The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-11-01
Imposing Ceremony At Sacred Heart Dedication

ion of the Blessed Sacrament and to hear Very Rev. Thomas F. Burke, C. 5. P, Superior of the Pauist community. Fr. Burke is known throughout the United States and Canada as one of the most eloquent preachers of the day and his sermon last evening was one of his best efforts. Fr. Burke's sermon follows:
 At the conclusion of the vesper, Fr. Bulre said:
 "On memorable occasion such as this, my beloved brethren, on the dedica- ton of this temple to the worship of God, we are naturally draw to look of that living church of which every sacred temple that IS consecrated to | God is an example, to recall the won- derful tributes that have been rendered | to Our Lord Almighty in the works | of the hands of man and especially the | beautiful and magnificent places of l worship.
 In considering all of these things, we are led to a further thought. that | behind all there must be something very fundamental, some outstanding fact, | yea some Dev;ne thing that can alone explain that truth, that every tribute that heart can gather together, that every nagnifcence that mans mind can conceive Is dedicated to purpose.
 HGIG InuSL De GGICdtIl ana 1nSD1T1ng all these some one fact that gives the reason and that explain what we have and others have no. What could be the inspiration of all these tributes ol the skill and the imagination and the
 intellect of man?
 When we search for that outstanding | and Devine fact, we are brought to the | most fundamental relationship between
 man and God, the relation to which o4 al, ,.cT,
 binds us to God. On the one hand is God Almighty, All Sufficient, All Happy
 and All Loving i'll Himself On the
 other hand is man, weak and dependent
 and helpless looking to Heaven fo,
 support and consolation. Fully aware
 of the lofty dignity of his own intelll- | gence, man recognizes he IS dependent
 on God, and all that he has and all that
 he IS comes from Him, and that he
 must acknowledge this supremacy o1
 his Maker. He recognizes further that
 any act of his intelligence by which
 he gives form to that thought and tha,
 idea is an act of worship.
 1 But, is there not something else? Is
 there is not something besides this
 internal submission of His intellect or
 His will? Must He not, in other
 words, give expression in outward form to the thought? When we are dealing with man, we must remember
 we have to do with composite being, who has a body and soul That is
 why the soul is paramount and domi- nant, why the dictates of the will and
 the mandates of the intellect are the
 chief things that govern our lives
 Yet, possessed as we are of bodies, we
 are subject to outward influences. We
 are subject to external conditions. So it is that man naturally puts into out I ward form the thought of his mind.
 When pleased, he smiles, his eyes
 beam and his features glow. When
 angered, the flush of pain or the pale
 ness of death covers his cheeks. When
 recreant to his duty, he hangs his head in shame. Again, man touches the canvas and it glows with the
 beauty of his internal thought. He chisels the marble and it lives with i his inspiration. He turns to music and the instrument vibrates to the music of his soul. So he seeks to ex press himself in some outward way 7 Why then should mans deepest i'm , pression, his noblest thought, be ex 2 cluded from outward form and from 1 outward expression. The deepest I thought of man the highest impres i sion, the noblest conviction is tha
 he is related to God, that he is de f pendent to God, an dthat he feels i his duty to worship God.
 I So man has asked himself tha $ question again and aga throughou f the history of the human race Wha shall offer to the Lord that is worth
 wherewith shall I kneel before tn, , High God?
 n All attempts of mankind to answe 1. that question alright have been insut e f1cient. Cain offered the fruits of tn e field. Abel the first of his flock. Tn ,- Greeks and Romans sle wtheir fatte
 MIL col {I,o o14 ~H e gods The misguided barbarian e threw children into the flames of sat n rifice.
 1 What shall we offer unto God tha e is worthy? Wherewith shall we knee
 before Him? Jesus Christ Himsel l. has heard that question and He ha -- given the answer in that institutio '. known as the Holy Eucharist It j n the most complete expression of tru ,1 religion. God and man meet an :. there God gives to man His grace
 the sacrament and man is enabled t in pay God for homage that is worth m and a worship that is fitting in tn le sacrifice. The sacrifice of the mas to the sacrifice of the body and bloc If of Christ is the highest possible al it. of religion.
 CT Why do we say that? Because tt Id sacrifice of the mass is the same sa ,h rifice as that on Calvary Recall fc le a moment the scene of the first mas 0, Our Blessed Saviour had prepared h a, apostles for the great event. He ha I. said to them: s1 desire to eat tn ey pasch with you before Isuffer." F ar had sent Peter and John to prepal ,d the upper chamber because u O. Masters time was near at haa1. Thel ou in that sacred room He had washe O. the apostles feet that they might
 wholly clean for the great event. a, had given utterance to the sacre il, words of institution. There surroun en ed by His apostles, Jesus Christ, UT answe rto the Divine dictates of H i'll love for man instituted the sacrifi t,. of the new law. The angels must ha7 ay ceased their song to listen to tn ,n. same Folce WHICH ages DeEofe n; is gwen uLCeTance Lo tne WOfdS IL
 there be light speak again in wor l sill 5zzanderflll Ha taol1 tl