The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-20

sacrificed sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered, for they knew no other sacrifice, and after i4 days of celebration the peo- pie were sent home. This temple re. mained more than 400 years until the barbarous Babylonians razed 1t and carried an entire nation into captivity. The chosen people of God had forgotten the adnlonltion of the Lord to Solomon, If thou wilt walk in my statutes and enact my judg- ments, and keep all my command lnents, walking in them, l will dwell in the midst of Israel and will not forsake my people," Some 70 years later zorobabel rebuilt the temple after the return from cap ttvity. Israel again forgot It's God and the century before the Christian era saw two successive Roman armies capture Jerusalem and storm the temple. smarting under the domination of Rome, Israel beheld Herod the Great enlarge and alter their temple to e splendor that out. shone Solomon's in glory. It was essentially but not completely re- stored with the coming of the Mes Siah.
 Israel Forgot God
 In the interim Israel again not only forgot its God but had rejected It's Saviour. He prophesied of the temple, Amen I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Matt. xxIV, 2. Forty years after his death this prophecy was fulfilled. Frail humanity in this for getful and distracted world might well pause here and ponder the ter rible consequences Of ignoring the God, who made us, and the made quacy of all things human unless God be with us, the God who asks only for loyalty and love.
 The advent of the Saviour changed the entire face of the earth for 10, the heavens had opened, anc the Son of God had come down tc dwell among men and to bring re. demption to the children of men. Nc longer were the sacrifices of sheer and oxen to please God for the supreme and final expiation for sir had been accomplished. God himself had become man and, as man, sui. fered and died that men might live Nor was this all; he would remair with men in the Sacrement of hii love and be a perpetual sacrifice. Ht would found c church that woule continue his work of salvation: thl Holy Esprit would remain with the Church forever. From the upper room whence went forth the Apos. ties on their courageous mission into ! the public forum of Jerusalem aIl6 on to Rome. After 10 great persecu. tons, the Church of the catacomb' came forth to the light of day anc spread miraculously throughout the world. Ediflces that rivaled the tenn. pie, centuries in construction, reared their proud towers to the heavens the splendid tribute of all that mar possessed in genius, treasure anc sacrifice. The story is not @ gclder theme entirely, for as of old, mer forgot their God and catastrophe befell the century-old endeavor oi man to demonstrate to Gcd some thing worthy of his dominion. Hu- man fairly Is ever present in that glorious conquest and growth. Un. faithfulness reared its ugly head ant centuries of sacrifice and loyalty al times were in vain. It did not halt growth and progress but wherever men forgot their God he no longer dwelt in their midst but suffered works of past sacrifices and loyalty to be destroyed. History's story is tht sad tale. The Church grew anc spread to a continent then unknown to Jerusalem and thousands of mile: from its temple.
 Faith Of Waterbury
 The faith of this thriving indus. trious city of Waterbury, came by 2 circuitous route through the cen. turies- Jerusalem, Rome, France Ireland. What glorious faith, wha' noble sacrifice, what lasting monu' ments along the road! There is m need to dwell on the suffering o Ireland that came to her because o her faith, You have perhaps seen ol at least heard of the desolation, thu oppression, the misery that fell tS her lot and the awful exodus of thu Irish race to other lands. That verl persecution and suffering have been under Gods Providence, the mean of establishing in far off lands th' glorious banner of the cross. TI saint Patrick and his spiritual ehil alAAnzA Alan lll.aa1..A. ..l naal N.aln naMNlMaa