Year: 1874

| minstered.


ST, J0sEPH's CHURCH, FREMONT.


Philosophy and Poetry OF the Confess


sional, by DIR. McGlynn.


Rev. DR.. McGynn, pastor OF st. Stephens
church, iectured last evening In st. Joseph's
church, fremont, on the PHILOSOPHY and Poetry
Of the Confessional.n The lecturer, in the CON-
mencement. said that he should have more to say
upon the philosophy than upon the poetry Of the
confessional. 1t might seem strange TO some OF
his ministerial brethren, who. in the daily dis.
charge OF their duties In the sacred tribunal OF
Denance are brought into such intimate ac
Quaintance with the sins and woes Of humanity,
that he should say anything at all upon the poetry
of the subject. But argued the speaker. there is
divine poetry in that sacred tribunal for what
ever things are supremely true are supremey
beautiful What else Is poetry but the
truth presented in the beautiful The truth must
ever carry with 1t poetic charm when presented
with the beautiful. The confessional ia O divine
institution 1t Is very sad therefore, to see how
1t Is misunderstood and even reviled by some who
profess to love the Saviour. Our Divine Redeemer
did not alone consider 1t su1icient to come into
the world and die, and thus make a sacrifice for
the sins of the world, but Ho also instituted
priestly ministry by which to apply to individual
hearts the graces He purchased for them by shed.
ding His blood on the cross on Calvary BY
the penefcence Of His grace He pardonod
one OF the thieves upon the cross who cx-
pressed true contrition for his many sins,
while He left his companion to reprObatiOn. one
day there came to Christ, as lie sat at the phari.
sees table, a woman, who was sinner. He vim
dcated HIS right to admit her to His presence.
and declared that because she had loved him
much her many sins were forgiven. This was the
philosophy OF the tribunal Of penance. He said to
the palsled man, "Son, be or good cheer; thy sins
are forgiven thee.u The Scribes and Pharisees
hearing this said, "This man basphemeth! Who
forgive sins but God alone S' Jesus perceiving
their thoughts. said, "Whether 1t Is easier TO say,
THY sins be forgiven thee. or to say. 'Rise up
and Walk but that ye may know the Son of Man
hath power upon earth to forgive sins (He saith
unto the sick OF the palsy. say unto tnee. Arise.
His enemies said that God alone could forgive SINS
Jesus worked me miracle to deny what they as;
the''' the power to iorgive sins. they ''"is bias.
rhemed when they, denied that God
is God, and has the right to choose the instrument
sins, therefore 1t is that the Son OF Man hath power
on earth to forgive sins II was part Of the work
the pardon for sins, and He gave to others the


to do what He himaelI had done. The


aurch ID and He lei left the priesthood @ ',auI Of HIS rs


rh the selsame power that He o.
disciples were gathered together in an upper
room, the doors being closed for fear OF the Jews
when Jesus raised from tue dead appeared In their
peace. He showed them the wounds In His hands
and HIS side, the triumph over death. by means OF
And He said to them, ''As the Father hath
sent Me, l also send you" BY the same
the very same work as that which He performed
when He cured the man aflicted with palsy. But
it was not enough to remind them Of His world.
w fora
q work. He prepared their hearts for it. TO the
Son OF Man was given power which was ratified
mere sons or men, chosen out from the common
herd Of men. and embalm them and make them
time. Who are these menY Priests OF God priests p
OF the eternal priesthood Of the order OF Mechise-
consecrates them to His WORK. lie breathes upon
them. lmparts to them portion OF His spirr-God
the HOY Gnost he ye the Holy
are retained" Christ has sent living.
Committed His teachings to mere
dead book. This living witness-His Church-ts to
teaches the nations, as In the FIRST century, that
the grace OF salvation Is to be bestowed upon
The Church sis in the tribunal of penance TO- rem
der Judgment. BY the very nature OF the case the
proceeding going forward there is a criminal trial.
The priest Is the tucge; the penitent represents
the criminal and the prosecutor. IL is a trial of
sin rs an offence against God. But the priest sits





there also as teacher. In the confessional God
places his priests as the guides OF our conscences
is christ the priest who sits in the Confessional
by His representative, and invites all men TO
come to Him and recave consolation. and let the
light OF HIS countenance fall In blessing upon
CHRIST the physiclan win, in the person
and wounded souls the healing they need;
the place where the poor Magdalen and
every sinner may be brought near the health He
performs
order the seifsame act as that which He performed
IN the physical order when he spoke and said to
being carried iorth to his burial, "Young man,
say unto thee arise y. In every confessional
dead in trespasses and sins to life and delivers
them TO their .mother-the Church. And not only
teacher and physician but he is also father TO
repentant sinners. The parable OF the Prodiga
but riotons living in a land far away from our
Fathers house; and the parable IN question pre-
sents most o. IT., touching picture Of the misery and
confessional Is the father to the prodlgal, and
while the prodigal is yet long way on he sees him
He will only give perfect pardon to those who
truly repent, and he that will not repent and con-
fess is not worthy to hear that sentence, "Ihy
sins are forgiven tnee," Let none OF u.s. then. be
ashamed to confess ourselves before Him. for lie
will be compassionate to us. The reverend lee.
hearers that there was much poetry connected
with the confessional. He drew from the genius
OF eminent poets most noble tributes to the purity
and soul whitcness induced by 1t. From Long ell
lows "Evangenc'' the lecturer drew a beautiful
picture OF the maiden:-


As homeward she comes from confession. with Gods


bcndiction upon her.


And as she passed her seemed like the hush Of


sweet music.


He closed by saying that it was precious thing
for the soul when 1t could come Into communion
with Christ, and that there was divine poetry,
as well as divine philosophy In the confessional.
The proceeds OF the lecture are for the benefit
OF ST. Josephs church, fremont.