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diff --git a/58812-0.txt b/58812-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8cbdc3e --- /dev/null +++ b/58812-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18428 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58812 *** + + + + + + + + + [Transcriber's Notes: This production was derived from + https://archive.org/details/lifeofrevfrancis00hewi/page/n9] + +{1} + + Sermons Of The + + Rev. Francis A. Baker, + + + Priest Of The Congregation Of St. Paul. + + With A Memoir Of His Life + + + BY + + Rev. A. F. Hewit. + + + Fourth Edition. + + + New York: + Lawrence Kehoe, 145 Nassau Street. + 1867. + +{2} + + Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1865 + + By A. F. Hewit, + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United + States for the Southern District of New York. + + +{3} + + +PREFACE. + +------ + +In offering the Memoir and Sermons of this volume to the friends +of F. Baker, and to the public, propriety requires of me a few +words of explanation. The number of those who have been more or +less interested in the events touched upon in the sketch of his +life and labors is very great, and composed of many different +classes of persons in various places, and of more than one +religious communion. I cannot suppose that all of them will read +these pages, but it is likely that many will; and therefore a +word is due to those who are more particularly interested, as +well as to the general class of readers. I have to ask the +indulgence of all my readers for having interwoven so much of my +own history and my own reflections on the topics and events of +the period included within the limits of the narrative. They have +woven themselves in spontaneously, without any intention on my +part, and on account of the close connexion between myself and +the one whose career I have been describing; and I have been +unable to unravel them from the texture of the narrative without +breaking its threads. + +{4} + +I have simply transferred to paper that picture of the past, long +forgotten amid the occupations of an active life, which came up +again, unbidden and with great vividness, before the eye of +memory, during the hours while the remains of my brother and +dearest friend lay robed in violet, waiting for the last solemn +rites of the requiem to be fulfilled. If I have succeeded, I +cannot but think that the picture will have something of the same +interest for others that it has for myself. Those who knew and +loved the original, will, I hope, prize it for his sake; and +their own recollections will diffuse the coloring and animation +of life over that which in itself is but a pale and indistinct +sketch. For their sakes chiefly I have prepared it, so far as the +mere personal motive of perpetuating the memory of a revered and +beloved individual is concerned. But I have had a higher motive +as my chief reason for undertaking the task: a desire to promote +the glory of God, by preserving and extending the memory of the +graces and virtues with which He adorned one of His most faithful +children. I have wished to place before the world the example of +one of the most signal conversions to the Catholic faith which +has taken place in our country, as a lesson to all to imitate the +pure and disinterested devotion to truth and conscience which it +presents to them. + +Let me not be misunderstood. I do not present the example of his +conversion, or that of the great number of persons of similar +character who have embraced the Catholic religion, as a proof +sufficient by itself of the truth of that religion. +{5} +I propose it as a specimen of many instances in which the power +of the Catholic religion to draw intelligent minds and upright +hearts to itself, and to inspire them with a pure and noble +spirit of self-sacrifice in the cause of God and humanity, is +exhibited. This is surely a sufficient motive for examining +carefully the reasons and evidences on which their submission to +the Church was grounded; and an incentive to seek for the truth, +with an equally sincere intention to embrace it, at whatever cost +or struggle it may demand. + +It may appear to the casual reader that I have drawn in this +narrative an ideal portrait which exaggerates the reality. I do +not think I have done so; and I believe the most competent judges +will attest my strict fidelity to the truth of nature. If I have +represented my subject as a most perfect and beautiful character, +the model of a man, a Christian, and a priest of God, I have not +exceeded the sober judgment of the most impartial witnesses. A +Protestant Episcopal clergyman, of remarkable honesty and +generosity of nature, said of him to a Catholic friend: "You have +one perfect man among your converts." Another, a Catholic +clergyman, whose coolness of judgment and reticence of praise are +remarkable traits in his character, said, on hearing of his +decease: "The best priest in New York is dead." I have no doubt +that more than one would have been willing to give their own +lives in place of his, if he could have been saved by the +sacrifice. + +In narrating events connected with F. Baker's varied career, I +have simply related those things of which I have had either +personal knowledge, or the evidence furnished by his own +correspondence with a very dear friend, aided by the information +which that friend has furnished me. +{6} +I have to thank this very kind and valued friend, the Rev. Dwight +E. Lyman, for the aid he has given me in this way, which has +increased so much the completeness and interest of the Memoir. I +am also indebted to another, still dearer to the departed, for +information concerning his early history and family. + +I trust that those readers who are not members of the Catholic +communion, especially such as have been the friends of the +subject and the author of this memoir, will find nothing here to +jar unnecessarily upon their sentiments and feelings. Fidelity to +the deceased has required me not to conceal his conviction of the +exclusive truth and authority of the doctrine and communion of +the holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church. The same fidelity +would prevent me, if my own principles did not do so, from mixing +up with religious questions any thing savoring of personal +arrogance, or directed to the vindication of private feelings, +and retaliation upon individuals with whom religious conflicts +have brought us into collision. I wish those who still retain +their friendship for the dead, and whose minds will recur with +interest to scenes of this narrative, in which they were +concerned with him, to be assured of that lasting sentiment of +regard which he carried with him to the grave, and which survives +in the heart of the writer of these lines. + +{7} + +In the history of F. Baker's missionary career, I have endeavored +to select from the materials on hand such portions of the details +of particular missions as would make the nature of the work in +which he was engaged intelligible to all classes of readers, +without making the narrative too tedious and monotonous. I have +wished to present all the diverse aspects and all the salient +points of his missionary life, and to give as varied and +miscellaneous a collection of specimens from its records as +possible. From the necessity of the case, only a small number of +missions could be particularly noticed. Those which have been +passed by have not been slighted, however, as less worthy of +notice than the others, but omitted from the necessity of +selecting those most convenient for illustration of the theme in +hand. The statistics given, in regard to numbers, etc., in the +history of our missions, have all been taken from records +carefully made at the time, and based on an exact enumeration of +the communions given. I trust this volume will renew and keep +alive in the minds of those who took part in these holy scenes, +and who hung on the lips of the eloquent preacher of God's word +whose life and doctrine are contained in it, the memory of the +holy lessons of teaching and example by which he sought to lead +them to heaven. + +Of the sermons contained in this volume, seventeen have been +reprinted from the four volumes of "Sermons by the Paulists, +1861-64;" and twelve published from MSS. Four of these are +mission sermons, selected from the complete series, as the most +suitable specimens of this species of discourse. The others are +parochial sermons, preached in the parish church of St. Paul the +Apostle, New York. +{8} +There still remain a considerable number of sermons, more or less +complete; but the confused and illegible state in which F. Baker +left his MSS. has made the task of reading and copying them very +laborious, and prevented any larger number from being prepared +for publication at the present time. I leave these Sermons, with +the Memoir of their author, to find their own way to those minds +and hearts which are prepared to receive them, and to do the good +for which they are destined by the providence of God. May we all +have the grace to imitate that high standard of Christian virtue +which they set before us, as true disciples of Jesus Christ our +Lord! + +A. F. H. + +St. Paul's Church, Fifty-ninth Street, +Advent, 1865. + +{9} + +CONTENTS + + PAGE +Memoir. 13 + +SERMON: + I. The Necessity of Salvation (Mission Sermon) 209 + II. Mortal Sin (Mission Sermon) 226 + III. The Particular Judgement (Mission Sermon) 239 + IV. Heaven (Mission Sermon) 252 + V. The Duty of Growing in Christian Knowledge + (First Sunday in Advent) 263 + VI. The Mission of St. John the Baptist + (Second Sunday in Advent) 271 + VII. God's Desire to be Loved (Christmas Day) 282 + VIII. The Failure and Success of the Gospel + (Sexagesima) 292 + IX. The Work of Life (Septuagesima) 303 + X. The Church's Admonition to the Individual Soul + (Ash-Wednesday) 312 + XI. The Negligent Christian (Third Sunday in Lent) 320 + XII. The Cross, the Measure of Sin (Passion Sunday) 329 + XIII. Divine Calls and Warnings (Lent) 340 + XIV. The Tomb of Christ, the School of Comfort + (Easter Sunday) 352 + XV. St. Mary Magdalene at the Sepulchre + (Easter Sunday) 360 + XVI. The Preacher, the Organ of the Holy Ghost + (Fourth Sunday after Easter) 370 + XVII. The Two Wills in Man + (Fourth Sunday after Easter) 380 +XVIII. The Intercession of the Blessed Virgin the + Highest Power of Prayer + (Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension) 391 + XIX. Mysteries in Religion (Trinity Sunday) 399 + XX. The Worth of the Soul + (Third Sunday after Pentecost) 408 + XXI. The Catholic's Certitude concerning the Way + of Salvation (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost) 418 + +{10} + + XXII. The Presence of God + (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost) 429 +XXIII. Keeping the Law not Impossible + (Ninth Sunday after Pentecost) 437 + XXIV. The Spirit of Sacrifice + (Feast of St. Laurence) 447 + XXV. Mary's Destiny a Type of Ours (Assumption) 456 + XXVI. Care for the Dead + (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost) 465 +XXVII. Success the Reward of Merit + (Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost) 475 +XXVIII. The Mass the Highest Worship + (Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost) 484 + XXIX. The Lessons of Autumn + (Last Sunday after Pentecost) 493 + + +{11} + + MEMOIR. + +{12} + +{13} + + Memoir. + + +Francis A. Baker was born in Baltimore, March 30, 1820. The name +given him in baptism was Francis Asbury, after the Methodist +bishop of that name; but when he became a Catholic he changed it +to Francis Aloysius, in honor of St. Francis de Sales and St. +Aloysius, to both of whom he had a special devotion, and both of +whom he resembled in many striking points of character. + +He was of mixed German and English descent, and combined the +characteristics of both races in his temperament of mind and +body. He had also some of the Irish and older American blood in +his veins. His paternal grandfather, William Baker, emigrated +from Germany at an early age to Baltimore, where he married a +young lady of Irish origin, and became a wealthy merchant. His +maternal grandfather, the Rev. John Dickens, was an Englishman, a +Methodist preacher, who resided chiefly in Philadelphia. His +grandmother was a native of Georgia. During the great +yellow-fever epidemic in Philadelphia, Mr. Dickens remained at +his post, and his wife fell a victim to the disease, with her +eldest daughter. His father was Dr. Samuel Baker, of Baltimore, +and his mother, Miss Sarah Dickens. Dr. Baker was an eminent +physician and medical lecturer, holding the honorable positions +of Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Maryland, and +President of the Baltimore Medico-Chirurgical Society. +{14} +There was a striking similarity in the character of Dr. Baker and +his son Francis. The writer of an obituary notice of the father, +in the _Baltimore Athenæum_, tells us that his early +preceptors admired "the balance of the faculties of his mind," +and that "his classmates were attached to him for his integrity +and affectionate manners." In another passage, the same writer +would seem to be describing Francis Baker, to those who knew him +alone, and have never seen the original of the sketch. "The style +of conversation with which Dr. Baker interested his friends, his +patients, or the stranger, was marked with an unaffected +simplicity. Even when he was most fluent and communicative, no +one could suspect him of an ambition to shine. He spoke to give +utterance to pleasing and useful thoughts on science, religion, +and general topics, _as if his chief enjoyment was to diffuse +the charms of his own tranquillity_. In social intercourse, +his dignity was the natural attitude of his virtue. On the part +of the trifling it required but little discernment to perceive +the tacit warning that vulgar familiarity would find nothing +congenial in him. He never engrossed conversation, and seemed +always desirous of obtaining information by eliciting it from +others. Whether he listened or spoke, his countenance, receiving +impressions readily from his mind, was an expressive index of the +tone of his various emotions and thoughts. The conduct of Dr. +Baker as a physician, a Christian, and a citizen, was a mirror, +reflecting the beautiful image of goodness in so distinct a form +as to leave none to hesitate about the sincerity and purity of +his feelings. It therefore constantly reminded many of 'the +wisdom that is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, +gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, +without partiality, and without hypocrisy.' The friendly sympathy +and anxiety which he evinced in the presence of human suffering +attached all classes of his patients to him, and he was very +happy in his benevolent tact at winning the affection of +children, even in their sickness." +{15} +Dr. Baker was a member of the Methodist Church, and an intimate +friend of the celebrated and eloquent preacher Summerfield. He +was not one, however, of the enthusiastic sort, but sober, quiet, +and reserved. He never went through any period of religious +excitement himself, or endeavored to practise on the +susceptibilities of his children. He said of himself, as one of +his intimate friends testifies, "that he did not know the period +when he became religious, so gradually was his life regulated by +the spiritual truths which enlightened his mind from childhood." +He had no hostile feelings toward the Catholic Church, and was a +great admirer and warm friend of the Sisters of Charity, many of +whom I have heard frequently speak of him in terms of the most +affectionate respect. His benevolence toward the poor was +unbounded, and he was in fact endeared to all classes of the +community, without exception, in Baltimore. Francis Baker had a +very great respect for his father, and was very fond of talking +of him to me, during the first period of our acquaintance, when +his early recollections were fresh and recent in his mind. Of his +mother he had but a faint remembrance, having been deprived of +her at the age of seven years. It is easy to judge of her +character, however, from that of her children, and of her sister, +who was a mother to her orphans from the time of her death until +her own life was ended among them. Mrs. Baker's brother, the Hon. +Asbury Dickens, is well known as having been for nearly half a +century the Secretary of the Senate of the United States, which +position he held until his death, which occurred at an advanced +age a few years since. + +Dr. Baker had four sons and two daughters. Only one of them, Dr. +William George Baker, ever married, and he died without children: +so that Dr. Samuel Baker left not a single grandchild after him +to perpetuate his name or family--and of his children, one +daughter only survives. +{16} +Three of his sons were physicians of great promise, which they +did not live to fulfil. Francis was his third son, and the one +who most resembled him in character. Of his boyhood I know +little, except that his companions at school who grew up to +manhood, and preserved their acquaintance with him, were +extremely attached to him. One of them passed an evening and +night in our house, as the guest of F. Baker, but a few months +before his death, with great pleasure to both. I have also heard +some of the good Sisters of Charity speak of having known the +little Frank Baker as a boy, and mention the fact that he was +very fond of visiting them. I am sure that his childhood was an +extremely happy one until the period of his father's death. This +event took place in October, 1835, when Francis was in his +sixteenth year, and in the fiftieth year of Dr. Baker's life. It +was very sudden and unexpected, and threw a shadow of grief and +sadness over the future of his children, which was deepened by +the subsequent untimely decease of the two eldest sons, Samuel +and William. + +Francis was entered at Princeton College soon after his father's +death, and graduated there with the class of 1839. I am not aware +that his college life had any remarkable incidents. He was not +ambitious of distinguishing himself, or inclined to apply himself +to very severe study. I believe, however, that his standing was +respectable, and his conduct regular and exemplary. He was not +decidedly religious in his early youth. Methodism had no +attraction for him, and the Calvinistic preaching at Princeton +was repugnant to his reason and feelings. Whatever religious +impressions he had in childhood were chiefly those produced by +the Catholic Church, whose services he was fond of attending; but +these were not deep or lasting. The early death of his father, +and the consequent responsibility and care thrown upon him as the +male head of the family, first caused him to reflect deeply, and +to seek for some decided religious rule of his own life and +conduct, and finally led him to join the Protestant Episcopal +communion, and to resolve to prepare himself for the ministry. +{17} +All the members of his family joined the same communion, and were +baptized with him, in St. Paul's Church, by the rector of the +parish, Dr. Wyatt. This event took place in 1841, or '42. Soon +afterward, Mr. Baker formed an acquaintance with a young man, a +candidate for orders and an inmate of the family of Dr. +Whittingham, the Bishop of Maryland, which was destined to ripen +into a most endearing and life-long friendship, and to have a +most important influence on his subsequent history. This +gentleman was Dwight Edwards Lyman, a son of the Rev. Dr. Lyman a +respectable Presbyterian minister, of the same age with Francis +Baker, and an ardent disciple of the school of John Henry Newman. +At the time of his baptism, Mr. Baker was only acquainted with +church principles as they were taught by Dr. Wyatt, who was an +old-fashioned High Churchman. The intercourse which he had with +Mr. Lyman was the principal occasion of introducing him to an +acquaintance with the Oxford movement, into which he very soon +entered with his whole mind and heart. In 1842, Mr. Lyman was +sent to St. James's College, near Hagerstown, where he remained +several years, receiving orders in the interval. During this +time, Mr. Baker kept up a frequent and most confidential +correspondence with him, which is full of liveliness and humor in +its earlier stages, but becomes more grave and serious as both +advanced nearer to the time of their ordination. It continued +during the entire period of their ministry in the Episcopal +Church, and during the whole subsequent life of Mr. Baker, +closing with a very playful letter written by the latter, a few +days before his last illness. In one of these letters, he +acknowledges his obligations to Mr. Lyman as the principal +instrument of making him acquainted with Catholic principles, in +these warm and affectionate words: "I do not know whether you are +aware of the advantage I derived from you in the earlier part of +our acquaintance, by reason of your greater familiarity with the +Catholic system as exhibited in the _Anglican_ Church. +{18} +The influence you exerted was of a kind of which I can hardly +suppose you to have been conscious; yet I am sure you will be +gratified to think it was effectual, as I believe, to fix me more +firmly in the system for which I had long entertained so profound +a reverence and affection. These are benefits which I cannot +forget, and which (if there were not other reasons of which I +need not speak) must always keep a place for you in the heart of +your unworthy friend." + +The nature of the later correspondence between these two friends, +and their mutual influence on each other, will appear later in +this narrative. There are friendships which are formed in heaven, +and in looking back upon that which grew up between these two +young men of congenial spirit, and in which I was also a sharer +in a subordinate degree, I cannot but admire the benignant ways +of Divine Providence, by which those strands which afterward +bound our existence together so closely were first interwoven. I +had myself met Mr. Lyman, some years before this, and felt the +charm of his glowing and enthusiastic advocacy of principles +which were just beginning to germinate in my own mind. Soon after +Lyman's removal to Hagerstown, I made the acquaintance of Mr. +Baker, a circumstance which the latter mentions in his next +letter to his friend in these words, which I trust I may be +pardoned for quoting-- + +"The Bishop's family have a young man staying with them (Mr. H.), +a convert to the Church, and one, I believe, of great promise. He +was a Congregationalist minister, and Rev. Mr. B. read me a +letter from him, dated about a month ago, before his coming into +the Church, the tone of which was far more Catholic than that of +many (alas!) of those who have been partakers of the holy +treasures to be found only in her bosom. Mr. B. tells me that +Church principles are silently spreading in the North, among the +sects. In this place, I believe that a spirit has been raised +which one would hardly imagine on looking at the surface of +things, though that is troubled enough." + +{19} + +This letter was dated April 22, 1843. + +I had just arrived in Baltimore, at the invitation of Dr. +Whittingham, the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Maryland, and +been received as a candidate for orders in his diocese. Mr. +Baker, who was also a candidate for orders, lived just opposite +the Bishops's residence, in Courtlandt street, and was pursuing +his theological studies in private. I lived in the Bishop's +house, and I think I met Mr. Baker there on the first evening of +my arrival. We were nearly of the same age, and soon found that +our tastes and opinions were very congenial to each other. Of +course, I returned his visit very soon, and I became at once very +intimate with his family. It was a charming place and a +delightful circle. Francis, as the eldest brother, was the head +of the house. His aunt, Miss Dickens, fulfilled the office of a +mother to her orphaned nephews and nieces with winning grace and +gentleness. A younger brother, Alfred, then about eighteen years +of age, was at home, pursuing his medical studies. Two sisters +completed the number of the family, all bound together in the +most devoted and tender love, all alike in that charm of +character which is combined from it fervent and genial spirit of +religion, amiability of temper, and a high-toned culture of mind +and manners, chastened and subdued by trial and sorrow. I must +not pass by entirely without mention another inmate of the +family, whose good-humored, joyous countenance was always the +first to greet me at the door--little Caroline, the last of the +family servants, who was manumitted as soon as she arrived at a +proper age, always devotedly attached to her young master, and +afterward one of the most eager and delighted spectators at his +ordination as a Catholic priest. + +{20} + +The house was one of those places where every article of +furniture and the entire spirit that pervades its arrangement +speaks eloquently of the past family history, and recalls the +memory of its departed members and departed scenes of domestic +happiness. Dr. Baker had left his children a competent but +moderate fortune, which was managed with the utmost prudence by +Francis, who possessed at twenty-one all the wisdom of a man of +fifty. There was nothing of the splendor and luxury of wealth to +be seen in the household, but a modest simplicity and propriety, +a home-like comfort, and that perfection of order and +arrangement, regulated by a pure and exquisite taste, which is +far more attractive. Mr. Baker's home was always the mirror of +his mind. In later years, when he lived in his own rectory, +although his family circle had lost two of its precious links, +the same charm pervaded every nook and corner of the home of the +survivors, the young and idolized pastor and his two sisters. His +study at St. Luke's rectory was the beau ideal of a clergyman's +sanctuary of study and prayer, after the Church of England model; +with something added, which betokened a more recluse and +sacerdotal spirit, and a more Catholic type of devotion. One +might have read in it Mr. Baker's character at a glance, and +might have divined that the inhabitant of that room was a perfect +gentleman, a man of the most pure intellectual tastes, a pastor +completely absorbed in the duties of his state, a recluse in his +life, and very Catholic in the tendencies and aspirations of his +soul. + +Of Mr. Baker's family, only one sister has survived him. Alfred +Baker died first. Like his brother, he was a model of manly +beauty, although he did not in the least resemble him in form or +feature. Francis Baker, as all who ever saw him know, was +remarkably handsome. Those who only knew him after he reached +mature age, and remember him only as a priest, will associate +with his appearance chiefly that impress of sacerdotal dignity +and mildness, of placid, intellectual composure, of purity, +nobility, and benignity of character, which was engraven or +rather sculptured in his face and attitude. +{21} +Dressed in the proper costume, he might have been taken as a +living study for a Father of the Church, a holy hermit of the +desert, or a mediæval bishop. He was cast in an antique and +classic mould. There was not a trace of the man of modern times +or of the man of the world about him. His countenance and manner +in late years also bore traces of the fatiguing, laborious life +which he led, and the hard, rough work to which he was devoted. +On account of these things, and because he was so completely a +priest and a religious, one could scarcely think of admiring him +as a man. His portrait was never painted, and the photographs of +him which were taken were none of them very successful, and most +of them mere caricatures. An ambrotype in profile was taken at +Chicago for Mr. Healy the artist, which is admirable, and from +this the only good photographs have been taken; but the adequate +image of Father Baker, as he appeared at the altar, or when his +face was lit up in preaching the Divine word, will live only in +the memory of those who knew him. At the period of which I speak, +he had just attained the maturity of youthful and manly beauty, +which was heightened in its effect by his perfect dignity and +grace of manner. His brother Alfred was cast in a slighter mould, +and had an almost feminine loveliness of aspect, figure, and +character. He was as modest and pure as a young maiden, with far +more vivacity of feature and manner than his brother, and a more +vivid and playful temperament. There was nothing, however, +effeminate in his character or countenance. He was full of +talent, high-spirited, generous and chivalrous in his temper, +conscientious and blameless in his religious and moral conduct. +He graduated at the Catholic College of St. Mary's in Baltimore, +and was a great favorite of the late Archbishop Eccleston and +several others of the Catholic clergy. His High Church principles +had a strong dash of Catholicity in them, and he used often to +speak of the "ignominious name, Protestant," which is prefixed to +the designation of the Episcopal Church in this country. +{22} +He was a devoted admirer of Mr. Newman, and followed him, like so +many others, to the verge of the Catholic Church, but drew back, +startled and perplexed, when he passed over. Two or three years +after the time I am describing, he began the practice of his +profession, with brilliant prospects. The family removed to a +larger and more central residence, for his sake, near St. Paul's +Church, where Francis was Assistant Minister. All things seemed +to smile and promise fair, but this beautiful bud had a worm in +it. A slow and lingering but fatal attack of phthisis seized him, +just as he was beginning to succeed in his professional career. +His brother accompanied him to Bermuda, but the voyage was rather +an additional suffering than a benefit, and on the 9th of April, +1852, he died. It was Good Friday. He had prayed frequently that +he might die on that day, and before his departure, he called his +brother to him, made a general confession, desired him to +pronounce over him the form of absolution prescribed in the +English Prayer-Book, and received the communion of the Episcopal +Church. These acts were sacramentally valueless, but I trust, +without presuming to decide positively on a secret matter which +God alone can judge, that his intention was right before God, and +his error a mistake of judgment without perversity of will. His +brother afterward felt deeply solicitous lest he might have been +himself blamable for keeping him in the Episcopal communion, and +grieved that he had died out of the visible communion of the +Catholic Church. Still, as he was conscious of his own integrity +of purpose, he tranquillized his mind with the hope that his +brother had died in spiritual communion with the true Church and +in the charity of God, and endeavored to aid him, as far as he +was still within the reach of human assistance, by having many +masses offered for the repose of his soul. + +Miss Dickens died a little before Alfred, and Elizabeth Baker +died some time after her brother became a Catholic, but before +his ordination. + +{23} + +I return now to the period when Mr. Baker and all these members +of his family were living a retired and happy life together in +the home on Courtlandt street. I remember this time with peculiar +pleasure. Mr. Baker, whom I always called Frank, as he was +usually called by his friends, partly from the peculiar affection +they felt for him, and also because of its appropriateness as an +epithet of his character, went every day with me once or twice to +prayers; and every day we walked together. When the peculiar, +tinkling bell of old St. Paul's, which will be remembered by many +a reader of these pages, gave notice of divine service there, we +resorted in company to that venerable and unique church. It was +spacious and ecclesiastical, though not regularly beautiful in +its architecture. A basso-relievo adorned its architrave, and a +bright gilded cross graced its tall tower. It had a handsome +altar of white marble, an object of our special pride and +devotion, with the usual reading-desk and pulpit rising behind +it. The pulpit was a light and graceful structure, surmounted by +a canopy which terminated in a cross, and having another cross +surrounded by a glory emblazoned on its ceiling, just over the +preacher's head. The door was in the rear of the pulpit, which +stood far out from the chancel wall, and in the door was a +beautiful transparency of the Ecce Homo, lighted from the chancel +window, which had an Ailanthus behind it, causing a pleasing +illusion in the mind of the beholder that the dirty brick +pavement of the court-yard was a pretty rural garden. The chancel +was large and imposing. An episcopal chair, surmounted by a +mitre, formed one of its conspicuous ornaments, and two seven +branched gilded gas-burners stood on the chancel rail, which were +lighted at Evening Prayer, or _Vespers_, as we were wont to +call it. In this church, the people all knelt with their backs to +the altar, and facing the great door, whereat a number of us, +being scandalized, determined to face about on all occasions and +kneel toward the altar, which we did rigidly and in the most +impressive manner, to the great annoyance of the rector, Dr. +Wyatt. +{24} +The _tout ensemble_ of St. Paul's Church, especially in the +dusk of evening, when the lamps were lit, was to a hasty glance +quite that of a Catholic church. Catholics very frequently came +in by mistake, and sometimes poor people knelt in the aisles and +began saying their prayers. Others inquired of the sexton at the +door if it was a Catholic church, and some persons occupying +seats near the door, who frequently heard his negative response +and his direction to the Cathedral, were led in consequence to +think, that if St. Paul's were not a Catholic church, they too +had best follow the sexton's direction and go to the Cathedral. +Besides the prayers on saints' days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at +St. Paul's, there was a week-day communion service once a month. +Dr. Wyatt and his congregation were Church people after the type +of Bishop Hobart, disposed to sympathize in a great measure with +Dr. Pusey and the Oxford divines, but in great dread of +extravagant innovation. The parish was very large, and included +among its members a considerable portion of the _élite_ of +Baltimore society. Strange as it may seem, however, outside a +certain circle of sturdy High Church families, and especially +among the more worldly class, there was a prevailing sentiment +that true spiritual religion flourished more in the Methodist +than in the Episcopal Church. + +Although the mitred chair stood in the chancel, St. Paul's was +not the bishop's cathedral, and he was not able to take in it +that position and perform those acts which he felt were the +proper prerogative of a bishop in the principal church of the +diocese. The bishops of the Episcopal Church in this country are +all in the same anomalous position, without cathedrals or +strictly episcopal churches, in which, according to canon law, +the see is properly located, having dependent parochial churches +affiliated to the mother Church. +{25} +They must either be rectors of parochial churches, by election of +the vestry, or simple parishioners of one of their own +subordinate presbyters, without the right of performing any +official act, or even sitting in the chancel, except on occasions +of convention, episcopal visitation, or something of the sort. +The Bishop of New York was even for many years an assistant +minister of Trinity Church. Bishop Whittingham was determined to +remedy this evil, as far as possible, by establishing a parish, +where his proper place would be conceded to him voluntarily by +the rector and vestry. Accordingly the Mount Calvary congregation +was formed, and began to worship in an old grain-warehouse. There +we had early Morning Prayers, and Evening Prayers on every day +when St. Paul's was closed; and thither might be seen wending +their way, rain or shine, the Bishop with a suite of young +ecclesiastics, gentlemen and ladies of the most respectable and +cultivated class, and numbers of the more devout people, who +found a real solace for their souls, amid the trials and labors +of life, in daily common prayer to God. A little after, a more +select room was obtained, decorated with a large black cross in +the end window, and finally a church was built. We always met a +great many of the Cathedral people, in the morning, going to and +from Mass, and they were quite astonished at our piety. I have +since learned that a number of them, observing the two young men +who seemed to them so different from Protestants in their ways, +began praying for us, and that a holy priest, F. Chakert, of St. +Alphonsus', who died a martyr to his zeal in New Orleans, +frequently said mass for our conversion. + +In our frequent walks, Frank Baker and myself usually, by a tacit +consent, took the direction of some Catholic church. Baltimore +surpasses every other large town in the United States, except +perhaps St. Louis, in the relative number, and in the dignified, +imposing style of its Catholic churches and religious +institutions. +{26} +It is a very picturesque and beautiful city in itself, and one of +its most striking features is the exterior show of Catholicity +which it presents, from the conspicuous position of the numerous +Catholic edifices which are distributed through the principal +parts of the town; often crowning the summits of some of the high +eminences with which it abounds, so that they are distinctly +visible in all directions, and their bells resound loudly for a +great distance. Some of the Protestant churches also, haying our +ecclesiastical style of architecture, and being even surmounted +by the cross, fall into the picture as accessories, and add to +the impression which a stranger taking a _coup-d'oeil_ of +the city would receive. The Cathedral, a truly grand building, +though built in the Moresco style, and suggesting the idea of a +great mosque in an oriental city, which had been converted by +some conquering crusader into a Christian temple, with its great +dome and two towers, each of which is surmounted by a gilded +cross, queens it majestically over the whole city. It has the +finest possible situation, on very high ground, with a spacious +enclosure around it, and a modest, but very appropriate +archiepiscopal residence in the rear of the sanctuary, fronting +on Charles street, the principal street of the court end of the +town, a little below the chaste and graceful monument of white +marble erected to the memory of Washington. Near by, the +Redemptorist Church and Convent of St. Alphonsus, the Convent of +the Christian Brothers, the large and beautiful Convent and +garden of the Visitation Nuns, the Sisters' Orphan Asylum, and +the little chapel and religious house of the colored Sisters of +Providence, are clustered together within a very moderate area of +territory. Taking the Cathedral as a point of departure, you have +at the distance of about half a mile, in the most densely peopled +part of the town, St. Mary's Church, and the Seminary of St. +Sulpice, with its extensive gardens of many acres in extent. More +toward the suburbs, there are the Lazarist Church of the +Immaculate Conception, and the large Sisters' Hospital of Mount +Hope, with its extensive grounds. +{27} +In an opposite direction, not far from the Cathedral, is Loyola +College, to which adjoins the Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius; +beyond these, St. John's, and still further, near the borders of +the town, the quaint and interesting St. James's Church of the +Redemptorists, with a German Convent of religious ladies. In +another direction, St. Vincent de Paul's is seen, with its high +massive tower, and in the same quarter of the town, the +Carmelites have a convent and chapel, the Redemptorists another +large church and convent, called St. Michael's, and there is also +the large and handsome parish church of St. Patrick, with its +high altar of green marble. Following the outer circle of the +city toward the harbor and fort, and returning to a point in line +with St. Alphonsus', we have the Church of the Holy Cross, St. +Joseph's, and St. Peter's, the latter of which has a congregation +composed in great measure of converts. The deep and heavy bell of +the Cathedral is repeatedly heard sending forth its booming notes +at different hours of the day, answered by St. Alphonsus' and St. +Vincent de Paul's, while the other bells take up the refrain in +the distance, and the smaller convent bells throw in from time to +time, at Angelus, Vespers, or Compline, their silvery, tinkling +notes. These Catholic sounds are heard at intervals from morning +till night, and the bells of some of the Protestant churches join +in also, on many days during the week, ringing for prayers. The +Catholic traditions of Baltimore and Maryland, interwoven with +their existence from the first; the memory of Charles Carroll of +Carrollton, of Archbishops Carroll and Eccleston, and of many +other distinguished Marylanders among the Catholic clergy, and, +lastly, the large Catholic population, and the wealth, education, +and social position of a large class of the members of the +Church, who have always mingled freely in society and +intermarried with Protestants, specially those of the Episcopal +Church--all these and other causes combine to make the Catholic +religion conspicuous and powerful in Baltimore, and to keep it +always confronting the adherents of other religions, whichever +way they turn. +{28} +It cannot be ignored or kept out of sight and mind. It must be +battled with or submitted to. Hence, Protestantism in Baltimore, +among the ultra-Protestant sects, has borne a character of +unusually intense and persistent hatred to the Catholic Church; +and a suppressed spirit of violence has pervaded the lower +orders, showing itself ordinarily by slight insults offered to +clergymen and religious, but occasionally bursting out in scenes +of riot and bloodshed, in which not merely the rabble took part, +but where gentlemen were also engaged, and men in high stations +lent their influence and protection to shield and encourage the +lawless violators of the peace. + +A number of the Catholic churches here described have been built +since the year 1842. The general appearance of the city, however, +and the relative number of Catholic institutions, was the same. +It was a very interesting place to me from its novelty, and very +well known to my new friend and companion, Frank Baker. We +perambulated the town and reconnoitred all its environs, +penetrating into every nook and corner where there was the +smallest chance of finding something to be seen. The Catholic +churches underwent a repeated and thorough visitation and +scrutiny, by turns. An indefinable attraction drew us to those +sacred places, and made us linger and loiter in them without ever +growing weary. I know now what it was. It was the power of that +Sacred Presence which once drew the disciples and the multitudes +after it, when visibly seen, and which now attracts the soul by +its invisible charm in the Blessed Sacrament. We never went to +mass or to any Catholic service, because we were forbidden to do +so by the bishop. We never sought out any Catholic priests, or +encountered any, except twice by accident. We read no Catholic +books of controversy or devotion, never knelt to pray before the +altar, and did not know or suspect where we were going. +{29} +But the influence of grace was acting most powerfully during +those moments in which we were hanging about the altar, and +unconsciously drinking in its sacred influence. Our favorite +place was the chapel of St. Mary's College, and the Calvary +behind it, where the clergy of the Sulpitian Society are buried. +This is the sweetest Catholic shrine I have ever visited. The +Calvary was not open to visitors, but for some reason we were +never interfered with, although we went very often, and remained +by the hour. Perhaps our guardian angels knew the future, and led +us there unwittingly to ourselves. Our Lord foresaw it, if they +did not, and was thinking of the day when one of the two would be +there in company with all the clergy of the diocese in a +spiritual retreat, and the day when the other, in that same +chapel, would be consecrated to the service of the sanctuary. +[Footnote 1] + + [Footnote 1: Father Baker was ordained sub-deacon and deacon + in that chapel, a few days before his ordination to the + priesthood in the Cathedral.] + +Many of those who participated in that retreat will recall the +recollection of it, on reading these pages. + +Archbishop Kenrick, the sage of our American hierarchy and one of +its saints, that perfect model of a prelate according to the +ancient type of the purest Catholic times, the pattern of +ecclesiastical learning, Episcopal dignity and vigilance, +apostolic zeal, sacerdotal gentleness, and Christian humility, +reminding one of the character ascribed by historians to Pope +Benedict XIV., sat at the head of his venerable clergy in the +sanctuary during all the exercises. Of the clergymen present, +some had been forty years in the priesthood, and one at least was +ordained by Archbishop Carroll. Some are now bishops, or have +modestly declined the offered mitre. I was then a priest, and was +assisting F. Walworth in giving the retreat, and Mr. Baker was +but just received into the Church. He came to visit me at the +spot where we had passed so many pleasant hours in years gone by, +and to pay his respects to the excellent Sulpitians by whom his +brother had been educated, and to the other clergymen whose +brother and associate he aspired to become in due time. +{30} +He was welcomed most tenderly by the warm-hearted Sulpitians, and +greeted with an ardent interest and respect by the clergy and +young ecclesiastics who were gathered in that sacred retreat of +science and piety. Several of these good clergymen have since +spoken of that retreat, which so many circumstances combined to +make unusually pleasant, as among the most cherished +recollections of their lives. Since I have been betrayed into +this long digression by the associations connected with St. +Mary's Chapel, I will venture to add one other little incident, +of which I have been several times reminded by the venerable +President of Mount St. Mary's College. One afternoon, just at +sunset, the preacher concluded his discourse by a description of +the death of a holy priest, contrasting the glory of his +successfully accomplished ministry with that of the hero in the +merely secular and temporal order. At the peroration, the parting +beams of the sun irradiated a tall marble monument over the grave +of a well-known Sulpitian priest, behind the chancel window, in +full view of the audience, but unseen by the preacher, and gave +an illustration of his words most affecting and impressive to +those who witnessed it. It was emblematic, also, of that noble +life which was to be accomplished and brought to such a beautiful +close, within twelve short years, by that dear companion and +friend who was just then on the eve of leaving all to follow +Christ, and whose generous heart was swelling with the first +emotions of his divine vocation, long since secretly inspired +into him while haunting the blessed resting-place of those holy +priests. But I have anticipated what was yet in the unknown and +undreamed-of future, when we two ardent and enthusiastic youths +were yielding our imaginations to the poetic and religious charm +which was the precursor of more earnest and durable convictions. + +{31} + +St. Mary's was our favorite resort, but we were also impressed in +a different way by the austere and monastic aspect of St. +James's, where the Redemptorist Fathers, then newly established, +had their convent; and I remember that we often conversed about +that order with great curiosity and interest. We watched intently +the building of St. Alphonsus' Church, and wandered through the +sanctuary and sacristy and garden, and into the shop where the +lay-brothers and other artificers were at work, occasionally, to +our great delight, greeted by these good brothers, who probably +took us for priests, as we were then ordained and dressed in long +cassocks, with their salutation in German, _Gelobt sey Jesus +Christus_. + +Another object of great interest to us was a monument to the +memory of a former pastor, in St. Patrick's Church, bearing the +simple and touching inscription: + + "To The Good De Moranville." + +This unfeigned tribute of affection to the memory of a good and +holy priest did more in a few moments to efface from my mind the +effect of the calumnies I had heard from childhood against the +Catholic clergy, than a volume of controversy could have done. + +Mr. Baker took me also to visit the monument erected to Sister +Ambrosia by the City of Baltimore. This lady, the daughter of the +venerable Mrs. Collins, who died at the age of nearly one hundred +years, and was one of those who welcomed Mr. Baker most warmly +into the Catholic Church, and the sister of the Very Rev. Mr. +Collins, of Cincinnati, was universally regarded as a saint, both +by Catholics and Protestants. She had been very intimate in Dr. +Baker's family, and attended his two elder sons during their last +illness. She fell herself a victim to her charity in attending +the sick in the hospitals, leaving the sweet fragrance of her +sanctity to linger in the memories of those who knew her. We +visited also the graves of those brothers of Mr. Baker whose +death had produced so great a change in his character and +prospects. +{32} +They were buried in a Methodist grave-yard, adjoining the +beautiful Green Mount Cemetery. Francis had erected a marble +tombstone to their memory, on which was carved a cross, and the +Catholic inscription, _Requiescant in pace_. When I returned +to Baltimore, after my ordination to the Catholic priesthood, I +revisited the spot, but found the cross and prayer had been +removed. When I had the opportunity of asking Mr. Baker for an +explanation of this, he informed me that he had removed them of +his own accord, because he thought it an indelicate intrusion on +the religious sentiments and feelings of those to whom the +burial-place belonged, to leave there a Catholic inscription. + +Meanwhile we were studying and reading regularly. Bishop +Whittingham had a very fine and extensive library, and was +constantly supplied with the choicest books and periodicals of +the Anglo-Catholic party. The remarkable movement led by Dr. +Pusey and Mr. Newman was at its height. In this country we were +somewhat behindhand, and were following at some distance in the +wake of the most advanced English leaders, so that the later +developments rather took us by surprise. We were reading Mr. +Newman's earlier works, and only partly aware of the great change +taking place in himself and others. The accusation of Romanizing +was treated as a calumny, and we had no thought of any thing +except bringing our own Church up to what we thought to be the +Catholic level, and endeavoring to establish an intercommunion +between it and the Roman and Greek Churches through mutual +consultation and concession, and a return to the supposed state +of things "before the separation of East and West." At least this +is true of us in Maryland, whatever might have been the case with +a small number elsewhere. Probably the effort to make the +Protestant Episcopal Church take the attitude of being Catholic +was never made more earnestly and with better hope of success +than in Maryland. +{33} +The bishop headed the movement, and, besides the clergymen +already in his diocese who were ready to second him, he attracted +thither a number of young men who were devoted to his person and +who sympathized in his views. I have no wish to speak +disrespectfully or unkindly of Dr. Whittingham. He has always +been a most violent opponent of the Catholic Church, and he has +seen fit, like some others of the clergy of his peculiar stripe, +to break off all intercourse with those who have left his +communion to join it. I do not, however, attribute to him any +personal animosity as the motive for this, but merely a mistaken +religions zeal. He was always very kind and generous to his young +clergymen, strict and self-denying in his life, and laborious in +the fulfilment of his official duties. His vigorous +administration infused a new energy and activity into the +Episcopal Church in his diocese, and gave a powerful impetus to +what was called the "Catholic" movement. A periodical entitled +_The True Catholic, Reformed, Protestant, and Free_, was +established, under the care of Hugh Davey Evans, a learned lawyer +and very able theological disputant. A college, conducted by +young men trained at the celebrated St. Paul's College, Flushing, +by Dr. Muhlenberg, was founded at a beautiful and extensive old +country-seat, known as "Fountain Rock," near Hagerstown, and a +school, called "St. Timothy's Hall," near Baltimore. The bishop +and a large number of his clergy went about dressed in long +cassocks; altars, crosses, frequent services, ecclesiastical +forms and observances, and other outward signs and accompaniments +of an approximation to Catholic doctrines and rites, were to be +seen everywhere. The Protestant Episcopal Church was loudly +proclaimed to be the Catholic Church of the country, and, in a +word, the theory taught in the Oxford Tracts and in the earlier +writings of Mr. Newman was sought to be put in actual practice. +An unusual number of the clergy were unmarried men, and the +project of founding a monastic order was entertained by several. +{34} +Those were stirring times. Of course opposition was excited in +the bosom of the Episcopal Church. The Low Churchmen formed a +strong and active minority in the Convention, and did their +utmost to thwart the projects of the bishop. Very spicy debates +took place in consequence, and as there were very able and +distinguished men among the lay delegates, who brought all their +legal skill and forensic eloquence into play, the sessions of the +Convention were often intensely interesting and exciting. The +pulpit, the newspapers, and controversial pamphlets were employed +in the warfare by both sides, and the community generally, +outside of the Episcopal Church, were quite alive with interest +in the questions discussed. + +We had a little society called the "Church Reading Society," of +which Mr. Evans was president, and Mr. Baker and myself were +members, where certain prayers for Catholic unity were offered, +and papers bearing on the topics which interested us were read by +the members in turn. The different seasons of the ecclesiastical +year were very strictly observed, especially Advent, Christmas, +Lent, and Holy Week. The English press was at that time pouring +forth a stream of books of devotion and sacred poetry, sermons +and spiritual instructions, borrowed or imitated from the +treasures of Catholic sacred literature. There was a tide setting +strongly backward toward the faith and practice of ancient times, +and we surrendered ourselves to its influence, without thinking +where it would eventually land us. We had no thought of ever +leaving the communion to which we belonged. Never, in any of our +conversations, did we even speak of such a thing as possible, or +call in question the legitimate claim of the authority, under +which we were living, to our obedience. We did not sympathize +with the bishop and the larger number of the clergymen of our +theological party in their sentiment of hostility and antipathy +to the Roman communion. +{35} +The common ground taken was that the Roman Catholic bishops in +England and the United States are schismatical intruders upon the +lawful jurisdiction of the English and Anglo-American bishops of +the Protestant succession. Bishop Whittingham maintained the +stronger ground that the Roman Church throughout the world is +schismatical and all but formally heretical. He retained the old +spirit of vehement dislike and opposition to the See of Rome and +every thing in the doctrine and policy of the church connected +with the Papal supremacy, which characterized the old divines of +the Church of England. He had in his mind an ideal of the +primitive Church, according to which he wished and hoped that a +Reformed Catholic Church should be reconstructed by the common +consent of all the bishops of the world, and which should absorb +into itself all the Christian sects. This idea is necessarily +common to all who profess to hold Catholic principles in the +Anglican communion. The profession of the doctrine of unity in +one, visible, Catholic Church, of itself qualifies the isolation +of any body of Christians from the great Christian family, as an +anomalous and irregular condition. A return to unity or union of +some kind must necessarily become an object of desire and effort. +So long as one maintains that the Anglican Church is essentially +Catholic, he must maintain also that the Roman Church is in some +way wrong in refusing to recognize it, and that the Greek Church +is likewise wrong in refusing to do so. Hence he must look on +some concessions to be made by both Churches as the necessary +condition of the reunion of Christendom. So far, all who profess +to be "Anglo-Catholics" must agree. But when the question +becomes, how much concession must be made to the Anglican +communion, or how much concession must be made by her, how far +the Greek Church, the Roman Church, or the Anglican Church have +erred; and upon what basis of doctrine and ecclesiastical polity +they are to be reformed or restored to union, the agreement is +ended. +{36} +Each individual attributes as much or as little error and +corruption to other Churches, or his own Church, as suits his own +notions. Each one, or each separate clique, has a peculiar ideal +of the true Catholic Church. One may regard the Anglican Church +as almost perfect, and wish to bring all Christendom to imitate +it. Another finds his beau ideal in the Greek Church. Another +regards his own Church as very defective, and the Roman Church as +the most perfect, desiring that the Holy See should only abate +just enough of its claims to let in Greeks without any +acknowledgment of their schismatic contumacy, and Anglicans +without giving up that they are in heresy and destitute of any +legitimate episcopacy. + +It is impossible to draw any exact line of demarcation between +the adherents of these different views. At the same time, we may +say that, in a general sense, one class held the Anglican Church +as paramount in its claim of allegiance, and the Church Catholic +as subordinate; while the other held the Church Catholic to be +paramount, and the Anglican Church subordinate. With the first +class, Catholic principles and doctrines were taken hold of as a +means of strengthening and exalting the Protestant Episcopal +Church as such, and giving her a victory over the rest of +Christendom; with the other class, they were embraced in a spirit +of deep sympathy with universal Christendom, and with the view of +bringing back the Protestant world to the great Christian family. + +The first class alone can be relied on as devoted adherents of +Anglicanism, and they only hold a strong polemical position +against the claim of the Roman See to unconditional submission. +The other class have their minds and their hearts open to all +Catholic influences. They advance continually nearer and nearer +in belief and sympathy to the great Catholic body, and great +numbers of them pass over to the Catholic communion. Hence we +find that almost all the bishops and dignitaries who have joined +in the Oxford Movement have belonged decidedly to the first +class, and have always tried to hold the second class in check. +{37} +The few who have belonged to the second class, such as Bishop +Ives and the Archdeacons Manning and Wilberforce, have eventually +found allegiance to the Anglican Church incompatible with the +paramount claims of the Church Catholic, and have openly +renounced it. + +But while it is evident that the position of decided and +determined hostility to Rome is absolutely necessary, as Mr. +Newman long ago remarked, to High Church Anglicanism, it is +equally evident that it is the most narrow, inconsistent, and +inconsequent position taken by any class of Protestants. It cuts +them off from all real sympathy and community of feeling with the +great Catholic body; and although there may be a pretence of +sympathy with the Oriental Church, it is a mere pretence, and a +most illogical and baseless one. It cuts them off equally from +all the rest of Protestant Christendom. Yet, it is only the +Catholic and Greek Churches which offer a solid and substantial +basis for those doctrinal and hierarchical principles which make +their only distinctive character; and it is only the Protestant +portion of their Church, and its close intellectual, social, +political, moral, and religious alliance with the other +Protestant Churches, which gives them any standing, influence, or +power in the world. A man of liberal, enlarged, and Christian +temper of mind, cannot live in such narrow limits or breathe such +a confined air. He must have communion with something greater +than the Protestant Episcopal Church. If he regards the great +Catholic Church as essentially corrupt, he must sympathize with +the Protestant Reformation. If the ground which, as I shall +presently show, the High Church bishops maintain, is correct, +then the continental Protestants were bound to come out when they +did and form new churches. Where were they to get bishops? How +were they to preserve the continuity of organization and the +apostolic succession? The Church of England did not admonish them +of the necessity of doing so. She did not proffer them episcopal +ordination. +{38} +But she made common cause with them, and supported them in their +revolt, invited them over to England, and gave them places in the +English Church, sent delegates to their great Calvinistic Synod +of Dort, and in other ways lent them sanction and countenance, +without breathing a hint that she was a whit better than they. +Arguments from Scripture and ancient authors in favor of three +orders and a liturgy may be very solid and conclusive, but they +are also very petty and miserable when they are made the basis of +arrogant claims by those whose very existence sprang from the +assumption that the universal episcopate had betrayed its trust +and apostatized from the true doctrine of Christ. The learned +William Palmer has seen the necessity of justifying the attitude +of the continental Protestant Churches, and therefore concedes to +them, on the plea of necessity, valid ordination and a legitimate +constitution. An Anglican, who is a thorough and consistent +opponent of Rome, ought to take common ground with Protestants. +One who turns his back on Protestantism, and abjures the +Reformation, ought to make common cause with Rome and the +Catholic Church, even though he as yet holds the opinion that his +communion is a true and living branch of the Church of Christ. + +It may seem strange to those who have never studied or +sympathized in the Oxford movement, that men who adopted certain +fundamental Catholic principles did not at once embrace the faith +and submit to the authority of the Catholic Church, but remained +a long time in the Episcopal communion, or even deliberately +chose it, after having passed their early life in some other +Protestant sect. This seems strange to those who have always been +Catholics, and equally strange to the majority of Protestants. So +much so, that we have been suspected, and by many fully believed +to have been all along concealed Roman Catholics, working in the +Episcopal Church for the purpose of "Romanizing" it. +{39} +A few days before I was received into the Catholic Church, a near +and venerable relative of mine said to me: "I am very glad you +have become a Catholic, for I can respect a sincere Roman +Catholic, but I cannot respect a Puseyite; you will now sail +under your true colors. When will H. B. (a cousin of mine, who is +an Episcopalian clergyman) do the same thing?" + +The truth of the matter is, that we all had imbibed such an +intense prejudice from our early education against the Roman +Church, that we were appalled at the thought of joining her +communion. When certain Catholic truths began to dawn upon our +minds, it was indistinctly. To those who were bred in the +Anglican Church, it was the natural and obvious course to remain +there as long as their consciences would permit. To others, it +was natural to look for a resting-place in that communion of +which our own particular sects were only offshoots, with which +educated people of English descent are so familiar through the +history and literature of our native language, whose services +many of us had frequently attended from childhood, and where many +of us likewise had relatives and friends. It is a small matter to +go from one Protestant sect to another, in itself considered, and +it is no wonder that any orthodox Protestant should prefer the +Episcopal Church to any of the religious bodies which have +seceded from it. Besides this, there was a _via media_ +offered to us by a great body of divines in the Episcopal Church, +between Rome on the one hand and Protestantism on the other, +which appeared to be exactly the thing we wanted. I acknowledge +that I was too easily allured by this specious pretence, and +failed to examine with due care the claims of the Church in +communion with the See of Rome to be the true and only Church of +Christ. I do not think Mr. Baker, notwithstanding that his +prejudices were far less than mine, ever gave the subject serious +and careful consideration, until long after he had become an +Episcopalian minister. +{40} +We knew too little, however, of the subject, to feel any +conscientious obligations in that direction. I can truly say that +I never for one moment deliberated on the question of becoming a +Catholic, even when I had the fear of death before my eyes, until +after I left Baltimore in the autumn of 1845. I never heard from +Mr. Baker, up to that time, a word which betrayed the existence +in his mind of any practical doubt about his duty in this +respect. The growth of Catholic principles in our minds was +gradual. By degrees, the mists of misrepresentation, prejudice, +and ignorance which obscured the Catholic Church and her +doctrines were dissipated and vanished. Our feelings of +veneration and love for the great Church of Christendom +increased. Still, as long as we were not convinced that actual +communion with the Church of Rome and submission to her supremacy +was necessary, _jure divino_, to the catholicity of any +local Church, we remained firm in our allegiance to the +ecclesiastical authority of our bishop. This is only an instance +of what was going on in the case of many both in England and the +United States. And it appears from this statement, that whereas +all the disciples of the Oxford movement began on essentially the +same ground, and that, one which implied strong and decisive +opposition to Rome, one portion of them progressed continually, +and another remained stationary or retrograded, thus producing +separation and division in the ranks. What I wish to show now is, +that those who progressed were logically compelled to do so by +the principles of the movement itself, and that those who +remained stationary, although they held a position which was +necessary to the maintenance of Anglicanism, were illogical and +inconsequent. + +The advocates of the claim of the Church of England to be the +only legitimate and Catholic Church in England, and of the same +claim for the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, +were obliged to make out some case against the bishops of these +two countries who were under the jurisdiction of the Roman See +and who proclaimed themselves to be the only lawful and Catholic +bishops, sustained as they were in this claim by all the other +bishops of Western Christendom. +{41} +The possession of the titles and temporalities of the ancient +sees in England by the Established Church naturally suggested the +plausible pretext that the Church of England of to-day is the +legitimate successor of the Church of England before the +separation under Henry VIII. Hence, other bishops, exercising +episcopal functions within the dioceses of the bishops of the +Church of England, are schismatical intruders, and their +congregations are schismatical. The same principle was extended +to the United States, on the plea that the Bishop of London had +episcopal jurisdiction over the English colonies, and moreover +that the Protestant Episcopal bishops were first on the ground, +and had acquired possession before the "Romish" bishops, as they +chose to call them, came. Now this theory is forced to answer one +question: Are the bishops of France, Spain, &c., the legitimate +Catholic bishops of those countries, and is their communion the +true and only Catholic Church there, or not? Is this question +answered in the affirmative? Then, who are the Catholic bishops +in Canada, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Texas, and California? +Who went first to China and India? Are the Anglican bishops in +these places schismatical intruders or not? If not, why not? And +if not, why are Roman Catholic bishops schismatical intruders in +London and New-York? The Protestant Episcopal Churches of England +and the United States pay no attention whatever to any claim of +jurisdiction by the Catholic Church in any part of the world, but +seek to thrust themselves in and make converts wherever they can. +In order to justify this attitude, and at the same time to +profess Catholic principles, it is necessary to maintain that the +entire Roman communion is schismatical and heretical, and the +Protestant Episcopal Church is the true and only Catholic Church, +at least in Western Christendom. +{42} +This idea is the real _animus_ of the Protestant Episcopate, +and its highest expression is found in the opinion so common +among Protestants, and held even by Mr. Newman some years after +he commenced the Oxford Tracts, that the Pope is Antichrist. The +charges of the English bishops, especially those delivered after +the publication of the Oxford Tract No. 90, all breathe this +spirit. Bishop Elliott, of Georgia, in a sermon preached at the +consecration of the missionary bishops, Boone and Southgate, in +St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, in 1843 or '44, spoke of the +Catholic missionaries as "dealing out death instead of life" to +the heathen. Bishop Whittingham held this view, and "Tridentine +Schismatic" was one of the appellations he gave to the Rev. Dr. +White, of Baltimore, in a pamphlet which he published against +that gentleman. In his Annual Address for 1846 he speaks of me +and other converts in the following language: "The lapse of +several prominent members of our English sister, and of one even +in our own little band, _into the defilements of the Romish +communion_, has but too far justified others in sounding the +note of alarm," &c.[Footnote 2] The language he made use of in +one of his addresses was such, that Mr. Baker, then one of his +presbyters, positively declined to read it for him in the +Convention, his own voice being too weak to do so. The Rev. A. C. +Coxe, now a bishop, published a poem on the occasion of the +ordination of the present Bishop of Newark to the diaconate, in +Rome, entitled "Hymn of the Priests, to lament one of their +number who has been sacrilegiously reordained a deacon, _after +abjuring the Catholic communion_, at Rome." In contrast with +this is the following, which was copied into the _True +Catholic_ for December, 1843. [Footnote 3] + + [Footnote 2: Journal of Convention of Maryland, 1846, p. 25.] + + [Footnote 3: Journal of Convention of Maryland, 1846, p. 383.] + +{43} + + Conversion Of A Popish Priest To The Catholic Church At + Chicester. + + The Cathedral, _Sunday, October_ 15. + + In residence, the Lord Bishop, the very Rev. the Dean, the Ven. + Arch-deacon Webber, and the Rev. Charles Webber, can. res. We + have to record this week one of the most interesting ceremonies + ever performed within the walls of this sacred edifice, namely, + the public admission of a clerical convert from the Church of + Rome, into the bosom of the Holy Catholic Church in this + country. The morning prayers were chanted by the Rev. J. P. + Roberts, Sub-dean. The _Te Deum_ and _Jubilate_ was + Boyce in A. At the ending of the Litany, the Bishop and the + Dean proceeded to the altar, while the choir performed Weldon's + _Sanctus_; after which (the penitent, Mr. Vignati, an + Italian gentleman, who had been for two years a priest in the + Romish Communion, standing without the rails) the bishop + addressed the congregation in the following words:-- + + "Dearly beloved, we are here met together for the reconciling + of a penitent (lately of the Church of Rome) to the Established + Church of England, as to a true and sound part of Christ's Holy + Catholic Church. Now, that this weighty affair may have its due + effect, let us, in the first place, humbly and devoutly pray to + Almighty God for his blessing upon us in that pious and + charitable office we are going about. + + "Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy most gracious + favor, and further us with Thy continual help, that in this, + and all other our works begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we + may glorify Thy holy name, and finally by Thy mercy obtain + everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. + + "Almighty God, who showest to them that be in error the light + of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way + of righteousness, grant unto all them that are or shall be + admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, that they + may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, + and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same, + through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." + + Then was read a part of the 119th Psalm, from verses 161 to + 168, with the _Gloria Patri_. + + After which the dean read the following lesson from Luke + xv.:--"Then drew near unto him the publicans and sinners for to + hear Him; and the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, this + man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this + parable unto them, saying, What man of you having an hundred + sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and + nine in the wilderness, and go after that which was lost, until + he find it? And when he hath found it he layeth it on his + shoulders rejoicing; and when he cometh home he calleth + together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, + rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I + say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one + sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just + persons who need no repentance." + +{44} + + After this the nine first verses of the 115th Psalm was sung by + the choir. Then the bishop, sitting in his chair, spake to the + penitent (who was kneeling) as follows:-- + + Dear brother, I have good hope that you have well weighed and + considered with yourself the great work you are come about + before this time: but inasmuch as with the heart man believeth + unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto + salvation; that you may give the more honor to God, and that + this present congregation of Christ here assembled may also + understand your mind and will in these things, and that this + your declaration may the more confirm you in your good + resolutions, you shall answer plainly to those questions, which + we, in the name of God, and of His Church, shall propose to you + touching the same. + + Art thou thoroughly persuaded that those books of the Old and + New Testament, which are received as Canonical Scriptures by + this Church, contain sufficiently all doctrine requisite and + necessary to eternal salvation through faith in Jesus + Christ?--I am so persuaded. + + Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven + and earth &c.--All this I steadfastly believe. + + Art thou truly sorrowful that thou hast not followed the way + prescribed in these Scriptures for the direction of the faith + and practice of a true disciple of Christ Jesus?--I am heartily + sorry, and I hope for mercy through Christ Jesus. + + Dost thou embrace the truth of the Gospel in the love of it, + and steadfastly resolve to live godly, righteously, and soberly + in this present world, all the days of thy life?--I do so + embrace it, and do so resolve, God being my helper. + + Dost thou earnestly desire to be received into the communion of + this Church, as into a sound part of Christ's Holy Catholic + Church?--This I earnestly desire. + + Dost thou renounce all the errors and superstitions of the + present Romish Church, so far as they are come to thy + knowledge?--I do, from my heart, renounce them all. + + Dost thou, in particular, renounce the twelve last Articles + added in the Confession, commonly called "The Creed of Pope + Pius IV.," after having read them, and duly considered + them?_-_I do, upon mature deliberation, reject them all, + as grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but rather repugnant + to the Word of God. + + Wilt thou conform thyself to the Liturgy of the Church of + England, as by law established, and be diligent in attending + the prayers and other offices of the Church?--I will do so by + the help of God. + +{45} + + Then the bishop standing, said: "Almighty God, who hath given + you a sense of your errors, and a will to do these things, + grant also unto you the strength and power to perform the same, + that He may accomplish His work, which He hath begun in you, + through Jesus Christ. Amen." + + The Absolution.--Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who, of his + great mercy, hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that + with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him, have mercy + upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm + and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to + everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. + + Then the bishop, taking him by the hand, said: "I, Ashurst + Turner, Bishop of Chichester, do, upon this thy solemn + profession and earnest request, receive thee into the Holy + Communion of the Church of England, in the name of the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen." + + Then was said the Lord's Prayer, all kneeling, after which as + follows:--O God of truth and love, we bless and magnify Thy + holy name for Thy great mercy and goodness in bringing this Thy + servant into the communion of this Church; give him, we beseech + Thee, stability and perseverance in that faith, of which he + hath, in the presence of God and of this congregation, + witnessed a good confession. Suffer him not to be moved from it + by any temptations of Satan, enticements of the world, scoffs + of irreligious men, or the revilings of those still in error; + but guard him by Thy grace against all these snares, and make + him instrumental in turning others from the errors of their + ways, to the saving of their souls from death, and the covering + a multitude of sins. And in Thy good time, O Lord, bring, we + pray Thee, into the way of truth all such as have erred and are + deceived; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to Thy flock, + that there may be one flock under one Shepherd, the Lord Jesus + Christ, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all + honor and glory, world without end. Amen. + + Then the bishop addressed the person admitted, saying: "Dear + brother, seeing that you have, by the goodness of God, + proceeded thus far, I must put you in mind that you take care + to go on in that good way into which you are entered; and for + your establishment and furtherance therein, that if you have + not been confirmed, you endeavor to be so the next opportunity, + and receive the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. And may + God's Holy Spirit ever be with you. Amen. The peace of God, + which passeth all understanding, keep your heart and mind by + Christ Jesus. Amen." + +{46} + + Thus ended this most interesting ceremony; after which the + communion service went on, at which the bishop and dean + officiated. Weldon's _Sanctus_, B. Brown's _Kyrie_, + and Child's _Creed_ in G. The sermon was preached by the + dean, from Luke 15th, ch. 4th, 5th, and 6th verses, of which we + need not say much here, as we hope it will shortly be published + by Mr. W. H. Mason, by permission of the dean, he having been + requested so to do. Anthem, "O Lord, our + Governor."--Kent.--_Church Intelligencer_. + + + +The Roman Church is throughout the pages of the _True +Catholic_charged with idolatry, and in one passage which I had +marked, but cannot now find one reason given why Episcopalians +cannot attend Catholic services is, because by so doing they +participate in idolatry. On the other hand, Protestant ministers +are never required to make any such abjuration as the one above +cited, on being received into the English Church. The Church of +England formerly gave Archbishop Leighton episcopal ordination, +he being a Scottish Presbyterian minister, and the Crown gave him +jurisdiction in Scotland over the Presbyterian clergy and +congregations, without requiring any reordination or any new +profession of faith. So now, a German Lutheran minister +alternately with an English Episcopalian, is ordained for the +Jerusalem bishopric, with authority to receive under his care +both English and German ministers and congregations. + +Now for the inconsistency. The same reasons which prove the +Church of Rome to be a schismatical, heretical, and apostate +Church, prove that the English Church was the same before the +Reformation, and that the Church of Christ had perished in +Western Christendom, except as represented by the Lollards, +Albigenses, Waldenses, and other precursors of the Protestants. +There was really no true, visible Catholic Church existing, from +which schismatics and heretics had separated, and to which they +could return. Hence, the modern Episcopal Church derived its +authority from no legitimate source in the past, and has really +started _de novo_, like the Protestant Churches of Europe. +This throws us back upon the theory of an invisible Church at +once, and breaks up the idea of Catholicity. + +{47} + +For the same reason, the Oriental Churches must be regarded as +schismatical and heretical. The Nestorians and Eutychians are +condemned by the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, accepted by +our Anglicans. The Greek Church is identical in doctrine with the +Roman, except so far as the Papal supremacy is rejected by them. +It disowns and condemns the Anglican Church as emphatically as +does the Roman. Nevertheless, we find a number of the Protestant +bishops subscribing the following letter to the Patriarch of +Constantinople:-- + + Letter To The Greek Patriarch. + + Binghamton N. Y., 1_st April_, 1844. + + _To the Editor of the True Catholic:_ + + Dear Sir:_-_Having seen in print a copy, surreptitiously + obtained, of the letter of our bishops, addressed to some of + the Patriarchs in the East, I have thought it might be well to + furnish an authentic copy, for permanent preservation in your + valuable periodical, especially as it is a document of much + importance. It is precisely as I myself, together with Mr. + Southgate, presented it, _accompanied by a Greek + translation_, to the Patriarch of Constantinople, who + received it very graciously. + Yours, very truly, + J. J. Robertson. + + _To the Venerable and Right Reverend Father in_ GOD, + _the Patriarch, of the Greek Church, + resident at Constantinople_. + + January 2, 1841. + + The Episcopal Church of the United States of America, deriving + its Episcopal power in regular succession from the holy + Apostles, through the venerable Church of England, has long + contemplated, with great spiritual sorrow, the divided and + distracted condition of the Catholic Church of Christ + throughout the world. This sad condition of things not only + aids the cause of infidelity and irreligion, by furnishing + evil-minded men with plausible arguments, not only encourages + heresies and schisms in national branches of the Catholic + Church, but is also a very serious impediment to the diffusion + of Gospel truth among those who are still in the darkness of + heathenism, or are subject to other false religions, or + continue vainly to look for the coming of that Messiah, whose + advent has already blessed the world. + +{48} + + The arrogant assumptions of universal supremacy and + infallibility, of the Papal head of the Latin Church, render + the prospect of speedy friendly intercourse with him dark and + discouraging. The Church in the United States of America, + therefore, looking to the Triune GOD for His blessings upon its + efforts for unity in the Body of Christ, turns with hope to the + Patriarch of Constantinople, the spiritual head of the ancient + and venerable Oriental Church. + + In this Church we have long felt a sincere interest. We have + sympathized with her in the trials and persecution to which she + has been subjected; we have prayed for her deliverance from all + evils and mischiefs; and we have thanked her Divine HEAD that + He has been pleased, amid all her sufferings, to maintain her + allegiance to Him. + + In order to attempt the commencement of a friendly and + Christian intercourse with the Oriental Church, the Church in + the United States resolved to send two of its Presbyters, the + Rev. J. J. Robertson, and the Rev. Horatio Southgate, to reside + at Constantinople. These clergymen are directed to make + inquiries regarding the existing state of the Church under the + jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople, and of the + other Eastern Churches; to ascertain the relations they bear to + each other, and the views they maintain in regard to the + Apostolic Churches of Europe and America; to answer such + inquiries as may be made of them in regard to the origin, + constitution, and condition of the Church in the United States; + and to do all in their power to conciliate the Christian love + and regard of the Oriental Church toward its younger sister in + the Western world. + + After some preliminary inquiries and study of the language, + they will present themselves, with this epistle of introduction + (by which they are cordially recommended to the Christian + courtesies and kind offices of the bishops and clergy of the + Oriental Church), to the Patriarch of Constantinople, inviting + him to a friendly correspondence with the heads of the Church + in the United States, explaining more fully the views and + objects of the Church, and inquiring whether a mutual + recognition of each other can be effected, as members of the + Catholic Church of Christ, on the basis of the Holy Scriptures + and the first Councils, including the Apostles' and Nicene + Creeds, in order to a future efficient co-operation against + Paganism, false religion, and Judaism. + + They will make it clearly understood that their Church has no + ecclesiastical connection with the followers of Luther and + Calvin, and takes no part in their plans or operations to + diffuse the principles of their sects. They will propose to the + Patriarch such aid as the Church in the United States can + supply, in the advancement of Christian education, and in the + promulgation of religious truth, always avoiding the points in + which the two Churches still differ, and leaving the producing + of a closer mutual conformity to the blessing of God, on the + friendly correspondence of the respective heads of the + Churches, or to a future General Council. + +{49} + + Leaving a further development of these points to the oral + communications of its delegates, and again recommending them to + the Christian candor and affection of the Patriarch and clergy + of the Oriental Church, and repeating the hearty desire and + prayer of the bishops and clergy of the United States for their + prosperity, we remain your brethren in Christ. + + Alexander Viets Griswold, + of the Eastern Diocese, and senior of the American Church. + + Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk, of New York. + + George Washington Doane, of New Jersey. + + Thomas Church Brownell, of Connecticut. + + Jackson Kemper, of Missouri, &c. + + William Rollinson Whittingham, of Maryland. + + Henry Ustick Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania. + +At the recent visit of a Russian squadron to New York, the +Protestant Bishop of New York invited the chaplains of the +squadron to make use of one of his churches for the service of +the Greek Church, although the offer was declined. Subsequently, +Cossack priest, called Father Agapius, said to have letters from +the Archbishop of Athens, came to New York as a missionary to the +Greeks and Russians, and was accommodated with the use of two +Episcopal churches. It came out subsequently that he was in bad +standing in the Russian Church, and the members of the Greek +Church in New York disowned him, when he threw off the mask, and +published a letter where he avowed doctrines far from orthodox +according to the standards of the Greek Church. Nevertheless, it +was ostensibly as a regular priest of that Church that he was +invited to make use of the Episcopal churches; as such the +members of that church received him, and whatever changes or +omissions he may have made in his public services, they were +understood to be celebrated according to the Sclavonic and Greek +Liturgies. Thus, there is no escaping from the fact, that High +Mass according to the same rite used by Oriental Catholics as +well as schismatics, was authorized in the Episcopal Church in +New York, a great number of the clergy assisting. + +{50} + +The English Church bishops, beginning with the old English +Nonjurors, have been always anxious for the recognition of the +Greek prelates, and have made several attempts to gain it. + +Soon after my ordination as deacon in the Episcopal Church, I was +invited by Bishop Southgate to accompany him to Constantinople on +a mission of this kind. The plan was to have a little +ecclesiastical establishment in Constantinople, consisting of a +bishop and a few priests and deacons. Although the bishop, who +had been for some years a travelling missionary in the East, was +married, he wished his clergy to be unmarried men, and selected +only such as his associates. There was to be a chapel, where all +the rites and ceremonies permitted by Anglican law were to be +celebrated with as much pomp as possible. Sermons in the Oriental +languages designed to attract the clergy and make a good +impression of our orthodoxy, were to be preached regularly. A +college and seminary for the instruction of young Oriental +ecclesiastics were to be opened, with a strict understanding that +they were not to be induced to leave their own communion. +Extracts from the works of the Greek Fathers, and translations +from Anglican divines, were to be published, with a view to bring +about mutual understanding and agreement between the different +Churches. Every thing was to be done to propitiate the Oriental +prelates and clergy, and to bring about their recognition of our +ecclesiastical legitimacy, and intercommunion between themselves +and us. The Missionary Committee, who were hostile to this plan, +would not confirm my appointment, regarding me as having too +strong a Catholic bias to be trusted. Another young deacon was +selected in my place, who had been known as a strong Puseyite, +but who publicly renounced his opinions before he left the +country, in a sermon, in which he came out as a strong +Evangelical. +{51} +The mission was never well supported, but after a few years, fell +through entirely, and the bishop is now a parish rector in New +York. During a visit to New York, which I made in company with +Bishops Whittingham and Southgate, at the time I was expecting to +accompany the latter on his mission, I called on a very +distinguished and learned presbyter, who was one of the ablest +and most influential leaders of the Oxford movement. He asked me +if we proposed to endeavor to change the doctrines of the Greek +Church. I replied, that certainly we did propose to discuss +several of these doctrines with the Greek prelates, and show them +that they were not doctrines appertaining to the Catholic faith, +but errors and additions made without authority. He inquired what +these doctrines were. I cannot recollect how many I specified, +but I am sure that the doctrine respecting the cultus of the +Blessed Virgin and saints was the principal one. He replied that +the doctrines I specified were established by just as good +authority as any others, and that it would be impossible for us +to convict the Greek Church of holding any erroneous doctrine. +His arguments made a great impression on my mind at the time, and +helped me forward toward the Catholic Church, although this +gentleman himself remained always a Protestant. + +The efforts made to cultivate the friendship of the Greek Church +are very significant. Let it be observed, that the bishops who +signed the letter to the Patriarch of Constantinople, both +distinctly repudiate the Reformation of Luther and Calvin, and +consent to waive all questions of difference between the Greek +and the Protestant Episcopal Churches, until they can be decided +by a _General Council_. This reduces the _gravamen_ of +the charges against Rome to the only point of difference which +exists between herself and the Greek Church; that is, to the +claim of supremacy of the Roman Pontiff. +{52} +This is, then, the sum and substance of the "_defilements of +the Romish Communion_." Here lies the whole _casus belli_ +between the champions of Anglicanism and the Catholic Church. +There is no hope of reconciliation on equal terms with the See of +Rome and her vast communion. Therefore, a rival claim of +Catholicity must be set up, and supported by every possible +charge that can be made to tell against the mighty Church whose +Bishop claims the dignity and authority of successor to the +Prince of the Apostles. Hence the odious names of "Roman Schism," +"Romanist," "Romish," "Tridentine Schism," "Popery," "Popish," +and all the other party catch-words of corruption in doctrine, +bondage, tyranny, idolatry, etc., which are studiously employed, +in order to throw dust in the eyes of the simple and unwary. +Hence the effort to appropriate the name of Catholic, and to use +all the phraseology associated with it, in connection with the +Protestant Episcopal communion. Rome will not abate one jot or +tittle of her divine rights, or of the Catholic doctrine of which +she is the principal bulwark; and she will not treat the Church +of England as a branch of the Christian Church. Therefore a rival +must be set up against her, backed by the power and the prestige +of the English name, and, if possible, also by those of the +mighty Russian Empire and the ancient Eastern Church. The +Nonjurors proposed to the Eastern prelates sitting in the Synod +of Bethlehem, a plan for combining against Rome under an +ecclesiastical organization whose head should be the Patriarch of +Jerusalem. It was scornfully rejected, together with all their +other overtures. No doubt, if the Church of England and the +Episcopal Church of the United States could make a combination +with the Greek Church, on the basis of the Oriental standards of +doctrine, it would be the most formidable rival possible to the +Catholic Church. But such a union is impossible. The Providence +of God does not permit heresy and schism to assume the attitude +of Catholicity, but compels them to manifest their true character +by disintegration. +{53} +And here lies another mark of the inconsistency of the theory of +those who set up this claim of rival Catholicity against Rome. +The Protestant Episcopal Churches, as such, do not sanction and +assert in their public and official action the claim made for +them by a certain portion of their members. The utmost that can +be said of them is, that they affirm and exact episcopal +ordination as requisite to a complete conformity to the polity +established by the Apostles. They do not, however, assert, or +require their clergy to believe, the necessity of apostolic +succession to the being of a Church. Their standards are so +constructed as to afford a shelter and a warrant to those who +hold this and several other Catholic doctrines and principles. +These doctrines are not, however, officially put forward as a +term of communion, or a condition for ordination. The official +doctrine of a Church is limited to that which it exacts by +authority and under penalty of its teachers to hold and profess. +It comes down to the lowest level of doctrine, which its teachers +can hold, and still be reputed sound and orthodox clergymen. Now +a very low Protestantism is all that even High Church bishops can +exact from candidates for the priesthood or the episcopacy. +"Anglo-Catholic" doctrine is nothing but the tolerated opinion of +a certain party. Therefore, on these "Anglo-Catholic" principles, +and according to the doctrine and decisions of the Greek Church, +the Protestant Episcopal Church is schismatical and heretical, +because she enforces nothing by her authority beyond +Protestantism, which is heresy according to that standard of +doctrine which was universally acknowledged before the +"separation of the East and West," and accepted both by Greeks +and "Anglo-Catholics." According to those principles, then, which +would condemn the Roman Church of heresy and schism, all +Episcopal Churches in the world have fallen away from the unity +of faith established by our Lord, and the Catholic Church exists +no more. +{54} +Hence, even an "Anglo-Catholic," if he would not be driven into +the arms of pure Protestantism, and consort with those followers +of Luther and Calvin who are disowned by Bishop Griswold and his +associates, are forced to make common cause with Rome and her +Catholic communion. + +The progressive portion of those who were engaged in the Oxford +movement saw and felt all this, and, therefore, in a strict +consistency with their Catholic principles, and by a logical +necessity, they advanced in a Romeward direction. It has been +necessary to make this long explanation in order to show how +matters stood at the time when Mr. Baker and myself were +connected with the ecclesiastical movement in Baltimore, under +Bishop Whittingham. The Oxford movement was then ten years old. +The celebrated Ninetieth Tract, in which Mr. Newman took the +ground that several Roman dogmas were permitted by the +Thirty-nine Articles, and that the Articles were to be explained +according to the Catholic sense of the general body of the +Universal Church, had been some time published, and the +controversy excited by it was nearly completed. Mr. Newman was +about resigning St. Mary's, and soon after went into retirement +at Littlemore. A great number of the ablest writers of his party +had advanced very far beyond the position taken by the earlier +Oxford Tracts, and by Palmer, Percival, Keble, and others, at the +outset. In the United States, the ordination of the Rev. Arthur +Carey had taken place, under circumstances of the most peculiar +character, which deserve a passing notice. + +Arthur Carey was a young student of the New York Theological +Seminary, barely twenty years of age, of an English family, and +descended from several bishops of the English Church. He was a +youth of rare intellectual gifts and acquirements, as well as of +the most gentle and lovely character. Bishop Whittingham, who had +been his preceptor, said that he possessed the wisdom of a man of +fifty. +{55} +In some way, the suspicions of a number of the principal Low +Church rectors had been excited in regard to him, and he was +subjected to a most rigorous examination for orders, in which he +manifested his profound theological science and his brilliant +parts, together with a magnanimity of spirit which won for him a +wide-spread admiration, especially among all High Church +Episcopalians. In the course of his examination, he avowed the +most advanced opinions of the Oxford party, and expressed his +belief in the sound orthodoxy of the decrees of the Council of +Trent. He was violently attacked by some members of the examining +committee, and defended by others, the majority finally +recommending him for ordination. Bishop Onderdonk determined to +ordain him, and was proceeding in the ceremony of ordination, +when he was interrupted by two doctors of divinity in gowns, who +publicly protested against the ordination, and then left the +church. Bishop Whittingham urged him very strongly, after his +ordination, to come to his diocese, which he declined doing. +About this time, I read, in manuscript, a beautiful philosophical +essay on Transubstantiation, which he wrote, according to the +system of Leibniz, proving the futility of all the rational +arguments urged against it. The circumstances of his ordination +made him suddenly famous. He was assistant minister to Dr. +Seabury, at the Church of the Annunciation, and every Sunday his +sermons were reported for the secular papers, with minute +accounts of his appearance, and all his sayings and doings. This +publicity was insufferable to him; and in a letter of his, which +I saw, he said that it made life a burden to him. His +constitution was extremely delicate, and weakened by close +application to study. He was a boy in years, and unable to breast +the moral shock which he had received. He speedily sank into a +decline, and died at sea, off the Moro of Havana, whither he had +been sent for the benefit of his health, his body being committed +to the deep by his fellow-passengers, who were all strangers to +him, and one of whom read the Burial Service over his remains. +{56} +For a long time afterward, his poor father might be seen every +day standing on the Battery, and gazing wistfully out to sea, +with mournful thoughts, longing after the son whom he had lost. +There is something in the history of Arthur Carey assimilating it +to that of Richard Hurrell Froude. Each of them, in his sphere, +did more than any other to arrest the anti-Roman tendency of the +Oxford movement, and give it a Romeward direction. In Mr. Carey's +instance, it was not the mere effect of his own personal avowal +of holding Roman doctrine, but the protection given him in doing +so by the bishop of the principal diocese, the directors of the +General Seminary, and a large number of other bishops and +clergymen, which was significant. It was this which led to the +persecution of Bishop Onderdonk; and it was believed that a plan +was on foot for similar attacks on the other bishops who were +regarded as Puseyites. + +The reader of these pages can now understand something of the +nature of those stirring and exciting times in the ecclesiastical +world in which Mr. Baker began his career, and of the events and +questions about which we were daily conversing together. Bishop +Whittingham approved of the principle of interpreting the +Articles laid down in the Ninetieth Tract. On this principle, I +gave my assent to them at my examination for orders, and could +not otherwise have assented to them with a safe conscience. The +ordination of Mr. Carey opened the way for us to go forward to +the full extent of holding all the doctrines of the Council of +Trent. The current of Oxford thought and literature was sweeping +us in that direction. We had full access to it, and felt its +power, although, as I have said, we were a good deal behind the +movement, and ignorant of many things which were taking place in +England. Mr. Baker was far in advance of me at the time our +friendship began. He never had that feeling of hostility to the +Roman Church with which so many were filled. +{57} +His early education, and the knowledge he had of Catholicity and +of the Catholic clergy and laity in Baltimore, preserved him from +that strong prejudice which I retained from the impressions of +childhood, and which he aided me greatly to overcome. Neither of +us ever looked on the Roman communion as heretical, schismatical, +or essentially corrupt. We adopted, at first, the prevalent idea +that it was in a schismatical position in England, and in those +parts of the United States where we supposed the Protestant +Episcopal Church had prior possession. We dropped this notion, +however, after a while; and I remember well that it was a friend +of ours, who was then and is now a minister of the Episcopal +Church, who drove it finally out of my head by solid and +unanswerable arguments. We could not agree with the bishop and +his party in their anti-Roman sentiments, and disliked the +offensive use of the terms "Romish" and "Romanist." We regarded +the Catholic Church as composed of three great branches--the +Latin, Greek, and Anglican--unhappily estranged from each other, +and all more or less to blame for the separation. We did not +believe in the supremacy of the Pope, in the full Catholic sense, +as constituting the e essential principle of Catholic unity, or +that communion with the Holy See was necessary to the very being +of a Church. We did, however, come to believe by degrees in a +certain Primacy, partly divine and partly ecclesiastical, as +necessary to order, and the means of preserving intercommunion +among all bishops. What we regarded as errors in Roman doctrine, +we looked upon as much less fundamental than those Protestant +errors which pervaded so extensively our own Church; we +considered them much in the same light with which Bishop Griswold +and his brethren regarded the peculiar doctrines of the Greek +Church, as matters to be tolerated, until all branches of the +Church could meet in a general council and make a final decision +upon all controversies. Considering the divided and anomalous +state of Christendom, we thought that both the Roman and Anglican +bishops had an equally legitimate jurisdiction over their +congregations, and that we were alike Catholics, and in real +communion with the Universal Church of all ages and nations. +{58} +We thought it to be the duty of each one to remain in the +communion where he had been baptized or ordained, and would have +dissuaded any Episcopalian from joining the Roman communion, or +any Roman Catholic from joining ours. I remember, one evening, +after hearing an account given with great glee by a young man of +the perversion of a Catholic, that Mr. Baker said, after the +person in question had gone, "What a miserable story that was +which M---- just related!" In my own little parish, there was an +Irish servant-girl, whom I married to a young Englishman, my +parishioner. I had no scruple in doing this, not reflecting that +I was the occasion of the girl committing a sin against her own +conscience. But when her mistress expressed great hopes of her +coming over to our Church, and I began to think she might apply +to me for confirmation, I carefully avoided encouraging the plan, +and considered seriously what I ought to do if any such case +should arise. Very strangely and inconsistently, Bishop +Whittingham used to confirm the occasional perverts that fell in +his way, although they had received Catholic confirmation. And +this increased my difficulty. For I regarded an act of that kind +as a sacrilege, and could not have been a party to it in any +case, unless I had thought it right, according to my overstrained +notions of obedience, to throw the whole responsibility on the +bishop. As I have often said, we