Year: 1870




Sermon by tho Rev. Father Cody, Of Hack
ensack-A Hopeful Future for the Chtholic


Church.


Last winter the corner stone OF new Catholic
church was laid in the Sixth ward Of Jersey City,
at the corner OF Gilbert and Mercer streets. The
building is a wooden one, comparatively small,
yet large enough to accommodate 800 per-
sons. The work Of erection was pushed forward
rapidly, and the dedication took place yesterday
The officiating clergyman was the Rev. DR.. Corri
gan, President OF Seton Hall College and Vicar Gen.
eral Of the Diocese OF Newark. The edice was dedi-
Gated to st. Bridget. At half-past ten O'Clock the
ceremonies commenced and lasted half an hour.
Solemn high mass was then celebrated, Rev. Dr.
Corrigan being cele3rant Rev. P. Cody. OF Hacken-
sack, deacon, and Rev p. Corrtgan, pastor suodea-
The space within the sanctuary was filled by a
crowd OF little boys In soutanes and surpces, under
the supervision Of the Christian Brothers OF st. Pc
ter's parish


After the first Gospel Father Cody preached from
the text n the epstie OF the mass which related the
descent Of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles This
is he said Whtsunday, the feast OF the descent or
the Holy Ghost who proceeds from the Father and
Son, and is equal to the Father and the Son. The
same Holy Ghost who descended on the apostles
eighteen hundred years ago comes down ON you to.
day and fills your hearts with Joy and gladness.
This day His Kingdom Is extended, fora new church


THE HONOR AND GLORY OF GOD.


This church Is placed under the patronage Of St.
Bridget, OF Ireand's great saints. We may well
say OF Ethis edifce as David said Of old, 81 have
chosen this place that my name may remain there
forever" We have sanctifed this spot, III order
that the Lord may be worshipped here forever. God
commanded King David to see that place was Sc
lected for temple to Him. and tnat 1t should be
erected with great magnihcence. Yet the old law
nothing Sa 6n ps y or srs 81 tine
the temple OF old, how much more does He dwell in
this temple, where we have Him


ALWAYS REALLY presently


Here viii be preached, not the fancles OF men nor
the working Of great minds but the Word of Cod.
a ali mat nat,ons In order that His peope might not be
left doubt, He said, ~ am the wav the truth and
the lfe." We speak to-day fro from this altar as HI HIS
commission TO teach not merely the few who are
willing to hear us, but the whole world kings as
well as beggars. Preach the Gospel TO every crea-
God bestows on those who love Him. Here you will
receive the SacramentS which constitute the


CHANNELS OF GRACE


flowing into your souls. The Holy Sacrifice will be
offered here from the rising OF the sun till the gong
See here how the Catholic Church is unlike other
churches. We have something more than four


Twenty-Five or thirty years ago there was only
one Catholic church In this city-known as Jersey
City proper To-day there are Ave. This is the lrst
CathOlicity makes her advance. Your city has been
consolidated and this applies in spiritual as wei
cred together in order that your faith may be con-
s0lidated and strengthened. What will be the con-
dtlon OF


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TWENTY-FIVE YEARS HENCE,


We shall churches multiplied as they have been
In the great metropolis over the river. Twenty-Five
years ago that city had only as many Catholic
churches as we have to-day Though to-day we stand
here simple priests yet the time will soon come
when this city viii be ruled by Of the
Of the apostes-wnen 1t viii have its own bishop
and its own cathedral. The Catholic Church is a
rock which can never be destroyed. Those who are
OUTSIDE Of our Church wonder why it is that this
Church Of the poor and the foreigner, they say
far exceeds all the others In growth. They
cannot understand the reason but we
can tell them that it Is because on this
day eighteen hundred years ago the Holy Ghost
came down on the first Catholics He is the enlight-
ener OF the Church; He is her protector. The Church
is sometimes persecuted but she rides riumphantly
over all prosecutions and she is young III life and
land for she alone contains the great truths OF eter
nal liie She contains those great principles which
can never perish, for they came from heaven. ST.
Cyprian remarked, "As tnere Is but one God, one
Christ, so


THERE is BUT ONE CHURCH,
She is the Church that Is to save mankind and to
last till the end of time From st. Peter to Plus
TX. she has fulfilled the command OF her founder


Go ye INTO the world and preach the Gospel to every
creature"


To-day the bishops of the whole world are gath
cred in Rome, showing The unity Of the Catholic
Church, ana proving that the Holy Ghost still en-
lghtens and guides her. This surely Is no work OF
man. This manifests its divine mission No work
OF man could bring together from all quarters OF the
world, men OF different tongues and nttionafttes.
| 1t is a spectacle which astonishes the word.