Year: 1873

Father hearney On Duty to Our Ne1gn-


bor-Forgivencss OF Trespasscs Neces-


sary to Obtain Pardon or sfns-Thc


Worlds Contumely Compared with


the Happiness Of Salvation.


The usual large and devout congregation at
tended high mass at st. Patrck's Cathedral yester
day forenoon. Rev. Father Salter was the cele-
brant. After the singing OF the first Gospel Rev.
Father Kearney ascended the pulpit and preached
from Matthew, xviii, 1886. The text gives the
parable ofthe King having forgiven the debts due to
him by his servants One Of the latter went out and
meeting fellow-servant, demanded payment OF
100 pence, and, not receiving the money, throttled
him and handed him over to the torturers. In
whatever part OF the Gospel we read,
Father kearney said, we are impressed
by the love and mercy God shows to
those who ofend Him. The King in the parable is
God, as the servants are sinners They come TO
Him acknowledging the debts due by praying for
forgiveness. II we are only sincere in our suppl-
cations for mercy. God Is moved to pardon. Not
only have We In the Gospel the distinctive and dis
tinguishing mark of the power OF Christ, His
mercy and love- but we have also the precept OF
being bound to forgive our neighbors who may
offend or injure us. Gods clemency Is stretched
over all sinners, and this should give US strength
and courage. He told His apostles to follow His
teachings, which inculcate the duty OF bearing no
malice or Ill will towards one another To make
stronger and greater impression on our minds and
hearts Christ in His agony, outraged by those for
whom He was suffering, besought on the cross His
Father to forgive them, because they were igno-
rant OF what they were doing. We should be
cheered on by the lesson contained in the Gospel
OF the day, for by il we are assured that Gods
is another point in the text tnat ought to


STRIKE TERROR INTO OUR HEARTS


The King grants forgiveness to his servants but
we find one Of them going out among his fellows
showing no mercy or iorbearance. He demands
payment OF O small debt and gives the debtor up to
the torturers Here we see that the sinner went,
having gone to his God, who bounteously grants
his prayer, but the SINNER is not willing to grant
the smallest favor to his fellow creature This, 1t
De wao oMs % es and not
reckoning for few penceS There are few In this
world the preacher remarked, who can declare
that they are free from dislike or hatred OF their
neighbOrs. 1t Is hardly possible that men mixing
In the world and meeting rebutis and insults day
towards those who treat them with contumely.
These feelings are enklndled in the heart, In which
wells up continually. But it is better tnat the
world should laugh at and scorn US than We should
fall into sin and,


LIKE THE FALLEN ANGELS,


lose an inheritance in heaven. Father Kearney
explained the various causes that lead to dislike
and uncbaritaDleness towards our neighbors
Rivalry in business loss OF the worlds goods by
the wrong doing oil others, defamation OF character
and jealousy Of the success OF our acquaintances
increase until we come to hate our fellow beings.
Hate is allowed under these circumstances to
spring and grow up in the heart. We pray TO God
to forgive US our trespasses we forgive those
who tresspass against u.s. How can we, then, dare
kneel and ask for Gods pardon when we withhold
1t rom our fellow bengss How we approach
Gods altar and receive Him, who is all forgiveness,
into our souls, which are blurred and stained by
the grievous sin OF hatef Let US to-day look into
and examine our hearts God is both anxious and
willing to forgive on the one conditonthat is that
we forgive our neighbors who may have done US
wrong. What is the loss OF worldly goods, which
perishable, In comparison with forleiting the
favor OF the Almighty The child loves its toy and
its loss causes It heavy grief. The loss or its
fathers possessions occasion 1t very little sorrow.
Man takes to heart the misfortunes and disap-
pointments OF lile but he does not, mething like
the Guild, consider how terrible 1t Is to


LOSE HIS SOUL HEREAFTER.


II Is better that the world should deride u.s.
wound our feelings and mock at our woes than
that the devils should rejoice over our torments in
nell. The taunts Of the hear tless and wicked are
damned and being shut out forever from the king
dom of heaven. Let US forgive our enemies. This
is necessary to SALVATION and Christ has set US the
example. Danish from our hearts all malice and
hatred and God will certainly pardon our manifold
transgressi0ns We must forgive II we nope for
forgiveness We should dismiss pride and bow
ing humby and sincerely before God, our prayers
will be heard. Pride makes the heart hard and
opdurate. Let us 90 without delay 10 neigh
bor If we harbor towards him feelings OF anger or
hatred by reason Of his having injured us in repu-
tation or worldly goods, freely forgive him, and
we may then rest satisfied tnat our Heavenly
Father will not fail to forgive us our SINS This Is
the lesson the Gospel of the day teaches.