never entertained the thought of +leaving our own Church. The conversation of those who talked +doubtfully on this point was always most disagreeable to us both, +although it was only in one or two instances that we fell in with +any such persons. + +Toward our own bishop we were strictly obedient. His violent +antipathy to Rome and strong Anglican party spirit, joined with a +timid, politic course of action toward the Low Church, +ultra-Protestant party, prevented our giving him full and +unreserved confidence. +{59} +Mr. Baker had seldom the occasion of conversing much with him. I +was, however, constantly in his family, and very much in his +society. I confided in him as a man of integrity, a sincere and +generous friend, and a just and kind superior. But, from the +first, there was a barrier which I had not expected to full and +unreserved confidence, and a feeling that there was a secret and +fundamental difference in our apprehension of the ideas which are +contained in the forms of Catholic language. I have since +discovered what this difference was, and I see now that he really +believed in an invisible, ideal Catholic Church only, and in no +other outward, visible unity, except that which is completed in a +single bishop and congregation. This explains a remark made at +that time by my father, who is thoroughly acquainted with the +Protestant theology, on one of the bishop's essays; that, except +his doctrine of three orders in the ministry, he was a pure +Congregationalist. Mr. Newman, also, held the same view, until +quite a late period in his Anglican life, as appears from his +"Apologia." In Bishop Whittingham's own eyes, he was himself the +equivalent of the whole Catholic episcopate. Consequently, what +he and his colleagues and predecessors in the Anglican Church had +decreed had full Catholic authority, and was just as final and +authoritative as if the whole world had taken part in it. Hence +the assertion of a despotic, exclusive authority of the Anglican +Church, concentrated in his person, over everyone who +acknowledged his jurisdiction. He would not permit us to attend +any Catholic services, or read any Catholic books, as an ordinary +thing. I read the tract of Natalis Alexander on the Eucharist, +and the Life of St. Francis of Sales, in his library, before he +made his prohibition. Afterward, he gave me himself a volume of +Tirinus's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures; and these were the +only Catholic books I read while I was in his family. I was very +anxious to read Möhler's "Symbolism," but I did not; nor did I +read Ward's "Ideal of a Christian Church;" because he desired me +not to do so. +{60} +I even gave up using approved Anglican books of devotion in +church, because he expressed his disapprobation of using any +other book but the "Common Prayer." Mr. Baker was equally +obedient with myself at that time; although afterward, when he +was governed more by common-sense and a just sentiment of his own +rights, he read whatever he thought proper. It was Anglican books +which brought us onward toward the Catholic Church, and the +attempt to live up to and carry out Anglo-Catholic principles. +Those who are familiar with the Anglo-Catholic movement will +understand at once what these principles and doctrines were. But +for the information of others it may be proper to state them +distinctly, as they were understood by Mr. Baker, and others like +him, who approximated more or less toward the Catholic Church, +whether they eventually joined her communion or not: + + 1. The visible unity of the Catholic Church. + + 2. The final authority of the Church in deciding doctrine, + and the authority of General Councils. + + 3. The necessity of an Apostolic Succession, and the divine + institution of the episcopate. + + 4. Baptismal Regeneration and Sacramental Grace. + + 5. The strictly sacerdotal character of the priesthood, + including the power of consecrating, and of absolution. + + 6. The Real Presence in the Eucharist. + + 7. The sacrificial character of the Eucharist. + + 8. The propriety of praying for the dead. + + 9. The merit of voluntary chastity, poverty, and obedience, + and of penitential works. + + 10. The value of ceremonies in religion, and the sanctity + of holy places and holy things. + +{61} + +However certain persons may modify and explain certain of these +doctrines, no one can deny that the general drift of the writings +of the Oxford or Anglo-Catholic school, together with that of the +writings of the ancient Fathers and of the earlier English +divines which are translated or republished by them, was to +create and strengthen a belief in these doctrines. They were +allowed to be tenable without infidelity to the Anglican Church, +by persons in authority and others, who were themselves lower and +more Protestant in their opinions. Now, I will take for a moment +the position of an Anglo-Catholic, and, upon the basis of the +principles I have just enunciated, I will prove that an attitude +of hostility to the Roman Church is wrong and absurd, and that +the only consistent and tenable ground is that now taken by the +Unionists, represented by the _Union Review_. + + "The Latin, Greek, and Anglican branches of the Catholic Church + constitute but One Visible Church, though their unity is + impaired and in part interrupted by mutual estrangement. As a + member of the Anglican Church, I look upon the Greek Church as + essentially sound and orthodox, and, if allowed to do so, would + wish to receive the sacraments, or, if a clergyman, to + officiate as such, in the churches of that Rite, if I happened + to be in a place where it was established. I look upon the + Latin Church, whose doctrine is the same with that of the Greek + Church, with the single exception of the Papal Supremacy, in + precisely the same light. Whatever I may think of the extent of + power claimed by the Bishop of Rome, I must allow that, in a + state of perfect intercommunion between all parts of the + Church, the chief place in the Catholic hierarchy and the right + of presidency in a general council belong to him. It is most + desirable that the Greek and Anglican Churches should be + restored again to communion with the Roman Church, and all + controversies respecting doctrine be definitely settled. + Meanwhile, the spirit of charity ought to be cultivated, and + all possible means taken to remove prejudice and + misunderstanding. In the present state of confusion and + irregularity, the ancient canons respecting one bishop in a + city cannot be considered as binding; and therefore Roman, + Greek, and Anglican congregations, formed under the authority + of bishops who are in regular communion with their own branch, + are equally legitimate and Catholic, wherever they may be. +{62} + The decisions of the particular national synods of the Anglican + branch have no final authority, and are only binding so far as + they declare the doctrines of the Universal Church. They are to + be interpreted in the 'Catholic sense,' and are strictly + obligatory only on those who have made a promise to maintain + them, and upon those only in the sense in which they are + imposed by authority, under censure. It is the Catholic Church, + and not the Church of England or the Protestant Episcopal + Church of the United States, of which I am a member by baptism, + and therefore I have no duties to either of those + ecclesiastical organizations, except such as arise out of their + relation to the great Catholic body, and are compatible with + the absolute allegiance I owe to its teaching and law's." + +Such I conceive to be a statement of the only view an Anglican +can consistently take, unless he plants himself upon the common +Protestant ground. According to this, it is ridiculous for him to +abstain from going to Catholic services, reading Catholic books, +and cultivating the acquaintance of Catholic clergymen and +lay-people. The pretence of deposing or degrading clergymen, +because they pass to the communion of Rome, is an absurd and +impotent attempt at retaliation. What sin can there be in going +from St. Paul's Church, where the Mass is in English, celebrated +by a priest of the Anglican Rite, under the obedience of the +Catholic Bishop Whittingham, to the Cathedral, where the Mass is +in Latin, celebrated by a priest of the Latin Rite, under the +obedience of the Catholic Archbishop Spalding? How can there be +the guilt of apostasy involved in such an act? How can a person +"abjure the Catholic Communion" at Rome, by joining that which is +confessedly the principal branch of the Catholic Church? + +{63} + +A person who believes in this theory of branches may say it is +inexpedient and unwise for individuals to leave their particular +connection, that it perpetuates the estrangement, and that it is +better to wait for the time when the "English Branch" will be +reunited bodily to the parent tree. They cannot pretend, however, +that this is any thing more than a matter of private opinion. The +only legitimate means they have for keeping their adherents from +leaving them are argument and persuasion. It avails nothing to +say that if free access to Roman Catholic services and books, +and, in general, free intercourse with us is permitted, and the +charge of schism, violation of baptismal or ordination +obligations, &c., is abandoned, we shall gain over a great number +of their members. What of that? Those who adopt a theory are +bound to adhere to it. If this Anglo-Catholic theory has any +thing in it, it ought to be able to sustain the shock of a +collision. We have nothing but argument and persuasion on our +side. Why should their influence be dreaded? If Catholic +principles, sympathies, and practices gravitate toward Rome, let +them gravitate; it is a sign that the centre of gravity is there. +That the Oxford movement did gravitate toward Rome by its +original force is a plain fact, proved by the number, the +character, and the acts of those who have become converts to the +Catholic Church. Not that their testimony is a direct proof that +the Catholic Church is divine and infallible. This rests on +extrinsic, objective evidence. But it is a direct proof that the +pretence of the Catholicity of the Anglican communion cannot +furnish full and complete satisfaction to conscientious minds +that have imbibed Catholic principles. It professed to do so; but +it has failed. Those who still cling to it cannot deny that the +dissemination of their views generally produces in those who +embrace them, at some period of their mental history, a deep +misgiving respecting the safety of their position. This is not so +in the Catholic Church. Catholics, who retain a firm faith in the +principles of Catholicity, and endeavor to obey their +consciences, never have a misgiving that they are out of the +Church, or that there is any other church which has a better +claim to be regarded as the Catholic Church. +{64} +If human reason has any certitude, if the human mind is governed +by any fixed laws, if the concurrent judgments and convictions of +great numbers of the wisest and best men have any value, if there +is any such thing as logic, these considerations ought to have +weight. + +But I am weary of chasing this Protean phantom of +Anglo-Catholicism through its shifting disguises, and its +labyrinthine mazes. And I gladly return to the theme of my +narrative. + +Francis Baker was ordained deacon on the 16th of February, 1845, +and in the following August was appointed assistant minister of +St. Paul's Church. During the interval he was performing +occasional duty in assisting the rectors of different parishes in +Baltimore, under the bishop's direction. His first sermon was +preached in St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, on the Sunday afternoon +of his ordination day, which was the Second Sunday of Lent. On +the evening of the same day he preached at St. Peter's. His text +was taken from the I. Epist. John, iv. 4: "_And this is the +victory that overcometh the world, even our faith_." It was a +beautiful sermon, and perfectly Catholic in its doctrine and +tone. I regret that it is not extant, for I think that if it +were, it would be worthy of a place among the sermons published +in this volume. In it he extolled a life of virginity in glowing +language, as the means of a closer union with Christ; and its +whole scope was to present the lives of those who have renounced +the world, as models of the highest Christian perfection. I read +prayers for him that evening, and we walked home afterward +together. We separated in silence, neither of us expressing his +thoughts, but both seeming to feel a kind of blank and unwilling +sense of disappointment, as if dimly conscious that our +Catholicity was an unreal and imaginary thing. At St. Paul's +Church his eloquence took the congregation completely by +surprise. +{65} +His quiet, unassuming character had not prepared even his friends +to expect that he would manifest so much power as a preacher. +From this time his reputation was fixed at the highest point, and +he always sustained it. There were several very excellent +preachers in the Maryland Diocese, but I believe it was generally +admitted that Mr. Baker surpassed them all, and the most +intellectual and cultivated people ever looked upon his sermons +as affording to their minds and hearts one of the choicest +banquets they were capable of enjoying. I have never known a +young clergyman to be more generally and warmly admired and loved +than Mr. Baker. Nevertheless, applause and popularity did not +affect him in the least, and the pure mirror of his soul was +never tarnished by vanity and self-complacency. Even then, his +spontaneous desires and longings seemed to forecast the apostolic +vocation which was in store for him. He had an ardent desire for +a religious life, and was especially attracted by the character +and life of Nicholas Ferrar, and by the history of the little +religious community which he formed at Little-Gidding. In our +walks we often conversed about the practicability of establishing +a religious house which would give us the opportunity of working +among the neglected masses of the people, and looked about for +some suitable building for this purpose. There was a scheme +talked of for establishing a monastic and missionary institute on +the eastern shore of Maryland, and there were eight or ten +clergymen who would have been eager to join in the enterprise if +the bishop had been courageous enough to begin it. But the fear +of Low Churchmen prevailed, and nothing was ever done. We very +soon found that the work of "Catholicizing" the Episcopal Church +in Maryland got on very slowly and miserably, through the open +opposition of the Low Church party, and the dead, inert +resistance of the old High Church. +{66} +At an early period of Bishop Whittingham's administration, the +Rev. Henry V. D. Johns, rector of Christ Church, bade him open +defiance, and preserved that attitude until his death, many years +afterward. The bishop preached and published two remarkably +learned and able sermons on the priesthood, one of which was +preached at the institution of Mr. Johns. At the close of it he +exhorted the parishioners to receive their new rector as their +divinely-appointed teacher, and to submit to his instructions +with docility. The same night, Mr. Johns preached a sermon which +contained a violent attack on the bishop's doctrine, and made a +solemn declaration, sanctioned by an appeal to Heaven, that he +would evermore oppose that doctrine, and preach the contrary in +his pulpit. This was the signal for hostilities, and a sharp +controversy arose out of the affair, which was renewed from time +to time, as occasion offered. The bishop made one or two more +efforts to bring out his Reformed Catholicism in sermons or +charges, and then desisted, seeming to be more anxious to defend +himself against the charge of Popery than to attack +Protestantism. In regard to the outward ceremonial of religion, +the efforts made to improve it were equally feeble and abortive. +There was a miserable little church in an obscure street, called +St. Stephen's, with an altar something like a marble-topped +wash-stand, and some curtains covered with roughly-executed +symbols, such as mitres, chalices, keys, etc., where we played a +little at Catholics with so much success that a good old lady +said it was worse than the Cathedral. The opposition which was +excited by these innocent and absurd little ecclesiological +essays were such that the parish was nearly ruined, and the +rector in great alarm speedily banished all innovations, and +brought his chancel and his windows back to the old-fashioned +style. There was a little preaching in the surplice, a little +display of crosses, and a great deal of Catholic talk in private +circles, and very little else. The attempt to make the Protestant +Episcopal Church in Maryland exhibit herself as the Reformed +Catholic Church was a most signal failure. +{67} +The _True Catholic_ labored faithfully to defend Mr. Newman +from the charge of Romanizing until he actually joined the +Catholic Church, and then took to decrying him and other converts +as much as possible. It then took up Archdeacon Manning, H. W. +Wilberforce, and Marshall, loading its pages with extracts from +their writings, until all these gentlemen followed Mr. Newman's +example. What it did afterward, and whether it has survived until +the present time or not, I do not know. The cassocks were +silently and gradually dropped. Some of the young clergymen +married, and took to walking sedately in the old paths, and +others left the diocese. The few who could not unlearn or forget +the Catholic principles they had imbibed, retired into themselves +and kept quiet. And thus matters went back to their old condition +of a sort of uneasy compromise between High and Low Church, on +the basis of a common hostility to Rome. + +I remember well the startling effect produced by the news of Mr. +Newman's conversion. Whatever his modesty may induce him to say +in disclaimer, he was the leader, the life, and the soul, of the +Oxford movement: his genius and character had acquired for him in +this country, as well as in England, a sway over a multitude of +minds such as is seldom possessed by any living man. The news of +his conversion was brought to Baltimore by Bishop Reynolds, of +Charleston, who had just arrived from Europe. I heard it from +Bishop Whittingham, one evening, after I had been to prayers in +St. Paul's. I passed him on the steps and went out, and heard him +say in a sorrowful tone, "Newman has gone." It went to my heart +as if I had heard of my father's death. I did not wish to speak +with anyone on the subject, for, although I was not prepared to +follow him, yet I could not speak harshly or lightly of the +decision of a man whose wisdom and goodness I venerated so +highly, or endure to hear the comments of others. +{68} +Mr. Baker and I had no opportunity to converse together very much +on this matter, or indeed on any other. Our separation was at +hand, under circumstances painful and trying to both. He was +confined to the chamber of his brother Alfred, who was +dangerously ill with the varioloid, and, of course, could neither +make or receive any visits. I was obliged to leave Baltimore a +few days after, for North Carolina, by the order of my physician. +I took a hurried farewell of Mr. Baker, at the door of his house, +with very little expectation, on either side, of ever meeting +again. He had assisted me very frequently in the duties of my +little parish in the suburbs, during several months of declining +health, and after my departure he continued to visit the +congregation and preach for them occasionally. It was during the +autumn of 1845 that I left Baltimore. At the close of the Holy +Week of 1846 I was received into the Catholic Church, at +Charleston, S. C., and in March, 1847, I was ordained priest by +the Right Rev. Dr. Reynolds, the bishop of the diocese. + +Before leaving Edenton, N. C., where I resided during the +previous winter, I wrote to Mr. Baker to inform him of my +intention, and I continued to write to him occasionally, +receiving letters from him in return, for some months afterward. +The correspondence on his part soon became constrained and +formal, and at last was stopped at his request. For the three +years, immediately following my ordination, I saw or heard +nothing of him. I continued to hope for his conversion, and often +offered up the Holy Sacrifice for that intention. By degrees, +however, the thought of him passed away from my mind, and I +ceased to anticipate that the broken thread of our friendship +would ever be re-united. I supposed that he had become +permanently settled at some halting-place between Protestantism +and the Catholic Church, and would live and die contentedly in +his chosen position as an Episcopalian clergyman, forgetting his +earlier and nobler aspirations as among the dreams of youth. +{69} +For the history of his mind during this period, I am indebted to +the letters which he continued to write to the bosom friend who +has been already spoken of, and the information which that friend +has given me personally. I am also indebted to the same source, +chiefly, for the history of his progress toward Catholicity, +during the entire period of seven years which elapsed before his +reception into the Catholic Church. For, although I saw him +repeatedly during the last three years of this period, he was +extremely guarded and reserved in his language; and during our +common life together, as Catholics, afterward, I never asked him +for any detailed account--the subject having, in great measure, +lost its interest for us both. + +I have reason to believe that at the time of my conversion he had +his misgivings, and indeed his first letters to me showed a +disposition on his part to enter into a free discussion of the +matter with me. He soon quieted these misgivings, however, and +determined to throw himself heart and soul into the work of +realizing Catholicity in his own Church. He even underwent a +reaction which awoke a feeling of hostility to the Roman Church, +and of anger against me, for having, as he expressed it, "spoiled +their plans." His good and true friend of past days, who had +continually encouraged and urged him on from the first to follow +boldly in the footsteps of those who led the advance of the +Oxford movement, would not, however, permit him to rest in this +state. He was determined himself not to shut his eyes to the +difficulties and perplexities of his position, and he would not +allow his friend to do it. He never ceased to unbosom freely all +his own doubts and disquietudes, to communicate the results of +his continual reading and reflection, and to stimulate his friend +to push on in the study of Catholic principles and doctrines +until he had reached a final and satisfactory result. Judging +from the letters of Mr. Baker which I have before me, I should +think that both his misgivings about his own position and his +bitter feelings toward the Roman Church gave place to a quiet +resolution of adhering to the position he had taken, before Mr. +Newman's conversion and that of others of lesser note had +startled his repose. +{70} +For two or three years his letters do not indicate a disquieted +mind, but are often full of hope for the prospects of the +Anglican communion. By degrees a change is manifest, and it is +easy to see the progress of a conviction slowly forcing itself +upon him that the Episcopal Church is essentially Protestant, and +all the efforts made to place her in a Catholic light and +attitude a mere illusion. The workings of a mind and heart +struggling with doubt and disquiet, weary of a hollow and unreal +system, weaned from all worldly hopes, detaching itself from all +earthly ties, and striving after the truth and after God, become +more and more manifest, until at last, after seven long years, +the result is reached. I have hesitated much before determining +to insert a portion of these letters in this narrative. Certain +motives of delicacy toward my departed friend and others would +incline me to withhold them. But their perusal has seemed to me +to exhibit so much more clearly than any narrative of mine could +do, the transparent purity of the heart from which they emanated, +and the wonderful workings of divine grace upon it, that I have +judged it best to prefer the profit of those who will read this +book to private feeling. Some of them, which are merely +descriptive, I have inserted, because there could be no reason +for withholding them, and they will give pleasure to the friends +of the writer, who value every thing which came from his pen. In +regard to others, which were private and confidential, I have +used the utmost caution to select only those portions which are +necessary to a full exhibition of the writer's gradual progress +to the Catholic Church. + +I will first quote some extracts from the correspondence of an +earlier period, which show the first blossoms of the later +ripened fruit of Catholic faith and holiness in the pure and +upright soul of Francis Baker. + +{71} + + + From Francis A. Baker To Dwight E. Lyman. + + "Baltimore, _February_ 20, 1843. + + "My Dear Dwight: + + * * * * * + + "Of course you have seen the letter 'Quare Impedit.' Is it not + very caustic? I cannot but think it defective in the + non-expression of what the writer doubtless believed, the sense + in which the Council of Trent's words as to 'immolation' are + true. It does not sufficiently bring out the true and + unfigurative sense in which the sacrifice on the altar is the + same with the sacrifice on the cross. + + * * * * * + + "As I go on with my studies, my dear Dwight, I become more and + more attracted to them, and, I hope, more and more of a + Catholic. Indeed, I seem to myself to live in a different world + from that around me, and to be _practical_ I find one of + the most difficult attainments. But to be frank with you, in + looking forward to the future, the situation of a parish priest + seldom fills my mind. I almost always look to the monastic life + in some of its modifications. It is true that on the score of + fitness I have no right to look forward to such privileges; but + from some circumstances which you will appreciate, my heart has + been drawn more entirely from the world than most persons of my + age. But the future belongs to God, and I must now prepare + myself for the duties which seem pointed out to me. I have not + spoken to anyone else of this long-cherished desire, and, + indeed, there are at present insurmountable difficulties in the + way; but I do not look upon it is as so visionary a scheme as I + once did. + + * * * * * + + "Your brother told me of his intended repairs in his church. I + am delighted to hear it. It will not be long, I hope, before + such is the universal arrangement of our churches. Only one + thing will be lacking (if he has a cross), the candlesticks. I + have come to the conclusion that we have a perfect right to + them, for they will come in by the Church common-law, as the + surplice did. +{72} + I do not suppose it would be proper for a priest to introduce + them without his ordinary's sanction. I do wish a charge would + come out recommending the Catholic usages. I don't give any + weight to the cry of some about us, to wait for such things + until Catholic doctrines are received. I cannot but think that + such things would have a reflex influence on doctrine. While we + are externally so identified with the Protestants, it will be + hard to convince the world that we have any claims to antiquity + or Catholicity. Pray use your influence to have a solid altar, + and as large as may be." + + * * * * * + + "Baltimore, _June_ 9, 1843. + "It was a great disappointment to me not seeing you here at the + Convention, and there has been going on here so much of + interest to you. The Roman Council you have heard all about, I + am sure. I was not present, of course, at any of their services + or meetings, nor did I see any of their processions, but from + all I have heard, and from what I have seen at other times, I + think it must have been a most glorious spectacle. I do not + think I am fond of pageantry, but it must have been + heart-stirring to see the Church coming out of the sanctuary + which she has in her own bosom, and going forth to take + possession of the world in the name of her ascended Lord. + Imagine a band of sixteen venerable bishops, with surpliced + acolytes and vested priests, with their lights and cross and + crosier, all chanting in murmuring responses some old + processional chant; the effect of the whole heightened by the + brightness of a May sun reflected from many a golden stole and + glittering mitre! I am sure the sight would have set you crazy. + Indeed, I feared myself that it would present an unfortunate + contrast with our neat, dress-coat clergy. But our own + Convention had far more of an ecclesiastical appearance this + year than it ever had before. +{73} + The daily matins at six o'clock, the Litany at nine, and the + full Mass service at twelve, all seemed as if we were suddenly + transplanted into some other age of the church, when she + understood and realized her heavenly mission better than in + these later days. Every day after the reading of the Gospel, + all joined in a solemn profession of the old Nicene faith; then + the Holy Sacrifice was offered, and all were allowed to partake + of the Holy Mysteries." + + * * * * * + + "Baltimore, _June_ 9, 1845. "When the ordination is + appointed, if possible, I will let you know; and if you are + disposed to treat me better than I did you, I should be truly + glad to see you here on that occasion. At all events, my dear + Dwight, do not forget to pray for me. I regret exceedingly that + the advantage of the regular Ember season will be lost to me, + for I feel in need of all the assistance which the united + prayers of the Holy Church might be expected to procure. As + soon after my ordination as may be, I wish to go to work in + such a department as may be assigned me by the will of God and + the direction of the bishop. I wish not 'to choose my way,' but + as far as possible to submit to the direction of others, my + superiors; for that I believe to be the very secret of + ministerial influence. In my case, however, there can hardly be + any trial of virtue in this course, for with such a bishop as + God has placed over us, submission is no sacrifice. I have + deliberately resolved to maintain a single life, and acquainted + the bishop with my determination. I think he approved of my + resolution, though he dissuaded me from taking a vow to that + effect. Although I acquiesced in his advice, yet I shall + consider myself from the date of my ordination pledged to + preserve that state, by the grace of God. All this is strictly + between ourselves, for I abhor to _talk_ about such + things. I consider this a matter, in our Church at least, of + strictly individual choice, and while I have no hesitation + myself in adopting the course I have mentioned, I should + despise myself and think but poorly of my own motives, if I + should ever think less of another for exercising differently + his Christian liberty." + + * * * * * + +{74} + +The foregoing extracts are taken from letters written before the +time of my leaving Baltimore, and of course, therefore, before +the thought of joining the Catholic Church had entered any of our +minds. Those which follow were written at various times during +the period of seven years, between 1846 and 1853, which was the +period of transition in Mr. Baker's mind, ending in his +conversion. + + "Baltimore, _July_ 9, 1846. + "Every thing has been remarkably quiet in Baltimore for the + last month. There seems to be nothing of the excitement that + for a while prevailed on the subject of 'Roman tendencies' and + 'perversions.' I know not whether the 'Few Thoughts' of Mr. H., + which is just published here, and which I suppose you have + seen, will awaken controversy; but should suppose not, from the + occasion and nature of the publication, it being merely an + explanation of his own course, and written immediately on the + determination to take that course. I have heard the pamphlet + spoken of as 'a weak production,' as 'doing Mr. H. no credit.' + Are we not too apt to speak so of the work of an opponent? Of + course the essay is not a learned and systematic argument, nor + does it profess to be so; but it is (as it appears to me) + honest, to the point, and well expressed. I speak this of the + production: as an argument, it of course resolves into the + great Roman plea of _Visible Unity_. + + "I understand that a Mr. ----, a presbyter of our Church, and + alumnus of the General Theological Seminary, made his public + abjuration of Protestantism in St. Mary's Chapel, on Sunday + last. I suppose you have seen the account of ----'s defection. + I was told, a few days ago, that ---- has made up his mind to + 'go;' but as it was a Roman Catholic who told me, I did not + know but he might be misled. +{75} + Do you know any thing about it? I received, a few days ago, a + letter from H. It was merely a friendly letter, without + controversy, describing his mode of life, written very + cheerfully and kindly. It will give me pleasure to show it to + you when you come to Baltimore to see me, to which visit I look + forward with great pleasure. We will then talk about all these + strange events and times, and on our thoughts and feelings + concerning them. Adieu, adieu, my dear friend. Let us keep + close to each other; but first, close to God, and in all things + obedient to His will. Again adieu, my dear, good friend." + + + +It is easy for one who knew intimately the writer of this letter +to see that his heart was sad and disquieted when he wrote it, +although he does not directly say so; especially from the unusual +warmth and tenderness of his expressions of attachment to his +friend. About two months after he wrote it, the time came for him +to pass his examination for priest's orders. The circumstances +under which his examination took place redoubled this disquiet, +and caused him to hesitate much about receiving ordination. In +the course of his examination, he was asked if he accepted the +Thirty-nine Articles. It appears that he was not able to accept +the reasoning of Tract No. 90, upon which he must have gone at +his ordination to the diaconate, and accordingly he replied +boldly that he rejected some of the Articles, and could not in +any way give his assent to them. I do not know how many of them +he qualified in this way; but I know that one of them was the +thirty-first, as to its second section: "Wherefore, the +Sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said that the +priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have +remission of pain and guilt, were blasphemous fables and +dangerous deceits;" and I think, that, another was the +twenty-second: "Of Purgatory," etc. +{76} +A discussion arose among his examiners upon the propriety of +passing him. The bishop endeavored to waive the whole question, +and succeeded in preventing his rejection. The rector of St. +Peter's, who was the chairman of the committee, and whose duty it +was to present the candidates, declined, however, to present Mr. +Baker, though, with a singular inconsistency, he privately urged +him to be ordained. Mr. Baker almost resolved to stop where he +was, and regretted afterward that he had not done so. He suffered +himself, however, to be overruled by the authority and persuasion +of the bishop, and as Dr. Wyatt also excused himself from taking +the responsibility of presenting him, he was presented by another +presbyter, and ordained on the 20th of September, 1846. His +health as well as his spirits were impaired by these troubles; +and, therefore, a short time afterward he made a trip to the +North, in order to recreate both body and mind, and with the hope +of driving away, by change of scene, the unpleasant thoughts +which haunted him. In this he was in a measure successful. He +appears to have made a resolute determination to throw himself +into his ministry, and to put away all doubt from his mind. He +went in search of all that was attractive and encouraging in his +own communion, and his letter, giving an account of his trip, +shows that his attachment to it was deepened and renewed by the +impression made on him by the beautiful churches, the tasteful +and decorous services, and the agreeable, intellectual men of +congenial spirit with himself, described by him in such a +pleasing style. It was after this journey that he wrote to me, +expressing a firm determination to adhere to his chosen position, +assigning for his chief reason the "signs of life" which he saw +in the Episcopal Church; and he soon after, as I have said, +dropped his correspondence with me, as one separated from him by +a barrier which was never to be passed over. + +{77} + + "Baltimore, _November_ 10, 1846. + "I enjoyed my visit to the North quite as much as your or my + own expectations promised. I think the jaunt was in every way + beneficial to me. I spent a week delightfully in New York, + where a new world, as it were, of churches was opened to me, + and had a most happy (what I call) _heart_ visit to Troy. + But you will expect to hear particulars. To commence with the + commencement, then, what shall I say of Trinity Church? In some + respects it is far beyond my conceptions. The first impression + was really overpowering. It was on Saturday morning, and but + for a few minutes, and it seemed to me that both externally and + internally the building was most majestic and beautiful. I next + saw it on Sunday morning, to great advantage. It was communion + day, and fourteen priests in their surplices were in attendance + (the Convention having adjourned late the night before). The + church was full, but very orderly--the music grave and + fine--though I confess to you (pardon my ignorance and + temerity) it was not exactly as I should have liked. It seemed + to me to want _impressiveness_ or _expression_. It + was neither soothing, nor, _to me_, very grand. Dr. ---- + preached. I never saw the Holy Communion celebrated and + _administered_ in any church with so fine effect. The + scene, when the choir was filled with the worshippers waiting + for their turn to receive, was truly majestic. On that day I + went away with a most agreeable impression. After I had been + there, how ever, in the week, and especially as I became + familiar with it, I was very conscious of the great defect and + coldness of the chancel. The meanness of the altar is + positively too bad; and the _unmeaningness_ of the heavy + altar-screen is curious. The window is not just up my taste; + but I do not think so badly of it as some do. On the whole, I + think there can be no doubt that the chancel is a failure; but + the nave is very fine, and the doorway, the organ-gallery, the + organ, the tower, and the side-porches most beautiful. +{78} + On the afternoon of the Sunday, I went to Grace Church, + listened to the music---exquisite _of its kind_--saw the + images!!! looked at the church, and examined the stained + windows. I cannot agree with you about this building. Certainly + it has some beauties. The external appearance is very fine, and + the single figure of our Blessed Lord, in the east window, + beautiful; but I must say that the whole of the interior + presented to me a look of _finery_, and an absence of + solemnity, most unpleasant in the sanctuary. The windows were + simply distressing. It will seem very Protestant after this to + say it, but still it is true, that the church looked very like + a Roman Catholic Church to me; perhaps it would be truer to say + _Romish_, for it seemed to me in keeping with some things + we call by this name. I was disappointed in Grace Church; for I + went prepared to like it, from your representation, and from my + confidence in your taste. + + "Next in order of my seeing, but really, perhaps, first of all, + is the Church of the Holy Communion. This is really a gem. I + was there at evening prayer on a week-day, and I left with a + grateful heart that it was granted me to worship there. I am + not much of an architect, but the building seemed to me + _perfect_. I at least had no fault to find with it. The + services were read at the chancel rail. The canticles were + chanted with the organ accompaniment. It was at once solemn and + very beautiful. I said I had no fault to find. Perhaps that is + too much. I do think there is an absence of warmth in the + colors of the church, and of a certain grace and brightness + about the chancel, which would be entirely obviated by + substituting, instead of the present altar, a white or colored + marble one of the same size, adorned with candlesticks and + covered with a lace cloth. This, however, is to make it a + _perfect_ church for my eye, and I am not at all sure that + I am right. + +{79} + + "I said Troy was the most agreeable place I had visited. You + will not need to be told what it was which gave it this + interest: the Church of the Holy Cross. Oh, how glorious that + enterprise is! How perfectly devotional and elevating those + services! I was made very, very happy by this visit. It seemed + unearthly, and it seemed, too, a promise of better and holier + days, a harbinger of returning glory to our depressed Church. + Could you not introduce this service into the college. It is + worth a very great effort. Nothing else can produce such an + effect as the choral service. With the material you have, I + should not think it would be impossible, and at nothing short + of this ought you to stop. I formed a valuable acquaintance + with, and had the pleasure of visiting all the clergy of the + place, who are remarkably united, and who received me with + Southern warmth and cordiality. I was at the Church of the Holy + Cross as often as it was possible for me to be there, you may + be sure, and left it at the last with real regret. I consider + this visit alone fully repaid me for the journey." + + * * * * * + +From this time there is not a trace of disquietude with his +position to be observed in his correspondence, until 1849. Under +date of February, 1847, he writes to his friend, who, as it +appears from his own declarations, was the only intimate friend +he had among his brother clergymen: + + "I still write now and then to H., but there is such a + restriction on the freedom of thought and expression in + speaking to him, that I have but very little interest in the + correspondence; indeed I think it hardly likely long to + continue; but from you there is no need or wish on my part to + conceal any thing. + + * * * * * + + I _long_ to leave St. Paul's. I do not say this to anyone + here, for nothing is gained of talking; but to you I say that I + am obliged constantly to fall back on the reflection that, + until some other way is opened, my duty lies here. It is not on + account of any disagreeables in my position; but there are + peculiar dangers and difficulties attending it, and I cannot + help fearing constantly that my life is too easy and too soft + to please God. +{80} + Still I see not which way to move. I think I wish to submit + myself entirely to the Divine Will. I hope it will not seem + impertinent, dear Dwight, to express a hope that this coming + Lent may be a season of strict discipline to us both. Oh, I + need it! I cannot tell you how the sense of responsibility + concerning the souls of others sometimes alarms me. I can say + this to you, without hypocrisy, I trust. I need to be purged by + penance very, very much, to be drawn away from pride and + vain-glory, and slothfulness and self-will; these are my + besetting sins; and to be stirred up to diligent study, to + obedience, to humility, to labor, and to prayer. I pray that I + may have the grace to fulfil the work which God has put in my + heart to undertake this Lent, that He would draw me away from + all things else, entirely to be united to Him. It would be a + most pleasant thought that we were thus entering on this + penitential season together." + +The following extract from a letter of June 23, 1848, shows the +interest which the writer still felt in Mr. Newman:-- + + "Is it not encouraging to see the stir that has been raised in + England about Dr. Hampden's nomination? The secular papers all + call the opposition a 'Tractarian Movement.' If they mean by + this that none but Tractarians are engaged in it, it is + palpably false; but in another sense it is certainly true. I + see clearly in the whole matter the fruits of that movement, + the greater earnestness and zeal for orthodoxy, _as such_, + so different from what would have been exhibited a quarter of a + century ago. And whom are we to thank for fixing the brand of + heterodoxy upon this man; so that he cannot pass off his + sophisms upon an unwary Church, but the great master to worn we + once looked up, to whom God gave so clear a vision of the truth + and so great a zeal to uphold it? This is the fruit of a seed + sown by a hand now raised up against us, one of the many gifts + by which we keep him and his great faculties in remembrance, + though, alas! 'we now see him no more.'" + +{81} + +In one of these letters Mr. Baker speaks of his desire to leave +St. Paul's Church for some other field of labor. Nevertheless, he +remained there six years out of the eight years of his Protestant +ministry. In 1848 he received an invitation to the Church of St. +James the Less, a very beautiful and costly, though small church, +in the suburbs of Philadelphia, built after the style of the +English Benedictine abbey-churches, and fitted up after the +manner which delights the Anglo-Catholic heart. This invitation +he declined, at the request of his bishop, who was naturally loth +to part with him. A proposal was then made that he should found a +new parish; and this, I suppose, was the plan afterward carried +out at St. Luke's. This plan was postponed from time to time on +account of the precarious health of Alfred Baker. Meanwhile, he +devoted himself most assiduously to his private religious +exercises and to his ministerial labors. I have never known a +young clergyman more universally and warmly loved and admired +than he was among the people of his communion. He improved +sedulously his admirable gifts for preaching, and in a diocese +containing a number of excellent preachers, he attained and kept +the first rank. His fastidious taste and sense of propriety led +him soon to drop the long cassock, and every thing else in +outward dress and demeanor which had appeared singular in the +first years of his ministry. He avoided controversy and all +peculiarities of doctrine in his sermons, and confined himself +chiefly to those truths of religion and those practical points +which could be received without question by his hearers. Aside +from the pastoral intercourse which he had with his people, his +life was very retired. He had the ideal of the Catholic +priesthood always in view, and this encompassed his discharge of +ministerial duties with many practical difficulties. He felt this +particularly, as he has often said, in his visits to the sick and +dying, on account of the want of the proper sacraments, and the +want of a real and recognized sacerdotal relation. +{82} +He could not help feeling always that while theoretically he +regarded himself as a Catholic priest, in point of fact he was +but a Protestant minister, compelled to fall back on a system of +subjective pietism, based on Lutheran doctrine, to which he had +an invincible repugnance, and in which his hands were tied. + +Meanwhile events were progressing in the English Church and +producing their reflex action in this country. On the one hand, +the Oxford movement was still going forward under new leaders, +and on the other, the Protestant character of the Anglican +Establishment and its American colony was exhibiting itself every +day more and more decisively. The first great wave that had +rolled toward Catholicity had cast up those who were foremost on +its crest on the Rock of Peter. Another wave was rolling forward +in the same direction, which was destined to bear on its summit +still more of those who floated on the great sea of doubt and +error to the same secure refuge. The first converts were given up +to obloquy, and their influence in every possible way lowered or +destroyed, by belittling their character, if that was possible, +or, if not, by inventing specious reasons to show that the course +they had taken was the result of some personal idiosyncrasy, and +not the just consequence of their Catholic principles. It was +stoutly asserted that the movement was not responsible for them, +and that it did not of itself lead to Rome. It began again afresh +with new men, new books, new projects. Again there was an +advanced party; and in due time this advanced party began to move +Romeward, denying as before that it would ever actually arrive at +Rome. Nevertheless, many of its members, some of very high +character and position, did eventually follow the earlier +converts over to the Catholic Church. Others, especially those +who were in stations of dignity and authority, began to recoil +and retract, and call back their followers to the safer ground of +the old High Church. +{83} +In this country there was a sad lack of earnestness and reality +on the part of the majority of those who had yielded themselves +to Oxford influences, and these influences were but faintly felt +by the laity. Mr. Baker was, however, deeply and sadly in +earnest. He had schooled himself into submission to his +_soi-disant_ Church and bishop, and resolutely determined to +believe that he could think, act, and live up to Catholic +doctrines and laws where he was. He had thrown himself anew into +Anglicanism, putting faith in its new leaders and the old ones +who remained, and confiding in the reality and success of their +efforts. Long and wearily he struggled to hold out in this +course, in spite of the daily increasing evidence that it was +delusive and hopeless. For long years he was tossed backward and +forward on the waves of doubt and uncertainty, sometimes almost +gaining a foothold on the Rock, and then dashed again backward +into the sea. + +Most persons, whether they are Catholics or Protestants, will +wonder that Mr. Baker, having approached at first, by almost a +single bound, so near the very threshold of the Catholic Church, +should have waited and hesitated so long before taking the final +step over its border. Those who have not felt it can hardly +understand the strong spell by which the system so ably advocated +by the Oxford divines captivated many minds. To those who were +deeply imbued with certain Catholic prepossessions, and yet not +emancipated from the old hereditary prejudice against the Roman +Church, it offered a compromise which allowed them to cherish +their prepossessions and yet remain in the reformed Church, where +they were at home and among their friends, and free to select +some and reject other Catholic doctrines and usages, according to +their own private judgment and taste. It pretended to give them +"a Catholicity more Catholic, and an antiquity more ancient" than +those of the ancient, universal mother and mistress of churches +herself. +{84} +Once seduced by this specious pretence, there was no end to the +ingenious arguments, wire-drawn distinctions, fine-spun theories, +and plausible special pleading by which they were detained under +its influence. The theory has infinite variations, and a +flexibility which accommodates itself to every form of doctrine, +from the lowest tolerated in the Episcopal ministry to the +highest advocated in the _Union Review_. This influence on +the mind and conscience is a very injurious one, and tends to +disable them from reasoning and deciding, in a plain and direct +manner, on broad and general principles. Mr. Baker became aware +of this afterward, and regretted that he had permitted himself to +be swayed so much by the authority of others instead of following +the dictates of his own judgment and conscience. It is impossible +for me to say whether he was dilatory in following the +inspirations of divine grace or not. No one but God can certainly +judge how much time is necessary in any individual case for the +full maturing of the convictions into a distinct and undoubting +faith. One thing I can assert, however, with confidence, and I +believe that every one who reads the ensuing extracts from Mr. +Baker's letters will share the same conviction: that he never +deliberately quenched the light of the Divine Spirit, or refused +to follow it from any worldly and unworthy motives. He sought for +wisdom by study, prayer, and a pure life, and although he was +slow in arriving at a full determination, yet he made a continual +progress toward it; and when he reached it, he did not shrink +from any sacrifice which obedience to God and his conscience +required of him. + +In a letter under the date of June 4, 1849, after speaking of the +probability of his leaving St. Paul's, and the uncertainty he was +in in regard to his future plans, which were interfered with by +the ill-health of his brother, he thus writes: + +{85} + + "I missed you at the Convention; indeed, there are several + reasons why I did not enjoy myself at that time. It seemed to + me that there were but one or two with whom I had any real + sympathy. There was very little done. The bishop could not be + present on account of indisposition. K. read the bishop's + charge. It was able, but _thoroughly_ and _strongly_ + Protestant. The position it took was perfectly unequivocal; and + it places certain people, whose position before was + sufficiently uncomfortable, in a most painful predicament. He + shuts us up to the very sense of the Articles and Prayer-Book, + _as understood by the Reformers;_ and tells those who + cannot submit to this, who are willing not to _contradict_ + that sense, but do not _believe_ it, he tells them very + plainly that they are obliged to leave a ministry for which + they are no longer competent. The charge convinces me either + that we have heretofore misunderstood the bishop, or that he + has fixed himself upon a new platform. He now makes the + Protestant element in our Church's teaching (which is certainly + the most prominent one in her history) the most authoritative + and controlling. It appears to me that he might as well have + said at once that the Church of England was _founded_ at + the Reformation. May God teach us what we ought to do." + +I have been told by Mr. Baker that the bishop, on some occasion, +sent him his charge to look over, with the request that he would +read it for him at the Convention, and that he declined reading +it, on account of his strong objection to the doctrine it +contained. I suppose that this must have been the charge in +question. I find no other letter from this date until January 9, +1850, under which date he writes at length, and begins to unbosom +himself more freely than he had done before: + + "There was something in your last letter which was particularly + refreshing to me. It seemed like old times, and brought an + assurance of sympathy when I had begun deeply to feel the want + of it. You say that my letter was not so full or like myself as + some others. There was a reason why it was not so, and the same + reason has delayed the answer to your last kind favor. +{86} + I have had many painful and distressing thoughts, which I + hardly knew how to express to any one; and it seemed a wrong + and cruelty to grieve one's friends when every catholic-minded + brother had so much to bear on his own account. Now that I have + decided upon the course I will take, I can write more calmly, + and with less risk of perplexing others. You will guess the + cause of anxiety. My conviction of the truth and holiness of + Catholic doctrines has not diminished since I saw you; my + apprehension of what I hold is firmer and more distinct; my + prejudice against some things which the Roman Church holds as + catholic truths, but which we deny, has been shaken; and while + this was enough to make my present position in some respects + uncomfortable, the longing for a fuller measure of catholic + privileges, the want of sympathy, the uncertainty, dissension, + and mutability among us, and the awful greatness of the claims + and promises of Rome, made me willing to entertain the thought + of changing my ecclesiastical relations. On looking back upon + this state of feeling, there was much that was wrong. I felt in + many ways the results of past unfaithfulness; I was confused + and perplexed; I was doubtful of my own sincerity. Sometimes + every thing seemed uncertain to me. But whatever were the + causes, and whatever the characteristics of my state of mind, I + felt, upon a careful examination of myself that the only proper + course for me to pursue was to institute a candid and diligent + search into the claims of the Roman Church to be _the_ + Holy Catholic Church. All her claims seem to resolve themselves + into that of the supremacy of the See of St. Peter, and I + accordingly resolved to confine my investigations to that + point. I communicated my determination to the bishop last week, + and asked him whether I could continue to officiate while I was + engaged in such a course. He thought I could and ought, and + offered me every assistance in his power, in the way of books, + advice, etc. He was wonderfully kind and forbearing, but firm + in assuring me that investigation of the point would but end in + conviction of the untenableness of the Roman claim. +{87} + I have felt calmer since I acted thus, and propose to enter + forthwith upon the study of this question, keeping it as clear + as I can of exterior matters, and pushing it, if I may, to a + decision. I need not, I know, ask of you the charity to + continue your prayers for the Divine blessing and guidance to + your perplexed friend." + + + "_Tuesday Night_. + "You will understand, from what I have been telling you of the + thoughts which have occupied my mind for some time past, how + the various events in the Church during the last few months + have affected me. With regard to ----'s departure, I confess it + was the deepest grief to me, and, in connection with other + circumstances, did much to distress and unsettle me. It is one + of the most afflicting things about the present controversies, + these separations between friend and friend, between master and + disciple; yet I know that even this is to be borne meekly and + obediently, if we cannot see it to be our _imperative + duty_ to follow those we have loved and lost; and now that I + have undertaken in a rational way to satisfy myself on this + point I can think more calmly of our isolation and bereavement. + To return to more Protestant ground (I know that it does not + suit unlearned people to say what they will do, but) I feel is + impossible. My conviction of the truth of the system (in + opposing and barking at which Protestantism has its life and + occupation) continually increases; but I think I feel that if I + could be persuaded that the Divine Will made it to be my duty + to remain where I am, I could submit to all the difficulties + and privations of our position uncomplainingly and even + cheerfully. + + "Bishop Ives's movement, so far as it was intended to introduce + the general practice of auricular confession, had my + unrestrained sympathy. How far he meant to go in asserting its + _necessity_, I confess myself unable to determine; but + anyhow, I think he went farther than Protestant Episcopalianism + will bear him out in going. +{88} + It was an infinite relief to me when he came out as boldly as + he did; and now that he has presented the subject anew to the + Church, I feel assured that the Church will be obliged to meet + the question. I confess I do not feel very hopeful as to the + issue of the controversy, for it seems to me that nothing short + of a miracle could dispose the mass of our people to the + practice of confession. The High Churchmen will be as opposed + to it as the Low Churchmen. Maryland will kick as much as Ohio. + But _nous verrons_." + +Some time after the date of this letter, Mr. Baker made a voyage +to Bermuda with his brother Alfred, who was now in a deep and +hopeless decline. He returned some time in the early part of the +ensuing summer. One day, either a little before or a little after +this voyage, I accidentally met him as I was out walking. I had +returned once more to Baltimore, and was making my novitiate at +the House attached to St. Alphonsus' Church. It was now nearly +five years since I had seen my former friend, and three since I +had received any letters from him. I was startled and pleased at +our unexpected rencontre, and at the light of friendship which I +saw in his face and eyes; but the pain of being separated from +him was renewed. Mr. Lyman came to see me, one day, during the +spring of 1850; and was much more frank and cordial in his manner +than Mr. Baker, who kept a close vail of reserve over his heart +until the last. I inquired of him particularly about Mr. Baker, +whether he had made any retrograde movement, &c. He replied that +he had rather advanced, and had become more spiritual in his +preaching, advised me to visit him, and on my objecting to this +on the ground that a visit might be intrusive and unwelcome, +assured me of the contrary. It was through his influence that +some degree of intercourse was from this time re-established +between Mr. Baker and myself. A subsequent letter of Mr. Baker +speaks of his visiting me, and also describes his visit to +Bermuda in the following terms. The letter is dated October 24, +1850:-- + +{89} + + "On my return from Bermuda, I found your kind and interesting + letter, and felt grateful to you for the friendship which you + have now continued to me for several years. I am sorry not to + have seen you when you were in Baltimore, and in fact that was + the only regret I felt on account of my absence from home at + the time of the Convention. The Convention itself I have ceased + to look forward to with any pleasure. The truth is, it always + saddens me to mingle at all with the clergy promiscuously. I + feel that there is so little sympathy between us, that the + sense of loneliness is forced upon me more distinctly than when + I keep to myself altogether. But I do not mean to write + gloomily to a friend with whom I communicate so seldom, and + indeed I do not _complain_ of the want of sympathy which I + feel, or blame others for it. I know that the cause of it is in + myself, and I acknowledge with gratitude the great degree of + indulgence, kindness, and forbearance with which I have been + universally treated. + + "I have felt happier lately, though I do not know why I should, + for I cannot say that I have gained a satisfactory position; + and when I think of dying, anxious thoughts come across me; but + I have been pursuing (as my occupation allows me) my + investigations into the question of the supremacy, and I wish + to abide by the result, without being swayed by feeling one way + or another. I have read Newman's Discourses since I received + your letter. They are like all that he writes, thoughtful, + earnest, holy, and deeply impressive; but I think they differ + from his Parochial Sermons in having the appearance of more + excited feeling, and in being more affectionate in their tone. + He seems to write under a pressing anxiety to influence those + he addresses, and he opens his heart more than he did of old. I + think this accounts in part for an objection which I have heard + brought against them, that they are not so strictly logical. +{90} + He seems to me possessed with that proselyting spirit which has + always appeared to me to be so divine a token about the Church + of Rome, as if the constant reflection of his mind was, 'What + shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and + lose his own soul?' + + "I was deeply interested in the account of your visit to H. I + too saw H., but only for a moment. We met on the road, and he + stopped most kindly, and we had a minute's conversation. Of + course there was nothing but commonplace. I know not how he + felt, but I felt very sad. + + "You may imagine that I have looked with no little interest at + the progress of ecclesiastical affairs in England. The + secessions lately have made a tremendous excitement--more so, I + really think, than those in 1845, perhaps on account of the + 'present distress.' + + "I have not much of interest to tell you about Bermuda. You + know it is an English colony, and I saw there for the first + time the workings of the English Church. In every thing except + the Morning and Evening Prayer, I think we have the advantage, + particularly excepting the latter. The clergy I found a + hard-working set of men, frank and cordial, and very much + interested and well informed in matters relating to our Church. + The churches are very plain, but have a quiet, grave, soothing + air about them, the clergy mostly 'High Church,' but not after + our sort, and the people seemed to me to be almost entirely + devoid of a Church tone and spirit, though not irreligious. + Dissent is very rife, and, I fancy, influences even members of + the Church. They have a noble-hearted bishop, Bishop Field, + austere, self-denying, devout, hard-working, and charitable, + and by his assistance they are building a very handsome church + on the island; but I found that he was not popular, that even + his mode of life was objected to: he was called a + _Puseyite_. I did not preach while I was there, but I + assisted several of the clergy at the services, and once at the + holy communion, in which I found the omission of 'the oblation' + to have a most painful effect upon my feelings. + +{91} + + "I was very glad to get so full and gratifying account of your + church. I do indeed congratulate you on its completion. I think + you have done wonders, with so many difficulties, to succeed in + so short a time, and I sincerely hope that you may find your + zeal and labor repaid by an increase of your congregation, and + of true devotion and earnestness among them. From your + description of the church I thought it must be a very + magnificent edifice, quite beyond York Minster and churches of + that size; and to see so famous a building, and still more to + see the kind, warm friend who ministers within it, would be so + great a pleasure, that you must not be surprised if some old + friends should some time make a pilgrimage there." + + + "_January_ 27, 1851. + "I often feel what a relief it would be to open one's heart, + and to have the sympathy and counsel of a friend who can + understand one's views and feelings. But it is impossible to do + so by letter, because one shrinks from coolly writing down + one's thoughts, which would be expressed without effort in the + warmth and freedom of conversation. Since the receipt of your + letter I saw H. I had determined not to seek him, but about the + beginning of this month he called on me. He was kind, but the + visit was not agreeable: it was _awkward_. I returned his + visit last week, and enjoyed being in his society. I talked + with him as guardedly as I could while using any degree of + frankness and cordiality. I could not consent to postpone my + visit to him, as I had reason to believe that his coming to see + me was providential, to assist me in the matter in which I am + laboring, viz., to ascertain the Catholic Church. I asked him + several questions concerning the Papal supremacy, which he + answered very readily and with great ability. +{92} + He gave me some assistance in pursuing my inquiries, and I + promised to see him again before long. I came away feeling + better for having been with him, and with a heavy conviction on + my mind how little share I had in the blessing of the pure in + heart. + + "I find very little time to study. The duties which devolve + upon me take so much of my attention, that I could find it in + my heart to throw them up, were I not advised otherwise by the + bishop. Besides, I know that it is only by humility and + obedience and fidelity that we can arrive at the truth. O + Dwight! again I ask your prayers in my behalf, especially for + earnestness in seeking the truth, to make the holy vow, 'I will + not climb up into my bed, nor suffer my eyelids to take any + rest, until' I have an obedient spirit to obey God's will, + _directly_ it is made known. + + "The course of Church matters is to me increasingly + unsatisfactory. The anti-Papal movement has placed the Church + of England on decidedly worse ground, if indeed it has not + bound her to that decision, on rejecting which her Catholicity + seems to be suspended. I do think that, after all that has + happened, for bishops and people to be crying up the royal + supremacy looks like accepting that supremacy to the full + extent to which it has lately been claimed. What did you think + of Mr. Bennett's course? To say the truth, I was not satisfied + with his letters, though I felt a sympathy with the man. Pray + can you tell me what ground there is for the assertion that + Archdeacon Manning and Mr. Dodsworth have resigned and are on + their way to Jerusalem?" + + * * * * * + +Some time after this, Mr. Baker was appointed rector of the new +parish of St. Luke's, where he remained until he gave up the +Protestant ministry, that is, for about two years. During his +rectorship he removed to a pleasant residence near the site of +the church, and employed himself in building a tasteful Gothic +church, which he proposed to finish and decorate in accordance +with his own idea of ecclesiastical propriety. +{93} +It was only partially completed at the time he left it. His next +letter to Mr. Lyman, who was now progressing rapidly toward the +Catholic Church, and urging forward his slower footsteps, is +dated + + "_Tuesday in Holy Week, April_ 15, 1851. + "I read your letter with a great deal of emotion, and was + prompted to sit down and say a word in reply immediately; but + as I have gone to St. Luke's, there were some duties devolving + upon me which took up my time more than is usual with me. You + may be assured of my sympathy in much that you feel and + express. I do think that the statements of Allies's book are of + a kind which ought to make a profound impression upon us, and + which ought to modify very much the feelings with which we have + been taught to regard the Roman communion; and I _do_ + think honestly that our Church is at present in a miserable + condition, and that no good can come of denying it. As you say, + it becomes at such a time a very solemn question, in view of + eternity, _what we ought to do_. My dear Dwight, I think I + am sincere when I say that to me the way of duty seems to take + pains and make such an investigation as I can into the question + upon which the claim of _authority_ rests, and to abide by + the result: meanwhile to live in prayer and upon such catholic + truth as we are permitted to hold, imploring God to take pity + upon us, and to look upon his distracted people. H. recommended + me a treatise on the supremacy by the brothers Ballerini, but I + find that I do not read Latin with such facility as to reap the + full benefit of the perusal of such a work at present. I have + therefore taken up Kenrick on the Primacy. With regard to my + duties as a minister, I have thought it right to be directed + from without, and I was passive in accepting St. Luke's, which + was strongly urged upon me. Surely we may hope that if we + faithfully and devoutly, and in a spirit of humility and + obedience, work with our intention constantly directed to God's + glory and the salvation of souls, He will bless and guide us. +{94} + It was a comfort to me to think you remembered me and my + difficulties in your Lenten exercises, and I assure you that + you have been constantly remembered by your perplexed friend. I + feel afraid of myself and of my own heart--afraid of taking a + wrong step, afraid on account of my past sins, afraid when I + look forward to the judgment of our dear Lord; and you may be + sure that I find prayer my greatest comfort, the belief in the + intercession of our Blessed Mother and the saints in heaven, as + well as in the value of the supplications of Christians on + earth, a source of real strength. Pray for me, my dear friend, + that I may be enabled sincerely to appeal to God and say that + His Church is the first object of my heart, and that I may be + diligent and studious and obedient to His grace and to + conscience. + + "I see the English papers constantly, and they are full of + interest. We know not what is before us; these are + heart-stirring times, and we can but adore the counsel of God + by which we were born in them, and anxiously seek to take the + right course amid so many perplexities. I have recently read + Dr. Pusey's letter to the Bishop of London. It is a very able + letter, and one calculated to rouse the feelings of the + Catholic-minded men in England. I confess it made me feel more + hopeful. + + "If it is _our duty_ to remain where we are, it is a noble + thing to be called to labor amid so many discouragements, and, + surrounded by temptations, to keep the Catholic Faith whole and + inviolate! Every day I feel a stronger repugnance to + Protestantism, and a determination by God's help to carry out + my principles consistently; but with regard to the Roman + Catholic Church, I do not see how intellectually it can + dispense with the theory of development, and I feel a strong + suspicion of that theory. I went to see H. again, but he was in + New York, and will not be back until after Easter. + +{95} + + "I feel that I am in a difficult and dangerous situation, but I + have the comfort of knowing that I have the advice of the + bishop to do as I am doing; and if I can be sure of God's + blessing, by watchfulness and strictness and faithfulness I may + yet be happy. I have written confidentially, and all about + myself, but you will forgive me. The bell rings for prayers. + Good-by." + + + "_August_ 4, 1851. + "You will be anxious to know the impression made upon my mind + by what I have been reading on the Roman Catholic question. On + the whole, many difficulties that lay in the way have been + removed, and the claims of the Roman See appear far more + strongly supported by antiquity than I had ever dreamed of + before. Kenrick's is, I think, a very strong book, although it + has a very apologetic air; yet there was a great deal in it + which seemed to me very forcible. But the book which made + altogether the most decided impression on my mind was 'The + Unity of the Episcopate.' The _principle_ of unity was + there unfolded in a way that was new to me, and which I think + does away with a whole class of passages (and they the + strongest) which are usually alleged against the Papacy. + + * * * * * + + "I find my greatest want to be the want of earnestness and a + spiritual mind. My dear Dwight, this is not cant. I want you to + pray that God would not take his Holy Spirit from me. I desire + above all things to be a Catholic, and I am resolved by God's + help not to give up the present investigation until I am + satisfied about my duty, which at present I am not, but very, + very much harassed and perplexed. May God in his good time + grant us both to see clearly the way we ought to take. I saw H. + a few weeks ago, and had a pleasant interview. He thinks it + possible that he will leave Baltimore in September. I have + sometimes felt lately as if a _decision_ of the great + question was not far off. Oh, that it may be a wise and true + decision!" + +{96} + +A few weeks after writing this letter, Mr. Baker came very near +making a decision to give up his ministry and place himself under +the instruction of a Catholic priest. His conviction was not yet +fully matured, or his doubts quite removed, and the wisest course +would have been for him to have gone into a complete retirement +for a while, in order to complete his studies, and allow his mind +and conscience time to ripen into a decision. He communicated his +state of mind to the bishop, and was so far overruled by him as +to consent to wait a while longer, and postpone his decision. He +informs his friend of all that took place at this crisis, in a +long and deeply interesting letter of thirteen pages, from which +I shall only make a few extracts. It is dated November 11, 1851, +and is full of affection, of sadness, and of the tremulous +breathings of a sensitive, delicate conscience, deeply troubled +by anxiety and fear, almost ready to seek repose in the bosom of +the Church, but driven back by doubt to struggle yet longer with +adverse winds. + +He says at the beginning of his letter: + + "First let me thank you again for your expressions of kindness + and affection. I assure you I thank you for them, and feel that + they, together with the friendship which has lasted so long, + give you a claim on my confidence and love. Nor have I been + unmindful of the claim, for I have constantly thought of you, + and often invoked God's aid in your behalf; and if I have not + written often, it is because I am myself in great perplexity, + and feel the responsibility which attaches to every word, + uttered at a time like this, on subjects which concern the + salvation of ourselves and others also. This was my feeling + when I last wrote. I felt as if I wanted a little + _recollection_ before I could write as I wished on some + points; and as I was then much occupied, I deferred writing + fully until some other time. However, your letter to-day + demands an immediate answer, and I proceed to give you an + answer to your inquiries, and a faithful transcript of my + feelings, and pray God that you may receive no injury from one + who would do you good." + +{97} + +He states the result of his studies quite at length, summing it +up in these words, which I quote as an accurate index of the +degree of conviction he had at that time reached: + + "The result of my thought and reading last summer was to + strengthen my impression that the claims of the Roman Catholic + Church on the obedience of all Christians are divine. I cannot + say I felt perfectly assured." + +After describing his interview with the bishop, and informing his +friend that he had consented to _wait_, he says: + + "I think I agreed to this from the fear of offending God, and + from that alone. As to the frown of the world, I do not think + it decided me, for I had looked the consequences of the act + full in the face, and had accepted them. I was the more ready + to wait, because I could not say _I had no doubt_ of the + propriety of secession." + +The sequel of the letter and of its writer's history shows that +this doubt was not a rational doubt, but a morbid irresolution +and timidity of mind, which ought to have been disregarded. +Consequently, in giving way to it, he simply fell back into a +state in which he had just to go over again the same ground, and +this discouraged and disheartened him, as he frankly +acknowledges. + + "I felt a sense of relief, partly, I believe, from having + opened my mind, and partly, I suspect, at finding that the + sacrifice to which I had looked forward was not then demanded. + But when I considered the matter, I saw that I was just where I + was before, with the whole question before me and resting on my + decision. From week to week I have been willing to postpone + looking my position in the face, seeking to excuse myself to my + conscience by the plea of the many unavoidable demands on my + time and thoughts which a new parish and a church just + commenced seem to make; although I feel that the danger of such + a course is that I may sink into a worldly, indifferent thing, + seeking in the praise of men a reward for my treachery to God. +{98} + I have seen H. but once since I saw the bishop. The visit was + more constrained, because I felt I ought not to betray my + feelings; indeed, I would not go to see H. unless I were afraid + of resisting some design which God may have formed for + me--because the intercourse has not been of my seeking, and + this appearance of deceit and double-dealing is dreadful to me, + and makes me feel as if I were guilty. + + "I have not read any thing since my interview with the bishop. + My plan is to wait and seriously consider what I ought to do. I + need not tell you I am not happy. I am free from many of the + annoyances which distress you, as I read no R. C. papers, and + scarcely any of our own, and have no associate. I strive to + live by the rule recommended by Dr. Pusey, and am almost as + much isolated from Protestants as if there were none in our + communion. I believe most firmly in the Sacrifice of the Mass, + in the Real Presence, in the Veneration of Relics, in the + Mediation of the Saints, and especially of St. Mary. I + constantly beseech God to hear her supplications in my behalf, + and only do not invoke her because I am not sure of the + authority for doing so. I believe also in Purgatory. My + difficulties are on the subject of Church authority and the + Supremacy. My sympathy in doctrine, my reverence for the holy + men who have gone out from us, _my strong prepossessions in + favor of the Roman Catholic Church, which have never left me at + any period of my life_, and the distress among us, all draw + me to Rome; but the single question I ask myself (or strive to + do so) is, whether any of these things ought to decide me, and + whether the point of inquiry ought not to be--What is the + Church? Partly on account of my position, and partly, dear + Dwight, on account of grave deficiencies and sins in myself, I + feel that I am full of inconsistencies, contradictions, + apparent insincerities (perhaps real), presumptuous and fearful + at the same time, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, not + fully persuaded in my own mind, and not bending all my energies + to become so. +{99} + And now, my dear Dwight, I have only opened my heart to you, + without at all thinking of the effect it would have upon you. + Simply seeking, as in duty bound, to deal with you as a friend, + I have let you somewhat into my heart--only somewhat, for I + deeply feel that to a full understanding of my state of + feeling, even in reference to this subject, it would be needful + that I should kneel down and humbly confess (as it would be a + comfort to do) all the many offenses in word and deed of a + sinful and tangled life. I have humbled myself before you. I + know not how it shall be hereafter between us, how differently + you may soon look upon me from what you have been used to do; + but, wherever you are, think of me as a sinner and a penitent, + and as one who desires and needs your prayers. + + * * * * * + + "And now, my dear friend, I do not think of any thing else + which I ought to say to you, but to reciprocate the earnest + hope and the conviction that you express, that God Almighty may + enable us _together_ to have an abode here in that Ark + which He has set up as the place of safety and peace in a lost + world, and may give us _together_ an entrance into His + Presence forever. May He of His undeserved mercy grant it." + +During the winter of 1851 and 1852, Mr. Baker was very much +occupied with church-building, and also with the cares and +anxieties of illness and death in his family, and his attention +was thus drawn away in a measure from himself and from the +question of the Church. + +His next letter of interest was written in May, 1852, +communicating the intelligence of the death of his aunt and of +his brother: + + "I have no doubt that you have thought your kind and patient + letter deserved an earlier answer, but I have been greatly and + particularly occupied ever since I received it When it came, + Aunt E. was very ill, and our anxiety about her continued to + increase until she was taken from us on the 31st of January. +{100} + Immediately after, dear Alfred began to decline rapidly, and + after an interval of some weeks of great suffering on his part, + and of watching and sadness on ours, he too was taken on the + 9th of April (Good Friday). You, who knew them both, and knew + what place they held in our hearts, can imagine the greatness + of the bereavement, and the depth of our suffering. God has + supported us mercifully, and I heartily thank Him that I have + so great a solace in thinking of the character of our dear + departed ones; and it is at such times that I feel the + consolatory nature of the doctrine of the communion of saints, + and the comfort of the practice of praying for the dead. To + you, who know so much of my feelings, I will not deny that the + uncertainty which rests upon the question of the Church has + disturbed the fixedness of my hope and faith during this + sorrowful winter, but I have not been able to advance in its + investigation. I now propose to resume my studies as regularly + and as perseveringly as my duties will permit. You are much and + often in my thoughts, and often do I wish that I could do by + you the part of a faithful friend. You always have a part in my + prayers, and it would be to me a great happiness to have the + assurance one day that my friendship has not been without some + benefit to you. I assure you I prize it, and I feel more + strongly that I have more in common with you than with anyone + else with whom I communicate. I have not the heart nor indeed + the time to write more." + + + + "_September_ 15, 1852. + "I came away from Columbia with many pleasant, affectionate + thoughts about you, and grateful recollections of your + kindness, and you have often been in my mind since my return. + You will be glad to learn that my little jaunt was of decided + service to me. I have been improving in health ever since my + return, and now feel quite well. I suppose by this time you + have been on to the North and have returned, and, like myself, + are now quietly settled down to your duties. +{101} + I found my sisters much benefited by their trip to the + sea-shore, and our little household has again resumed its + accustomed habits. I need not tell you, dear Dwight, how glad I + shall be if you will consent to come on now and pay your + promised visit. You might come at the beginning of the week, + and I would go and take your Sunday duties (choose a Sunday + when service is all day at Columbia), and then I would return + on Monday to be with you at home another week. I cannot promise + to do you good, but I can offer you, at least, what you will + not receive elsewhere, true and affectionate sympathy. I do + most deeply feel for you in your anxieties, and in much, in + _very_ much, I feel with you. I felt when I was with you, + my dear friend (now my only friend), as if the difference + between us was this: that you had really come to _a + conclusion_, while I was still of a fearful and divided + mind. I felt as if there was something dishonorable and + disgraceful in such a state of indecision, while there was an + appearance of manliness in your boldness and determination, and + I was ashamed of myself. Besides, I found myself sometimes + taking the anti-Roman side in argument with you, and then I was + vexed with myself for doing what I did nowhere else, and what I + could not do heartily anywhere, and I seemed to myself + insincere. I do not know whether you can understand me, but I + want you to understand my feelings; for I do not want you to + think I _am_ insincere, and I felt so much obliged to you + when you told me that you said to H. that you did not think me + so. I believe uncertainty often carries the appearance of + insincerity; and uncertain I own myself to be, full of sadness, + full of doubt. O Dwight, what is there in such a situation to + make one remain in it, if one could conscientiously leave it? + What could hinder me from being a Roman Catholic but for the + fear of doing wrong? I assure you, that as regards this world I + have not a hope or desire, and there is nothing earthly which I + could not part with this night. +{102} + Nothing seems to me worth living for but the knowledge of the + truth and the love of God; and that position in which I feel I + should be the happiest would be where I should be + _certain_ what was truth, and could live a life hidden + from the world with God. I feel concerned at finding myself + writing so much about myself, and in such a strain; but I + think, in reading over the letter, you will understand how I + came to do it, and will pardon it. + + "I have been reading lately pretty systematically on the Roman + question. De Maistre and Lacordaire I have finished, and will + return them to you if you wish them. They are both + philosophical rather than theological, and from that fact, as + well as from the _French_ way in which they are written, I + think they will be less influential with persons brought up in + the school with you and me. I thought the remarks of De Maistre + on the temporal power of the Popes not near so forcible as + those in Brownson's Review. Thompson seems to me now, as he did + before, a remarkably cogent and attractive writer. I have not + finished his pamphlet as yet, but feel very much interested in + it. I have procured Balmez, and Newman on Anglicanism, but have + not yet read them. When I was in Philadelphia I saw Mr. ----. + He called on Manning when he was in London, and had a very + interesting interview. M. is about to publish another edition + of his book on the Unity of the Church. I should indeed like to + see it, or any thing else that Came from his hand. + + * * * * * + + "God bless you, my dear friend; write to me fully and freely as + of old, and be sure of the affection of your friend, + "F. A. B." + +{103} + + "_Ash Wednesday_, 1853. + * * * + "The general tone of your letter, too, was sad, and that also + fell in with my own feelings, for you may be sure that the + stirring event of the last month has not been without a great + effect on me, agitated as I was before by so many serious + doubts. Well, _another_ has gone, and that the most + eminent of the party with which you and I have been identified, + and you and I remain asking still what we are to do! To me the + question has been of late and is now one of absorbing and + pressing importance, and yet I do not know how to answer it, + and in my perplexity can do nothing but pray--pray, as I have + done most earnestly, for direction from on high; and my + comfort, dear Dwight, is to know that you also pray for me. + What I want is the heart just to stand waiting God's bidding, + and, when that is given, to act without delay or taking counsel + with the flesh. I should so much like to see Bishop Ives's + Reasons, which I suppose will in some way be published. + + * * * + + I received the first number of a newspaper from New York, the + _Church Journal_ (which is most vociferously anti-Roman). + ---- is one of the editors. By the way, ---- is also connected + with this paper, and ----. I felt sorry to think of what a + different spirit they once were; and yet, if the Church of Rome + be not what she claims to be, the position of such men as + Bishop Whittingham is the right one, and ours is untenable. + However, I cannot but own that I have a drawing toward the + Roman Catholic communion so strong that, if I were to be + without it, I should feel as if I were not myself. I have not + thought it right to go by this feeling, but it is very strong, + and I confess I feel _envious_ of Bishop Ives, when I + think of him in his new home--a feeling which I often have in + reference to dear H., whom I loved and reverenced so truly. (By + the way, H., I hear, is either at present in Baltimore, or is + about coming here, to conduct a 'mission' in the Cathedral.) I + often feel afraid, my dear Dwight, in writing on such subjects, + of doing wrong in expressing my feelings and thoughts, and of + doing you harm; but after all, it seems not improper for + friends such as we are to speak without reserve, and perhaps I + have done so too little. + +{104} + + "I have been reading a good deal lately. + + * * * + + The articles on Cyprian (by Dr. Nevin) were indeed most + masterly, and seemed to me to express the true doctrine of + antiquity as to the primacy of the Roman See. They have caused + a good deal of speculation on my part. I do not see how the + writer can fail to become a Roman Catholic. I did not tell you + what I thought of Newman's book; it was full of power, many + most capital hits and brilliant passages, and, what is better, + satisfactory explanations of difficulties. The eleventh lecture + seemed to me the least successful, and I own, even after + reading it, the position of the Greek Church, based on a + theological theory not unlike that which is advocated by + Anglo-Catholics, and much the same (as Brownson seems to think) + with that held by many Roman Catholics, does seem to me a + difficulty. Balmez, too, I have proceeded some way with, and am + much interested in. + + "I thank you for Brownson very much. I have read the number you + sent me, and it has set me to thinking. His positions are bold + and require some reflection; and though I find in him the + consistent expression of much that I think I always believed, + yet he presents many new ideas to me. + + * * * + + "Adieu to-night, my dear Dwight. May the blessing of Heaven be + with you." + +This was the last of these sad epistles--these outbreathings of a +pure and noble, but troubled spirit, enveloped in the obscure +night of doubt, and seeking wearily for the light of truth. It +was written on the first day of Lent; and when that Lent had +passed by, the clouds of mist had lifted from around the soul of +Francis Baker, never to return. Before he wrote again to his dear +friend, the _coup de-grace_ had been given. The blow was +struck suddenly and effectually, and the news of it came +unexpectedly, with a startling and almost sunning effect upon his +friend, through the following brief and abrupt communication-- + +{105} + + "Baltimore, _April_ 5, 1853. + "My Dear Dwight:--The decision is made: I have resigned my + parish, and am about to place myself under instruction + preparatory to my being received into the Catholic Church. I + can write no more at present. May God help you. + "Your affectionate friend, + "Francis A. Baker." + +This letter was followed by another, written three days after, in +reply to one from Mr. Lyman. + + "My Dear Dwight:--It _was_ cruel in me to write so + briefly, but if you knew what a press of duty came upon me just + at once, you would pity me, and indeed now I am in such a + confusion, that it takes some courage to write a line. But, my + dear friend, you have been so great a help to me, that it would + be worse than heathen in me not to give you one word of + explanation. I decided to submit to the Catholic Church last + Sunday night, and gave in my resignation to the vestry on last + Tuesday morning. I went to the archbishop, and to-morrow I make + my profession in St. Alphonsus' Church, before only two + witnesses, the least the rubric requires. This was in + compliance with the advice of the Bishop, who did not think it + well to give unnecessary publicity to the act. Plain and + sufficient arguments had long enough been addressed to my mind, + but my conversion at last I owe only to the grace of God. It + was the gift of God through Prayers, and now I can say 'Nunc + Dimittis'--for 'I believe, O God! all the Holy Truths which Thy + Catholic Church proposes to our belief, because Thou, my God, + hast revealed them all; and Thy Church has declared them. In + this faith I desire to live, and in the same, by Thy holy + grace, I am most firmly resolved to die. Amen.' + + * * * + + "I shall prepare for the sacraments next week, but beyond that, + I have formed no plans. + +{106} + + "My dear Dwight, I feel that I have too long resisted God's + grace, and it will be one of the sins which I must now repent + of. God by His merciful kindness did not suffer me to be + abandoned, as, indeed, my resistance of His grace deserved, but + kindly pleaded with me, and I am now at the threshold of the + kingdom of God. Come with us, dear Dwight, come; God's time is + the best time. May our Lord bless you and direct you. Yours + affectionately, + "Francis A. Baker." + +This closes the correspondence of Mr. Baker with the dear and +valued friend of his youth and manhood, previous to his reception +into the Catholic Church; and I have postponed the continuation +of my narrative in order to complete my extracts from it, and +leave the writer to tell his own touching story to the end. + +Mr. Baker's conversion was the logical sequence of his former +life, both intellectual and spiritual; it was the result of the +accumulating light of the eleven preceding years, concentrated +and brought to a focus upon the practical question of duty and +obligation. The particular events which immediately preceded it, +were like the stroke of the hammer on the mould of a bell, +already completely cast and finished beneath it, and waiting only +the shattering of its earthen shell to ring out with a clear and +musical sound. "_The just man is the accuser of himself_," +and Mr. Baker, whose deep humility made him unconscious of his +own goodness, in the first vivid consciousness that the light +which had led him to the Catholic Church was the light of grace, +could no longer understand his past state of doubt, and +reproached himself for it, as a sinful resistance to God. It is +not necessary, however, to suppose that there was any thing +grievously culpable in that state of doubt and hesitation. + +{107} + +He was right in attributing his final decision to the efficacious +grace of the Holy Spirit. But this grace was only the last of a +long series of graces which had prepared him to receive it. It +did not change, but only perfected his habitual disposition of +mind. It produced a crisis and a transformation in his soul, but +it was one to which a long and gradual process had been +continually tending. It was not a miracle, or a sudden +revelation. Careful thought and reading, and the assiduous +cultivation of his spiritual faculties had brought him to the +apprehension of all the data of a rational judgment that the +Catholic Church is true. The apparently sudden moment of +deliberation and decision was but the successful effort of the +mind and will to come into the certain consciousness of the truth +already fairly proposed, and to determine to follow it. It was a +supernatural grace which made this effort successful, and +elevated the just conclusions of reason to the certitude of +faith. But it was not a grace which superseded reason or +dispensed with the reasonable grounds and evidences of an +intellectual judgment and the motives of a just determination. + +Mr. Baker must have been drawing near to a decision during the +whole of Lent; for his mind was evidently more deeply and +earnestly bent on coming to it, when I saw him in Easter Week, +than ever. He called on me on the Friday evening of Easter week, +and his manner was much changed. His anxiety of mind broke +through the reserve he had heretofore maintained, and instead of +the guarded and self-controlled manner he had preserved in former +interviews, he was abrupt and outspoken. At the very outset, he +expressed his feeling that the question of difference between us +was one of vital importance, in regard to which one of us must be +deeply and dangerously in the wrong, and desired to discuss the +matter with me fully. I suppose his intention was to see me more +frequently than he had done, to open his mind more fully, and to +get from me all the help I could give him in making up his mind. +We had a pretty long conversation on theological points, without +going into the discussion of fundamental Catholic principles. +{108} +The truth is, Mr. Baker had already mastered these principles, +and was really settled in regard to every essential doctrine. He +had no need of further study, but merely of an effort to shake +off that kind of doubt which is a mental weakness, and +perpetually revolves difficulties and objections which ought not +to affect the judgment. The one particular point which we +discussed most was in reference to some passages in the writings +of St. Augustine concerning the doctrine of Purgatory--a doctrine +which he had clearly stated his belief in, two years before. I +answered his difficulty as well as I could at the time, promising +to examine the matter more fully the next day, and to give him a +written answer, which I accordingly did, but too late to be of +any service to him, as the sequel will show. I left him with a +strong impression that the crisis of his mind was at hand, and +for that reason engaged all the members of the community to pray +for him particularly. After leaving me, he called on a young lady +who was very ill, and had sent for him to visit her. This young +lady, who died happily in the bosom of the Catholic Church a few +weeks after, had already sent for one of the reverend gentlemen +of the Cathedral, and expressed to him her desire to become a +Catholic, but had consented, at the request of her family, to +have an interview with Mr. Baker before receiving the sacraments. +When he came to her bedside, she informed him of her state of +mind, and asked him if he had any satisfactory reason to allege +why she should not fulfil her wish to be received into the +Catholic Church before she died. He told her that he regretted +very much that she had chosen to consult with him on that point, +as there were reasons why he must decline giving her advice on +the subject. She conjured him to tell her distinctly what he +thought, and he again replied that he was not able to say any +thing to her on the subject. She looked at him earnestly, and +said, "I see how it is, Mr. Baker; you are in doubt yourself." +Without saying another word, he left the room and the house, +transpierced with a pain which he could neither endure nor +remove. +{109} +He turned his steps toward the Cathedral, and walked around it +several times, like one not knowing where to go, and then +returned to his home and his study to remain in solitude and +prayer, through several anxious days and sleepless nights. He was +now face to face with the certainty that he dare not promise to +anyone else security of salvation in the Episcopal Church. Yet, +he was a minister of that Church, and was trusting his own +salvation to it. To remain in such a position longer had become +impossible to a conscientious man like him. Nevertheless, he went +through the duties of Sunday, and again read prayers in his +church on the Monday and Tuesday mornings. He had been censured +for this, by some, as if he had acted a hypocritical part, but +most unjustly. Certainly, if he had asked my advice beforehand, I +should have told him that he had no right to do it. But the +reader of this narrative will see that his own conscience had +been frequently overruled on the question of exercising the +ministry in a state of doubt, and on Sunday he was still in this +state, undecided what to do. He did not actually give in his +resignation until after prayers on Tuesday morning, and any +candid person will surely admit that he was excusable, in the +agitation of the moment, for thinking that it was better to +fulfil the engagements he was under to his people until the last +moment, when these consisted merely in reciting a form of prayer +which is very good in itself, and contains nothing contrary to +Catholic doctrine. + +On Tuesday, the 5th of April, Mr. Baker gave a letter of +resignation to the vestry of St. Luke's Church, called on Dr. +Wyatt, who was the administrator of the diocese during the +bishop's absence in Europe, and then went to see the archbishop. +When he was admitted to the presence of this venerable and +saintly prelate, he threw himself on his knees before him, and in +accents and words of the most profound humility made his +submission to the Catholic Church, and implored him to receive +him into her bosom. +{110} +The archbishop, who knew him well by sight and by reputation, +arose in haste from his chair to raise him from his knees, in a +few warm and affectionate words welcomed him to his embrace, and +begged him to be seated by his side and to calm himself. It was +with difficulty that he could induce him to do so, for the +barrier in his soul that had held it icebound for so long had +given way: a torrent of repressed emotions was swelling in his +bosom, and after a moment he burst into a flood of tears, the +gentle and good archbishop weeping with him from sympathy. After +a long and consoling conversation with the archbishop, he came +over to St. Alphonsus' Church, which is near the Cathedral, to +see me. + +I was making a retreat that day, and was walking in the garden, +when a message was sent me by the rector to go to the parlor to +see Mr. Baker. As soon as he saw me, he said, abruptly, "I have +come to be one of you." I invited him inside the inclosure, and +he, fancying I misunderstood his words to imply that he was ready +to join our religious congregation, answered quickly, "I do not +mean that I wish to become a Redemptorist, but a Catholic." "I +understand that," I replied; "let us go to the oratory and recite +a Te Deum of thanksgiving." We did so, and then walked in the +garden together for a short time. The first time I ever saw an +expression of real joyfulness in his countenance was then. He was +always placid, but never, so far as I could see, joyous, before +he became a Catholic. To my great surprise, he chose me as his +confessor. I left the time of his reception to himself, and he +chose Saturday, the 9th of April, which was the anniversary of +the death of his brother Alfred. On Saturday morning, I said Mass +in the little chapel of the Orphan Asylum of the Sisters of +Charity. Father Hecker, who was present, on account of the +approaching mission, accompanied me to the chapel. After Mass, +Mr. Baker made his profession, according to the old form, +containing the full creed of Pius IV., and I received him into +the bosom of the Church. +{111} +No others were present besides the good Sisters and their little +children. He had been baptized by Dr. Wyatt, and the archbishop +decided that there was no reason whatever for his being +conditionally rebaptized. I performed the supplementary rites of +baptism, such as the anointing with holy oil and chrism, the +giving of the white garment and lighted candle, etc., at his own +request, in the sacristy of the Cathedral, after his sacramental +confession was completed. This sacred act was accomplished in the +archbishop's library. During the week after his reception, and on +the Third Sunday after Easter, April 17, he was confirmed in the +Cathedral by Archbishop Kenrick, and received his first communion +from his hand. + +The conversion of Mr. Baker made a great sensation in Baltimore, +and wherever he was known. It was announced in the secular +papers, and for some weeks a lively controversy arising out of it +was kept up. It was the general topic of conversation in all +circles, Catholic and Protestant. The sorrow of his own +parishioners, of those who had loved and honored him so much +while he was connected with St. Paul's parish, and especially of +his more near and intimate friends, was very great. His own near +relatives, and a certain number of his intimate friends, never +were in the least alienated from him, but remained as closely +bound to him in affection as ever, while they and he lived. The +great majority of those who had been his admirers, and who had +listened with delight to his eloquent preaching, always retained +a great respect and esteem for him; and during his whole +subsequent life, he almost invariably won a regard from those of +the Protestant community who were acquainted with him, second +only to that of the Catholic people to whom he ministered. There +were some exceptions to this rule, however. A few persons wrote +to him in the most severe and reproachful terms. The usual +pitiable charge, that his religious change was caused by mental +derangement, was made by those whose wretched policy has always +been to counteract as much as possible the influence of +conversions to the Catholic Church by personal calumnies against +the converts. +{112} +He was sometimes openly insulted, and much more frequently +treated with coldness and neglect. Notwithstanding the respect +with which so many still regarded him in their hearts, he was +compelled to feel that he had become, in great measure, an alien +and a stranger in the community where he had been born and bred. +In a short time, his duty called him away from his native city, +and, somewhat later, from his own State, into a distant part of +the country. All the old associations of his early life were +broken up; he had no longer an earthly home; and until his death +he had, for the most part, no other ties and associations except +those which were created by his religious profession and his +sacerdotal office. Some six or seven persons were received into +the Church soon after his conversion, three or four of whom were +his parishioners; and some others may have been at a later period +partly influenced by his example. But none of his intimate and +particular friends were among the number, with the exception of +his old and bosom friend and associate in the ministry, Mr. +Lyman. His name and influence faded away, and were forgotten +among the things of the past; while he, having bidden farewell to +the world and taken up his cross, followed on after Christ, +toward the crown he was soon to win, and was lost to the view of +those among whom he had lived before, in the dust of the combat +and labor of an arduous and obscure missionary career. + +It is not to be supposed that Mr. Baker could hesitate long as to +his vocation. He had in his youth dedicated himself to the +ministry of Christ, but had mistaken a false claimant of +delegated power to confer the character and mission of the +priesthood, for the true one. Nine years had been spent, not +uselessly; for the good example and eloquent instructions of a +wise and virtuous man are always salutary; and he had been slowly +preparing himself by the feeble light and imperfect grace which +he had for the perfect gifts of the Catholic sacraments. +{113} +He was now thirty-three years of age, in the full bloom of his +natural powers, with all his holy aspirations and purposes +ripened and perfected, with a thorough knowledge of Catholic +theology, excepting only its specially technical and professional +branches, with all the habits suited for a sacerdotal life fully +established. The only doubt of his vocation in his own mind was +one of humility, and when this was settled by the decision of his +confessor and of his bishop, his course was clear before him. He +might still have chosen to remain in his own home and family +while preparing for ordination. He might have remained in his +native city, or in the diocese, as a secular priest, secure of +the most honorable and agreeable position which the archbishop +could bestow upon him, where he could have enjoyed all those +domestic comforts and elegancies to which he was accustomed, +together with the society of the beloved members of his family +who still remained, without in any way interfering with his +proposed career as a devoted priest. He chose differently, +however, and from the promptings of his own soul, which +instinctively chose what was most perfect. My religious brethren +and myself used no solicitations to induce him to join us. His +original desire for the religious life gave him a bias toward the +regular clergy. What he saw of the little band of American +Redemptorists, and of the mission which was given at the +Cathedral, captivated his heart with a desire to become one of +their number. He thought of one thing only--what was the will of +God, and the most perfect way open to him to sanctify himself and +others in the priesthood. His mind was soon made up on this +point. He applied to the Father Provincial of the Redemptorists, +who received him without hesitation. He settled his affairs as +speedily as possible, and began his novitiate at once. As soon as +the proper time arrived, he divested himself of all his property +for the benefit of the surviving members of his family. His +library he gave to the congregation, by whom it was afterward +kindly restored to him, and is now in the possession of the +Paulists at New York. +{114} +His only aim and desire, from this time forward, was to acquire +the perfection of Christian and religious virtue. Forgetting all +that was behind, he pressed forward to those things which were +before, with a fixed aim and a steady, unfaltering step. He +dropped into the position of a novice and a student so easily, +and with such a perfectness of humility, that it seemed his +natural and obvious place to be among the youths and young men +who were with him. He was the favorite and companion of the +youngest among them, and, it is needless to say, the delight and +consolation of his superiors. After one year of novitiate and his +profession, he continued for two years more studying dogmatic and +moral theology, with the other accessories usually taught to +candidates for orders. During this time he lost his amiable and +excellent sister, Elizabeth Baker, to his great sorrow. Although +his ordination was postponed much longer than is usually the case +with men in his position, already so well prepared by their +previous intellectual and moral training for the priesthood, he +was not in the least impatient at the delay, and his long +preparation gave him the advantage that he was ready at once to +undertake all the most difficult and responsible duties of a +matured and experienced priest. Besides this, he acquired that +thorough and minute theoretical and practical knowledge of the +ceremonies of the Church, and of every thing relating to the +divine service of the altar and the sanctuary, for which he was +afterward distinguished. He came out of his long retirement a +workman thoroughly and completely furnished for his task, and +imbued through and through with the spirit of the Catholic +Church. I seldom saw him, and never exchanged letters with him, +during all this period, each of us being absorbed in his own +particular duties and occupations, at a distance from the other. +As the time of his ordination approached, we were both of us, +however, again in the same House, that of St. Alphonsus, in +Baltimore. +{115} +It was in the summer of 1856 that he finished his studies, and, +having some time before received the minor orders, began his +retreat preparatory to being admitted to the three holy orders. +During the retreat, his companion, F. Vogien, an amiable and holy +young religious--with him and the saintly prelate who ordained +them, now, I trust, in heaven--was full of dread and +apprehension, often weeping, and even entreating his superior to +postpone his ordination. With Father Baker it was otherwise. +While I was in the church, during the evening, employed in the +exercises of my own retreat, I often heard him singing the most +joyful of the ecclesiastical chants in the garden, and his +placid, pale face was lighted up with the radiant joy of a Soul +approaching to the consummation of its holiest and most cherished +wishes. He was ordained sub-deacon and deacon in St. Mary's +Chapel during the week before the Sunday fixed for his ordination +to the priesthood. On Sunday, September 21, 1856, he was ordained +priest by Archbishop Kenrick, in the Cathedral. The Archbishop +celebrated Pontifical Mass, the reverend gentlemen and +seminarists from St. Sulpice assisted, and the clergy were +present in considerable numbers, among them his old friend, Mr. +Lyman, already a priest. Everyone who knows what the Cathedral of +Baltimore is, and how the grand ceremonies of the Church are +performed in it, will understand how beautiful and inspiring was +the scene at Father Baker's ordination. The great church was +crowded to its utmost capacity, but it was by Catholics only, +drawn by the desire to see one who had sacrificed so much for +their own dear faith. Father Baker, as he knelt with his +companion at a priedieu, dressed in rich and beautiful white +vestments, after receiving the indelible character of the +priesthood, to offer up with the Archbishop the Holy Sacrifice of +the Mass, looked more like an angel than a man. +{116} +The holy and benignant prelate shed tears of joyful emotion when +he embraced him at the close of the ceremony, and there was never +a more delightful reunion than that which took place on that day, +when the clergy met at the archbishop's table, to participate in +the modest festivities of the episcopal mansion. A few days +after, Mr. Lyman, Father Baker, and Myself, celebrated a solemn +Votive Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Alphonsus' Church, for the +signal grace we had received, in being all brought to the +communion of the Holy Church and to her priesthood. + +Here began the sacerdotal career, brief in time, but rich in +labors and results, of Father Baker. He remained in Baltimore a +few weeks, to celebrate his first Mass, and initiate himself in +quiet retirement into his new priestly life and functions. The +first fruit of his new priesthood was a convert to the Catholic +Church, a young widow lady of highly respectable family, who was +bred a Unitarian, and who had been waiting three years to be +received into the Church by Father Baker. He baptized her and her +two children, a few days after his own ordination. Soon after he +began the missionary career, in which the greatest part of his +subsequent life was employed. + +It may not here be amiss to digress from the personal history of +Father Baker, long enough to give some account of the nature of +those missions in which he was henceforth to take so conspicuous +a part, and of their introduction into this country. In doing so, +I shall describe more particularly the method adopted in those +missions with which I have been myself connected, without +noticing any others which may differ in certain details; and this +will suffice to give a correct idea of all missions, so far as +their general spirit and scope is concerned. + +Missions to the Catholic people have been in use for centuries in +various parts of Europe. They are generally given by the members +of religious congregations specially devoted to the work. The +missionaries are invited by the pastor of the parish, with the +sanction of the bishop of the diocese from whom they receive +their jurisdiction. +{117} +The exercises of the mission consist of a regular series of +sermons and instructions, continued for a number of days, and +sometimes for two weeks in succession, twice or oftener in the +day. The course of instructions, which is given at an early hour +of the morning, embraces familiar and plain but solid and +didactic expositions of the commandments, sacraments, and +practical Christian and moral duties. The course of sermons, +given at night, includes the great truths which relate to the +eternal destiny of man, which are presented in the most thorough +and exhaustive manner possible, and enforced with all the power +with which the preacher is endowed. Several of Father Baker's +mission sermons are included in the collection published in this +volume, and will serve to exhibit their peculiar style and +character. Frequently, the older children receive separate +instruction for about four days in succession, closing with a +general confession and communion. After the mission has continued +a few days, the confessionals are opened to the people, and +communion is given every morning to those who are prepared to +receive. At the close of the mission the altar is decorated with +flowers and lights, a baptismal font is erected, the people renew +their baptismal vows after an appropriate sermon has been +preached, and are dismissed with a parting benediction. The +sacrifice of the Mass is offered up several times every morning, +according to the number of priests present; and before the +evening sermon there is a short prefatory exercise, which, in the +Paulist Missions, consists of the explanation of an article of +the Creed, followed by the Litany of the Saints. After sermon, +the _Miserere_ or some other appropriate piece is sung, and +the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is given. + +All this is very simple, consisting of nothing more than the +preaching of the Word of God, the administration of the +sacraments, and the performance of acts of worship and prayer, as +these are ordinarily practised in the regular routine of the +Catholic Church. +{118} +All that is peculiar and unusual consists in the adaptation of +the preaching and instructions to the end in view, and in the +daily continuity of the exercises. The object aimed at is to +present in one complete view all the principal truths of +religion, and all the essential practical rules for living +virtuously in conformity with those truths, and to do this in the +most comprehensive, forcible, and intelligible manner. The class +of persons for whose benefit missions are primarily intended is +that portion of the Catholic people least influenced by the +ordinary ministrations of the parochial clergy, although all +classes, even the best instructed and most regular, share in the +benefit. All necessary available means are used to awaken an +interest in the mission and to secure attendance. When this is +done, continuous daily listening to instruction and participation +in religious exercises prevents the impressions received from +passing away, the people become more and more interested and +absorbed, and are carried through a process of thought and +reflection upon all the most momentous truths and doctrines, +which is for them equivalent to a thorough education of the mind +and conscience. The general instructions given in public are +applied to the individual soul by the confessor in the tribunal +of penance, as the judge of guilty and the physician of diseased +and wounded consciences. Sin and guilt are washed away by +sacramental absolution from all who are sincerely penitent; their +souls, purified and restored to grace, are refreshed and +strengthened by the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy +Eucharist, and the debt of temporal punishment due to the justice +of God is removed or lightened, in proportion to the intensity of +contrition and divine love excited in the soul by its own efforts +to secure the grace of God, through the indulgences conceded by +the supreme power of the Vicar of Christ. + +{119} + +The earlier sermons are directed to the end of fixing the mind on +the supreme importance of religion, and alarming the conscience +in regard to sin. Afterward, special vices are denounced, +particular dangers and temptations pointed out, those duties +which are most neglected are brought out into bold relief, and +every effort made to produce a thorough reformation of life. +Toward the close, the scope and aim of the sermons are to animate +and encourage the heart and will by appealing to the nobler +passions and the higher motives, to awaken confidence in God, to +portray the eternal rewards of virtue and point out the means of +perseverance. All that can impress the senses and imagination, +subdue the heart, convince the reason, and stimulate the will, is +brought to bear, in conjunction with the supernatural efficacy of +the word and sacraments of Christ, upon a people full of faith +and religious susceptibility, under the most favorable +circumstances for producing the greatest possible effect. Where +faith is impaired, the effect is not so certain, and slower and +more tedious means have to be adopted, with less hope of success, +to restore the dying root of all religion, or replant it where it +is completely dead. It is moreover certain, although it may not +be evident to those who are destitute of Catholic faith, that +there is an extraordinary grace of God accompanying the exercises +of the mission; and this was so plain to the mind of an earnest +Episcopalian clergyman in New England, on one occasion, that it +led him to study seriously the subject of the Catholic Church, +the result of which was that he became a Catholic, at a great +personal sacrifice. + +Public retreats had been given from time to time in the United +States, by the Jesuits and others, before the series of +Redemptorist Missions was commenced. This series, which began at +St. Joseph's Church, New York, in April, 1851, was, however, the +first that was systematically and regularly carried on by a band +of missionaries especially devoted to the work. Since that time, +the number of missionaries, belonging to several distinct +congregations, has increased, and the missions have been +multiplied. +{120} +The principal merit of inaugurating this great and extensive work +belongs to F. Bernard Hafkenscheid, who was formerly the +Provincial of the Redemptorist Congregation in the United States. +F. Bernard, as he was always called, on account of his +unpronounceable patronymic, had been for twenty years the most +eloquent and successful preacher of missions in his native +country of Holland and the adjacent Low Countries. Born to the +possession of wealth and all its attendant advantages, but still +more blessed with a most thorough religious training and the +grace of early piety from his childhood, he received a finished +ecclesiastical education, which he completed at Rome, where he +was honored with the doctorate in theology. After his ordination, +he devoted himself to the religious and missionary life in the +Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, in which he speedily +became the most eminent of all their preachers in the Low +Countries. He was able to preach the word of God with fluency and +correctness in three languages, besides his native tongue: +French, German, and English. But it was only in the Dutch +language that he was able to exhibit the extraordinary powers of +eloquence with which he was endowed, and which made his name a +household word in every Catholic family in Holland. His picture +was to be seen in every house; the highest and lowest flocked +with equal eagerness to hear him, and, on one occasion, the king +himself came to the convent to testify his respect for his +apostolic character by a formal visit. His figure and countenance +were cast in a mould as large as that of his great and generous +soul, and his whole character and bearing were those of a man +born to lead and command others by his innate superiority, but to +command far more by the magnetic influence of a kind and noble +heart than by authority. Father Bernard brought with him to the +United States, in March, 1851, two American Redemptorists, who +had been stationed for some years in England, and had scarcely +landed in New York when he organized a band of missionaries, to +commence the English missions. +{121} +During nearly two years, he took personal charge of many of those +missions, working in the confessional from twelve to sixteen +hours every day, occasionally preaching when the ordinary +preacher broke down, and instructing the young, inexperienced +fathers most carefully in all the methods of giving sermons and +instructions, and otherwise conducting the exercises of the +mission in the best and most judicious manner. Father Bernard +received Father Baker into the congregation, but soon afterward +was recalled to Europe, where, after a long and laborious life +spent in the sacred warfare, he is resting in the quiet repose +and peace of religions seclusion. [Footnote 4] + + [Footnote 4: Since the above was written, the news has been + received of the death of Father Bernard, from the effects of + a fall while descending from the pulpit.] + +The superior of the English Missions, in the absence of F. +Bernard, and after he ceased to direct them personally, was +another Father with an unpronounceable name, F. Alexander +Cvitcovicz, a Magyar, who was always called Father Alexander. It +would have been impossible to find a superior more completely +fitted for the position. Although he was even then past the +meridian of life, and had been in former times the +Superior-General of his Congregation in the United States, he +cheerfully took on himself the hardest labors of the missions. It +was not unusual for him to sit in his confessional for ten days +in succession, for fifteen or sixteen hours each day. He +instructed the little children who were preparing for the +sacraments, and sometimes gave some of the morning instructions, +but never preached any of the great sermons. In his government of +the fathers who were under him, he was gentleness, consideration, +and indulgence itself. In his own life and example, he presented +a pattern of the most perfect religious virtue, in its most +attractive form--without constraint, austerity, or moroseness, +and yet without relaxation from the most strict ascetic +principles. +{122} +He was a thoroughly accomplished and learned man in many branches +of secular and sacred science and in the fine arts; and in the +German language, which was as familiar to him as his native +language, he was among the best preachers of his order. He +designed and built the beautiful Church of St. Alphonsus, in +Baltimore, although he was never able to complete it according to +his own just and elegant taste. For such a man to take upon +himself the drudgery of laborious missions, aided, for the most +part, by young men in delicate health, incapable of enduring the +hardships of old, well-seasoned veterans, was indeed a trial of +his virtue. He undertook it, however, cheerfully, and we went +through several long and hard missionary campaigns under his +direction, until at last we left him, in the year 1854, in the +convent at New Orleans, worn out with labor, to exchange his +arduous missionary work for the lighter duties of the parish. +Father Alexander was succeeded in the office of Superior of +English Missions by Father Walworth, one of the American +Redemptorists, who accompanied Father Bernard from England, and +who continued in that office until, with several others, he was +released from his connection with the congregation by a brief of +the Holy Father, in order to form a new society of missionaries. + +There has never been a finer field open to missions than the one +which is found in the Catholic population of the United States, +and seldom has there existed a greater need of them. The missions +of St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists, and +his companions, were confined to villages, hamlets, and outlying +districts, remote from episcopal cities and large towns. In his +rules he directs his children to labor in places of this sort, +because in Italy the most neglected and necessitous part of the +people is only to be found there. In this country it was not so. +The great need for missions lay in cities and large towns, where +dense masses of Catholics were gathered, and where churches, +clergy, and religious organizations of all kinds, were inadequate +to the spiritual wants of the people. +{123} +A large part of the missionary work which has been accomplished +has been, therefore, among those dense masses of the people in +our largest churches and congregations, penetrating to the lowest +strata, and bringing to bear a powerful religious influence upon +the most uninstructed and negligent classes of the people. Some +idea of the extent of this work may be gained from the fact that +the missions given by the corps which F. Bernard organized, +during seven years, from 1851 to 1858, were eighty-six in number, +with an aggregate of 166,000 communions. They have been carried +on on a similar scale, since that time, by the new Congregation +of St. Paul, and by members of several older religious societies; +so that, in the last seven years, the number of persons who have +participated in the benefits of missions is, probably, nearly +double the figures given above. There were other missions also +given, during the first period, besides those enumerated, +especially among Germans. It is, therefore, speaking within +bounds to estimate the number of persons who have received the +sacraments on missions, since 1851, at 500,000. + +This is, however, much less than might have been done, if the +number of missionaries and the facilities for attending their +missions had been greater. Our Catholic population is a vast sea, +where the successors of the apostolic fishers of men may cast +their nets perpetually, without ever exhausting its abundance. In +large towns, the population is so fluctuating and so continually +increasing, that the work needs to be perpetually renewed at +short intervals. There are also immense difficulties in the way +of the poor people. The mass of them belong to the laboring +class, and are, therefore, obliged to come to church very early, +before their working hours, and again at night, after their work +is done. They have no leisure, and can with difficulty rescue +even the few hours necessary for listening to the instructions +they so much need. Hence, many of them can get only as it were by +snatches, here and there, a sermon or instruction during the +course. In factory towns the case is worse. +{124} +Were it not for the accommodation usually granted by the +overseers, in shortening the time, and giving leave of absence, +it would be impossible to give missions to the operatives in many +of our factory villages. Our modern system of society leaves out +of the account the wants of the soul and the duties of religion. +For many, there is even the hard necessity of working all night, +and all Sunday. It is, therefore, difficult enough for our poor +people to attend a mission well, when there is plenty of room for +them in the church, and a good chance of going to confession +without waiting longer than a few hours. Very frequently, +however, in our large and overcrowded parishes, the church will +not hold--even when crowded to suffocation--more than from +one-fourth to one-half of the parishioners. The church is +frequently filled two hours before the time of service. The +porch, the steps, the windows even, are crowded, and hundreds go +a way disappointed. It is easy to see what a drawback this is to +the success of a mission, which requires a continuous attendance +at all the sermons and instructions, and to the stillness and +order in the church which are necessary to enable all to hear +distinctly, and to reflect on what they hear. I have seen at +least four thousand persons congregated in the streets adjacent +to the New York Cathedral, besides the crowd inside. + +Another difficulty lies in the vast number of penitents, and the +small number of confessors. On many missions, confined strictly +to one parish, there have been from four thousand to eight +thousand communions; and, of course, that number of confessions +to be heard within eleven days. At a recent mission of the +Redemptorists, in New York, there were eleven thousand +communions; and at one given a year or two ago, by the Jesuits, +twenty thousand. Ordinarily, the number of confessors has been +inadequate to the work. The people have thronged the chapel where +confessions were heard, from four o'clock in the morning until +night, often waiting an entire day, or even several days, before +they could get near a priest. +{125} +At five in the morning, each of us would see two long rows--one +of men and one of women--seated on benches, flanking his +confessional. At one o'clock he would leave the same unbroken +lines, to find them again at three, and to leave them in the +evening still undiminished. At the end of the mission there would +be still the same crowd waiting about the confessionals, and left +unheard, because the missionaries were unable to continue their +work any longer. More than one-half these people would be persons +who had not been at confession for five, ten, or twenty years, +and of these a great number had seldom been at church, and still +more rarely heard a sermon. Hundreds upon hundreds of adults, of +all ages, have received the sacraments for the first time upon +these missions, many of whom had to be taught the doctrines of +the Trinity and the Incarnation, with the other elementary +articles of the Creed. I have several times, at the close of a +mission, seen a row of grown-up boys seated before my +confessional, of that class who roam the streets, loiter about +the docks, and sleep out at night, unable to read, and scarcely +able to tell who made them, much less to answer the question, Who +is Jesus Christ? They had come to be instructed and prepared for +the sacraments, swept in by the tide which was moving the waters +all around them. Of course, they needed weeks of instruction and +of moral preparation, to rescue them from the abyss of ignorance +and vice in which they were submerged, and make them capable of +living like rational beings and Christians. With some of them, a +beginning may be made, and the germ of good planted in their +souls. But many have to be left as they come, because there is no +provision which can be made for their instruction. In a word, the +nets are so full of a multitude of fishes that they break, and +there are not workmen enough to drag them ashore. The work is too +overwhelming for the number and strength of those who are engaged +in it. In this respect, some missions which have been given in +the British provinces, have been the most complete and +satisfactory of any. +{126} +In St. Patrick's Church, Quebec, the vast size of the building +enabled all who desired to do so to find room. Nineteen +confessors were on duty, and others were appointed to instruct +converts or ignorant adult Catholics. All who wished to go to +confession were easily heard, without long waiting, or the +accumulation of a great crowd of wearied and eager penitents +pressing around the confessionals. It was the same in St. John's, +where the Archbishop of Halifax and a large body of clergymen +were hearing confessions constantly, although, even with this +powerful aid, the missionaries broke down under the labor of +preaching every day to six thousand or eight thousand persons in +the great Cathedral Church, which had just been opened for +service. In these places, however, the number of the people, +though great, had a limit which could be reached, and the +requisite number of priests were easily at the command of the +bishop. In the United States, however, the work is out of all +proportion to the number of priests who are either specially +devoted to missions or who can be called in to aid these in their +labors. The missionaries are too few to do the work alone, and +the parochial clergy are too much engaged in their own duties to +be able to give much of their time to additional works of +charity. If it were possible to give missions simultaneously in +all the churches of New York City, and if they could contain all +the people, it would be easy to collect one hundred thousand +Catholics together every night to hear the Word of God, and to +bring from one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand +to communion within fifteen days. In proportion to the +population, the same results would be produced everywhere in the +United States. It would require the labor of one hundred +missionaries, during eight years, to give missions thoroughly to +our entire Catholic population. At their commencement, however, +and for some years after, there were but six or eight, and there +are now, probably, not more than twenty priests continually +employed in this work. +{127} +The necessity for it is, nevertheless, quite as urgent as it ever +has been, and the benefit to be derived from it inconceivable. +There are the vast masses of people gathered in our great centers +of population, exposed to a thousand demoralizing influences, and +most inadequately supplied with the ordinary means of grace. All +that has been done for them hitherto, is but just sufficient to +develop the immense need there is for doing more, and the great +blessing that attends every effort to do it. Of course, the main +reliance of the Church is, and always must be, upon the bishops +and parochial clergy, and I have not had the slightest intention, +in any thing I have said, to exaggerate the importance of the +special work of missionaries. The episcopate and priesthood were +established by Jesus Christ Himself, and are absolutely essential +to the very existence of the Church. Religious congregations are +of ecclesiastical institution, and are only auxiliary to the +pastoral office. The multiplication of churches and of priests +engaged in parochial duties is the most pressing need, and in no +other way can the spiritual wants of the people be adequately +provided for. It will be long, however, before the bishops will +be able, even by the most strenuous exertions, to make the number +of churches and clergymen keep pace with the increase of the +population. Meanwhile, this lack of the ordinary means of grace +cannot be supplied except by missions; and even where these means +are amply provided, the subsidiary and extraordinary labors of +societies of priests devoted to special apostolic works are +necessary, in order to give their full efficacy to the +ministrations of the ordinary pastors. + +Besides our great towns, and their dense mass of Catholic +population, there is another extensive field of missionary work, +which has of late years been successfully cultivated, and which +invites still further cultivation with a promise of a rich +harvest. +{128} +I refer to the numerous new parishes found in the smaller cities +and country towns and villages. Here a new phase of Catholic life +and growth has commenced. The population is becoming settled and +permanent. Catholics are making their way upward, acquiring real +and personal property, blending with the body of their +fellow-citizens, educating their children, and to a certain +extent themselves belong to the second generation of Catholic +emigrants from Europe, having been born and married in this +country. In many instances, one pastor has two or more of these +parishes to take care of. His time and thoughts are taken up with +church-building and a multitude of other necessary duties. The +country around is sprinkled over with Catholics, who have no +resident priest among them. There is a vast amount of work to be +done in instructing, confirming in the faith, bringing under +religious and moral influence, and establishing in solid piety +and morality, this interesting and hopeful class of Catholics. +Nowhere have the missions been so complete and satisfactory as in +parishes of this kind. The whole body of the people living in the +place where the church is, can attend the sermons and receive the +sacraments. Besides these, those living several miles away flock +to the church as regularly as if they lived in the same street; +and even from a great distance, numbers, who are usually deprived +of the religious advantages of the Church, perhaps even have +grown up without making their first communion, seize the +opportunity with eagerness to come to the mission and remain for +a few days, until they can be prepared to receive the sacraments +of life. In Massachusetts alone, where congregations of this kind +abound, the number of communions given in the Paulist Missions of +the last five years, without counting those given in Boston, +amounts to twenty-five thousand five hundred and thirty, on +seventeen distinct missions, giving an average of one thousand +three hundred and twenty-five to each congregation. These figures +are a correct index to the numbers of the Catholic population in +country towns throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, +Pennsylvania, and other portions of the Northern States. + +{129} + +The missions hitherto given have been intended immediately for +the benefit of the Catholic people. Their incidental influence +upon the Protestant community ought not, however, to be +overlooked. Usually, our Catholic churches are so crowded by the +faithful, that it is at least unpleasant, if not almost +impossible for others to attend our sermons, especially on +occasions of great interest. Notwithstanding this obstacle, +thousands of Protestants have come at different times to hear the +mission sermons, and there have usually been several converts on +each large mission, sometimes as many as twenty, and on one +mission, that of Quebec, fifty. Hundreds have been received into +the Church, in this way, from all classes in society, among whom +were two clergymen holding respectable positions in the Episcopal +Church, which they gave up at a great worldly sacrifice. Besides +actual conversions, a great effect has been produced in removing +the prejudices and gaining the good-will of the community at +large. The secular papers have almost unanimously spoken +favorably of the missions. In many instances, the gentlemen and +ladies of the vicinity have sent the choicest flowers of their +gardens and hot-houses, to decorate the altar and baptismal font. +Not only laymen, but clergymen have often manifested a wish to +show kind and courteous attentions to the missionaries. Very +seldom has any thing unpleasant occurred, or any annoyance been +experienced--much less, indeed, than is encountered by +missionaries in some other parts of the world from nominal +Catholics. Employers have frequently lent their servants and +work-people the means of conveyance to the church, or exempted +them from a portion of their duties. It is impossible not to see +how rapidly and generally the prejudice against the Catholic +religion and the priesthood is melting away in this country. And +this seems to warrant the hope that the time may soon come, when +the faith may be preached to our separated brethren by means of +missions especially intended for them, with rich results. + +{130} + +The favorable impression already so widely produced upon those +who have heard Catholic missionaries preach, proves how much we +have to hope for in this direction. This has caused, in one +instance, which seems to demand some notice, an attempt to +obviate this effect, by representing our manner of preaching as +part of an artful plan of Rome, to deceive the minds of the +people by presenting only a portion of the Catholic doctrine +under plausible colors. After several missions had been given in +Cambridge and Boston, where many Protestants of intelligence +attended, and more would have willingly done so if there bad been +room for them, the rector of a Boston church, who was present +several times, preached and published a lecture, in which he +attempted to explain the real spirit and object of the Paulist +Congregation, by which the missions were given. The extent of the +impression made is proved by the following passage in a note to +the lecture:-- + + "One does not take pleasure in accumulating proofs that the + Papal superstition still retains its most deplorable features; + but as long as Protestant minds are imposed upon by the + superficial fallacy that it is parting with these features, + because its public speakers deliver admirable discourses, it + seems to be necessary. Undoubtedly, the order of Paulists, is + at present a very efficient arm of the Romish service in this + country. Men say, 'Whatever Hildebrand, and the Innocents, and + Torquemada may have done or said, _such preaching as this is + good for everybody_.'" [Footnote 5] + + [Footnote 5: The R. C. Principle: a "Price Lecture," &c. + Boston. Dutton & Co. 1863 App., p. 39.] + +On page 27 of the lecture, he says: + + "One of the latest developments in the policy of her + propagandism is the establishment in this country, with + head-quarters in our chief city, of a new missionary order. +{131} + The Paulists are the itinerants and revivalists of that + _shrewd mother of adaptabilities_, who, in becoming all + things to all men and to all women, saw a chance in America for + reaping, not so much in the field where her own fathers, like + Marquette and Rasles, as where Whitfield and Maffit had sown." + +Throughout the lecture, the aim of the author is to show that the +sound and practical preaching of the eternal truths of religion, +which he is forced himself to admire, and which was so much +admired by many others, is nothing but an illusive pretence, +which throws a deceitful halo over a system of superstitious +formalism. + +I have not introduced this topic for the sake of a theological +argument, but merely in view of vindicating the reputation of F. +Baker, whose sermons at Cambridge made the principal impression +which the lecture was intended to obviate, and forestalling a +prejudice which might cast a shade over the discourses which are +published in this volume. + +The author of this lecture, who has been my personal friend for +thirty years, and who wrote to me on the occasion of its +publication to express his hope that it might not interrupt our +friendship, and all the Protestants who may peruse these pages, +especially those who know me, will admit that I am both competent +to explain what Catholic doctrine is, and incapable of practising +any dissimulation on the subject. Those who knew F. Baker, or who +may learn to know him from reading this volume, will also +acknowledge that his high-toned mind was incapable of yielding to +any system of driveling superstition, and his chivalrous spirit +of descending to any system of artful deception by paltering with +words in a double sense. I ask them, therefore, not, to accept +Catholic doctrine as true on our authority, but simply to believe +that the testimony I give as to the doctrine we have embraced and +preached, and our views and intentions in giving missions, is +true; and that the doctrine, contained in the discourses of this +volume, is a veritable exposition of the true Catholic faith. + +{132} + +The missions were commenced and have been carried on for the +purpose of benefiting the Catholic people. The sermons and +instructions have been the same, in doctrine and practical aims, +with those which were given in Italy and other purely Catholic +countries for centuries past. The congregation of Paulists was +not established by any act of the hierarchy here, or of the +supreme authority at Rome. It was formed by F. Baker and three +other American converts, in consequence of certain unforeseen +circumstances, and without any previous deliberate plan, with a +simple approbation from an archbishop, and a mere recognition of +the validity of that approbation on the part of Rome. Not a word +of instruction or direction as to the manner of preaching, or the +end to be aimed at in our labors, has ever been given by +authority, but the movement has been the spontaneous act of the +few individuals who began it. It is our desire, as it must be +that of every Catholic priest, to bring as many persons as +possible to the Catholic faith and into the bosom of the Catholic +Church. We intend, therefore, to make use of all the means and +opportunities in our power to present the faith and the Church to +our non-Catholic countrymen, and to promote as much as possible +the conversion of the American people. The Catholic Church has +the mission to convert the whole world, and intends to fulfil it; +and any Catholic priest who does not endeavor to do his share of +the work, is recreant to the high obligations of his office. We +intend to do our part, however, in promoting this great end, not +by artifice or dissimulation, not by secret intrigues or plots, +by fraud or violence, by undermining or attacking the civil and +religious liberty enjoyed by all our citizens in common, but by +argument and persuasion, by exhibiting the Church in her beauty, +by prayer and good example, and by the grace of God: We have no +reserves in regard either to our doctrine or our intentions, no +esoteric and exoteric teaching. We present the Church and the +faith as they always have been, in all times and places, one, +universal, and immutable, in all their essential parts. +{133} +What the Church and her doctrine are is ascertainable by all who +will take pains to inform themselves, and it would be impossible +for us to conceal it if we were so disposed. All that we have to +fear on this head is ignorance of the real truth concerning our +principles, and the misrepresentation of them by those whose +knowledge of them is superficial. The author of this lecture is +one of this latter class, and has hastily and without due +examination put forth his own impressions of our doctrines and +practices, with which he is so completely unacquainted as not +even to perceive that there is any thing in them which requires +any careful study or thought. + +He says, p. 28: "I have heard several of these mission sermons +preached. Most of them would undoubtedly be a _surprise_, +and an agreeable one, to Protestant ears. There was a sermon on +'future punishment,' without one allusion to Purgatory." The +sermon was on _Hell_, not on the whole subject of Future +Punishment. We follow the laws of logic and rhetoric in our +sermons, and confine ourselves strictly to the topic in hand; +excluding all irrelevant matter. Any one who is surprised at a +sermon like this, shows that he is entirely ignorant of the +published sermons of our great preachers. One who supposes that +the place of punishment for those Catholics who have sinned +grievously, and have not truly repented before death, is +Purgatory, is entirely ignorant of Catholic theology. "There was +a sermon on 'Mortal Sins,' with scarcely a reference to +absolution." For the same reason given above, that the preacher +stuck to his subject, and the instructions on the Sacrament of +Penance were given in the morning. "There was another, on the +'Close of Life,' which, from beginning to end, went to prove, in +language that must have scorched every conscience not seared that +listened to it--_contrary to all the common Protestant +impressions of Romish instruction_--that there is no efficacy +whatever in any or all of the Seven Sacraments _to save a +wicked Roman Catholic from perdition._" +{134} +Indeed! Then these common impressions are all incorrect. The +proposition which excites so much surprise is nothing but the +commonest truism, familiar to every child that has learned the +catechism. To admit, however, that the lecturer found himself to +have been always mistaken, and Protestants generally to have been +under the same mistake concerning Catholic teaching, would have +been fatal. He has no such intention. There is couched, under the +language of praise which he gives to the sermon, a concealed +accusation that the doctrine of the sermons does not really mean +what it seems, and that the old Protestant prejudice against +"Romish instruction" is, after all, correct. This concealed arrow +is launched in the next paragraph: "_Supposing the fundamental +falsehood, as a whole, to stand unchallenged_, hardly any +addresses can be conceived more admirably effective to a +practical and useful end in the lives of the people." That is to +say, there is a fundamental falsehood which destroys their +admirable effectiveness to a practical and useful end. The +lecturer is making out a case against us, and preparing an +indictment which shall destroy the good impression we have made +on Protestant hearers. He prepares the way by ridiculing the +ceremonies of Catholic worship. + +"But at just that point not only all praise, but all sympathy +stops short. To say nothing of the dreary array of public +pantomime and incantation, sprinkling and fumigation, pasteboard +sanctities and materialistic adoration, which followed, and which +give one a sense of momentary mortification at being a spectator +at such a mixed piece of impiety and absurdity," &c. + +The point at which the lecturer is aiming here clearly comes in +view. All that is spiritual in our sermons, and that seems to +inculcate a real and solid piety and virtue, is mere talk, or +like the one genuine watch which the mock auctioneer passes +around with his pinchbeck counterfeits, to deceive his dupes the +better. +{135} +After a show of pure, spiritual doctrine, to furnish "a surprise, +and an agreeable one, to Protestant ears," the poor Catholics are +imposed upon with a set of outward shows and a routine of +superstitious observances, which they are taught to believe will +act upon them by a kind of magic charm, and secure them from +receiving any damage to their souls and their future prospects +from their sins. + +The religious services which the reverend lecturer witnessed on +the occasion referred to, consisted of the psalm _Miserere_, +chanted by the choir, the hymn _Tantum Ergo_, and the +Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. What is designated by the +terms "pantomime and incantation" I am at a loss to conjecture. +The "fumigation" was the burning of incense, which was also had +at the High Mass recently celebrated in Trinity Chapel by F. +Agapius. I think, also, that I have read in the Old Testament +something about censers and incense having been prescribed by the +Almighty to be used in the "pantomimes and incantations" of the +Jewish ritual. "Pasteboard sanctities" puzzled me for a long +time. I suppose it refers to the pictures blessed at one of the +morning instructions, which the lecturer has confounded with the +evening sermon. + +"There were yet, beyond all that, as one pondered, appalling +absences from the teaching, and more fearful elements included." +These strong epithets prepare us now to await the final and +telling blow. First, the "appalling absences" are specified. "Can +that be the true preaching of 'the Word' where the language of +that Word so seldom enters in?" The reader is requested to look +over a few of the sermons in this volume, and count the +scriptural texts. "Could that be the true preaching of 'Christ, +and Him crucified,' where any mention of the simple gospel story +was almost systematically shut out?" A mere _ad captandum_ +objection. If the lecturer had heard the Creed explained +throughout, he would have heard the mystery of redemption +explained in its proper place. The reader is again referred to +the sermons of this volume for a more complete answer to this +aspersion. +{136} +Now Come the "more fearful elements." These are the merit of good +works, the scapular, indulgences, transubstantiation, auricular +confession, purgatory, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin and +Saints. The gist of the whole is contained in the following +sentence:-- + +"Every system must be judged by its weaknesses and its errors, +not merely by its better traits. They say in mechanics that the +strength of a complicated piece of machinery is equal only to the +strength of its weakest part. This is as true in a scheme of +justification as in dynamics. _Offer human nature, at its own +option, various ways of securing salvation_, and not more +certainly will water seek the lowest spot than men will settle +down to the inferior methods of escaping the pains of perdition." + +What is the point of this observation? Evidently this: That we +propose one way of salvation, by a truly holy life; and another +way, in which, without the trouble of leading a holy life, one +may save himself by a few outward observances, a mere confession +of the lips, without contrition or amendment, reciting +indulgenced prayers, wearing the scapular, &c. Consequently, only +a few, who are of the nobler sort, will take the route of virtue +and spiritual religion, while the mass will go on indulging +themselves in all the sins to which they are inclined, and +compound for them on the easiest terms they can make. Now, +supposing this to be true, it recoils with all its force upon the +one who uttered it. The whole doctrine of his lecture denies all +merit to holiness and virtue, and ascribes justification solely +to the personal holiness and virtue of Christ, which is +appropriated by a naked act of faith. This is the Lutheran +doctrine, and there cannot be a lower spot for men to settle down +to, or an easier way for dispensing oneself from every thing that +is painful and self-denying in the religion of the Cross. The +author himself accuses (on p. 21 et seq.) nine-tenths of the New +England Protestants of having slid down to such a low point that +they are as bad as Romanists:-- + +{137} + +"The first question put by about nine New Englanders out of ten, +when they are urged to any particular religious duty, is whether +it is necessary to their salvation, i.e. whether they shall be +paid for doing it. It is essentially a Romish question. + + * * * + +Point to their censorious tongues, their narrow judgments, their +contempt of the Lord's poor, their unlovely temper, their social +and partisan prejudices, their mean dealings in business, their +physical and religious selfishness: they give you to understand +_that sometime since they got into the ark--why should they be +further converted?_" Why should they, indeed, according to +Luther and Calvin? Once obtain the imputation of the merits of +Christ, by faith, and you have a full absolution for both the +past, the present, and the future, without confession or penance; +you have an inalienable right to the fruits of redemption without +sacrifice or sacrament; you have a perfect righteousness and a +right to an eternal reward without good works or merits; you have +a plenary indulgence without even repeating "a prayer of six +lines," or attending a mission; and you will go to heaven, not on +the Saturday, but on the instant after your decease, without a +scapular. Even the few little things that we exact from our poor, +simple followers, as a price for heaven, are dispensed with. +"_Not more surely will water seek the lowest spot_, than men +will settle down to the inferior methods of escaping the pains of +perdition." Let the Catholic priest tell them that they must +profess the faith and enter the communion of the one true Church, +at whatever sacrifice of pride, position, property, or friends, +and they will find some inferior method of saving their souls and +keeping this world--if they can. Let him tell them that they must +confess every mortal sin, and they will settle down to some +inferior method of obtaining pardon--if they can find one. +{138} +Let him tell them that they must do penance, fast, abstain, give +alms, mortify their passions, keep the commandments, work out +their salvation, _and, if they would be perfect, sell all and +follow Christ_, like him whose doctrine the author attempts to +criticise, and they will settle down to some inferior method--if +they can persuade themselves that it is at their option to do so. + +"What avails it," the lecturer goes on to say, "that the +preaching priest tells the congregation that sacraments and +saints will not save them, and omits to mention the confessional, +if the confessing priest tells them, as he does in this 'book' +which he puts into their hands, quoting from the 'Roman +Catechism,' that almost all the piety, holiness, and fear of God, +which, through the Divine mercy, are to be found in Christendom, +are owing to sacramental confession?" (Pp. 30, 31.) The priest +_does not omit_ to mention the confessional, but let this +pass. If there is any meaning in this query, it is, leaving aside +the question about the prayers of saints, that it is of no avail +to preach the necessity of inward renovation and holiness, if +"sacraments" are taught to be the necessary means of grace. Yet +the lecturer quotes, on p. 25, a Homily of the Church of England, +which says that we obtain "grace and remission, as well of our +original sin in baptism [what! saved by 'sprinkling?'] as of all +actual sin committed by us after our baptism, if we truly repent +and turn unfeignedly to Him again." The same Church of England +proposes also, at the option of human nature, along with the +method of repenting by yourself, without extrinsic aid, the +following "inferior method," by the confessional, which is pretty +strongly urged on the sick man, as the best of the two. "Here +shall the sick person be moved to make a special confession of +his sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty +matter. After which confession, the priest shall absolve him (if +he humbly and heartily desire it) after this sort: Our Lord Jesus +Christ, Who hath left power to His Church to absolve all sinners +who truly repent and believe in Him, of his great mercy forgive +thee thine offences: And by His authority committed to me, _I +absolve thee from all thy sins_: In the Name of the Father, +and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." + +{139} + +Let us turn to the Catechism of the Church of England, and we +shall find a little more about "sacraments," and particularly the +Holy Communion. + + "Qu.--What meanest thou by this word _Sacrament?_ + A.--I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and + spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ Himself, + _as a means whereby we receive the same_, and a pledge to + assure us thereof. + + Qu.--How many parts are there in a Sacrament? + A.--Two: the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual + grace. + + Qu.--What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper? + A.--Bread and wine, which the Lord bath commanded to be + received. + + Qu.--What is the inward part, or thing signified? + A.--The body and blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed + taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper. + + Qu.--What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby? + A.--The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the body + and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the bread and wine." + +There are some "appalling absences from the teaching" of this +Catechism and "other more fearful elements included." There is +not a word about the gospel history in it, or justification by +faith only. It is all Creed, Commandments, and Sacraments. Change +"bread and wine" into "accidents of bread and wine," and you have +in an that I have quoted a mere repetition of the Catholic +Catechism. "What avails it," then, that the Episcopalian minister +tells his congregation that sacraments will not save them, when +he puts into their hands this catechism? &c. + +I cannot follow the lecturer through the whole bead-roll of his +enumeration of Catholic practices, which he has picked out of the +Mission Book and gathered up in a hasty perusal of other books of +devotion, or explain every thing. They are among the minor and +subordinate parts of the Catholic system, and are placed in their +proper relations to the more essential parts of it in Catholic +practice and instruction. +{140} +The lecturer has put them forward into a false perspective which +distorts every thing, in order to show that they practically +supplant the truth, the grace, and the morality of Christ; in +order to put in a preventer which shall effectually shut off all +access of our preaching of the great truths of religion to the +Protestant mind. He has skillfully chosen just the very practices +which are most misunderstood by Protestants, and most +objectionable in their view. The chief of these, and such as are +connected with Catholic dogmas, as Masses for the Dead, Devotion +to the Blessed Virgin and Saints, and Indulgences, will be found +fully explained in the sermons of this volume and the other +volumes published by the congregation of which their author was a +member, as well as in every Catholic manual. I single out, +therefore, only one, and that the very one which a non-Catholic +reader of the Mission Book would be most likely to stumble at, +viz. _The Scapular_. + +The author says: "I open the 'Book of the Mission,' and I find, +intermixed with much that is better, such wretched directions as +that *** the wearing of 'the Virgin's Scapular' around the neck +(shall) guarantee the fulfilment of a promise made to one Simon +Stock, an English Carmelite friar, of six centuries ago, that +'whoso should die invested with it should be saved from eternal +fire.'" If this statement is to be taken in the sense of the +lecturer, as a real exposition of our belief, it is very strange +that we should not dispense with the confessional, as well as +with preaching repentance toward God, and a holy life, and +confine ourselves to the easier task of investing all Catholics +with the scapular. Nothing would be further necessary then, +except to keep the strings in good repair, and we might all of us +take our ease, eat, drink, and be merry, while this short life +lasts, secure of going to heaven at last. Human nature always +settles down to the lowest optional method of escaping perdition, +according to our author. +{141} +It is very singular, that after hearing our sermons on the +mission, and then stumbling upon this account of the scapular in +a book published under our own direction, he should not have +thought that there was some explanation of which it was +susceptible, which would give it a meaning in harmony with our +doctrine, and should not have asked for that explanation. I will +give it, however, unasked, lest it should seem that his objection +is unanswerable. + +The scapular is a small article, made to imitate a part of the +religious habit, and worn as the badge of a pious confraternity +affiliated to the Carmelite Order. According to the proper and +ordinary use of it, it is conferred on persons intending to live +a devout life, as an exterior sign of their special consecration +to the service of God under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, +and of certain special graces which are given through the prayers +of the holy religious of Mount Carmel, to those who fulfil the +conditions faithfully. These conditions are, to observe a strict +chastity according to one's state, whether married or single, and +to perform certain acts of devotion. It is understood that in +order to be capable of receiving these graces, a person must take +care to live always in the love and fear of God, and avoid all +other mortal sins as well as those which are specifically +renounced by the reception of the religious habit. This implies a +diligent use of the means of grace, such as prayer and the +sacraments. The advantage attributed to membership in the +confraternity, and gained by fulfilling its conditions, is +merely, additional grace to assist one to live a Christian life, +and thus to escape perdition and gain heaven. The scapular is +only a symbol of this, and the only consolation a person who +wears it can receive from it at the hour of death is, that it is +to him a badge and emblem of the holy life he has led, and of the +promise of special grace in his last moments. +{142} +There is, besides this, the "Sabbatine Indulgence," as it is +called, by which it is generally held, as a matter, not of faith, +but of opinion, based on a private revelation, that a person may +obtain a remission of the punishment of temporal pain in the +other world, on the Saturday after his decease. Presupposing now +the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory, and also the doctrine of +Indulgences, according to which no one can enter the first unless +he dies free from mortal sin, or obtain the second fully unless +he is free from every stain of sin, however small; there is +nothing in this pious belief prejudicial to strictness of piety +or virtue. In order to escape eternal perdition, one must truly +repent of every grievous sin. In order to be free from temporal +punishment, one must satisfy the divine justice for past sins +already remitted, and repent of all sins whatever, even the least +and most trivial. The soul can never enter heaven until its +holiness is consummated. Therefore the pious belief respecting +the Sabbatine Indulgence cannot, without contradicting Catholic +doctrine, mean more than this: that one who faithfully +accomplishes all that he promises on receiving the scapular, and +earnestly endeavors to purify himself from all mortal and venial +sin, may hope that the removal of the stains which his soul may +have at death will be accelerated by a special grace, and that, +if without this special grace he would still have some short time +to suffer, it may be remitted to him, or shortened, as God may +see fit. + +The language of Catholic books, of devotion is often free and +unguarded, and therefore easily susceptible of misunderstanding +when taken out of its connection and pressed into a hard +literalness by those who do not understand the Catholic system in +its harmony. These books are written for Catholics, who are +supposed to be instructed, and to have the practical sense of +their religion which enables them to take up their meaning +rightly. It is also presupposed that pastors and confessors will +instruct and direct those under their charge in all matters +relating to practical religion, and guard them against hurtful +errors or mistakes in substituting minor and subsidiary practices +of devotion for solid piety and the fulfilment of the weightier +matters of the law. +{143} +Let anyone candidly examine into the spirit and scope of the +sermons contained in this volume, and into those of the Mission +Book, and he will see that those weightier matters are the ones +which are insisted on. These are urged and enforced as essential +with all possible earnestness; and how can it detract from the +force of these exhortations, that an occasional recommendation of +some particular devotions is also thrown in, which is like our +Lord's counsel not to leave undone the paying tithes of mint, +anise, and cummin? + +Let it be remembered that the point is not now to prove the truth +of the Catholic doctrine respecting the sacraments or any +inferior rites, practices, or pious works. It is to refute the +charge that by these things we subvert sound morality, solid and +spiritual piety, and faith in Christ as the Author of grace and +justification. This charge is untrue, irrespective of the +question of the claim of the Catholic Church on faith and +obedience. The author of the "Price Lecture" has made it without +due study and examination, on the faith of the writers of the +Church he has recently joined, and into whose views he has thrown +himself by a voluntary effort, without waiting to mature the +results of his own theological principles. He is capable of +better things than this hasty and superficial lecture. Let him be +true to the dying declaration of the great Anglican divine which +he quotes with so much approbation (p. 6), "I die in the faith +and Church of Christ, as held before the separation of East and +West," and he will no longer be found in unworthy companionship +with the revilers of the Roman Church. How much more dignified +and noble is the position taken by such men as the great +philosopher Leibniz, in the past, and, in the present, by the +great statesman and champion of the truth of revelation and +Protestant orthodoxy, Guizot! +{144} +The latter does not hesitate to avow that he considers the cause +of which he is a champion essentially identical with that of the +Church of Rome. I agree with him, in the sense that the whole of +the Christian tradition which is found in the various Christian +bodies, and which constitutes the positive and objective creed +which they cling to, is all preserved in the Catholic Church. I +know the doctrine of Luther and Calvin, in which I was brought +up, thoroughly, and I can testify that the positive portion of +it, respecting the mystery of Redemption and the inward +sanctification of the Holy Spirit, I retain unchanged. I know +thoroughly, also, the Church principles of Reformed Episcopacy, +and I retain all these unchanged. I have found also all that true +and sound rationality, or respect for human reason and its +certain science, together with all that high estimate of the +moral virtues, which is professed by Unitarians, in Catholic +theology. I have never lost any thing or been required to +abdicate any thing which I had previously acquired in the +intellectual or spiritual life, by embracing Catholic doctrine +but have only added to it that which makes it more integral and +complete. The real question of discussion is about that which is +positive in the Roman Church, in addition to that which is common +to her and Protestant communions, and not about those more +primary articles of the Christian creed which form the basis of +all religion and Christianity. It is the question, whether the +Catholic Church is really the one, only Church, founded by Christ +on the Supremacy of St. Peter and his Apostolic See of Rome; and +is an infallible teacher in faith and morals. We do not ask other +Christians to admit this before they have examined the evidence, +or been convinced by its force. We ask them simply, _ad +interim_, to do us justice, to give us a fair hearing, to +observe the rules of honorable warfare in their controversies +with us, and to concede our rightful claims as Christians and as +free citizens. +{145} +Those bigoted leaders of religious factions and their great +"Fourth Estate" of unemployed clerical followers, whose +occupation of hanging around the skirts of our armies is gone, +and who seek to stir up a religious war, by representing +Catholics as the enemies of civil and religious liberty, and the +progress of the Church as dangerous to our political welfare, are +beyond all reason or remonstrance. Their plans are well +characterised in some of the secular papers, as more nefarious +than those of the men who plotted to burn the hotels of New York. +They would be better employed, and make a much more efficacious +war on infidelity, if they would give missions, establish +churches, and make other efforts for the instruction in some +principles of religion and morality of the half-million of +Protestants in the city of New York, and the other millions +elsewhere, who never enter a church-door. Those Protestants who +may read these pages will undoubtedly, for the most part, belong +to that large class who repudiate indignantly all sympathy with +men of this sort, and their schemes. And on such readers I rely +confidently to judge justly and generously the pure and noble +character and apostolic works of the subject of this Memoir, from +his life and from his own writings. I rely on them to believe my +testimony, that they will find in these a specimen of the genuine +character and doctrine of the Catholic priesthood, modelled after +the form proposed by the Church herself. I think they will give +their approbation and sympathy to all that is done by the +Catholic clergy to stem the vast and swelling torrent of impiety +and immorality which threatens our political and social fabric on +every side, and will acknowledge the service done to the state +and society, apart from the directly religious benefit to the +souls of men, by the only Church and body of clergy that has a +powerful sway over great masses of the population in our country. + +This long digression will, I fear, have seemed tedious, and +irrelevant to the proper subject of this biographical narrative. +{146} +I have thought it necessary, however, as a background to my +portrait, to paint the missionary work from which the life of +Father Baker receives its principal value and significance. I +return now to resume the thread of his personal history, which I +left at the point where he was about to commence his public +sacerdotal and missionary career. + +Father Baker came to the assistance of the little band who were +toiling in their arduous missionary labors, in November, 1856. +His first mission-sermon was preached in St. Patrick's Church, +Washington, D. C., on "The Necessity of Salvation." This sermon +was also the last one which he ever preached, at one of the +weekly services of Lent, in the parish church of St. Paul's, New +York. + +The debut of Father Baker as a missionary is noticed at the +Records of the Missions in the following words, which were +written by the faithful friend who watched over his last moments. + + "The Rev. Father Baker, a convert from Episcopalianism, and + most highly respected and beloved as a Protestant minister in + Baltimore, had been just ordained, and came for the first time + to assist at this mission. He preached the opening sermon, + which gave great satisfaction to all who heard it, and a + promise that he will hereafter be a truly apostolical + missionary." + +One pleasing little incident of this very interesting mission +was, that the President and his lady gathered and arranged a +beautiful bouquet of flowers, which were sent to decorate the +altar at the ceremony of the Dedication to the Blessed Virgin, +which took place near the close of the mission. + +After the conclusion of this mission, Father Baker was sent by +his superior to Annapolis, to assist the rector of the House of +Novices located there (on one of the ancient manors of the +Carroll family, which had been given to the congregation by the +daughter of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton), in the care of the +little Catholic parish in that place. +{147} +The other missionaries went South, for a series of missions to be +given during the winter, and finding the work there too great for +their small band of four, telegraphed from Savannah to the +provincial, requesting him to send Father Baker to assist them. +In compliance with this request, Father Baker was sent on +immediately to Savannah, and took part in the mission given in +the cathedral, at that time under the care of the saintly and +apostolic Dr. Barry, then administrator, and afterward bishop of +the diocese. There was but little episcopal splendor to be seen +about the Savannah cathedral and residence at this time. Until +within a few years previously to the mission, Georgia had been +included in the diocese of Charleston. Dr. Gartland, the first +bishop, had procured a suitable residence for himself and his +clergy, and had purchased property with a view of erecting a +handsome cathedral. A short time after his consecration, Savannah +was visited by a destructive tornado, which destroyed the greater +part of the fine old trees which formed the principal ornament of +the place, otherwise injured the city very seriously, and +unroofed the bishop's house. The yellow fever broke out about the +same time, in a very virulent manner; and the bishop, as also +Bishop Barron, who came there to assist him, fell a victim to the +epidemic. These disasters, and the debts which pressed on the +congregation, put a stop for a time to all efforts to establish +matters on a suitable footing. After Dr. Barry's consecration, +the old church was refitted and furnished in a way to make it +quite respectable for the cathedral of a new diocese, and a +spacious mansion was purchased for the episcopal residence. But +at this time Dr. Barry was living, like a bishop _in partibus +infidelium_, in a small and poor frame dwelling-house, +containing only four or five rooms, and the clergy were putting +up, in the best way they could, with rooms over the sacristy of +the church. Just round the corner, an aged negro, with a long +white beard, who was a Methodist preacher, might be seen sitting +all the day long in the sun on a little stool, holding a cow by a +rope around her horns, while she nibbled the grass which grew +along the streets; and the old gentleman chatted with the +passers-by, or prepared his sermons for the next Sunday, highly +delighted at the friendly salutations which the fathers always +gave him as they passed by. +{148} +Every now and then a black nurse passed along the street, +carrying or wheeling the little white infant of her charge; or a +troop of negro boys and their young masters, playing together +with the utmost familiarity. The sunny, Southern atmosphere was +vocal with the merry, free-and-easy sounds of laughing, chatting +mirth, or work carried on like a play without much care or hurry, +so characteristic of a city in the far South. Savannah is a very +beautiful and picturesque place, where, at that time, Southern +life and manners could be seen at the greatest advantage; and the +novelty of the scene gave it a great zest to those of our number +who had not seen it before. The clergy were, most of them, old +veteran missionaries, brought to this country by the celebrated +Bishop England, full of rich and piquant anecdotes of their past +experience among the wild, sparsely-settled regions of Georgia +and the neighboring States, related with inimitable wit and +humor. [Footnote 6] The mission was still further enlivened by a +visit to Savannah from Archbishop Hughes, accompanied by his +amiable secretary, who were making a tour of recreation to +restore the archbishop's shattered health; and from Dr. Lynch, +soon after appointed to the see of Charleston. + + [Footnote 6: One of these good clergymen, the Rev. Peter + Whelan, during the late civil war, remained a long time among + our prisoners at Andersonville, and spent four hundred + dollars in gold at one time in purchasing bread for their + necessities.] + +This mission was, however, no play-spell for the missionaries. +Besides the ordinary labor of preaching and hearing the +confessions of a multitude of people, it was necessary to search +out the people themselves, and bring them to church to hear the +sermons. At that time, the Southern towns received the +_débris_ of foreign emigration, and were filled during the +winter months by a loose floating population of Northern +laborers, who were without employment at home. +{149} +Hence, there was a larger proportion than elsewhere of the most +degenerate and demoralised class of Catholics, living in complete +neglect of their religious and moral duties, and beyond the reach +of the ordinary ministrations of the Church. Savannah has several +suburbs and purlieus, rejoicing in the names of Yammacraw, +Robertsville, and Old Fort, crowded with squalid hovels, +drinking-shops, sailors' boarding-houses, and dens of thieves and +smugglers, representing in a small way the scenes which Dickens +delights in describing. A mission in the cathedral might be given +ten times over, and the news of it never reach the denizens of +these places. Accordingly, the missionaries divided the several +districts between them, and undertook to beat up the quarters of +sin, vice, and misery, in the hope of rescuing some of these +forlorn and abandoned souls. It would hardly be safe for any one +but a Catholic priest to undertake such a work, especially in the +evening, and certainly no one else would have any hope of +success. The work was done, however, very thoroughly, and, in +consequence, the church was crowded by that class of persons who +were in most need of a mission, and who had never been reached +before. An immediate and extensive reformation was the result. +The grog-shops were deserted, which before were filled from +morning until late at night, the sound of cursing and quarrelling +was hushed, the darker deeds of sin ceased, and the great mass of +these poor, lost souls began to listen to the eternal truths, and +to seek for the way that would bring them back to God. Many, +engaged in dishonest practices, abandoned their unlawful traffic, +and made restitution of their ill-gotten gains. Great numbers of +those who had abandoned the sacraments, and even ceased going to +church, for ten, twenty, or thirty years, came with great fervor +and earnestness to confession. Some of the poor slaves also, as +well Methodists as those who were Catholics, attended eagerly on +the instructions of the mission. +{150} +One old Methodist negress was asked by her mistress, or some one +else who noticed her constant attendance, if she liked the +mission; to which she replied: "Oh, Lor! yes, missus; I'se bound +to be there, if I can get only one eye in, every time." Another +grown-up slave girl, who had never been baptized, was most +anxious to receive baptism, and induced her mistress to ask me to +baptize her. I was very reluctant to do it, fearing lest she +might not be sufficiently instructed and prepared in her moral +dispositions to begin a really Christian life, without a longer +probation; and therefore refused to baptize her during the +mission. After the last sermon she went nearly frantic, and made +loud exclamations that she wished to be taken out of the devil's +hands, and the father would not do it, but was going away, +leaving her in his power. Touched by her entreaties, and finding +that her mistress had taught her the rudiments of the catechism, +I instructed her for some days, and endeavored to impress upon +her mind especially, that if she wished for the graces of baptism +and the friendship of God, she must renounce all sin and live a +good and holy life. So fearful was she that she might sin, and +receive baptism unworthily, that for a day before her baptism she +would not speak a word to any person, not even her mistress. She +refused to speak even when she was asked about her sponsors and +her baptismal dress, and her whole demeanor at her baptism was +like that of one oppressed with the most intense sentiment of +religious awe, and of the sacredness of the promises she was +making to God. It is not to be supposed that every bad Catholic +was reformed, or that, of those who were really brought to a +resolution to mend their lives, all of them persevered. The +hydra-headed monster of vice is not killed by a blow, nor can we +hope ever to exterminate sin by any means, even those which have +a divine efficacy. It is a continual warfare which we have to +wage, by both spiritual and moral weapons, which the free will +can always resist. +{151} +God alone has coercive power over the spirit of man, and He will +not exert it to compel him to obey His law. Temptations to sin +ever beset the human will, especially in a corrupt, irreligious, +and immoral state of society. The Catholic Church is not intended +to be a society of saints who have already attained perfection, +but a training and reformatory school for the human race. It has +no means of charming or mesmerizing the human will into sanctity, +and its gracious influences do not supersede the struggle for +life which exists in the spiritual as in the natural world. It +has all the means of sanctifying the human race, and of elevating +men to the summit of possible human virtue, limited only by the +extent to which the free human will co-operates with grace. It +must actually produce these results on a great scale, in order to +prove that it is the Church; because God would not have created +it for this purpose, foreseeing its essential failure to fulfil +its work and attain its predestined end. It is easy enough to +show that the Church possesses this note of sanctity, correctly +understood in this way. But it is perfectly true also that the +free-will of man, by its failure and perversion, hinders the +Church to a vast extent from exhibiting its regenerating and +sanctifying power. Great numbers of individuals in the Catholic +Church live and act in contradiction to their faith, neglect or +abuse the means of grace, and dishonor religion by their conduct. +The only means which the Church has of contending with this evil, +and reclaiming these unworthy members from a sinful life, are +moral means, acting on the mind and conscience. Missions are +among the most powerful and efficacious of these means, and their +efficacy is shown, not in eradicating sin, or liberating human +nature from its intrinsic liability and propensity to sin, but in +checking and counteracting its violence, and reclaiming a great +number of individuals from its influence. +{152} +If they actually do this, if they have a perceptible influence in +reforming and renovating the demoralised portion of the Catholic +community, heightening the restraining power of faith and +conscience among the mass of the people, and producing many +permanent fruits in the increase of piety and morality, they are +successful, and their value is established. It is beyond a +question that they do this to an extent which can only be +understood by those who are engaged in them, or who have studied +their working on a grand scale. + +To return to the Savannah mission. I had a good opportunity to +judge of its permanent fruits when, two years afterward, I +returned there, and went through the same quarters of the town +where we had gone to drum up the people to the mission, in making +a collection for the new congregation of St. Paul. Many of the +very poorest dwellings I found neat and orderly; the pious +pictures blessed during the mission hanging upon the walls; the +children clean and tidy; sometimes an old man sitting at the +door, reading the mission-book; the wives and mothers evidently +cheerful and contented, the best sign that their husbands were +sober and kind; the expressions of grateful remembrance of the +mission warm and frequent; the signs of moral improvement +everywhere, and the church crowded on Sunday. + +It is not to be supposed that the body of the Catholic +congregation of Savannah were like this lowest class I have +described. I have dwelt more minutely on their condition, and the +good done among them, mainly because the small comparative size +of the place, and the thorough visitation which was made, brought +us into a more close contact with their miseries, and enabled us +to see more clearly what can be done to relieve them, than is +usually the case. I have wished to show what the hardest and most +repulsive part of the work of the missionary is, and to give a +true picture of the nature and efficacy of the means used to +raise up and reform and save the most demoralised class of the +Catholic population throughout the country, and especially in the +large towns, where this class is most numerous. +{153} +I wish, also, before resuming the particular narrative of F. +Baker's life, to show what was the work for which he left the +ease and elegance and attractive charm of his earlier position as +an Episcopalian clergyman, fulfilling the light duty of reading +prayers and preaching quiet, well-written, polished discourses +for the _élite_ of Baltimore society. + +The mass of the people who were brought to the mission in +Savannah by the personal visits of the fathers had never been +seen in the church previously. They were the _débris_ that +the tide of emigration had deposited there, and many of them only +chance-residents of the town. + +The ordinary church-going congregation contained, as usual, its +very large proportion of Easter communicants, with a smaller but +still numerous class of devout and fervent Catholics who +approached the sacraments frequently. The majority of them +belonged to the humbler walks of life, although there were a +considerable number whose position in worldly society was more +elevated. + +F. Baker arrived in Savannah, when the mission was about half +over, and took his share in the labor of preaching and hearing +confessions. At the close of it, after a few days' rest, three of +the missionaries, of whom he was one, commenced a series of +missions in one part of the diocese, and the two others began +another which embraced the smaller parishes. The smaller band +went to Macon, Columbus, and Atlanta, rejoining their companions +subsequently at Charleston. As F. Baker went in another +direction, I shall confine myself to the narrative of the +missions in which he was engaged, and pass over the others, +merely pausing for a moment to notice a letter written by a +Protestant gentleman in Macon, to the _United States Catholic +Miscellany_, of Charleston, as an evidence of the impression +often made by missions upon the minds of candid and intelligent +Protestants. The letter is as follow's:-- + +{154} + + "In company with many of our most distinguished citizens, I + have had the pleasure of hearing most of the sermons delivered, + and witnessing the accompanying exercises connected with their + mission, and but express the united and universal sentiment + entertained, when I say that they were exceedingly interesting + and instructive, and have served to dissipate many of the + vulgar prejudices that hung like a mist upon the public mind, + and, like a cold-damp, mildewed reason and honest judgment. + Sufficient testimony of this result may be found in the fact + that a number of Protestant gentlemen called upon Mr. Walworth + yesterday, and urgently requested him to deliver one more + sermon before his departure, which he consented to do this + evening. I would send you a copy of the correspondence, but it + would be too voluminous for the brevity of this letter; suffice + it to say it was complimentary, no less in the act itself than + in the manner in which the request was conveyed. + + "I must take this occasion of expressing my gratification at + the result adverted to, for though I am not a member, nor ever + have been, of the Catholic Church, its piety and religious + principles--the purity, integrity, ability, learning, and + eloquence of its teachers and preachers--the bright links of + patience, endurance, and fidelity, by which it is held to the + early ages of Christianity--its unity of action, consistency of + precept and practice, and conformity of theory and doctrine, as + well as the great lights of intellect that have shed lustre + upon it in the past and present--men whose genius has elevated + them above the gloom of dying centuries to overflow history + with glory--these have commended the Catholic Church favorably + to my judgment; and regarding its onward progress and + increasing popularity with no jaundiced sectarian eye or + jealous faction-spirit, but with the extension of civilization + and Christianity--I feel the pressure of no petty, vulgar + prejudice in wishing it, with all other Christian + organizations, 'God speed;' and if this sentiment be in + hostility with Protestantism, as for myself and it I say, + 'perish the connection'--'live' the enlightened liberality and + intelligence of civilized and educated man. + "Yours, very truly, etc. + "Macon, _December_ 31, 1856." + +{155} + +From Savannah, F. Baker, with two companions, went to give a +mission in Augusta. On the pages of the Mission Records several +interesting incidents of this mission are related. On the first +Sunday morning of the mission, three gentlemen called on the +fathers, all of whom, it appeared, were converts. One of them was +called Dr. W. B., the second, his nephew, Dr. M., and the third +was the overseer of Dr. B.'s plantation. This Dr. B. had been +received into the Catholic Church some months previously, and had +entered a Catholic church for the first time that morning. He was +a man of fine and genteel appearance, with gray hair and a long, +black beard, an intelligent and educated physician. So great was +his excitement, and so wonderful did every thing which he saw +that may appear through the magnifying glass of his imagination, +that on his return home that night, at eleven o'clock, he awoke +his brother and made him get up and light a fire, that he might +relate the events of the day. As a sample of the proportion in +which he viewed the whole, it may suffice to say that he +described one of the fathers as seven and a-half feet high--at +least six inches taller than the Georgia giant. The brother +alluded to, also a physician and planter, made his appearance a +day or two later. He was quite an elderly gentleman, with an +intelligent countenance and a magnificent patriarchal beard. A +painter could not find a better head for an Apostle, or for one +of the ancient Bishops or Fathers of the Church than his. He was +a man with an intellect like Brownson's, and full of information. +He became a Catholic a few years ago from reading Brownson's +Review. Since that time he has been a great champion of the +Church, and, through his influence, his own family, his brother +and sister, his nephew and some others, have also been converted. +{156} +One of the latter was then residing in Dr. B.'s own family, and +was leading a most remarkably penitential life. This gentleman (a +Mr. S.), of high birth and education, was formerly a lawyer, and +a married man of large property. He was renowned for his courage, +and had fought with one of the most celebrated duellists of South +Carolina, named R. This gentleman lost his property and was +abandoned by his wife. About seven years before he had become a +Catholic, he lived for a considerable time with his brother, an +unprincipled and ferocious man, who scarcely allowed him a bare +pittance. He was dressed in rags, was barefooted, and lived on +bread which he baked himself. + +After a few years, when Dr. B. had become a Catholic, and opened +a small chapel on his own plantation, Mr. S. appeared there one +day at Mass in his miserable plight. Dr. R. invited him to stay +with him, and gave him a small office to live in, and all other +things requisite for his comfort. Here he had been living ever +since, leading the life of a saint, and passing a great portion +of his time in reading Catholic books, especially Brownson's +Review, which he knew almost by heart. The Doctor said that the +only thing which could excite his anger, was to hear anyone speak +against Brownson, or contradict any thing he says. As an instance +of his penance, I will relate how, according to Dr. B.'s account, +he attempted to pass one Lent. He had been reading the Lives of +the Fathers of the Desert, and he endeavored to imitate their +example precisely and to the letter. His whole food consisted of +a small quantity of bread, and during the last three days he +wanted to fast entirely, but Dr. B. threatened that, if he did, +he would send a little negro for Father B., to excommunicate him. +He was wasted to a skeleton, and did not recover the effects of +his fasting for six months afterward. +{157} +On one occasion, Mr. S. found a poor, sick negro, with no one to +attend him, and not contented with waiting on him and taking care +of him, as he was constantly in the habit of doing for all the +sick within several miles' distance, he washed his feet, and, for +want of a towel, wiped them with his pocket-handkerchief. It was +necessary to watch him, lest he might give away his clothes to +the negroes and when he needed new clothes, they were put +secretly in his way, and the old ones removed. + +Others in this neighborhood, who were not yet Catholics, were so +well disposed that they had their children baptized. Edgefield +and the country round about was formerly celebrated for the +lawless and violent character of the population, for the +frequency of murders, and for the bitter prejudice existing +against the Catholic Church; so much so, that a priest could not +obtain the Court-House to preach in. When the elder Dr. B. became +a Catholic, Dr. W. B. declared that he would burn up his wife and +children and his whole house before they should become Catholics, +and any priest who should chance to come near him. Another +gentleman, since a convert, said that, if one of his children +should become a Catholic, he would take him by the heels and dash +out his brains against a stone wall. Dr. M., when he went to +study medicine with his uncle, the elder Dr. B., made a vow that +he would never enter the chapel and never desert the faith of his +fathers; and his parents told him on leaving home that, if he +became a Catholic, he should never cross the Savannah River again +or see their faces. After some months, he became silent and +melancholy. For a while he concealed the cause, but at last, one +evening he told his aunt that he could hold out no longer, and +was a Catholic at heart. Shortly after receiving his medical +diploma, he determined to renounce the practice of medicine, and +has recently been ordained to the priesthood. + +{158} + +At Edgefield a lot of seven acres was purchased in the middle of +the town, for a church, to be built of brown stone, in the Gothic +style. Five gentlemen had already subscribed sixteen hundred +dollars for the church, and Father B. was collecting for the same +purpose. There was a general inclination throughout the whole +town to embrace the Catholic faith, and already there is a small +band of the best Catholics in the country there--souls that have +been led by the great God Himself, by the wonderful ways of His +most holy grace. Dr. B. has since died, and what has been the +fate of the little congregation, and of the beautiful church +which was commenced, during the troubles and miseries of the +civil war, I know not. They have not, however, hindered the +Catholics of Augusta from completing and paying for a large and +costly church, the successor of a very good and commodious +edifice of brick where the mission was given. + +After leaving Augusta, we went to Savannah once more, and on the +29th of January went on board the little steamer Gen. Clinch, +which was afterward turned into a gunboat during the civil war, +to begin our voyage by the inland route to St. Augustine, +Florida. This inland route has some peculiar and picturesque +features. The steamer passes down the Savannah River, with its +banks lined with the green and gold orange trees, until, near the +mouth, it turns into its proper route, leading through a +succession of small sounds, connected by narrow, serpentine +rivers, where you seem to be sailing over the meadows, usually in +sight of the ocean, and quite often aground for some hours at a +time. The steamer was very small and very crowded, our progress +very leisurely and interrupted by several long stoppages, so that +our voyage was protracted for five days. It is seldom that a more +motley or singular and amusing group of passengers is collected +in a small cabin. +{159} +Besides the three Catholic priests, who were to the others the +greatest curiosities on board, we had an army lieutenant, since +then the commander of a _corps d'armée_ in the great civil +war, an old wizard who was consulting his familiar spirits +incessantly for the amusement or information of the passengers; a +plantation doctor, a wild young Arkansas lawyer of the +fire-eating type, a professor of mathematics, a crotchety, +good-humored New York farmer, with very peculiar religious +opinions, a young man who professed himself a universal sceptic, +two or three gentlemen of education and polished manners, who +were not at all singular, but appeared quite so in such an odd +assemblage; and some others in no way remarkable. The cramped +accommodations, the long voyage, and the usual _bonhommie_ +which prevails on such occasions were well fitted to draw out all +the oddities and idiosyncrasies of the company. The spiritualist, +who was an uneducated and uncouth specimen of humanity, with a +great deal of native shrewdness, and a good-humored, loquacious +disposition, was the center of attraction. The professor and the +philosophical farmer engaged with him in a long and earnest +discussion of spiritualism, which ended in his exhibiting his +powers as a consulter of the spirits. Most of the passengers made +trial of his skill in this respect, although his performance was +the most patent of silly impostures, only amusing from its +absurdity. The professor tried him sorely by asking him a +question which seemed to have caused himself many an hour of +anxious and fruitless thought, and which he appeared to despair +of solving metaphysically: "Can God annihilate space?" The old +gentleman's spirit did not appear to have investigated this +question to his own complete satisfaction, for he gave him no +positive answer. He was silent for a moment, with a puzzled look, +evidently fearing a trap, and at last answered, "I don't know, +but I guess He could if He tried; He made it, and I guess He +could annihilate it." Just as the professor was going to retire +to his berth, the old man took revenge by telling him that he had +just been informed by the spirits that one of his children was +sick of scarlet fever. The wizard left the boat at Brunswick, but +as the conversation had taken a religious and philosophical turn +at first, it continued in that direction, the two individuals +before mentioned being the principal interlocutors. +{160} +We did not join much in it, as it was evidently distasteful to +several of the company, who wished to read quietly or converse on +ordinary topics. Before we parted, however, one of our number +took the opportunity which offered itself of having a little +pleasant and rational discussion with the professor and one or +two others, who were really intelligent and well-informed. On New +Year's Day we remained several hours at St. Mary's, Georgia, +where we found the mayor of the place to be a Catholic gentleman, +of Acadian descent, and were hospitably entertained at his house. +The boat passed the night at Fernandina, and the next day we went +out of the St. Mary's River, across a short and dangerous stretch +of ocean between a line of breakers and the shore, into the St. +John's, and up that romantic river, so full of historical +associations. Friday evening saw us befogged above Jacksonville, +and on Saturday morning we learned to our dismay that our captain +was going past our landing, and on to Pilatka, which would keep +us on board his miserable little craft until the next week, and +prevent the opening of the mission on the Sunday. Touching for a +few moments at Fleming's Island, we found friends at the little +dock, who were passing the winter on the island, and who informed +us that we could go from there that afternoon to our destination. +We debarked accordingly, our friend the professor in company with +us, and were refreshed with a good breakfast at the hotel where +our friends were lodging, and a stroll around the little island. +On the arrival of the steamer, the whole party went on board and +proceeded to Picolata, where we took stage-coaches for St. +Augustine, arriving there on Saturday evening. About halfway +between Picolata and St. Augustine there is a post-house, where, +in the last Florida War with the Seminole Indians, a party of +travelling actors were surprised and murdered by Indians, who +dressed themselves in their fantastic costumes, and in that guise +made a hostile demonstration in the neighborhood of St. +Augustine. + +{161} + +To Americans, this old town seems to have a vast antiquity, +claiming as it does the respectable age of three centuries. The +Catholic church here is almost as old as Protestantism, and a +brief of St. Pius V., in regard to some of the religious affairs +of this colony, is still extant. There are remnants of an old +wall in several places, and a large fortress built in Spanish +times, and called the castle of St. Marco, where you may yet see +the marks of the cannon-shot fired at the invasion of Oglethorpe +from Georgia. This fort might serve as a scene for the plot of a +new "Mysteries of Udolfo," it is so unlike any thing modern, and +so thoroughly Spanish and mediæval. It is not, however, of a sort +to make one regret the past. Its dark, damp casemates look like +prisons, especially one frightful dungeon, which is a cell within +a cell, without any embrasure, and admitting no light or air +except that which comes through the door opening into the outer +casemate. This was the cell of the greatest criminals. In one of +these casemates, Wildcat, the celebrated Indian chief, was once +confined with a companion. Although cruel and blood-thirsty, +Wildcat was a great warrior, and a man gifted with a high order +of genius, an orator, a poet, and a true cavalier of the forest. +On pretence of illness, he and his companion reduced their bulk +as much as possible by a low diet and purgative medicines, and by +the aid of a knife, which he had secreted and used as a spike by +thrusting it into the wall of soft concrete, with a rope +dexterously made from strips of his bed-clothes, he clambered to +the high and narrow embrasure, squeezed himself through, not +without scraping the skin from his breast, and let himself down +into the moat. His companion followed him, but fell to the +ground, breaking his leg. Nevertheless, Wildcat carried him off, +seized a stray mule, and escaped to his tribe in the forest. +{162} +After the conclusion of the war, he went to Mexico, where he +became the alcalde of an Indian village, and did his new country +essential service by leading a body of Indian warriors, armed +with Mississippi rifles, against a band of filibusters from the +United States. Osceola, the half-breed king of the Seminoles, who +was not only a hero, but a just and humane man, was also captured +near St. Augustine, by treachery and bad faith, and confined in +this fortress for a time, but afterward removed to Charleston, +where he died of a broken heart. The great mahogany +treasure-chest of Don Juan Menendez is still remaining in the +fortress, and in one of the casemates are remnants of a rude +stone altar and holy-water stoups, marking the site of a chapel. +The fortress is kept in good preservation by our Government, and +a noble sea-wall extends from it to the barracks at the other end +of the town, which are established in an ancient Franciscan +monastery. A great part of the old city is in ruins. The old +Spanish families left the country when it was ceded by Spain to +the United States, and the resident inhabitants are Minorcans, +negroes, and a small number of settlers from the other portions +of the United States. The Minorcans are descendants of a body of +colonists, brought to Florida under false pretences by an English +speculator, who enslaved them, and kept them for a long time in +that state before they became aware that there was any way of +escaping from it. When they did take courage to shake off the +yoke, they removed to the Spanish colony of St. Augustine, where +they retain their language, a dialect of the Spanish, with their +ancient, simple character and habits. The illustrious Spanish +names which some of them bear amused us greatly. Sanchez was the +proprietor of a line of slow coaches. Suarez had charge of F. +Madeore's farm, and Ximenes served Mass. The church is a large +Spanish structure, built, as are most of the houses, of soft +concrete formed from sea-shells. On a green in front of it stands +the only remaining monument, erected in commemoration of the +formation of the Spanish Constitution of 1814. +{163} +The tower has a chime of small bells, which are rung in a most +joyous, clashing style, according to the Spanish custom, for +festive occasions, and with a peculiarly plaintive peal for +deaths and funerals. The cemetery is called Tolomato, which was +the name of an Indian village formerly occupying its site. The +ruins of an ancient mission chapel are still to be seen there, +where F. Roger, a French Jesuit, was murdered by an apostate +Indian chief and his warriors. After killing F. Roger, the band +proceeded to another chapel, called Nuestra Señora de Leche, +where they found a priest just robed for Mass. He requested the +chief to allow him to say Mass, and his desire was granted, the +savages prostrating themselves with their faces to the ground +while he performed the holy function, lest the sight of him +should soften their hearts. After Mass he knelt at the foot of +the altar, and received a blow from the tomahawk which made him a +martyr. + +Tolomato contains also the beautiful tomb erected by the Cubans +over the grave of the Rev. Dr. Varela, a learned, holy, and +patriotic priest, a native of the Island of Cuba, and a member of +the Spanish Cortes which established the Constitution. Banished +from his native country, where his memory has always been fondly +cherished, he passed the greater part of a long life as a +laborious parish priest in New York, and died in St. Augustine. +There is a beautiful chapel over his grave, with an altar of +marble and mahogany, and a heavy marble slab in the center of the +pavement, containing the simple but eloquent inscription: "_Al +Padre Varela los Cubanos_"-The Cubans to Father Varela. + +The mission in St. Augustine absorbed the whole attention of the +Catholic population, who formed a large majority of the +inhabitants. Great numbers of them gathered to welcome the +fathers on their arrival, and whenever they went out they were +met and greeted by groups of these simple, warm-hearted people, +and followed by a troop of children, who live there in a +perpetual holiday. +{164} +There was scarcely any business or work done there at any time; +the climate