The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-19
WONDERS WROUGHT BY
THE CROSS OF CHRISTI
Rev. Thomas j. Gasson Continues
Series of Sermons at Sacred
Heart Cathedral.

Rev. Thomas J. Gasson speaking at
the Tenebrae services at the Sacred
Heart Cathedral last night. deliv-
cred forceful sermon on the Won
ders Wrought by the Cross of Christ '
This is one of the series of Lenten
sermons, which have dealt with
some of the great sociological ques-
tons of the day
Father Gasson has made a deep
study of Christian Sociology, not only
in the universities of this country
but in Europe also.
The concluding sermon of the
series will be delivered Sunday morn
ing at the Pontifical High Mass.
which will be celebrated by the Ri.
Rev. d. j. O'Connell, bishop of Rich
mond
The delegation of Belgian soldiers
who are touring the country in the
interest of tho Liberty Loan, are ex-
pected TO be present at the services.
Father Gasson said last night, in
part;
IT is not easy to express in words
the marvellous changes wrought in
the world by Christ crucihed and by
the principles which He so fearlessly
declared, To the child He has given
protection and recognition of the
right to live and be educated for full
and complete citizenship; to woman
he has given her rightful position in
the home and a reverental regard
from man for her peerless qualities,
IN place OF the contempt and mental
character with which she was brand
ed even in the days of the advanced
Greek and Roman civilization; to man
He has given the noblest and the
most enduring type of manhood. and
He has pointed out ways by which
mans special traits can be employed
in lifting the world up to a plane
where humanity shines brightest, and
where man renders to man the
highest service: to the home He has
given reality, sweetness and a
brightness which II cannot ssibly
nave under any other influence. to the
sick He has given encouragement and
the certainty of future life. abso
lutely free from the myriad afflc-
tons and sorrows which beset this
present existence: to the strong He
has indicated avenues by which their
giant powers can be used to defend
the weak and not to crush the help
less: to the lettered and the highly
educated He has unfolded a wisdom
which scars far beyond the grasp of
mans puny intellect and which re-
Veals to finite mind some of the
treasures pondered by infinite intelh-
genCe; to the unlettered He has
whispered the glad tidings that II is
not kecnness of mental insight but
simple moral goodness that wins en-
trance into the halls of eternal bless
ednesS. to the poor slave He has
promised the breaking of his letters
through the spirit OF genuine brother
hood and OF true liberty Which arc
indissolubly bound up with His teach
ings, and to the sincere seeker after
moral perfection He has opened UP
ways of progress of which the dcep-
est pagan sage had not even
dreamed.
In the sign of the cross thou shalt
conquer" was the message that rang
out from the Heavens to the Emperor
Constantine and in this sign, the !
corrupting influences and the degra4-
ing principles of pagan society were
Vanquishcd, and it is only in tllist
sign that the sunua smoral advanced
of the world can be assured, because
the cross means the reign of justice
and the Vindication of the wronged;
it means the reign of the upright ard
the vanqushing of all degradine
forces; 1t means the reign of true. in
duhitable brotherhood and the utter
absolute and permanent claiming Of
the forces of 7iisoi der and lawless-
ness; it means, consequently the reign
of peace, the reign OF sincere help
fulness. the reign of universal charity.