, of anger, but the God of mercy and compassion. calling upon sinners to re- turn to Him with confidence and in penitence.
 Three Glasses to Deal With. Christ, when He came upon earth, had to deal with three classes = the soldier, the man of affairs, and the housewife. like another Martha, busy with many things. To each he l brought the adrnonition, to forsake all else and to make sure or salvation. The missionaries, Christs humble followers, bring the same message. They have to labor wrth three class es-the good, the indifferent, the out right sinner.
 Now. the good need mission quite as much as do those of the other two classes; Let him who thinks he stand, take heed lest he fall," are the words of Holy Writ. There are many good souls in every parish, but they need to continually strive to become better by modelling themselves and | their conduct on the Sacred Heart. Problem of the Indifferent.
 The indifferent are the real prob lem of a missionary. These are the self-confident, complacent, conceited mortals of the style of the Pharisee; | like unto those rebuked by Christ | through the Apocalypse, forgetting their charity, lukewarn, neither hot nor cold. The preacher exhorted such to arise from their tepidity in Gods service; to realize their danger of lap sing into actual sin, to put aside their | spiritual sloth.
 The Inevitable Black Sheep. In every parish. as in every fam | fly, there is the inevitable bla S8~ ~eep, and it is in the effort to lead such to realize their danger that the mission is opened. It requires no prophet, the preacher said, to predict that many present at the opening of these special exercises will not live to attend an- other mission. Scores of those who heard the call of God three or four years ago. during the last mission, are now dead. Hence the danger of ig- noring this particular and urgent sum- mons to return to Gods friendship. How to Make a Mission WorthiIy.
 A mission should be made, Father Seraphim reminded his hearers, in a forgiving spirit; now is the time to make up all disagreements, to put aside all hatred, to become at peace with all enemies.
 It should be made with self denial. It is going to require sacrifice and inconvenience to attend the various extra services and exercises; let this be done cheerfully, for Gods sake, and in the spirit of penitence.
 The mission season is the time for doing away with all bickerings and uncharitableness at home; the accept able time to settle all little misunder- standings between parents and chill dren, or between other relatives
 It is the time when each member of the parish can supplement the work which the missionaries are trying to accomplish within the church by a kindly word or invitation to those un- fortunate enough to have strayed from Gods service, reminding such that the missionaries are come to teach them the way to return to peace with God, to His friendship.
 A Time For Prayer.
 Finally, it is a time for prayer for individual repentance and perserver- ance, for the success of Christ's king dom on earth; for petitions to the Throne of Grace that the words of the missionaries may reach those who are living on, deaf to Gods call to seek the one thing needful
 Saint Francis The Founder.
 Father Seraphim spoke of the aims of his order, giving a brief but inter- esting sketch of it's founding, about 1900, by Saint, Francis, an Italian youth, son of a wealthy silk merchant. This handsome, pleasure loving young man of the world became a soldier, serving in the wars under the ban ners of the dukes of his time Then suddenly there sounded in his ears the strange call of God to service Henceforth He Bore the Banner of the
 Redeemer.
 Throwing aside the rich robes of the courier and man or society, he | donned the coarse garb of the peasant, l the humble brown habit worn for so long by his followers. Tying a rope about his waist, he went forth preach | ing without fear Christ crucified and l calling upon men to forsake worldly | pursuits and have a thought for their | salvation.
 Thousands needed his insistent call; | so that, at an era, in the worlds his | tory when Mammon was the idol, when | the rich were expressing the poor, the | work of Saint Francis had such mark | ed effect that historians and socio- logists go back to him now, one of | the great reformers of the world, al- | though his humility and charity and | love for mankind were such that he | welcomed the leper, pressing him to his breast.
 Followers Continue His Work.
 It is the work of the meek and mild | Saint Francis that the missionaries | of his order are here to continue; to | preach to all who vii not close their | ears to the message of Christ; the re- | mainder, What doth it profit man | to gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul?"
 Father Matthew Breaches.
 The mission services were continued i in the evening, when Rev. Father | Matthew preached an eloquent sermon | on '"The Worth of A Soul.'
 During this week, there will be daily | services, mass and short sermon, or instruction, at 5.30 and g each | morning. In the evening at 7.30 there will be exercises and sermon for wo- men only.
 Chiidren's Mission.
 Today (Monday), Tuesday, and Wednesday, at o'clocx, there will be mission services for the children, all being expected to attend. The chill dren are to be present each morning also when possible at their mission mass at 8.
 Tho ox-a,oieoe %o~ 4ta -,1o1r