and the fertility both of the land and water in the +means of subsistence furnishing the necessaries of life to the +poorer classes without much trouble. Most of these pass their +time in fishing, and even this occupation was intermitted, so +that on Friday there was not a fish to be found in the market. +The people seemed literally to have nothing whatever to do; the +fort and barracks were garrisoned by one soldier with his wife +and children; the government of the place was a sinecure; the +mails came only twice a week; behind the city lay the +interminable, uninhabited everglade; before it the Atlantic +Ocean, with its waters and breezes warmed by the Gulf Stream, and +unvisited by any sails to disturb its solitude, except at rare +intervals. Although it was midwinter, the weather was commonly as +pleasant and the sun as warm as it is in New England in the month +of June. I have never witnessed such a scene of dreamy, listless, +sunshiny indolence, where every thing seemed to combine to lull +the mind and senses into complete forgetfulness of the existence +of an active world. To the people, however, it was one of the +most exciting periods of their lives. The presence of several +strange priests, the continual sermons and religious exercises, +gave an unwonted air of life and activity to the precincts of the +old church, and roused them to an unusual animation. Drunkenness, +dishonesty, and the graver vices were almost unknown among them. + +The negroes were found to be an extremely virtuous, innocent, and +docile class of people. Honest, sober, observant of the laws of +marriage, faithful and contented in their easy employments, which +seemed to suit their disposition very well, and in many cases not +only pious, but very intelligent, and exhibiting fine traits of +character, they were the best evidence we had yet seen of what +the Catholic religion can do for this oppressed and ill-used +race. +{165} +One of them, a pilot on one of the steamboats navigating the St. +John's River, impressed me as one of the most admirable men of +his class in life, for capacity and conscientious Christian +principle, I have ever met. Another, who was a freedman of the +celebrated John Randolph, and for many years his personal +attendant, was not only intelligent and well informed, but a +well-bred gentleman in his manners and appearance. + +The most interesting incident of the mission was the conversion +of an ordnance sergeant of the regular army, who was in charge of +the fortress. This brave soldier had distinguished himself in the +Mexican war, by the recapture of a cannon which had been taken in +one of the battles by the Mexicans, and by his general character +for gallantry and fidelity to his duties. His wife and children +were Catholics, but he himself had lived until that time without +any religion. On New-Year's night, as he sat alone in the +barracks, after his family had retired, he began to think over +his past life, and resolved to begin at once to live for the +great end for which God had created him. He knelt down and said a +few prayers, to ask the grace and blessing of God on his good +resolutions. His prayers were heard, and during the mission he +was received into the Catholic Church and admitted to the +sacraments with all the signs of sincerity and fervor which were +to be expected from one of such a resolute and manly character. I +wish to mention one interesting circumstance which he related to +me, as showing the power of good example in men of high station +in the world. He told me that the first impression he received of +the truth and excellence of the Catholic religion, was received +from witnessing the admirable life of that accomplished Christian +gentleman and soldier, Captain Gareschè, to whose company he +belonged. Many readers will recall, as they read these records, +the admirable and glorious close of this officer's career on the +field of battle. +{166} +During the Western campaign of General Rosecrans, +Lieutenant-Colonel Garesché was his chief of staff. Before the +battle of Stone River, he received Holy Communion, and was +observed afterward alone under a tree, reading the "Imitation of +Christ." During the engagement, one of the fiercest and most +bloody of the civil war, he rode, by the side of his gallant +general, through a storm of shot and shell, and by his side he +fell, besprinkling his beloved commander with his blood, as he +sank upon the field to die, and yielded up his noble life to his +country and to God. + +The labors of this mission were so light that it was more like +holiday than work for us. The presence of a number of very +agreeable and intelligent Catholic gentlemen and ladies, who were +visitors in the place, and some of whom were old friends, added +very much to the liveliness of the mission, and to our own +enjoyment of its peculiar attendant circumstances. One of these +was the Abbé Le Blond, a dear friend of ours and of all who knew +him, a priest of Montreal, who was gradually dying of +consumption, yet full of vivacity and activity, improving the +remnant of his days by his labors of love and zeal, and his works +of charity in different parts [of] the South where he passed his +winters. He died eventually in Rome. Another was Lieutenant +McDonald, of the British Royal Navy, and also, for some time +before leaving England, a captain in the Queen's Guards, a +Highland gentleman of a family that has always been true to the +faith, also since deceased. + +The quiet city of St. Augustine, as well as all the other scenes +and places where we passed that winter on our missionary tour, +has since then been visited by the desolating breath of war. +Probably all is changed, and greater changes yet are coming with +the new issues of peace--changes which, there is reason to hope, +will advance both the religious and temporal welfare of the +people. Florida may yet become a populous State, and the handful +of Catholics in it swell into a number sufficient to make a +flourishing diocese. + +{167} + +Immediately after the close of the mission, F. Baker proceeded by +sea to Charleston where he met the other two missionaries who had +been at work in Georgia, and commenced a mission in the cathedral +of that city. His two companions were detained for a time in St. +Augustine by the sudden and severe illness of one of them, and +they went on a little later, returning by the same leisurely +route by which they came to Savannah, and thence to Charleston, +where the mission was already in progress. + +Charleston possessed three Catholic churches, and its Catholic +population numbered from five to six thousand. All the +congregations were invited to the mission, and a large number of +them did attend from St. Mary's and St. Patrick's, together with +the whole body of the cathedral parish. The same work performed +by the missionaries in Savannah had been gone through in +Charleston, in scouring the lanes and alleys of the city to bring +up the stragglers, and the great cathedral was accordingly +crowded, morning and night. First of all, two hundred bright and +well-instructed children received communion in a body, and +afterward, through the course of the mission, three thousand +adults, among whom were twenty converts to the faith. + +Father Baker never, during the whole course of his missionary +life, enjoyed any thing so much as this Southern tour, and +especially his stay at Charleston, the most delightful city of +the South. After the long seclusion of three years in a convent, +which had impaired his health and vigor, the recreation and +pleasure of such a trip wad most beneficial and delightful to +him. The work in which he was engaged, besides the higher +satisfaction which it gave to his zeal and charity, had also the +charm and excitement of novelty, without the pressure of too +arduous and excessive labor. At Charleston, he was already +prepared by his previous experience and practice to take a full +share in the principal sermons, and to give them that peculiar +tone and effect which is characteristic of mission sermons, and +makes them _sui generis_ among all others. +{168} +All the circumstances were calculated to call the noblest powers +of his mind and the warmest emotions of his heart into full play. +The cathedral was large, beautiful, and of a fine ecclesiastical +style in all its arrangements. The adjoining presbytery, which +had been built for a convent, and all the surroundings, were both +appropriate for the residence of a body of cathedral clergy and +pleasing to the eye of taste. The clergymen themselves, with +their distinguished head, afterward the bishop of the diocese, +were men of accomplished learning and genial character, whose +kindness and hospitality knew no bounds, and whose zeal made them +efficient fellow-laborers in the work of the mission. The +congregation itself had many features of unusual interest. Having +been long established, and carefully watched over, since the +illustrious Bishop England organized the diocese, containing a +large permanent population of various national descent and of all +classes of society, not a few of whom were converts from South +Carolina families, an unusually large number of intelligent young +men, trained up to a great extent under the care of the clergy, +and thus giving scope and affording a field for a man like F. +Baker to display his special gifts to the greatest advantage and +profit--it is not surprising that he should have called out, both +in his public discharge of duty and in private and social +intercourse, that same warm admiration which had followed him in +the former period of his life. In his sermons, he went far above +his former level, and began to develop that combination of the +best and most perfect elements of sacred eloquence, which, in the +estimation of the most impartial and competent judges, placed him +in the first rank of preachers. The present bishop of Charleston, +whose pre-eminent learning and high qualities of mind are well +known, pronounced one of F. Baker's discourses a perfect sermon, +and the best he had ever heard. +{169} +The Catholics of Charleston never saw Father Baker again; but +they never forgot him, and he never forgot them; for, during the +rest of his too short life, he recurred frequently to the +remembrance of that mission, which was so rich in the highest +kind of pleasure, as well as spiritual profit and blessing. + +At that time, all was peace. Sumter was solitary and silent, +untenanted by a single soldier. Fort Moultrie and Sullivan's +Island, and the beautiful battery and the bay were calm and +peaceful, where, a few years later, all was black and angry with +the terrible thunder-storm of war. Blackened ruins are all that +remain of that beautiful cathedral and the pleasant home of the +clergy. Some of those clergymen have died in attending the sick +soldiers of the United States, and others are scattered in +different places. Many of those fine young men and bright boys +have left their bodies on the battle-field, or lost the bloom and +vigor of their youth in the unwholesome camp or hospital or +military prison. The good Sisters have been driven from one +shelter to another, by the terrible necessities of a desperate +warfare, whose miseries they have courageously striven to +alleviate by their heroic charity. Charleston has been desolated, +and the Church of Charleston has shared in the common ruin. +Nevertheless, there is every reason to hope that this temporary +period of desolation will be succeeded in due time by one more +auspicious for the solid and extensive progress of the Catholic +religion than any which has yet been seen, in that vast region +where the eloquent voice of Bishop England proclaimed the blessed +faith of the true and apostolic Church of Christ. + +After the conclusion of the Charleston mission, F. Baker returned +to Annapolis, and remained there in charge of the little parish +attached to the convent, until the following September. One of +his companions, the invalid of St. Augustine, went to Cuba to +re-establish his health; and the other three, after giving +several other missions in New York State, returned also to summer +quarters. + +{170} + +The missionary labors in which F. Baker had been thus far +engaged, were, comparatively speaking, but a light and pleasant +prelude to the continuous and arduous missionary career of a +little more than seven years, which he commenced in the autumn of +1857. At the very outset he was obliged to make a decision of a +very grave and important matter, which resulted in a still more +complete separation from the scenes and associates of his past +life, and threw him more completely upon a pure and conscientious +devotion to his priestly duties for the sake of God alone, as his +only consolation in this world. + +One of our number was at that time in Rome, for the purpose of +obtaining from the chief authority a settlement of certain +difficulties which had arisen, and which impeded the successful +and harmonious prosecution of the missions. The question was +finally settled by a separation of five American Redemptorists, +by a brief of the Holy Father, from their former congregation, +and the formation of the new Congregation of St. Paul, under +episcopal authority. F. Baker was for the first time informed of +the reasons for appealing to the decision of the Holy Father, at +the mission of St. James's Church, Newark, which commenced on the +26th of September, 1857. I have no intention of exposing the +history of the difference which arose between us and our former +religious superiors, or of making a criticism upon their conduct. +If the providence of God ordered events in such a way that a new +congregation should be formed for a special purpose, it is +nothing new or strange that men, having a different vocation, and +whose views and aims were cast in a different mould, should with +the most conscientious intentions, be unable to coincide in +judgment or act in concert. There is room in the Catholic Church +for every kind of religious organization, suiting all the +varieties of mind and character and circumstance. +{171} +If collisions and misunderstandings often come between those who +have the same great end in view, this is the result of human +infirmity, and only shows how imperfect and partial are human +wisdom and human virtue. All that I am concerned to show is, that +F. Baker did not swerve from his original purpose in choosing the +religious state. He had never been discontented with his state, +or with his superiors. He was still in the first fervor of his +vocation, and had just made a strict and exact retreat. He +deliberated for some weeks within his own mind, without saying or +doing any thing to commit himself to any particular line of +conduct. When he finally made up his mind to cast in his lot with +his missionary companions, and to abide with them the decision of +the Holy Father, it was solely in view of serving God and his +fellow-men in the most perfect manner. For the congregation where +he was trained to the religious and ecclesiastical state, he +always retained a sincere esteem and affection. He did not ask +the Pope for a dispensation from his vows in order to be relieved +from a burdensome obligation, but only on the condition that it +seemed best to him to terminate the difficulty which had arisen +in that way. When the dispensation was granted, he did not change +his life for a more easy one. He resisted a pressing solicitation +to return to Baltimore as a secular priest, and continued until +his death to labor in a missionary life, and to practise the +poverty, the obedience, the assiduity in prayer and meditation, +and the seclusion from the world, which belong to the religious +state. Let no one, therefore, who is disposed to yield to +temptations against his vocation, and to abandon the religious +state from weariness, tepidity, or any unworthy motive, think to +find any encouragement in the example of F. Baker; for his +austere, self-denying, and arduous life will give him only +rebuke, and not encouragement. + +{172} + +During the entire autumn and winter of this year, F. Baker and +his companions were occupied in a continuous course of large and +successful missions, in the parishes of St. James, Newark; Cold +Spring and Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson; St. John's, Utica, N. Y.; +Brandywine, Del.; Trenton, N. J.; Burlington, Brandon, East and +West Rutland, Vt.; Plattsburg, Saratoga, and Little Falls, New +York. With loyal hearts we continued to obey our superiors, and +fulfil our obligations as Redemptorists, until the supreme +authority in the Church released us by his decree. This decree +was issued on the 6th of March, 1858, and received by us on the +6th of April. After the Mission of Little Falls, F. Baker was +directed by the Provincial to return to Annapolis, and although +fatigued by the missions, and aware that his dispensation was on +the way, yet, true to the letter to his principle of obedience, +he obeyed at once. The other three missionaries passed the Holy +Week and Easter in the convent of New York, in Third street, and, +after receiving the official copy of the Papal decree, bade +farewell to the congregation where we had passed so many happy +years, and witnessed so many edifying examples of high virtue and +devoted zeal, to enter upon a new and untried undertaking. + +Our first asylum was the home of Geo. V. Hecker, Esq., who kindly +gave up to our use a portion of his house as a little temporary +convent, where we remained some weeks, saying Mass in his +beautiful private chapel, which was completely furnished with +every thing necessary for that purpose. The Bishop of Newark had +made an arrangement to receive us under his jurisdiction, as soon +as our relation to our congregation was terminated, and faculties +from the diocese of New York were obtained from the archbishop. +We continued to follow our accustomed mode of life, and obey our +former Superior of the Missions. After a short time we gave a +mission at Watertown, in the diocese of Albany, and were not a +little encouraged by receiving, late on the Saturday evening +before the mission was opened, the special faculties which had +been obtained for each one of us at Rome, for giving the Papal +Benediction. +{173} +The grand and spacious church of this beautiful town, which is +worthy to be a cathedral from its size and architecture, was +crowded by the largest number of Protestants we had ever seen on +similar occasion, and a number of converts were received into the +Church. From Watertown we came to St. Bridget's Church in New +York, where we had one of our largest, most laborious, and most +fruitful missions. This was the first one of those heavy city +missions so frequent during our early career, at which F. Baker +had assisted, where the crowds of people were so overwhelming, +and the labor so excessive and exhausting. He went into his work +with a brave spirit and an untiring zeal, and scarcely allowed +himself even a breathing-spell. The love and admiration which the +warm-hearted people of this congregation acquired for him was +never diminished, and there was no one whom they ever after loved +so much to see revisiting their church. Before the close, F. +Hecker arrived from Rome, after a year's absence, bringing a +special benediction from the Holy Father upon our future labors, +and a warm commendatory letter from the Cardinal Prefect of the +Propaganda. At the end of the mission we found ourselves without +a home, and we remained so until the spring of the following +year, dependent for the most part on the hospitality of +individual friends among the clergy and laity for a temporary +shelter. For a short time we were obliged to take lodgings in an +ordinary respectable boarding-house in Thirteenth street, near +several churches and chapels, where we could say Mass every day, +without incommoding anyone. Our kind friend and generous patron, +Mr. Hecker, afterward gave up to us his whole house, while his +family were in the country; leaving his servants, and making +ample provision for furnishing us with every comfort in the most +hospitable style. During the summer, the "Congregation of +Missionary Priests of St. Paul the Apostle" was organized, under +the approbation and authority of the archbishop; and arrangements +were commenced for the foundation of a religious house and +church, with a parochial charge annexed. +{174} +While we were occupying Mr. Hecker's house, two burglars entered +the building one night, through a window incautiously left open, +came into the room occupied by F. Baker and one of his +companions, and robbed them of their watches, which were +fortunately of small value, some articles of clothing, likewise +not very costly, and a trifling amount of loose change; but, +seeing two other men of no small stature in the adjoining room, +prudently decamped, without finding a number of costly articles +belonging to the chapel, although they had examined the drawer +where the albs and amices were kept. None of us were awakened, +and the first news we had of the midnight raid upon our territory +was given by F. Baker exclaiming that his coat had been stolen. +We laughed at him at first, but it was soon discovered that his +intelligence was correct, and that the next house had been +visited also by the robbers. This adventure gave occasion for a +great deal of mirth among ourselves, and many speculations as to +the probable results of an encounter with the robbers, in case we +had awakened, in which fatal consequences to the latter were +freely predicted. As usual in such cases, the police examined the +matter, gave very sagacious information as to the mode of +entrance and exit, and discovered no trace of the burglars +themselves. We were only too happy that the chalice and vestments +had not been carried off. + +The burden which was assumed by our small community was a very +heavy one. It was necessary for us to continue the missions +without interruption, and at the same time to provide the means +of making a permanent foundation, which could not be done without +securing property, and erecting a church and religious house at a +cost of about $65,000. During this time of struggle for life, F. +Baker was one of the main stays of the missions, and one of the +most arduous and efficient of our number in working at the +collection of funds and the organization of the parish. +{175} +After a summer spent in this latter work, a course of missions +was commenced in September, the first of which was a heavy one, +in a congregation numbering 5,000 souls, at the cathedral of +Providence, in which we were all engaged. The next was a retreat +given to men alone, and specifically to the members of the +Society of St. Vincent de Paul, in the cathedral of New York. F. +Baker closed it with a magnificent sermon in his happiest vein, +on "The Standard of Christian Character for men in the world." +The following notice of the retreat, taken from the _Freeman's +Journal_, is more graphic than any that I can give, and I +therefore quote it entire, in place of describing it in my own +language:-- + + "The retreat given by the band of Missionaries of St. Paul the + Apostle to members of St. Vincent de Paul's Society, and other + men of this city, closed on Sunday evening, the Rev. Father + Baker preaching an admirable sermon on the characteristics of + Christian perfection for men in the world. During the week that + this retreat has continued, the number of men approaching the + sacraments was about two thousand. The religious effects of the + occasion will be great and permanent. But besides results that + the Catholic faith leads to expect, St. Patrick's Cathedral + has, the past week, presented a subject for thought and + astonishment to the observing and reflecting man, though not a + Catholic. What has gathered these crowds of busy, practical + men? What keeps them kneeling, or standing quietly in solid + masses, for an hour before the exercises commence? Most of + these men rose from their beds at four o'clock, some as early + as half-past three, and made long walks through the darkness to + secure their standing-place in the church during the early + instructions. They hear from the pulpit solid, distinct, + earnest instructions in regard to what a man must believe, and + in regard to what he must do to attain eternal life when this + world is past. But whence comes this lively appreciation of + truths beyond the reach of the senses, in the minds of men + plunged all day long, and every day, in material occupations? +{176} + Here are men of the class that, in communities not Catholic, do + not suffer religion to interfere with their comfort--who like + best to discuss the points of their religious profession after + dinner, and to listen to sermons while seated in cushioned + pews. What causes them thus to stand in the packed throng of + the faithful, listening to the homely details of daily duties + required of them, or kneeling on the hard floor, repeating with + the multitude, in a loud voice, the prayers they learned in + childhood? Then, these sons of humblest toil that kneel beside + them. All the heat and excitement of the "revival" failed to + bring any considerable number of the corresponding class of + non-Catholics to the "prayer-meetings." The latter mentioned + would say that they had to look out for their daily bread, and + that the rich men at the prayer-meetings did not want them any + way. Here they are at St. Patrick's, by five o'clock in the + morning, and either they do without their breakfast, or it was + dispatched an hour or more before. These various classes of + men, having attended the exercises given by the Missionaries of + St. Paul, during the week, stood crowded within St. Patrick's + on Sunday evening. The parting instruction of the missionaries + was to stir them, by all the courage and fervor and endurance + that they had manifested during the retreat, to fix higher + principles and firmer purposes for the guidance of their future + life--to be faithful to every duty, to their families, to + society, and to themselves--to be manly in their religious + observances, and generous in sacrificing for their faith and + for God every attachment that brings scandal on their religion + or danger to their own virtue. At the close of the exercises by + the missionaries, the Most Rev. Archbishop Hughes made some + remarks to the vast congregation. He said he found no necessity + of adding any thing to what the missionaries, according to the + special objects of their calling, had done, to cause the truths + most appropriate and necessary to sink into hearts so well + prepared to receive and retain them. +{177} + But the spectacle before him was one he could not let pass + without some words expressive of his gratification. When a few + Catholic young men first met in the archbishops's house to form + the first Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, he had formed high + anticipations of the good their association would do each other + and the Catholic community at large. Here, to-night, he saw the + realization of his hopes. When he reflected on the influence + that must be exerted on the Catholic body, and on this great + city--where, alas, there was no other religion capable of + influencing and restraining men except the Catholic--by so + great a company of men instructed in their religion, and + fervent in its practice--he had the wish that such meetings for + these exercises, might, at intervals, be repeated in all the + Catholic churches in the city. He then thanked the missionaries + for their labors--he knew they asked not thanks from men--but + still it was due that he, in the name of those who had been + benefited by their exercises, should thank them. + + "This retreat for men has been, in some respects, of especial + interest, and has been highly successful; and, for the complete + satisfaction that it has afforded, it must be said that nothing + which discreet forethought and arrangement, or affectionate + zeal and assiduity could effect, was left undone by the Very + Rev. Mr. Starrs, V. G. and Rector of the Cathedral." + +The third mission was given at the cathedral of Covington, when +the following circumstance occurred. A Protestant gentleman, who +was present one evening, had a phial of poison in his pocket, +with which he was fully determined to destroy his own life; but +the sermon of F. Baker on the Particular Judgment made such a +powerful impression on his mind that he threw away the poison and +disclosed to his friends what his desperate purpose had been. +From Covington, F. Hecker returned to New York, to attend to our +affairs there, and F. Baker with two companions went on a tour of +missions, which continued from November until Christmas, in the +State of Michigan. +{178} +The flourishing parishes located in the pretty villages of +Kalamazoo, Marshall, Jackson, and Ann Arbor, were the ones +visited. The last of these missions deserves a special notice, +which I extract from the "Records":-- + + "The pastor of the church in Ann Arbor has two congregations + under his charge, one at Ann Arbor, and the other at + Northfield. The latter is the larger of the two, and it was + earnestly desired that we should give them a separate mission. + We were told that it was vain to expect them to come to the + service at Ann Arbor, and, as they were already jealous of the + Ann Arbor people, if we did not give them a mission of their + own, their dissatisfaction would be increased, and we should do + more harm than good by our visit. We on our part would have + been willing to give them a double mission; but as there was no + house near the Northfield church where the missionaries could + lodge, it was decided to be impossible, and we concluded that + one of the fathers should go out on Sunday and announce the + mission to the Northfield people, and invite them to attend at + Ann Arbor. The result proved the wisdom of the decision, for + the people came in from the country in crowds, thus increasing + the life and animation of the mission. The weather was mild and + pleasant, the nights were bright and moonlit, and every morning + and evening crowds of wagons were drawn up around the church, + some from ten, some from fifteen, and some even from twenty + miles off. The church was crowded by five o'clock in the + morning, and the congregation, not content with assisting at + one Mass and the Instruction, remained until late in the + morning, when the Masses were all over. In the evening, the + crowd was rendered still denser by the large representation of + Protestants who attended. On the last night, the crowd was so + great, that not only was the church packed in every part to its + utmost capacity, but even the windows were filled with young + men who had climbed up from without, and the trees around the + church offered a perch for those who had to content themselves + with a bird's-eye view of the scene." + +{179} + +I have noticed this mission more particularly, because this +Northfield congregation was a specimen of several Catholic +farming communities with which we came in contact on our +missions. The prosperity, happiness, and virtue which I have +found existing among this class of our people, induce me to +recommend most earnestly to all those who have at heart the +welfare of our Catholic Irish population, to promote in every way +their devoting themselves to agricultural pursuits in the +country. It would be a great blessing if the large towns could be +depleted of the surplus population with which they are +overcrowded, and the tide of immigration diverted from them, to +be distributed over our vast territory. This agricultural life is +incomparably more wholesome, more happy, and more favorable to +virtue and piety than the feverish, comfortless, and unnatural +existence to which the mass of the laboring class are condemned +in large cities. It is free from a thousand influences vitiating +both to the soul and the body, and, above all things, better for +the proper training of children. Our young men and women of +American origin are deserting this agricultural life, and leaving +vacant the fields of their fathers, to plunge into a more +exciting and adventurous life, which promises to satisfy more +speedily their desire for wealth. Let our young Irishmen, who +come here to find a better field for their strength and vigor +than they have at home, and those who have grown up here, but +find themselves unable to get a proper field for their industry +in the old and crowded settlements, come in and take their +places, leave the cities, shun the factory towns, and strike into +the open country. Sobriety, industry, and prudence, will secure +to every young man of this sort, in due time, the position of an +independent land-holder. There is a hidden treasure of wealth, +health, virtue, and happiness in the soil, which will richly +reward those who dig for it, and will also enrich both the +country and the Church. + +{180} + +I may also mention with pleasure, in connection with the Ann +Arbor Mission, my agreeable recollections of the polite +attentions we received from the president and gentlemen of the +University of Michigan. This is by no means a solitary instance +of courtesy extended to us in the Protestant community. In many +parts of the United States, we have received the most polite and +friendly attentions, and occasionally hospitable entertainment, +both from clergymen and laymen of different religious +denominations, as well as a general manifestation of respect and +good-will on the part of the community. Sometimes the mission has +excited ill-will, and obstacles have been thrown in the way of +domestics and other dependent persons attending it. But in many +other cases, not only has there been no interference, but every +facility has been given, by owners of factories, who have +shortened the time of work and given leave of absence, and by +masters and mistresses of families, who have excused their +servants from their ordinary work, and even furnished them with +conveyances, when they lived at a distance. + +From Michigan, the missionaries returned to New York, and after +New Year's, being rejoined by Father Hecker, gave a mission in +St. Mary's Church, New Haven, a large and very flourishing +parish, which is, however, only one of three in the classic "City +of Elms;" where, thirty-five years ago, there was not a Catholic +to be found, except, perhaps, one or two serving-men in wealthy +families. + +After this mission, I revisited several of the places where we +had given missions in South Carolina and Georgia, to solicit aid +for our infant community, which was given in a liberal and +generous manner, worthy of those warm-hearted Catholics, who, I +trust, will receive a similar return from their Northern +brethren, whenever they ask for it, to enable them to repair the +ruin which has been made among them by civil war. + +{181} + +During my absence, two missions were given by the other three +fathers--one at Princeton, where the church was broken down by +the throng, and whose young pastor has since joined our +community: another at Belleville, which has been so beautifully +described by the amiable pastor of that place, that I cannot +refrain from copying his sketch:-- + + "At the above-mentioned place, the Rev. Fathers Hecker, Deshon, + and Baker opened a mission, Sunday, February 13, which + continued during a week, and closed on the evening of the + Sunday following. To say that it was most successful, is too + cold an expression; and to call it most impressive, beautiful, + and triumphant, can give no adequate idea of its enchanting + power. During the week of its continuance, the hill that is + crowned by the graceful Church of St. Peter, with its tall + steeple and gilded cross, marking the first of a series of + eminences that rise higher and higher westward from the River + Passaic, has almost realized Mount Thabor. The eager people of + the country round had been beforehand preparing for the arrival + of the missionaries, and no sooner did the good fathers come + than the faithful people rose up in haste to meet them. Down + they came, the children of old Roscommon and Mayo, from the + romantic hills of Caldwell on the west, along the glades and + woody slopes of Bloomfield, saluting, as they passed, their + newly-built Church of 'Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.' + Onward and upward, too, were hastening from the north and east, + through Acquackanouck and Belleville, those who long ago left + the Boyne and the Luir, the Liffey and Shannon, to cultivate + the valley of the scarcely less beautiful Passaic. A thin, + sparkling frost still lay upon the roads; and the crisping + sounds of their hurrying feet, 'beautiful with glad tidings,' + and their cheerfully ringing voices, far and near, were heard + along the banks and over the drawbridge of that beautiful + river--beautiful at half-past four in the balmy morning + air--quivering under the hovering, waning moon, the deep-blue + sky, and the twinkling stars. +{182} + But the people of the valley have ascended the hill from whence + the loud bell of St. Peter's steeple has been awakening the + country for miles around with its clear and booming sounds. + They meet their brethren from Bloomfield and Caldwell, and + pause for a moment before the double flight of steps leading up + to the portico of the church. Every window gleams with light. + The organ and choir are intoning and singing the Litany of the + Blessed Virgin Mary, 'Sancta Virgo Virginum,' Holy Virgin of + Virgins, pray for us.' 'I thought I was before the bell,' + exclaims a young woman, just come from several miles off, as + she flits hastily through the doorway to be in time for Mass. + But the priest, in his shining vestments, with his little + surpliced attendants, is already at the altar; and, it being + five o'clock, the first Mass of the morning has punctually + begun. The weather, however, at two or three other intervals of + the mission, was not quite so propitious, nor the roads so + pleasant; for thaws and occasional rain had softened the latter + to a disagreeable extent. But this mattered nothing to the + seamless robe of the Faith, which is proof against all + weathers; for St. Peter's was thronged morning and evening + alike while the mission lasted. Many were the expedients + resorted to by poor mothers, for trusty guardians to mind the + little ones during their absence at church. In several + instances, a mother would charge herself with the children of + two or three others; or some kind-hearted Protestant would take + this care upon her. But not unfrequently the little ones were + deposited in the basement of the church; and it was interesting + to see the German mother place her infant in the Irish-woman's + arms, while she herself hastened up with the crowd to receive + communion at the altar-rail--a crowd of old and young, dotted + here and there with the Hollander, the German, the French, and + the English or American Catholic. +{183} + The morning instruction was usually given by Father Hecker, + whose appearance and manner' were well calculated to cheer up + the people, even to alacrity, under their daily difficulties of + faithful attendance, late and early, on the mission-whether he + related the anecdote of the old man, who, early in the morning, + after most determined efforts to be faithful to the mission, + vanquished the temptation of his warm bed, and finally + succeeded in reaching the church in the teeth of a snow-storm, + with inverted umbrella; or, when urging the duty of virtuous + perseverance, he gave his celebrated allegory of the pike of + the Mississippi, who, terrified one night by an unusual display + of fireworks on its banks, vowed he would swallow no more + little fishes, but afterward relapsed into his intemperate + proclivities, and became worse than ever. In the evening, + Father Deshon ended his most interesting instruction with the + recitation of the Rosary, responded to aloud by the whole + congregation. This was followed by Father Baker's sermon and + the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Besides the + overflowing attendance of the faithful, the knowledge of the + missionaries themselves being Americans and converts from + Protestantism, brought hundreds of Protestants of all classes + nightly, many of whom were present at every sermon; and they + were as sensibly moved even to tears and audible grief, by the + power and holiness of the preacher's eloquence, as the + Catholics themselves. But the last night's scene will long be + remembered--the renewal of baptismal vows, with uplifted hands, + by the entire assemblage, which the strongly-built church + somehow or other contrived to accommodate, sitting and standing + in the pews, passages, gallery, and sacristy, and close around + the sanctuary, to the number of some thirteen or fourteen + hundred. The interior of the church was but lately remodelled + and decorated, and its pale rose-colored walls and ceiling were + charmingly varied by their white ornamental centers and + panelled mouldings. +{184} + The statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. Peter at either side + of the sanctuary rested on tasteful pedestals, which supported + four lofty Corinthian columns and their pilasters. These pure + white, fluted, and tapering columns, with their rich capitals + and entablature, the altar, tabernacle, and almost life-size + crucifix, the high-raised marble font and its pendent baptismal + robe of snowy lace--all these, contrasted with the dark and + lofty missionary cross, and the crucifixion winding scarf hung + athwart it, became of an almost white and dazzling beauty, amid + the innumerable lights, silver and gilded candelabra, and vases + of a countless variety of natural flowers. It is a pleasing + thought, that much of the plate alluded to was lent for the + occasion by kind-hearted Protestants of the neighborhood, in + whose estimation this mission has exalted the Catholic Church + to a surprising degree. At the same time it may be said, that + few or no places in the country are more remarkable than + Belleville, N. J., for kind cordiality on the part of the + Protestant community toward the Catholic. But the last scene, + like a beautiful vision, is now over. The missionaries have + given their blessing to the crowd, among whom is a Protestant + young lady, who comes also to seek it before the carriage shall + have borne them away. One convert was baptized on the morning + of their departure. Another will be in a day or two hence. More + are in reserve for this sacred rite. Upward of eleven hundred + and thirty Catholics have received the Holy Eucharist; many of + them old men, and many youths, who, but for the influence of + the mission, would not have approached the sacraments for + years--perhaps never. Young, wavering Catholics, already more + than half lost to the faith, have been reclaimed and fortified. + A. rich legacy of Catholic truth has been left to vanquish + falsehood and error, which, in Belleville and its neighborhood, + must cower for many a day before the memory of the Missionaries + of St. Paul the Apostle." [Footnote 7] + + [Footnote 7: New York _Tablet_.] + +{185} + +On the 20th of March, 1859, a mission was opened in St. Patrick's +Church, Quebec, by the special invitation of the Administrator of +the diocese. It would be easy to fill pages with reminiscences of +this mission, given in a city so replete with interest of every +kind, and full of pleasant recollections. The mission was a very +large one; as we had seven thousand two hundred and fifty +communions, and fifty converts received into the Church. It was +peculiarly satisfactory, also, from the circumstance that the +church was large enough to contain all the people who desired to +get in, though it was densely crowded, and that the most abundant +facilities were furnished to all who wished to come to +confession--there being nineteen confessors, of whom fifteen were +clergymen of the diocese. + +The soldiers of the garrison attend this church, where they have +on Sundays a special Mass and sermon from their chaplain. The +Thirty-ninth Regiment, of Crimean memory, was stationed there at +that time, and as many as were able to get leave, as well as a +number of Catholic soldiers from the artillery battalion and the +Canadian Rifles, attended the mission. Some of these Crimean +veterans made their first communion, and others came to +confession who had made their last confession before some one of +the great battles of the Crimea. One of them, who was unable to +get through the crowd after service, arrived after taps at his +barracks, for which he was sent by the sergeant to the +guard-house, and reported to the colonel the next morning. +Colonel Monroe, the same officer who commanded the regiment in +the Crimea, tore up the report and released the soldier from +custody, saying that it was a shame to punish a man for going to +the mission, which had done his regiment more good than any thing +else that ever happened in Quebec. + +{186} + +We had several invitations to give missions in the British +Provinces, which it was necessary to decline, and, after taking +leave of Quebec, where we had received such unbounded kindness +and attention, both from the clergy and laity, we gave our last +mission for the season in St. Peter's Church, Troy, then under +the care of Father Walworth. From Troy we returned to New York, +where a small house had been rented for our use, near the site of +our new religious house and church. + +During the summer of 1859, the work of collecting funds, by +public contributions in churches, and private subscriptions, was +continued, and the building, which was to serve as a religious +house, was erected; a large portion of it being thrown into a +commodious and tolerably spacious chapel, which could be used as +a temporary parish church for some years, until circumstances +would warrant the erection of a permanent church edifice. The +corner-stone was laid by the archbishop, on Trinity Sunday, June +19, in presence of an immense concourse of people. On the 24th of +November, the Feast of St. John of the Cross, the house was +blessed by the superior of the congregation, and taken possession +of. The first Mass was said in it on the following day, in one of +the rooms arranged as a private chapel. On the first Sunday of +Advent, November 27, the chapel was blessed, and Solemn Mass +celebrated in it by the Vicar-General of the diocese; and from +this time commenced the double labors of both parochial and +missionary duty. An accession to our small number of one more +priest, Father Tillotson, who had been previously residing in +England as a member of the Birmingham Oratory, enabled us to do +this--an undertaking which would otherwise have been extremely +difficult. Three of our number, of whom F. Baker was generally +one, could now be spared for the missions, leaving two in charge +of the parish; and by relieving one another occasionally, the +labor was somewhat lightened. Within the next two years our +number was further increased by the accession of two others--one +of whom, F. Walworth, had been for a long time the superior of +our missionary band, and now rejoined it, after a short interval, +in which he had been fulfilling parochial duty as pastor of St. +Peter's Church, Troy. +{187} +Strengthened by these accessions, we were enabled, while our +number remained undiminished by death, and all were blessed with +the health and strength necessary to the performance of active +labor, to carry on a continuous course of missions during seven +years, dating from the time of our separate organization; and at +the same time to bestow abundant care and attention on our +continually increasing parish. Three of these missions were given +in the British Provinces--in the cathedral, of St. John's, N. B., +Halifax, and Kingston, Canada, respectively; the remainder +chiefly in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, +with a small number in the Western States. The details already +given of previous missions are amply sufficient to give an idea +of the missionary life of F. Baker, and it would be wearisome to +continue them. These seven years, with the year immediately +preceding them, comprise the most laborious and most fruitful +portion of his too short priestly life. The number of missions +given in this period of seven years was seventy-nine, with an +aggregate of one hundred and sixty-six thousand communions, the +same number with that of the missions of the preceding seven +years. Father Baker assisted at sixty-four of these missions, and +at sixteen previously given, making a sum-total of eighty. The +number of converts from Protestantism registered is two hundred +and sixty-three, and the record is imperfect. Two of these were +Protestant clergymen--one the rector of the Episcopal Church in +Scranton, Pa.; the other, the principal of the High School in +Pittsfield, Mass. + +It only remains now to say a few words of the virtues exhibited +by F. Baker, in his missionary, sacerdotal, and religious life. +Those high and noble virtues are best made known by a simple +record in his deeds, and by the utterance which he has himself +bequeathed in his own sermons, in which the lofty standard of +Christian perfection proposed to others is a simple reflection of +what he actually practised in his life. + +{188} + +Father Baker usually passed from seven to eight months of every +year in the labors of the missionary life, and in those labors, +as a member of a body of hard-working men, he was pre-eminent for +the assiduity and perseverance with which he devoted himself to +the most arduous and fatiguing occupations of his peculiar state. +He usually said Mass at five o'clock, after which he went to the +confessional till half-past seven. From nine until one, and from +three until half-past six, he was in his confessional, rarely +leaving it even for a moment. At half-past seven, on those +evenings when he was not to preach, he gave the instruction and +recited the prayers which preceded the principal sermon. A +considerable part of the remaining time was taken up by reciting +his office and other private religious duties, leaving but very +little for relaxation, and none whatever for exercise, unless it +was snatched at some brief interval, or required by the distance +of the church from the pastor's residence. During the first few +days of each mission, the confessionals were not opened, and the +preacher of the evening sermon was always freed from its labors +in the afternoon. Frequently, however, those first days were +devoted to a special mission given to the children of the +congregation; and F. Baker was always prompt and ready to fulfil +this duty, which he did in the most admirable manner, adapting +himself with a charming and winning grace and simplicity to the +tender age and understanding of the little ones, and reciting +with them beautiful forms of meditation and prayer, composed by +himself, during the whole time of the Mass at which they received +communion. The hardest part of the work of the mission, after the +confessions began, was continued during from five to eleven +successive days, according to the size of the congregation, and +requiring from ten to twelve hours of constant mental application +each day. +{189} +Besides this necessary and ordinary work, performed with the most +patient and unflagging assiduity, F. Baker often employed all the +remaining intervals of time--not taken up by meals and sleep--in +instructing adult Catholics who had never been prepared for the +sacraments, and in instructing and receiving converts. Wherever +there was any work of charity to be done, he undertook it +quietly, promptly, and cheerfully, always ready to spare others, +and willing to relieve them by assuming their duties when they +were exhausted or unwell, seldom asking to be relieved himself. +It was never necessary to remind F. Baker of his duty, much less +to give him any positive command. During a long course of +missions, in which I was superior, with F. Baker as my constant +companion and my associate in preaching the mission sermons, and +one other long-tried companion as the preacher of the +catechetical instructions, I remember, with peculiar +satisfaction, how perfect was the harmony with which we +co-operated with one another, without the least necessity of any +exercise of authority, or any disagreement of moment. + +To understand fully how arduous was the work which F. Baker +performed, it must be considered that not only was his mind and +his whole moral nature taxed to the utmost by the continued +effort necessary in order to fulfil his duty as a preacher and +confessor, but that it was done under circumstances most +unfavorable to health, shut up in crowded, ill-ventilated rooms, +pressed upon by impatient throngs, forced to strain the vocal +organs to the utmost in large churches crowded with dense masses +of people, and often obliged to pass suddenly from an overheated +and stifling atmosphere into an intensely cold or damp air, and +always obliged to work, for several hours in the morning, +fasting. Such a life is a very severe strain upon one who has +only the ordinary American constitution, especially if his +temperament is delicate and unaccustomed to hardship in early +life. The amount of work which F. Baker performed was not equal +to that which many European missionaries are able to endure, +especially those who have an unusually robust constitution. +{190} +But it was greater than that which St. Alphonsus himself required +of the missionaries who were under his own personal direction. +The average duration of a career of continuous missionary labor +in Europe is only ten years, and it is therefore not surprising +that F. Baker was able to continue such constant and arduous +exertions, with the other duties which devolved on him during the +intervals of missions, for no longer a period than eight years. + +At least as far back as the year 1861, he began to suffer from a +malady of the throat, and to find the effort of preaching +painful. Nevertheless, he continued to perform his full share of +this duty until within a year before his death. Occasionally it +would be necessary to relieve him of some of his sermons; and on +the last mission which we gave together, which was in St. James's +Church, Salem, Massachusetts, he asked to be relieved altogether +both from the sermons and the short instructions which precede +them. This mission was given during the month of January, 1865. +F. Baker assisted at two other missions after this, one at +Archbald, in Pennsylvania, and the other at Birmingham, +Connecticut, at each of which he preached four sermons. His last +mission sermon was preached, February 18, 1865, six weeks before +his death; which occurred on the last day of the next mission but +one, given at Clifton, Staten Island--twelve years from the time +of his receiving his first communion at the mission in the +Cathedral of Baltimore. + +In the discharge of the duties allotted to him in the parish, F. +Baker labored with the same zeal and assiduity as he did in the +missions. He was particularly charged with the care of the altar +and the divine service in the church, for which his thoroughly +sacerdotal spirit, his exquisite taste, and his complete +acquaintance with the rubrics and the details of ecclesiastical +rites and ceremonies, gave him a special fitness. +{191} +He took unwearied pains and care in providing vestments and +ornaments, preserving the sanctuary and all appertaining to it in +order and neatness, decorating the church for great festivals, +training up the boys, who served at the altar, and directing the +manner of performing the divine offices. This minute and exact +attention to the beauty and propriety of the sacred ceremonies of +the Church, sprang from a deep, inward principle of devotion and +love to our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament, to His Blessed +Mother, to the saints, and to the mysteries of the Christian +Faith, symbolized by the outward forms of religion. In the +performance of his sacerdotal functions, he was a model of +dignity, grace, and piety. He loved his duties, and was +completely absorbed in his priestly office. The august Sacrifice +and Sacrament of the Altar was his life and joy; and there he +derived those graces and virtues which produced their choice and +precious fruits in his character and conduct. + +As a preacher of the Divine Word, he excelled equally. His +parochial sermons were even superior to those which he preached +on the mission. He could prepare himself more quietly; the +exertion was not so tasking to his physical strength, and suited +better the tone of his mind, which made it more pleasing and easy +for him to fulfil these ordinary pastoral ministrations than to +address great crowds of people, on occasions requiring a more +vehement style of oratory. His published sermons will enable the +reader to judge of his merit as a preacher, although their effect +was greatly increased by the impression produced by his personal +appearance and attitude, and the charm of his voice and +intonations. One striking feature of his sermons was the +abundance and felicity of his quotations from Holy Scripture. +Frequent reading and meditation of the inspired books had +saturated his mind with their influence, and the apposite texts +which were suitable for his theme appeared to flow from his lips +without an effort. Another characteristic of his preaching was, +that it appealed almost exclusively to the reason, and through +the reason to the will and conscience. +{192} +His continual aim was to inculcate conscientiousness, obedience +to the law of God, the fulfilment of the great duties of life, +and a faithful correspondence to the divine grace. He never lost +sight of this great end in his missionary or parochial sermons, +but always directed his aim to bring sinners to a renunciation of +sin, and a fixed purpose of living always in the grace of God, +and to bring good Christians to a high standard of practical +perfection and solid virtue. For deep speculations in theology +and oratorical display, he had not the slightest inclination. He +never desired to preach on unusual occasions or topics, but, on +the contrary, had an unconquerable repugnance to appear in the +pulpit, except where the sole object was to preach the gospel +with apostolic simplicity, for the single end of the edification +of the people. He was not at all conscious of his own superiority +as a preacher, and never gave his sermons for publication without +reluctance, or from any other motive than deference to the +judgment of his superior and his brethren. He loved and sought +the shade from a true and profound humility, without the +slightest desire for applause or reputation. His manner was +earnest and grave; at times, when the subject and occasion +required it, even vehement; but equable and sustained throughout +his discourse, without rising to any sudden or powerful outbursts +of eloquence. On ordinary occasions it had a calm and persuasive +force; enlivened with a certain pure and lofty poetic sentiment, +which blended with the prevailing argumentative strain of his +thought, pleasing the imagination just enough to facilitate the +access of the truth he was teaching to the reason and conscience, +without weakening its power, or distracting the mind from the +main point. He never produced those startling effects upon his +audience which are sometimes witnessed during a mission, by an +appeal to their feelings; but he invariably made a profound +impression, which manifested itself in the deep and fixed +attention with which he held them chained and captivated from the +first to the last word he uttered. +{193} +His eloquence was like the still, strong current of a deep and +placid river, sometimes swollen in volume and force, and +sometimes subsiding to a more tranquil and gentle flow; but never +deviating from a straight course, and seldom rushing with the +violence of a torrent. + +In his more intimate and personal relations with his penitents, +with the sick and afflicted whom he visited, or who came to him +for counsel, and with others who sought instruction, advice, or +sympathy from him as a priestly director, F. Baker was a faithful +copy of the charity and suavity of his special patron--St. +Francis de Sales. Pure and holy as he was himself, he was +compassionate and indulgent to the most frail and sinful souls; +and, without ever relaxing the uncompromising strictness of +Christian principle, or mitigating his severe denunciations of +sin, he was free from all rigorism toward the penitent who sought +to rise from his sins by his aid. This benignity and charity +attracted to him a great number of persons who were in peculiar +difficulties and troubles, some of whom had never had courage to +go to any one else. He spared no pains and trouble to help them, +and his patience was inexhaustible. With the sick and dying he +took unusual pains, visiting them frequently, and often aiding +them to receive the sacraments devoutly by reciting prayers with +them from some appropriate book of devotion. He reconciled a +number to the Church who had been drawn away from their religion, +and was particularly successful in bringing to the fold of Christ +those who were without. The tokens of affection, gratitude, and +sorrow which were given by great numbers at his death, were +proofs how much he had endeared himself to all with whom he came +in contact, and how irreparable they felt his loss to be. + +{194} + +Of F. Baker's religious character it would be difficult to say +much, in addition to the portraiture of him which has been given +in the foregoing sketch of his life. It presented no salient or +striking points to be seized on and particularly described. Its +great beauty consisted in its quiet, equable constancy and +harmony. He had that evenly balanced temperament ascribed to St. +Charles Borromeo by his biographers, and regarded as the most +favorable to virtue. He had no favorite books of devotion, no +special practices of piety or austerity, no inclination for the +study of the higher mystic theology, no unusual difficulties or +temptations, no deep mental struggles, no scruples, no marked +periods of spiritual crisis and change after his conversion to +the Catholic Church--nothing extraordinary, except an +extraordinary fidelity and constancy in ordinary duties and +exercises, and extraordinary conscientiousness and purity of +life. He was detached from the world, and from every selfish +passion; reserved to a remarkable degree, without the faintest +tinge of melancholy or moroseness; collected within himself and +in God at all times; serene and tranquil of spirit; simple, +abstemious, and exact in his habits; with his whole heart in his +convent, his cell, his duties, and his religious exercises. + +The character of F. Baker was very much developed during the +later years of his life. That passive, quiescent disposition +which characterized him in his earlier career, gave place to +greater decision and energy. He acquired by action a more +self-poised and determined judgment, greater self-reliance, and a +more marked individuality. He was no longer swayed and led by the +opinions of others, except so far as duty required him to obey, +or his own reason was convinced. The almost feminine delicacy and +refinement which he had in youth was hardened into a robust and +manly vigor, as it is with a softly-nurtured young soldier after +a long campaign. He exhibited also a gayety of temper, a +liveliness in conversation, and often a rich and exuberant humor +and playfulness, especially in depicting the variety of strange +and amusing characters and scenes with which he came in contact +by mixing with all classes of men, which had remained completely +latent in his earlier character, before it was warmed and +expanded by the genial influence of the Catholic religion. +{195} +No one could have been a more delightful companion on the +mission, during the intervals of rest and relaxation, than he +was; and he entered into the enjoyment of the occasional +recreations thrown in his way in traveling with the zest of a +schoolboy on a holiday. For company he had no taste, and he could +not be induced to undertake any jaunt or excursion for mere +pleasure. During the summer months he would never go into the +country, even for the sake of recruiting his health, but remained +during the hottest months at home, where he found the truest +happiness, pursuing the even tenor of his ordinary occupations. A +beautiful character! A rare specimen of the most perfect human +nature, elevated and sanctified by divine grace, and clothed with +a bodily form which was the exact expression of the inhabiting +soul! To describe it is impossible. Those who knew it by personal +acquaintance will say, without exception, that the attempt I have +made is completely inadequate, and, like an unsuccessful +portrait, reproduces but a dim and indistinct image of the +original. I do not mean to say that F. Baker was a perfectly +faultless character, or that he was without sin. Of those faults, +however, which are apparent to human eyes in the exterior +conduct, he had but few, and those slight and venial. + +Nothing now remains but to describe the closing scene of F. +Baker's life. I have already mentioned that his constitution had +shown symptoms of giving way under the fatigues of his missionary +labors. Nevertheless, he still continued in the constant and +active discharge of his priestly duties, and no solicitude in +regard to his health was felt by any of his brethren, with whom +these periods of physical infirmity wore an ordinary occurrence. +On one Sunday, a few weeks before his death, his strength failed +him while he was singing High Mass, and he was obliged to +continue it in a low voice. +{196} +He was also unable to continue the abstinence of Lent, and was +obliged to ask for a dispensation, which I believe never occurred +with him before. His appearance was pale and languid, and the +fulfilment of his duties evidently cost him an effort. We had +been accustomed to sing together two of the three parts of the +Passion on Palm Sunday, ever since the church had been opened; +but, in making arrangements for the services of the Holy Week for +this year, he remarked that we would be obliged to omit singing +the Passion as usual. He had marked himself, however, on the +schedule of offices which was posted up in the library, to preach +both on Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday. His last Sunday sermon +was preached on the Second Sunday of Lent, March 12. The subject +was "Heaven." The Wednesday evening following, he volunteered to +preach in the place of one of his brethren who was unwell, about +an hour before the service commenced, and left the supper-table +to prepare himself. He took for the emergency the sermon which he +had first preached as a missionary, on "The Necessity of +Salvation;" and this was the last regular discourse which he +delivered. On the following Sunday, after Vespers, he gave a +short conference to the Rosary Society; and after this his voice +was never heard again in exhortation or instruction. About this +time, there were several cases of typhus fever in the parish, and +F. Baker had in some way imbibed the poison, to which his +delicate state of health rendered him peculiarly susceptible. On +the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 26, the first symptoms of +illness showed themselves. On the preceding evening he heard +confessions as usual, until about nine o'clock, after which he +came to the room of one of the fathers and made his own +confession, as he did habitually every week. The next morning he +said Mass for the last time, at half-past eight, for the children +of the Sunday-school. As I passed his door at half-past ten, to +go down to High Mass, he met me in the corridor, and remarked +that he felt too sick to go down to the sanctuary. +{197} +From this time he came no more again to the table or the +recreation of the community, but kept his room. Nothing was +thought of his indisposition, and it was by accident that his +physician, who dined that day with the community, saw him and +prescribed for him in the afternoon. The next day three of the +fathers left the house for a mission, and bade him good-by as +usual, without a thought of anxiety on either side. F. Baker +remained on Sunday and Monday in the same state, dressing himself +every morning, and sitting up at intervals, but usually lying on +the bed, and occupying himself about some matters of business. He +wrote several notes, and dictated others, some concerning the +articles he had ordered for the sanctuary, and others concerning +some sick persons or penitents for whom he had a special care. +During this time, no symptoms of typhus had appeared, but his +complaint appeared to be a slight attack of pneumonia. On Monday +evening he went down by himself to the bath-room and took a hot +bath, after which he kept his bed entirely. The superior of the +house, who was engaged in the mission on Staten Island, came +every day to visit him, and had already detected an incipient +tendency to delirium, which awakened in his mind an anxiety, +which, however, was not shared by anyone else. On Wednesday, +however, although he retained control over his faculties, his +brain began evidently to show a state of morbid excitability. He +remarked that the bells of the house had a strange sound, and +fancied that his breathing and pulsations were all set to a +regular rhythmical measure, and gave out musical sounds. When he +was alone and his eyes shut, he said that a brilliant array of +figures continually passed before him, and that he seemed to be +hurried away by a rapid motion like that of a railway carriage. +During that evening he was more decidedly wandering in his mind, +although he became quiet, and slept nearly all night. On Thursday +morning the poison of typhus had filled his brain completely, and +he lay in a dull, stupid state, unconscious of what was said to +him, and incapable of uttering a rational word. +{198} +This gave place after a time to a more violent form of delirium, +during which he talked incessantly in an incoherent manner, and +could with difficulty be kept in a quiet position or induced to +swallow any nourishment or medicine. On Friday morning the danger +of a fatal termination was evident, as the disease continued to +progress, and the symptoms of pneumonia were also aggravated. The +superior of the house was sent for, and came over in the +afternoon. Dr. Van Buren and Dr. Clarke, two of the most eminent +physicians in town, were called in for consultation by Dr. Hewit, +the attending physician, and information of F. Baker's illness +was sent to his sister, who came immediately from Baltimore to +see him. On Saturday evening the typhus fever had spent its +violence, reason returned, and from this time F. Baker remained +in a weak but tranquil state until his departure. He had been +removed from his own room to the library, a large and airy +apartment, where every thing about him was arranged in a neat, +orderly, and cheerful manner, and he was attended and carefully +watched night and day by his physician, his brethren, and his +nurse. The violence of his fever had prostrated his strength so +completely, that he was unable to resist the severe attack of +pneumonia which accompanied it, and which medical skill and care +were unable to subdue. The feeble vital force which still +remained gradually subsided during the next three days, under the +progress of this disease, although his friends continued to hope +against all appearances for his recovery, and seemed almost to +take it for granted that God would surely hear their prayers and +spare his life. During all this time he was rational and +collected, recognising all his friends, but unable to speak more +than a few brief sentences that were connected and intelligible. +He desired his sister to remain with him, and she did so during a +great portion of the time. He expressed his perfect willingness +and readiness to die, and made an effort to repeat audibly some +prayers, but without success. +{199} +He manifested his desire for absolution by signs, and it was +given to him, together with the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, on +Sunday. On Tuesday, the Holy Viaticum, for which he had asked, +was given him, at about half-past ten in the morning. He received +it with perfect consciousness, and remained quiet, free from +pain, and without becoming perceptibly worse, until one. After +the fathers had gone down to dinner, he asked his nurse for his +cap, which was brought to him and placed in his hand. He then +asked for his habit, and said he would dress and go down to +dinner with the community. Soon after, a change was observed in +him by the watchful eye of the father who had been his bosom +friend during their common missionary career, and who had passed +so many hours of the day and night by his bedside during his +sickness with more than the devotion of a brother; and several of +his particular friends were sent for, that they might see him +once more before he died. The two fathers who were at home, his +physician, his only and beloved sister, a lady who had been his +chief aid in the care of the sanctuary, and another, who was one +of his converts, surrounded his bedside, where he lay, the +picture of placid repose and holy calm, quietly, gently, and +imperceptibly breathing his last, until four o'clock, when his +spirit passed away to God, without a struggle or a sign of agony, +leaving his countenance unruffled, and his form as composed as a +statue. Those who saw him after death have said that, about an +hour after his departure, his appearance was most beautiful, as +he lay just dressed in his sacerdotal vestments, his majestic and +finely chiselled brow and features as yet untouched by the finger +of decay. The vestments in which F. Baker was dressed had been +prepared by himself only three weeks before, that they might be +ready in case of the death of one of the community. His body was +placed in a metallic case, enclosed in a rosewood coffin, and +laid in state in the church. +{200} +These arrangements were not completed until late in the night, +and the people did not therefore begin to visit the sacred +remains until the next morning; from which time until the +sepulture, crowds of the faithful were coming to the church +during every hour, both of the day and the night. Requiem Masses +were said by all the priests in the house on Wednesday and +Thursday. The mission at Staten Island closed on Tuesday evening. +The fathers who were there were not made acquainted with the +extreme danger of F. Baker, and the intelligence of his death was +not sent to them until Wednesday morning, when their labors were +all completed. They returned home to find the body of their late +companion lying in the church, and the household and parish +overwhelmed with sorrow. Usually, in a religious community, the +death of a member is taken very much as the loss of a soldier is +regarded by his comrades, schooled as they are to control their +feelings, and to be ready at any moment to expose their lives in +the discharge of their duty. But in a small band like ours, which +had been through so many trials and vicissitudes in company, and +where all the members had been continually in the most constant +and intimate association with each other, it was impossible not +to feel in the deepest and keenest manner the loss of one of our +number, the first one called away during the fourteen years of a +missionary life. To an infant congregation like ours, the loss of +a priest like F. Baker was truly irreparable. Besides this, each +one felt that his loss as a friend and brother was a personal +grief equal to that of losing his nearest and dearest relative by +the tie of blood. This sorrow was shared by the whole parish, by +all his friends, and by the faithful everywhere in the parishes +where he had preached and labored. Many letters of sympathy and +condolence were sent from all quarters, and not Catholics only, +but numbers of others also, who had respected the virtues of the +holy Catholic priest, testified their regret at his death, and +their sympathy with our loss. +{201} +The Rev. Dr. Osgood, a distinguished Unitarian clergyman of New +York, sent a small painting representing a bouquet of various +kinds of lilies, as a memorial of respect, in the name of his +congregation, accompanied by a very kind note. Several other +Protestant clergymen were present at the funeral services; and, +indeed, the manifestations of respect for F. Baker's memory were +universal. + +The funeral obsequies were of necessity accelerated more than his +friends would have desired, so that few from distant places were +able to attend them. A few intimate friends from Baltimore, and +some clergymen from places out of town, were, however, present; a +large number of the clergy of New York and its vicinity; and as +great a number of the faithful as the church could contain. The +funeral was on Thursday in Passion Week, April 6, two days after +the decease. The previous Thursday was F. Baker's birthday, and +the anniversary of his conversion to the Catholic Church also +occurred within the week of his death and burial. He had just +completed the forty-fifth year of his age, and was in the ninth +year of his priesthood. The following Sunday was the twelfth +anniversary of his formal reconciliation to the Church, in the +chapel of the Sisters' of Charity, in Baltimore. Early on +Thursday morning, four private Masses of Requiem were said for +the repose of his soul in the church. At the usual hour for High +Mass on Sundays, a solemn Mass of Requiem was celebrated by the +superior of the house, in presence of the Archbishop, who +performed the closing rite of absolution, and a short funeral +discourse was preached. The coffin was ornamented with the +sacerdotal vestments, the chalice, and the missionary crucifix of +the deceased, and covered with wreaths of flowers. The altar was +deeply draped in mourning, and F. Baker's confessional was also +similarly draped. Never did these exterior symbols indicate a +more sincere and universal sorrow on the part of all who +participated in them. It was a very difficult task to summon up +sufficient fortitude to perform these last sad rites. +{202} +The voice of the celebrant was interrupted by his tears; the +sub-deacon faltered as he sang the elevating and comforting words +of the Epistle; the choir-boys showed in their candid and +ingenuous faces their sorrow for the one who had trained them up +in the sanctuary; the choir, composed, not of professional +singers, but of members of the congregation, undertook their +solemn task with trembling; every countenance was sad and every +eye moistened, in the assemblage of the clergy who sat in +white-robed ranks nearest the sanctuary, and of the laity who +filled the church. I had the last duty of friendship to perform, +in preaching the funeral sermon; and the wish to do full justice +to F. Baker, and to satisfy the eager desire of all present to +hear something of his life, enabled me to fulfil this duty with +composure, and restrain the tide of emotion which I saw swelling +all around me, quieted only by the hallowing and tranquillizing +influence of the sacred rites of the Church, and the high, +celestial hope inspired by the contemplation of a life so noble +and a death so holy. The music was in the sweet, plaintive, +solemn style of the true ecclesiastical chant; all the means of +celebrating the holy rites of the obsequies had been prepared by +F. Baker's own pious and careful hand; his own spirit seemed to +hover over the spot, and a divine consolation stole gently over +all. Sad as it is, there is nothing so beautiful, so soothing, so +elevating to the soul, as the funeral of a holy priest, who has +achieved his course and attained the crown of his labors. Many of +those who were present remained for a long time after the service +was completed, and some were still found there unwilling to leave +the spot, at nightfall. The remains were taken from the church to +St. Patrick's Cathedral, escorted by a band of young men, and +followed by a train of carriages, and by others on foot, although +it rained heavily; the Vicar-General recited the concluding +prayers of the ritual; the coffin was placed in the episcopal +vault next to that of the late archbishop; a few wreaths of +flowers were placed upon it, the entrance was closed, and all +withdrew; leaving the earthly form of the departed to the silent +repose of the tomb. + +{203} + +For some days after, a portion of the mourning drapery was left +on the altar, and requiems continued to be offered by all the +priests of the community. Many Masses were also said by other +priests in various parts of the country, and prayers offered by +the people, although the common sentiment of all was, that the +one for whom they were offered was already among the blessed in +heaven. On Saturday evening, as we all went to our confessionals, +and a large congregation of people was assembled in the church, +preparing for their Easter duty, a peculiarly holy calm seemed to +pervade the spot. The people were hushed and still, unusually +intent upon their devotions. The penitents of F. Baker looked +with sadness upon the place where, just two weeks before, he had +sat for the last time in the tribunal of penance, and came +weeping to some one of the other fathers to request him to take +the direction of their consciences. It was a sad Holy Week; and a +difficult task to us, wearied with labor, and some with watching, +oppressed with a grief which time and repose had not yet +diminished, to fulfil the arduous duties of the season. Our +greatest consolation was in the sympathy manifested by our +people, and in the proof they gave of the love and gratitude +which our labors had awakened in their hearts. Easter Sunday +came; the altar was superbly decorated with the choicest flowers +of the season, the triumphant chant of the Church resounded as +usual; but all felt that the one whose presence in the sanctuary +and whose eloquent voice had given the day one of its greatest +charms, was gone forever; and besides, the gloom of the great +crime committed on Good Friday had overspread the whole nation, +and the drapery of universal mourning had turned the city into +one great necropolis. +{204} +The admirable pastoral letter of the archbishop on the +assassination of the President was read in all the churches, +giving eloquent expression to the indignation and grief which +oppressed all Christian and all honest and just hearts; and never +was there seen an Easter more sad and mournful, more like a day +of unusual humiliation and sorrow, than that Easter Sunday; which +had been anticipated as a day of peculiar joy and thanksgiving +for the cessation of bloody war and the restoration of peace. + +It is in just such times as these, however, that we appreciate +most fully the strength and support which is given us by our holy +faith, the Divine Sacrament of the Altar, and the grace of God, +and that those who have given themselves to a religious life +learn the inestimable blessing of their vocation, which raises +them above all private and all public tribulation. A few days +brought back serenity and cheerfulness to our little community, +and we took new courage from the blessed death of our companion, +closing so beautifully his holy life, to resume quietly and +resolutely our ordinary duties, and to rely more completely on +the providence of God; trusting that we had gained an advocate in +heaven, and hoping to persevere like him to the end. His course +was short, and his reward speedily gained. What a happiness for +him that he listened to the voice of God; and, as his day was +declining to its close, though he knew it not, gathered up his +strength and courage to leave all and run that brief and swift +race, which in later years gained for him the brilliant and +unfading crown of a true and faithful priest of Jesus Christ, who +had brought thousands of souls into the way of justice; and had +practised himself that Christian perfection which he preached to +others! + +There must be many young men equally gifted, and fitted to +accomplish an equally apostolic work, to whom God has given the +same vocation. What hidden consequences were involved in the +result of that struggle and deliberation which was the crisis of +grace in the life of Francis Baker! What a loss to himself and to +the Church of God, if he had proved cowardly and unfaithful! The +simple question before his mind was one of personal obedience to +the commandment of Christ to arise and follow Him. +{205} +But because of his obedience, God chose him to be the instrument +of an amount of good to others which would be sufficient to +enrich with merit a priesthood of fifty years. The immediate +fruits of his own labors in preaching the word of God and +administering His sacraments can never perish. The fruits of his +example and his teaching will, I trust, continue to multiply and +increase after his death in rich abundance. If the blessing of +God perpetuates and extends the congregation which he aided in +forming, and which, so far as we can see, could not have been +established without him, his character and spirit will be +perpetuated in those who will for all time venerate him as a +spiritual father, and imitate him as one of their most perfect +models. If he is to have no imitators and no successors, it will +be because God can find none among our choice and gifted youth, +who have enough of sincerity, generosity, and the spirit of +self-sacrifice, to obey the inspirations of His Divine Spirit, +and consecrate themselves to His glory and the good of their +fellow-men. The need is pressing, the career is glorious and +inviting, and the vocation of God will not be wanting. There is +no hope for religion, except in the multiplication of priests +animated with the apostolic spirit. If the example of Francis +Baker enkindles the spirit of emulation in some generous youthful +hearts; and encourages some timid, fearful souls who are +vacillating between the Church of God and the interests of this +world, to imitate his fidelity to the voice of conscience; the +end I have had in view will be accomplished. If not, it will +stand as a perpetual reproach to a frivolous and unworthy +generation, incapable of appreciating and imitating high +Christian virtue. And now I lay the last stone on this monument +of one who was once the friend and bosom companion of my youth; +afterwards my spiritual child; then my brother in the priesthood; +and who is now exalted to such a height above me that my eye and +my mind can no longer follow him. + +{206} + +{207} + + Sermons. + +{208} + +{209} + + Sermons. + + + Sermon I. + + The Necessity Of Salvation. + + (Mission Sermon.) + + + "Thou art careful, and art troubled about many things. + But one thing is necessary." + --St. Luke X. 41, 42. + + +If, my brethren, I should ask each one in this assembly what his +business is, I should probably receive a great variety of +answers. In so large a congregation as this, drawn as it is from +the heart of a rich and important city, there are undoubtedly +representatives of all the various avocations that grow out of +the requirements of social life; some merchants, some mechanics, +some laboring men. I should find some heirs of ease and opulence +side by side with homeless beggars. Some of you are heads of +families, while others are living under guardianship and +subjection; and in answer to my proposed question, you would give +me your various employments and states of life. You would tell me +that your business is to heal the sick, or to assist at the +administration of justice, or to teach, or to learn letters, or +to labor. The men would tell me that their occupation is at the +office, or the warehouse, or the shop, and the women would tell +me that theirs is at home by the family fireside. No! my +brethren, it is not so. This is not your business. Your words may +be true in the sense in which you use them, but there is a great +and real sense in which they are not true. +{210} +Trade, labor, study--these are not your employments. Your +avocations are not so varied as you think they are. Each one of +you has the same business. All men who have lived in the world +have had but one and the same business. And what is that? The +salvation of their souls. However varied your dispositions, your +condition in this world, your duties, the end of life is +absolutely one and the same to you all. Yes! wherever man is, +whatever his position, whatever his age, he has one business on +the earth, and only one--to save his soul. All other things may +be dispensed with, but this cannot be dispensed with. This is his +true, his necessary, his only duty. Do not think that I am +exaggerating things in making this assertion. Our Divine Saviour +Himself in the words of the text has taught us the same +lesson--"_Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled +about many things. But one thing is necessary_." And what that +one thing is, He has taught us, in those memorable words which He +uttered on another occasion--"_What shall it profit a man, if +he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; or what shall a +man give in exchange for his soul?_" [Footnote 8] But what +then, you say; must every one go into a cloister, must everyone +who wishes to do his duty forsake the world, leave house and +parents, lands and possessions, and nourish his soul by continual +meditation and prayer? No! this is not our Lord's meaning. The +end of life is indeed the salvation of our souls, but we must +work this out by means of the daily employments appropriate to +our several conditions. We must prepare for the life to come by +the labors of the life that now is. We must bear our part in this +world, but we must do so, always, in subordination to eternity, +and thus we shall in some way fulfil the words of the +apostle--"_They that use this world, let them be as though they +used it not;_" [Footnote 9] that is, let them not use it in +the same way that the children of the world use it, or according +to the principles of the world. + + [Footnote 8: St. Mark viii. 36, 37] + + [Footnote 9: 1 Cor. vii. 31.] + +{211} + + +This is enough for the salvation of most men. No one can be +excused from doing so much as this. The law of God imperatively +and under the highest sanctions requires this of everyone here +present. This is your duty to your souls. This is your only duty. +This done, all will be done. This neglected, all else will be in +vain. To prove this will be the theme of my present discourse. + +I will make a remark in the outset: It is important for us to +bear in mind that the salvation of our souls is properly our +work. The grace of God is indeed necessary in order to will, and +to accomplish His good will, but without our co-operation, the +grace of God will not save us; accordingly, St. Paul, writing to +the Philippians, exhorts them to _work out their salvation_. +[Footnote 10] + + [Footnote 10: Philip. ii. 12.] + +It is only little children, who die soon after baptism, and +persons equivalent to children, who are saved by a sovereign and +absolute act of divine power; with regard to all others, God has +made their eternal destiny dependent on their own actions. No one +of us will be saved merely because Christ died for us; or because +He founded the Catholic Church as the church of salvation, and +made us its members; or because He has instituted life-giving +sacraments; or because God is willing that all should be saved; +or because He gives His grace to us all; or because the Blessed +Virgin Mary has such power with God; or because the priest can +forgive sins. No one will be saved because he has had +inspirations of grace, good instruction, good desires, and good +purposes. Despite all this, one may be damned. For the Holy +Spirit has said distinctly and strongly, "Work out your own +salvation." It rests, then, with you to save your souls. The +grace of God is indeed necessary. You cannot be saved without the +death of Christ, or the sacraments of the Catholic Church, or the +gifts of the Holy Spirit, or the absolution of the priest, or the +patronage of Mary; but all these things are within your reach, +they are all in your power. +{212} +Now, at the time of the Holy Mission, they are offered to you +with especial liberality. God, on His part, has done, one may +almost say, all that He could do to make your work easy to you. +To make this an acceptable time, it only remains, then, that you +do your part. And this you can do. However great your +difficulties, however great your temptations, however strong your +passions, however importunate your evil companions, may be; +however deeply seated your bad habits; you can, each one can, by +the help which God is now willing to render him, save his soul. + +From this first remark I pass to the immediate subject of my +discourse--the obligation of securing our salvation. As we can +save our souls, so we ought to do it. Nay, this is our only, our +all-engrossing duty; and I shall found my proof of it, my +brethren, on this plain rule of common sense and reason, that one +ought to bestow that degree of attention and care on any affair +which it deserves and requires. Everyone feels that it would be +an occupation unworthy of a man to spend his time in writing +letters in the sand, or in chasing butterflies from flower to +flower; because these occupations are in themselves vain and +profitless. Again, anyone would feel it unreasonable, in the +father of a family, to set out on a party of pleasure at the very +moment that his presence was necessary to arrest some disaster +that threatened his family: not because it was wrong in itself +for him to seek recreation, but because a higher obligation was +then urging. Now, applying these principles, on which everyone +acts in matters of daily life, to the matter in question; I say +that you are bound to give to the work of your salvation your +utmost care and attention, because the care of your souls +supremely deserves and urgently requires it. +{213} +Take in, my brethren, the whole scope of my proposition. There is +a work of great consequence before you. I do not speak as the +world speaks. The world tells you that your business here is to +get gain, to build a house, to rear a family, to leave a name, to +enjoy yourself. I say, no. Your business is to seek the grace of +God, and to keep it. The world says: seek friends, fall in with +the stream, court popularity, do as others do, act on the +principles which receive the sanction of the multitude, and a +little religion in addition to this will be no bad thing. I say, +no. Seek first the kingdom of God and His justice. Fathers, +mothers, sons and daughters, masters, servants, ye great ones and +ye humble ones of the earth, you are all engaged in the same +enterprise. God has intrusted to each one of you a soul. He has +intrusted it to _you_, not to another. You cannot devolve +the responsibility of it on another. That is your care on the +earth. Whatever cares of other things you may have, you cannot +neglect that one work, you cannot interrupt or postpone it, you +cannot put any thing in competition with it. If there is a +question between any temporal advantages, however great, or +suffering, however severe, on one side, and the salvation of your +soul on the other; you must renounce these benefits, embrace +those tortures. If you must consent to see your family die by +inches of starvation, or put your salvation in proximate and +certain jeopardy, you must see them starve first. I do not say +the case is likely to happen. God rarely allows men to be reduced +to such straits. But if the case should occur in the line of +duty, nay, if the alternative was presented, of converting the +whole world on one side, and avoiding a mortal sin on the other, +we must rather consult the welfare of our own souls than that of +others; and this not from selfishness, but because God has +intrusted to us our own souls, and not the souls of others. +{214} +And how do I establish my proposition? I waive, my brethren, my +right to appeal to your faith, to speak by the authority of +Christ, Who is infallible and supreme, and Who has a right to +challenge your absolute and instantaneous submission and +obedience. I postpone the consideration of that love which we owe +to our Maker, and which ought to make us prompt and willing to do +His will. I take my stand on the ground of reason and conscience, +and I appeal to you to say whether they do not sustain my +proposition. I make you the judges. It is your own case, it is +true, yet there are points in which even self-love cannot blind +our sense of faith; and I ask you whether the care of our soul's +salvation should not be our sovereign and supreme care in life, +if it be true that the interests of the soul surpass all others +in importance, and can not be secured without our continual and +earnest efforts. Your prompt and decided answer in the +affirmative leaves me nothing more to do than to establish the +fact that the salvation of your souls is in fact so important a +task. I will do so by proving three points: first, that our souls +are our most precious possession; second, that we are in great +danger of losing them; and third, that the loss of our souls is +the greatest of all losses, and is irreparable. + +Our souls are our most precious possession. My brethren, we have +souls. When God created man He formed his body out of the slime +of the earth. It was as yet but a lifeless form, a beautiful +statue, but God breathed upon it and man became a living soul. +This soul, the spiritual substance which God breathed into the +body, was formed according to an eternal decree of the Blessed +Trinity, in resemblance to the Divine essence; that is, endowed +with a spiritual nature and possessed of understanding and free +will. "Let us make man to our image and likeness," said God; and +the sacred writer tells us "God created man to His own image;" +and, as if to give greater emphasis to so important an +announcement, he repeats, "To the image of God created He him." +[Footnote 11] + + [Footnote 11: Gen. i. 26.] + +{215} + +Man therefore is a compound being, consisting of a body and soul, +allied to the material world through the material body which he +possesses, and to the world above us, that is, to God and the +angels, through his soul. Now, the excellence of all creatures is +in proportion to the degree in which they partake of the +perfections of God, who is the Author of all being and all +goodness. All existing substances partake of His perfection in +some degree; if they do not show forth His moral attributes, at +least they reflect His omnipotence; and therefore Holy Scripture +calls on the fishes of the sea, the beasts of the earth, the +fowls of the air, the sun, moon, stars, earth, mountains and +hills, to join with angels and men in blessing God. But the +superiority of angels and souls over material creatures consists +in this, that they partake of the moral perfections of God: they +show us not only what God can do, but what He is. Like Him, they +are spiritual beings. "_Who makest Thy angels spirits and Thy +ministers a burning fire_," says the Psalmist. [Footnote 12] + + [Footnote 12: Ps. ciii. 4.] + +They are not gross substances as our bodies are, but pure, +subtle, immaterial essences. They are immortal like Him--at least +so as that they can never die. They do not need food nor sleep. +They are not subject to decay, or old age, or death; they are +endowed with understanding and free will, to know many of the +things that God knows and to love what He loves; but, above all, +to know Him and love Him. Hence the value of the soul is really +immeasurable, and all the treasures of the earth are not to be +compared to it. Take the poorest slave on earth, the most +wretched inmate of the darkest prison, the most afflicted +sufferer whom disease has reduced to a mass of filth and +corruption, and that man's soul is more precious and more +glorious than the richest diadem of the greatest monarch; nay, +than all the treasures of the whole earth, with all the jewels +that are hid in the mines and caves under its surface. + +{216} + +Our Lord one day permitted St. Catherine of Sienna to see a human +soul, and as she gazed transported at its exceeding beauty, He +asked her if He had not had good reason to come down from heaven +to save such a glorious creature. The saint said the soul was so +beautiful that, if one could see it, one would be willing to +suffer all possible pains and torments for love of it. My +brethren, if, when you go to your homes, you should find in your +house an angel with his face as the appearance of lightning, his +eyes as a burning lamp, his body as a crystal, and his feet in +appearance like to glittering brass, what would you do? Would you +not, like St. John, fall down before his feet and adore him? +Would you not faint and fall before him, or if you were so +strengthened that you could look upon the glorious vision, would +you not gaze upon it with deep and loving awe? Well! such a being +you will find there, when you go home. It will go hence with you. +It will remain there as long as you remain there. It will come +away when you come away. This bright being of whom I speak is no +visitor in your house, it is an inmate, it rises with you in the +morning, accompanies you through the day, is present with you +when you eat, is with you in sickness and in health, in life and +in death. This bright and glorious being is yours--it is more +yours than any thing else in the world, it is the only thing in +the world that is really yours--it is yours; poverty cannot +strip you of it, death cannot tear it from you; eternity cannot +rob you of it. And this being is your soul, your precious, +spiritual, immortal soul. All things else will forsake you, +property, family, friends; but this will never forsake you. It is +yours. It is yours inalienably and for ever. Your greatest, your +only wealth and treasure. Oh, inestimable dignity! We are told of +some saints, who used to make an act of respect to everyone they +met, by way of saluting his guardian angel, and of others that +they bowed down before those whom they knew, by the spirit of +prophecy, would shed their blood for the faith. +{217} +But have we not cause enough to honor man, in the fact that he +has a soul, an immortal soul, a soul which shall one day see God? +Shall we not feel an ample respect for each other, my brethren, +when we think of what we are? Who could ever speak an impure word +before another if he thought of the dignity of a human soul? What +young man would ever dare to go to scenes where he would blush +that his mother or sister should be present, if he remembered +that he took his own soul along with him? Who would lie, or +cheat, or steal, if he thought of his soul? A great and +overpowering thought; how does it belittle all the pride and +ostentation of the external world! Come, my brethren, let us go +into the streets of this city and look around us. There are +stately buildings and proud equipages and gay and brilliant +shops--but what are all these to the concourse of human beings, +the crowds of immortal souls who are, day by day, making an +immortal destiny. There is the old man tottering along on his +stick, there is the little child on the way to school, there is +the rich lady with her jewels and costly fabrics, there is the +laborer with his spade setting out to his daily toil; and each +one has a soul, each one will live forever. Let us strive to take +in this great thought. The tide of human beings flows on from +morning to evening. New faces continually appear. They come and +go. We do not know their history, their destiny; but we know that +each one has a spiritual nature, is made to the image of God, is +possessed of a bright and glorious soul. We shall meet them +again. There will come a day when every one of the throng shall +meet again every other. New populations; shall come in the place +of those who now inhabit the world. The stones of the greatest +buildings shall be reduced to powder, nay, the world itself will +be reduced to ashes, and each soul that now lives in this city +will survive in its own individuality and immortality. There are +some, it is true, who do not seem as if they had souls. +{218} +There are women who have given themselves up to practices of +uncleanness by profession, and men who habitually wallow in +drunkenness and sensuality; and the conversation of such persons +is so horrid and obscene, their countenance so devoid of the +least trace of shame or self-respect, they seem from having +neglected their souls almost to have lost them. They seem really +to have become the brutes whose passions they have imitated. No! +even they have souls. They cannot be brutes if they would. They +are men, they are made to the image of God, and so they must ever +remain. A surgeon [Footnote 13] was once called to attend a man +who was afflicted with cancer. + + [Footnote 13: The surgeon alluded to was Dr. Baker, and a + faithful portrait of the man was taken, which was preserved + in the family.] + +This terrible disease had affected one entire side of the face, +and had made in it the most dreadful ravages. The cheek was one +shapeless mass of putrid flesh; the nose undistinguishable from +the other features, the eye completely eaten out, and the bones +of the forehead perforated like a sponge; but on turning the face +of the man, the other side presented a wonderful contrast, being +in nowise affected, and showing no trace of sickness except an +excessive pallor. The countenance and features were of a noble +dignity and beauty, and strikingly like the expression ordinarily +observed in the pictures of our Blessed Lord. So it is with men's +souls. Sin has eaten deeply into them, has deprived them of +comeliness, has almost defaced the form they once had, has +blinded their minds and deprived them of the interior eye; but +still there remain traces of nobility, of the image of God. O +man, whoever thou art, however deeply sunk in sin; I care not +whether your body be as filthy as the dunghill or the sink, or +your heart be the prey of every passion and the slave of every +vice; you have a soul: you have indeed lost much, but you have +much remaining; you have that which is of more value than all +else in the world--that which is absolutely of more value than +all material things; and which to you is of more value than all +spiritual things, than all created things in earth and heaven. +{219} +You are great and noble and spiritual and immortal--you are +capable of virtue, happiness, and heaven--you are like God, you +resemble Him. His image is stamped upon you. And how little you +realize this! Alas, you will realize it at the hour of death. + +But, secondly, we are in danger of losing our souls. To lose them +in the literal sense is of course impossible, for I have said +that they are immortal, and will remain with us forever. It would +be in some way a happiness to the wicked, if they could, in this +sense, lose their souls, for it would free them from the torment +of a miserable eternity. But that cannot be: the loss of our +souls of which we speak is the loss of God, who alone is the +sufficient and satisfying object of our affection. "Thou hast +made our souls for Thee," says St. Augustine, "and they are not +at peace until they rest in Thee." The loss of our souls is +occasioned by sin, which separates us from God, but it is not +final and irremediable until death overtakes us in this state of +estrangement. The danger of losing our souls, then, is the danger +of falling into mortal sin and dying in that state. Now, the +danger of sinning is, in the present course of God's providence, +inseparable from the possession of a soul. Free will is a high +prerogative, which, while it fits us for the highest state +possible, renders sin also possible. As soon as God created the +angels, a large part of them rebelled against Him, and were cast +out of heaven. As soon as He had made man, our first parents fell +and were cast out of Paradise. It is only a rational moral being +that can sin; because sin is the voluntary transgression of the +Divine law, and therefore cannot be committed by any creature but +one who has a will, that is, intellect and the power of choosing. +Almost all the material acts of sin which men commit are +committed by brutes also. +{220} +See the rage of the tiger, the thieving of the fox, the impurity +of the goat, the treachery of the adder, the gluttony of the +swine. But there are no sins in these brutes, because they have +mere blind instincts. Man, however, has reason and a will, and +therefore he is bound to control the instincts which he shares in +common with the brutes, and his failure to control these +constitutes sin. He has a soul which belongs to God, and of which +God is the sovereign, and his failure to control his passions is +rebellion against God, and pride. Further, as the possession of a +soul renders sin possible, so the proclivity to evil, which we +inherit from the fall, and the temptations of the world, render +it exceedingly probable. I do not know a more striking +illustration of this, than the fear which the saints have +ordinarily had about their salvation. Their sense of the value of +the soul; their deep knowledge of their own hearts, and of the +root of evil that was in them, the weakness of man without grace, +and the uncertainty of grace; have kept men of the greatest +sanctity, men who have wrought miracles, who have cast out +devils, who have raised the dead to life, always anxious about +their perseverance, always begging of God the grace never to to +allow them to commit a mortal sin. But if these reasons are +enough to make saints tremble, what reasons have not ordinary +Christians to fear! A chain of evil habits, unguarded intercourse +with men, the constant contact with the world, how fearfully do +they augment the risk of losing our souls, which all run +necessarily in this world. Why, listen to the conversation of ten +men, taken almost at random in this city; for half an hour walk +through the city, from one end to the other; and see if the +occasions of sin are not more frequent than can be uttered. This +is deeply felt by men of the world themselves. It makes them +despair. They say there is no possibility of saving their souls +in the world. They say it is all in vain to try--that sin meets +them at every step. It is not, of course, true that sin is +inevitable. If it were, it would not be sin. But it is true that +the atmosphere of the world is fearfully surcharged with evil. +{221} +There is many a home in this city, many a place of public resort, +many a den of secret iniquity, many a gaming-room, and +drinking-house, over which there is an inscription legible to the +angels, written in letters of fire, "The gate of hell." There are +many places where souls are sold daily and hourly, and oh, at +what a price! Thirty pieces of silver was the price offered for +our Redeemer, but the soul is often sold for one, indeed, often +for something still more miserable--for the gratification of an +impure passion, for the indulgence of revenge, for a day's +frolic. It is true the Evil One does not carry on his traffic +under its own name and openly--that it is well concealed under +specious pretences; but the danger is only so much the greater. +The occasions of sin are everywhere spread under our feet like +traps and snares, and encircling us on all sides like nets. But +even this is not the worst. The loss of God is not only possible +because of our free will, probable because of the corruption of +the world, but, in many cases, already certain. Men, on all +sides, have lost God, and need only an unforeseen death to make +certain the loss of their souls. Who can tell how many are living +in a state of mortal sin, month by month, day by day, year by +year? They go on securely, smilingly; externally all goes on +smoothly; they are successful and seemingly happy; they have +plans for many years to come; but a voice has spoken, "Thou fool, +this night shall they require thy soul of thee." Oh! how many +died in mortal sin last year, how many will die in mortal sin +next year! It needs only a little thing, a false step, a railway +accident, an attack of fever, a change in the weather, a fit of +apoplexy, and they are launched into eternity without warning and +without preparation--death sealing for perdition those whom it +finds deprived of the grace of God. Who, I say, can wonder at +this, when he looks around him, and sees how little the soul is +valued? O my God! it is enough to make the heart sick. +{222} +Let us take a Catholic family, for I will not take things at the +worst. A father has a family of children. He must send them to +school or college. He finds an institution which pleases him, and +he will tell you that his children are doing excellently, and +that the only drawback is that the school is Protestant or +infidel. Is not this to betray the souls of his own children? +Sunday comes: it is true that there is the obligation to hear +Mass, but some inducement offers itself to idleness or +dissipation, and no Mass is heard, because it is only the soul +which is injured by the omission. Monday comes: there is an +opportunity of making some little gain in an unlawful way. What +does it matter? We must get rich, and do like our neighbors. The +sons grow up in ignorance, and spend their time mostly at the +gaming-table or the place of carousal. The daughters grow up. +They must be led by their mother to every scene of folly and sin, +because the custom of society requires it. Easter comes: the +young people do not like to go to confession, and they add only +one sin more, to those with which their hearts are already +charged. And then the parents die, and the children come forward +to take their places, and to bring up their children in still +greater neglect and laxity. Thus Catholics are trained for the +world, and souls for hell; and if we take into the account the +graver forms of vice, and consider how many are entirely the +slaves of passion, we shall not wonder that there are so few that +shall be saved. One of the Fathers, speaking of the great +responsibility of the priesthood, dilates on the impossibility of +a priest's being saved without great exertion and watchfulness. +But if it be difficult for a priest to save his soul; what shall +I say of the laity, when I consider the prevailing habits of +Catholics. It hardly seems to me too strong to say, that to me it +would seem a miracle for any such one to be saved. How will men +attain that which they do not care for, to which they give no +thought? And so it is with the salvation of the soul. Who thinks +about it? Who takes any pains for it? Who makes any sacrifice for +it? +{223} +The soul is more precious than any thing else, and yet every +thing else is put before it. It is trampled on in business, +betrayed in friendships, choked by domestic cares, imprisoned in +the filthy bodies of the licentious, and, as it were, annihilated +in the drunkard. It is forgotten, neglected, outraged, despised, +ignored. It is not so much sold as thrown away. The body is cared +for with the most supreme solicitude. Every pain and ache is +relieved. Long journeys are undertaken to recover health that is +lost or only threatened. The most celebrated physicians are +sought after with eagerness. But the soul is allowed for weeks +and months and years to go on in a state of spiritual death. +Confession, prayer, the sacraments, means so easy, means truly +infallible in their efficacy, means within the reach of all, are +neglected, on pretences the most frivolous, without reason, and +almost without motive. "_Who will give water to my head, and a +fountain of tears to my eyes, and I will weep day and night for +the slain of the daughter of my people?