The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-03-09
SERMON PREACHED ON THE
FEAST OF ST. THOMAS OF
AouIN, AT ST. THOMAS COL
LEGE, ST. PAUL, BY VERY REV.
JAMES S. BYRNE, v. G.

OF st. Thomas commemoratcd the fes-
tival of it's Patron Saint Solemn
High Mass was celebrated at ten
o'clock by Rev. DR.. John Seliskar, of
the St. Paul Seminary. The sermon
of the occasion was delivered by the
Very Rev. J. C. Byrne, vicar general
of the diocese. A large attendance
of priests, former alumni and semi
narians was present in the beautiful
new chapel. Dinner was served the
visiting guests at noon.
The Sermon.
THE word of God on high is the
fountain of wisdom and her ways are
everlasting commandments. (Ecc.
| ], So
Every age is confident that it has ex-
celled it's predecessor, and as a matter
of fact we find that each age adds
something to the knowledge of the
preceding Cne The rise of universi-
ties, the diffusion of knowledge
through the printing press, the dis
coVery of new worlds, the progress of
the old physical sciences and the birth
of new ones, the marvellous applica-
tion through mechanisms of the vari-
| GUS energies of nature-all these mark
epochs of wonderful advancement in
human knowledge. We have long since
arrived at that period when the rich
ness and variety of doctrines have
become so vast that the attainment
| of universal knowledge has been con-
sidered impossible, nay, the attempt
at such attainment, folly. Consequent
ly, minds released from this desire
have been able to concentrate on par
| ticular branches. The result has been.
another advance in notable achieve
| ments not in one only but in all direc-
| tions. No one will gainsay the IN
deniable advantages of our age over
all preceding ages in every field Of.
experimental research. Yet strange
to say, if we know nature more, we
seem to know God less;-He alone is
called the Unknowable. If we push
our gaze into the depths of the empy-
rean or scrutinize the infinitesmalions
| Of matter, it is not to find there the
the wisdom of the Great Author of
| all, but to find self-sufficient material
beginnings and to retire God from His
universe. We are not all so goddess.
Indeed, it rarely happens that the real
| discoverers, inventors or scientists are
anything but profoundly religious. 1t
is the modern university professor,
| the popularizer Of science, the maker
| CT books,-in word the humanists
of our age, who create this goddess
atmosphere about us. In the hands of
superficial humanism hypotheses be-
come facts; groundless theories, sci
. ence. Thus side by side with real ad-
vancement there is built up a fabric
without foundation, and over all there
is created a goddess atmosphere which
only a worldwide war by making peo-
pie less frivolous and superficial may
be able to dissipate.
But, my brethren, there is another
fabric built on sure foundation
1 which this beautiful temple of wor-
ship represents. Wisdom has built
herself a house" prov, TX, u. There
is another knowledge not born of
earth but of God, which he whose
feast we@ celebrate today above all
othor doctors luminously unfolded. 1t
is the knowledge which comes from
the word of God. "The word of God
ION high is the fountain of wisdom y
Permit me then to chant the praises
4 of that divine word which henceforth
will be preached and expounded here
in. such a way, according to the prin-
ciples of St. Thomas, that while to
reason is left all the glory of its real
achievements, to God are given the
acknowledgment and the worship
which are His due. The word of God!
1t is theme which has transcended
the powers of inspired writer's. We
can touch but lightly upon it.
!. The Heraids of the Word of God.
from the lures and deceptions oi
sense, beyond the weirs and bournes
: in which reason is cabined and con
: fined, the world of God dwells. Goo
, is ''the region Of eternal ideas" He
, illumined every man that cometh into
this world, and if His light evel
: shines brighter in the soul it will mo-
be to extinguish but to enhance; no
to dwarf but to strengthen the ligh
of reason which already exists Blu
where, if God deigns to speak. shall HI
impart His word? Not in the work
shops by the banks of the Illysus
They produced masterpieces of art in
deed-the works of Phidias and Prax
titles. These expressed in a corrup
age ideals of earthly beauty but the.
were powerless to effect a change ii
: corrupt human nature. They wer
! like the flower on the dung heap whicl
2 in its beauty so contrasts with the fou
place on which it thrives. Wher
shall God impart His word? Not il
the Golden House by the Tiber, nc
in the columned great hall by tn
Nile, nor yet in the glazed brick pa
aces by the Tigris. From these issue
|. forth DEGREES ehslaving mems bodies
.-lneyer enfranchising their souls.
sEl is the glory of God s word that
, came not in places lavish of show
lpomp, guided glamoFl and the Fgstlip