Year: 1876

81. S1EPHEN CHOhC


THE HEALING OF THE LtPEEs-sERMoN BY THE


REV. FATHER M'cAULEY.


At St. Stephens church, yesterday morning con-
gregaton so large attended TO remind one that the
cool autumn weather had already set The preacher
was the Rev. Father McCauey, who made the gospel
of the day. which taken from Luke xvii the SUBJ
ject OF his discourse. The gospel, he said, related
how ten poor suffering from the loathsome ieprosy
were healed BY our Lord whom they met in Samarla
on his way TO the city OF Jerusalem to celebrate the
Feast OF the Tabernacles. By the law OF Moses the
poor lepers obliged for OF spreading the
ection 20 much dreaded by the people, to keep away
from their fellow men These men, like the publican
mentioned in the gospel few Sundays aso, stood at
distance, and cried out, 'Jesus. Master,
have mercy us;' and he replied go,
show yourselves priest" alter which they were
healed Commentators apply this to the sacred
tribunal of penance which the sinner receives par.
don ana his soul becomes ceansed IRON the leprosy OF
sin. Again, attention is drawn the who
turned to offer up thanks Our Lord, this conncc-
ion, gently rebukcs the absent ones Tor ther nratl
tude n not doing the same Here we might apply this
to ourselves anu learn The lesson that We should not
alter receiving Coos fa,ors, neglect TO return Ii m
thanks Tor them. Our Lord was so pleased with the
return OF the poor Samaritan that hc not only
cured his body, but cured his soul by iorgiving
him his sins The spirit OF the Churcn to-
day Is 10 call our attention 10 the leprosy OF the soul
Mortal sin is tar greater IN its ruin to the soul than
cprosy to the body In order 10 understand THIS II
Is only necessary reflect upon the great dignity of
God and vino ourselves Keep before your
minds that ''tho fear OF the Lord is the beginning OF
wisdom" There is hope Tor tnat soul which feels its
own misery OF It's SIN Some avoid the very
consideration OF the cpormy OF sin because oil the re-
proaches occasioned from their own guilt But the
truths OF our religion come nome to us in thousand
ways and 1t is OF grave concern that We learn from
the lesson taught n the gospel OF this sunday. Mortal
sin strikes directly at the Infinite goodness OF
God II is bare-iaced contempt OF His Divine
Majesty. by II, poor reptile of the earth daringy
against the King OF all Glory, audaciously
upon the law OF God. IL is breaking OF tho covenant
made al baptism and subjects the soul 10 Satan He
who commits a mortal repays the goodness OF his
heavenly ather with the backest ingratitude, and
return Tor the many aud blessings conferred
him rencws the passion and death OF Jesus Christ,
and ST. Paul II treads under his feet the
precious blood OF the Sou OF God He hlIndly prefers
criminal pleasure before the sovereign good that
is Infinitely beautiful and amiabe. He iorsakes his
best friend the nercul Redeemer and sells his soul
to the devil for recompense that Is but momentary and
perishabc No wonder that God through the mouth Of
lsaias should say have reared up children, but they
have un1ervaiued and despiscd me-" II mortal sin
not odious the Great God, who Is so prone TO
mercy and whose very nature Is goodness, could not
condemn eternal punishment q soul made alter His
cious blood OF His beloved Son. Ezekiel says-"Ihe
soul that sipneth shall die" 1t Is plain that II Is
duty TO fly from sin, for the unfortunate sinner who
departs this lie in mortal sin ubrepentcd may bid an
everlasting farewell to the Kingdom OF heaven There
cannot be more dangerous Illusion than to procras
nate repentance. The dreadful catastrophe OF the
numberess sinners who are every day suddenly cut
of in the midst OF their iniqutcs, and the many OBJ
stacles and difficulties that attend deathbed conver
sion should be sufficient 10 deter all rom living in
sim We should II in SIM endeavor to make peace
with Creator, aud have to HIS mercy lest
His justice overtake US.