_" [Footnote 14] + + [Footnote 14: Jer. ix. 1.] + +The loss of our souls is the greatest of all evils, because it is +irremediable. I will not go into all that this point contains. It +is too great a subject for us at present. I will not dwell on all +that is meant by the loss of our souls, but I will consider it +simply as it is, the failure of reaching our end and destiny, and +as irreparable. And to help us to realize this, I will summon as +a witness one who was the first to come short of his destiny, the +devil. We do not know how long it was after the creation of the +angels that the devil sinned and fell; but certainly there was a +time when he was a pure, bright spirit, rejoicing in the +greatness of his endowments, and with a hope full of immortality. +But there came a moment of darkness. He sinned: he was judged: he +was cast from heaven, and he sank into hell. There he is now. He +is confined in chains and darkness. The tree has fallen; and as +it has fallen to the north or to the south, so must it lie +forever. +{224} +Other mistakes may be rectified, but this never. A loss in +business may be made good by greater exertions and prudence; a +broken-down constitution may be repaired by art and care; a lost +reputation may be recovered by integrity and consistency in +well-doing; earthly sorrow may be healed by time and other +objects; sin may be rooted out by penance; but the loss of the +soul is an evil complete and irreparable, and brings with it an +undying remorse. "_A tree hath hope: if it be cut down, it +groweth green again, and the bough thereof sprout. If its root be +old in the earth and its stock be dead in the dust, at the scent +of water it shall spring and bring forth leaves as when it was +first planted._" [Footnote 15] But man, when he shall be dead +and stripped and consumed, I pray you, where is he? The cry of +despair which the first lost soul uttered when he made the +terrible discovery that he was really lost, is still ringing in +the abodes of the damned, and the keenness of his misery is still +unabated. Ages shall go on, the last day shall come, and an +eternity shall follow it, and that cry of despair will still be +as thrilling, and that anguish as new and as irremediable. + + [Footnote 15: Job xiv. 7, 8, 9.] + +As reasonable men, I have appealed to you: what is your decision? +What does reason, what does conscience, what does self-interest +say? You would not be listless if I were to speak to you of your +property, your health, your reputation, but now I speak to you of +your souls--your precious, immortal souls--your own, your +greatest good--a good that you are in danger of losing--the good +whose loss is overwhelming and irretrievable. They are in your +hands for life or for death. It is said that to one of the +heathen soothsayers, who was famed for his skill in discovering +hidden things, a person once came with a living bird in his hand, +and asked the seer to tell whether it was living or dead. The +inquirer intended to crush the bird with his hand if the wise man +should say it was living, and to let it fly if he should say it +was dead, and thus in either case to put the pretended magician +to shame. +{225} +But the soothsayer suspected the design, and answered: "The bird +is in your hand--to kill it or to let it live." So I answer you, +my brethren. Your souls are in your hands, to kill them or to let +them live. You can crush them in your grasp and smother their +convictions, or you can open your hand and let them fly forth in +freedom and gladness. Oh, have pity on your souls! Your souls are +yours. No one will be the loser by the loss of your souls but +yourselves. God will not be the less happy if you are damned; the +saints will not lose any of their happiness if you fail of your +salvation; the angels will be as light and blissful; the earth +will go on just the same as when you were on it; only you, you +yourselves will feel it, and you will feel it hopelessly. Ah, +then, take pity on your souls! You will one day wish that you had +done it. One of the courtiers of Francis the First of France, +when he was dying, said: "Oh! how many reams of paper have I +written in the service of my monarch! Oh! that I had only spent +one quarter of an hour in the service of my soul!" A quarter of +an hour! And you have days and weeks. Oh, then, once more I beg +you to take pity on your souls! If you have never before +seriously taken to heart your eternal interest, at least do so +now. Improve the time of this mission. It is the time of grace. +It may be to you the last call, the last opportunity. Make, then, +a good use of this time. Set aside the thought of other things, +and give yourself to this alone. Now you have an opportunity of +making your peace with God, and saving your soul. Think, now the +hour has come, foreseen by God from all eternity, when, answering +to the call of grace, I shall regain His favor, which, alas! I +have lost too long. What shall keep me back? See what is the +difficulty, and weigh it in the scales with your immortal soul. +Is confession difficult? A confession before the whole universe +will be more so. Is it hard to lose a little gain? It will be +more so to lose your soul. +{226} +Is it hard to break a tie of long standing? It will be hard to +break every tie, and to live in eternal desolation. Is it hard to +bear the remarks of companions? But how will you bear the taunts +and jeers of the devil and his angels? And those very companions +who have led you to hell will taunt you for your base compliance +to them. Let nothing, then, keep you back. + + * * * + +(Peroration. according to the circumstances.) + +---------------- + + Sermon II. + + Mortal Sin. + + (Mission Sermon.) + + + "Know thou, and see, + that it is an evil and a bitter thing for thee, + to have left the Lord thy God." + --Jer. II. 19. + + +In the book of the prophet Ezechiel it is related that God showed +to the prophet in a vision the city of Jerusalem. It was all +stretched out before him in its greatness and in its beauty. The +magnificent temple was there, with its stones and spires +glittering in the sun; its streets were full of people, +prosperous and happy; a people who were in possession of the true +religion, who had been adopted by God as His children, and over +whom He had exercised a special protection. It was a beautiful +sight; beautiful to the eye, and well fitted to excite the most +religious emotions in the mind. But there was something that +checked these feelings of pleasure and delight. God permitted the +prophet to see the interior of that city. He unfolded before him +the secret abominations that were practised there. +{227} +He showed him the idolatries and impurities to which his chosen +people the Jews had delivered themselves up, and then in wrath +and indignation God complained of the people and said: "_The +iniquity of the house of Israel and of Juda is exceeding great; +and the land is filled with blood; and the city is filled with +perverseness, for they have said: The Lord hath forsaken the +earth, and the Lord seeth not_." [Footnote 16] Then the joy of +the prophet was turned in to sorrow. + + [Footnote 16: Ezechiel ix. 9.] + +To-night, my brethren, a vision meets my eye hardly less +beautiful than that which met the eye of the prophet. How +beautiful a sight is this church and this congregation! This +church is raised to the honor of the true God. Its walls are +salvation and its gates praise. And this congregation, beautiful +as it is in the assemblage of a multitude of living, intelligent +beings--where I see the old man with his crown of silver hair, +the young man and the young woman in the freshness of their bloom +and youth--is much more so regarded as a Catholic congregation, +as professing the true faith. But tell me--for I cannot look into +your hearts as the prophet did--tell me, does God see, beneath +this beautiful, outward appearance, the abominations of iniquity? +Does God this night see in this church some heart that is in +mortal sin? Some Catholic who has renounced, if not his faith, at +least the practice of his faith? Some child of passion who has +swerved from the path of justice, lost his conscience and the +sense of sin, and given himself to the service of the devil? Are +there any here to-night in mortal sin? There may be. I will +confess, and you will not think me uncharitable in doing so, I +believe there are some. I know not how many, but from what I know +of the world, I believe there are some here, in this +congregation, whose consciences tell them they are in mortal sin. +Oh! then, let me tell them what they have done. Let me show them +what mortal sin is. Let me prove to them that it is an evil and a +bitter thing for them to have left the Lord their God. This is my +subject to-night. I will show you the dreadfulness of mortal sin: +first, from its nature; secondly, from its effects on the soul; +and thirdly, from its eternal consequences. + +{228} + +You know, my dear brethren, that we were created to love and +serve God in this life, and to be happy forever with Him in +heaven. God has given us this world, and our own nature, all that +we have or are; and He is willing that we should enjoy the world +and act out our nature. It is true, there are certain +restrictions which He has given us. These restrictions are +contained in His law, embodied in the ten commandments. In these +commandments God has circumscribed our liberty, has put limits to +what we may do; but I need not say that these limits have been so +fixed, not in order to abridge our happiness, but really to +increase it. So the case stands on God's part. But now, on our +part, we have an inclination to disregard the limits God has put +on our use of the world, and to place our happiness in the +creature. The world smiles before us, and we think this or that +enjoyment would make us happy. It may often happen that the very +enjoyment and comfort is one which God has forbidden; but no +matter, we are strongly inclined to seize it, nevertheless, and +to gratify our desire in spite of the prohibition. This +inclination is what is called concupiscence, and is sometimes +exceedingly strong, so that it is very difficult to resist it. +God has, however, always given us reason and faith, free will and +grace, to enable us to overcome it. This, then, being so, you see +that man stands between two claimants: the world on the one hand, +inviting him to follow his own corrupt inclinations; on the +other, God requiring him to restrain his passions by the rules of +virtue and religion. Now, what takes place under such +circumstances? Alas, my brethren, I will tell you what too often +takes place. I will tell you what takes place so commonly that +men take it for granted that it must be so--so commonly that the +majority of men cease to wonder at it--what happens every day, +every hour, every minute. It happens that men listen to the voice +of passion, renounce virtue and reason, stifle grace, and turn +away from God, to satisfy their desire for the creature. This is +what happens daily, hourly, momentarily; and this is mortal sin, +which is in its nature the greatest of all evils, considered in +its relation both to God and man, as I am about to show you in +this first part of my discourse. + +{229} + +Understand me, my brethren: the sin I am going to speak of is +_mortal_ sin. I do not say that every transgression of the +law of God is mortal. You know that it is not so. You know that +there some actions which men commit, which are forbidden, but by +which a man does not mean really to give up the friendship of +God--some sins which are not committed with full deliberation, +some sins in which the matter is very small, some sins which come +more from ignorance or frailty than from malice; and which God, +who sees things just as they are, does not regard as grievous. He +is displeased with them, but not mortally offended. He punishes +them, but not with the utter withdrawal of His favor. If He did, +who of us could be saved? But every sin in which the soul sees +clearly that she must choose between the friendship of God and +the gratification of unlawful passion--in which, with full +deliberation, in full defiance of any grave precept of God or the +Holy Church, she obeys the call of corrupt nature, every such sin +is mortal, that, is, grievously offends God and cuts off the soul +from His grace. Do you want to know what a mortal sin is? It is +an insult offered to God--Almighty God. One trembles to say it, +but so it is. Yes! if you have committed one mortal sin, you have +insulted Almighty God. And there is every thing in the act to +make the insult deep and deadly. The greatness of an insult is +measured by the comparative importance of the persons between +whom the offence passes. If one should come into the church and +strike the bishop on his throne, would you not feel more +indignant than if a common man in the street were the object of +the insult? You have heard how Pius the Sixth was insulted; +dragged about from place to place, until he died; and did you not +feel indignant that such outrages were committed on the person of +God's vicegerent? +{230} +Now, when you committed a mortal sin you insulted, not the +vicegerent of God, but God himself. You contemned His authority +and despised His greatness. Would you know Who it is Whom you +have offended? Look at that mountain trembling with earthquakes, +and breathing forth smoke and flame, hear the thunder roll around +its head, and see the lightning flash! Mark the people, how they +fall back affrighted and terrified! What is the cause of these +convulsions of nature, and this terror of the people? God is +speaking. He spake in Mount Sinai and the earth trembled before +Him; and it is His words then spoken that you have defied, O +sinner! Are you not afraid of His vengeance Whom you have +offended? Open the heavens and see the angels, thousands of +thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, prostrate before +Him. See all the saints adoring Him--the Blessed Virgin Mary +herself trembling before His greatness. And you insult Him! What +are you? A creature, a dependant, a slave. What would a master do +if his slave should strike him? And you, a servant, a slave, a +mere nothing, have not hesitated to raise your hand against +Almighty God! + +And for what have you done all this? For the pleasure of sin. You +have preferred a vile, temporary gratification, to the favor of +Almighty God. When you sinned, there was on one side the beauty +of God, the beauty of perfection, the splendor of grace, the joy +of saints, peace of conscience, heaven; on the other there was +the false pleasure of sin. You weighed them in the balance one +with another, and, oh folly! in your estimation a moment's sin +outweighed God and heaven and eternity. This is what the Almighty +complains of in Holy Scripture: "_They violated me among my +people for a handful of barley and a piece of bread to kill souls +which should not die_." [Footnote 17] + + [Footnote 17: Ezech. xiii. 19.] + +{231} + +Oh! for how small a thing it is that you have been content to +lose God--a few dollars of unjust gain, human respect, the +gratification of revenge, a night's debauch, a half-hour's +indulgence of sinful thoughts, a forbidden word, an intoxicating +glass: for this you have thrown to the winds God and heaven. What +has He not done for you? He takes care of you and gives you all +you have. It is He who warms you by the sun, refreshes you by the +air, gladdens and nourishes you by the green field. It is He who +brought you through the dangerous time of childhood, Who led you +up through manhood, Who redeemed you by His blood, made you a +Catholic, and gave you your parents, friends, every blessing, and +the hope of heaven beyond this life, and you have grieved and +hated Him. See Jesus Christ before the Jews. He has spent His +life in doing them good. He has labored for them and is about to +die for them. And now they spit on Him, they buffet Him, they +crown Him with thorns and bow the knee in mockery before Him. +Nay, O sinner! thou art the Jew who did this. Thou by thy mortal +sin hast made him an object of scorn. Thou hast spit upon Him, +thou hast stabbed Him to the heart. Would you excuse a son from +the guilt of parricide who should strike a knife to his father's +heart, and should miss his aim? So, the sinner is no less guilty +of the crime against the life of God because God cannot die. If +God could die or cease to be, mortal sin is that which would kill +Him. You have aimed a blow at the life of your best benefactor, +of your God. And this is what passes in the world for a light +thing. This is what men laugh at and boast of over their cups. +This is what the world excuses, and takes for a matter of course; +yes, this is what even boys and girls, as they grow up, desire +not to be ignorant of--that they may know how to offend God. This +is sin, so easily committed and so often committed, so quickly +committed and so soon forgotten. Such it is in the sight of God +and the holy angels. O sinner! when you smile, often when you are +rejoicing over your wicked pleasure, the heavens are black +overhead, and God is angry, and the angel of vengeance stands at +your side with a glittering spear, that he may plunge it in your +heart. +{232} +While you are careless, heaven and earth are groaning over your +guilt. "_Wonder, O ye heavens, and be in amazement_," says +God by the prophet. "_My people have done two evils. They have +left me, the fountain of living water, and have digged out +cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." "Hear, O +heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken. I have +brought up children and exalted them, but they have despised me. +The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib, but +Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood. Woe +to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked +seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have +blasphemed the Holy one of Israel, they have gone away +backward_." [Footnote 18] + + [Footnote 18: Isai. i. 2, 3, 4.] + +But in the second place, mortal sin is the greatest of all evils +as regards the sinner himself. Let us consider what are its +effects. Ah, my brethren, some of these effects are obvious +enough. We have not to go far to seek them. We know them +ourselves. What is the cause of much of the sickness that affects +our race? What but sin? What is it that has ruined so many +reputations, that once were fair and unblemished? What is it that +has destroyed the peace of so many families? It is sin. What is +it that makes so many young persons prematurely old, which steals +the bloom from the cheek and the lustre from the eye, and +gladness from the heart, and strength from the voice, and +elasticity from the gait? Ah! it is sin. Yes! the effects of sin +are visible and obvious to all around us, and these external +effects of sin are dreadful enough, but they are not so dreadful +as the internal effects, on which I purpose particularly to +dwell. Well, my brethren, I just said that the nature of a mortal +sin is to turn away from God to the creature. +{233} +Now, its effect is to kill the soul. There is a twofold life of +the soul. One is a natural life, and this it can never lose, not +even in hell, since it can never cease to be; and the other is +the life of grace. You know, my brethren, that in the heart of a +good Christian there dwells a wonderful quality, the gift of the +Holy Ghost, which we call grace. It is given first in baptism, +and resides habitually in the soul unless it is lost by mortal +sin. This it is which makes the soul acceptable to God, and +capable of pleasing Him, and of meriting heaven. This grace was +purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ, and is the most +precious gift of God. It ennobles, beautifies, elevates, +strengthens, and enlightens the soul in which it dwells: in a +word, it is the life of the soul. This grace abides in the soul +of every faithful Christian, the little child, the virtuous young +man and young woman, the old man and the matron, the rich and the +poor. Everyone who is in the state of friendship with God is +possessed of this grace. He may be poor, sick, weak in body, +disgusting as Lazarus was, but if he is the friend of God, his +soul is endowed with the gift of grace. Now, the moment that one +commits a mortal sin, the moment that a baptized Christian turns +away from God to the creature, that moment his soul is stripped +of this divine grace. The moment that a mortal sin is committed, +in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, that robe of grace +falls off from the soul and leaves it in its deformity and +weakness. It cannot be otherwise. "Can two walk together," says +Holy Scripture, "and not be agreed?" Can God remain united to the +soul which has cast Him off by an act of complete and formal +rebellion? Oh, no! God bears much with us, He retains His +friendship for us as long as He can, He restrains His displeasure +when we are weak and irresolute and tired in His service; yes, +when we a little turn our heads and hearts toward that world +which we have renounced, when we do things that, although wrong, +are not altogether so grievous as to amount to a renunciation of +His friendship: but once make a full choice between God and the +creature, and God's friendship is lost. +{234} +You cannot reject it and retain it at the same time. God sees +things exactly as they are: as you act toward Him, He will act +toward you. By mortal sin you renounce Him, and therefore He must +renounce you. How can I describe to you the change that takes +place in that moment? It has more resemblance to the degradation +of a priest than any thing else. If a priest commits certain +great crimes, the Church prescribes that he be solemnly degraded +from the priesthood; and nothing is more dreadful than the +ceremonial. He stands before the bishop, clad in his sacred +vestments, with alb and cincture, and maniple and stole, and with +the chalice in which he has been wont to consecrate the blood of +the Lord in his hands. Then when the sentence of degradation has +been pronounced, the chalice is taken out of his hands--he shall +offer the sacrifice of the Lord's body no more; the golden +chasuble is taken off his back, no more shall he bear the glory +of the priesthood; the stole is seized from off his neck--he has +lost the stole of immortality; the white alb is torn from him-- +he has lost the beauty of innocence; and last of all, his hands, +on which at his ordination the holy oil was poured, are +scraped--he has lost the unction of the Holy Ghost. So it is in +the moment that one commits a mortal sin. The Holy Scripture +calls every Christian a king and a priest, because in his soul he +is noble and united to God; and the soul of the meanest Christian +is far more beautiful in God's sight than the grandest monarch, +dressed in his richest robes, is to our sight. Well, now, as soon +as a mortal sin is committed, and God departs, then the +degradation of the soul takes place. The devil tears away the +garment of justice, the splendor of beauty, the whiteness of +innocence, the robe of immortality, which make the soul worthy of +the companionship of angels, and the friendship of God. All, all +are gone. Oh, how abject and wretched is such a soul! +{235} +Oh I how quickly will this awful change go on, and even the poor +soul herself thinks not of it! And do not think this horrible +history is of rare occurrence. No! it takes place in every case +of mortal sin. Look at that young man. See, his air and bearing +show you that he knows something of the world, and that life has +no secrets for him. Still there was once a time when that young +man was innocent. He was a good Catholic child, his soul +glistened with the brightness of baptismal grace. God looked down +from heaven and smiled with pleasure; his guardian angel followed +him in watchfulness indeed, but with joy and hope. He had his +little trials, but what was it all--what was poverty or sickness +or disappointment? Was he not a Christian? Was he not a friend of +God, was not his soul beautiful in God's sight? Such he was; but +a day came, a dark and dreadful day, when a voice, a seducing +voice, spoke in the paradise of that heart: "_Rejoice, +therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer +thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, +and in the sight of thine eyes_." [Footnote 19] + + [Footnote 19: Eccles. xi. 9.] + +He listened to that voice and he fell: he was a changed being, he +had committed his first mortal sin. Oh! if he could have seen the +angry frown of God, the sad and downcast look of his guardian +angel. Oh! if he could have heard the shriek of triumph that came +up from the devils in hell. "Thou art also wounded as well as we, +thou art become like unto us. Thy pride is brought down to hell. +Thy carcass is fallen down. [Footnote 20] + + [Footnote 20: Isai. xiv. 10, 11.] + +But he hears nothing, he sees nothing, his brain is on fire, his +heart is burned by passion. The world opens to him her brilliant +pleasures, and he is perverted. His tastes and thoughts are all +corrupted. He does not like the sacraments any more, or Mass or +prayer; his delight is in haunts of dissipation, in drinking and +debauchery. He commits every mortal sin, and each deepens the +stains of his soul and increases his misery. Perhaps here and +there, for a while, he comes to confession, but he falls back. +{236} +He neglects his church, begins to curse and blaspheme holy +things, and then he is a wretched being, astray from God, with +God's curse upon him, the slave of the devil, the heir of hell, +fair indeed without; but look within--full of rottenness and +uncleanness. Oh, weep for him--"_Weep not for the dead,_" +says Holy Scripture, "_lament for him that goeth away, for he +shall not return again._" [Footnote 21] + + [Footnote 21: Jer. xxii. 10.] + +Weep for that young man who has wandered away from his God. Weep +for that young woman who has stained her soul with mortal sin. +Weep for that old man who has let years go by in sin, and whose +sins are counted by the thousand. Weep not for your child who +leaves you to go to a distant land, but weep for him who is on +his way to the land of eternal night, where everlasting horror +inhabiteth. Weep for him who is on his way to hell. Is it not a +story to make one weep? The ruin of a soul! "_How is the gold +become dim, the fairest color is changed, the noble sons of Sion, +and they that were clothed with the best of gold, how are they +esteemed as earthen vessels, and the iniquity of the daughter of +my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom._" [Footnote 22] + + [Footnote 22: Lam. iv. 1, 2, 6.] + +Once you were innocent, now you are guilty. Once you had a fair +chance of heaven, now heaven is closed to you. Once, perhaps, you +had rich merits laid up for heaven, you had gone through many +trials, you had borne many sufferings, had achieved many labors +of piety, and for each of them the good God, who never allows any +good work to go unrewarded, had added many a jewel to your crown; +but, alas! that crown is broken, those jewels scattered and +crushed, those merits lost. And what has done this. That mortal +sin! that rebellion against God, that sinful gratification, that +turning away from God and loss of grace which it brought with it. +Ah! my brethren, when I think of these things, when I think that +Christians are falling into sin, and, for a very trifle and a +nothing, losing the favor of God, I feel as if I wished all +preachers should go out to the whole world and cry out: "Know +thou and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing for thee to +have left the Lord thy God." I am not surprised that St. Ignatius +said he would be willing to do all he did for the prevention of +one mortal sin. + +{237} + +But, my brethren I have not as yet described the full effects of +mortal sin. It immediately makes us liable to the eternal +punishment of hell. That is what hell is made for. It is the +prison for mortal sin. Apostates from the faith, drunkards, +murderers, adulterers, the impure, the dishonest, the profane, +the impious, calumniators, and all sinners "shall have their +portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the +second death." The sentence of damnation is in the next life, but +damnation itself begins in this. Each one of us is a candidate +for heaven or hell, at this present moment. Hell is not something +which is assigned to us arbitrarily. We dig our own hell for +ourselves. When we first commit a mortal sin we open hell under +our feet, and every time we commit a fresh mortal sin we deepen +that hell. It may happen even that the sentence is passed in the +same instant that we sin. Many men die in the very act of sin. +The fallen angels, themselves, sank into hell the very instant +they committed mortal sin, and the instant they committed the +first mortal sin. You know, my brethren, that the angels were +created very beautiful and powerful. There were myriads and +myriads of them. They were as beautiful as Gabriel or Michael or +Raphael; and yet, as soon as they committed one mortal sin, +notwithstanding their glory, their beauty, their number, their +splendid intellects, their power, they were hurled from the +thrones of heaven; not only defaced, degraded, and dishonored by +the loss of sanctifying grace, but condemned to hell, chained in +everlasting darkness, waiting for the judgment of the great day. +If God dealt so with the angels, surely there is nothing unjust +in cutting off the days of a sinner in the very moment of sin. +{238} +Oh! my brethren, I will tell you what happens when one sins: the +devils come and claim this soul as their own: this poor soul +becomes the slave of the devil, the heir of hell and of +damnation. It is not for nothing, then, that conscience makes +such a terrible alarm in the soul when we commit a mortal sin. +Tell me, did you not at the moment you sinned hear a stern voice +speaking in the depths of your heart? Tell me, O my brethren, did +you not, when you were deeply plunged in sinful enjoyment, feel a +dreadful pang at your heart? Tell me, now that you stand in God's +holy presence, tell me now, is there not something within you +that tells you, you are ruined? What is that? Ah! that is the +beginning of the remorse of the damned. That is the sting of the +worm that shall never die. That is the shadow of thine eternal +doom in thy soul. It tells thee that thou art the child of the +devil; it tells thee that thou hast lost God, and that thou art +not fit for heaven, but art an heir of hell. And it tells thee +truly. If this moment thou wert to die, like Dives, thou wouldst +be buried in hell. And why? For a momentary gratification of +appetite? Is that what you will be punished for? No; but because, +for a momentary gratification of appetite, thou hast forsaken the +Lord thy God, broken His law, lost His grace. Thou hast made thy +choice. Thou hast chosen sin and not God, and death overtakes +thee before thou hast returned to God by penance, and thou art +lost; lost on account of thy sin, lost forever on account of thy +sin. Go down to the chambers of hell, ask Dives, ask Judas, ask +the fallen angels, ask each one who in that dark abode drags out +a long eternity; ask them what it is that brought them there, and +they will tell you, mortal sin. It is mortal sin that kindles +that flame, that feeds that fire, that makes them burn +unceasingly, and forever. Oh then, tell me! if you will not +listen to reason, to God, to the angels; will you not listen to +your companions lost? +{239} +Hearken to them as from their dark prison they cry out, "It is an +evil and a bitter thing to have left the Lord thy God." + +Such, my brethren, is mortal sin. Such is one mortal sin. It does +not require many mortal sins to lose God's grace or incur +damnation. One is enough--one final deliberate rebellion against +God and his holy law. + +* * * + + (Peroration, according to the circumstances.) + + +----------------- + + Sermon III. + + The Particular Judgment. + + (Mission Sermon.) + + + "It is a dreadful thing + to fall into the hands of the living God." + --Heb. x. 31. + + +There is a moment, my brethren, in the history of each immortal +soul, which, of all others that precede or follow it, is the +fullest of experience: the moment after death. The moment of +death is indeed the decisive moment of our history. Then the +question is settled, once for all, whether we are to be happy or +miserable for all eternity; but, for the most part, we do not +know that decision. Many men die insensible. By far the larges +part of those I have seen die, have died insensible. And even +when the power of the mind remains to the last, it is extremely +difficult to form any true conception of that state of things +into which the soul is about to be ushered. It is difficult to +conceive aright beforehand of any thing to which we are +unaccustomed. Did it ever happen to you to visit a strange +country, and to form anticipations of what it would seem like, +and did not the reality falsify all your anticipations? Well, how +much more difficult to realize those things which the soul sees +immediately after death, and which are so much farther removed +from our former experience! +{240} +According to Catholic theology, immediately after death, the soul +appears in the presence of Jesus Christ to be judged--to receive +an unalterable sentence to heaven or to hell. If to hell, no +prayers can benefit it; if to heaven, it goes there immediately +or not, according to the degree of its goodness. But it is judged +unalterably to heaven or hell, the moment after death. And +Catholic theologians teach that this judgment takes place in the +very chamber of death itself. There, in that room, while they are +dressing the body for the grave, closing the eyes, bandaging the +mouth, arranging the limbs in order, that soul has already +learned the secrets of the eternal world. Naked and alone, it had +stood before its Judge, and heard its doom pronounced. To +everyone, no doubt, even to the most pious, to those who have +meditated on the truths of faith, there will be something +alarming in this moment; but, oh! what will it be to the sinful +Catholic? What will be the thoughts and feelings of that large +class of Catholics, now careless about their salvation, who are +obeying every impulse of passion, and breaking every commandment +of God? This, indeed, is a difficult question to answer. There is +but little in this world that can help us to portray the emotions +of the lost Catholic, the moment after death; but I will not on +this account desist from attempting to describe it. I will +consider your advantage rather than my own satisfaction, and +though I feel deeply that I shall not be able to describe the +scene I undertake in anything like the colors of truth, I will +undertake to do what I can. + +First, then, following the soul beyond the limits of this world, +I see her overwhelmed with a _conviction_ of the reality and +truth of the objects of her faith. Now, in saying that this soul +obtains a conviction of the truths of faith, I do not mean to +suppose the case of one who has been a sceptic in this world. The +truth is, faith is so strong a principle in the heart of a +Catholic, that it is exceedingly difficult to put it out or shake +it. +{241} +And although it sometimes happens that a Catholic; from reading +bad books, or frequenting the society of those who blaspheme his +religion, or from becoming acquainted suddenly with some of the +difficulties which science seems to present to faith, and not +knowing the answer to them, or from the petty pride of seeming +wiser than his neighbors, and making objections which unlearned +Catholics cannot answer, may use the language of a sceptic; yet +such cases are very rare, and the scepticism is not very deep. A +little guidance from one who knows better, and a little humility +on the part of such an objector, will set all right. But there is +a kind of infidelity not so easily cured, and far more common +among Catholics--a practical infidelity, an insensibility and +indifference to the truths of faith. The truths of faith--I mean, +heaven and hell, God and the soul--are not seen by the eye--it +requires reflection to realize them; but the world, and the +objects which it presents, are visible and tangible. The former +are lost sight of, while the latter absorb all our thoughts. The +body clamors for necessities and pleasures, and the soul, and +things of eternity, are simply forgotten. It is almost the same +to many men as if there were no God, no eternity, no heaven, or +no hell. Really, one hardly sees in what the lives of many +Catholics would differ from what they are now if there were no +God, no heaven or hell. I do not mean to say that they have no +faith at all, for even the heathens have some faith; or that they +never think of God, for then they would be brutes; but that these +things have no real hold on their minds or influence over their +hearts. They never reflect. They stay away from the sacraments. +They do not listen to sermons. They have no correct idea at all +of the advantage they enjoy in being Catholics; in a word, they +break the commandments of God on the slightest temptation, are +children of this world and immersed in its cares and enjoyments. +Now, one of these men meets with a sudden death. +{242} +He goes out in the morning--perhaps he is a mechanic--and he +falls from a height. He is taken up and put in a litter hastily +made, and carried home. It is apparent that life is ebbing fast. +In a few minutes he becomes speechless. He has lost his sight. +Ah! does he breathe at all? It is hard to say. The doctor comes +in great haste. He feels his pulse, looks at him, and says, "It +is all over. He has received an injury in a vital part. He is +dead." Yes, he is dead. This morning he was alive and well, he +was making his plans, he was talking of the weather--now he is +dead. All his old thoughts and experience are all rolled back by +a new set of things that are forcing themselves on his vision. He +is dead. He died suddenly; but not without warning. Others have +died in his home before--he is not young. He has seen wife and +children die. It made him weep for a while; but he forgot it, and +now his turn is come--he is dead. I will not stop to notice the +grief of the friends he leaves behind. No; I will follow his +soul, as it enters eternity. The voice of his friends dies on his +ear--he begins to hear other voices. As he ceases to see the +people in his room he begins to see other objects. Who is that, +that is standing at the foot of his bed? A neighbor was standing +there but just now; but this is another form, a form beautiful, +indeed, but majestic and terrible. No; it is not anyone he has +ever seen before, and yet, he ought to know that face. He has +seen it before; it is the face his mother looked on as she was +dying-the face he had often seen in Catholic churches. Yes, it is +Jesus Christ. He knows it; it is the same, and yet, how +different! When he saw that face in pictures, it was crowned with +thorns; now it is crowned with a diadem of matchless glory. When +he saw that form in the church, it was naked, and hanging on the +Cross; now it is clothed with garments of regal magnificence. +Yes, it is Jesus Christ! and He is looking upon him with eyes of +fire. He turns to escape those eyes, and he sees there are other +figures in the scene. +{243} +There are two figures--one at the right hand, and one at the +left. Who are they? He ought to know them, for they know more of +him than anyone else--they have been his companions for life. One +is very beautiful--a being with golden locks and cloud-like +wings--that is his angel guardian; he looks sad now, for he has +nothing good to say. And the other is the black and hideous demon +of hell, that crouches at his side, full of hate and malice, and +triumph, too, for he has dogged the steps of this poor sinner +from youth to age, and now the time has come for him to seize his +prey. And now, as the sinner looks from one to another, the +meaning of it an breaks upon him. Conviction flashes upon his +mind. He may not have been an infidel before; but putting his +past feelings by the side of his present experience, it seems +almost as if he had been. Did it ever happen to you to be talking +quite unconcernedly, and all at once to find that others were +listening, before whom for worlds you would not have used such +unreserve. Well, to compare small things with great, something +like this will be the feeling of the sinner when the curtain of +time draws up, and shows him the realities of eternity. The whole +tide of his past thoughts and feelings will be arrested, and, +with a great check, rolled back before the new set of experiences +and sights that rush in on him. Oh! he will say, what is this +that I see and hear? Has Jesus Christ always been so near me? +Have my guardian angel and the demon that has tempted me been +always in this very room? Ah, yes! it is even so. I have been +living in a dream all my life, and pursuing shadows. It is true, +as I learned in the catechism, and as the Church taught me, I was +not made for the world or for sin, but for God. I had a soul, and +the end of my being was to love and serve my Maker. He has been +watching me all my days, and I have thought little of Him. I +heard of judgment, but I did not give heed to it, or I placed it +far off in the future; but now it is here at the door. There is +my Saviour, there my angel guardian, there the demon. +{244} +Once I heard of these things, now I see them with my eyes. Yes, +it is all true. The world did not seem to believe it, the world +forgot it; but the world was wrong. The poor and the simple were +right, after all, and the wise ones taken in their own +craftiness. Yes, Christianity is true, Catholicity is true; I +cannot doubt it, if I would, for there it stares me in the face! +O, overwhelming conviction! You have heard of the answer of a +self-denying old monk to a wild, licentious youth, who reproached +him with his folly in living so severe a life for the sake of a +hereafter he had never seen. "Father," said the youth, "how much +wiser I am than you, if there be no hereafter!" "Yes, my son," +replied the aged man, "but how much more foolish, if there be!" O +fearful discovery, to come on one for the first time, with a +strong and deep impression, at the very threshold of eternity! O +miserable man! why did you not think of these things before? Why +did you rush into the presence of your Maker without forethought? +Now, for the first time, to think seriously, when there is no +longer freedom in thought, or merit in faith. O, the folly and +the misery! + +But I must pass on, for these are but the beginning of sorrows. +The conviction, then, that the soul acquires in the first moment +of her experience in the other world is accompanied by a mortal +terror. Why is Jesus Christ there? Why are the angel and the +demon there? Ah! he knows well. It is to try him. Yes, he is to +be tried, and to be tried by an unerring judge--by Jesus Christ. +To be tried; and that is something he is not used to. He never +tried himself. He never examined his conscience. He was afraid to +do it, and if sometimes the thought of a hereafter intruded +itself into his mind, he banished it, and thought he would escape +somehow or other. Perhaps he built on the very name of Catholic, +or on the sacraments, as if they possessed a magical power, and +would change him at once, in the hour of death, from a sinner to +a saint. +{245} +Perhaps he thought that God would strike a balance between the +good and the evil that was in him, and pardon him for being as +wicked as he was because he was no worse. Perhaps he built simply +on the mercy of God. So far as he thought at all, he built his +hopes on some such foundation as this. He did not know how, but +he thought somehow he would get off. It is the old story. +Almighty God said to Eve: "In the day thou eatest thereof thou +shalt surely die." And Eve said to the serpent: "We may not eat +it, lest we die." And the serpent said: "Ye shall not surely +die." So it is; man's self-love reasons, and the devil denies. +But the time has come when the deceits of sin and the devil are +discovered. The sinner is to be tried. He stands as a culprit to +be judged. And by what law is he to be tried? By the ten +commandments, of which he has heard so often, and which he has +neglected so completely. God says: "Thou shalt not break My +commandments, and in the day thou breakest them thou shalt surely +die." God had said: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." He had +committed it. God had said: "Thou shalt not steal;" and he had +stolen. God had said: "Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath day." He +had broken the Sunday and neglected the Sunday's Mass. God had +said: "Thou shalt do no murder;" and he had murdered his own soul +by drunkenness. He had grown bold in sin, and thought that God +had hidden away his face, and would never see it. And now he is +brought to trial. There is no hope that his transgressions +against the commandments can be hidden. The demon is there as his +accuser. + +"I claim this soul as mine. Look at it; see if it does not belong +to me? Does it not look like me? Wilt thou take a soul like that +and place it in thy paradise?" At these words the sinner looks +down upon himself and sees his own soul. He has never seen it +before. Oh, what a sight! As a man is horror-struck the first +time he sees his blotched and bloated face after an attack of +small-pox, so is he horror-struck at the sight of his own soul. +{246} +Oh, how horribly ugly and defiled it is! What are those stains +upon his soul Ah! they are the stains of sin. Each one has left +its separate mark; and to look at that soul you might see its +history. There is the gangrene of lust, and the spot of anger, +and the tumor of pride, and the scale of avarice. Ah! how hideous +it is, and how horrible to think how it is changed, for it was +once like that beautiful angel that stands by its side, all +radiant with light and beauty. It has no resemblance now. The +words of the demon are true; it resembles him. But the accuser +goes on: "I claim this body as mine." He turns to the body, as it +lies in the bed: "I claim those eyes as mine, by the title of all +the lascivious looks they have given. I claim those hands as +mine, by the title of all the robberies and acts of violence they +have committed. I claim those feet as mine, because they were +swift to carry him to the place of forbidden pleasures, and slow +to go to the house of God. I claim these ears as mine, by the +title of all the detraction they have drunk in so greedily. I +claim this mouth as mine, by the title of all the blasphemies and +impurities it has uttered. See," says he, "this body is mine; it +bears my mark;" and as he speaks he points to a scar in the +forehead, the remnant of a wound received in a drunken affray in +a house of ill-fame. Surely he has said enough; but he is not +accustomed to be believed. He has now spoken the truth indeed, +because truth serves his purpose better than falsehood would have +done. But he knows he is a liar, and therefore needs +confirmation; so he goes on: "I have witnesses, if you want them. +Shall I bring them up?" Jesus Christ gives his permission. And +now see, at his word, a band of lost spirits come up from hell. +Oh! how pale and haggard they look, and how they glare on the +sinner as they fix on him a look of recognition. Who is that who +speaks to him first, and holds out her long withered fingers to +him, and says, with a horrid laugh: "I think you know me." +{247} +Oh! that is the poor girl he seduced. She says: "I followed thee +to ruin; it is fitting thou shouldst follow me to hell." But +there is another woman. Who is that? That is his poor wife; his +poor wife, who had to put up with all the cruelties and violence +he practised in his beastly drunkenness; who was led by want to +steal, and by despair to drunkenness. She looks upon him with a +blood-shot eye. "My husband," she says: "thou wert my tormentor +in time; I will be thy tormentor in eternity." But who are those +young people, that young man and young woman? Oh, they are his +eldest children, his boy and girl, of whom he took no care; who, +finding nothing but a hell at home, went out--the one to the +tavern and the gaming-room, the other to the ball and the dance +and the lonely place of assignation, and, after a short career of +dissipation, were both cut off in their sin. They meet him, and +now they say: "Father, thou didst pave the way of perdition for +us, and now we will cling to thee, and drag thee deeper, who art +at once the author of our life and of our destruction." Ah! has +not the demon made out his case? Can there be hope for one like +that? Are you not ready to condemn him yourselves to hell? But +wait--perhaps he did good penance. And the Judge, turning to the +angel guardian says: "My good and faithful servant, what has thou +to say in behalf of this soul, which was committed to thy +especial care?" The angel looks down upon the ground and sighs, +and answers, "Most just and holy Sovereign, alas! I have nothing +to say that can set aside the accusation Thou hast beard. All I +can do is to vindicate Thy justice and my fidelity. I have given +to the man all the graces Thou hast prepared for him. He was a +Catholic. He had the sacraments. He had warnings. He had faith. +He had many special graces. He had the mission; and I myself +often spoke to him in his heart, calling him to do penance, but +he never did do penance. He was careless in attendance at Mass. +{248} +He was seldom at the confessional, and when he did come he made +his confession without a sincere purpose of amendment, and soon +relapsed into his former sins, and at last he died without +penance. Therefore there is nothing left for me but to resign my +charge and to return the crown"--here the angel takes up a +beautiful crown--"to return the crown which Thou hadst made for +him, that Thou mayst place it on another brow." "Dost Thou not +hear," the demon once more cries out impatiently--"Dost thou not +hear what the angel says? Yes, this man is mine, has always been +mine. I did not create him, and yet he always served me. Thou +didst create him, and yet he has refused to obey Thee. I never +died for him, yet he has been my willing slave. Thou didst die +for him, and yet he has "blasphemed Thy name, broken Thy laws and +despised Thy promises. Thou didst allure him by kindness, but +wert not able to win his affection. I led him to hell, and found +him willing to follow. O Jesus, thou Son of the living God, if +Thou dost not give me this soul, there is neither truth in Thy +word nor justice in Thy awards." The demon speaks boldly, but +Jesus Christ suffers him to speak so, because he speaks truly; +and oh, with what terror does the poor sinner hear that truth! +But terror is not the only feeling that is to fill his heart. +Despair is to come in, to make his misery complete. He begins to +cry for mercy. "O God, mercy! have mercy, O Jesus Christ! Do not +let me perish whom Thou hast redeemed. I have had the faith; oh, +do not let me come to perdition! Only one quarter of an hour to +do penance!" Can Jesus Christ resist such an appeal? No, my +brethren, if there were a real disposition to do penance in the +heart. I will undertake to say that if the devils of hell were +willing to do penance, God would forgive them. But there is no +penance in the other world. There is only the desire to escape +punishment, not the desire to escape sin; and being out of the +order of the present providence of God, which leaves the will +free, there is no real conversion there. +{249} +Therefore Jesus Christ answers: "O wicked man, thy deeds condemn +thee. Thou callest for mercy, but it is too late. The time for +mercy is over! Mercy! thou hast shown no mercy to thyself, to thy +wife or children. Mercy! I have shown thee mercy all the days of +thy life. I sent thee my preachers, and thou didst refuse to +listen. There is no mercy now but justice--and therefore I +pronounce the everlasting sentence. I consign this man's soul to +hell, and his body to the resurrection of damnation." Did you +hear that howl? That was the devil's howl of triumph. Jesus +Christ is gone. The angel is gone; and the devil goes to the +body. They have not done washing it. He begins to wash too. What +is he doing. He is washing the forehead; for on that forehead, +the mark of Christ, the holy cross, was placed in baptism, and he +is washing it out, and with a brand from hell he places there his +own signet--the signet of perdition. And now the soul, feeling +the full extent of her misery, cries out: "I am damned. I am +damned! no hope more; not even Purgatory. Oh, I never thought it +would come to this; I did but do as the others. I was no worse +than my companions, and now I am lost. I that was a Catholic, I +that had always a good name, and was liked by my friends. And oh, +are the judgments of God so strict? What will become of my +companions whom I left on the earth, wild and reckless like my +self? Will they too follow me to this place of torment! Oh, why +did not the priest speak of this? Alas! he did, but I would not +hear. Alas, alas, it is too late now! Shall I never see Jesus +Christ again? Must I forever despair?" And a voice rises from the +walls of eternity with ten thousand reverberations: "Despair." +Can there be any thing more dreadful still? Yes, the sinner's cup +has one more ingredient of bitterness--remorse. You know what a +comfort it is to be able to say, "It was not my fault, I did what +I could." But the sinner will not have that comfort. On the +contrary, he will say, "I might have been saved. It is all true +which the angel said. +{250} +I was a Catholic, and had the means of salvation. I might have +been saved, saved easily, more easily than I was lost. I was +never happy; sin never made me happy. I sinned, and gained for +myself misery even in the other world. Fool that I was, I might +have done penance, and been happier after it, in time and in +eternity. How little God asked of me! I had the mission, if I had +but made it well. Oh, what trouble I took to be damned, and how +little was required of me to be saved! Yesterday, God was ready; +the sacraments were at hand, the church door open, the priest was +awaiting me; but now all is closed. Oh, if I had them now!" But +his complaints are silenced. An iron grasp is on his throat. The +demon has his black hand on his throat and chokes him; then he +puts his horrid arms around him, and hugs him as the anaconda +hugs her victims. He carries him swiftly through the air: down, +down they go--until at last they reach the gates of hell. They +creak upon their hinges, they open, the demon enters with his +prey, and casts it on the bed of flames prepared for it. Then a +yell is heard throughout those dismal regions: "One more Catholic +vocation thrown away, one more soul lost, one more devil in +hell." + +Come, let us go back to that room where the corpse is laid out. +They have just finished preparing it for the grave, and all that +we have described has been taking place in that very room too, +and they have not known it. They have smoothed the body and laid +a white cloth over it; and they say, how natural it looks. It +wears the smile they remember it used to wear in youth, and that +poor soul they are talking of is damned. Jesus Christ has been +there, and adjudged it to hell. And this is going on every day. +Wherever death takes a man, there judgment meets him. Jesus +Christ meets men in all kinds of places. +{251} +You know how death met Baltassar. He was a drunkard, an +adulterer, a sacrilegious robber; and one night, when he was +drunk, and held a grand feast, surrounded by his concubines, and +with the vessels of God's house on his table, a hand appeared on +the wall and wrote this sentence: "Mene, Mene, Thecel, Phares;" +and that night he died. Yes! in the midst of their sin; in the +place where they go, Jesus Christ meets the soul, and condemns it +to hell. He meets it in the grogshop, where wild companions are +gathered together, and one of them falls to the ground, under the +blow of a companion, and dies. There upon that spot, with those +bad companions standing around, with the sound of blasphemy in +his ear, Jesus Christ, unseen, meets that soul and condemns it to +hell. Another is shot in the street, on his way to keep an +assignation, and then and there, in the street, Jesus Christ +meets him and condemns him to hell. One dies in the low hovel, +where squalid vice and misery have done all they could to +brutalise the inmates, and then and there Jesus Christ, in that +hovel, meets the soul and condemns it to hell. Another dies in a +bed covered with silken tapestry, and as he dies he sees the face +of Jesus Christ looking in through the silken curtains to +pronounce the sentence against him, who had made a god of this +world. Another dies in prison, and there in that cell where human +justice placed him, divine justice meets him, and in that prison +Jesus Christ meets him and condemns him to hell. Yes, wherever +death meets you, O sinner, there Jesus Christ will meet you, and +there he will condemn you. It may be tomorrow. It may be in the +very act of the commission of sin. It may be without any +opportunity of preparation, you will stand before an inflexible +and unerring Judge. Oh, then, do not delay now to propitiate Him +while you can. In that tribunal after death, there is no mercy +for the sinner; but there is another tribunal, which He has +established, where there is mercy--the tribunal of penance. There +the accuser is not the demon, but the sinner himself; and he is +not only his own accuser, but his own witness against himself. +There the angel guardian waits with joy, not with sorrow. There +Jesus Christ is present, but not in wrath. +{252} +There the sentence is, "I absolve thee from thy sin," not "I +condemn thee for thy sin." Oh, then, appeal from one tribunal to +the other. Appeal from Jesus Christ to Jesus Christ. Appeal from +Jesus Christ at the day of judgment to Jesus Christ in the +confessional. And if thou wouldst not be condemned by Him when +thou seest Him after death, be sure thou gettest a favorable +sentence from Him now in the Sacrament of Penance. "_Make an +agreement with thy adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way +with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, +and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into +prison. Amen. I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence +till thou pay the last farthing._" [Footnote 23] + + [Footnote 23: St. Matt. v. 25.] + +--------------------------- + + Sermon IV. + + Heaven. + + (Mission Sermon.) + + + "Rejoice and be exceeding glad, + because your reward is very great in heaven." + --St: Matt. v. 12. + + +Some of you may remember the joy with which, after a sea voyage, +you arrived at home. The voyage had been very long and wearisome. +You had suffered, perhaps had been in danger. At last you heard +the sailors cry "Land;" and after a while, your less practised +eye began to discern the blue hills of your native country. Oh, +how that sight revived you! How your sufferings and dangers were +all forgotten in the thought of the welcome that awaited you at +home! +{253} +Well, life is a voyage on the ocean of time; often a tempestuous, +always a dangerous voyage; and in order to animate our courage, +to cheer and console us, God has allowed us from time to time to +catch a glimpse by faith of our distant home of heaven. Let us +lift up our thoughts now to that happy land, the land that is +very far off, the land that is wide and quiet; the celestial +paradise, the home of the blessed, the city of God. I know that +we cannot gain any sufficient idea of it. I know that eye hath +not seen its beauty, ear hath not heard the story of it, neither +hath the heart of man conceived its image; but we must do as men +do with some costly jewel: turn it first on one side, then on +another, to catch its brilliancy; and if at the last we fall +down, blinded and dazzled by the splendors which meet us, we +shall in this way at least conceive something of the greatness of +those things which God has provided for those who love Him. + +The Holy Scripture represents the pleasures of heaven in three +different lights: first, as Rest; second, as Joy; third, as +Glory. Let us, then, meditate upon them for a while, under each +one of these three aspects. + +First, then, heaven is a place of rest, by which I understand the +absence of all those things which disturb us here. True, there is +happiness even in this life, but how unsatisfactory, how +fleeting! Here we are never far off from wretchedness, and never +long without trouble. You go into a great city: how rich and gay +every thing looks; what crowds of well-dressed people pass you! +Ah! in the next street there is the dismal hovel where poverty +hides its head, and the children cry for bread, and there is no +one to break it to them. You are strong and healthy, and it is a +strange, fierce joy for you on a cold day to struggle with the +buffetings of the wintry blast; but see, the rude wind that +kindles a glow on your cheek steals away the bloom from yonder +sick man, whose feeble step and sharpened features tell of +suffering and disease. +{254} +You have a happy family, and when you go home your children +clamber up on your knees, and your wife meets you with a smile of +affection. Alas! next door, the widow weeps the night long, and +there is none to comfort her, for the young man, the only son of +his mother, has been carried to his long home. And as if this +were not enough, as if sickness and poverty and death did not +cause misery enough in the world, men's passions, hate and envy, +lust, avarice, and pride, unite to make many a moment wretched +that might else have been happy. But in heaven these things shall +be no more. In heaven. there shall be complete and perfect rest. +The poor man will no more be forced to toil hardly and anxiously +to put bread in his children's mouths--to rise up early, and late +take rest; for there they shall not hunger nor thirst any more. +The sick man then shall leap as a hart; he shall run and not be +weary; he shall walk and not faint. The widow's tears shall be +dried, for husband and son shall be again restored to her. Oh, +what a day shall that be, when dear friends shall meet together, +never to part again, and God shall wipe all tears from their +eyes, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away; when the bodies of +the saints, glorious and immortal, no longer subject to decay or +fatigue or death, clothed in light, shall enter the gates of the +celestial city, and shall have a right to the tree of life! And +there shall be no sin there, no gust of passion, no reproach of +conscience, no sting of temptation. In this life, says St. +Augustine, we have the liberty of being able not to sin, but in +heaven we shall have the higher liberty of not being able to sin. +Brother shall not rise up against brother, neither shall there be +war any more, for the former things are passed away. There shall +be no strife or hatred or envy; no wrong or oppression; no +unkindness or coldness; no falsehood or insincerity; but within a +perfect peace, and without an unalterable friendship between all +the inhabitants of this happy land, each rejoicing in the other's +happiness and glory. And there is no end to these joys of heaven. +{255} +Here our best pleasures are alloyed by their transitoriness; but +there, there is no fear for the future. No wave disturbs the +deep, clear sea of crystal that lies before the throne of God. +The angel has sworn that time shall be no longer, and the great +day of eternity has begun. O heavenly Jerusalem! O city of God! +which has no need of sun or moon to enlighten it, for there is no +night there! welcome haven of rest to the poor exiles of earth! +Blessed are they that shall enter thy gates of pearl and tread +thy streets of gold, for thou art the perfection of beauty and +the joy of the whole earth. In thy secure recesses the wicked +cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. "Blessed are they +that die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors. They shall +not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. My +people shall be all just; they shall inherit the land forever, +the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, to glorify me." + +But though it is easier to describe heaven as a place of rest, +that is not the whole description of it. Heaven is also a place +of joy, and of joy the most complete, the most pure, the most +satisfying that the human heart can possess. Joy in seeing and +loving God, or, as it is called, in the Beatific Vision. This it +is in which consists essentially the Christian idea of heaven. I +say the Christian idea, for our faith teaches us to look forward +to a happiness very different from what we could have expected by +nature. Of course natural reason teaches us to look forward to a +future life, but it promises no other knowledge of God but such +as is possible to our own natural powers when fully developed. +But Christianity promises us a knowledge of God to which our +natural powers, however enlarged, could never aspire. It teaches +us that we shall see Him as He is--not only think about Him and +commune with Him and adore Him, but actually look upon His +unveiled Divinity, gaze upon Him face to face. It is not of our +Lord's glorified humanity that I speak. +{256} +That, too, we shall see, and that will be a sight of unspeakable +beauty and joy; but we shall see more: we shall look upon and +into the Divine Essence. Now to our natural powers this is +impossible. A blind man can know a great deal about the sun. He +may hear it described, he may reason about it, he may feel its +effects, but he cannot lift up his eyes to heaven and see it. So, +naturally speaking, we have not the faculty whereby to see God. +"_No man hath seen God at any time_," says St. John. +"_Whom no man hath seen, or can see, who inhabiteth the light +inaccessible_," says St. Paul. [Footnote 24] + + [Footnote 24: St. John i. 18; I. Tim. vi. 16.] + +Clearly there must be some great change in us, something given to +us that does not belong to us as men, in order to enable us to +see God, and the Holy Scripture tells us what that change shall +be: "_We shall be like to Him, for we shall see Him as He +is_," says St. John. [Footnote 25] + + [Footnote 25: I. Ep. St. John iii. 2.] + +We ourselves shall become divine and godlike. The human intellect +shall be marvellously strengthened by a gift which the Church +calls the light of glory, which shall enable us to look upon God +and live. We are told in Scripture that God walked in the garden +of Eden and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. This +high companionship was broken by the fall. Man was reduced to the +rank that essentially belonged to him, and was deprived of that +which had been accorded to him of grace. But by baptism he +acquires once more a right to that familiar intercourse with God, +and in heaven he enters upon its enjoyment. For this reason +heaven is called our fatherland. It is our lost inheritance +recovered. There we ourselves shall be the sons of God, and God +will be our Father. Think what is the relation of an affectionate +son to a good and wise father. What submission with +equality--what complete sympathy and community of interest--what +intimate communication of thought and feeling! So, O Christian +soul! shall it be between you and God. God will be your God, and +you will be His child. +{257} +Thou shalt dwell in His home, and all that He hath shall be +thine. "_All things are yours, the world, or life, or death, or +things present, or things to come; for all are yours, and you are +Christ's, and Christ is God's_." [Footnote 26] + + [Footnote 26: 1 Cor. iii 23.] + +Yes, God himself shall be yours. You shall look around you and +see His towering altitudes, and count them as your own. You shall +look deep down into the depths of His wisdom and be wise as God +is. You shall find yourself upborne by His power and goodness, +enveloped by His glory, and adorned with His beauty. Oh! my +brethren, is not this joy? Tell me, tell me, young men, tell me, +children, tell me truly, one and all, what have been the happiest +moments of your life? Was it the moments you have spent in sin? +Was it the hour of some earthly success or triumph? Or was it not +rather at some hour when God was near to you, and you felt the +music of His voice and the perfume of His breath--some time when +you were praying, or when you had made a good confession or +communion, or when you were listening to a sermon? I know it was. +I know there are times when every man has felt the words of the +Psalmist: "_What have I in heaven? and besides Thee what do I +desire upon earth? Thou art the God of my heart, and the God that +is my portion forever._" [Footnote 27] + + [Footnote 27: Ps. lxxxii. 26.] + +What are all the attainments of learned men to Him who is +all-wise? What are all the conceptions of genius to Him who is +all-beautiful, or the moral excellencies of good men to Him who +is all-holy? Yes, the thought of God is the source of the purest +and highest pleasure on earth. That thought has ravished the +saints with ecstasy, and made the martyrs laugh at their +torments. And if merely to think about God in this life can make +us so happy, what must it be to see Him in the life to come? +{258} +To know God and to love Him, to know Him as we are known by Him, +to love Him with our whole souls, to possess Him without the fear +of losing Him, to take part in His counsels, to enter into His +will, and to share in His blessedness--this is a joy, perfect and +supreme; and this is the joy of heaven. This is the joy offered +to you. This is all-satisfying. The soul can desire nothing more. +This is permanent, for heaven is eternal. This is always new, for +God is riches and beauty inexhaustible and infinite. Oh, my +brethren, do not envy those who were near our Lord's person when +He was upon earth. I know it is natural to do so. I know it is +natural to say, "If I could but have seen His face, or heard the +sound of His voice;" but no! yours is a still happier lot. Do not +envy Magdalene, who kissed His feet, nor St. John, on whose +breast He leaned, nor the Blessed Virgin, who bore Him in her +arms. Is it not permitted to the poorest and the weakest of you +to see Him, not in His humility, but in his glory--to converse +with Him and dwell with Him in the land of the living? Oh! +blessed are they that dwell in Thy house! The world passeth away, +and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth +forever. Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and do it! +Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! One would +have thought that this was enough. To be free from all the trials +and sufferings of this present life, and to enjoy the fullest +happiness a human soul is capable of--one would think that were +heaven enough, and that no more could be added. But the bounty of +God has added another element to the happiness of heaven. Heaven +is a place of glory--not of rest only, but of glory also. "Glory, +honor and peace," says the apostle, "to every man that doeth +well." Heaven is the place of God's glory, and it is also the +place of the glory of the saints. Even here the good are honored +--the really good. True, for a while they may be despised and +persecuted, but, in the long run, nothing is honored so much as +virtue. +{259} +During the lifetime of Nero and St. Paul, Nero was a powerful +emperor, praised and flattered by his courtiers, and St. Paul a +friendless and despised prisoner; now, Nero is abhorred as the +wicked tyrant, and St. Paul honored by all men as the saint and +hero. But this is not enough. In heaven the honor of the saints +will be magnificent. God himself will honor them. This is one +reason for the last judgement, that God may publicly give honor +to the good. "_Whosoever shall glorify me, him will I +glorify_," says the Almighty; [Footnote 28] and they who are +saved will be admitted to heaven with respect and solemnity, as +those whom the King delights to honor. + + [Footnote 28: 1 Ki. ii. 30.] + +This is represented to us in the description of the last +judgment: "Then shall He turn to them on the right hand and say: +'Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for +you from the foundation of the world.'" See how He praises them. +See how He honors them and makes kings out of them. They are +astonished: it seems too much. They know not how they have +deserved it. But He insists upon it as their right. He repeats +the good actions they have done. "I was hungry and ye gave me +meat, I was thirsty and ye gave me to drink. I was naked and ye +clothed me." Do you hear this, my brethren? So will it be with +you when you stand before God to be judged. He will hold in His +hand a beautiful diadem of gold, and he will say: "This is for +thee." And thou shalt be amazed and shalt say: "No, Lord, this is +not for me. I am nothing but a laboring man. I am but a poor boy. +I am only a servant-girl. I am not the child of the rich and +great. No one ever made way for me in the street, or rose up when +I came into their company." But Christ shall say: "Nay! a prince +thou art, for thou hast done the deeds of a prince." +{260} +Then He will begin to mention them one by one--your kindness to +your old mother and father--your humble confession that it was so +difficult to make, and which you made so well--the time you +overcame that great temptation, and resolved, once for all, to be +virtuous--the occasion of sin you renounced--the prayers you +said in humility and sincerity--the sacrifices you made for your +faith--the true faith you kept with your husband or wife--the +patience you practised in pain or vexation. Then He will show you +your throne in heaven, so bright you will think it an apostle's, +or the Blessed Virgin Mary's, or that it belongs to God himself; +and then the tears of joy and surprise will drop from your eyes, +and your heart will be nigh bursting with confusion; but He will +smile upon you, and take you by the hand, and say: "Yes, thou +hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over +many things." Then He will give thee a certain jurisdiction, a +certain power of intercession; make thee an assessor in His high +court of heaven, and make thee to sit on a throne with Him, +judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And others shall honor thee. +The saints shall honor thee. The Blessed Virgin shall honor thee. +Now thou honorest her, so much at a distance from thee, and +callest her Lady; but then it shall be as it was when St. John +and the Blessed Virgin dwelt together in one home. Thou shalt +still honor her as the Mother of Jesus, and she shall honor thee +as His disciple. St. Peter and St. John and St. James and St. +Andrew shall honor thee. Now thou makest thy litanies to them; +but then it will be as it was when Peter and Thomas and Nathanael +and the sons of Zebedee were together, and Jesus came in the +midst and dined with them. The saints shall be one family with +thee. They will walk with thee, and sit with thee, and call thee +by name, and tell thee the secrets of Paradise. And the angels +shall honor thee. Now thou addressest thy angel guardian on +bended knee; but then he will say to thee: "See thou do it not; I +am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren, who have the +testimony of Jesus." And the Church on earth shall praise thee. +As long as time shall last, she shall make mention of thee as one +of those who rejoice with Christ in His glorious kingdom, and, +clothed in white, follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. +{261} +Yes, and the wicked and the devils shall honor thee. Now they may +affect to despise you--now they may persecute you and trouble +you; but then they will be forced to do you honor, and, groaning +within themselves for anguish of spirit, and amazed at the +suddenness of your unexpected salvation, shall say: _These are +they whom we had sometime in derision, and for a parable if +reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness and their end +without honor. Behold how they are numbered among the children of +God, and their lot is among the saints_." [Footnote 29] + + [Footnote 29: Wisd. v. 3, 4, 5.] + +Such, my brethren, are the joys of heaven, or, rather, such is +the faintest and poorest idea of the joys of heaven. Men seek for +wealth as the means of defending themselves from the ills of +life, but there is perfect rest only in heaven. Men seek for +pleasure, but earthly joys are short and unsatisfactory; the +pleasures at God's right hand are for ever sure. Men seek for +honor, but the real honor comes from God alone. And these are +within the reach of each one of you. When Father Thomas of Jesus, +was dying in captivity, his friends came around his bedside, and +expressed their regret that he should die, away from his home, +and their hope that the King of Spain would even yet ransom him; +but the holy man replied: "I have a better country than Spain, +and the ransom has long been paid. That country is heaven, that +ransom is the blood of Christ." The Holy Church says: "When thou +hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the +kingdom of heaven to all believers." Yes! by the blood of Christ, +by the sacrament of baptism, the gates of heaven are opened +before us. The path is straight and plain. If by sin we have +strayed from it, by penance we have been recalled to it, and now +there is nothing to do but to advance and persevere, and heaven +is ours. +{262} +Will you draw back, Christian? Will you, by mortal sin, throw +away that immortal crown? No drunkard or adulterer, nothing that +is defiled, can enter there. There is only one road that leads to +heaven--the road of Christian obedience. Will you renounce your +birthright? Will you, by sin, take the course that leads you away +from your heavenly home? "Oh!" I hear you say, "I will choose +heaven." But, remember, heaven is to be won. "Heaven," says St. +Philip Neri, "is not for the slothful and cowardly." Strive then, +henceforth, for the rewards that are at God's right hand. Strive +to attain abundant merits for eternity. Remember that he that +soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that soweth +plentifully shall reap plentifully. God is not unmindful of your +works and labor that proceedeth from love. Things so small as not +to be taken notice of, things that happen every day, add a new +glory to our mansions in heaven. With this aim, then, let us +henceforth work. "Oh, happy I," says St. Augustine, "and thrice +happy, if, after the dissolution of the body, I shall merit to +hear the songs that are sung in praise of the Eternal King, by +the inhabitants of the celestial city!" Happy I, if I myself +shall merit to sing those strains, and to stand before my Lord +and King, and to see Him in His glory, as he promised! "He that +loveth me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and +will manifest myself to him." "How amiable are thy tabernacles, +Thou Lord of Hosts! My soul hath a desire and a longing to enter +into the courts of the Lord." Grant me this, O Lord. Give and +withhold what Thou wilt. I do not ask length of days. I do not +ask for earthly honor and prosperity. I do not ask to be free +from care, or labor, or suffering. But this I do ask, O Lord: +when this life is over, shut not up my soul in hell, but let me +look on Thy face in the land of the living. Make me so to pass +through things temporal that I lose not the things eternal. +{263} +Hail, Heavenly Queen! our life, our sweetness, and our hope! to +Thee do we cry, poor, exiled children of Eve. Oh, then, from Thy +throne in heaven, lift upon us, who are struggling in this world, +those merciful eyes of Thine! and when this our exile is over, +show us the blessed fruit of Thy womb, JESUS! + + + + Note.--This was the last Sunday-Sermon which F. Baker preached, + two weeks before he was seized with his last illness. + +-------------------- + + Sermon V. + + The Duty Of Growing In Christian Knowledge. + + + (First Sunday in Advent.) + + + "The first man knew not wisdom perfectly, + no more shall the last find her out. + For her thoughts are vaster than the sea, + and her counsels deeper than the great ocean." + --Eccles. XXIV. 38, 39. + + +I think we Catholics, when we lay claim to the possession of the +whole truth--the entire revelation imparted to the world from +Christ through the apostles--sometimes forget how small a share +of that truth each one of us possesses in particular. It is the +Church that the Holy Ghost leads into all truth, not individuals. +Each Catholic, who is sufficiently instructed, knows some truth; +he knows what is necessary to salvation; but there are many +things which he is totally ignorant of, many things concerning +which his conceptions are inadequate or distorted. Now if this be +so, it cannot but be useful to remember it, and I will, +therefore, this morning, show you how it must be so, and some of +the consequences which flow from it. + +{264} + +Each one's knowledge of truth must be more or less partial and +incomplete, because it varies with each one's capacity for +receiving truth. When God gave man reason, He conferred on him +the faculty of receiving truth; but the degree in which this or +that man is capable of receiving truth, depends upon the strength +and cultivation of his particular reason. The eye is the organ of +sight, but one man's eye is stronger and truer than another's. +Slight variations of color or form, wholly indistinguishable by +one man, are detected in a moment by another. So, one man's +reason is stronger than another's. What makes the difference, is, +of course, in part the diversity in natural endowments, but it is +not altogether due to this cause; it is due in great measure also +to cultivation. Moral dispositions, too, have a great deal to do +with it; and in the case of Christian truth, the grace of God +also exerts a special influence. The degrees in which these +various elements are found in particular cases, are so different, +that there is an almost infinite gradation in the measure in +which men are capable of receiving truth. No two men can receive +it in exactly the same degree. In all this congregation, where we +recite the same Creed and use the same prayers, there are, +perhaps, no two of us who mean by them precisely the same thing. +The intelligence of each one, his past history, his moral +dispositions, will determine how far the faith that is in him +corresponds to the faith that is without him--the faith as it is +in itself, the object of faith as it is in God. I can make what I +mean plain to you by an illustration. Let us suppose a beautiful +picture of the crucifixion, for instance, [is] put up in a public +gallery. Men of every kind enter and pass before it. There comes +a man who has never heard of Christ; he is ignorant and +uneducated. He looks up and sees the representation of extremest +human agony, mingled with superhuman dignity and patience. Some +ray enters his mind; he pauses, is startled then passes on. Now +there comes another, who is an anatomist, and he is arrested by +the skill with which the body is proportioned, and the play of +the muscles and nerves is exhibited. Every line is a study to +him, and he stops a good deal longer than the first. +{265} +Then there comes an artist, and he sees in the picture something +greater even. He takes in the genius of the conception, the +fitness of attitude and expression, the light and shade, the +tints of color, the difficulties overcome by art; and he comes +and sits before it, day after day, for hours, absorbed in the +study of its beauties. And another comes who is a poet, and to +him it brings back the scene of Calvary. In a moment he is far +away, and the sun is darkened, and the earth quakes, and there +are thunderings and lightnings, and once more the Holy City pours +forth its multitude to witness the death of Jesus. And then there +comes a sinner. Ah! that story of love and suffering! which tells +how God so loved the world, and gave His only-begotten Son, that +all who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting +life. To him, that picture speaks of the horrors of sin, of +mercy, of heaven and hell, and thoughts are awakened by it which +lead him back to God. There hangs the picture, unaltered. It is +just what the artist made it, neither more nor less, yet see how +different it has been to different beholders. + +Now, just so it is with the preaching of the truth. As we recite +the Creed, as we preach to you, Sunday after Sunday, the Creed +itself is indeed unchangeable, but it is a different thing to +each one of us who preach, and to each one of you who hear, +according to your intelligence, your past history, and your +present dispositions. How can it be otherwise? Does not the very +word, God, mean something different to us from what it does to a +saint? Do not the words Presence of God, mean something different +to you and me from what they did to St. Teresa, to whom the soul +of man appeared as a castle with seven chambers, each one more +sacred than the others, as you advanced into the interior, until +the innermost shrine was reached, where God and the soul were +joined together in a manner which human language knows not how to +utter? +{266} +Do you not see that the doctrine of the Incarnation is something +very different to us from what it was to St. Athanasius, who +spent his whole life in conflict for it, who endured years of +exile and calumny, the estrangement of friends, the suspicion +even of good men, rather than falter the least in fidelity to +that verity on which his soul had fed? Or the Real Presence--is +that not a different thing to the crowd who come to church and +kneel from custom, but hardly remember why, from what it was to +St. Thomas, who composed in honor of it the wonderful hymns +_Pange Lingua_ and _Lauda Sion_, or to St. Francis +Xavier, who spent nights in prayer, prostrate upon the platform +of the altar? Why, St. Thomas, who has so written of the +Christian faith that the Church has named him the angelical +doctor, threw down his pen in hopelessness of being able to +express the high knowledge of divine things which filled his +soul. And St. Paul confesses, in writing to the Hebrews, that +even in that primitive community, taught by apostles and living +in a perpetual call to martyrdom, there were some points of +Christian truth which he found himself unable to utter, "because +you are become weak to hear." [Footnote 30] + + [Footnote 30: Heb. v. 11.] + +I know that you are Catholics, that you have the Apostles' Creed +by heart, that you believe in one God in Three Persons, in the +Incarnation and Death of the Second Person of the Blessed +Trinity, and in the two eternities before us; but neither you nor +I know what all this implies. Our knowledge is very imperfect: we +are but babes in Christ, lisping and stammering the Divine +alphabet--children, wetting our feet in the waves which dash on +the shore of the boundless ocean of truth. + +It is good for us, as I have already said, to remember this, for +it gives us at once the true method of forming an estimate of +Christianity. A tree is known by its fruit, but it is by its best +fruit. +{267} +If you have a tree in your garden bearing only a small quantity +of very delicious fruit, you prize it highly and take great care +of it, though many of the blossoms fall off, and a great deal of +the fruit never ripens. So you must judge of the Catholic Church, +by its best and most perfect fruit, that is, by the men of great +wisdom and great virtue whom it produces, and not by its +imperfect members. Who is likely to be the best exponent and the +truest specimen of his religion, a man of prayer and study, +deeply versed in the Holy Scriptures and sacred learning, or one +of small capacity, little learning, and little prayer? Evidently, +the former; and yet how often do men take the contrary way of +judging of the teaching and spirit of the Church. They visit some +Catholic country, they see some instance of popular error, +ignorance, or disorder, and they say: "This is Catholicity." Or, +at home, they see or hear a Catholic do or say something which +gives them offence, and they exclaim: "That is your doctrine!" +"That is your religion!" Now, supposing the offence they take to +be justly taken, which is not always the case, what does it +prove? It may prove that the rulers of the Church have not done +their duty; but it may prove just the contrary, that they have +done their duty-that in spite of the obstacles of ignorance and +rudeness, they have succeeded in imparting to some darkened souls +enough knowledge to lead them to God, though it be the very least +that is sufficient for that purpose. But it does not show what +the doctrine of the Church really is as intelligently understood. +To find out this, you must look at men who are in the most +favorable circumstances for understanding it, and they are the +saints of God: St. Basil, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Sales, +St. Teresa. St. Vincent of Paul. + +O my brethren! how can men turn away from Catholicity? I +understand how they can turn away from it as you and I express +it; how we can fail to remove their difficulties, or even put new +perplexity in their way. But how can they turn away from +Catholicity as it is expressed by the great saints of the Church? +{268 } +What a divine religion! What majesty, what sweetness, what +wisdom, what power! How it commands the homage of the world! What +a universal testimony it has in its favor, after all! Do you +know, my brethren, I believe men are far more in favor of +Catholicity than we suspect. I believe half the difficulties they +find in our religion are not in our religion at all, but in us; +in our ignorance, in our prejudices, in our short-sightedness and +narrow-heartedness. What renders the world without excuse is the +line of saints, the true witnesses to the genius and spirit of +the Catholic religion. And yet, even the saints themselves are +not the perfect exponents of the faith, for even the saints were +not altogether free from ignorance and error. To understand fully +the nobleness of the Christian faith, we should need the help of +inspiration itself. Did it never occur to you, my brethren, that +the expressions of the prophets and apostles in reference to the +light and grace brought by Jesus Christ into the world, were +extravagant? "_Behold, I will lay thy stones in order, and will +lay thy foundations with sapphires, and I will make thy bulwarks +of jasper: and thy gates of graven stones, and all thy borders if +desirable stones. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord: +and great shall be the peace of thy children." "Thou shalt no +more have the sun for thy light by day, neither shall the +brightness of the moon enlighten thee: but the Lord shall be unto +thee for an everlasting light, and thy God for thy glory_." +[Footnote 31] + + [Footnote 31: Isaiah liv. 11-13; lx. 19.] + +Does the Catholic Church, as you understand it, come up to these +descriptions? Is Catholic truth, as you appropriate it, so high +and glorious a thing as this? No! And the reason is, that you are +straitened in yourselves. Your conceptions are so low, your +knowledge of the truth is so partial and limited that you do not +recognize the description when the Holy Ghost presents that truth +as it is in itself, as it is seen and known by God. + +{269} + +This thought leads us naturally to another; namely, that it is +the duty of each one of us to extend his knowledge of Christian +truth as far as possible. There is a story told of a foreign +gentleman visiting Rome, who went one day to St. Peter's Church, +and, after entering the vestibule, admired its noble proportions, +and returned home fully satisfied that he had seen the church +itself, which he had not even entered. So it is with many persons +who never pass beyond the vestibule of Christian knowledge. They +never enter the inner temple, or catch even a glimpse of its vast +heights and its dim distances, its receding aisles, its intricate +archings, its glory, its richness, and its mystery. O misery of +ignorance! which has ever been the heaviest curse of our race. O +Morning Star, harbinger of eternal truth, and Sun of Justice, +when wilt thou come to enlighten those that sit in darkness and +in the shadow of death! Alas! this is our grief, that the true +Light is come into the world, but our eyes are holden that we +cannot see it. Truths, the thought of which rapt the apostles +into ecstasy, truths which the angels desire to look into, are +published in our hearing, and awaken no aspiration, no stirring +in our hearts. We go away, to eat and drink, and work, and play. +O brethren! burst for yourselves these bonds of ignorance. Do not +say, I am not learned, I am not acute or profound, I cannot hope +to understand much. Remember that there were some servants to +whom one talent was given, who were called to account as well as +those who had ten. Do what you can. A pure heart, a blameless +life, and prayer, are great enlighteners. Read, listen, meditate, +obey. Ask of God to enlarge your knowledge, and to teach you what +it means to say you believe in Him. Ask of Jesus Christ to teach +you what it means to say that He was made man and died for us on +the cross; what it is to receive His body and blood; what is the +meaning of heaven and hell. +{270} +Awake thou that sleepest, and Christ shall give thee light! He +will make you understand more and more what it is to be a +Christian. Often have I seen the fulfilment of this promise. I +have been at the bedside of poor people, who would be called rude +and illiterate, but to whose pure hearts and earnest prayers God +had imparted so clear a knowledge of the faith, that I have felt +in their humble rooms like Jacob when he awoke from sleep and +said: "Indeed the Lord is in this place." [Footnote 32] + + [Footnote 32: Gen. xxviii. 16.] + +Men are talking about a Church of the future. They say the old +Church is decrepid, her theology is obsolete, she stimulates +thought no more. But we know better. The Church of the future is +the Church of the past. That Church is ever ancient and ever new. +Her truth is not exhausted. Men know not the half nor the +hundredth part of her hidden wisdom. O the victory! when men +shall understand this--when they shall come confessing to the +Holy Church, as the Queen of Saba did to Solomon: "_The report +is true, which I heard in my own country, concerning thy words +and concerning thy wisdom. And I did not believe them that told +me, till I came myself and saw with my own eyes, and have found +that the half hath not been told me; thy wisdom and thy works +exceed the fame which I heard. Blessed are thy men, and blessed +are thy servants who stand before thee always, and hear thy +wisdom_." [Footnote 33] + + [Footnote 33: III. Ki. x. 6-8.] + +Yes! the history of the Church is not accomplished, her triumphs +are not yet all written. Why does she, Advent after Advent, +publish again the glowing predictions of the evangelical prophet, +but because she knows that they await a still more magnificent +fulfilment? Take courage--the cloud that rests on the people +shall be lifted off, and the burden taken away. The Ancient +Church "shall no more be called forsaken, nor her land desolate." +[Footnote 34] + + [Footnote 34: Is. lxii. 4.] + +{271} + +"_Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, +and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. And the Gentiles +shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy +rising. Then shalt thou see and abound, and thy heart shall +wonder and be enlarged. And the children of them that afflict +thee shall come bowing down to thee, and all that slandered thee +shall worship the steps of thy feet, and shall call thee the city +of the Lord, the Sion of the Holy One of Israel_." [Footnote 35] + + [Footnote 35: Isai. lx. 1-14.] + +-------------------- + + Sermon VI. + + + The Mission Of St. John the Baptist. + + (Second Sunday In Advent.) + + + "This is he of whom it is written: + Behold I send My messenger before Thy face, + who shall prepare Thy way before Thee." + --St. Matt. xi. 10. + + +The Scriptures of the Old Testament had foretold that a special +messenger should immediately precede the coming of the Messias, +whose duty would be to prepare men's hearts for His reception. +Now, our Lord in the text tells us that St. John the Baptist was +this messenger. It is for this reason that the Gospels read in +the Church for the season of Advent are so full of the sayings +and doings of this saint. In Advent the Church desires to prepare +us for the twofold coming of Christ--at His Nativity and at the +Last Judgment; and it is natural that she should avail herself of +the labors of one who was divinely appointed for the same +purpose. Accordingly, from Sunday to Sunday, during this season, +she bring St. John the Baptist from his cell in the desert, clad +in his rough garment, to preach to us Christians the same lessons +he preached to the Jewish people centuries ago. +{272} +It has seemed to me, then, that I could not better subserve the +intentions of the Church, than by considering this morning in +what the mission of St. John the Baptist as a preparation for +Christ's coming specially consisted, and what practical lessons +it suggests to us. + +St. John the Baptist was of the priestly race, yet he never +exercised the office of a priest. He was not a prophet, at least +in the sense of one who foretells future events. He worked no +miracles. He had no ecclesiastical position. What was he then? +What was his office? How did he prepare men for the coming of +Christ? The Scriptures tell us what he was. He was a +"_Voice_" and a "_Cry_"--the cry of conscience, the +voice of man's immortal destiny. His mission was simple, +elementary, and universal. It went deeper than ecclesiastical or +ritual duties. It touched human probation to the very quick. He +dealt with the great question of salvation, protested vehemently +against sin, and published aloud that law of sanctity which is +written on every man's heart by the finger of God. + +We have some remains of his sermons, from which we can learn his +style. "_Begin not to say_," so he speaks to the Jews, +"_we have Abraham to our father, for God is able to raise up of +these stones children to Abraham_." [Footnote 36] + + [Footnote 36: St. Luke iii. 8.] + +See, how he sweeps away external privileges, and goes straight to +every man's conscience. "_The axe is laid now to the root of +the trees, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit +shall be cut down and cast into the fire_." Nothing but what +is internal, nothing but what is sound at the core, can bear the +scrutiny. He descends to the particulars of each man's state and +condition of life. The people came to him and asked him, "What +shall we do?" And he said: "_He that hath two coats, let him +impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat let him do +likewise_." +{273} +That was a short and pithy sermon! Then the officers of the +custom came and asked: "What shall _we_ do? And he answered: +"_Take nothing more than that which is appointed you_." Do +not rob or swindle. Do not use bribery or extortion. And the +soldiers asked him, saying: "And what shall _we_ do?" And he +said: "_Do violence to no man: neither calumniate any man; and +be content with your pay_." + +Such was the preaching of St. John the Baptist, pointed, direct, +homely, practical: an echo of that trumpet-blast which once shook +the earth, when God gave the Ten Commandments out of the Mount. +And it did its work. Our Lord himself has testified to the +success of St. John's mission. It prepared men to believe in +Christ. It was the school which trained disciples for +Christianity. They that believed in St. John believed afterwards +in Christ. On one occasion the evangelist gives it as the +explanation why some believed and some rejected the words of +Jesus, that they had first believed or rejected the words of the +Baptist. "_All the people_," such is the language I refer +to, "_justified God, being baptized with, the baptism of John, +but the Pharisees and the lawyers despised the counsel of God +against themselves, being not baptized of him_." [Footnote 37] + + [Footnote 37: St. Luke vii. 29, 30.] + +Nor is it difficult to explain how his preaching effected this +result. Christ came to save sinners. In point of fact, we know +that this is the reason why He has come into the world. He has +come to seek and save that which was lost. He has come to heal +the broken-hearted. He has come to give us a new law, higher and +holier than the old, yet easier by the brightness of His example, +and the graces He imparts. Now, unless a man feels the evil of +sin, unless he wants to keep the law, unless he feels an +interest, and a deep interest, in the question of his destiny, he +does not care for Christ. +{274} +True, our Lord has given to the understanding proofs of His +divine mission, so that belief in Him may be a reasonable act; +but until the conscience is stirred up, the understanding has no +motive for considering these proofs. To the carnal and careless +Jews, the announcement of Christ's coming was, I suppose, simply +uninteresting. In some points of view, indeed, they might have +welcomed Him. As a temporal prince and deliverer, His advent +would have been hailed by them, but salvation from sin was a +matter in which they felt no great concern. What did they want +with Christ? Why does He come at all to consciences which do not +crave rest, and wills that need no strength? What need of a +Saviour, if there is no sin to be shunned, no hell to be feared, +no heaven to be won, no great struggle between good and evil, no +eternity in peril? + +But once let all this be fully understood. Let a man's conscience +be fully awakened. Let him realize his destiny, above and beyond +this world; let him appreciate the evil of sin that defeats his +destiny; let him, if the case be so, perceive how far out of the +way he has gone by his sins; and then how full of interest, how +full of meaning, becomes the exclamation of St. John, as he +points to Christ and says: "_Behold the Lamb of God, that +taketh away the sins of the world!_" Let a man's spiritual +nature be stirred within him; let him aspire to what is pure and +high; aim at regulating his passions; struggle, amid inordinate +desires and the importunities of creatures which encompass him +like a flood, toward the highest good and the most perfect +beauty; and, oh! with what music do these words of Christ fall on +his soul: "_Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy +laden, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn of +Me, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is sweet, +and My burden is light._" [Footnote 38] + + [Footnote 38: St. Matt. xi. 29, 30.] + +{275} + +It seems too good to be true. He listens, and asks, "May I +believe this?" "Is there really a way through this world to +heaven? a sure, clear, easy way?" He finds that his understanding +not only allows, but compels him to believe in Christ: he is +happy; he believes; his faith is a conviction into which his +whole nature enters; it entwines itself with every fibre of his +soul. + +The connection, then, between the preaching of the Baptist and +the coming of Christ was not a temporary one. It is essential and +necessary. St. John is still the forerunner of Christ. The +preaching of the commandments is ever the preparation for faith. +The awakening of a man's conscience is the measure of his +appreciation of Christ. Our Lord gives many graces to men without +their own co-operation. Many of the gifts of Providence, and the +first gifts in the order of grace, are so bestowed. But an +enlightened appreciation of Christianity, a personal conviction +of its truth, a real and deep attachment to it, will be always in +proportion to the thoroughness with which a man has sounded the +depths of his own heart, to the sincerity with which sin is hated +and feared, and holiness aspired after. Christ is never firmly +seated in the soul of man till he is enthroned on the conscience. +"_Unto you that fear My name, shall the Sun of Justice arise, +and health in his wings_." [Footnote 39] + + [Footnote 39: St. Matt. iv. 2.] + +And, here, my brethren, in this law or fact which I stated, we +have the key to several practical questions of great importance. + +{276} + +Here we have, in great part at least, an explanation why +conversions to the Catholic Church are not more frequent than +they are. Surely the Catholic Church is prominent enough in the +eyes of men. From her church towers she cries aloud. In the +streets, at the opening of her gates, she utters her word, +saying: "_O children of men, how long will you love folly, and +the unwise hate knowledge? Turn ye at my reproof_." Her +antiquity, her unity, her universality, the sanctity of so many +of her children, are enough to arrest the attention of every +thoughtful man. But how few heed her voice! True, here and there, +there are souls who recognise in her the true teacher sent by +Christ, the guide of their souls, and submit themselves to her +safe and holy keeping. Altogether, they make a goodly company; +but how small in proportion to those who are left behind! It +reminds us of the words of the prophet: "_I will take one of a +city, and two of a family and bring you into Sion_." [Footnote 40] + + [Footnote 40: Jer. iii. 14.] + +They come by ones and twos, and the mass remains behind. And what +does that mass think of the Catholic Church? Some are entirely +ignorant of her, almost as though she did not exist. Some have +wrong ideas about her, and hate her. Some know a good deal about +her doctrines, and are conversant with the proofs of them, and +argue about them, and criticise them. Some are favorably inclined +to her. Some patronise her. It was just so with Christ. To some +He was simply unknown, though He was in their midst. To some He +was an impostor and a blasphemer. To many He was an occasion of +dispute, some affirming Him to be a "good man," others saying, +"Nay, He deceiveth the people." To some He was an innovator on +the established religion, the religion of the respectable and +educated. To others, His mysteries were an offence, and the +severity of His doctrine a stumbling-block. Why is this? Why is +it always thus? Why are men so slow to be wise, and to be happy? +I do not wish, my brethren, to give too sweeping an answer. I +know there is such a thing as inculpable ignorance. I believe +there are many on their way to the Church who are not suspected +of it, and who, perhaps, do not suspect it themselves. I know +that God has His seasons of grace and providence. I know that +each human mind is different from every other, and has its own +law of working, its own way of arriving at conviction. +{277} +But after all such deductions, are there not very many of whom it +is a plain matter of fact to say that they _will_ not give +their attention to this subject? They may even have conscious +doubts on their minds, and live and die with these unattended to, +unresolved. It is a want of religious earnestness. Men do not +ask: "What shall I do to be saved?" Or at least, they do not give +to that question their supreme attention. They do not grapple +with their destiny. They are indifferent to it, or hopeless about +its solution. They let themselves float on, leaving the questions +of the future to decide themselves as they may, and live in the +pleasures and interests of the present. + +Oh, fatal supineness! unworthy a rational being, defeating the +end of our creation, and entailing countless miseries here and +hereafter. Nothing can be hoped for from the world, till it +awakes from its lethargy of indifference. Men must be men before +you can make them Christians--serious, thoughtful earnest men, +before you have any reason for expecting them to become +Catholics. There is more hope of a conscientious bigot, than for +a man indifferent to his salvation. He, at least, is in earnest. +If his mind should become enlightened, if he should recognise the +Catholic Church as the divinely-appointed guide to that heaven +which he is seeking, there is reason to hope that he will avail +himself of her blessings. He will not make frivolous objections; +he will not stumble at the Sacrament of Confession, or catch at +every scandalous story of immorality on the part of a Catholic, +or quarrel with every minute ritual arrangement; but in a better, +higher, nobler spirit, in that spirit of obedience which so well +becomes a man, in that spirit of faith, in which man's reason +asserts most clearly its high character, by uniting itself to and +embracing the Reason of God, when he finds that the Church is the +guide to his immortal destiny, he "_will come bending to her, +and will worship the steps of her feet, and will call her the +City of the Lord, the Sion of the Holy One of Israel_." + +{278} + +And now, to turn our eyes within the Church, we can in the same +way account for those dreadful apostasies from the Catholic faith +which are here and there recorded in history. Mahometanism, which +in numbers is a rival to Catholicity, possesses some of the +fairest lands once owned by Christ. In modern times, one of the +most refined and enlightened nations of Christendom, in a moment +of frenzy, threw off the faith with which her history had been so +adorned, and professed Atheism. Now, how did these things happen? +Not of a sudden, or all at once. Men are not changed from +Christians into Turks or Infidels in an hour. There must have +been some secret moral history, which accounts for this wonderful +change. And so there was. Men became lax in their conduct. The +Catholicity they practised was not the Catholicity of Christ and +the Apostles. Public morals were conformed to the standard of +heathenism rather than that of the gospel--nay, sometimes +outraged as much the decencies of heathenism as the precepts of +Christ. It was the old story. St. John the Baptist imprisoned by +an adulterous king; St. John the Baptist, conspired against and +murdered by an ambitious queen; the head of St. John the Baptist, +eloquent and reproachful even in death, brought in to point the +jest and stimulate the revelry of a lascivious feast--this is but +a figure of the treatment which conscience has received in +Christian courts, and at the hands of Christian princes. Morality +and decency grew out of date, and were cast aside like +old-fashioned garments, and the restraints of the Law of God were +as feeble as cobwebs before the power of passion. Now, what else +could be the result of all this, but a disesteem of Christianity +itself? True, it might retain some hold upon men's minds for a +time. The fact that it was the religion of their ancestors, the +fact that they were baptized in it, the beauty of its ceremonies +and architecture, the soothing influence of its ordinances, the +services it has rendered to civilisation, might keep it standing +in its place for a time; but these considerations are not strong +enough to withstand the power of hell, when it is exerted in the +way of persecution, or a general apostasy. +{279} +"_Every plant that my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall +be rooted up_," said Christ. [Footnote 41] It must be a +supernatural motive that binds us to our faith. Christ and the +Law cannot long remain divorced. A people without conscience will +soon be a people without faith; and a nation of triflers only +waits the occasion, to become a nation of apostates. + + [Footnote 41: St. Matt. xv. 13.] + +It is not, then, without a special providence of God, that in +these later days the missionary orders of the Church have been +multiplied. In the sixteenth century the intellectual defence of +the faith was the Church's greatest need, and that was most +successfully accomplished. But there is needed something more to +uphold the falling fabric of modern society. Men need to be +reminded of the first principles of morality. And, therefore, a +St. Alphonsus appears in Naples, a St. Vincent of Paul in France; +missionary orders in every land go about teaching the people, +before it is too late, the very first and fundamental truths--the +doctrine of repentance and good works. Here, in every age, and +every country, is the real danger to faith. We speak often of the +dangers to faith in this country; and unquestionably we have our +special trials here. Some of our children are lost by neglect. +Some grow cold in the unfriendly atmosphere that surrounds them. +But the real danger to be dreaded is, that the love of the Church +herself should grow cold; that a wide-spread demoralisation +should take place among ourselves; that we should forget the +keeping of the Ten Commandments. This, indeed, would be the +prelude to our destruction. Practical morality makes a strong +Church; but let morality be forgotten, and the Church, while it +has a name to live, is dead. +{280} +And as a corpse long decomposed sometimes retains the human form +until it is exposed to the air, when it crumbles into dust; so a +dead Church will be blown to atoms and swept away, the first +strong blast that hell breathes against it. + +And, in fine, by the light of the thought which I have been +endeavoring to present to you this morning, we see the means by +which we ought to make sure our personal union with Christ. +Christ is coming. He is coming at Christmas to unite Himself with +those whom He shall find prepared. He is coming again, and the +mountains shall melt before Him; for He is coming to judge the +world. "_Who shall stand to see Him? For He shall be as a +Refining Fire, and shall try the Sons of Levi as gold and +silver_." [Footnote 42] + + [Footnote 42: St. Matt. iii. 2, 3.] + +How shall we abide His coming, my brethren I how shall we prepare +to meet Him? I know no other way than that which St. John the +Baptist recommended to the Jews--a true and solid conversion. +Whether a man has committed mortal sin or not, whether he is born +a Catholic or not, there comes upon him, if he is a true +Christian, some time in his life, a change which Catholic writers +call conversion. It may not be sudden. It may be all but +imperceptible. It may be more than once. But at least once, there +comes a time when religion becomes a matter of personal +conviction with him. He is different from what he was before. A +change has passed over him. He has awakened to his moral +accountability. His manhood is developed. His conscience is +aroused. And until that happens, you cannot count on him. He may +seem innocent and pious, but you cannot tell whether it will not +be "like the dew that passeth away in the morning." You cannot +say how he will act in temptation. You cannot reckon on what he +will be next year. Perhaps then he will draw sin "as with a +cart-rope." +{281} +The trouble with such men is not that they sin sometimes. Alas! +such is human frailty that a single fall would not dishearten us; +but the real misery is, that they have no _principle_ of not +sinning. They are not preparing for Christ's judgement. Their +contrition, such as it is, is intended to prepare them for +confession, not for eternity. See, then, what we want! + +And this is what I understand by the _penance_ which St. +John the Baptist preached. He practised it himself. It is thought +that in St. John's case the use of reason was granted before +birth; and when as a babe he leaped in his mother's womb, it was +for conscious joy at the presence of his Lord and Saviour. And +since the Blessed Virgin and St. Elizabeth were cousins, +doubtless St. John and our Blessed Saviour knew each other as +children. It is more than probable that they used to play +together when they were boys, as the painters loved to represent +them. And oh! what an effect did the knowledge of Christ have on +St. John! It took the color out of earthly beauty, and the music +out of earthly joy. There was with him afterward one overpowering +desire--the desire of sanctity. He had seen a vision of heaven. +Not because he despised the world, but because a higher beauty +was opened to his soul, he went into the desert, and his meat was +locusts and wild honey. One aim he had: to purify his heart. One +thought: to prepare for heaven, and to help others also to +prepare. + +Oh, let us heed his words and example. Let us follow him, if not +in the rigor of his fastings, at least in the sincerity of his +penance. Be converted, and turn to the Lord your God. There is no +other way of preparing for judgment. Remember what the Church +says to you at the Font: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the +commandments." Listen to what God Himself counsels, when +prophesying the terrors of the last day: "_Remember the law of +Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, +the precepts and judgments_." [Footnote 43] + + [Footnote 43: St. Matt. iv. 4.] + +{282} + +The law commanded in Horeb--that eternal law of right, and +justice, and purity, and truth--examine yourself by this +standard; forsake every evil way and live a Christian life. Happy +are they who do so! Happy and secure shall they be in the evil +time. When the earth and heaven shall be shaken, and sea and land +give up their dead, and the Son of Man appear in the heavens, and +the Throne shall be set for judgment, then look up and lift up +your head, for your redemption draweth nigh. You have been true +to your conscience; you have believed in Christ; you have kept +His law; now to you belongs the promise, "_Then they that +feared the Lord spoke every man with his neighbor, and the Lord +gave ear, and heard it: and a book of remembrance was written +before the Lord for them that fear the Lord, and think on His +Name. And they shall be My special possession, saith the Lord of +Hosts, in the day that I do judgment: and I will spare them as a +man spareth his own son that serveth him_." [Footnote 44] + + [Footnote 44: St. Matt. iii. 16, 17.] + +---------------------- + + Sermon VII. + + + God's Desire To Be Loved. + + (Christmas Day.) + + + "Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: + grace is poured abroad in Thy lips; + therefore hath God blessed Thee forever. + Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Thou most mighty. + With Thy comeliness and Thy beauty, + set out, proceed prosperously and reign." + --Ps. xliv. 3-5. + + +The Church calls on us to-day to rejoice and be glad for the +Incarnation of the Son of God. With a celebration peculiar to +this Feast, she breaks the dead silence of the night with her +first Mass of joy. +{283} +She repeats it again as the east reddens with the dawn. And still +again, when the sun is shining in full day, she offers anew a +Mass of thanksgiving for a blessing which can never be +sufficiently praised and magnified. I have thought that I could +not better attune your hearts to all this gladness and gratitude +than by reminding you of one of the motives of the Incarnation. +Why did our Lord become man? and why did He become Man in the way +He did? I answer, out of His desire to be loved by us. There is a +love of benevolence, which is content simply with doing good +without asking a return. God has this love for us. Nature and +reason tell us so. "_He maketh His sun to rise on the good and +the bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust_." [Footnote 45] + + [Footnote 45: St. Matt. v. 45.] + +And there is another love, the love of friendship, which seeks to +be united to the object of its love. And the Incarnation shows us +that God has this kind of love for man. His love makes us lovable +in His eyes, and this again makes Him vehemently desire our love. +This will be my subject this morning--the Incarnation, an +evidence of God's desire to be loved by us. + +And, first, observe, that there is no other reason given for the +Incarnation which sufficiently accounts for it in all its +circumstances. There are several reasons for the Incarnation. It +is the doctrine of many Catholic theologians that God would have +become man even if man had never sinned; that it was part of His +original plan in forming the creature thus to unite it to +Himself. Again, it is said that our Lord became Man in order to +make satisfaction for sin. And a third reason alleged for His +becoming man, is, that He might give us a perfect example. Now +all these reasons are true: but neither of them alone, nor all of +them together, entirely account for the Incarnation with all its +circumstances. Not the first, for even if God had predetermined +that His Son should become Man, irrespective of man's +transgression, certainly in that case He would not have come poor +and sorrowful, as He did. +{284} +The necessity of a satisfaction for sin accounts indeed for our +Lord's sufferings in part, but not altogether; for He suffered +far more than was necessary. Besides, it was not necessary for a +Divine Person to have suffered for us unless it had pleased God +to require a perfect satisfaction, which He was free to demand or +dispense with. The desire to give a good example may be suggested +as the explanation of our Lord's humiliation; but when we +consider a moment, we will see that though a good man really does +give a good example, he does very few, if any of his actions, for +the mere sake of giving it. There are many things, then, in our +Lord's becoming Man, and His life as Man, that need some further +reason. What is that reason? It is His great desire to be loved +by us. Suppose this, and every thing is clear. I do not mean to +say that this account of our Lord's Incarnation makes it any less +wonderful--it makes it more so--but it gives a motive for it +all. Suppose Him influenced by an intense desire to gain our +love, and then we see why He stooped so low, why He did so much +more than was necessary, why he was so lavish in +condescension--in a word, this is the explanation of what would +otherwise seem to be the _excess_ of His love. + +Then, again, let us consider how our Lord's Incarnation is +adapted to win our love. When we see means perfectly adapted to +an end, we are apt to conclude that they were chosen in view of +that end. Now, our Lord's humiliation is in all its parts +wonderfully calculated to attract love. + +His taking our nature is especially so. There is a wonderful +power in blood. To be of kin is a tie that survives all changes +and all times. Now, here our Lord makes Himself of kin to us, of +the same blood. He is no stranger, before whom we need feel at a +great distance, but our relation, of our flesh and blood. + +{285} + +And then as Man, He has clothed Himself with every thing that can +make Him attractive in the eyes of man. He makes His first +appearance in the world as an Infant, a beautiful Babe. How +attractive is a beautiful child! Men even of rugged natures are +softened by looking at it. A little child brings a flood of grace +and light into a house. Now, to-day, the Son of God is a Babe at +Bethlehem. He has the beauty of infancy, but there is also a +superadded beauty, a light playing on His features that is not of +earth, the light of Infinite Wisdom and Eternal Love. See, He +looks around and smiles, and stretches out His hands, as if +inviting us to caress Him. + +In many children this beauty of infancy is evanescent, but in our +Lord it was the earnest of a grace and loveliness that followed +Him through life. It is evident that there was something most +attractive about our Lord to those who approached Him. As He grew +in stature He increased in favor, not only with God but with men. +When He had attained to manhood, He was such a one that children +willingly gathered around Him in the streets, and people stopped +to look at Him as He passed, and men's minds were strangely +stirred in them as He spoke, and the thought came into women's +hearts, "How happy to be the mother of such a Son!" Who but He +knew how perfectly to mingle dignity with familiarity, zeal with +serenity, and austerity with compassion? Even at the distance of +time that we are from His earthly life, His words reach us like +the sweetest music. What other preacher can say the same words +again and again, and never make us weary? Whose tones are there +that linger in our ears like His, and come like a spell to our +hearts in times of temptation and sorrow? Why, even scoffers have +acknowledged this. The beauty and excellence of our Saviour's +character have wrung a eulogium from a celebrated opponent of +Christianity, and at least a momentary confession that its author +was Divine. + +{286} + +Then, to the attractions of His character, our Lord has added the +destitution of His circumstances, in order to gain our love. It +is natural for us to love any thing that is dependent on us. The +sick child that needs to be nursed, the helpless and depressed, +the poor that appeal to us, even the bird and the dog that look +to us for their food, come to have a place in our hearts. Now, +our Lord, at least even in this way to win us, has placed Himself +in a state of complete dependence on us. From the cradle to the +grave, and even beyond the grave, He appeals to man for the +supply of every want. + +Think what it might have been. Think of the twelve legions of +angels that are impatient to come and minister to Him. But no! He +restrains them. For his swathing-bands, He will be a debtor to +Mary's care. For a habitation, He will put up with the stall of +the ox and the ass. The manger from which the cattle are fed +shall be His cradle. St. Joseph shall bear the expenses of his +early years; and when St. Joseph is gone, and He has begun His +ministry of preaching, Joanna and the other holy women shall +minister to Him of their substance. And at last, Magdalene shall +anoint His body for burial, and Joseph of Arimathea shall give +Him a winding-sheet and a grave. + +I said He carried His poverty beyond the grave. And so He does. +For His churches, for the glory of His altars, for His priests, +for His sacraments, even for the bread and wine which shall serve +as veils for His presence, He depends on us, that out of love we +may minister to Him, and by ministering may love Him better. + +And, further: while on the one hand our Lord thus appeals to our +affections by the poverty of His condition, on the other He +compels our love by the greatness of His sacrifices for us. In +His Sermon on the Mount, He bids us, "If any man force us to go +with him a mile, to go with him other two;" [Footnote 46] and +certainly it has been by this rule that He has acted toward us. + + [Footnote 46: St. Matt. v. 41.] + +{287} + +I have already said our Lord has done far more than was necessary +to redeem us. Why, in strictness of justice, He had ransomed us +before He was born. The very first act of love He made to His +Father, after His conception, was enough to redeem countless +worlds. But He did not then go back to His Father. He staid on +earth to do more for us. He would not leave any thing undone that +could be done. He would not leave a single member of His body, a +single power of His soul, that was not turned into a sacrifice +for us. + +No doubt, if, at the birth of any child, we could foresee all it +would have to suffer during its life, there would be enough to +mingle sadness with our joy. But this child was preeminently a +child of sorrow; and Simeon, when he took Him up in his arms, +foresaw that the sad future would break His mother's heart. Yes, +that little Child is the willing victim of our sins. On that +little head the crown of thorns shall be placed. Those tiny hands +shall be pierced with nails. Those eyes shall weep. Those ears +shall be filled with reproach and blasphemy. That smooth cheek be +spit upon. That mouth be filled with vinegar and gall. And why +was all this? He Himself has told us: "And I, if I be lifted up +from the earth, will draw all things to Myself:" [Footnote 47] +That was the hope that urged Him on. That was the key to His +whole life. It was all an effort, a struggle, to gain our love. + + [Footnote 47: St. John xii. 32.] + +And, once more: the _effect_ of the Incarnation has been +love. We read God's purposes in their fulfilment. We see what our +Lord intended in His humiliation, by looking at what it has +produced. There is no doubt that the love of God has been far +more general among men, and far more tender, since the +Incarnation. +{288} +Only compare St. Antony of Padua, fondling the Infant Jesus, with +Elias, covering his face with his mantle before the Lord in the +cave at Horeb. Compare the book of Job with the epistles of St. +Paul or St. John. God is in both books; but the Prophet sees Him +through a glass darkly: the Apostles "have seen and handled the +Word of Life." One of the most beautiful passages in the Old +Testament, and one which approaches the nearest to the New, is +the history of the martyrdom of the seven sons with their Mother +in the time of Judas Machabæus. But how this story pales before +the Acts of the Christian Martyrs! In these Jewish heroes we see, +indeed, faith in God, and remembrance of His promises, and hope +in the Resurrection; but how different is this from the glowing +language of an Ignatius, who claimed to carry Christ within him; +or of an Agnes, who claimed to be the Spouse of Christ, whom He +had betrothed with a ring, and adorned with bridal jewels! + +Nor is it only in highly spiritual people, or highly gifted +people of any kind, that we see this Christian, personal love of +God. The poor, the dull, the ignorant cannot understand the +abstract arguments about God, but they can understand a crucifix, +they know the meaning of Bethlehem and Calvary. And many an old +woman, who knows little more, has learned enough to make her +happy, in the thought that "_God so loved the world as to give +His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him may not +perish, but may have life everlasting_." [Footnote 48] + + [Footnote 48: St. John iii. 16.] + +Then there are children; some people complain that they find it +very hard to interest them in religion. I will tell you how to +succeed. Tell them the story of Joseph and Mary, and the Babe +lying in a manger. Tell them about the shepherds that were +watching their flocks by night, and the angels that came and +talked to them. +{289} +Tell them about the garden in which Jesus was betrayed, and the +cross on which he died, and you will see their little eyes open +wide with interest. I knew a boy who, when he read the story of +Peter's denial of our Lord, got up from his seat, and, with tears +in his eyes, exclaimed, "Oh, mother, what made Peter do that!" +And I have heard of a little boy who, when he was dying, called +his mother to his side, and told her that he had kept all the +money she had given him, in a little box, and when he was dead he +wanted her to take it and buy a coat for the Infant Jesus. I know +it was a strange, childish conceit; but it showed that our +Saviour had found His way to that little boy's heart; and sure I +am that when, in Paradise, he stood before the bright throne of +Christ, and heard from those divine lips the praise of his short +life, that legacy was not forgotten. + +Yes; our Lord has found out the way to win hearts. He has +succeeded. The issue proves the wisdom of his plan. As heaven +fills up with saints flaming with love, He says, "Whence are +these? and who hath begotten them?" Then He remembers that they +are the fruit of the travail of His soul, that they were born to +Him at Bethlehem and Calvary, and He "is satisfied." + +The truth is, we are not so sensible of this effect of the +Incarnation, because we are so familiar with it. We hardly +realize how meagre men's notions about God naturally are. Of +course, we know by reason the existence of God, and many of His +attributes; but without revelation, these are very indistinct. We +know that He is great and good and beautiful; but still there is +a gulf between us and Him. Partly, no doubt, this arises from our +sense of guilt. We fear God, because we have offended Him. But +there is a dread of God, and a sense of distance from Him, that +does not come from guilt. The most innocent feel it the keenest. +I know not why, but we dread Him because He is so spiritual. He +is so strange and mysterious. +{290} +We cannot think what He is like. We lose ourselves when we try to +think of Him. There are so many things in the world that frighten +us. We do not know how God feels toward us. We have a diffidence +in approaching Him which we cannot shake off. Now, all the while, +God is full of the most wonderful love to man. Heaven is not +enough for Him. Even with the angels, it is a wilderness because +man is absent. At last He resolves what He will do. He will lay +aside altogether that majesty which affrights man so much. "The +distance is too great," He says, "between Me and My creatures. I +Myself will become a creature. Man flies from Me. I will become +Man. Every thing loves its kind. I will make Myself like him. 'I +will draw him with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love.' +[Footnote 49] + + [Footnote 49: Osee xi. 4.] + +I will tell him how the case stands--that I love him and desire +his love. I will tell him to love Me, not for his sake, but Mine; +and when I have made him understand this--when I have gained his +love; when I have healed his wound and made him happy--then I +will come back, and call on all the angels of heaven, and say, +'Rejoice with Me, for I have found the sheep that I had lost.'" + +Such is the enterprise that our Lord enters on to-day. He comes +to tell you how He loves you, and how He desires your love. +"Behold, I bring to you glad tidings of great joy, and this shall +be the sign to you: you shall find the Infant wrapped in +swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger." It is a sign of +Humanity. It is a sign of Beauty. It is a sign of Humility. It is +a sign of Love. He speaks to you, not in words, but in actions. +The cold wind whistles in His cavern, but He will not have it +otherwise. David said: "_I will not enter into the tabernacle +of my home: I will not go up into my bed. I will not give sleep +to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, or rest to my temples, +until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God +of Jacob_." [Footnote 50] + + [Footnote 50: Isai. cxxxi. 3-5.] + +{291} + +So the new-born Saviour will not take any comfort till He has got +your love. He is waiting in the manger, and until you come and +take Him home, He will accept no other. The palaces of the world, +and all the jewels and the gold are His, but He will have none of +them. He wants to abide in your lowly house, and in your poor +heart. His head is full of dew, and His locks of the drops of the +night, and He knocks for you to open to Him. Oh, to-day, I do not +envy those who will not receive Him. I do not envy those who are +wandering about in error, and know not the true Bethlehem, the +_House of Bread_, the Holy Church of God. I do not envy the +disobedient Christian. I do not envy the indifferent man, for +whom Christ is born in vain. But I praise those who make it their +first care to keep themselves united to Jesus Christ. And most of +all, I praise those who strive to maintain a holy familiarity +with Jesus Christ; who by prayer, by communion, by self-denial, +by generous obedience, return their Saviour love for love. + +O my brethren, why do we grovel on earth, when we might have our +conversation in heaven? Why do we set our hearts on creatures, +when we might have the Creator for our friend? Why do we follow +the Evil One, when He that is beautiful above the sons of men is +our Master and our Lord? Why are we so weak in temptation, so +despairing in trial, when we might have the peace and joy of the +children of God? What more can we want? God has given us the +Only-begotten Son, the Mighty God, the Wonderful Counsellor, the +Prince of Peace; and how shall He not with Him freely give us all +things? All we want is to recognize our happiness. When Jacob +woke from sleep, he said: "The Lord is in this place, and I knew +it not." So we do not realize how near God is to us. What is the +sound that reaches us to-day? It is the voice of the Beloved, +calling to us: "My love, My spouse, My undefiled!" Yes, my Lord, +I answer to Thy call. I enter to-day into the school of Thy Holy +Love. +{292 } +I make now the resolution that "_henceforth neither life nor +death, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able +to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our +Lord_." [Footnote 51] + + [Footnote 51: Romans viii. 39.] + +---------------------- + + + Sermon VIII. + + + The Failure And Success Of The Gospel. + + + (Sexagesima.) + + + "Saying these things he cried out: + He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." + St. Luke VIII. 8. + + +There is one measure by which, if our Lord's work were tried, it +might be pronounced a failure; and that is by the measure of +great immediate, visible results. The thought might come into our +mind, that it is strange our Lord was not more successful than He +was. He was the Son of God, no one ever spake as He did. He +conversed with a great number of men--in Jerusalem, in Judea, in +Galilee. He was always going about from place to place. He died +in the sight of a whole city. Yet what was the result of all? On +the Day of Pentecost, His disciples were gathered together in the +upper chamber, and they numbered, all told, one hundred and +twenty. So it is, likewise, with the Church. After all, what has +she done? Put her numbers at the highest. Say she has two hundred +millions of souls in her communion. What are they to the eight +hundred millions that inhabit the globe. [Footnote 52] + + [Footnote 52: Recent estimates of the population of the globe + vary from 840,000,000, to 1,300,000,000, and of the number + of Catholics from 160,000,000 to 208,000,000. + Other Christians are about 130,000,000.] + +{293} + +And how many of her members are there who can be called Catholics +or Christians, only in a broad, external sense! Has Christianity, +then, accomplished the results that might have been looked for? +Is it not a failure? + +I will attempt this morning to give some reasons showing that +Christianity is not a failure, although it has accomplished only +partial results. And the first remark I make is this: that +partial results belong to every thing human. Although +Christianity is a divine religion, by coming into the world it +became subject in many respects to the laws that govern human +things. To specify one, Christianity demands _attention_. +"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Without attention, +Christianity will never produce its impression on our conduct. +Now, attention is a thing hard to get from men. It is one of the +greatest wants in the world, the want of attention. "_With +desolation is all the land made desolate_," says the Holy +Scripture, "_because there is none that considereth in the +heart_." [Footnote 53] + + [Footnote 53: Jer. xii. 11.] + +We see examples of this on every side. Take the instance of young +men at college. After passing several years there, at a +considerable expense to their parents, professedly for the sake +of acquiring an education, a certain number of them know nothing +but the names of the things they have been studying. This is the +entire result of all they have heard or read, an acquisition of +some of the terms made use of in science. Others have gained some +confused and partial knowledge, which for practical purposes is +all but useless; while those who have acquired precise, accurate, +useful information, that is, who have gained any real science, +are few indeed. It is the same in business. Every trade and +profession is crowded with bunglers who do not know their own +business, because they have been too lazy to learn it, and who +grumble at the success of others who have not spared the pains +necessary to become masters. + +{294} + +So also it is in politics. We hear a great deal about the general +diffusion of intelligence in this country, and are told how the +sovereign people watch the actions of public men and call them to +account. Now, I suppose there is more wide-spread information on +public matters in this country than in any other in the world, +but what does it amount to after all? A great many read the +newspapers without passing any independent judgment on their +statements, while those who really shape political opinions and +action are but a small clique in each locality. + +This being so, it ought not to surprise us that men give but +little attention to religion. If learning, business, politics, +things that touch our present interests so closely, can only to a +superficial extent engage the thoughts of men, will religion, +which relates chiefly to man's future welfare, be more +successful? In one sense, Christianity is as old as the world; +for there has been a continuous testimony to the truth from the +first, but it has never yet had a full hearing. How do men act +about religion? Some listen to its teaching only with their ears, +as a busy man in his office listens to a jew's-harp or a +band-organ on the street. So Gallio listened, who "cared for none +of these things." Some listen with their hearts, that is, with +attention enough to awaken a passing emotion or sentiment. So +Felix listened, when he trembled at St. Paul's preaching, and +promised to hear him again at a more convenient season. Only a +few listen with attentive ears and hearts and hands, the only +true way of listening, the way St. Paul listened, when he said, +"_Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?_" [Footnote 54] + + [Footnote 54: Acts ix. 6.] + +When you say, then, that Christianity has produced but partial +results, you are but saying that men are frivolous and +thoughtless, that there are many who do not listen to religion, +or do not listen to it with earnestness and lay to heart its +practical lessons. "_Wisdom preacheth abroad; she uttereth her +voice in the streets; at the head of multitudes she crieth +out;_" but it is of no avail to the greater number, +"_because they have hated instruction, and received not the +fear if the Lord_." [Footnote 55] + + [Footnote 55: Proverbs i. 20, 21, 29] + +{295} + +Moreover, our Lord foresaw that the success of His gospel would +be but partial. We see this in the very passage from which the +text is taken. There is something melancholy in the way the +evangelist introduces the parable of the sower: "_And when a +very great multitude was gathered together and hastened out of +the cities to Him, He spoke by a similitude: A sower went out to +sow his seed_," etc. This was the thought which the sight of a +very great multitude pressing around Him awoke in the mind of our +Lord: how small a part would really give heed to His words, or +really appreciate them: how in some hearts the word would be +trodden down, in others be choked or wither away; and this is the +secret of the energy with which He cried out at the end of the +parable, "_He that hath ears to hear, let him hear_." The +same thought comes out in the conversation which he had afterward +with His disciples, when they asked an explanation of the +parable: "_The heart of this people is grown gross; and with +their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they +have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and +hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should +be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes +because they see, and your ears because they hear_." [Footnote +56] + + [Footnote 56: St. Matt. xiii. 15, 16.] + +Our Lord was as far as possible, then, from expecting that the +course of things would stand still, and all men comply instantly +with his preaching. Nor were His predictions respecting His +Church such as to warrant more sanguine expectations of her +success. +{296} +In His charge to His disciples, He let them know what they were +to expect: "_When you come into a house salute it, saying: +Peace be to this house. And if that house be worthy, your peace +shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall +return to you. And when they shall persecute you in this city, +flee into another_." [Footnote 57] + + [Footnote 57: St. Matt. x. 12, 13, 23.] + +Nor were their trials to be altogether external. "_And then +shall many be scandalised, and shall betray one another, and +shall hate one another. And because iniquity hath abounded, the +charity of many shall wax cold_." [Footnote 58] + + [Footnote 58: Ib. xxiv. 10, 12.] + +When, then, you say, See! in that country the Church has all but +died out; in that country faith is weak, and the most active +minds in it are estranged from religion; in that country scandals +abound; in that country there was a great apostasy; that other +was fruitful in heresies:--I reply, you are only verifying our +Lord's predictions; you are only saying what He said before the +event. If religion has not accomplished all that could be +desired, it has at least done what it promised. + +Nor is this all. Not only did our Lord foresee that many would +reject His grace, but He acquiesced in it. His work is not a +failure, because He does not account it so. What though many +refuse to listen? They that will be saved, those of good will and +honest hearts, they will be saved, and that is enough. He saw of +the travail of His soul, and was satisfied. Our Lord shed His +blood for all men; He willed seriously the salvation of all men; +but since all will not be saved, He is content to give it for +those who will. He "is the Saviour of all men, _especially of +the faithful_." [Footnote 59] + + [Footnote 59: 1 Tim. iv. 10.] + +When He came to Jerusalem to die, looking at the city, He wept to +think how many were there who knew not the time of their +visitation; but that did not deter Him from marching on to Mount +Calvary. When He foretold to St. Peter, before His passion, all +He was about to suffer, St. Peter, with mistaken affection, +begged Him to spare Himself. "Far be this from Thee." +{297} +How much more would he have dissuaded our Lord, if he could have +foreseen in how many cases these labors and sufferings would have +been fruitless. Would he not have said to Him, "O Lord! do not +suffer so much, turn away thy face from the smiter, and thy mouth +from gall. Do not crush Thy heart with cruel grief, or bathe Thy +body in a sweat of agony. The very men for whom Thou diest will +disbelieve Thee, or, believing, will disobey Thee. + +Can we doubt to what effect our Saviour would have answered? "If +I be lifted up I will draw all men to Me, and all will not resist +Me. I shall see of the travail of My soul, and shall be +satisfied." + +Or I can imagine that at the Last Supper, as our Lord was about +to institute the Blessed Sacrament of His body and blood, the +same warm-hearted disciple laying his hand on his Master's arm, +might have said, "Do not do it! Thou thinkest they cannot +withstand this proof of love. But, alas! they will pass by +unheeding. Thou wilt remain on the altars of Thy churches night +and day, but the multitude will not know Thee, or ask after Thee, +and they that do know Thee will insult Thee in Thy very gifts, +will treat Thee with disrespect, and receive Thee with dishonor." +But our Lord gently disregards his remonstrance, and having loved +His own who were in the world, loves them to the end, and for +them is contented to make Himself a perpetual prisoner of love. +Oh, my brethren, our statistics and our arithmetic are sadly at +fault when we are dealing with divine things. When Abraham went +to plead with Almighty God to spare Sodom, he began by asking as +a great matter that the city might be spared if fifty just men +were found in it, and the answer was prompt and free, "I will not +do it for fifty's sake." Somewhat emboldened, he came down by +degrees to ten, and received the same answer, but stopped there, +thinking that he could make no further demand on the mercy of +God. It is a thing we will never understand, how much God has the +heart of a father. +{298} +When news was brought to the patriarch Jacob, that Joseph, his +son, was yet living, all his woes and hardships were forgotten in +a moment, and he said: It is enough. Joseph, my son, is yet +alive." So, all the unkindness, disobedience, unbelief of men, +are compensated to the heart of Christ by the fervor of His true +children, His servants whom He hath chosen, His elect in whom His +soul delighteth. Weary on the cross, His fainting eye sees their +fidelity and their love, and His heart revives, and He says: "It +is enough." Christ accounts the fruits of His redemption great, +and they are great. This is our temptation, to undervalue the +good that is in the world. Evil is so obtrusive, that we are but +too apt to attribute to it a larger share in the world than it +really holds. How much of good, then, has been and is in the +world? The Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Heaven, the perfect +fruit of Christ's redemption, once walked the earth, engaged in +lowly, every-day duties, like any maid or mother among us. Moses +and Elias and St. John the Baptist once lived our life here on +the earth; and the hundred and forty-four thousand who sing a new +song before the throne of God, and the great multitude that no +man can number out of all people and kindreds and tribes and +tongues, clothed in white and with palms in their hands. You talk +of failure! Why has not the sound of the gospel gone into all +lands, and its words to the end of the world? Have not empires +owned its sway, and kings come bending to seek its blessings? +Have not millions of martyrs loved it better than their lives? +Has not the solitary place been made glad by the hymns of its +anchorites, and the desert blossomed like a rose under their +toil? Is there a profession, or trade, or court, or country which +has not been sanctified by moral heroes who drew in their holy +inspirations from its lessons? And who can tell us the amount of +goodness in every-day life, to some extent necessarily hidden, +but of which we catch such unearthly glimpses, and which is the +practical fruit of its principles? +{299} +The virtuous families, the upright transactions, the glorious +sacrifices, the noble charities, the restraint of passion, the +interior purity, the patient perseverance! Listen to the +description which God Himself gives of the results of the gospel: + +"_Who are these, that fly as clouds, and as doves to their +windows? For the islands wait for me, and the ships of the sea in +the beginning; that I may bring thy sons from afar; their silver +and their gold with them, to the name of the Lord thy God, and to +the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee. Iniquity +shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction in +thy borders; and salvation shall possess thy walls, and praise +thy gates. Thy sun shall go down no more, and thy moon shall not +decrease: for the Lord shall be unto thee for an everlasting +light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. And thy +people shall be all just; they shall inherit the land forever, +the branch of my planting, the work if my hand, to glorify me. +The least shall become a thousand, and a little one a most strong +nation. I, the Lord, will suddenly do this thing in its +time_." [Footnote 60] + + [Footnote 60: Isai. lx. 8, 9, 18, 20, 21. 22.] + +Now, this is the Catholic Church, as God saw it in the future, +and as He sees it now. These beautiful words are true in their +measure, of every diocese, of every parish, in our day. To-day, +as the Holy Church throughout the world flings open her doors and +rings her bells, and the crowd press in, in cities, in villages, +in country places, God recognizes thousands of his true +worshippers, who worship Him in spirit and in truth. We see and +know some of them, but only His all-seeing eye sees them all, and +only His omniscience, which foreknows the number of those who +shall be His by faith and good works, can measure the greatness +of the harvest of souls which He will reap at the end of the +world. The Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints. +{300} +The Last Judgment is the victory of Christ. Then again, +surrounded by the fruit of His passion, He may repeat the words +which He spoke at the close of His earthly ministry: "I have +glorified thee upon the earth. I have _finished the work_ +which thou gavest me to do. Those whom thou gavest Me I have +kept, and none of them hath perished except the son of +perdition." [Footnote 61] + + [Footnote 61: St. John xvii. 4, 12.] + +These thoughts point the way to two practical lessons, one +relating to our duty to others, the other relating to our duty to +ourselves. + +We see here the spirit in which we ought to labor for the +conversion of others. There is certainly a great deal of good to +be done around us. How many in this country are out of the Ark of +safety, the Catholic Church of Christ! How many in her fold need +our efforts and labors to make them better! Why are we not more +active in laboring for them? We say it is of no use; we have +tried and failed. Those whose conversion we had most at heart +seem farther off from the truth than ever. It is no use hoping +for the conversion of those who are not Catholics; they are too +set in their ways. Many of those Catholics, too, who were doing +well as we hoped, have fallen off again, and we are weary of +laboring with so little success. Oh! what a mean spirit this is; +how unlike the spirit of Christ! How unlike the spirit of that +apostle who made himself all things to all men that he might save +_some_. You will put up with no failures. Christ and St. +Paul were content to meet with many failures for the sake of some +success. How unlike the spirit of St. Francis of Sales, who +labored so hard during so many discouraging years, for the +conversion of his misguided Swiss. Christ was rejected and +crucified by those whom He came to teach. The apostles were +despised and their names cast out as evil. And you will not labor +because you cannot have immediate and full success. But some +success you will meet with. +{301} +You may not convert the one you desire to convert, but you will +convert another. You may not succeed in the way or at the time +you look for, but you will succeed in some other way and at some +other time. There is nothing well done and charitably done for +the truth that falls to the ground. God's word does not return to +Him void, but accomplishes the thing whereunto He sent it. We +labor, and other men enter into our labors. But the good work is +done, and the fruits are garnered in heaven. Be of great hopes, +then. You, my brethren of the priesthood, dare to undertake great +things for the honor of our Lord and the extension of His +kingdom. Use every means that prudence and charity can suggest to +gain souls to Christ. In the morning sow your seed, and in the +evening withhold not your hand. Labor in season and out of +season. For Sion's sake hold not your hand, and for Jerusalem's +sake do not rest, until her justice come forth as a brightness, +and her salvation be lighted as a lamp! And you, my brethren of +the laity, labor each in your place, as far as may be given you, +in the same work. Blessing must come from labor, and reward from +Him who has promised that "they that instruct many to justice +shall shine as stars for all eternity." [Footnote 62] + + [Footnote 62: Dan. xii. 3.] + +The other lesson we learn is one which teaches us how to guide +ourselves in a world of sin and scandal. It is no uncommon thing +for men to draw injury to their own souls from the disorders +around them, by making them a pretext for neglecting their own +salvation, or taking a low standard of duty. One says, there is a +man who does not attend to his religious duties, and makes out of +this an excuse for his own neglect. "What is that to thee? Follow +thou Me," is the answer of Christ. There is another who does go +to the sacraments, but whose life is disedifying. He is profane, +quarrelsome, untruthful, and artful. +{302} +Perhaps he is guilty of worse sins than these. "What is that to +thee?" is again the answer: "Follow thou _Me_. My love, My +life, my teaching is to be the rule of thy conduct, not the +doctrines of others." Oh! how this cuts the way open to a +solution of that question with which we sometimes vex ourselves. +Are there few or many that will be saved? There are few if few, +many if many. Few if few hear and obey, many if many hear and +obey. Wisdom crieth aloud, she uttereth her voice in the streets; +he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. One hears, lays up and +ponders in his heart, like Mary, what he hears, and becomes a +saint. Another hears as one who looks in a glass and immediately +forgets what he saw reflected in it. Here is the distinction +which produces election and reprobation, salvation and damnation. +This is the practical question for each one of us: To which of +these classes do I belong? This is the prayer which ought to be +our daily petition: Give me, O Lord, an understanding heart, to +know the things that belong to my peace, before they are forever +hid from my eyes. How great the misery of passing through life +slothful, careless, inattentive, and so losing the heavenly +wisdom we might learn! How great the happiness of keeping the +word in a good heart, and bringing forth fruit with patience! +Those who do this not only secure their salvation, but they +console Christ for all His cruel sufferings, for they constitute +the fruit of His Passion, the success of His Gospel, the crown of +Glory which He receives from the hand of His Father, the Royal +Diadem which He will wear for all eternity. + +--------------------- + +{303} + + Sermon IX. + + The Work Of Life. + + (Septuagesima) + + + "Why stand ye here all the day idle." + --St. Matt. xx. 6. + + +The parable in to-day's Gospel is intended to describe the +invitations which God has given, from time to time in the history +of the world, to various races and peoples, to enter the true +Church and be saved. But it may be applied by analogy to His +dealings with each individual soul, and our Lord's question in +the text may be understood by each one of us as addressed +directly to himself. Taken in this sense, it affords instruction +and admonition, useful at all times, but more especially suitable +on this day, when the Church first strikes the keynote of those +stirring lessons of personal duty and accountability which are to +be the burden of her teachings through the coming season of Lent. + +And, first, it reminds us of that solemn truth, that we have an +appointed work to do on earth. It is difficult for us not to be +sceptical sometimes on this point. Life is so short and +uncertain, man is so frail and erring, that it seems strange the +few years spent here on earth should exert any great influence on +our eternity. Some such feeling as this was at the bottom of the +old idea of heathen philosophy that God does not concern Himself +with the affairs of men, that we and our doings are of too little +consequence to occupy His attention. The book of Wisdom well +expresses this creed: "_For we are born, say they" (that is, +the unbelieving), "of nothing, and after this we shall be as if +we had not been; and our life shall pass away as the trace of a +cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by +the beams of the sun, and overpowered by the heat thereof. And +our name in time shall be forgotten: and no man shall have any +remembrance of our works._" [Footnote 63] + + [Footnote 63: Wisdom ii. 2-4.] + +{304} + +But such a view of life does not agree either with reason or +revelation. God, being Infinite Wisdom, must have an end in every +thing which He created. If it was not beneath Him to create, it +cannot be beneath Him to govern His creatures; and reason and +free will must have been given to His rational creatures to guide +them to their end. It is absurd to suppose a moral and +intellectual being without a law and a destiny. And revelation +confirms this decision of reason. It seems as if the Bible were +written, in great part, to dispel the notion that God is a mere +abstraction, and to exhibit Him to us as a personal God, +interfering in His creation, giving to each created thing its +place, and taking note of its operation. In the pages of +Scripture the world is not a chance world, where every thing is +doubt and confusion; but an orderly world, where every thing has +its place. It is a vineyard, into which laborers are sent to +gather the harvest. It is a house, in which each part has its +order and use. It is a body, in which each member shares the +common life, and contributes to it. It is a school, in which each +scholar is learning a special lesson. It is a kingdom, in which +citizen is bound to the other in relations of duty or authority. +Yes, God has left a wide field for the free exercise of human +choice and will. The pursuits of men, their studies, their +pleasures, may be infinitely varied at their will; but not to +have a mission from Heaven, not to have a work to do on earth, +not to be created by God with a special vocation--this is not +possible for man. He is too honorable and great. The image of +God, which is traced on his soul, is too deep and enduring; his +relation to God is too direct and immediate. No man can live unto +himself, and no man can die unto himself. Each man that comes +into the world is but an agent sent by God on a special embassy. +And each man that dies, but goes back to give an account of its +performance. + +{305} + +Do not accuse me of saddening and depressing you by thus covering +man's life, from the cradle to the grave, with the pall of +accountability. If God were a tyrant, if He reaped where He did +not sow, if He exacted what was beyond our strength, if His +service did not make us happy, if in His judgment of our actions +He did not take into account the circumstances of each one, his +opportunities, his ignorances, and even his frailties, then, +indeed, the thought of our accountability would be a dreadful and +depressing one. But while our Master and Judge is a God whose +compassion is as great as His power, whose service is our highest +satisfaction, who knows whereof we are made, and who in His +judgment remembers mercy, the thought that each one of us has an +appointed work to do is not only an incentive to duty, but the +secret of happiness. There is nothing pleasant in a life without +responsibility. Rest, indeed, is pleasant, but rest implies labor +that has gone before, and it is the labor that makes the rest +sweet. "_The sleep of a laboring man is sweet_," says the +Holy Scripture. But a life all rest, with nothing special to do, +without aim, without obligation, is a life without honor and +without peace. They who spend their time in rushing from one +amusement to another are commonly listless and wretched at heart, +and seek only to forget in excitement the weariness and +disappointment within. God has made the law, "In the sweat of thy +face thou shalt eat bread," medicinal as well as vindicative. +When, then, you tell me that this world is not my all; that I +have an immortal destiny, that life is a preparation for it; that +the infinite truth is mine to know, the infinite beauty mine to +possess; that I have a mission to fulfil; sin to conquer; duties +to perform; merits to acquire; an account to render; you tell me +that which indeed makes my conscience thrill with awe, but which, +at the same time, takes all the meanness, the emptiness, the +littleness out of life, covers it with glory, blends it with +heaven, expands the soul, and fills it with hope and joy. + +{306} + +O truth too little known! Religion is not meant to be only a +solace in affliction, a help in temptation, a refuge when the +world fails us. All these it is, but much more. It is the +business and employment of life. It is the task for which we were +born. It is the work for which our life is prolonged from day to +day. It is the consecration of my whole being to God. It is to +realize that wherever I am, whatever I do, I am the child of God, +doing His will, and extending His kingdom on earth. This is the +secret of life. This is the meaning of the world. This is God's +way of looking at the world. As He looks down from heaven, all +other distinctions among men vanish, distinctions of nationality, +differences of education, differences of station, and wealth, and +influence, and only one distinction remains--the distinction +between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth +God and him that serveth Him not. When we look at the world, it +dazzles us by its greatness, and overpowers us by its +multiplicity. It is so eager and restless. It is so importunate +and overbearing. Here is the secret which disenchants us from its +spell. The world is not for itself. It is not its own end. It is +but the field of human probation. It is but the theatre on which +men are exercising each day their highest faculty, the power of +free will. It is the scene of the great struggle between good and +evil, between heaven and hell, the battle that began when +"Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon +fought and his angels." [Footnote 64] + + [Footnote 64: Apoc. xii. 7] + +Into this arena each generation has entered, one after another, +to show their valor. Once the saints of whom we read in the Bible +and the history of the Church were upon the earth, and it was +their turn, and heaven and earth were watching them. They did +their work well. +{307} +So penetrated were they with the great thought of eternity that +some of them, like Abraham, left home and kindred, and went out +not knowing whither they went; and others, like the martyrs, gave +their hearts' blood for a sacrifice. And there were others who +were not saints, for they were not called to deeds of heroism, +but they were good men, who in simplicity of heart fulfilled each +duty, and served God with clean hands and pure hearts. And +penitents have come in their turn. Once they were unwise, and the +world deceived them, and they followed their own will, but +afterward they turned to God, and redeemed their former sins by a +true penance, and died in the number of those who overcame the +Wicked One. And now it is our turn. There are many adversaries. +All things are ready. The herald has called our name. And as the +primitive martyrs, condemned to the wild beasts in the +amphitheatre, nerved themselves for the encounter by the thought +of the thousand spectators ranged around, so to animate our +courage let us give heed to the sympathizing witnesses who watch +our strife, and who cry to us from heaven and from earth: Be +valiant! Do battle for the right! Acquit you like men! Be strong! + +And again, as our Lord's words in the text remind us that we have +an appointed work to do, they remind us also that we have an +allotted time to do it in. All men acknowledge that religion is a +thing to be attended to. But when? Some seem to think that it is +enough to attend to religion at Easter and Christmas, and that at +other times it may be left alone. Some at still more distant +intervals, when the time has been too long, and the number of +sins too great, and the burden on the conscience too heavy. +Others propose to attend to it in the leisure of old age, or just +before they leave this world. And very many imagine that, if a +man actually makes his peace with God at any time before he dies, +there is not much to be regretted. How different is God's +intention in this matter! "_Man goeth forth, to his work and to +his labor until the evening_." Think of a day-laborer. +{308} +He rises very early in the morning, in the winter, long before it +is light, and goes off to his work. He works all day until the +evening, pausing only at noon, when he seeks some hollow in the +rock, or the shelter of some overhanging shrub, to protect him +from the cold or the heat, while he eats his frugal dinner. Now, +it is after this pattern that God wishes us to work out our +salvation. The Christian should work from the morning till the +evening, from the beginning of life to the end of it. There is +not a day that God does not claim for his own. There is not an +hour over which He has resigned His sovereignty. A man who +perfectly fulfils his duty begins to serve God early in the +morning. In the morning of life, in early youth, when the +dewdrops sparkle in the sunshine, and the birds sing under the +leaves, and the flowers are in their fresh bloom and fragrance, +and every thing is full of keen enjoyment, there is a low, sweet +voice that speaks to the soul of the happy boy: "_My son, give +me thy heart_." And he heeds that voice. It is time for first +communion, and he has leave to go. He does not know fully the +meaning of the act. It is too great and deep. But he knows that +he is making [a] choice of God. He knows that God is very near +him, and he is very happy. By and by the time has come for +confirmation. The candidates stand before the bishop, and see, +that boy is among the number. He is changed from what he was. He +has grown to be a youth now. He is more thoughtful and reserved. +He knows now what temptation means; he has seen the shadow of +sin; he has caught the tones of the world's song of pleasure; but +he does not waver; he is bold and resolute for the right, and he +is come to fortify himself for the conflict of life by the +special grace of the Almighty. And now time goes on, and he +passes through the most dangerous part of life: he is a young +man, he goes into business, he marries. There are times of fierce +temptation, there are times when the objects of faith seem all to +fade away from his mind, there are times when it seems as if the +only good was the enjoyment of this world, but prayer and +vigilance and a fixed will carry him through, and he passes the +most critical period of life without any grievous stain on his +soul. +{309} +Thus passes the noonday of his life, and he comes to its decline. +It draweth toward evening. The shadows are getting long. The sun +and the light and the moon are growing dark, and the clouds +return after the rain. He is an old man and feeble, but there he +is with the same heart he gave to God in youth; he has never +recalled the offering. He has been true to his faith, true to his +promises, true to his conscience, and at the hour of death he can +sing his _Nunc dimittis_, and go to the judgment seat of +Christ humbly but confidently to claim the reward of a true and +faithful servant. Beautiful picture! Life to be envied! A life +spent with God, over which the devil has never had any real +power. But you tell me this is a mere fancy picture; no one lives +such a life. I tell you this is the life God intended you and I +should live. There have been men who have lived such lives, +though, indeed, they are not many. But the number is not so small +of those who approximate to it. Even suppose a man falls into +mortal sin, and more than once, all is not lost. Suppose him, in +some hour of temptation, to cast off his allegiance to God, and +in his discouragement to look upon a life of virtue as a dream; +yet, if such a one gathers up his manhood, if in humble +acknowledgment of his sin he returns with new courage to take his +place in the Christian race, such a man recovers not only the +friendship of God, but the merits of his past obedience. There is +a process of restoration in grace as well as in nature. Penance +has power to heal the wounds and knit over the gaps which sin has +made. What does the Holy Scripture say? "_I will restore to you +the years which the locust, and the canker-worm, and the mildew, +and the palmer-worm hath eaten._" [Footnote 65] + + [Footnote 65: Joel ii. 25.] + +{310} + +Many a man's life, which has not been without sin, has yet a +character of continuity and a uniform tending toward God. I +believe there are many who have this kind of perfection. They +cannot say, "I have not sinned," for they have had bitter +experience of their own frailty; but they can say, "I have +sinned, but I have not made sin a law to me. I have not allowed +myself in sin, or withdrawn myself from Thy obedience. I have not +gone backward from Thee. I have fallen, but I have risen again. O +Lord, Thou hast been my hope, even from my youth, from my youth +until now, until old age and gray hairs." + +And now, my brethren, if we try our past lives and our present +conduct by the thought of the work we have to do on earth and the +persevering attention we ought to pay to it, do we not find +matter for alarm? and does not our Lord's question convey to us +the keenest reproach? "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" Yes, +idle; that is the word. There is all the difference in the world +between committing a sin in the time of severe temptation, for +which we are afterward heartily sorry, and doing nothing for our +salvation. And is not this our crime, that we are idlers and +triflers in religion? What have our past lives been? What years +spent in neglect, or even in sin? What long periods of utter +forgetfulness of God? What loss of time? What excessive anxiety +about this world? What devotion to pleasure? And are we now +really doing any thing for heaven? Are we really redeeming the +past by a true penance? Are we diligent in prayer, watchful +against temptation, watchful of the company we keep, watchful of +the influence we exert, watchful over our tempers, watchful to +fulfil our duties, watchful against habits of sin? Are we living +the lives God intended us to live? Can we say, "I am fulfilling +the requirements of my conscience, in the standard which I +propose to myself?" Ah! is not this our misery, that we have left +off striving? that we are doing nothing, or at least nothing +serious and worthy of our salvation? "Why stand ye all the day +idle?" _All the day_. Time is going. +{311} +Time that might have made us holy, time that has sanctified so +many others who set Out with us in life, is gone, never to +return. The future is uncertain; how much of the day of life is +left to us we know not. And graces have been squandered. No +doubt, as long as we live we shall have sufficient grace to turn +to God, if we will; but we know not what we do, when we squander +those special graces which God gives us now and then through +life. The tender heart, the generous purpose that we had in +youth; the fervor of our first conversion; the kind warnings and +admonitions of friends long dead; these have all passed away. Oh, +what opportunities have we thrown away! What means of grace +misused! "Why stand ye all the day idle?" You cannot say, "No man +hath hired us." God has not left you to the light of natural +reason alone, to find out your destiny. In baptism He has plainly +marked out for you your work. And now in reproachful tones He +speaks to your conscience: "Creature of my hand, whom I made to +serve and glorify me; purchase of my blood, whom I bought to love +me; heir of heaven, for whose fidelity I have prepared an eternal +reward, why is it that you resist my will, withstand your own +conscience and reason, despise my blood, and throw away your own +happiness?" + +But the words of Christ are not only a reproach, but an +invitation. "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" It is not, +then, too late. God does nothing in vain; and when He calls us to +His service, He pledges himself that the necessary graces shall +not be wanting, nor the promised reward fail. Church history is +full of beautiful instances of souls that, after long neglect, +recovered themselves by a fervent penance. Some even, who are +high in the Church's Calendar of Saints, had the neglect and sin +of years upon their consciences when they began. There is only +one unpardonable sin, and that is to put off conversion until it +is too late. As long as God calls, you can hearken and be saved. +To-day, then, once more He calls. To-day, once more the +trumpet-blast of penance sounds in your ears. +{312} +Another Lent is coming, a season of penance and prayer. Prepare +yourself for that holy season by examination of your conscience. +Refuse no longer to work in the Lord's vineyard. Offer no more +excuses; make no more delay. Work while it is called to-day, that +when the evening comes, and the Lord gives to the laborers their +hire, you may be found a faithful workman, "that needeth not to +be ashamed." + +--------------------- + + Sermon X. + + The Church's Admonition To The Individual Soul. + + + (Ash Wednesday.) + + "Take heed to thyself." + --1 Tim. iv. 16. + + +The services of the Church to-day are very impressive. The matter +of her teaching is not different from usual. The shortness of +life, the certainty of judgment, the necessity of faith and +repentance, are more or less the topics of her teaching at all +times of the year. But this teaching is ordinarily given to the +assembled congregation, to crowds, to multitudes. But to-day she +speaks to us as individuals. She summons us, one by one, young +and old, and, as we kneel before her, she says to us, while she +scatters dust on our foreheads, "Dust thou art, and unto dust +thou shalt return." It is in this individual and personal +character of her warning that I find its special significance and +impressiveness. There is no mistaking what she means. "Remember, +O man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou return." She +separates each one of us from all others, and gives her message +to him in particular. It is an emphatic mode of conveying St. +Paul's admonition to St. Timothy: "Take heed to thyself." + +{313} + +If we take only the sound of the words, it might seem that no +such admonition was necessary. For, in one sense, men attend to +themselves quite enough. But, in fact, there is more than one +self in a man. There is the self that is made up of our passions, +our failings and disgusts, our comforts and conveniences: this is +the self that speaks so loudly in the heart, and obtrudes itself +so disagreeably on others. This, when indulged, is what we call +selfishness, and this it is which it is one main object of +religion to repress. But there is another self in a man, his true +and noble self, that self which makes him an individual being, +which asserts itself most distinctly in that part of his soul +where it comes into closest contact with God, namely, his +conscience. And this self it is very possible for men to forget. +A man may be a priest and have the care of souls, and be employed +in preaching and administering the sacraments, or he may be a +bishop, and live an active life in governing his church, and yet +he may forget himself in this sense. St. Timothy was a bishop, a +sharer in apostolic character and apostolic gifts, and yet St. +Paul did not think it unnecessary to give him the warning of the +text. How must, then, a man forget himself whose occupation is +more secular? Tell me: those eager crowds one meets with in the +streets, hurrying hither and thither, do you think each one of +these realizes that in some sense there is no other in the world +but God and he? Or in a crowded church, on Sunday, when the +preacher, in God's name, is enforcing this duty, or denouncing +that vice, that woman sitting in the pew, that man standing in +the aisle, does he, does she realize that the words are spoken to +them individually, that it is a lesson they are to lay to +heart--to practise? No! I must say what I think, that there are +some who pass through life, from the cradle to the grave, almost +without ever once fully awakening to their own +self-consciousness; to their own individual existence, apart from +the world around them; and their own individual relations to God. +{314} +A man may even practise his religion, may know a great deal about +it, may talk about it, may listen to every word of the sermon in +the church, may say his night prayers, may even go through some +kind of a confession and communion, without fully awaking to +these things. Paradoxical as it may seem, I believe that there +are not a few men, who, of all persons in the world of whom they +have any knowledge, are on terms of the slightest and most +distant acquaintance with themselves. + +And I will give you one proof that this is true. You know how +troubled many men are in sickness, or on a sleepless night, or in +times of great calamity. Some persons are greatly troubled in a +storm, when the thunder rolls over their heads, and the lightning +flashes in their eyes. Now, of course, nervousness, physical +causes, mental laws, and social considerations, may enter more or +less into the production of this uneasiness, but is there not +very often something deeper than any of these? Is it not +something that the man has done yesterday, or last week, or last +year, and that he has never set right; some unjust transaction, +some evil deed, some act of gross neglect of duty, some miserable +passion cherished, some impure words spoken, some cruelty or +shrinking from what is right, or falsehood, or mischief-making. +It is not a matter of imagination. It is not fancy, but fact. He +remembers but too well; he knows when it was done, and all the +consequences of it, every thing comes up distinctly. He shuts his +eyes, but he cannot shut it out. You know the clock ticks all day +long; amid the various cares of the day you do not hear it, but +oh, how distinct and loud it is at night when your ear catches +it. Did you ever have an aching tooth, which you could just +manage to bear during the excitement of the day, but which began +to throb and become intolerable when all was still at night, and +you had gone to bed? So the uneasiness I have denoted is a real +pain of the soul, which we manage to keep down and forget, or +deaden, during our seasons of business and enterprise, but in +hours of loneliness and danger makes itself felt. +{315} +And what does this show but that you do not attend to your real +self; that there is some dark corner of your heart in which you +fear to look. You keep the veil down, because you know there is a +skeleton behind it and you are afraid to look at it. And so you +go through life, playing a part, something that you are not, with +smiles on your lips and honeyed words in your mouth, laughing and +jesting, eating and drinking and sleeping, working and trading, +going in and out, paying visits and receiving them, seeking +admiration and flattering others, while all the while, deep down +in your soul, there is that nameless something, that grief like +lead in the bottom of your heart, that wound that you are afraid +to probe, or to uncover, or even to acknowledge. + +And now, it is this deceitful way in which men deal with +themselves, this forgetfulness of themselves, that makes death +and judgment so terrible. Death brings out the individuality of +the soul in the most distinct light. Every thing that hides us +from ourselves shall then be removed, every veil and shred torn +away, and only ourselves shall remain. A well-known writer has +expressed this in a few short words: "I shall die alone;" and the +same thought is suggested by the language of the Gospel in +reference to the end of the world: "Two men shall be in the +field, one shall be taken and the other left. Two women shall be +grinding at the mill, one shall be taken and the other left." One +shall be taken, and he shall be taken alone--out of all the +surroundings which have enveloped him here like an atmosphere, +and into which he has been fitted like a long-worn garment. When +our first parents heard the voice of the Lord God calling to them +in the garden after the fall, they hid themselves, and Adam said: +"I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." So will it +be when the soul stands "before God in its nakedness, ashamed +because of its guilty self-consciousness. +{316} +So it was with the rich man in our Lord's parable. He lived like +the multitude. He had four brothers, and they were all alike. +They had heard the sermons of Moses and the Prophets, but little +did they think it all concerned them. But at last one of them +died, and then he woke up to himself. His life is all before him. +"Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things." That was the +story of it. He sees it all now: he sees what a glutton, what a +proud, hardhearted, avaricious man he had been; he sees what a +creature of sensuality and self-indulgence he is. Very different +is his judgment of himself now, from what it was when, in his +purple robes, he revelled in his banqueting-hall, the air heavy +with perfume, and the table flowing with silver and flowers, and +the slaves bringing in the costly dishes, while Lazarus, the +beggar, sat at his gates, full of sores, and hungering for the +crumbs that fell from his table. And so it will be with us: +awakened to a full consciousness that our relations to God are +the only reality. Stripped of all the circumstances that deceived +and misled and blinded us here; with conscience fully awakened, +with all the consequences of sin open before me and all its guilt +manifest; I shall be brought face to face with myself, with what +I am, with what I have been, with what I have done, with my sins, +and my self-will, and my pride. Yes, this is the real terror of +death and judgment. We think its fearfulness will be in the +frowning Judge, and the throne set amid thunder and lightnings. +Oh, no! the Judge does not frown, He is calm and serene. He sits +radiant in beauty and grace. "When these things begin to come to +pass," says the evangelist, speaking of the signs of the end of +the world, "then look up and lift up your heads, for your +redemption draweth nigh." No! Christ is not transported with +anger. He is always the same; but the way of His coming is +different as they to whom He comes are different. The object is +unchanged, but the medium through which we view it will be +different. +{317} +There shall be an apparition of terror to the wicked, but it will +not be Christ, it will be themselves. The face of Christ shall be +a mirror in which each man shall see himself. Young man, after +your career of vice and profligacy, you shall see yourself, the +moral leper that you are. There the extortioner, the fraudulent +merchant, shall see himself as he is, the unconvicted thief and +robber; there the unfaithful husband or wife shall see themselves +branded with the mark that tells their shame. The proud woman +shall see there the deep stains of her soul in all their +blackness, and her worldly, guilty heart, all laid bare. O sight +of piercing anguish! "O hills and mountains fall on us, and cover +us, and hide us from the wrath of God and of the Lamb." But no, +it is not from the wrath of God and of the Lamb, that we need to +be hidden, it is from ourselves. Which way I fly is hell, myself +am hell. A lost destiny, an existence bestowed in vain. A life +passed as a dream; capacities for happiness never used; graces +refused; time gone; opportunity lost; not merely a law broken, a +punishment inflicted; but I, myself, with my supernatural grace +and destiny--I, with all my lofty hopes and powers--I, ruined and +crushed forever: that is the hopeless, boundless misery. This is +the sore affliction of the guilty after death; and it is the +dread of this dismay that keeps thee trembling all thy life. But, +on the other hand, for a man to face himself, to excite himself +to a consciousness of his own individuality, and to a fulfilment +of his own personal obligation to God, is the way to a peaceful +and happy life. The Scripture uses a notable expression when +describing the return of the prodigal: "He came to himself;" and +in our ordinary language, when we wish to express the idea of a +man's seriously reflecting on his destiny and duty, we say he +enters into himself. These expressions are full of significance. +They teach us that something is to be done that no one can do for +us. Others can help us here, but each one for himself must make +his own individual and personal election sure. +{318} +Each must go down into his own heart, search out all the dark +corners, repent of its sins, resist its passions, direct its aims +and desires. It is not a work done in a day. It is sometimes a +difficult work. There are times in which it pierces to the very +quick of our sensitive being, but it is the real and only way to +true peace. And oh! it is true and living peace when the soul in +its deepest centre is anchored to God; when nothing is covered +over, nothing kept from His sight. There may be imperfections, +there may be sins and repentances, but there must be, when such a +course is habitual, a true and growing peace. Do not look abroad, +my brethren, for your happiness. It is to be found in yourselves. +Happy he who knows the meaning of that word: "My God and I." This +is to walk with God like Abraham. Of this man the Almighty says, +as he did of Jacob, "I have known thee by thy name." His +relations to God are not merely those general ones that grow out +of creation and redemption: to him God is his life, his very +being, the soul of his soul. + +To-day, my brethren, if I have led your thoughts in the direction +I have wished, you see that each one of you has a great work to +do, that he must do himself. It will not do for you that you have +had a pious mother or a good wife. It is not enough that some one +around you, who lives near you, or sits near you in the church, +is a good Christian. It is not enough that you are a Catholic, +one of the vast body of believers in the world. Religion is a +personal, individual thing. All other men in the world may stand +or fall: that does not affect you. Each one of us has his own +independent position before God. If you are one of a family, if +you live in a house with others, or work in a room with many +companions, if you are one of a gang of laborers, or a clerk in +an office where many others are employed, or a scholar in a +school where there are many others of your age, there is a circle +around you that separates you from each one of your companions. +{319} +If you were to die to-night, your sentence would be different +from that of every other. It might be contrary to those of all +the others. They might be friends of God, and you His only enemy. +And the difference would be not from any outward cause, but from +yourself. "_I shall see God_," says the prophet, "_whom I +myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold and not another_." +[Footnote 66] And now, if your conscience tells you that there is +something unsatisfactory in your character, something sinful in +your conduct, it is for you to set it right, and to do it without +delay. It is the first duty of Lent. The forty days of grace and +penance are given for redeeming our sins and saving our souls. +What, then, should be each one's resolution? I will enter into +myself, not _we_ will do this, or I will do it if my friend +does, but _I, myself_, I will enter into myself. I will ask +myself what this strange, mysterious life of mine in earnest +means, and whether I am to-day advancing to my destiny. I will +break off my sins, and I will pray. It is in prayer that I shall +understand my duty. It is in God that I shall find myself. The +solemn words of the Church shall not be uttered in vain for me: +"Thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return." How many have +heard that warning and are now no more. The young have died, the +old, the pious, the careless, the rich, and the poor, and each +has gone to his own place, the place and portion fitted to his +deeds and his character. Perhaps it will not be very long before +these words will be verified in me. The Mass shall be said for +me, the holy water sprinkled over my lifeless form. What shall it +then profit me what others have said in my favor or against me? I +shall be simply what I am before God. "_What shall it profit a +man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" "I shall see +God, whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold and not +another_." + + [Footnote 66: Job xix. 27.] + +NOTE--This appears to be the last sermon which F. Baker wrote. It +was preached on the evening of the Ash-Wednesday before his death +as the first of the Lenten Course of Sermons. + +------------------------------------------ + +{320} + + Sermon XI. + + + The Negligent Christian. + + + (Third Sunday In Lent.) + + + "He that is not with Me is against Me; + and he that gathereth not with Me, scattereth." + --St. Luke XI. 23. + + +There are many seeds planted in the ground that never come up. +There is a great deal of fruit on the trees that never comes to +ripeness. So among Christians there is a great deal of good that +always remains incomplete and inadequate. Who of us has not seen +such? Who of us does not know such? They have some faith, some +religion, but they bring no fruit to perfection. Now, what is the +blight that destroys all their goodness? It is sloth, negligence, +tepidity, call it what you will. Religion influences them, but +does not control them. They do not reject it, but they do not +obey it, at least consistently and in principle. They are languid +Christians. They are not the worst, but they are not good. They +seek with eagerness the pleasures of the world, and make no +conscience of avoiding smaller sins, even when wilful and +deliberate. They neglect the means of grace, prayer, sermons, and +sacraments, with but little scruple, or approach them carelessly. +They allow themselves a close familiarity with evil, dally with +temptation, and now and then fall into mortal sin. So they go +through life, conscious that they are living an unsatisfactory +life, but making no vigorous efforts to better it. It is of such +men that I would speak this morning; and I propose to show how +displeasing this negligence of our salvation is to God, and how +dangerous it is to ourselves. + +{321} + +The negligent Christian displeases God because he does not fulfil +the end for which he was created. What is the end for which God +created us? Certainly it is not for ourselves, for before God +created us we were not, and could not have been the end for which +He made us. He must have made us for Himself, for His glory. Yes, +this is the end for which He does every thing, for Himself. From +the very fact that we are created, our end must be to love and +serve God. We are bound, then, to love and serve God, and we are +bound to do it with perfection and alacrity. What kind of +creature is that which renders to God a reluctant and imperfect +service? Suppose a king were to appoint a day to receive the +homage of his subjects, and while he was holding his court, and +one after another was coming forward to kiss his hand or bend the +knee, some one, ill-attired, and with slovenly demeanor, should +approach and offer a heedless reverence. Would it not be taken as +an act of contempt and an offence? Now, God is our King, and He +holds a levee every morning and invites the creation to renew its +homage. The world puts on its best array. The sun comes forth as +a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run +his course. The mountains and hills clothe themselves in blue, +and the trees put on their robes of green. The birds sing, and +the waters move and sparkle. Holy and humble men of heart rise +from their beds to enter on their daily course of duty and of +prayer, while within the veil the spirits of the just and the ten +thousand times ten thousand angels bow before the Throne of Him +that lives forever. And now in this great Act of Praise, this +ceaseless sacrifice that creation is offering to its Maker, there +comes in the negligent Christian, cold, distracted, and +unprepared to take his part. He does not kneel down to pray. He +goes to work without a blessing. He does not think of God. Nay, +in His very presence says and does unseemly things. Oh! is he not +a blot on the scene? Is not his presence an offence? +{322} +In the Old Testament, God complains of the Jewish priests because +they brought to Him the halt and the blind and the sick for +sacrifice. He says: "Offer it now to thy prince, will _he_ +be pleased with it, or will _he_ regard thy face?" [Footnote 67] + + [Footnote 67: Mal. i. 8.] + +So in like manner, negligent Christian, God complains of you. You +bring to Him a "lame sacrifice," those feet of thine that stumble +so often in the way of justice; a "blind" and "sick sacrifice," +that heart of thine, so fond of the world and so weak in the love +of God. + +Yes, God requires of us all fervor and perfection--of each one of +us. It is a great mistake to suppose that perfection is required +only of priests or religious; it is required of every one. We are +not all required to seek perfection in the same way. The married +seek it in one way, the unmarried in another. The man of business +seeks it one way, the recluse in another. But everyone is +required to seek it in such way as accords with his state in +life. "That is a faithful servant," says St. Gregory, "who +preserves every day, to the end of his life, an inexhaustible +fervor, and who never ceases to add fire to fire, ardor to ardor, +desire to desire, and zeal to zeal." Our own hearts tell us this +when they are really under the influence of the Spirit of God. +Take a man at his first conversion, either to the faith or to a +good life, and how fervent he is! It is not enough for him to +come to Mass always on a Sunday, he will come now and then on a +week-day. It is not enough for him to keep from what is sinful, +he will not allow himself all that is innocent. He does not think +of bargaining with God. This is his thought--that God is All, and +he is a creature, and that God deserves his best, his all. +By-and-by, alas! as he becomes unfaithful, another spirit comes +over him. He asks: "Is this binding under mortal sin? That duty +is irksome; is it a great matter if I omit it now and then?" God +tells us what he thinks of such a man in the parable of the +Talents. +{323} +When the Lord came to reckon with his servants, he that had +received one talent came and said, "_Lord, I know that thou art +a hard man, thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest +where thou hast not strewed. And being afraid, I went and hid thy +talent in the earth_." And his Lord in answer said to him: +"_Thou wicked and slothful servant! thou knewest that I reap +where I sow not and gather where I have not strewed. Thou +oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and +at my coming I should have received my own with usury. Cast ye +the unprofitable servant into exterior darkness_." [Footnote 68] + + [Footnote 68: St. Matt. xxv. 24.] + +Again, if fervor in our duties is due to God as our Creator, it +is none the less due to Christ as our Redeemer. Oh, how strong +are the words of St. Paul: "_The love of Christ presseth us; +judging this, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And +Christ died for all, that they also that live may not now live to +themselves but to Him who died for them_." [Footnote 69] + + [Footnote 69: II. Cor. v. 14.] + +You see what his idea was--that the love of Christ was a debt +that could never be paid, that it was a claim on us that pressed +continually, and was never satisfied. And surely it is so. When +we think at all, we must all acknowledge that it is so. Who is +Christ? the Son of God, the Splendor of His Father's Glory, and +the Image of His Substance. Who are we? lost sinners. And for us +"He did not abhor the Virgin's womb." He did not refuse "to bear +our infirmities, and carry our sorrows." He gave His body to the +smiters, and turned not away from those that rebuked Him and spat +upon Him. He gave His blood [as] a ransom for many, and laid down +His life for sin. Was there ever love like this? While gratitude +lives among men, what shall be the return given to Christ by +those whom He has redeemed? Is the return we are actually making +such as He deserves? +{324} +Was it for this that He died, that we should not commit _quite +so many_ mortal sins? Was it for this that He hung on the +cross, that _only now and then_ we should omit some +important duty? Was it for this that He sweat those great drops +of blood, that we should live a slothful and irreligous life? O +my brethren, when I see how men are living; when I look at some +Christians, and see how when Easter comes round it is an even +chance whether they go to their duties or not; when I see them on +Sunday stay away from Mass so lightly, or listen to the word of +God so carelessly; when I see them omit most important duties +toward their families; when I see how freely they expose +themselves to temptation, and how easily they yield to it; when I +see how slow they are to prayer, how cold, sluggish, sensual and +worldly they are; above all, when I hear them give for an answer, +when they are questioned about these things, so indifferently, +"_I neglected it_," I ask myself, Did these men ever hear of +Christ? Do they know in whose name they are baptized? Did they +ever look at a crucifix, or read the story of the Passion? Alas! +yes, they have seen and heard and read, and have taken their +side, if not with Judas in his deceitful kiss, or the soldiers in +their mockery, with the crowd of careless men who passed by, +regardless and hard-hearted. But let these men know that their +Saviour sees and resents their neglect. "_Because thou art +lukewarm_," He says, "_and neither cold nor hot, I will +begin to vomit thee out of my mouth_." [Footnote 70] His soul +loathes the slothful and half-hearted. Yes, slothful Christian, +far different will be the estimate thou wilt make of thy life +when thou comest to die, from what thou makest now. Then that +negligence of thine, of which thou makest so little, will seem +the crime it really is; and bitter will be the account thou shalt +render of it to Christ thy Judge. + + [Footnote 70: Apoc. iii. 16.] + +{325} + +But if it be not enough to rouse us from our torpor, to think +that we are offending God, let us reflect how great is the danger +which we are bringing on our own souls. A negligent Christian is +in very great danger of being lost. I said just now that he falls +into mortal sins now and then. It is hardly possible it should be +otherwise. One will certainly fall into mortal sin if he does not +take pains to avoid it. We all have within us concupiscence, or a +tendency to love the creature with a disordered love, and this +tendency is much increased in most men by actual sins of their +past lives. Now, this principle acts as a weight on the will, +always dragging it down to the earth. Fervent men make allowance +for this. They aim higher than it is necessary to reach. They +leave a margin for failures, weakness, and surprise. They build +out-works to guard the approaches to the citadel. But with the +negligent Christian it is the contrary of all this. Unreflecting, +unguarded, unfortified by prayer, in his own weakness, and with +his strong bent to evil, he must meet the immediate and direct +temptations to mortal sin which befall him in his daily life. Is +not his fall certain? Not to speak of very strong temptations +which can only be overcome by a special grace, which grace God +has not promised to grant except to the faithful soul--even +ordinary temptations are too much for such a man. He falls into +mortal sin almost without resistance. + +And what is also to be taken into the account is, that the +difference between mortal and venial sin is often a mere question +of more or less. So much is a mortal sin: so much is not. The +line is often very difficult, nay, impossible to be drawn, even +by a theologian. Now, who can tell us in practice when we have +arrived at the limit of venial sin, when we have passed beyond it +and are in mortal sin? Will not a careless, thoughtless man, such +as I have described, will he not be certain sometimes to go over +the fatal line? Yes, my brethren, negligent Christians commit +mortal sins. They commit mortal sins almost without knowing it. +They commit mortal sins oftener than they imagine. +{326} +Without opposing religion, without abandoning themselves to a +reprobate life, just by neglecting God and their duties, they +fall into grievous sins; bad habits multiply upon them apace, +their passions grow stronger, grace grows weaker, their good +resolutions less frequent and less hopeful, until they are near +to spiritual ruin. The wise man gives us in a striking picture +the description of such a soul: "_I passed by the field of the +slothful man and by the vineyard of the foolish man: And behold, +it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face +thereof: and the stone wall was broken down, which when I had +seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received +instruction. Thou will sleep a little, said I: thou will slumber +a little: thou will fold thy hands a little to rest: And poverty +shall come upon thee as one that runneth, and want as an armed +man_." [Footnote 71] + + [Footnote 71: Proverbs xxiv. 30.] + +And what is to secure you from dying in such a state? Our Lord +says, "_If the master of the house had known in what hour the +thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have +suffered his house to be broken open_." [Footnote 72] + + [Footnote 72: Matt. xxiv. 43.] + +But he knew not, and so in the dead of night, when deep sleep +falleth on man, the thief came. And so it is with death. It comes +like a thief in the night. Death is almost always sudden. +Sometimes it comes without any warning at all. A man is sent into +eternity in a moment, without time to utter a prayer. Sometimes +it comes after sickness, but sickness does not always prepare for +death. The sick man says: "Oh, it is nothing; I shall soon be +well." His friends say the same. If he gets worse the priest is +sent for; he would like to receive the sacraments. But too often +he has not yet looked Death in the face, he has not heard the +dreadful truths he has to tell, he is much as he was in life, +slothful and negligent. And after the priest is gone, when he is +alone, at midnight, that comes to pass of which he has thought so +little. +{327} +Death enters the room, and with his icy hand unlocks the prison +of the body, whispering to the soul with awful voice, "Arise, and +come to judgment." O my brethren, how dreadful, if at that hour +you find yourself unready! If like the foolish virgins you are +forced to cry: "Our lamps are gone out." "_Cursed is he that +doeth the work of the Lord negligently_," [Footnote 73] saith +the Holy Scripture. The work of the Lord is the work of our +salvation. That is the work of our life, the work for which we +are created, and he, who through negligence leaves this work +undone, shall hear at the last that dreadful sentence: "Depart ye +cursed." + + [Footnote 73: Jer. xlviii. 10.] + +We come back, then, to this truth, that the only way to secure +our salvation is to be not slothful in that business, but fervent +in spirit, serving the Lord. Salvation is a serious work. We are +not sufficiently aware of this. We seem somehow to have got in +the belief that the way of life is not strait, and the gate not +narrow. Certainly we feel very differently about our salvation +from what our fathers in the Catholic Church felt. How many have +gone out into the desert and denied themselves rest and food, and +scourged themselves to blood! How many have devoted themselves to +perpetual silence! How many have willingly given up wealth and +friends and kindred! How many, even their own lives! Will you +tell me they were but seeking a _more perfect_ life? they +were but following the counsels of perfection, which a man is +free to embrace or decline? I tell you they were seeking their +_salvation_. They were afraid of the judgment to come, and +were trying to prepare for it. "Whatever I do," says St. Jerome, +"I always hear the dreadful sound of the last trumpet: 'Arise, ye +dead, and come to judgment.'" Now, can salvation be a work so +serious to them and so trivial for us? Grant that yon are not +bound to do precisely what they did, are you at liberty to do +nothing? +{328} +If you are not bound to a perpetual fast, are you at liberty to +darken your mind and inflame your passions by immoderate +drinking? If yon are not required to walk with downcast eyes and +to observe perpetual silence, are you free to gaze on every +dangerous object, and to speak words of profanity, falsehood, +impurity, or slander? If you are not required to flee from your +homes, are you not required to forsake the occasions of sin? If +you are not called to forego all innocent pleasures, are you +exempt from every sort of self-denial? If no rule obliges you to +spend the night in prayer, are you not obliged to pray often? +Yes, it was the desire to place their salvation in security that +led our fathers into the desert. Surely, we have to work out our +salvation with fear and trembling, who remain behind in a world +which they left as too dangerous, and have to contend with +passions which they felt wellnigh too strong for them. We must be +what they were. "_The time is short: it remaineth that they who +have wives be as those who have not; and they who weep as they +who weep not; and they who rejoice as they who rejoice not; and +they who buy as they who possess not; and they who use this world +as if they used it not; for the figure of this world passeth +away_." [Footnote 74] + + [Footnote 74: I. Cor. vii. 29, 30.] + +My brethren, then be earnest in the work of your salvation. While +we have time let us do good, and abound in the work of the Lord. +Serve the Lord with a perfect heart. He deserves our very best. +Our own happiness, too, will be secured by it, for He says: +"_Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, and you shall find +rest to your souls_." [Footnote 75] And to the fervent: "_An +entrance shall be ministered abundantly into the everlasting +kingdom of Jesus Christ_." [Footnote 76] + + [Footnote 75: Matt. xi. 29.] + + [Footnote 76: II. Pet. i. 11.] + +{329} + +This is my desire for you, to see you fervent Christians. I would +like to know that you are anxious to assist at the Holy Mass on +week-days as well as on Sundays. I would like to know that you +pray morning and evening. I would like to believe that you speak +with God often as the day goes on. I would like to know that you +are watchful over your lips for fear of giving offence with your +tongue; that you are prompt to reject the first temptations to +evil; that you are exact in the fulfilment of your duties; that +you are careful in confession, and devout at communion--in a +word, that you are living a life of watchfulness against the +coming of Christ to judgment. This includes all. This is what our +Saviour enjoined on us: "_Take heed; watch and pray; for you +know not when the Lord of the house cometh: at even, or at +midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning. Lest coming of a +sudden, He find you sleeping_." [Footnote 77] + + [Footnote 77: St. Mark xiii. 35.] + +------------------------------------- + + Sermon XII. + + + The Cross, The Measure of Sin. + + (Passion Sunday) + + "For my thoughts are not as your thoughts; + nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord. + For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, + so are my ways exalted above your ways, + and my thoughts above your thoughts." + --Isa. LV., 8, 9. + + +To-day, my brethren, is the beginning of Passion-tide, the most +solemn part of the season of Lent. The two weeks between now and +Easter are set apart especially for the remembrance of the +sufferings of Christ. Therefore the Church assumes the most +sombre apparel, and speaks in the saddest tone. The actual +recital of the Passion, the following of our Blessed Saviour step +by step in His career of woe, she reserves for the last three +days of this sorrowful fortnight. +{330} +In this, the earlier part of it, her aim is rather to suggest +some thoughts which lead the way to Calvary, and prepare the mind +for the great event that happened there. I shall then be saying +what is suitable to the season, and at the same time directing +your minds to what I regard as one of the most useful reflections +connected with this subject, by asking you this morning to +consider the sufferings of Christ as a revelation of the evil of +sin. + +But, it may be asked, does man need a revelation on this point? +Is not the natural reason and the natural conscience sufficient +to tell us that sin is wrong? Undoubtedly a man naturally knows +that sin is an evil, and without this knowledge, indeed, he would +be incapable of committing sin, since in any action a man is only +guilty of the evil which his conscience apprehends. But this +natural perception of sin is more or less confused and +indistinct. Our Saviour on the cross prayed for His murderers in +these words: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they +do." He did not mean that they were ignorant that they were doing +wrong, for then they could have needed no forgiveness, but that +they did not realize the full atrocity of the deed. They were +acting guiltily indeed, but inadvertently and blindly: And the +same may be said of very many sinners. Sin is for the most part a +leap in the dark. A man knows he is doing a dangerous thing, but +he does not realize the full danger. He does not take in the full +scope of his action, nor its complete consequences. St. Paul +speaks of the deceitfulness of sin, and the expression describes +very well the source of that disappointment and unhappiness which +often overtakes the transgressor when he finds himself involved +in difficulties from which it is all but impossible to extricate +himself and sorrows which he never anticipated. It is the old +story. Sin "_beginneth pleasantly, but in the end it will bite +like a snake and will spread abroad poison like a serpent_." +[Footnote 78] Oh! how many are there who are finding this true in +their own experience every day. + + [Footnote 78: Prov. xxiii. 31, 32.] + +{331} + +Tell me, my brethren, do you think that young persons who +contract habits of sin that undermine their health know all they +are bringing on themselves--the weakness of body, the feebleness +of mind, the early decay, the shame, the remorse, the impotence +of will, the tyranny of passion, the broken vows and resolutions, +the hopelessness, the fear--perhaps the premature disease and +death? No, all this was not in their thoughts at first. These are +the bitter lessons which the youth has learned in the school of +sin. He has not found out what he was doing till it was all but +too late. Or that married woman who has stepped aside from the +path of virtue, did she realize what she was doing? Did she think +of the plighted faith broken; did she think of the horrible guilt +of the adulteress, of the agony, the remorse, the deceit, the +falsehood, the trembling fear of her whole future life; did she +realize the moment when her guilt would be detected, the fury of +her wronged husband, her family dishonored, her children torn +from her embrace, her name infamous, herself forlorn and ruined? +Oh, no! these things she did not realize. There was indeed, on +the day when she committed the dreadful crime, a dark and fearful +form in her path, that raised its hands in warning, and frowned a +frown of dreadful menace. It was the awful form of conscience, +but she turned away from the sight, and shut her ear to the +words, and heard not half the message. And so the dreadful +consequences of her sin have come upon her almost as if there had +been no warning. Or that drunkard, when he was a handsome young +man, with a bright eye and a light step, and was neatly dressed, +and was succeeding in his business; when he first began to +tipple, did he realize that he would soon be a diseased, bloated, +dirty vagabond; that his children would be half naked, and his +wife half starved; or that he would spend the last cent in his +pocket, or the last rag on his back, in the vain effort to allay +that thirst for drink which is almost as unquenchable as the fire +of hell? +{332} +No, he little foresaw it, and if it had been told him, he would +have said with Hasael, the Syrian captain, when Elisha showed him +the abominations he was about to commit, "What, am I a dog, that +I should do such things?" Or that thief, when he yielded to the +glittering temptation, and made himself rich for a while with +dishonest riches, did he then see before him the deeper poverty +that was to follow; the loss of all that makes a man's heart glow +and his life happy; the lies that he must tell, the subterfuges +he must resort to, the horrible detection, the loss of situation, +the public trial, the imprisonment? No. Of course these were all +daily in his thoughts, for they were part of the risk he knew he +was running; but so little did he bring them home to himself, and +the suffering he was to endure, that when they came it seemed +almost hard, as if a wholly unlooked-for calamity had overtaken +him. So it is. Wherever we look it is the same thing. Men imagine +sin to be a less evil than it really is. It is so easy to commit +it, it is so soon done, the temptation so strong, that it does +not seem as if such very bad consequences would come of it. So it +is done, and the bitter consequences come. It seems as if the lie +that Satan told to Eve in the garden, when he tempted her to eat +the forbidden fruit, "Thou shalt not surely die," still echoes +through the world and bewitches men's ears so that they always +underrate the guilt and punishment of sin; and although the lie +has been exposed a thousand times, although in their own bitter +experience men find its falsehood, yet they do not grow wiser, +they still go on thoughtless, insensible to their greatest danger +and their greatest evil, and when they stand on the shore of +time, and hear God threatening eternal punishment hereafter to +the sinner, they still set aside the warning with the same fatal +insensibility. +{333} +If they are not Catholics, they deny or doubt the existence of +hell; if they are Catholics, they think somehow they will escape +it. + +Oh, my brethren, before you allow yourselves to act on this +estimate of sin, so prevalent in the world, ask yourselves how it +accords with God's estimate of sin. That is the true standard. +God is Truth. He sees things as they are, and every thing is just +what He considers it. He is our Judge, and it will not save us +when we stand on trial at His bar to tell Him that we have +rejected His standard and taken our own. What, then, is God's +estimate of sin? Look at the Cross, and you have the answer. Let +me for a moment carry you back to the scene and time of the +Crucifixion. It is the eve of a great festival in the city of +Jerusalem. It is the Parasceve, or Preparation of the Passover. +On this day the Jews were required, each family by itself, to +kill a lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. +They were required to eat it standing, with loins girded, and +with staves in their hands, because this feast was in memory of +the sudden deliverance of their fathers from the bondage of +Egypt, when God smote the first-born of the Egyptians with death, +passed over the houses of the Israelites, and conducted them +miraculously through the waters of the Red Sea. It was a great +feast among the Jews, and always collected together a great +multitude of strangers in the holy city. But on this occasion a +new excitement was added to the interest of the holy city, for +there was a public execution on Mount Calvary, and turbaned +priests, and Pharisees with broad fringes on their garments, and +scribes and doctors of the law, mingled in the throng of +mechanics and laborers, and women and children, who hastened to +the spot. The day is dark, but as you draw near the Mount, you +see, high up in the air, the bodies of men crucified; and sitting +on the ground, or standing in groups, talking and disputing among +themselves, or watching in silence with folded arms, are gathered +a vast multitude of spectators. + +{334} + +What is there in this execution thus to gather together all +classes of the people? The punishment of crucifixion was +inflicted only on slaves or malefactors of the worst kind, and +two of the three that are hanging there are vulgar and infamous +offenders. What is it, then, that gives such interest to this +scene? It is He who hangs upon that cross, at whose feet three +sorrowing women kneel. Read the title, it will tell you who He +is. "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Yes, this is Jesus, +the merciful and kind; He who went about doing good, healing all +manner of sickness, and delivering all that were possessed with +the devil; He who spoke words of truth and love. This is Jesus, +the King of the Jews, whom a thousand prophecies fulfilled in him +and a thousand miracles performed by Him pointed out as the +promised Messias: Jesus, whom the Eternal Father, by a voice from +heaven, had acknowledged as His own Son. "This is my beloved Son +in whom I am well pleased." Why is this? Why is it that the just +man perisheth? The apostle tells us: "Christ must _needs_ +have suffered." He was the true Paschal Lamb that must die that +we might go free. He was the victim of our sins. Pilate and Herod +and the Jews were but the instruments by which all the +consequences of our sins fell upon Him who came to bear them. +"_Surely He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows; +and we have thought Him, as it were, a leper, and as one struck +by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our iniquities, He +was bruised for our sins. The chastisement of our peace was upon +Him, and by His bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have +gone astray, everyone hath turned aside into his own way, and the +Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all_." [Footnote 79] + + [Footnote 79: Isia. liii. 4, 5, 6.] + +{335} + +Yes, every sin of every kind received its special reparation in +the sufferings of Christ. His mouth is filled with vinegar and +gall to atone for our luxury. His ear is filled with revilings to +expiate the greediness with which we have drunk in poisonous +flattery. His eyes languish because ours have been lofty, and His +hands and feet are pierced with nails because ours have been the +instruments of sin. He suffered death because we deserved it. He +was accursed, because we had made ourselves liable to the curse +of God, and hell had its hour of triumph over Him, because we had +made ourselves its children. Nor was it our Lord's body alone +that suffered. It would be a great mistake to suppose that His +sacrifice was merely external. The chief part of man is his soul. +St. Leo says that our Lord on the cross appeared as a penitent. +It was not only that He suffered for the sins of men, but it was +as if He had committed them. The horror of them filled His soul; +sorrow for the outrage they had done to the Majesty and Holiness +of God consumed Him. "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto +death," He said. Afterward the evangelist says He began to be +very heavy, and it was sinners that on the cross made Him bow His +head and give up the ghost. He was not killed. His enemies did +not take His life. The flood of sorrow for sin came into His +soul, and overwhelmed Him. It was too much. His heart was broken. +Oh, the weight of that sorrow! He bowed His head and gave up the +ghost. Then sin was expiated. Then the work of man's atonement +was completed. At last man had done adequate penance. At last +sorrow for sin had reached its just proportion as an offence +against God. + +Here, I say, we have a revelation of the evil of sin. God does +nothing in vain: His works are as full of wisdom as they are of +power. Since, therefore, Christ died for sin, the cross of Christ +is the measure of sin. +{336} +"From the consideration of the remedy," says St. Bernard, "learn, +O my soul, the greatness of thy danger. Thou wast in error, and +behold the Son of the Virgin is sent, the Son of the Most High +God is ordered to be slain, that my wounds may be healed by the +precious balsam of His blood. See, O man, how grievous were thy +wounds, for which, in the order of Divine wisdom, it was +necessary that the lamb Christ should be wounded. If they had not +been unto death, and unto eternal death, never would the Son of +God have died for them. The cross of Christ is not only an altar +of sacrifice, but a pulpit of instruction. From that pulpit, +lifted up on high, Jesus Christ preaches a lesson to the whole +world." The burden of the lesson is the evil of sin. "The law was +given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." And +yet, my brethren, the law was published afresh by Jesus Christ. +Mount Calvary but repeats the message of Mount Sinai--nay, +repeats it with more power. Here, indeed, God does not speak in +thunders and lightnings, as He did there, but He speaks in the +still small voice of the suffering Saviour. Oh, what meaning is +there in those sad eyes as they bend down upon us! Oh, what power +in those gentle words He utters! He does not say, "Thou shalt not +commit adultery; thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false +witness." No. He cries to a guilty people, a people who have +already broken the law, and He says to them: "See what you have +done. See My thorn-crowned head. See My hands and feet. Look at +Me whom you have pierced. Is it a light thing that could have +reduced Me to such a state of woe? Is it a light thing that could +have bound Me to this cross? Me, the Creator of all things, to +whom you owe all life and liberty? Who by My word and touch have +so often healed the sick and released them that were bound to +Satan. They say of Me, 'He saved others, Himself He cannot save.' +And they say truly. Here must I hang. Not the Jews have nailed Me +to this cross, but My love, and thy sins. Yes, see in My +sufferings your sin displayed. See in the penalty I pay the +punishment you have deserved. See your guilt in My sorrow. Look +at Me, and see what sin is in the presence of the All Holy God!" + +{337} + +Can any thing show more than this what a mysterious evil sin is, +that it is an offence against God, an assault upon His throne, an +attack upon His life, an evil all but infinite? All the other +expressions of the evil of sin, the cries of misery which it has +wrung from its victims, the warnings which natural reason has +uttered against it, the tender lamentations with which the saints +have bewailed it, the penalties with which God has threatened to +visit it, all pale before the announcement that God sent His Son +into the world to die for it. I do not wonder that, as the +evangelist tells us, the multitudes who came together at the +sight of our Saviour's crucifixion returned smiting their +breasts. Oh, what an awakening of stupefied consciences there +must have been that day! How many, who came out in the morning +careless and thoughtless, went back to the city with anxious +hearts, with a secret grief and fear within they had never felt +before. I suppose that even the scribes and Pharisees, who had +plotted our Saviour's death, felt, for the moment at least, a +guilty fear. Why, even Judas, when he saw what he had done, +repented, and went and hanged himself saying: "I have sinned in +that I have betrayed the innocent blood." And this book of the +Passion has been ever since the source from which penitents have +drawn their best motives for conversion, and saints their +strongest impulses to perfection. Here, on the cross, is the root +of that uncompromising and awful doctrine about sin--the +doctrine, I mean, that sin is in no case whatever to be allowed, +that even the smallest sin for the greatest result can never be +permitted; that it is an evil far greater than can be spoken or +imagined; that it must never be trifled with, or made light of; +that it is to be shunned with the greatest horror, and avoided, +if need be, even at the cost of our life--which has always been +so essential a part of Christianity. + +{338} + +And now, my brethren, it is because men forget the cross, because +their minds no longer move on a Christian basis, that they make +light of sin. There is a tendency in our day to do so. Crime--men +acknowledge that, an offence against law, an offence against good +order. Vice--they acknowledge that, a hurtful and excessive +indulgence of passion; but _sin_, a creature's offence +against God, that they think impossible. "What! can I, a frail +creature," say they, "ignorant and passionate, can I do an injury +to God? I err by excess or defect in my conduct; I bring evil on +myself it is true; but what difference can that make to the +Supreme Being? Can He be very much displeased at my follies? Will +His serene Majesty in heaven be affected because I on this earth +am carried too far by passions? Can He care what my religious +belief is? or will He separate Himself from me eternally because +I have happened to violate some law?" Such language is an echo of +heathenism, and heathenism not of the best kind, for some +heathens have had a doctrine about sin which approached very near +to the Christian doctrine. It is moreover, a degrading doctrine; +for, while it leaves a man his intellect and animal nature, it +takes away his conscience. What is that conscience within us but +a witness that God does concern Himself about us--that my heart +is His throne, and that my everlasting destiny is union with Him. +"Every one that is born of God," says the apostle, "doth not +commit sin, for he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Not +that sin is a physical impossibility with him, but it is in +contradiction to his regenerate nature. In order, then, to soothe +yourself into the belief that sin is not so very bad, that God +cannot be very angry with you for it, you have got to tear +conscience from your heart, you have got to give up the good +gift, and the powers of the world to come, which came upon you at +your baptism; and you have to give up all the brightest hopes of +Christianity for the life hereafter. Nay, more, you have got to +deny the cross, to deny our Lord's divinity, to deny His +sufferings for sin, and thus to render yourself without faith as +well as without conscience. +{339} +I conclude with the affectionate exhortation of St. John the +Apostle. "_My children, these things I write to you that ye sin +not." "All unrighteousness is sin_." Every breach of the moral +law is a failure in that homage, that obedience, that service we +owe to God. It is a direct offence against God. It is a thing +exceedingly to be feared and dreaded. A wrong word spoken or a +wrong action done has consequences which go far and wide. Do not +say, you have sinned, but have done harm to no one. You have done +harm to God, and you have certainly done harm to yourself. Do not +sin. Do not commit mortal or venial sin. Do not make light of +sin. Do not abide in sin. If you are in sin now, remember at this +holy time to repent and turn back to God: and if your conscience +tells you that you are now in the friendship of God, oh, let it +be all your care to avoid sin. Fly from the face of sin. Fly from +the approach of sin. Avoid the occasions of sin. Watch against +sin, and pray continually, not to be led into sin: and when your +hour of trial comes, when some strong temptation assails you, +then be ready to say, as the prophet Joseph, "What! shall I do +this wicked thing, and offend against God?" This is that fear of +God which is the beginning of wisdom. This is the happiness of +which the Psalmist spoke: "_Blessed is the man that hath not +walked in the council of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of +sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence; but his will is in +the law of the Lord, and on His law he shall meditate day and +night. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the +running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in due season. +And his leaf shall not fall off; and all, whatsoever he shall do, +shall prosper._" [Footnote 80] + + [Footnote 80: Ps. i. 1-3.] + +-------------------------------- + +{340} + + Sermon XIII. + + + Divine Calls And Warnings. + + + (A Sermon For Lent.) + + + "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, + call upon Him while He is near." + --Isai. LV. 6. + + +The Wise Man tells us that "_all things have their season, and +in their times all things pass under heaven_." [Footnote 81] +Certainly, it is so in the natural world. There is a time for the +birds to migrate. "_The kite in the air knows her time, the +turtle and the swallow and the stork observe the time of their +coming_." [Footnote 82] + + [Footnote 81: Eccl. iii. 1.] + + [Footnote 82: Jer. viii. 7.] + +There is a time for seeds and shrubs to grow. Seed-time and +harvest do not fail. There is a busy time and a slack time in the +world of commerce. There is a time for education, a time when the +mind is inquisitive and the memory retentive, and it is easy to +acquire knowledge; and another time, when the powers of the mind, +like the limbs of the body, seem to grow stiff and rigid, and can +be employed only with difficulty. But does this law reach also to +the supernatural world? Has the grace of God also its seasons and +its times? I believe it has; and it is to this fact, so important +in its bearing on our salvation, that I wish now to direct your +attention. + +But you may ask me what I mean by saying that the grace of God +has its special times and seasons. Are not all times alike to +God? Is not God always ready to save the sinner, and to bestow +the graces necessary to his salvation? Undoubtedly He is. We, +Catholics, believe that God gives to every man living sufficient +grace, that is, He gives him the grace to pray; and if he prays, +God is ready to give him other and higher graces, which will +carry him on to salvation; but, ordinarily speaking, men do not +use this common grace, unless some special and particular grace +is given which excites them to do so. +{341} +Now, it is of these special graces of which I speak, when I say +that they have their times and their seasons. I refer to those +Divine Calls and Warnings, those Providences, those sacred +inspirations, which stir the heart beneath its surface, and bring +it, for a time at least, in conscious contact with the Infinite +and Eternal. These, I say, come and go. They have a law of their +own. We cannot have them all the time. We cannot appoint a time, +and say we will have them to-morrow, or next year. They are like +the wind that blows; we hear the sound of it, but we cannot tell +whence it comes and whither it goes. They are like the lightning, +that shines from the east even unto the west. They come suddenly, +and dart a flash of light upon our path, then they are gone. They +are like the visit of Christ to the two disciples at Emmaus: as +soon as their hearts began to burn within them, and they +discovered who it was that talked with them, He vanished out of +their sight. + +Certainly there are proofs enough that such is the law of God's +dealings with the soul. If we look back at our own lives, do we +not see that we have had our special times when Christ visited +us? our times of grace? red-letter days in the calendar of our +life? I know God's grace acts secretly; and oftentimes when we +are under the strongest influence of grace, we are least +conscious of it. But when the time is past and over, and we look +back upon it, we can see that there was a Divine influence upon +us, especially if we have corresponded to it. I think each one of +us, if he looks back upon the past, will see clearly the times +when he has been under the impulse of some unusual movement of +the mind, the result of some special grace of God. Perhaps it +came in the shape of some great affliction. You had a happy home. +{342} +The purest of earthly joys was yours--domestic happiness, perfect +sympathy in gladness and in sorrow. But death entered your abode, +and the loving voice was silenced, and the kindly eye was closed. +And in that deep grief, in that darkness and loneliness Christ +spoke to your sinking heart, saying, "Fear not;" and you came +forth out of that affliction with a new strength, with purer +aims, with a quietness and peace of heart which only suffering +can give. + +Or, perhaps, the crisis in your history was your attendance on a +"mission." You had lived in neglect of religion, almost complete. +Confession was a bugbear to you. Years of sin and forgetfulness +of God had hardened your conscience. But suddenly all was +changed. You seemed a new man. Your faith was illuminated with a +new brilliancy. Sin had a new horror. The string of your tongue +was loosed, and oh, with what ease, with what fidelity and +exactness, you made that dreaded confession! What comfort you +derived from it! and with what energy and determination did you +enter on the duties of a Christian life! + +Or, it might have been in less striking ways that grace did its +work. It may have been a book, a word, an interior inspiration, +some of the seasons of the holy Church, holy communion, some of +the lesser changes of life, a fit of sickness, a violent +temptation: these may have been the instruments which God made +use of, from time to time, to convey special graces to your soul. +Sometimes the aim of these graces was to arouse you out of some +deeply-seated habit of sin; sometimes to draw your heart away +from the world to heaven; sometimes it was a call to prayer; +sometimes a warning of danger: in fine, for some purpose bearing +on your salvation, there they are, those visits of grace in your +past life, as distinct and unmistakable as any other part of your +history. When we read the Bible story of such saints as Abraham, +Moses, and Elias, what strikes us as most wonderful and most +beautiful is the familiarity in which they lived with God, how +God drew near to them and spoke to them. +{343} +Now, such passages have a parallel in the history of each one of +us. There are times in our lives, and not a few such times, when +God draws near to the soul, when He confronts it, makes special +demands upon it, addresses it no longer in general, but +particularly and individually; when He says to the soul, Go and +do this, Do not do that, as unmistakably as when He said to +Abraham: "_Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, +and out of thy father's house, and come into the land which I +shall show thee_." [Footnote 83] + + [Footnote 83: Gen. xii. 1.] + +And if this be so, the mode in which we receive these divine +communications must have a great deal to do with our guilt or +innocence before God. We read in the Book of Judges, that on a +certain occasion an angel of the Lord appeared to Manne and his +wife, with a message from on high. He appeared to them in a human +shape, and spoke with a human voice, and they did not know that +he was an angel. It was not until they saw him ascend to heaven +in the flame from the altar that they understood that they had +been talking with one of the heavenly host. Then they said: +"_We shall certainly die because we have seen God!_" +[Footnote 84] + + [Footnote 84: Judges xiii. 22.] + +Now, there is a sense in which this exclamation is neither +superstitious nor strange, as the expression, that is, of their +anxiety lest in their ignorance they might have treated their +heavenly visitor in some unseemly way. O my brethren, it is no +light thing for God to draw near to a human soul. It is no light +thing for Him to speak to us. When He speaks we cannot be as if +He had not spoken. "His word shall not return to Him void." The +relation between the Creator and the creature is such, that the +moment He speaks our position is altered. When He calls we must +either follow or refuse to follow; there is no neutrality +possible. + +{344} + +Oh, what a thought, that if indeed God has spoken to us often in +our past lives, if He has given us special calls and warnings, we +must often have resisted Him! There are many of us, I fear, who +have altogether too little conscience on this subject. A man +comes to confession after an absence of several years. He +confesses his more prominent sins against the divine +commandments, but perhaps he does not even mention his failure to +perform each year his Easter duty. And if the confessor calls his +attention to it, he has nothing to say but, "Oh, yes, I neglected +that." You see, he does not realize at all that God has been +calling him from year to year, has met him again and again, and +exhorted him to repent, and he has refused. + +Another man hears a sermon which thoroughly awakens his +conscience. He sees in the clearest light the danger of his +besetting sin. His conscience is stirred, he almost resolves to +break off his sin, but he does not quite come to the point, he +postpones his conversion, and, after a little, dismisses the +subject from his mind. Now here again, you see, is a distinct +resistance to grace. The man has not only continued in sin, but +has continued in sin in spite of God's warning. + +Again, a person, free from the grosser forms of sin, has some +radical fault of character; some fault which is apparent to +everyone but himself; a deep obstinacy; a dangerous levity; an +inveterate slothfulness; an overbearing temper; a domineering +spirit--faults which are the source of innumerable +difficulties--and he is plainly warned of these faults, but +refuses to acknowledge them, strengthens himself in his +self-deception, and clings to these faults as if they were a +necessary part of his character. What is he doing, but +frustrating the designs of God, despising His reproof, and +rejecting the grace which was meant to make him so much better, +so much happier, so much more useful? + +{345} + +Resisted grace! What is that but to withstand God to His face, +and to say: _I will not serve?_ To resist grace, what is +that but to despise the precious Blood of Christ. To obtain for +us those graces, the Blood of Christ and all His sufferings were +given, and without them we should have been left in our sins and +miseries; and so to refuse these graces is to make light of +Christ's most bitter Death and Passion. To resist grace, what is +that but to refuse glory. For each grace of God has a +corresponding degree of glory attached to it; and, if we refuse +the one, we reject the other. The truth is, we forget too much +God's personal agency in our salvation. We are on earth, and God +is far away in heaven. He has indeed left us His Law, and He is +coming to judge us at the last day, but He is not now a present, +watchful, living, speaking God to us. We forget that "_He is +not far from every one of us_." We forget that He is about our +path, and about our bed; that He watches us with the eagerness +and tenderness of a mother for her child; that He intensely +desires our salvation; that He pleads with us, warns us, calls to +us, stretches out His Hand to us all the day long. It is nothing +that He Himself tells us He stands at the door and knocks; it is +nothing that He calls to us from without, saying: "_Open to Me, +My love, for my head is wet with dew, and My locks with the drops +of the night;_" we open not; we heed Him not; we hear Him not. +Oh! I believe, at the Judgment Day, many a man will be appalled +to see how he has treated Christ. In the description which our +Lord has given us of that day, He tells us that the wicked shall +say, in answer to His reproofs: "_When saw we Thee hungry or +thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did +not minister to Thee?_" So, I believe, many will say: "O Lord, +when did we refuse to hear Thee? When did we shut our hearts to +Thy grace?" And He will answer: "When, at the voice of My +preacher, you refused to forsake that sin; when, at the +invitation of My Church, you refused to repent and amend; when, +at the call of My Spirit, you refused to awake from your sloth, +and follow after that perfection I demanded of you. In rejecting +My agents, you have rejected Me. It was I; I, your God and your +Saviour; I, your End and Reward, who walked with you on your way +through life, who opened to you the Scriptures, and sought to +enter in and tarry with you." + +{346} + +And, again, as resistance to grace is a special sin in itself, +and a special matter about which we must render an account to +God, so, when persisted in, it is the sure road to final +impenitence and reprobation. Let me bring before your mind some +of our Lord's emphatic teaching on this point. + +Toward the latter part of our Lord's life, in preaching to His +disciples on a certain occasion, He used this parable: "A certain +man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking +fruit on it and found none. And he said to the tiller of the +vineyard: Behold, these three years I came seeking fruit on this +fig-tree, and I find none. Cut it down therefore; why doth it +take up the ground? But he answering, said to him: Lord, let it +alone this year also, until I dig about it and dung it. And if +happily it bear fruit: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut +it down." [Footnote 85] + + [Footnote 85: St. Luke xiii. 6-9.] + +The same lesson which in this parable Christ conveyed to the ear, +He addressed, about the same time, by a striking action, to the +eye. As He was going from Bethany to Jerusalem, He saw a fig-tree +by the wayside. "_And he came to it, and found nothing but +leaves only, and He said to it: May no fruit grow on thee +henceforward forever. And immediately the fig-tree withered away. +And the disciples seeing it, wondered, saying: How is it +presently withered away?_" [Footnote 86] + + [Footnote 86: St. Matt. xxi. 19.] + +The apostles could not fail to connect this action with the +parable quoted above, and to understand them both as referring to +the rejection of the Jewish people. For three years He preached +to that people, warned them, and instructed them. Then, at last, +when they refused to listen to Him, He withdrew from them His +presence, grace, and blessing, and left them to the consequences +of their unbelief and hardness of heart; left them to "wither +away." +{347} +Listen to His lamentation over that guilty city. It is Palm +Sunday. He is coming to the city in triumph. The crowds are +shouting hosannas. At last, in His journey He comes to the Mount +of Olives, whence the Holy City is full before His view. He looks +at it; He thinks of all He has done to warn that people and +convert them; He thinks of the ill success He has met with; He +knows that he is going there for the last time, and that in a few +days they will fill up the measure of their sins by nailing him +to the cross; and, as he looked upon it, He wept over it, and +said: "_If thou hadst known, and that in this thy day, the +things that are for thy peace: but now they are hidden from thy +eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, and thy enemies shall +cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten +thee on every side, and beat thee flat to the ground, and thy +children who are in thee: and they shall not leave in thee a +stone upon a stone, because thou hast not known the time of thy +visitation_." [Footnote 87] Behold the end! a people resisting +grace, until at last grace forsakes them, and they are left to +their own impenitence and hardness of heart! And behold the +fearful image of a soul which has resisted grace, until its final +reprobation! + + [Footnote 87: St. Luke xix. 41-44.] + +Yes, my brethren, this is but the fearful image of what passes in +many a soul. What does the Holy Scripture say? "_The man that +with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him shall suddenly +be destroyed; and health shall not follow him._" [Footnote 88] + + [Footnote 88: Prov. xxix. 1.] + +God does not desire the death of the wicked. God never entirely +ceases to strive with man. God never leaves a man altogether +destitute of grace. But then God is not bound to impart special +graces; and when He finds that these graces are uniformly +rejected, when he meets only a hardened heart and a will +obstinately bent on evil, He withholds them, or gives them less +frequently. Meanwhile bad habits increase; sins multiply; the +root of sin in the heart becomes deeper and stronger: years pass +on in sin, and at last death comes. What kind of a death +naturally follows such a life? +{348} +What kind of death often, in point of fact, follows such a life? +I will tell you: an impenitent death; the death of the reprobate +and the lost. Perhaps the man dies a sudden death. He may die in +his bed, but die a sudden death for all that; for he may die out +of his senses, and unable to do any thing whatever toward making +his peace with God. Or, he may die in daring rebellion against +God. It is possible for men to die so. It is possible for a man +who has a deep enmity in his heart to refuse to give it up at the +last hour; and it does happen. It is possible for a man who has +dishonest wealth in his possession to clutch it even while his +fingers are cold and blue in the last agony; and that does +happen. It is possible for a man who has lived in shameful sins +of unchastity to refuse to dismiss the partner of his guilt, +though in five minutes his soul will be in hell; and that too has +happened. Or, a man may die in despair. The devil may bring the +fearful catalogue of his sins before his mind, in all their +blackness and enormity; the remembrance of bad confessions and +broken resolutions may paralyze his will; and the dreadful record +of communions made in sacrilege may complete the temptation, and +the poor soul turn away from the crucifix, turn away from the +priest, and die pouring forth the ravings of despair. + +Or, on the contrary, he may die in presumption, in self-deceit. +He may indeed go through the form of a confession, may receive +the sacraments, and cheat himself into thinking it is all right, +and be all the time a hypocrite, turning from his sins, not +because he hates them, but because he can no longer enjoy them; +and may receive the absolution of the priest only to hear it +reversed the moment he gets into the presence of the unerring +Judge, before whom are open all the secrets of the heart. + +{349} + +Death in some such form is, I say, the natural end of neglect of +divine calls and warnings; and such a death is, in point of fact, +not unfrequently the actual end of such a course. "_For_," +says the apostle, "_the earth that drinketh in the rain, which +cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs useful for them by +whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God. But that which +bríngeth forth thorns and briers, is rejected, and very near to a +curse, whose end is to be burnt_." [Footnote 89] + + [Footnote 89: Heb. vi. 7, 8.] + +And, O my brethren, if this is so, you who are putting off your +conversion, putting off your return to God, to what a risk are +you exposing your salvation! You say you will go to your +confession at some other time. You are young; you imagine it will +be easier in coming years; you think your passions will be +weaker, your temptations less. But you are deceiving yourselves. +You are counting on that which you do not know will ever be +yours. You cannot promise yourself another year. How many who +were here a year ago are now numbered with the dead! some of them +as young as you are, and who a year ago felt as you do now. You +count on special graces, and you have no right to count on them. +You are deceiving yourselves, my brethren, you are deceiving +yourselves. The freeness and abundance of grace, the +_cheapness_ of grace, if I may so express myself, deceives +you. God invites, and seems to plead and to beseech you to be +saved, and you think it will always be so. You think a time is +coming when God will save you in spite of yourselves. You know +that you are not now on the road to heaven, you know that you are +living in sin, but you think somehow God will interfere and make +it right. We are told in the gospel that there was at Jerusalem a +pool, around which usually lay a great multitude of sick and +afflicted people, waiting for the moving of the water; for an +angel came down at certain times and troubled the water, and +whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was +healed. +{350} +So it is with slothful, negligent, procrastinating Christians. +They lie in their sins, waiting for some aid which will raise +them to their feet, and make them whole without any effort of +their own. Vain hope! They will die in their sins. "_You shall +seek me_," said Christ, "_and you shall die in your +sins_." [Footnote 90] + + [Footnote 90: St. John viii. 21.] + +These fearful words are addressed to you, O despiser of God's +grace; to you, O young man, who deferrest conversion; to you, +lover of pleasure, who will not break with your idols; to you, O +drunkard, who will not throw away the intoxicating glass; to you, +O avaricious man, who are getting rich by fraud or by the blood +of souls. "_You shall die in your sins_." That is the end to +which you are tending. As you have despised God, so He will +despise you. You shall seek Him, but you shall not find Him. You +shall call upon Him, but He will not hearken. At your dying hour, +every thing will fail you. Prayer will die on your lips, unused +to pray. Your mind, so long accustomed to love sin, will find it +hard to turn from it with true contrition. The priest, ah! the +priest cannot save you. He can only help you, can only give you +the consolations of religion if you are rightly disposed. And how +can you dispose yourself at that dreadful hour, when your mind is +filled with a fearful looking for of judgment, when all your +sins, and all the graces you have rejected, rise up before your +guilty conscience? Oh! meet this danger. Do not run this risk. +Resist no longer the grace of God. Behold, now once more God +calls you to His fear. Behold, the days have come "to do penance, +and to redeem your sins." God by His Holy Church makes you +another offer. "_Turn unto me, and I will turn unto you_," +saith the Lord. "_Let the wicked forsake his way, and the +unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he +will have mercy on him_." [Footnote 91] "_To-day, then, if +you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts_." Resolve to +prepare for your Easter confession. If you came last Easter and +have persevered, bless God, and come now. If you have fallen +away, see where the error was, and learn a deeper humility, and +make a stronger purpose, and come again. + + [Footnote 91: Isai. lv. 7.] + +{351} + +And, oh if you have stayed away in former years, and are +purposing to stay away this Easter, too--or if you are too +negligent to have formed any purpose; if you are just floating +on, heedless and careless, then know, that for all these things +God will bring you into judgment, that the severest part of your +account will be for graces resisted and rejected; and that you +are preparing for yourselves the retribution threatened in those +dreadful words: "_Because I called and you refused: I stretched +out My Hand; and there was none that regarded. You have despised +all my counsel, and have neglected my reproofs. I also will laugh +in your destruction: and will mock, when that shall come upon you +which you feared. When sudden calamity shall fall upon you, and +destruction as a tempest shall be at hand: when tribulation and +distress shall come upon you: Then they shall call upon Me, and I +will not hear: they shall rise in the morning, and shall not find +Me: Because they hated instruction, and received not the fear of +the Lord, nor consented to My counsel, but despised all My +reproof. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and +shall be filled with their own devices_." [Footnote 92] + + [Footnote 92: Prov. i. 24-31.] + +---------------------------------- + +{352} + + Sermon XIV. + + The Tomb Of Christ, + The School Of Comfort. + + (Easter Sunday.) + + + "Jesus saith to her: + Woman why weepest thou? + Whom seekest thou?" + St. John xx. 15. + + +How full of tenderness are these words! They were spoken on the +first Easter Day. This weeping woman was Mary Magdalene, she that +had been a great sinner, and was converted, and loved our Lord so +much. She had been at His Cross: she is now at His Tomb, with her +spices and ointments to anoint His body. But our Lord's body was +not in the grave. The stone is rolled away. The tomb is open, and +He is not there. And yet He is not far away. Risen from the dead +to a new and mysterious life, He hovers about the garden, and +draws near to her as she approaches the sepulchre. At the +outburst of her grief on finding the sepulchre empty, He breaks +silence. "_Woman why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?_" +These are the first words our Lord spoke after His Resurrection. +They are the same words that were used by the angel a little +before. They seem to be the antiphon, the key-note which Heaven +has given us to guide our Easter thoughts. No tears on Easter +Day. Nay, no tears any more of the bitter, hopeless kind, for +Christ is Risen. St. Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Christ +represents Humanity sitting in the region and shadow of death. +Now to-day Christ comes forward, and speaks comfortable words to +the human race. "_Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?_" He +challenges us. "I, thy risen Saviour," He seems to say, "am thy +consoler. What grief is there that I have not removed?" And is it +so? Are all our real sorrows removed or alleviated by the +resurrection of Christ? Yes; heavenly messengers have appeared +bringing good tidings. Christ is risen. +{353} +"The stroke of our wound is healed. "_To them that sat in the +region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up." "The +Day-Spring from on high hath visited us._" The earth feels +herself to be lightened of her darkness, and in every church in +Christendom the cry is again and again repeated: "_Alleluia: +Praise the Lord_." + +It would be too long to attempt to show how every human sorrow +can gather consolation from the Resurrection of Christ. All I can +hope to do this morning is to show how the three heaviest +troubles of our race--doubt, guilt, and bereavement--find their +relief in that event. + +I call doubt, guilt, and bereavement the heaviest woes of man. In +regard to the first, religious doubt, many of you have had no +experience. Brought up in the Catholic Church, with her teaching +always sounding in your ears, you have never known what it was to +have real doubts about religious truth. But there are others who +have known that anguish by experience. The soul of man thirsts +for truth. Deep in every man's soul is a desire for God. It may +be stifled, it may be silenced for a time by passion, but there +it is, that stretching forth to the Fountain of Goodness and +Beauty, that longing to know Him and His will. In generous souls, +in souls that are conscious of their dignity, the finding of +truth is an indispensable necessity. The search for truth is an +occupation that must be pursued with whatever pain and trouble, +and until it be found life is really insupportable. O my +brethren, I do believe that there are souls around us who hunger +for truth as a famishing man hungers for food. They labor and +toil harder than any day-laborer. They are like men exploring a +dark and many-chambered mine. They go with stooping head, and the +sweat rolls off their foreheads, and their feet stumble, and with +their dim light they can see but a little way before them, and +they are in danger of losing their way. +{354} +No doubt they learn something; for God is everywhere; God is in +our hearts, and in Nature, and in men, and in books, and in the +past, and we cannot look for Him anywhere without finding His +footprints; but we want more than this. We want God to speak to +us. We sigh for the lost happiness of Eden, where God walked with +our first parents in "the cool of the day." This is what men +need. They need God to _reveal_ Himself to them, to give +them certainty in religious truth, at least on the most important +points. Everywhere men have been seeking this. "_Oh that God +would rend the heavens and come down!_" [Footnote 93] + + [Footnote 93: Isaias lxiv. 1.] + +This is the cry of humanity, that God would speak to us and make +us hear His voice. And they have sought for this voice. They have +strained their ears to listen to it. They have sought it of the +moon and stars as they moved through the heavens by night; they +have sought it in the whispers of the grove; they have sought it +at the lips of men of science and pretended religious teachers. +But they have met in such sources only with disappointment or +deceit. And yet that voice has always been in the world. It spoke +at first feebly and low, but louder and louder as time went on, +until Jesus Christ came and "spake as never man spake." He +claimed to be the Son of God, taught us clearly about God and our +destiny, promised His unfailing protection to His Church in +transmitting His doctrine to all generations, and confirmed the +truth, both of His Teaching and Promises, by rising from the dead +according to His Word. To Him, therefore, belongs the glorious +title: "_The Faithful and True Witness, the First-Begotten of +the Dead._" [Footnote 94] + + [Footnote 94: Apoc. i. 5.] + +Eighteen hundred years have passed away, but His Word has lost +none of its authority, and now this morning we can say, as to +every point of the Catholic creed, with as much certainty as on +the morning of the Resurrection the Apostles felt in regard to +all the words of Christ--"_I believe_." O glorious privilege +of a Catholic! "_Rejoice_," says the prophet, "_and be +glad in the Lord, O children of Sion, because He hath given to +you a Teacher of Justice_." [Footnote 95] + + [Footnote 95: Joel ii. 23.] + +{355} + +Obedient to this inspired injunction, the Church requires the +Creed to be sung at her great solemnities. It is not enough to +recite it. No; it must be sung, sung in full chorus, accompanied +with instruments of music. And fitting it is and right. Worship +would be incomplete without it. Litanies and hymns are the means +by which the heart does homage to God; but CREDO, "_I +believe_," that is the intellect's cry of joy at its +emancipation from the bondage of doubt. Oh, how mistaken are +those who imagine that the articles of the Creed are like fetters +on the mind. On the contrary, they are to us the evidences of +that liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. We reject +temptations against faith, as attacks on our happiness. We feel +that to doubt the doctrine of faith would be to doubt the Son of +God, and to doubt Him would be to discredit our own soul. Be +firm, then, my brethren in faith. Remember that faith is part of +your birthright and privilege as Christians. The Sepulchre of +Christ is the gate to the Palace of Truth. See, the door is open. +The stone is rolled away. Oh, enter and be blest. With Thomas +look at His wounded side and say, "_My Lord and my God!_" +With Magdalene fall at His feet and call Him "_Master_." +Listen to His words and doubt no more. "_Being no more +children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of +doctrine, but holding the truth in charity, in all things grow up +in Him who is the Head, Christ_." [Footnote 96] + + [Footnote 96: Eph. iv. 14.] + +Again, as doubt is the bondage of the intellect, so guilt is the +burden of the conscience. Who can give peace to a soul that has +sinned? The prophet Micheas well describes the anxiety of such a +soul. "_What shall I offer to the Lord that is worthy? +Wherewith shall I kneel before the High God? Shall I offer +holocausts unto Him, and calves of a year old? Will He be +appeased with thousands of rams? Shall I give my first-born for +my wickedness, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?_" +[Footnote 97] + + [Footnote 97: Mich. vi. 6.] + +{356} + +Now, must we for ever go on in this uncertainty? Shall we never, +after we have sinned, have again the assurance that we are +pardoned? Must we go trembling all our days, and be +terror-stricken at the hour of death? Are we left to our own +fancyings and feelings to decide whether we are pardoned or not? +Shall we never _hear_ that sweet consoling word: "_Go in +peace, thy sins are forgiven thee?_" Yes, Christ is risen. He +is come from the grave "with healing in His wings." He is come as +a conqueror, with the trophies of victory. Hear what He says of +Himself: "_I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold I live +forever, and have the keys of Hell and Death_." [Footnote 98] + + [Footnote 98: Apoc. i. 18.] + +He has come back from the grave with the keys of Hell in His +hand. While He was yet among men He had promised to give those +keys to St. Peter and the Apostles, but it was only after His +death, by which He had merited our pardon, and after His +Resurrection, by which His Father had attested His acceptance of +the Ransom, that He proceeded solemnly to deliver them. "_Now +when it was late_," says St. John, "_that same day_" +(Easter day) "_Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to +them: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent Me, I also send +you. When He had said this, He breathed on them: and He said to +them, Receive the Holy Ghost: Whose sins you shall forgive, they +are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are +retained_." [Footnote 99] + + [Footnote 99: St. John xx. 19.] + +Do you hear this, O sinner? He offers you pardon, and He assures +you of it. All He asks of you is a true sorrow; all He asks is a +fervent and true purpose to offend Him no more. Come, confessing +your sins; come, forsaking them, and He has promised that His +priest shall declare to you, in His name: "I absolve thee from +thy sins." +{357} +He has promised to ratify the sentence in heaven. Can you doubt +His power? Can you doubt His truth? No: He has risen for our +justification. "_What shall we say then to these things? If God +be for us, who shall be against us? Who shall lay anything to the +charge of the elect of God? It is God that justifieth. Who is he +that shall condemn? It is Christ that died, yea also Who is risen +again_." [Footnote 100] + + [Footnote 100: Rom. viii. 33.] + +Do not look on us, the ministers of His grace, weak and frail as +we are. Look at the Saviour. Look at Him dying on the cross, a +ransom for our sins. Look at Him, rising from the dead on the +third day, having accomplished a complete victory over our +spiritual enemies, and bringing to us life and pardon. See Him in +His divine power, instituting sacraments by which that life and +pardon might be communicated to us. Believe His word, trust His +merits, have recourse to His sacraments, and thus, "_being +justified by faith have once more peace with God, and rejoice +again in hope of the Glory of God_." [Footnote 101] + + [Footnote 101: Rom. v. 1.] + +Come, forgiven sinner, lift up your head, for God hath cleansed +you. Be happy: be a Christian: be a man once more, for you are +clothed again in the garments of innocence and sanctity. It is no +incomplete and grudging pardon He has given you. Though your sins +"were as scarlet," they are now as "white as snow;" though they +were "red like crimson," they are "as white as wool." "He hath +cast your sins into the bottom of the sea." They shall never be +mentioned to you again. He has even restored to you again the +merits you had acquired in days of innocence, and lost again by +sin. He has "_restored to you the years which the locust and +the caterpillar and the mildew and the palmer-worm hath +eaten_." [Footnote 102] Let, then, gratitude fill your heart, +let joy be written on your face, and let holy resolves for the +future correspond to the mercy you have received. + + [Footnote 102: Joel ii. 25.] + +{358} + +Yes, my brethren, Christ at His Sepulchre satisfies the intellect +and heals the conscience--and He also silences another cry of +human woe. It is that of which the prophet spoke when he said: +"_A voice was heard of lamentation, of mourning and weeping, +Rachel weeping for her children and refused to be comforted, +because they are not_." [Footnote 103] + + [Footnote 103: Jer. xxxi. 15.] + +Oh! it is hard to see one we love die, but is it not harder to +our sensitive nature to bury them? That makes us feel what we +have lost. Reason tells us that the soul is immortal, but we need +something more for our comfort. The heart asks, "What is to +become of the body that I loved so much?" Talk of the lifeless +and speechless corpse. It is not lifeless and speechless to me. +Those cold lips smile the old smile on me, and whisper in my ear +a thousand words of kindness. And oh, to part with that! To lose +even that sad comfort! To have the body of the dead taken away +from us, is not that a grief? Such was Mary Magdalene's sorrow. +"_They have taken away my Lord out of the Sepulchre, and I know +not where they have laid Him_." [Footnote 104] + + [Footnote 104: St. John xx. 2.] + +She could bear any thing but that. She had borne up at our Lord's +death. It was a bitter thing, but then she stood at the foot of +the cross on which He hung, and she could look up at Him and see +Him. She had borne up on Friday evening, for then she was busy +preparing her spices and ointments. She had borne up on Saturday, +for she was thinking all day of her visit to the grave next +morning. But on Sunday, to go and find His body gone--never +again to look upon those lips that had spoken peace to her soul; +never again to kiss with affection those sacred feet,--oh, this +was too much. And Mary stood at the Sepulchre weeping. But lo! +what voice is that which speaks: "_Woman, why weepest +thou?_" It is the voice of Jesus himself, of Jesus whom she +mourns. Himself, flesh and blood, the very Jesus whom she had +known and loved. +{359} +So, my brethren, as you weep at the graves of your friends, those +very friends stand near you and say, "Why weepest thou?" Weep not +for me. Weep not for me, childless mother! Weep not for me, my +orphan child! Weep not for me, my sorrowing friend! Leave my body +awhile in the grave. It is not dead but sleeps. "_For I know +that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall arise out of +the earth. And I shall be clothed again with my skin and in my +flesh I shall see my God: Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes +shall behold, and not another's_." [Footnote 105] + + [Footnote 105: Job xix. 25.] + +Touch me not yet: wait awhile, and you shall see my hands and +feet, that it is I myself. "_For as in Adam all die, so also in +Christ all shall be made alive. But every one in his own order; +the first fruits Christ, then they that are of Christ, who have +believed in His coming_." [Footnote 106] + + [Footnote 106: I. Cor. xv. 22.] + +Strange it is that our comfort and joy should come out of the +grave. But so it is. By the resurrection of Christ all our woes +are healed. Our new life springs from the sepulchre of Christ. +Christ is risen we believe. Christ is risen; we are pardoned. +Christ is risen; death loses its power to separate Christians. +Mourn then no longer, my brethren, it is Easter. Believe, and +rejoice. Forsake your sins, and rejoice. Bury your dead in +Christ, and rejoice in hope. The former things are passed away; +all things are become new. "_The winter is now passed; the rain +is over and gone. The flowers have appeared; the time of pruning +is come; the voice of the dove is heard in our land_." +[Footnote 107] + + [Footnote 107: Cant. ii. 11, 12.] + +It is Easter. This is that day "which the Lord hath made." This +is the Lord's Passover. The Red Sea is crossed: we are delivered +out of Egypt, and are marching to the promised land. It is +Easter. Mary has been at the sepulchre early this morning and has +seen the Saviour. Jesus has appeared in the midst of the +disciples, saying, "Peace be with you." Some have known Him in +breaking of bread. To some He has drawn near as they walked along +and discoursed together. Some that were sad He has comforted. How +has it been with each of you? +{360} +Has this day been a day of joy to you? Has it awakened you to new +life, new hopes, new aspirations? or does it find you cold, dead +to spiritual things, perhaps not even in the grace of God, and in +love with your sins! Oh, at least now awake to the hopes and +desires of a Christian. "_The day is far spent; it draweth +toward evening_." Let not this glorious feast depart and leave +you as you are. While angels and the Son of God are abroad on the +earth, scattering grace and consolation, do not you alone remain +unblest. Claim your privileges as a Christian, and, risen with +Christ in baptism, seek those things that are above, where Christ +sitteth at the right hand of God. + +And you, faithful souls who have done your duty, who have found +in this Feast a joy and comfort that passes understanding, know +that the gladness of Easter is but an earnest of another day, the +great day of eternity, which will open on the morning of +resurrection, and which knows no evening; which has no need of +the sun, for God is the light thereof; when God shall wipe away +all tears; and death shall be no more; and sorrow and sighing +shall flee away. + +-------------------------- + + Sermon XV. + + + St. Mary Magdalene at the Sepulchre. + + + (Easter Sunday. [Footnote 108]) + + [Footnote 108: The substance of this sermon + is from St. Thomas of Villanova.] + + + "But He rising early the first day of the week, + appeared first to Mary Magdalene." + --St. Mark XVI. 9. + +{361} + +St. Mary Magdalene may be called the Saint of the Resurrection. +She is intimately associated with that event in the pages of the +Scriptures, and in the minds of Christians. Indeed, the Gospel +account of the Resurrection embraces an almost continuous record +of the actions of this holy woman from the Crucifixion until +Easter day; and I have thought that in tracing that record this +morning, while I am presenting to you the great mystery of +to-day's celebration, I shall at the same time be pointing out to +you the means of obtaining those graces which our risen Lord has +come to impart. St. Mary Magdalene's history for these three days +is a history of love. Every thing she does, every thing she says, +is a proof of her love for our Lord. And the distinguishing +favors our Lord bestowed on her are a pledge of what we may look +for to-day, if we imitate her love. + +First, then, we are told, that when our Lord was taken down from +the cross, and laid in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, she +went "and saw how the body was laid." One might have thought it +would have satisfied her to stand by the cross, through those +fearful hours, till it was an over, and then to have returned +home. No; love will see the last. She will follow on to the +grave. It is true the dead bodies of our friends feel not our +kindness, but still we want them treated with tenderness and +care. So Mary follows the corpse to the burial, and, when it is +laid in the sepulchre, she looks in to see how it is laid. Not a +superficial look: no, an earnest scrutinizing gaze. She sees how +the drooping head lays on its stony pillow, and how the pierced +hands and feet are disposed. She makes a picture of it all in her +own mind, and "then returns to the city to prepare spices and +ointments." Now, there was no need at all of this. Nicodemus had +come, as soon as Pilate had given the disciples possession of our +Lord's body, and brought "a mixture of myrrh and aloes, a hundred +pounds weight." But Mary does not care for that. Others may do +what good works they choose, but she will not be cheated of hers. +And what she does she will do prodigally, too. It was her way. +{362} +You remember how, at the house of Simon, she brought her +alabaster box of ointment, and broke it, and scattered it over +the feet of Jesus, so that the whole house was filled with the +perfume; and how Judas found fault with her, saying, "This +ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, +and given to the poor." Our Lord attempted then to excuse her +extravagance, saying, "She hath done this against the day of MY +burial." No, she would do it then, and she would do it at His +burial, too. Nicodemus and "the holy women" may bring as much as +they like, but she will do her part. Precious and costly shall +her offering be as she can make it, not because He needs it, but +because her heart is straitened to express its love. It is her +pleasure to spend and be spent for Him whom she loved; and all +she can do is too little. + +But while Mary's love was impulsive and generous, it was +obedient. "She rested on the Sabbath day, according to the +commandment." Here is a test of true love. We want to do +something very much; we think the motive is good; but there comes +a providential obstacle in the way. We cannot do it just now. We +cannot do it just in the way we want. And too often our love is +not pure enough for this test. We murmur and complain, and commit +a thousand disobediences, and show how much self-love had to do +with our undertakings. It was not so with this holy woman. She +waited all the Sabbath day. It was God's command. The seventh day +was kept by the Jews with a ceremonial strictness that forbade +all work; and she would keep the commandment to the letter. So +not a step would she take on the Sabbath, not even to the +Saviour's grave. I am sure that Sabbath was a long one to her. +Never was time's foot so heavy. Never did the hours go so slow. +Never were the sacred services so tedious. A thousand times she +goes to the window to see if the shadows were getting long, and +each time it seems to her that the sun is standing still. O +loving heart! loving in what she did not do, as well as in what +she did. She will not take liberties with her conscience. +{363} +She will not be officious or intrusive. She will not please +herself on pretence of doing something for God. And so, though +her heart is at the sepulchre all day, though she yearns to go +thither, not a foot will she stir, not a hand will she lift, till +she knows that the fitting time is come. Her love was that +_orderly charity_ of which the Holy Scripture speaks. +[Footnote 109] + + [Footnote 109: Cant. ii. 4.] + +But the longest day has an end, and the end of that Sabbath at +last arrived. The sun sinks beneath the horizon. The evening +sacrifice is over. Darkness falls upon the temple aisles, and the +last worshipper departs. By degrees the streets of Jerusalem +become silent and deserted. It is night, a glorious night; for +the full paschal moon pours down its floods of light upon the +holy city. And now the good woman, laden with her ointments and +spices, sets out for the sepulchre. Alone, or only with a feeble +woman like herself, she goes out late at night, and whither? To a +garden outside the city, where a band of soldiers keep watch over +a grave, closed with a great stone, and sealed with the seal of +state. Is she not afraid? Docs she not run a thousand risks? Even +supposing she reaches the place in safety, will she be permitted +to approach the grave? Who will roll the stone from the door? Who +will dare to break the seal? O holy boldness of love! which, when +a duty is to be done, asks no questions, and knows no +difficulties. O love! stronger than death, despising torments and +casting out fear! Here is the wisdom of the saints. Here is the +secret of all the great things that have been done for God. There +is a higher wisdom and a higher prudence than the wisdom and the +prudence of this world. There is a trust in God which is ever +regarded as daring and enthusiastic, but which God justifies, and +men themselves are forced at last to applaud. + +{364} + +Such were the sentiments with which St. Mary Magdalene went to +the sepulchre. But here a new circumstance demands our attention. +She set out, we are told, "while it was yet dark." It was night, +the dead of night, when she left her house, and she did not reach +the sepulchre till "the sun was risen." How did this happen? The +place in which our Lord was crucified was, as the evangelist tell +us, "near the city." And, one reason why Pilate suffered the +disciples to lay our Lord's body in Joseph's tomb was, because it +was close to the place of crucifixion, and the body could be laid +there before the Passover began. What, then, delayed St. Mary +Magdalene so long? What is the meaning of this? so prompt and +eager in setting out, so tardy in arriving? Love, again, my +brethren, is the explanation. She had to pass through the city. +Her road was what is called the "Way of Sorrows," which Jesus +took when He was led to Calvary, and along which she had followed +Him on Good Friday. How could she go fast? Every step brought its +own memories. There was the house of Caiaphas. There the +judgment-hall of Pilate. There the balcony at which Jesus had +been presented to the crowd, clad in a purple robe and crowned +with thorns. There stood the pillar at which He had been +scourged, and there was the spot at which he had fallen under the +weight of His cross, and it was given to Simon of Cyrene to +carry. No, her course was a pilgrimage. Each step was a holy +station, at which she stopped awhile to pray and call to mind the +events of that dreadful morning. And when she came to Calvary, +where the cross was still standing, and threw herself on the +ground to kiss the sod still wet with the Saviour's Blood, the +hours pass by unheeded, for Jesus hangs there again, and Mary, +His mother, is by her side, and each tender word, each look of +sorrow is again repeated. Love meditates. Love lingers in the +footsteps of its beloved, and the shortest, sweetest hours it +finds on earth are hours of prayer. What wonder, then, that Mary +kneels, embracing the foot of the cross, in perfect forgetfulness +of all else besides, until, as she raises her eyes to cast an +adoring glance, she sees that the cross is gilded by the red +gleam of the coming Easter sun--that it is already day. Thus +recalled to herself, she kisses that sacred tree for the last +time, tears herself from it, and hurries off to fulfil the work +she had in hand. + +{365} + +And she arrived at the sepulchre just in time, or rather God was +there to meet her to reward her love. For the moment she arrived, +"there was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord descended +from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. +And his countenance was like lightning and his raiment as snow. +And for fear of him the guards were struck with terror, and +became as dead men. And the angel, answering, said to the woman: +'Fear not you, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. +He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come and see the +place where the Lord was laid. And go quickly, tell his disciples +that He is risen, and behold, He will go before you into Galilee. +And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great +joy, running to tell his disciples.' [Footnote 110] + + [Footnote 110: St. Matt. xxviii. 2-8.] + +See her running from the sepulchre as fast as she had so lately +run to it; for love easily changes its employment at the voice of +its beloved. She had come to anoint the body of Jesus; there is +no need of that now, for Jesus is alive; but still there is +something to do for Jesus--to tell His disciples. Peter, James, +John, and the other disciples are at home, sorrowful and fearful. +He whom they loved and trusted is no more; and they, whither +shall they go? Besides this, there was an additional sorrow. They +had forsaken their good Master in the day of His distress; Peter +had even denied with an oath that he knew Him; and they now sat +depressed and anxious in that upper chamber in which so lately +they had eaten the Passover with Him. But He is alive! and Mary +knows it! Shall she wait to see Him? +{366} +No, she must go _quickly_ and tell His disciples. "This +commandment have we from God, that He that loveth God, love his +brother also." [Footnote 111] + + [Footnote 111: I. St. John iv. 21.] + +And Mary leaves the sepulchre, leaves Christ, to go and carry the +joyful news to His afflicted brethren. With nimble feet, with +eager countenance, she returns to the city, seeks out the +well-known house, and appears in the midst of the sorrowing +group, with the exclamation: "Jesus is alive! He is risen from +the dead!" + +Alas! poor Magdalene! "Her words seemed to them as an idle tale." +To us, familiar with the doctrine and proofs of our Lord's +Resurrection, it is wonderful how slow the apostles were to +believe it. No doubt, their slowness to believe is a benefit to +us, because it was the occasion of multiplying the proofs. +Perhaps, too, it was not unnatural; for faith does not come all +at once. There is often a period between doubt and faith, a +period of inconsistency; in which one is at one moment all +Christian, and at another believes nothing. Certainly it was so +with the apostles on Easter Day, and Mary Magdalene seems to have +shared their infirmity. The apostles, as soon as they had heard +the news that Christ has risen, set out for the sepulchre. When +they came to the place, they found indeed the grave open, and the +linen cloths, in which the Lord's body had been wrapped, lying in +it, and the guard gone; but Him they saw not. Mary Magdalene +accompanied them, and when she saw neither the Lord Himself, nor +the angel who had spoken to her, and when she saw the incredulous +looks of the disciples, she herself began to doubt. But though +her faith was weak, her love was strong; and she stood at the +door of the sepulchre, weeping. At least she will not give up the +idea of finding the Lord's body, and carrying out her first +intention of embalming it. So she stands at the sepulchre, and +looks in. +{367} +She had looked in many times already; she had every corner of it +by heart; but she looks in again. She will see the place where +the Lord lay, if she cannot see Himself: and lo! this time she +sees a new sight. There are two angels, in white, sitting, one at +the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had +lain. Angels again! but this time not angels of fear, with a +terrible countenance, as the first had been, but angels of +comfort and peace. And they spoke to her: "Woman, why weepest +thou? Why dost thou seek the living among the dead?" One would +have thought it was something to see an angel, and hear his +voice: but this good woman makes very little of it. No angel will +satisfy her now. "They have taken away my Lord," she replies, +"and I know not where they have laid Him." Is not this grief +enough to have lost a Lord, a Friend, a Saviour, such as Jesus +was, and not even to have so much as His lifeless body left on +which to lavish her endearments. O my brethren, no created thing +can satisfy the soul. I say not, though we had all the treasures +of earth, but though we had all the treasures of heaven; though +angels and saints were ours; though we had visions and +revelations; yet all would be nothing if we had not God. Heaven +would be hell without Him, and at the very gate of Paradise the +soul would weep and say, "They have taken away my Lord." + +But at this point a new actor appears on the scene. A man +approaches, and addresses Magdelene in the same words that the +angels had used: "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" +She takes him for the gardener, and suddenly a suspicion seizing +her that he might know something of the treasure she had lost, +turned upon him and said: "Sir, if thou hast borne Him away, tell +me where thou hast laid Him; and I will take Him away." She does +not answer his question. She does not tell him whom she is +seeking. For, as St. Bernard observes, "Love imagines everyone is +as full of the object of its love as it is itself;" and so she +says: "If thou hast borne _Him_ away, tell me where thou +hast laid _Him_, and I will take _Him_ away." +{368} +No need to mention His Name. All things knew it. The sun +publishes it. It is written on the leaves. The wind utters it. It +is the Name that is above every name--the Name at which every +knee must bow. "Tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will go +and carry Him away." What, you! a weak woman! Can you carry away +a heavy corpse? Yes, she can; and they that doubt it do not know +how strong love is, how great a weight it can carry, what hard +things it can do, and how it makes a man do what is above nature, +or, rather, how, with faith and grace, it brings out the power +that is in these human hearts of ours, and awakens their latent +energies. + +And now Jesus can restrain Himself no longer; for Jesus it is who +now speaks with her. She had charged Him with taking away the +Sacred Body, and she was right. He it was who had taken it from +the grave. "I have power to lay it down," said He, "and I have +power to take it up again. [Footnote 112] + + [Footnote 112: St. John x. 18.] + +Yes, it was Jesus. He had seen her tears, listened to her +complaint, watched her efforts, and now the time had come when He +would disclose Himself to her. He said to her: "Mary!" Oh! what +voice is that? What sweet and tender memories it wakes up! The +home of Bethany, the banqueting-hall of Simon, Mount Calvary, all +are brought before her. She turns and looks keenly at the +speaker, and one look is enough. It is He, the same--the very +same who spoke pardon and peace to her soul, when first, a guilty +woman, she had washed His feet with her tears. It is Jesus. He +lives again. And, with her accustomed salutation, she kneels +before Him, and says: "Rabboni!" which is to say, Master! + +{369} + +How much is expressed in this brief interview. "Mary!" It is a +word of gentle reproach. Mary, dost thou not remember My +words--My promise--that I would rise again? Mary,--dost thou not +believe My angels, bearing testimony to My Resurrection? Mary, +whose brother Lazarus I have raised from the grave, dost thou not +think that I am as powerful to rise from the dead as to restore +life to others? "_Mary!_" It is a term of affection. As much +as to say: I am risen; but I am still thy friend. I do not forget +the past, and now, on this glorious morning of My Resurrection, I +tell thee that I know thee by thy name, and love thee with the +same love with which I loved thee in the days of My sorrow'. And, +"_Master!_" is her fitting reply. "Master of my heart, whom +only I have loved!" "Master of my faith, whom now' I acknowledge +as indeed risen from the dead!" "Master, whose Truth and Power I +have been so slow to understand!" "Master, whom all my future +life shall honor and obey!" O happy Magdalene! Her search is +ended. Her tears are dried. O joy beyond all thought! She has +seen Him, and talked with Him! + +O my brethren, need I say more? Has not St. Magdalene preached an +Easter sermon? Love is the way to keep this feast. Love is the +way to faith and joy. It is the way to faith, for our Lord says: +"If any man shall do the will of God he shall know of the +doctrine, whether it is of God." [Footnote 113] + + [Footnote 113: St. John vii. 17.] + +It is said of Magdalene that she loved much because she was +pardoned much; I say she believed much because she loved much. +And love is the way to joy. Who are they that are truly happy on +this day? They who with Magdalene have sought Jesus; they who by +a true confession and a devout communion have united themselves +to the risen Saviour, and conversed with him in sweet +familiarity. For to them our Lord speaks and says: "Fear not, I +have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. I am the Lord, thy +Saviour, thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. Behold My hands +and feet, that it is I Myself! Fear not, Israel my chosen, and +Jacob mine elect, for I am He that liveth and was dead, and have +the keys of hell and death. And behold! I am alive for ever +more!" + +----------------------------- + +{370} + + Sermon XVI. + + The Preacher, The Organ Of The Holy Ghost. + + (Fourth Sunday After Easter.) + + "When He the Spirit of Truth shall come, + He will lead you into all truth." + St. John XVI. 13. + + +I need hardly say that the words "_all truth_" in this +promise mean all truth relating to our salvation. It is no part +of our Lord's plan to teach us the truths of natural science. He +leaves us to discover these by our own intelligence. He comes to +teach us faith and morals--what we are to believe, and what we +are to do, in order to be saved. He did this while He was on +earth by His conversations with His disciples, and by His public +sermons to the Jews; but He promised that this work should be +carried on after His death more extensively and systematically. +Thus, in the words of the text: "When He the Spirit of Truth +shall come He will lead you into all truth." [Footnote 114] And +again: "_The Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will +send in My name, He will teach you all things and will bring all +things to your mind whatsoever I shall have said to +you_."[Footnote 115] It cannot but be a matter of interest to +inquire in what manner this promise has been fulfilled. + + [Footnote 114: St. John xvi. 13.] + + [Footnote 115: St. John xiv. 26.] + +I answer, the Holy Ghost leads us into all truth necessary to our +salvation by the public preaching of the Word of God. If we +examine our Lord's words attentively, we shall be led to the +conclusion that the ministry of the Holy Ghost to which He +alludes is a public ministry. His own ministry was a public one, +and in promising that the Holy Ghost should carry it on and +complete it, He leads us to anticipate that the ministry of the +Holy Ghost would also be public. +{371} +And His own subsequent language shows that this is really so, and +acquaints us with the way in which this ministry is to be +exercised. Just before our Lord's Ascension He met the Apostles +on a mountain in Galilee, and said to them: "_All power is +given to Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach +all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things +whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold I am with you all +days, even to the consummation of the world_." [Footnote 116] +August and extensive as this commission was, it did not by itself +qualify the Apostles for their great work. They were to wait in +Jerusalem "till they were endued with power from on high." This +"power" was the Holy Ghost which actually did descend on them at +the feast of Pentecost. Here we find a company of men +commissioned by Christ to teach the world in His name, and +empowered by the Holy Ghost for that purpose. We find these men +afterward everywhere claiming to be the organs of the Holy Ghost. +Thus, at the council of Jerusalem, they did not hesitate to +publish their decrees with this preface: "_It hath seemed good +to the Holy Ghost and to us_." [Footnote 117] And St. Paul +tells the bishops of Ephesus, that they were placed over the +Church "_by the Holy Ghost_." [Footnote 118] + + [Footnote 116: St. Matt. xxviii. 18-20.] + + [Footnote 117: Acts xv. 28.] + + [Footnote 118: Acts xx. 28.] + +Now, who does not see here the realization and fulfilment of the +great promise of Christ which I have quoted as my text? That +teaching of the Holy Ghost which was to follow His, which was to +bring all things to remembrance which He had said, which was to +abide forever, and which was to make known all necessary truth, +was the teaching of the Apostles and their successors. It is the +teaching of the Holy Ghost, because the Holy Ghost moves them to +preach, furnishes them with the rule of their doctrine, and gives +them their warrant and authority. In this sense it is that our +Lord's promise is to be understood. It is a promise that reaches +to all time. +{372} +It concerns us here and now. It assures us that at this day, far +removed as we are from the times of Christ, across so many +centuries, the Holy Ghost through the agency of the Church still +brings to us the echoes of His words. He does this in the most +solemn and authoritative way by those great decisions of the +Church to which He sets the seal of His Infallibility; but he +does it in less solemnity, less authoritatively, but more +frequently, by the preaching of each individual priest. It is for +this end that the priest is ordained. He is consecrated and set +apart, not merely to say Mass, not merely to receive the +confessions of penitent sinners and absolve them, but to publish +the Word of God; and He is empowered by the Holy Ghost for this +very purpose. The Christian preacher is no mere lecturer, but an +authorized agent and messenger of God, to deliver to the people +the will of God. It is chiefly by the ordinance of preaching, in +its various forms, that the Holy Ghost carries on the work of +instructing men's faith, and regulating their morals. + +And here, I think, is to be found the real answer to a +misconception of our principles so common among Protestants. It +is very commonly said and believed that the Catholic Church +wishes to keep the people in ignorance of the Scriptures. Now, +this is not true. The Church does not wish to keep the Scriptures +from the people. On the contrary, in all cases in which they are +likely to prove beneficial she approves and encourages their use; +but she does not regard the reading of the Scriptures as the +necessary, or even as the ordinary mode of familiarizing the +people with the Word of God. Thousands have gone to heaven who +never read one page of the Bible. St. Irenæus instances whole +nations who professed and practised Christianity in entire +ignorance of the Divine Records. How many people in every +generation are unable to read. Now, God has not made a twofold +system of salvation; one for the ignorant and one for the +educated. +{373} +No: according to the Catholic idea, for rich and poor, for +learned and unlearned alike, there is one way of truth--the +living voice of the preacher. This is God's way. This is the +Voice of the Holy Ghost. This is the publication of the Word of +God. This is the sword of the Spirit. The decree has never been +revoked: "_The priest's lips shall keep knowledge; and the +people shall seek the law at his mouth; because he is the +messenger of the Lord of Hosts_." [Footnote 119] + + [Footnote 119: Mal. ii. 7.] + +But an objection may be drawn against this high view of the +ordinance of preaching, from the infirmities of the preacher +himself. It may be said: You tell us that the Holy Ghost speaks +by the voice of the preacher, yet the preacher is but a fallible +man, ignorant of many things, liable to be deceived himself, not +free from passions which may affect his judgment. May he not +falsify his message? May He not dishonor it? I do not deny the +fact on which this objection is founded. Undoubtedly, the +preacher may be unfaithful in the delivery of his message. In the +Catholic Church, however, the watchfulness of discipline, and the +general acquaintance on the part of the people with the standards +of faith and practice, will prevent any very serious error +finding its way into the public teaching of the priest. Who +supposes, for instance, that any Catholic congregation would +tolerate from the pulpit a denial of Transubstantiation, or the +true Divinity of our Lord, or the necessity of good works? But +within a certain limit, no doubt, there may be much imperfection +in the preacher, much that detracts from the purity, the majesty, +and the dignity of the Word of God. What then? I affirm, +nevertheless, that preaching is the great instrument of the Holy +Ghost for the conversion of souls. Strange, that we should start +back at every new manifestation of a law that goes all through +Christianity, and even through all the arrangements of the +natural world. +{374} +In every department of human life, God makes man His +representative--man fallible and weak. The judge on the bench +represents God's Wisdom and Equity, though his decisions are +often far enough from that Divine pattern. The magistrate +represents God's authority, though in his hands that authority is +sometimes made the warrant for tyranny and oppression. So, in +like manner, the preacher represents the Holy Ghost, though he +does not always represent Him worthily either in manner or +matter. + +It is part of a plan. He who chooses man, sinful like ourselves, +and encompassed with infirmities, to convey His pardon to the +guilty, chooses as the organ of the Eternal Wisdom, "_holy, +one, manifold, subtle, eloquent, undefiled, having all power, +overseeing all things, the Brightness of Eternal Light, the +unspotted mirror of God's Majesty_ [Footnote 120] --man, with +stammering lips, with a feeble intellect and an impure heart. + + [Footnote 120: Wisd. vii. 22-26.] + +And there is a reason in this plan. When the Church goes out to +evangelize a new and strange people, she seeks, as soon as +possible, to secure some of the natives to aid her in her work, +who know the speech, and the manners, and the habits of thought, +of those with whom they have to deal. No doubt her old, tried +missionaries could furnish an instruction which would be more +complete in itself, but the words of the neophyte will be better +understood and received. So God, when He speaks to man, chooses +as His instrument one who understands the dialect of earth. An +angel would be a messenger answering better to His dignity, but +less to our necessities; so He considers our welfare alone, and +passes by Raphael, "who is one of the daily angels," and Michael, +"who is one of the chief princes," and Gabriel, who is the +_strength of God_, and chooses Moses, who was "slow of +speech," and Jeremias, who was diffident as a child, and Amos, +who was but a herdsman, following the flock--to utter His will to +man. +{375} +The human alloy in the Divine Word, no doubt, makes it less +accurate, but it makes it more easily understood. Oh! it is a +mercy of God thus to disguise Himself and dilute His word. The +children of Israel said to Moses: "_Speak thou to us, and we +will hear. Let not the Lord speak any more to us, lest we +die_." [Footnote 121] Who could look upon the Lord and live? +Who could listen to His voice in its untempered majesty and not +be afraid? "_The word of God is more penetrating than any +two-edged sword, reaching unto the division of the soul and the +spirit, of the joints also, and the marrow_." [Footnote 122] + + [Footnote 121: Exod. xx. 19.] + + [Footnote 122: Heb. iv. 12.] + +Do not be displeased, then, because God has sent to thee a +messenger like thyself, one who speaks thy language, who shares +thy ignorance and thy frailties; pardon him, forgive him his +defects, strain your ear to detect in his lowly language some +notes of that great message of Eternal Truth and Infinite Love, +the story so old yet ever new--the love of Christ, the will of +God, the end of man, grace, holiness, and eternity, those things +on which depend our happiness here and our salvation hereafter. + +But here I feel as if I ought to add a word or two of +explanation. When I say that the Holy Ghost teaches by the voice +of the preacher, I do not mean to assert that He teaches in no +other way. A very great part of the preacher's message consists +of truths which are already written by the finger of God on every +man's natural conscience. A preacher is not required to make us +understand that it is wrong to break the precepts of the moral +law. Natural reason, the light that enlighteneth every man that +comes into this world, tells us that. I could not but be struck +the other day, as I passed two young men in the street, at +hearing the honest protest with which one of them met the +sophistry in which his companion was evidently trying to +indoctrinate him: "What!" said he, "you don't mean to say it +isn't a sin to get drunk!" +{376} +Indeed, it is seldom that men justify themselves for actions that +are plainly wrong. They are still too full of the Holy Ghost for +that. Passion corrupts their will, but does not always darken +their understanding. They know the right while they pursue the +wrong. But this circumstance does not make the office of the +preacher unnecessary; by no means. On the contrary, it is from +this that the preacher derives a great part of his power. What he +says finds an echo in the hearts of his hearers. One of the +strongest things that St. Paul said in his defence before Agrippa +was the appeal: "_King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I +know that thou believest_." [Footnote 123] + + [Footnote 123: Acts xxvi. 27.] + +And so when the preacher is speaking before a congregation, of +justice, of temperance, of judgment to come, do you know what it +is that gives him such boldness and daring? My brethren, I will +tell you a secret. Perhaps you may sometimes have felt surprise +when you have heard us, who have so many reasons for feeling +diffident before you, so keen in denouncing your sins, so +vehement in urging you to your duties. Are we not afraid of +wounding your pride, of alienating your affections? No: it is in +your hearts that we have our strength. We would not dare to speak +so unless we knew that we had a powerful ally in your +hearts--your better nature, your reason, your conscience, the +divinity that is within you. It is the greatest mistake in the +world to suppose that it is unnecessary to tell people what they +know already. Half the good advice that is given in the world +consists of the most commonplace and familiar truths, but will +anyone say for that reason that it is useless? No: the fact is, +it is a great help to hear our own convictions uttered outside of +us. A man believes more, is more conscious of his belief, his +belief becomes more distinct, more serviceable, when he hears it +from another's lips. +{377} +What a mercy of God it is, then, in a world like this, where +there are so many temptations, where there are so many evil +examples, so much to draw off the mind from God, where it is so +easy to obscure the line between right and wrong, that there +should be an authoritative voice lifted up from time to time in +warning! What a mercy, in those dreadful moments when the +conflict rages high between passion and principle, and the soul, +weary of the strife, is on the point of surrender, to be +re-enforced by God Almighty's aid--to hear His voice amid the +strife, saying: "_This is the way; walk ye in it!_" +[Footnote 124] + + [Footnote 124: Isaiah xxx. 21.] + +And then it must be remembered, too, that there is much of the +preacher's message that is not known to man's natural reason, +consisting of mysteries deep and high, which at the best can be +known only in part; and it is apparent how much it must depend on +the preacher's office to keep these mysteries in men's minds, and +to secure for them a place in men's intelligence and affections. +The Christian Faith has always, from the beginning, been +surrounded by adversaries who have attacked it, now on one side, +now on another. We are apt to think it our peculiar misfortune to +hear continually the doctrines of our faith disputed; but in fact +such has been, more or less, the trial of each generation of +Christian believers. Now, amid such ceaseless controversies, what +means has our Lord left to protect and defend His people from +doubt and error? The ministry of preaching. Therefore, says the +Holy Scripture: "_Some He gave to be Apostles, and some +prophets, and others evangelists, and others pastors and +teachers, that we may not now be children, tossed to and fro, and +carried about with every wind of doctrine, in the wickedness of +men, in craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive._" +[Footnote 125] + + [Footnote 125: Eph. xi. 11-14.] + +{378} + +It is the office of the preacher to declare Christian doctrine, +to defend and explain it, to show its consistency and excellence, +to answer objections against it, and thus to add to the power of +hereditary faith the force of personal conviction. The Church has +always understood this, and therefore, whenever a new heresy +arises, she sends out a new phalanx of preachers to confront it +by good and sound doctrine. And the enemies of the Church have +always understood it, and therefore, in times of persecution, +when they wished to deal the Christian faith a deadly blow, they +sought in the first place, by the murder of bishop and priest, to +silence the voice of the teacher. It was one of the last woes +threatened against Jerusalem that the people should seek in vain +for a vision of the prophet, and that the law should perish from +the priests; [Footnote 126] and when in the Christian Church +there shall be heard no more the message of truth, when there +shall be no more reproof, no more instruction in justice, the +iniquity shall come in like a flood; then shall be the +abomination of desolation, and the time of Antichrist. + + [Footnote 126: Ezech. vii. 26.] + +Great, then, my brethren, is the dignity of preaching. It is God +speaking on Mount Sinai. It is Jesus preaching on the Mount. It +is the Divine Sower scattering the seeds of truth and virtue. The +Holy Ghost has not left the world. In every Christian church, at +every Mass, the day of Pentecost is renewed. See, the priest has +clothed himself to celebrate the unbloody sacrifice. He has +ascended the altar. Already the clouds of incense hang over the +mercy-seat, and hymns of praise ascend;--but he stops, he turns +to the people. Why does he interrupt the Mass? Has he seen a +vision? Has an angel spoken to him, as of old to the prophet +Zacharias? Yes, he has seen a vision. He has heard a voice. A +fire is in his heart. A living coal hath touched his lips, the +Breath of the Spirit hath passed over him, and he speaks as he is +moved by the Holy Ghost. Listen to him, for he is a prophet. He +speaks to thee from God. What is thy misery? What is thy sorrow? +What is thy trial? +{379} +Now thou shalt find relief. Are you in doubt about religious +truth? Listen, and you shall find the answer to those doubts. Are +you sorely tempted to sin? Now God will give you an oracle to +strengthen you. Are you distressed and suffering? Have you a +secret sorrow? Now you shall receive an answer of comfort. Do you +wish to know how to advance in God's love? Now the way shall be +made plain before your face. O blessed truth! God has not left +Himself without a witness. The world is not to have it all its +own way. The teachings of Satan are not to go on all the week +uncontradicted. The dream of the heathen, that there are sacred +spots on earth whence Divine Oracles issue, is fulfilled. The +Chair of Truth is set up for the enlightenment of the nations. +"_The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; +to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death light is +sprung up." "The earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, +as the waters cover the sea_." [Footnote 127] + + [Footnote 127: Isaias ix. 2, 19.] + +This subject suggests some very practical reflections. I am not +unmindful that some of them concern the preacher himself. I do +not forget that the thought of the high dignity of his office +calls for the greatest purity of purpose and diligence of +preparation; but while I remember this, suffer me also to remind +you of your duty in listening to the preacher. St. Paul praises +the Thessalonians because they listened to his words, not as the +words of man, but as the _words of God_. In the sense in +which the teaching of an uninspired man can be so designated, +have you thus listened to the preacher's words? Has it been a +task to you to listen to the sermon? Have you sought only to be +amused? Have you been critical and captious? Or, acknowledging +the truth you have heard, have you been careless about putting it +in practice? Oh, how much the preaching of God's word might +profit us, if we brought the right dispositions to the hearing of +it! +{380} +If we came to Church, eager to know more of God, with a single +heart desirous to nourish our souls with His Truth, what progress +we should make! A single sermon has before now converted men. St. +Anthony, hearing but a single text, embraced a saintly life. If +we had such dispositions, if each Sunday found us diligent +hearers of God's Word, anxious to get some new thoughts about +Him, some new motive to love Him, some new practical lesson, some +new help against sin, it would not be long before the effect +would be visible in us all. We should make progress in the +knowledge of our religion. The devil and the world would assail +us in vain. Scandals and sins would become rare. Heavenly virtues +would spring up. Piety would become strong and manly. And that +which the prophet describes would be fulfilled: "_The Lord will +fill thy soul with brightness. And thou shalt be like a +well-watered garden, and like a fountain of water, whose waters +shall not fail_." [Footnote 128] + + [Footnote 128: Isaias lviii. 2.] + +------------------------------ + + Sermon XVII. + + + The Two Wills In Man + + (Fourth Sunday After Easter.) + + + "The spirit indeed is willing, + but the flesh is weak." + --St. Matt. XXVI. 41. + + +The word "flesh" here does not mean the body, but the lower or +sensitive part of the soul in which the fleshly appetites reside. +Our Lord is warning St. Peter of the necessity of prayer in order +to meet the temptation which was coming upon him, and He tells +him not to trust to the willingness of his spirit, that is, his +good intentions and resolutions, because he had an inferior +nature which might easily be excited to evil, and which in the +hour of temptation might, without a special grace of God, drag +his will into sin. +{381} +What our Lord is declaring, then, is the fact attested by +universal experience, that there are in the heart of man two +conflicting principles--inordinate passion on one side, and +reason and grace on the other. This truth, though so well known, +touches our happiness and salvation too closely not to possess at +all times an interest and importance for each one of us; and I +propose, therefore, to make it the subject of my remarks this +morning. + +In the first place, then, what is the source and nature of the +conflict thus indicated by our Lord? Whence does it arise? How +does it come to pass that there are those two principles within +us? How does it happen that every child of man finds himself +drawn, more or less, two contrary ways, toward virtue and toward +vice, toward God and toward the devil, toward Heaven and to-ward +Hell? The answer commonly given is, that this conflict we feel +within us comes from the fall, that it is the fruit of original +sin. But the fall, according to the Catholic doctrine, introduced +no new principle into our nature, infused no poison into it, and +deprived it of none of its essential elements. We must look +farther back, then, than the fall for the radical source of this +conflict; and we find it in the very essential constitution of +our nature. Man, in his very nature, is twofold. He is created +and finite, yet he has a divine and eternal destiny. He has a +body and a soul, and therefore he must have all the passions +which are necessary to his animal and sensible life, as well as +the intellectual and moral powers which are necessary to his +spiritual life. Here, then, we have, in the very idea of man's +nature, the possibility of a conflict. We have two different +principles, which it is conceivable might come into collision. +Man's appetites and passions, no less than his reason, are given +to him by God, are good, are necessary, but since his appetites +and passions are blind principles, it is conceivable that they +_might_ demand gratifications which would not be in +accordance with his reason and spiritual nature. +{382} +As human nature was at first constituted by the Almighty, any +actual collision between these parts was prevented by a gift, +which is called "the gift of integrity," a gift which was no +essential part of our nature, but was conferred on it by mere +grace, and which bound together the various powers of the soul in +a wondrous harmony, so that the movements of passion were always +in submission to reason. When Adam sinned, this grace was +withdrawn from him; and since it was no necessary part of our +nature, since it was given of mere grace, it was withdrawn from +the whole human race. Hence men now find in themselves an actual +conflict between the higher and lower parts of the soul. In a +complicated piece of machinery, if a bolt or belt is broken that +bound it together, the parts clash. Each part may in itself +remain unchanged, but it no longer acts harmoniously with the +other parts. So in fallen man, the bolt that braced the soul +together is broken, and the powers of the soul clash together. +The passions, the will, the reason, all, in themselves, remain as +they were, undepraved; but they are no longer in harmony +together, and man finds himself weakened by an intestine +conflict. This, together with the loss of supernatural grace and +a supernatural destiny, is the evil which, according to Catholic +theology, accrued to man by the fall. + +This conflict, then, which we find within us; this clamor of the +lower nature against the higher; this propensity of the passions +to rebel against reason--in other words, this proneness to sin, +which is the universal experience of humanity, does not prove +that we have lost any constituent part of our nature, that there +is any thing positively vicious in us, nor does it prove that we +are hateful to God. It proves, indeed, that we are not divine, +that we are not angels, that we are not in the condition of human +nature before Adam's transgression; it proves that a source of +weakness, inherent in our nature, has been developed by the fall, +that we need grace; but it gives not the slightest reason for +supposing that our manhood has been wrecked, that the will is not +free, that the reason of man has been extinguished, or that the +passions are not in themselves good, and have not their +legitimate sphere and exercise. +{383} +So true is this, that this propensity to sin remains even in the +baptized. Baptism does a great deal for a man. It takes away +original sin, by supplying that justifying grace which our race +forfeited in Adam. It restores to man his supernatural destiny. +In the language of the Council of Trent, it renders the +newly-baptized "innocent, immaculate, pure, harmless, and beloved +of God, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ, so that +there is nothing whatever to retard his entrance into heaven." +But there is one thing it does not do. It does not remove the +propensity of the passions to rebel. And the Council uses this +fact--that concupiscence remains in the baptized--to prove that +concupiscence, or the propensity to evil, cannot itself be sin; +and enforces its conclusion by the seal of its infallibility and +the warrant of its censures, saying: "If anyone is of the +contrary sentiment" (that is, declares that the incentive to sin, +which remains in the baptized, hath in it the true and proper +nature of sin), "let him be anathema." [Footnote 129] + + [Footnote 129: Sess. V. Decree on Original Sin.] + +Thus, Christianity explains the origin of this conflict in the +human heart, in a manner agreeable to reason and human +experience. But it does more. It reveals to us the purpose of +this conflict. Why does our Lord leave us subject to this strife? +The same holy Council I have quoted already, answers distinctly; +this incentive to sin is left in the soul "_to be wrestled +with_." The state of the case is this: The passions desire to +be gratified without waiting for the sanction of reason, +sometimes even in defiance of reason. Morally speaking, this is +no evil. The passions are but blind instincts; it is the province +of the will to restrain them in their proper limits, and to help +her in this work she has reason and the grace of God. +{384} +If she fails to do her work, then she sins. Whenever sin is +committed, it is the will that commits it. It is only the will +that can sin. The sin lies not in the inordinate desire, but in +the will's not resisting that desire. The will is the viceroy of +God in the heart, appointed to keep that kingdom in peace. And +herein lies the root of Christian morality, the secret of +sanctification, and the essence of human probation. We speak of +outward actions of sin; but all sin goes back to the will. There +was the treason. "_Out of the heart_," says our Blessed +Lord, "_proceed murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, +false testimonies, blasphemies_." [Footnote 130] + + [Footnote 130: St. Matt. xv. 19.] + +Each black deed is done in the secret chamber of the heart before +the hand proceeds to execute it. Each false, impure, and +blasphemous word is whispered first by the will before the lips +utter it. Yes, man's heart is the battle-field. There is the +scene of action. We speak sometimes of a man's being alone or +being idle: why, a man is never alone; never idle. He may, +indeed, be silent, his hands may be still, no one may be near +him; but in that kingdom within great events are going on all the +time. Angels and saints are there. The armies of Heaven and the +armies of Hell meet there. Attack and repulse, parley and +defiance, truce and surrender, stratagem and treason, victory and +defeat--are things of daily occurrence there. + +Of course, this is all very well known, very simple, very +elementary, but yet there are some who never seem to understand +it. They do not understand it who confound temptation with sin. +This is a mistake often made, and by those too who ought to know +better. If a man feels a strong inclination to evil, if an evil +thought passes through his mind, or a doubt against the faith +assails him, immediately he imagines that he has fallen under +God's displeasure. +{385} +To state such an error is to refute it. Never, my brethren, fall +in to this mistake. No: between temptation and sin there lies all +that gulf that separates Heaven from Hell. Let the devil fill +your mind with the most horrid thoughts, let all your lower +nature be in rebellion, let you have temptations to unbelief, to +despair, to blasphemy; yet if that queenly will of yours keeps +her place, if she stand steadfast and immovable, not only have +you not sinned, but you are purer, more spiritual, more full of +faith and reverence than if you had had no such trial. When St. +Agnes was before the heathen judge, he ordered her to be sent to +the stews and thrown among harlots, but she answered: "I shall +come out of that place virgin as I entered it." Yes, all the +powers of earth and hell cannot make a resolute soul commit a +single sin. It is said that the walls of that house of +prostitution, to which the holy maiden was condemned, still +stand, and form the walls of a church dedicated in her honor--a +visible proof how the soul, faithful to itself and God, turns the +very means and instruments of its temptations into trophies of +its most magnificent victories. + +Nor do those understand the nature of the Christian conflict who +make strong passions the pretext for the neglect of religious +duties. There are such. Their hearts are too tumultuous, their +passions too strong, their virtue too weak, their circumstances +too difficult; and they must wait till they become more composed, +calmer, more devout, until religion becomes more natural to them. +Error, dangerous as common! I tell you, Christianity takes hold +of every man just as he is, and just where he is, and claims him. +No doubt, a quiet temper, a tranquil disposition, a devout +spirit, are valuable gifts, but the root of religion does not lie +in them, but in the will. That is it. God never intended religion +to be confined to the passive and gentle, and to be neglected by +the strong and impulsive. You, young man of pleasure; you, man of +business and enterprise; you, proud and worldly man; you, +passionate woman, with your wild and wayward nature, God, this +day, here and now challenges you: "Why are you not working with +Me, and for Me? Why are you not religious?" +{386} +"Me!" you say, "it is impossible. I am sensual and avaricious, I +am selfish and revengeful, I am full of hatred and jealousy, I am +worldly to the heart's core." No matter: you know what is right; +are you willing to do it? "Oh! I cannot. I do not love God. My +heart is cold." No matter: are you willing to serve God with a +cold heart? That is the question. "I cannot, I cannot. I have no +faith. I cannot pray. I have not a particle of spirituality. +Religion is wearisome to me, and strange. It is as much as I can +do to stay through a High Mass." No matter, I say once more. Do +you want to have faith? Are you willing to practise what you do +believe? Then if you are, begin your work here and now. You +cannot be of so rough a nature that Christ will reject you. No +matter who you are and what you are, no matter what your trials +have been, and what your past life, if you are a man, with a +human heart, with human reason and a human will, Christ calls you +by your name, and points out a way that will lead you to peace +and heaven. + +But least of all do they understand the nature of the Christian +life, who make temptation an apology for sin; who excuse +themselves for a wrong action by simply saying, "I was tempted." +Far be it from me, my brethren, to undervalue the danger of +temptation, or to forget the frailty of the human heart, or to +lack compassion for the fallen; but it is one thing to fall and +bewail one's fall, and another to make the temptation all but a +justification of the fall. And are there not some who do this? +who do not seek temptation, but invariably yield to it when it +comes across them? who only steal when some trifle falls in their +way; who only curse when they are angry; who only neglect Mass +when they feel lazy and self-indulgent; and are always sober and +chaste except when the occasion invites to libertinism and +intemperance? +{387} +What! is this Christianity? To abstain from sin as long as we +have no particular inclination to commit it, and to fall into it +as soon as we have! O miserable man, O miserable woman, go and +learn the very first principles of the doctrine of Christ. Go to +the Font of Baptism, and ask why you renounced Satan, and +promised to keep God's commandments. Go to the Bible and learn +why Christ died, and what is the duty of His followers. +Temptations come upon you in order that you may resist them. You +are subject to gusts of anger, in order that you may become meek. +You are tempted to unchastity, in order that you may become pure. +You are tempted against faith, that you may learn to believe. +That you are tempted, is precisely the reason that you should not +yield; for it shows that your hour is come, and the question is +whether you will belong to Christ or Satan. + +Yes, my brethren, our conflict is for the trial of our virtue. It +is a universal law of humanity. It was so even in the garden of +Eden. In the fields of Paradise, where the trees were in their +fresh verdure, and the air breathed a perpetual spring, and all +things spoke of innocence and peace, there Adam had to meet this +trial. And each child of man since then has met it in his turn. +And Christians must meet it too. In the sheltered sanctuary of +the Church, where we have so many privileges, so much to +strengthen and gladden us, even there each one must abide the +test. As the Canaanite was left in the promised land, to keep the +children of Israel in vigilance and activity, so the sting of the +flesh, the power of our inferior nature, is left in the baptized, +to school us in virtue, to make us men, to make us Christians, to +make us saints. This is the foundation principle of religion. He +who has learnt this, has found out the riddle of life. + +{388} + +And now, my brethren, that I have explained to you the source of +the conflict that we feel within us, and the purpose it is +designed to answer, you will see what the result of it must be, +how it issues in the two eternities that are before us. "_He +that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap +corruption; but he that soweth in the Spirit, of the Spirit shall +reap life everlasting_." [Footnote 131] + + [Footnote 131: Gal. vi. 8.] + +The Judgment Day is but the revelation of the faithfulness or +unfaithfulness of each one of us in the struggle to which he has +been called. Every act, every choice we make, tells for that +great account. The day will declare it. Then the secret of each +man's heart shall be revealed, and how that battle in his heart +has been fought. Oh, what a spectacle must this world present to +the angels who look down upon the solemn strife that is going on +here below! There is a man who has ceased to strive. No longer +making any resistance, he is led on wholly and completely by his +inferior nature. The slave of sin, he hardly feels the conflict +in his soul, but it is because the voice of reason and the voice +of grace have been so long resisted that they have become almost +silent. And there are others who have given up the pure strife, +but not so determinedly, not so completely. Occasionally they +have better moments, regrets for the good they have forsaken, but +still they float on with the careless world. And there is the +young girl taking her first step on the downward road, looking +back to the father's house she is leaving, reluctant, but +consenting. Then there is the penitent, who has fallen but risen +again; who has learned wariness from his fall, and new confidence +in God from His mercy and goodness, and who is striving by +penance and prayer to make up what he has lost. And there is the +man with feeble will, ever sinning and ever lamenting his sin, +divided between good and evil, with too much conscience to give +free reins to his passions, and too little to master them +completely. And there is the soul severely tried, still +struggling but almost overwhelmed, and out of the depths calling +upon God the Holy and True, "_Incline unto mine aid, O +God_." +{389} +And there is the soul strong in virtue, strong in a thousand +victories, which stands unmoved amid temptations, like the +deep-rooted tree in a storm, or like the rock beaten by the +waves. Oh, yes, in the sight of the angels, this world is full of +interest. There is nothing here trivial and common-place. What +prophecies of the future must they not read! What saints do they +see, ripening for Heaven! What sinners rushing madly to Hell! +What unlooked-for falls! What unexpected conversions! What hidden +sins, unsuspected by the world! Now they must rejoice, and now +they must weep. Now they tremble over some soul in danger, and +now they exult because the danger is over. So it is now; but when +the end shall come, then fear and hope shall be no more, the +conflict will be ended, the books shall be opened, and the +secrets of the heart published to the universe. The struggle of +life will be past, only its results will remain--two separate +bands, one on either side of the Judge, the good and the wicked, +those who have been true to their conscience, to reason, to +grace, and those who have not. + +Well, then, we will strive manfully against sin. There are untold +capacities in us for good and evil. God said to Rebecca: "_Two +nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided out of +thy womb, and one people shall overcome the other_." [Footnote 132] + + [Footnote 132: Gen. xxv. 23.] + +So, my brethren, in each heart there are two powers struggling +for the mastery--the Spirit and the Flesh. There are two sets of +offspring struggling for the birth--"the works of the flesh, +which are immodesty, uncleanliness, fornication, enmities, wrath, +envies, emulations, quarrels, murders, drunkenness, revellings; +and the works of the spirit, which are love, joy, peace, +patience, kindness, faith, modesty, continence, chastity." It is +for the will, with and under God's grace, to say which of these +shall overcome the other. +{390} +Do you say that I put too much on the will? that the will is too +weak to decide this fearful contest? O brethren, the will is not +weak. On the side of God, and with the help of God, it is +irresistible. Look at the martyrs' will. Did it not carry them +through fire and sword? Did it not enable them to meet death with +joy? This is our mistake, we do not know our strength. We know +our weakness, but we do not know our strength. We think God is to +help us, independently of ourselves, and not through ourselves. +But this is not so, God helps us by strengthening our will, by +enlightening our reason, by directing our conscience. We cannot +distinguish between what God does and what we do in any act. The +two act together. Therefore, I say, you have it in your power to +resist sin, you have it in your power to become saints. No matter +though your evil dispositions have been increased by past sins, +you can overcome evil habits, and be what God wills you to be. +Only do not be contented with a superficial religion, a religion +of feelings, and frames, and sensible consolations. Go down deep, +go down to the will. Let the sword of the LORD probe till it +pierces even "to the division of the soul and the spirit," the +point at which our higher and lower natures meet each other. Make +your religion not a sham, but a reality. School yourself for +heaven. Day by day fight the good fight of faith, and thus merit +at last to die like a holy man at whose death St. Vincent of Paul +assisted: "He is gone to heaven," said the saint, speaking of M. +Sillery, "like a monarch going to take possession of his kingdom, +with a strength, a confidence, a peace, a meekness, which cannot +be expressed." + +--------------------------- + +{391} + + Sermon XVIII. + + + The Intercession Of The Blessed Virgin + The Highest Power Of Prayer. + + (Sunday Within the Octave of the Ascension.) + + + "If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, + ye shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done to you." + --John xv. 7. + + +There is perhaps no Catholic doctrine which meets with more +objection among those outside the Church, than our devotion to +the Blessed Virgin. Expressions of love to her, of hope in her +intercession, which seem to us perfectly natural, which come from +our hearts spontaneously, when they are most under the influence +of Christian and holy principles, seem to them altogether at +variance with Christianity. I do not believe that this comes +always from prejudice, and a spirit of opposition on their part. +It comes often, I am persuaded, from not understanding us. There +is a link in our minds which connects this practice with other +Christian doctrines, and this link is wanting in theirs; and +therefore acts of devotion of this kind seem to them arbitrary +and useless, an excrescence on Christianity, and even alien to +its spirit. If this is the case, it cannot but be a duty and +charity for us to explain, as far as possible, what is in the +mind of a Catholic when he prays to the Blessed Virgin; and I +shall accordingly attempt to do so this morning. Perhaps while we +are thus removing a stumbling-block out of some erring brother's +way, we shall be at the same time rendering our own ideas on this +doctrine clearer, and its practice more intelligent. + +The Blessed Virgin Mary, then, to a Catholic, represents the +power of intercessory prayer in its highest form and degree. + +{392} + +I believe there are very few persons, indeed, who realize at all +the power which is attributed to intercessory prayer in the Bible +and in Christianity. The Apostles frequently exhort the +Christians to whom they are writing to pray for them. They +enjoined it upon them as a duty to pray for one another. What +does this mean? Had not St. Paul and St. Peter influence enough +with Heaven to carry their wants directly to the throne of grace? +Was not the way of access to God open and easy for every one? Did +God require to be reminded of the woes and wants of any child of +man, by the sympathizing cries of his fellow-creatures? Was not +God's own heart as large as theirs? Could any thing He had made +escape His knowledge, or any sorrow fail to awaken His +compassion? Or, if it did, was the intercession of Christ +insufficient that any other had to be called in to supplicate? +No, certainly. None of these suppositions are true. God's +goodness and knowledge are infinite. He needs not to be told what +is in man. He loves the work of His hands. The meanest and the +poorest are in the light of His Providence. Christ's merits are +infinite and universal. But after all, there stands the fact. +Intercessory prayer is an ordinance of God. It is a duty to pray +for others, and it is useful to have others pray for us. You may +call it a mystery if you like. To me, it does not seem so very +wonderful. No man lives to himself. We are not the only +Christians. Many others walk alongside of us on the road to +Heaven. Many are ahead of us. Many have already reached their +term. Shall there be no sympathy between us? Is that principle so +deeply seated in our nature to have no play in Christianity? Are +we to have no interest, no feeling for each other? Or, is that +sympathy to be a barren sentiment, and to have no results? God, +in religion, makes use of and commands this kindness and +sympathy. He makes use of it to bind all men together in a bond +of love. In order to [do] this, He makes it a law that we shall +pray for one another, and suspends His gifts upon its execution. +{393} +It is, then, to meet that nature that He has framed--it is to +exalt that nature craving for sympathy--it is to give rein to +charity--it is to make us always sensible and mindful of that +great human family to which we belong--it is for these reasons, +I conceive, that God has instituted the ordinance of intercessory +prayer. But, explain it as you will, the fact cannot be denied. +It is an appointment of God, and an appointment of great +efficacy. It plays a large part in the history of the Bible. +Elias was a man subject to like passions with us, and he prayed +earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not for three +years and six months; and he prayed again, and the heavens gave +rain. Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and God healed him. When +Moses prayed for the Israelites suffering under the fire with +which God had visited them for their sins, the fire was quenched. +In the prophet Ezechiel, God speaks as if he could not act +without this intercession--as if it were really a necessary +condition for the bestowal of His graces. "_I sought among them +for a man_," he says, "_that might stand in the gap before +me, in favor of the land, that I might not destroy it, and I +found none_." [Footnote 133] St. James even seems to make +salvation depend on intercessory prayer. "_Pray for one +another_," is his language, "_that ye may be saved_." +[Footnote 134] + + [Footnote 133: Ezechiel xxii. 30.] + + [Footnote 134: St. James v. 16.] + +These are but a sample of the many Scriptural proofs that might +be brought to show that intercessory prayer is an ordinance of +God. It is one of the forms in which the goodness of God and the +merits of Christ flow over upon us. By it we obtain graces from +God much more easily than we could without it. And we obtain by +it special graces, which we would not be likely to obtain at all +without it. In this sense, perhaps, St. James meant to imply that +it was necessary to our salvation. Not that it was a matter of +precept to ask the prayers of this or that particular person, but +that their intercession might be the condition of our obtaining +graces without which our salvation would be a work of great +difficulty. + +{394} + +But this is not all that the Scriptures tell us about +intercessory prayer. They not only declare its wonderful power, +but they make known to us that the efficacy of intercessory +prayer depends on the goodness and merit before God of the one +who offers it. I do not mean that no one should pray for another +unless he is very holy. By no means. No matter how great a sinner +a man may be, it is a good thing for him to pray for others, and +the mercy and compassion of God, I am sure, never turn away from +such a petition. But then, in such a case, it is mercy and +compassion which moves God to hear the prayer. In the case of a +good man praying for another, there is a sort of claim that he +should be heard. Not an absolute claim, by which he can demand +any thing for another, as of right, but a claim of fitness, a +claim as if between friend and friend, a claim on God's bounty +and generosity, which will not allow Him to turn a deaf ear to +one who is faithfully striving to serve Him. The passages of +inspiration which express this are very clear and very strong. +"_The continual prayer of a just man availeth much_." +[Footnote 135] There it is the prayer of a righteous man that has +this efficacy. And to this agree the words of our Lord: "_If ye +remain in me, and my words remain in you, ye shall ask whatever +ye will, and it shall be done unto you_." [Footnote 136] Could +words express more clearly that the power of intercessory prayer +is in direct proportion to the closeness of the union which we +maintain with God? And St. John reiterates the same principle +when he says: "_Whatsoever we shall ask we shall receive of +Him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that +are pleasing in His sight_." [Footnote 137] + + [Footnote 135: St. James v. 15.] + + [Footnote 136: John xv. 7.] + + [Footnote 137: I. St. John iii. 22.] + +God's dealings, as recorded in the Bible, are in exact accordance +with this rule. At the prayer of Abraham, God desisted from His +purpose of destroying Sodom, because Abraham was God's friend. +When the three friends of Job had displeased God by their wrong +judgments and unjust suspicions, God commanded them to go to +_His servant Job_, and he would pray for them, and +_him_ He would accept. +{395} +And in the prophet Ezechiel, when the Almighty would express, in +the strongest possible manner, the fact that His anger was +enkindled against a people and a city; that nothing, however +strong, should stay its effects, He says: "_And if these three +men, Noe, Daniel and Job, shall be in it, they shall deliver +their own souls only by their justice_." [Footnote 138] + + [Footnote 138: Ezechiel xiv. 14.] + +As if to say: "Notwithstanding the intercession and merit of +these great saints, even though they were all combined in favor +of that one city, they should not avail to make Me spare such +wickedness. What must be the wickedness that can force Me to +withstand the power of such an appeal?" + +Here, then, we have two things clearly taught in Holy Scripture. +One is that intercessory prayer is an ordinance of God of great +power and utility. The other is, that the degree of power this +prayer has in any particular case depends on the merit of him who +offers it. Who, then, shall be the favored child of man, the +favored saint, who shall exercise this power in the fullest +degree? Of whom it can be said literally, "Whatever thou askest +of Me I will do it," because the condition of union with God is +perfectly fulfilled? Who shall this be whom Holy Scripture thus +clothes with this tremendous power, if it be not the Blessed +Virgin Mary? My brethren, our belief in the surpassing sanctity +of the Blessed Virgin is no fancy of later times. It goes back to +the very beginning of Christianity. St. Ambrose wrote her praises +as he had learned them from those who had received them from +apostolic men. Grave, austere men, as far as possible removed +from any thing like fancy religion or sentimentality, men who had +suffered for the name of Christ, and even faced death in its +defence, employed their art and care to coin words which might +express the virtue and purity and exceeding sanctity of the +Virgin Mary, as they had learned it from their forefathers. +{396} +And in the most ancient writings of the Church, in the Canon of +the Mass, when the priest recalls by name the glorious army of +Christian heroes who had gone before, always in the first place +she is mentioned, the all-glorious, undefiled, immaculate Mary, +Mother of God, and ever Virgin. This being so, is not her power +of intercession fixed beyond dispute? Does not Scripture itself +fashion out for her the glorious throne on which the Catholic +Church places her? Did any remain in Christ as she did? Did His +words ever so abide in any heart as in hers? Suppose a Christian +who lived in the times of the Apostles, before the Blessed Virgin +had gone to her rest, when she was just dying; suppose such a one +sorely tried and tempted within and without; suppose him anxious +about his salvation, distrustful of his own petitions, fearful of +the coming storms of persecution; and suppose him in this state +of mind to have read that passage of St. James, "The continual +prayer of a just man availeth much," what more natural than that +he should have said to himself, "I will go to ask the prayers of +the dear Mother of Christ. I will ask her to use her power and +influence with her Divine Son in behalf of a frail wanderer like +me." And when he came into her presence and knelt before her, and +kissed her hand and made his plea, and looked up to her and saw +that sweet grave smile, and heard her say, "Yes, my child, when I +stand in the presence of my Royal Son, and He holds out to me the +golden sceptre, and says to me, what wilt thou? what is thy +request? then I will remember thee!" Oh! how light his heart! Oh, +how strong his soul! what a charm against sadness! what a +fortress in temptation! Mary prays for me in heaven to Christ her +Son! And is there any thing in this joy and confidence which +reason or Christianity would condemn? If so, it must be either +that intercessory prayer is not the power the Scriptures say it +is, or that Mary is not the saint the Church considers her. Why, +even Protestants have gone as far as this. +{397} +Protestants who have made the primitive form of Christianity +their study and profess to accept it as their rule, as, for +example, High-Church Episcopalians, have distinctly acknowledged +in the seventeenth century, and in our own day, that the saints +in heaven do intercede for us, and that this was the primitive +doctrine of Christianity. Why, then, find fault with us for +invoking the saints, and say we ought only to ask God to hear +their prayers for us, as if invocation on our part were not the +correlative of intercession on theirs; as if it could be right to +ask a saint to pray for us the moment before he died, and wrong +the moment after; as if there could be any moral difference +before God between a direct and an indirect supplication for the +benefit of their prayers in heaven? + +Such, my brethren, is our idea when we address the Blessed Virgin +for aid. It is not that we cannot go directly to God. It is not +that God is not the nearest to us, and at all times accessible. +It is not that, sinful as we are, we may not go with our miseries +into the very presence of the Almighty. It is not that prayer to +God is not the best of all prayers. It is not that we put the +Blessed Virgin in the place of God. O cruel charge! It is not +that we derogate from the merits of Christ. O strange +misconception! But it is this--we believe in intercessory prayer. +We believe that man may help his brother. We believe that +Christianity is a human and a social relation; we believe that +heaven is very near this earth--oh, how much nearer than ever we +believed! and that in Christ we are in communion with an +innumerable company of angels, and the Church of the First-born. +We believe that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God +over the good deeds done on earth, and that the litanies of the +saints ascend over one sinner and his deeds. And we believe that +this power of intercessory prayer culminates in the Blessed +Virgin. We believe that she is the "one undefiled," whose way has +been always in the law of the Lord. We believe that before the +foundations of the earth were laid, or ever the earth and the sea +were made, she was foreknown by the Almighty, spotless in purity, +matchless in virtue. +{398} +We believe that she was the flower of humanity, the fairest type +of Christianity---and we believe, therefore, that God is as good +as His word, and whatever she asks of Him, He gives it to her. +This is the doctrine on which we found our devotion to the +Blessed Virgin. Take our strongest language. It means no more +than this: "Pray for me." You may amplify as you will, but from +the necessity of the case every thing we say comes to that. Put +prayer for the Blessed Virgin, suppose prayer personified in her, +and you have the key to the Catholic doctrine on this subject. +Strong things are said of the power of the Blessed Virgin, but so +are strong things said in Holy Scripture and by holy men of the +power of prayer. Whatever can be said of prayer, can be said of +her. Cease, then, to misunderstand us. Acknowledge that we are +but obeying Christ in praying to the Blessed Virgin. And if you +will still find fault, find fault, not with us, but with God, who +has instituted intercessory prayer and given such power to men. + +And for you, my brethren, let these thoughts strengthen you in +your confidence in the powerful intercession of the Mother of +God. Our work is too severe, our difficulties are too great, for +us to neglect any help God has offered us. There are many +adversaries. The world, with all its seductions, passes in array +before us. Why should we shut our eyes to the hosts of heaven +that march unseen by our side? Why should we stay outside when we +are invited to the marriage supper, and Jesus and His disciples +are there, and Mary, pleader for heavy hearts, saying, "They have +no wine;" and at her prayer Jesus gives them that wine that +maketh glad the heart of man with the abundance of His grace and +love? I have been glad to see you these bright May mornings +around the altar. Persevere more and more. Your labor of love is +not in vain. God's words cannot fail. His gifts are without +repentance. Mary's power of intercession is as fresh this day as +it was when her prayer made the miraculous wine to gush forth at +the wedding feast; and until some one shall arise more blessed, +more holy, nearer to Christ than she, it will remain as it is +now, the highest and the most efficacious of all forms of prayer +in heaven or on earth. + +----------------------------- + +{399} + + Sermon XIX. + + Mysteries In Religion + + (Trinity Sunday.) + + + "Oh, the depths of the riches + of the wisdom and knowledge of God! + How incomprehensible are His judgments, + and how unsearchable are His ways!" + --Rom. XI. 33. + + +The word _revelation_ means the discovery of something that +was not known before, or the making clear something that was +obscure. Now, with this idea in our mind, it may excite surprise +to find how much the Christian Revelation abounds in mysteries. +By mysteries, I understand truths which are imperfectly +comprehended. A doctrine which contradicts reason is not a +mystery it is nonsense. A doctrine which is wholly unintelligible +is not a mystery: it is simply unmeaning, and cannot be the +object of any intellectual act on our part. But a doctrine which +is in part comprehended, and in part not, is a mystery. Now, in +Christianity we meet such mysteries on every side. The Sacraments +are mysteries. Grace is a mystery. The Person of Christ is a +mystery. And above all, the great doctrine we commemorate to-day +is a mystery. To-day is the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. +To-day we call to mind that wonderful Relationship which exists +in God, eternal and necessary, by which, in the undivided Unity +of His Essence, there are three distinct modes of subsistence, +the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. +{400} +It seems, then, not unfitting on this day to give you some +reasons why you should acquiesce in that mysteriousness of +Christian doctrine, which is certainly one of its marked +characteristics, and which has been urged against it as a serious +objection. + +And, first, I observe that mysteries are _necessary_ +attendants on religion. There can be no revelation without them. +There can indeed be no knowledge without them. To a little child +the earth is a plane of no great extent, and the stars are +colored lamps hung in the canopy of the night. But as he grows +older, he learns that the earth is very big, and that the stars +are very far off, and that there are many systems of worlds above +us; and now how many questions press themselves upon his mind! +What is the history of this universe? How old is the earth which +we inhabit? Are the stars inhabited? Science with the hard +earnings of human thought and labor gives him some little +satisfaction, but for every question that she sets at rest there +are many new ones that she raises, and at last in every +department there comes a point where she gropes, and loses her +way, and stops altogether. If you light a candle in a large room +it casts a bright light on the table you are sitting at, and on +the pages of the book you are reading, but gives only a dim light +in the distance. You see that there are pictures on the walls, +but you cannot discover their subjects. You see there are books +on the shelves, but you cannot read their titles. When the room +was quite dark you did not know that they were there at all, and +now you know them only imperfectly. So every light which +knowledge kindles brings out a new set of mysteries or +half-knowledges. For this reason it is that a man of true science +is apt to be modest in his language. Your loud-talking +philosopher, who has no difficulties, has but a very narrow scope +of thought and vision. He is clear because he is shallow. But a +highly educated man _knows_ that there are a great many +things he is ignorant of, and so his language is modified and +qualified. +{401} +I believe it was Sir Isaac Newton who used to say, that in his +scientific investigations he seemed to himself like a child +gathering pebbles on the sea-shore. It was his vast attainments +that made him sensible that Truth is as boundless as the sea. And +when scientific men forget this; when they forget how much they +are ignorant of; when they are boastful, over-positive, or +inconsiderate in their statements, how applicable to them becomes +the reproof which the Almighty addressed to Job: "_Where wast +thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell Me if thou +hast understanding. Upon what are its bases grounded? or who laid +the corner-stone thereof? By what way is light spread, and heat +divided on the earth? Who is the father of the rain, or who hath +begotten the drops of dew? Dost thou know the order of heaven, +and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth? Tell Me, +if thou knowest these things_." + +And this holds good just as well in regard to religious +knowledge. Reason teaches us that there is a God, and it tells +something of His Nature; but it speaks to us about Him only in +riddles. God is immutable, and yet He is perfectly free: who +shall reconcile these together? God is infinite, infinite in +Essence, infinite in all His Attributes--try to comprehend +infinitude if you can. Again, what a mystery there is in the +creation of this world! What a mystery in the union of spirit and +matter! Everywhere mystery is the necessary accompaniment of +knowledge; and the more we know, the more mysteries will we have. +If, then, God reveals to us any thing about Himself additional to +that which reason can ascertain, mystery must still be the +consequence. The wider the view, the more indistinct and shadowy +the outline. +{402} +It is revealed to us that in God, without injury to His +Simplicity, there is a Threefold Relationship--that the Father, +contemplating Himself from all eternity, has conceived a perfect +Image of Himself, and that this Image is His Son, and that the +Father and the Son have loved each other from all eternity, and +that this Love is the Holy Ghost--that thus the Father, the Son, +and the Holy Ghost are Three distinct, eternal, necessary +Subsistences. Do not be surprised at this. Here is nothing +contradictory to reason. True, it is wonderful. True, you cannot +pierce it through and through. It is full of darkness. No matter. +You know, when the moon comes out from behind a cloud, how sharp +and well-defined the shadows become. So these darknesses of +doctrine come because the light is brighter. Men talk of the +_simple doctrines_ of the gospel. There are no such things. +The gospel, as a scheme of doctrine at least, is a mystery. St. +Paul called it so, and so it is. It is a mystery because it +reveals so much. If we did not know that God is both One in +substance and Three in the mode of subsistence, our difficulties +would be less, but so would our knowledge. Well does the prophet +exclaim: "_Verily, Thou art a hidden God, the God of Israel, +the Savior!_" [Footnote 139] + + [Footnote 139: Isai. xlv. 15.] + +What, the _God of Israel_ a hidden God! Did He not manifest +Himself to the patriarchs? Did he not speak face to face with +Moses? Yes, but He is all the more hidden, the more He has +manifested Himself. It cannot be otherwise. God yearns to make +Himself known to man, but He cannot. The secret is too deep and +high. Language is too weak. Thought too slow. Reason too narrow. +The very means He takes to reveal Himself conceal Him. Clouds and +darkness gather around Mount Sinai as He descends upon it. The +Flesh in which He was "manifested" to men serves as a veil to His +Divinity. No, we cannot find out the Almighty to perfection. The +time will come in heaven when by the Light of Glory our +intellects shall be marvellously strengthened, and we shall see +Him "as He is"--but now we see as through a glass darkly. +{403} +Our utmost happiness here is that of Moses, to be hidden in the +rock, while the Almighty passes by and lifts His Hand that we may +see a ray of His Glory. Do not complain if the ray dazzles thy +feeble sight, but receive each glimpse of that Eternal Truth and +Beauty thankfully, and give heed unto it, "_as unto a light +shining in a dark place_." + +But, further, mysteries are not only necessary attendants on +revelation, they are really sources of advantage to us. In order +to make this clear, I must remind you that Faith is one of the +conditions of our acceptance with God. There was a time when men +laid too much stress on faith and made light of works; then the +Church had to define that works are necessary, and that there is +no salvation without them. Now the contrary error is afloat. Men +say: "Be moral," "Be religious in a general way, and it is no +matter what a man believes." Now, this is an error as great and +as dangerous as the other. "_Abraham believed God, and it was +reputed to him unto justice._" [Footnote 140] The apostles +believed Christ, and were praised for it. On the other hand, +those who disbelieved are reproved as being guilty of a mortal +fault. "_The heart of this people is grown gross: and with +their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they +have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and +hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should +be converted, and I should heal them_." [Footnote 141] + + [Footnote 140: Rom. iv. 3.] + + [Footnote 141: St. Matt. xiii 15.] + +In like manner, when our Lord took leave of unbelieving +Jerusalem, He wept over it. Now, why is this? What is there, in +the act of believing or disbelieving, that is of a moral nature, +that deserves praise or blame? Is not faith an act purely +intellectual? I reply, faith is an act partly intellectual, +partly moral. The intellect demands proof that a particular +doctrine has been revealed by God, but, when that is once +ascertained, faith accepts the doctrine, not because it is +perfectly clear in itself, but because God reveals it. +{404} +Clearly, there enter into such an act many elements of +morality--our reverence for God, our desire to do His Will, our +humility and docility. You know it is an honor to a man for one +to believe in his word, and especially for one to make ventures +on the faith of his word. Just so, to make ventures on God's word +is a generous, devout, and noble act. Now, it is the +mysteriousness of Christian doctrine that gives faith this +generous character--or rather, that makes faith possible. The +obscurity of the revelation throws the weight on the authority of +the Revealer. It is mystery which gives life to faith. A man is +not said to _believe_ a thing he sees. "_Blessed are +they_," said our Blessed Lord, "_that have not seen, and yet +have believed_." [Footnote 142] + + [Footnote 142: St. John xx. 29.] + +There are certain flowers that require the shade to bloom. +Constant sunshine burns them up. So Faith requires the shadow of +mystery. It thrives under difficulties. Abraham's faith was so +admirable, because he considered not his own decrepitude, nor +Sarah's barrenness, but believed he should have a son at the time +appointed by the Almighty. The faith of the apostles was so +pleasing to Christ because they accepted His call so readily. +They might have stopped to ask a thousand questions, but they +rose up without delay and followed Him. + +You see, then, what I meant when I said that mysteries are of +advantage to us. They enter into our probation. They are the +occasion of our practising the noble virtue of faith. They are a +test of moral character. Nay more, by calling into action the +best principles of our nature they exalt our character. You know +how it is in the world when some new and great social question is +started--how everyone is affected by it. The indolent take their +opinions about it from others. The prejudiced and interested +judge of it according to prejudice and interest. +{405} +Men of principle decide it on grounds of morality. But everyone's +position is in some way changed by it. So it is with the gospel. +Its preaching throws men into new attitudes. "_The Cross of +Christ is to them that perish foolishness, but to them that are +saved it is the power of God._" [Footnote 143] The proud and +the perverse stumble at this stumbling-stone, but men of "good +will," the humble, and the loving, find it a precious +corner-stone on which their faith has a solid foundation, and on +which they are built up to everlasting life. So it was in the +time of Christ. After our Lord had been preaching for some time, +He inquired of the apostles into the effects of His preaching: +"Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?" And they said: "_Some +say that thou art John the Baptist, and others Elias, and others +Jeremias, or one of the prophets_." "_But whom do you say +that I am?_" [Footnote 144] --and Faith, undaunted by +difficulties, answers by the mouth of St. Peter: "_Thou art +Christ, the Son of the living God_." On another occasion, +after He had performed the miracle of the multiplication of the +loaves, as we read in St. John's Gospel, He taught the people the +doctrine of the Real Presence in Holy Communion: "_Unless you +eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you shall +not have life in you._" [Footnote 145] Now, what happened? +Many were offended and walked with Him no more. It was too great +a mystery. "_How can this man give us his flesh to eat?_" +they said. And our Lord turned to His disciples and said--it +seems to me I can see His anxious countenance, and hear His tones +of sorrow as He asks the question--"_Will you also go +away?_" And again Peter answered on behalf of all: "_To whom +shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life_." As much as +to say, "Thou art the Truth; no mystery at Thy mouth can deter +us." + + [Footnote 143: I. Cor. i. 18.] + + [Footnote 144: St. Matt. xvi. 13.] + + [Footnote 145: St. John vi. 54.] + +{406} + +So it has been, also, throughout the history of the Church. What +are all the heresies that have arisen but the scandal which the +world has taken at the Christian mysteries, and what are all the +decisions of the Church but acts of loyalty and submission to Him +who is "the Faithful and True Witness"? + +And the same thing is going on in our day. "_Wisdom preacheth +abroad: she uttereth her voice in the streets_." [Footnote 146] +The Catholic Church publishes those startling doctrines +which have come down to her from the beginning, which have been +held everywhere and by all--the principality of the Roman See, +the Power of Forgiveness of Sins, the necessity of Penance, the +grace of the Sacraments--and what is the result? The children of +wisdom, they whose hearts are tender, enter her sacred fold and +are blessed. But many listen and say: "It is all very well, if we +could believe it. If we could believe it! And is it, then, not +credible? Has not God given His revelation complete credibility? +Can we not believe Jesus Christ? "_God, Who in times past spoke +to the father's by the prophets, hath in these days spoken unto +us by His Son_." [Footnote 147] "_No one knoweth the Father +but the Son and He to whom the Son will reveal Him_." +[Footnote 148] + + [Footnote 146: Prov. i. 20.] + + [Footnote 147: Heb. i. 1, 2.] + + [Footnote 148: Matt. xi. 27.] + +Jesus Christ has spoken. Miracles and prophecy attest His Truth +and Authority. Can you, then, innocently refuse to listen? +"_Surely they will reverence my son_," was the language of +the father in the parable; will not God the Father Almighty look +for an equal submission to His Eternal and Coequal Son? Can He +speak, and you go on as if He had not spoken? Can you pick and +choose among His doctrines, and take up one and reject another? +No, to turn back, to stand still, to falter, is a crime. The +trumpet has sounded: men are marshalling themselves for the +valley of decision. Oh, take your part with the generation of +faithful men, the true children of Abraham, who have "attested by +their seal that God is true." Have courage to believe. Plunge +into the waters with St. Peter, for it is Christ that is +beckoning you on. To believe is an act of duty--of fidelity to +your own intelligence, of generosity and devotion to God. +{407} +"_Without faith it is not possible to please God_." +[Footnote 149] Faith is the door to all supernatural blessings. +There is a whole world that exists not to a man that has not +faith. Faith enlarges our thoughts, opens our hearts, elevates us +above ourselves and multiplies a thousand-fold our happiness. Why +do men grope in darkness? Why do they remain in ignorance, when +by one generous resolve, one courageous act of faith, an act so +noble, so meritorious, they might enter into that Glorious Temple +of Truth that has come down out of heaven to man, might enter and +dwell therein, and their hearts wonder and be enlarged? Happy +those who can say with the Psalmist: "_Thy testimonies are +wonderful; therefore hath my soul sought them_." [Footnote +150] They are wonderful--they rest for their evidence on Thy Word +and Thy Truth, therefore I believe them and love them, for to +believe Thee is my first duty and my highest wisdom. + + [Footnote 149: Heb. xi. 6.] + + [Footnote 150: Ps. cxviii 129.] + +Let not, then, the mysteries of our holy religion disturb us, my +brethren, but rather let them make us rejoice. For what are they +but the evidences of the greatness of our religion? They do not +repel, they attract us. We believe them on the authority of God, +and we esteem it both a duty and a delight to do so. Neither are +they all dark in themselves. Nay, they are only dark from excess +of light. Each one of them has much that addresses itself to our +understanding, much that enlists our affections. The angels in +heaven worship the Trinity with devoutest adoration. "_I saw +the Seraphim_," says the prophet, "_and they covered their +faces and cried: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts!_" +[Footnote 151] + + [Footnote 151: Isai. vi. 3.] + +Incessantly sings the Church on earth: "Glory be to the Father, +and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost." There have been saints +who so dwelt upon all that Faith teaches us of God, that they had +to go by themselves, in quiet places, for their hearts were all +but breaking with the sweet but awful sense of His Majesty. +{408} +Let us, too, learn to love these mysteries and meditate on them. +We live in the midst of great realities. "_You are come to +Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly +Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, and to +the Church of the first-born, who are written in heaven, and to +God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made +perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament_." +[Footnote 152] + + [Footnote 152: Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24.] + +Day by day, let it be our endeavor to pierce into these holy +truths more and more, that at last, like Moses, our countenances +may reflect some portion of their beauty and brightness, that +continually "_beholding the glory of the Lord we may be +transformed into the same image from glory to glory_." +[Footnote 153] + + [Footnote 153: II Cor. iii. 18.] + +------------------------------- + + Sermon XX. + + The Worth Of The Soul. + + (Third Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "There shall be joy before the angels of God + over one sinner doing penance." + St. Luke xv. 10. + + +This is what theologians call an _accidental_ joy. The +essential joy of heaven consists in the perfect knowledge and +love of God, and is unchangeable and eternal; but the accidental +joy of heaven springs from the knowledge of those events in time +which display the goodness and greatness of God. The first of +these events was the creation itself, when the hand of God spread +the carpet of the earth, and stretched the curtains of the +heavens. +{409} +Then "_the morning stars praised Him together, and all the sons +of God made a joyful melody_." [Footnote 154] + + [Footnote 154: Job xxxviii 7.] + +After this the great historic events of the world have been +successively the burden of the angelic songs--the unfolding of +the plan of Redemption, the birth of Christ, the triumphs of the +Church. But lo! of a sudden these lofty strains are stopped. +There is silence for a moment, and then the golden harps take up +a new and tenderer theme. What is it that has happened? What is +the event that can interrupt the great harmonies of Heaven, and +furnish the Angels with a new song? In some corner of the earth, +in some secret chamber, in some confessional, on some sickbed, in +some dark prison, a sinner is doing penance. He prays, whose +mouth had been full of cursings. He weeps, who had made a mock at +sin. The slave of Satan and of Hell turns back to God and +Heaven--and that is the reason of this unusual joy. It is not +that a recovered sinner is really of more account than one who +has never fallen, but his recovery from danger is the occasion of +expressing that esteem and love for the souls of men which always +fills the heart of God and the Angels. Therefore, as that +contrite cry reaches heaven, the Angels are silent, for they know +that there is no music in the ear of God like that. And then, +when God has ratified the absolving words of the priest, and +restored the contrite sinner to His favor, they cast themselves +before the throne, and break forth into loud swelling strains of +ecstasy and triumph, while He Himself smiles His sympathy and +joy. O my brethren, what a revelation this is! A revelation of +the value of the soul. There are great rejoicings on earth when a +battle is won, or upon the occasion of the visit of some great +statesman or warrior, or when some great commercial enterprise is +successful, but these things do not cause joy in Heaven. The +conversion of one soul--it may be a child, or a young man, or an +old woman--the conversion of one soul, that it is that makes a +gala day in Heaven. +{410} +Now, God sees every thing just as it is, and if there are such +rejoicings in Heaven when a soul is won, what must be the value +of a soul! Let us confess the truth, we have not thought enough +of the value of a soul. We have thought too much of the world, of +its pleasures, of its profits, of its honors, but too little of +our own souls. We have not thought of them as God thinks of them. +Let us, then, strive to exalt our ideas, by considering some of +the reasons why we should put a high value on our souls. + +In the first place, we should value a human soul, because it is +in itself superior to any thing else in the world. The whole +world, indeed, with every thing in it, is good, for God made it. +But He proceeded in a very different manner in the creation of +the material world from what He did when He made the soul. He +made the world, the trees, the rivers, the lights of heaven, the +living creatures on the earth, by the mere word of his power. +"_God said, Be light made. And light was made_." [Footnote 155] + + [Footnote 155: Gen. i. 3.] + +And God said, "_Let the earth bring forth the green herb, and +the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind. And it was so_." +[Footnote 156] But when He made the soul, the Scriptures tell us, +"_He breathed into the face of man and he became a living +soul_." [Footnote 157] + + [Footnote 156: Gen. i. 12.] + + [Footnote 157: Gen. i. 26.] + +By this action we are to understand that God communicated to man +a nature kindred to his own divinity. The Holy Ghost, the Third +Person of the Blessed Trinity, is the uncreated Spirit of God, +eternally breathing forth and proceeding from the Father and the +Son; and God, when He breathed into the face of man, signified +that He imparted to man a created spirit kindred to his own +eternal Spirit. The Holy Scriptures, indeed, expressly tell us +that such was the case: "_Let us make man to our image and our +likeness_." [Footnote 158] + + [Footnote 158: Gen. i. 26, 27.] + +{411} + +This likeness consisted in the possession of understanding and +free will, the power of knowledge and love--the two great +attributes of God himself. You are, then, my brethren, endowed +with a soul which raises you immeasurably above God's material +creation. You have a soul made after God's image. This is the +source of your power. The two things go together in Holy +Scripture. "_Let us make man to our image and likeness; and let +him have dominion over the fishes of the sea and the fowls of the +air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping +creature that moveth upon the earth_." [Footnote 159] In the +state of original innocence, no doubt, this dominion was more +perfect, but even now it exists in a great degree. "_Every kind +of beast, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is +tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind_." [Footnote 160] + + [Footnote 159: Gen. ii. 7.] + + [Footnote 160: St. James iii. 7.] + +See how a little boy can drive a horse. See how a dog obeys his +master's eye and voice. See how even lions and tigers become +submissive to their keepers. And the elements, often wilder than +ferocious beasts, are obedient to you. The fire warms you and +cooks for you, and carries you when you want to travel for +business or pleasure. The wind fans the sails of your vessels, +and the waters make a path for them under your feet. Even the +lightning leaps and exults to do your bidding and to be the +messenger of your will. Thus every thing falls down before you +and does you homage, and proclaims you lord and master. What is +the reason that every thing thus honors you? It is on account of +the soul that is in you--the power of reason and will--the +godlike nature with which you are endowed. + +Yes, and your soul is the source of your beauty, too. In what +consists the beauty of a man? Is it a mere regularity of form and +feature? Do you judge of a man as you do of a horse or a dog? +{412} +No; the most exquisitely chiselled features do not interest you, +until you see intelligence light up the eye, and charity +irradiate the countenance--then you are captivated. A man may be +a perfect model of grace in his movements without exciting you, +but when he becomes warm with inspirations of wisdom and virtue, +when his words flow, his eye sparkles, his breast heaves, his +whole frame becomes alive with the emotions of his soul, then it +is you are carried away, you are ready almost to fall down and +worship. What is the reason that Christian art has so far +surpassed heathen art? that the Madonna is so far more beautiful +than the Venus de Medicis? It is because the heathens portrayed +mere natural beauty; the Christians portrayed the beauty of the +soul. And if the soul is so beautiful in the little rays that +escape from the body, what must it be in itself? God has divided +his universe into several orders, and we find the lowest in a +superior order higher than the highest in the inferior order. The +soul, then, is more beautiful than any thing material. "_She is +more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the +stars: being compared with the light she is found before it_." +[Footnote 161] + + [Footnote 161: Wisdom vii. 29.] + +O my brethren, do not admire men for their form, or their dress, +or their grace, but admire then for the soul that is in them, for +that is the true source of their beauty. + +It is also the secret of their destiny. God did not give you this +great gift to be idle. He gave it for a worthy end. He gave +understanding that you might know Him, and free will that you +might love Him; and this is the true destiny of man. You were not +made to toil here for a few days, and then to perish. You were +made to know God, to be the friend of God, the companion of God, +to think of God, to converse with God, to be united to God here, +and then to enjoy God hereafter forever. Once more, then, I say, +do not admire a man for his wealth, or his appearance, or his +learning. Do not ask whether he is poor or rich, ignorant or +learned, from what nation he springs, whether he lives in a cabin +or palace. +{413} +Let it be enough that he is a man, possessed of understanding and +free will, spiritual and immortal, with a soul and an eternal +destiny. That is enough. Bow down before him with respect. Yes, +respect yourselves--not for your birth, or your station, or your +wealth, but for your manhood. "_Let not the wise man glory in +his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and +let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that +glorieth glory in this, that_ HE UNDERSTANDETH AND KNOWETH +ME." [Footnote 162] Yes, my brethren, this is your true dignity, +the soul that is in you--the soul, that makes you capable of +knowing and loving God. + + [Footnote 162: Jer. ix. 23, 24.] + +And yet, there is another reason why you should value your souls, +besides their intrinsic excellence--I mean, the great things that +have been done for them. Do you ask me what has been done for +your souls? I ask you to look above you, and around you, and +under you. Oh, how fair the earth is! See these rivers and hills! +Look on the green grass! Behold the blue vault of heaven! Well, +this is the palace God has prepared for your abode; nay, not for +your abode--your dwelling-place is beyond the skies, where +"_the light of the moon is as the light of the sun, and the +light of the sun seven-fold, as the light if seven +days_,"--but for the place of your sojourn. This earth was +made for you; and, as your destiny is eternal, therefore the +earth must have been made to subserve your eternal destiny. Why +does the sun rise in the morning, and go down at night? It is for +you--for your soul. Why do summer and winter, seed-time and +harvest, return so regularly? It is for you, and your salvation. +The earth is for the elect. When the elect shall be completed, +the earth, having done its work, will be destroyed. This is the +end to which, in God's design, all things are tending. God does +not look at the world, or its history, as we do. +{414} +We say: "Here such a great battle was fought;" "there such a +celebrated man was born;" "in this epoch such an empire took its +rise, such a dynasty came to an end." But God says: "Here it was +a little child died after baptism, and went straight to heaven;" +"there it was I recovered that gifted soul, which had wandered +away into error and sin, but which afterward became so great in +sanctity;" "in such an age it was that I lost that great nation +which fell away from the faith, and in such another, by the +preaching of My missionary, I won whole peoples from heathenism." +I know we shrink from this in half unbelief: When it is brought +home to us that this little earth is the centre of God's +counsels, and our souls of the universe, we are amazed and +offended. But so it is. "_All things work together unto good to +them that love God_." [Footnote 163] All things; not blindly, +but by the overruling Providence of Him who made them for this +end. + + [Footnote 163: Rom. viii. 28.] + +Do you ask me what has been done for your souls? I answer, the +Church has been established for them. Look at the Church, and see +how many are her officers and members--Bishops, Priests, +Levites, Teachers, Students. All are yours--all are for you. For +you the Pope sits on his throne; for you Bishops rule their Sees; +for you the Priest goes up to the altar; for you the Teacher +takes his chair, and the Student grows pale in the search for +science. That the Apostolic commission might come down to you, +St. Peter and St. Linus and Cletus ordained Bishops in the +churches. That the true doctrine of Christ might come down to you +uncorrupted, the Fathers of the Church gathered in council, at +Nice, and Ephesus, and Chalcedon, and Trent. That you might hear +of the glad tidings of Christ, St. Paul and St. Patrick labored +and died. For you, for each one of you, as if there were no +other, the great machinery of grace, if I may express myself so +coarsely, goes on. + +{415} + +Do you ask what has been done for your souls? Angels and +Archangels, and Thrones and Dominions, and Principalities and +Powers--all the hosts of Heaven--have labored for them. "_Are +they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for those who +shall receive the inheritance of salvation?_" [Footnote 164] + + [Footnote 164: Heb. i 14.] + +For you the whole Court of Heaven is interested, and one bright +particular Angel is commissioned to be your guardian. For you St. +Gabriel flew on his message of joy to the Blessed Virgin Mary, +and St. Michael, the standard-bearer, waits at the gate of death. + +Do you ask what has been done for your souls? From all eternity +God has thought of them, the means of salvation have been +determined on, the chain of graces arranged. And the Son of God +has worked for them. Galilee, and Judea, and Calvary were the +scenes of His labors on earth, and on His mediatorial throne in +heaven He carries on still His unceasing labors in our behalf. +And the Holy Ghost has worked. He spake by the Prophets, and on +the day of Pentecost He came to take up His abode in the Church, +never to be overcome by error, or grieved away by sin, to vivify +the Sacraments, and to enlighten the hearts of the faithful by +the preaching of the Gospel and His own holy inspirations. + +Why, who are you, my brethren? The woman at Endor, when she had +pierced the disguise of Saul, and knew that she was talking with +a king, was afraid, and "_said with a loud voice: 'Why hast +thou deceived me, for thou art Saul?_'" [Footnote 165] + + [Footnote 165: I. Kings xxviii. 12.] + + [Transcribers Note: The correct reference is I. Samuel + xxviii. 12.] + +So, I ask you, who are you? I look upon your faces, and I see +nothing to make me afraid; but faith tears away the disguise, and +I see each one of you radiant with light, a true prince, and an +heir of heaven. I look above, and see Heaven open and the Angels +of God ascending and descending on errands of which you are the +object. +{416} +I look higher yet, and I see God the Father watching you with +anxiety, and the Son offering his blood for you, and the Holy +Ghost pleading with you, and the Saints and Angels, some with +folded hands supplicating for you, and others pointing with +outstretched finger to the glorious throne reserved in Heaven for +you. + +Have you, my brethren, so regarded yourselves? Have you valued +that soul of yours? Have you kept it as your most sacred +treasure? Is it now safe and secure? Oh, how carefully do men +keep a treasure they value highly! Kings spend many thousand +dollars yearly just to take care of a few jewels. The crown +jewels of England are kept, as you know, in the Tower. It is a +heavy fortress, guarded by soldiers who are always on watch. At +each door and avenue there is an armed sentinel. The jewels +themselves are kept in glass cases, and visitors are not allowed +to touch them. And all this pains and outlay to take care of a +few stones that have come down to the Queen by descent, or been +taken from her enemies! And that precious soul of yours, before +which all the wealth of the world is but worthless dross with +what care have you kept that? Alas! every door has been left +open. No guard has been at your eyes to keep out evil looks. No +guard at your ears to keep out the whispers of temptation. No +guard at your lips to stop the way to the profane or filthy word. +Nay, not only have you kept up no guard, but you have carried +your soul where soul-thieves congregate. The Holy Scripture says: +"_A net is spread in vain before the eyes of a bird_." +[Footnote 166] + + [Footnote 166: Provo i. 17.] + +Yes, the birds and beasts are cunning enough to avoid an open +snare; but you go rashly into dangers that are apparent to all +but you. Sinners lie in wait for you. They say, in the language +of Scripture: "_Come, let us lie in wait for blood; let us hide +snares for the innocent without cause. Let us swallow him up +alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the +pit_"--and you trust yourself in their power. Oh, fly from +them! +{417} +Consider the treasure you carry. "_What shall it profit a man +to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?_" Will you sin +against your own soul? you that are made after God's likeness; +you that are princely and of noble rank, will you defile that +image, and degrade yourselves to a level with the brutes that +perish? + +But there are others whose offence is of another kind. They let +their salvation go by sheer neglect. If a man plants a seed, he +must water it, or it will not grow. So the soul needs the dew of +God's grace; and prayer and the sacraments are the channels of +God's grace. Yet how men neglect the Sacraments! Even at Easter, +when we are obliged to receive them, some absent themselves. It +has been a matter of the keenest pain to us to miss some members +of this congregation during the late Paschal season. You say, you +have nothing on your conscience, and it is not necessary to go to +confession. But is it not necessary to go to communion? Will you +venture to deprive yourselves of that food of which, unless ye +eat, the Saviour has said, "_Ye have no life in you?_" Or; +you have a sad story to tell. You have fallen into mortal sin, +and you are afraid to come. But do you think we have none of the +charity of the Angels? Only convert truly, for it is a true +conversion that gives the Angels joy, and we can give you the +promise that Thomas à Kempis puts into the mouth of Him whose +place we fill: "How often soever a man truly repents and comes to +Me for grace and pardon, as I live, saith the Lord, who desireth +not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted +and live, I will not remember his sins any more, but all shall be +pardoned him." + +And to you, my brethren, who, during the Easter season just past, +have recovered the grace of God, I have a word of advice to give +in conclusion. Keep your souls with all diligence. Keep your +souls; that is your chief, your only care. Keep them by fleeing +from the occasions of sin. +{418} +Keep them by overcoming habitual sins. Nourish them by prayer and +the sacraments. How great a disgrace, that all the irrational +world should do the will of God, and you, the rulers of the +world, should not do it! "_The kite in the air hath known her +time; the turtle, and the swallow, and the stork have observed +the time of their coming; but my people have not known the +judgment of the Lord_." [Footnote 167] + + [Footnote 167: Jer. viii. 7.] + +How great an evil it is in a state when an unworthy ruler is at +its head. The people mourn and languish, and at last rebel. So, +when a man neglects the end for which he was made, the whole +creation cries out against him. The stones under his feet cry +out. The air he breathes, the food he eats, protest against the +abuse he makes of them. Balaam's ass rebuked the madness of the +prophet; so, when you live in sin, the very beasts cry out: "If +we had souls, we would not be as you. Now we serve God blindly, +and of necessity; but if we had souls, it would be our pride and +happiness to give Him our willing service." All things praise the +Lord;--"showers and dew;" "fire and heat;" "mountains and hills;" +"seas and rivers;" "beasts and cattle." O sons of men, make not a +discord in the universal harmony! Receive not your souls in vain! +Serve God; "praise Him and exalt Him forever." + +------------------------------- + + Sermon XXI. + + The Catholic's Certitude Concerning + The Way Of Salvation. + + (Fifth Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "I know whom I have believed, and I am certain + that He is able to keep that which I have committed + to Him against that day." + --II. Tim. I. 12. + + +No one can deny that this sentiment of the Apostle is a very +comfortable one. To be confident of salvation is surely an +excellent and desirable thing. But the question with many will +be, is it possible to attain it? +{419} +Now, there is one sense in which we cannot have a security of our +salvation. We cannot have personally an infallible assurance that +we are now and shall always continue in the grace of God, and +shall at last taste the joys of heaven. Our free-will forbids +such an assurance, and neither our happiness nor the attributes +of God demand it. But there is another sense in which a man may +be said to have a security of his salvation, viz.: that he has +within his reach, beyond all doubt, the proper and necessary +means for attaining that end; for if the means are certain, it is +plain that in the use of those means he may acquire a moral +certainty that he is doing those things which God requires of +him, and a well-grounded hope of everlasting life. Such a +security it would seem a man ought to be able to attain. Without +it the service of God must be slavish. There can be no free and +generous service where there is not confidence. When one is +travelling at night on a road he is ignorant of, he goes slow, he +falters; but in the broad daylight, in a road he is sure of, he +walks with a free, bold step. So in religion, if we have no +security that we are right, we can never do much for God. Man is +not an abject being; he is erect; he looks up to heaven; he seems +to face his Maker and to demand from Him to know the terms on +which he stands toward Him. A confidence, then, at least of being +able to secure our salvation, must be within our reach. The only +question is, how is it to be attained? I answer, the Catholic has +within his reach the security of his salvation, and he alone. + +In order to show this to you, I must remind you of what I mean by +salvation. Put out of your minds that childish idea that +salvation is an external, arbitrary reward, given to some men +when they die, and denied to others, as a father gives a book or +a plaything to an obedient child, and refuses it to a +disobedient. Salvation is union with God. We are made for God. +That is our high destiny. In God are our life and happiness; and +out of God our death and ruin. +{420} +Salvation is our union with God for all eternity, and, in order +to be united to God for all eternity, we must be united to Him +here. Our salvation must begin here. Now, we are united to God +when our intelligence is united to His intelligence by the +knowledge of His truth, and our will united to His will by the +practice of His love. When I affirm, then, that the Catholic +alone has the means of attaining a security of salvation, I mean +that he alone has the certain means of coming to the knowledge of +His truth, and the practice of His will. + +I say _the certain means of coming to the knowledge of His +truth_, for it is one thing to have a certain knowledge of a +thing, and another to have only some ideas about it. We see this +difference when we contrast the language of a man who is master +of a science with that of one who has only vague notions about +it. One possesses his knowledge--knows what he knows--can make +use of it; while the other is embarrassed the moment he attempts +to use his knowledge--is uncertain whether he is right or +wrong--is driven to guesses and conjectures. In the same way, in +religion, it is one thing to have convictions more or less +deep--opinions more or less probable, to be acquainted with its +history and able to talk about it--and quite another to have +certainty in religion, to know that one is right. This is the +assurance I claim as the special possession of the Catholic. +There can be no doubt that Catholics do, in point of fact, show a +much deeper conviction of the truth of their religion than +Protestants. This is a matter of common observation, and the +proofs of it are on every side. Officers who come back from the +army tell how struck they have been with the fact that the +Catholic soldiers believe their religion and carry it with them +to the camp. Proselyting societies make frequent confession of +the difficulty they find in undermining the faith even of +ignorant and needy Catholics. Those who have experience at +death-beds, know that faith is found sometimes surviving almost +every other good principle, and making a return to God possible. +{421} +Those who are familiar with the history of the Church know that +this faith is strong enough to bear the severest tests which can +be applied to it; that it has often led men to despise what the +world most esteems--wealth, pleasures, honor; that it sends the +missionary to heathen countries without a regret for the home and +the native land he leaves behind him; that, in fine, it has often +led men in times past, and still at this day leads them joyfully +to the rack, the stake, and the scaffold. Now, whence comes this +deep and fixed certainty in religion? Is it a mere prejudice that +melts before investigation? Is it a stupid fanaticism? Or has it +a reasonable basis, and are its foundations deep in the laws of +the human mind? I answer, Catholics have this undoubting +conviction on the principle of faith in an infallible authority. +There are but two principles of Christian belief, when we come to +the bottom of the matter. One is the Protestant principle, viz.: +that each one is to settle his faith for himself, by a study of +the clear records of Christianity. The other is the Catholic +principle, viz.: that each one is to receive his faith from an +infallible authority. I feel as if I ought to pause here for a +while to explain to you what is meant by this principle, for +there exists in regard to it in some minds a misconception which +does us the grossest injustice. Some persons imagine that our +creed is manufactured for us by the Pope and the Bishops; that +whatever they may think right and good they may decree, and +forthwith we are bound to believe it. But this is an enormous +mistake. The authority to which I submit myself is something far +more august. It lies behind Pope and Bishop, and they must bow to +it as well as I. The Pope and the Bishops are the organs of this +authority, not its sources. When we speak of learning from an +infallible authority, we mean that a man is to find out the truth +by putting his intelligence in communication with that living +stream of truth that flows down through the channel of tradition, +that living word of God, that public preaching of the truth in +the true Church, begun by the Apostles, carried on by their +successors, confessed by so many people, recorded in so many +monuments, adorned by so many sacrifices, attested by so many +miracles. +{422} +Unquestionably, this was the mode in which men were expected to +learn the truth in apostolic days. It would not have been of the +least avail for a man to have said to the Apostles that his +convictions differed from theirs. He would have been instantly +regarded as in error. "We are of God," says St. John; "he that is +of God, heareth _us_; he that is not of God, heareth not us. +_By this_ shall ye know the spirit of truth, and the spirit +of error." [Footnote 168] + + [Footnote 168: I St. John iv. 6.] + +Nor is there the least intimation in the New Testament that this +principle was to be departed from after the death of the +Apostles. On the contrary, we find that the Apostles ordained +others, and communicated to them their doctrine and authority, +that they might go on and preach just as they had done. And we +find in the early Church that whenever a dispute arose about +doctrine it was settled on the same principle, viz.: by an appeal +to the tradition of the churches that had been founded by the +Apostles. Thus, when a heresy arose in the second century, +Tertullian confronts it by bidding them compare their doctrine +with that of the Apostolic Churches: "If thou art in Achaia," he +says, "thou hast Corinth; if thou art near Macedonia, thou hast +Philippi; if thou art in Italy, thou hast Rome. Happy Church! to +which the Apostles bequeathed not only their blood, but all their +doctrines. See what _she_ has learned, see what _she_ +has taught." [Footnote 169] + + [Footnote 169: Adv. Præscr. Hær. n. 32-6.] + +Such is the principle on which the Catholic Church acts to this +day. Now, while the Protestant principle of private judgment in +its own nature cannot lead to certainty, while in point of fact +it has led only to endless dispute, until in our own day it has +ended by bringing those Divine Records, which it began by +exalting so highly, into doubt and contempt; the Catholic +principle, which, I have stated, is the principle of tradition, +is adapted to give a complete and a reasonable certainty and +assurance. +{423} +The reasons why this public tradition of the living Church has +this power are manifold. They are in part natural, and in part +supernatural--universal consent, internal consistency, Divine +Attestation, the Warrant and Promise of Christ; all of which are +so well summed up by St. Augustine, in that famous letter of his +to the Manichees: "I am kept in the Catholic Church," he says, +"by the consent of peoples and nations. By an authority begun +with miracles, nourished by hope, increased by charity, confirmed +by antiquity. By the succession of priests from the chair of St. +Peter the Apostle--to whom our Lord after His resurrection gave +His sheep to be fed--down to the present Bishop. In fine, by that +very name of _Catholic_, which this Church alone has held +possession of; so that though heretics would fain have called +themselves Catholics, yet to the inquiry of a stranger, 'Where is +the meeting of the Catholic Church held?' no one of them would +dare to point to his own basilica." [Footnote 170] + + [Footnote 170: Con. Ep. Manich. i. 5. 6.] + +The conviction which such considerations produce is so deep that +a Catholic rests in it with the most undoubting certainty. He can +bear to look into his belief, to examine its grounds; he feels it +is a venerable belief. He says it is impossible that God would +allow error to wear so many marks of truth. To imagine it, would +be to impugn _His_ Truth, _His_ Justice, _His_ +Power, _His_ Goodness. And therefore, our belief in the +Catholic religion is only another form of our belief in God. The +foundation of that belief is deep and abiding, for it is the +Eternal Throne of God. That desire for truth which is implanted +in man's nature is not, then, given only to be baffled and +disappointed--here is its fulfilment. Man is not raised to a +participation in Christ of the Divine Nature, to be left in doubt +of the most essential truths. +{424} +To the Catholic are fulfilled those pleasant words of Christ: +"_I will not now call you servants, for the servant knoweth not +what his Lord doeth; but have called you friends, because all +things, whatsoever I have heard from my Father, I have made known +to you_." [Footnote 171] + + [Footnote 171: St. John xv. 15.] + +But some one may make an objection to my doctrine that certainty +about truth is the result only of the Catholic principle of +faith, and say: "You do not mean to assert that Protestants have +no faith at all?" A Protestant may say to me: "I acknowledge that +we have among us a great deal of disunion, and a great deal of +doubt, but after all there are some things that are believed by +some of us, that are believed without doubt, and you will not +deny it." No, I will not deny it. I am glad to think that it is +true. But how did you come by that belief? You did not come by it +on the principle of Protestantism. The truth is, that principle +never has been, and never can be carried out. Thank God, it is +so. Utter unbelief would be the consequence. You have a child--a +child that you love dearly. Will you wait, as your Protestantism +requires you to do, till he is grown up, for him to form his +religious convictions? No; if you love him, you will not. Your +heart will teach you a better wisdom. You will tell him about +God, you will tell him Who Christ is, and what He has done for +him. You will tell him these things not doubtingly, not as if he +was to suspend his judgment on them, but as true, and as to be +believed then and there. And as he looks up at you out of his +trusting eyes, he believes you. But how does he believe you? On +the principle of a Protestant, or a Catholic? On the principle of +private judgment, or on faith in an infallible authority? Surely +it is as a Catholic he believes? You represent to him the Great +Teacher, and his childish soul, in listening to you, hears the +voice of God, performs a great act of religion, and does his +first act of homage to Truth. His nature prompts him to believe +you. Perhaps he is baptized, and then there is a grace in his +heart which secretly inclines him the more to credit you, and he +believes without doubting. He is a Catholic. +{425} +Yes, my brethren, there is many a child of Protestant parents who +is a Catholic--a Catholic, that is, in all but the name, and the +fulness of instruction, and the richness of privilege. He may +grow up in this way, perhaps continue all his life in this +childish faith and trust. I will not say it may not be so. But +let his reason fully awaken. Let him honestly go down to the +foundation of his faith and see on what it rests, and then let +him remain a Protestant, and retain his undoubting assurance if +he can. He cannot--a crisis in his history has come. The sun has +arisen with its living heat. The flower begins to wither. It must +be transplanted or it will die. One of three things will happen: +either the man, finding that he has not learned all that the +Great Teacher has revealed, will go on to accept the rest and +will become a Catholic; or he will learn to doubt what he has +received already and become a sceptic; or he will stick to the +creed he has received from his fathers or picked up for himself, +and doggedly refuse to add to it, thus rendering himself at the +same moment amenable in the Court of Reason for unreasonableness +in what he holds, and in the Court of Faith for unbelief in what +he rejects. So true it is that all the faith there is in the +world is naturally allied to Catholicity. If men were perfectly +reasonable and consistent, there would be only two parties in the +religious world. Protestantism would disappear. On the one side +would be faith, certainty, Catholicity; on the other, doubt and +unbelief. + +Nor is this all. The Catholic has not only a certain means of +arriving at the knowledge of God's Faith, but he has also the +sure means of knowing what he is bound to _do_ in order to +[obtain] salvation. Christianity is a supernatural religion, and +therefore it suggests many questions to which natural reason +cannot give the answer. By what means can I be united to Christ? +Suppose I am in mortal sin, how can I be forgiven? +{426} +What are the precise obligations binding on me as a Christian? +Now, how distinctly, how promptly were such questions answered in +the time of the Apostles! When St. Paul came to Ananias to know +what he was to do, the answer was given to him: "Arise, and be +baptized, and wash away thy sins." In the same way in the +Catholic Church of this day, when a convert asks the same +question, he gets the same answer: Seek in faith and repentance +the cleansing of baptism, and thou shalt be joined unto Christ. +Dost thou wish to know the life thou must practise? It is written +in the ten commandments and the precepts of the Church. Dost thou +wish to know where thou wilt gain strength to keep these laws? In +prayer and the sacraments. The Church tells you how many there +are, what is their efficacy, and the conditions of their saving +operation. Art thou in sin after baptism? Dost thou ask the way +back to God? The Church tells thee that sorrow for sin is the way +back, and that this sorrow, when it is completed by confession, +and accepted by the absolution of the priest, has a sacramental +efficacy. So precise are the answers of Catholicity to the +important practical questions of Christianity; and the authority +which, I have already said, attaches to her words, gives ease and +certainty to the conscience. But how different is all this in +Protestantism! How various the answers given to these questions +by the different sects! Nay, how contradictory sometimes the +answers given in the same sect! It would be odious to go into +particulars on this subject, but I say what I know when I affirm +that an intelligent Protestant cannot have faith in his Church, +if he would; he may adopt a set of opinions and associate with +those who hold them, but he cannot have faith in his Church as a +Church. It is not long since an intelligent member of one of the +most enlightened Protestant denominations told me that the +members of that Church did not seem to be satisfied with it, only +they did not know whether there was any other Church in the world +that would satisfy them. +{427} +I say what I know when I affirm that there are young children in +Protestant Churches who weep because they are told that God hates +them, and they do not know how to gain His love. That there are +numbers of young men, full of generous and noble thoughts and +impulses, who are utterly destitute of any fixed Christian +belief; who say they would like to believe, but they cannot. That +there are multitudes and multitudes who die in this land, who die +without one single Christian act, and many who submit at their +last hour to take part in such acts at the request of friends, +and on the chance that there may be some good in them. That there +are some who openly lament that they were not born Catholics, +that they might have had faith; some who rise in the night to cry +to God out of the hopeless darkness that surrounds them; some +who, in despair of seeing God with an intelligent faith, take up +a substitute, the best of all, it is true, but still very +insufficient--works of benevolence and philanthropy, and the +beauties of a merely moral life; some who would welcome death +itself if it would but remove their agony of doubt. + +I do not say these things, my Protestant friends, if any such are +present, to mock your miseries. Far from it. I know you too well. +I love you too much. I say these things to lead you to truth and +peace. I call to you struggling with the waves, from the rock +whereon our feet have found a resting-place. I speak to you to +the same effect as Christ spoke to the woman at the well of +Jacob, who was a member of the schismatical Samaritan Church. You +worship you know not what. We know what we worship; for salvation +is of the Jews. You know not what you worship. Your religion is +at the best one of doubt and uncertainty. We know what we +worship. We are certain we are right, for salvation is of us. We +are the Israelites. To us belongeth the adoption of children, and +the glory, and the covenant, and the giving of the law, and the +service of God, and the promises. +{428} +This is the mountain of the Lord established in the last days on +the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, into which +the nations flow. O you who know not this home of peace, God did +not make you to be as you are, to be tossed to and fro and +carried about with every wind of doctrine, to follow blind +guides, to give your money for that which is not bread, and your +labor for that which satisfieth not. No, come with us and be +happy. Come with us and be blessed. Come, let us go the mountain +of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will +teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths, for the law +shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from +Jerusalem. Incline your ear unto me and you shall live--the life +of faith--the life of certainty and hope. You shall go out with +joy and be led forth with peace. Instead of the shrub shall come +up the fir tree: and instead of the nettle shall come up the +myrtle tree. All nature shall sympathise in your happiness. The +mountains and hills shall break forth into singing before you, +and all the trees of the country shall clap their hands. + +And you, my dear Catholics, be not indifferent to the graces God +has given you, nor slothful in their use. You have it your power +to make sure your salvation. About the means there is no +uncertainty. They are infallible. It is of the Catholic Church +that the prophet spoke when he said: "_A path shall be there, +and a way, and it shall be called a holy way, and this shall be +unto you a straight way, so that even fools shall not err +therein_." [Footnote 172] And again: "_This saith the Lord +God: I will lay a stone in the foundation of Sion, a tried stone, +a corner-stone, a precious stone, founded in the foundation_." +[Footnote 173] + + [Footnote 172: Isai. xxxv. 8.] + + [Footnote 173: Ibid. xxviii. 16.] + +{429} + +A way to heaven in this dark, uncertain world! a straight, a +sure, a certain way! A rock under our feet under this swelling +sea! O my brethren, what blessings are these! Let them not be in +vain. Be not found at the last day with your lights gone out! The +just shall live by faith. Live by yours. Do you wish to advance +in a good life? Your faith tells you how. Does sin wage a war +against you? Your faith tells you how to meet the combat. Are you +in sin? Your faith tells you how to be forgiven. Correspond, +then, honestly with this faith, and you may enjoy a firm hope of +heaven, a hope not based on excited feelings, not claiming to be +a direct inspiration from on high, but a reasonable hope, that +will stay by you in adversity, and support you at the hour of +death. Claim, then, your privilege. Assert the freedom wherewith +Christ has made you free. Be not troubled or anxious all your +days. Do your part, act up to your Catholic conscience, then lift +up your heads, eat your bread with joy, and let your garments be +always white, for God now accepteth your works. In this is the +love of God perfected in us, that we may have confidence in the +day of judgment. "_Wherefore, be ye steadfast, unmovable, +always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know +that your labor is not in vain in the Lord_." [Footnote 174] + + [Footnote 174: I. Cor. xv. 58.] + +---------------------------------- + + Sermon XXII. + + The Presence Of God. + + (Fifth Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "Indeed the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. + How terrible is this place; + this is no other than the house of God and the gate of heaven." + --Gen XVIII. 16,17. + + +These words were spoken by the Patriarch Jacob when he was +journeying to Syria to visit his uncle. He had stopped for the +night at a place which was afterward called Bethel, and as he lay +on the ground with a stone for his pillow, the Lord appeared to +him in a vision, and blessed him, and foretold his future +greatness and increase. +{430} +Then, penetrated with a sense of the nearness and greatness of +God, with whom he had been conversing, he rose up and exclaimed: +"Indeed the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not." And +trembling, he said: "How terrible is this place; this is no other +than the house of God, and the gate of heaven." Now, my brethren, +we may make every morning and every night a similar declaration. +Wherever we are, we may say: "Indeed the Lord is in this place." +Every spot on earth, on which a man tarries for a moment, becomes +the house of God, and the gate of heaven. You understand what I +mean. I am speaking of the omnipresence of God. Reason and faith +both proclaim to us this great truth of the universal presence of +God. He is present by His immensity to all creatures in the +universe, whether living or inanimate. When God created the +world, He did not leave it to itself. He sustains it by His +presence and power, and it is in Him that we live and move and +have our being. He is present to our intellectual and moral being +as the light of reason and the object of the will, for without +Him there would be no rational or moral life. He is present with +us also as the source of that supernatural life which begins in +baptism and ends in the uncreated vision of the Blessed Trinity +in heaven. "He that loveth Me, shall be loved by My Father; and I +will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. * * * And My +Father will love him, and We will come to him, and will make an +abode with him." [Footnote 175] + + [Footnote 175: St. John xiv. 21, 23.] + +O my brethren, what a piercing thought is this of the presence of +God, if we did but realize it! Think for a moment of the doctrine +of the real presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. We +believe that Jesus Christ, true God and true man, with His deity, +His soul, His flesh and blood, is present in the holy sacrament +of the altar. What consequences this doctrine has! +{431} +The whole Catholic ritual, the ceremonies of worship, the respect +paid to churches, the bowing of the knees, the incense, the +lights, the music--all flow from this. In the early ages, during +the times of persecution, it was customary for Christians to take +home with them the Blessed Sacrament, that they might communicate +themselves in case of necessity. Imagine that such were the +custom now. Imagine you were to take away with you, this day, as +you left the church, and carry to your homes, the sacred host +which is kept in the tabernacle. How silently would you go along +the streets! With what care would you seek out a place for our +Saviour's body to repose in! With what care would you go about +your home as long as He remained your guest! How would your heart +thrill as you reflected, on a awaking in the morning, that indeed +the Lamb of God, once crucified for you, was now a dweller in +your own home! Yet, if such were the case, if the Blessed +Sacrament were actually kept in your houses and in your rooms, +God would not be any more present to you than He is now. He is +indeed present in a different manner in the Blessed Eucharist. +That sacramental presence, that sweet, precious, consoling +presence of the body once broken, and the blood once shed for us, +is confined to the sacramental species. But the presence of the +deity, the real presence of God, is just as much outside as it is +inside the church; just as much with us when we are at home as +when we are at Mass. Not if His footstep shook the heavens and +the earth, as it will on the Last Day when He comes to judgment, +would God be one whit closer to us or more present to us than He +is now to everyone of us, every day, and everywhere. Even sin +cannot separate us from God. We sometimes say that mortal sin +separates a man from God. As a figure of speech, implying the +loss of God's grace and friendship which sin occasions, this +language may pass, but taken literally it is untrue. A man can +never be separated from God. That would be annihilation. Even +when we are in sin, even when we are committing sin, God is with +us and in us, the soul of our soul, the life of our life. +{432} +Yes, here is a bond that can never be broken. Never can we escape +that awful presence--never for a moment, here or hereafter. We +shall not be more in God's presence in heaven or less in hell +than we are now at this moment. God is not a God afar off up in +heaven. He is here. This whole universe is only God's shadow. +Every thing that is attests, not only God's creating power, but +His living presence. He is in the flames and in the light, and in +the pastures, in the air, in the ground, in the body, and in the +soul, in the head, in the eye, in the ear, and in the heart. He +is in us, and we are in Him, bathed in His presence as in an +ocean, breathing in it as in an atmosphere. This is what the +Psalmist expresses so beautifully: "_Whither shall I go from +Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy face? If I ascend +into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art +present; if I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in +the uttermost parts of the sea, even there also shall Thy hand +lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. And I said: Perhaps +darkness shall cover me; and night shall be light in my +pleasures. But darkness shall not be dark to thee; and night +shall be light as the day; the darkness thereof, and the light +thereof, are alike to Thee_." [Footnote 176] + + [Footnote 176: Ps. cxxviii. 7-12.] + +If we thought more frequently of this, how many sins should we +avoid! When a man is going to commit a crime, he takes +precautions against discovery. He seeks out a secret place. He +chooses a fitting hour. Vain precautions! There is no secret +place on earth, no lonely spot, no time of darkness. There is a +proverb among men that "walls have ears," and the counsel of the +wise man is, "_Detract not the king, no, not in thy thought; +and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber; +because even the birds of the air will carry the voice; and he +that hath wings will tell what thou hast said_." [Footnote 177] + + [Footnote 177: Eccles. x. 20.] + +{433} + +What is it that has impressed on men this universal fear of +detection? Is it not an unconscious acknowledgment of the +presence of God? Yes, we cannot shut the door against Him. We +cannot leave Him out. We cannot draw the blind before His eye. +"_The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the +evil." [Footnote 178] "Before that Philip called thee, when thou +wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee,_" [Footnote 179] said our +Lord to Nathanael. + + [Footnote 178: Prov. xv. 3.] + + [Footnote 179: St. John i. 48.] + +I wish you thought more of this; I am sure it would save you from +many a sin. I have read of a holy man who, on hearing a person +say that circumstances were favorable to the commission of a +shameful sin, because no one was present, exclaimed: "What! are +you not ashamed to do that before the living God which you would +be ashamed to do before a man like yourself?" Even the eye of a +dog has restrained men from the commission of crime--how much +more ought the eye of God! Listen to the language you hear as you +pass through the streets. The sacred names of God and Jesus +Christ, how they are bandied about! Would men speak so, if they +realized that God and Christ were then and there present? Would +they insult God to His face? Suppose our Saviour were to appear +to one of these men as he was pouring out his oaths and +blasphemies, in the guise in which He was as He journeyed to +Calvary to die for man, with sorrow in His eye, and sweat and +blood on His forehead, with weak and faltering steps, and lips +mute, but full of appealing love and agony; would he still go on +with his dreadful oaths? No! The knee would be bent, the head +would be bowed, and the very ground on which He walked would be +regarded with reverent awe. Why so? Merely because he saw Him +with his bodily eyes? Would it not be the same, if he were to +close His eyes, and yet be aware of His presence? And is He not +present to you as truly as if you saw Him, hearing each +imprecation and blasphemy which you utter? +{434} +Oh, spare Him! spare those sacred ears; spare His majesty and His +goodness, and cease to profane His holy name. Tertullian, +speaking of the early Christians, says they talked as those who +believed that God was listening. Let the thought of God's +presence be deeply graven on your soul, and it will teach you to +use the language of a Christian--at least it will cure you of +blasphemy. + +It will cure you also of another sin of the tongue: that is of +falsehood. Lying implies a virtual denial of God's presence, as +well as blasphemy. When you lie, you forget the there is One who +know's the truth--who is Himself the Eternal Truth; and you act +as if He knew not, or would be a party to your fraud. Every lie +is, in this respect, like the lie of Ananias and Sapphira--a lie +to God. + +Oh! how much must God be displeased by all the sins He witnesses. +It is said of righteous Lot, that from day to day he vexed his +righteous soul at all the sins which he witnessed in Sodom, where +he dwelt. How must the Holy God be vexed every day at all the +dark deeds, the injustices, the impurities, the falsehoods, the +deceits, the treacheries, the cruelties, to which men compel Him +to be a witness! Is it not a necessity that Christ should come +with ten thousand of His saints to take vengeance on the ungodly! +Would it not seem, otherwise, that God made Himself a party to +our sins by keeping silence? "_These things hast thou +done_," says the Almighty, "_and I was silent. Thou +thoughtest unjustly that I shall be like to thee: but I will +reprove thee, and set before thy face_." [Footnote 180] + + [Footnote 180: Ps. xlix. 21.] + +David committed adultery in secret; but God declared to him that +He would punish him before all Israel, and in the sight of the +sun. So the Judgment Day will bring to light every secret thing, +and manifest, in the sight of all, those hidden sins which have +been committed in the presence and with the full knowledge of +God. +{435} +They have never been hidden from God, and the disclosures of the +Last Day are only the Presence and the Knowledge of God asserting +and manifesting themselves to men. The thought of God, and of His +Omnipresence, is thus the greatest preservative against sin. + +But this is not all. The thought of God's perpetual and universal +presence is our greatest strength and consolation. What a comfort +it would be to have a friend, who loved us truly, who was most +sincerely desirous of our welfare and happiness, who was very +wise and able to help us in difficulties, never variable or +capricious, but always true and faithful and trustworthy! The +possession of such a friend will go as far as any thing earthly +can go to make one perfectly happy. Now, each one of us really +has such a friend. Such a friend? Ah! far better, far wiser, far +more loving--even the good God! God, in the Holy Scriptures, +represents the soul of man as a garden, in which it is His +delight to walk about. What an idea this gives us of the +familiarity a man may have with God. Why do not men take +advantage of this loving condescension? Why do they not converse +with God? Why do they not think of Him? The face of Moses shone +after he had been talking to God on Mount Sinai, and our +countenance would be light and joyous if we dwelt more in God's +presence. Oh, to think of it! When we walk in the streets, when +we sit down and rise up, there is one ever at our side--no, not +at our side; but in us--our very life and being; God, the +Beautiful and Good. God, Who made the heavens and the earth; the +God of our fathers. God, Who has been the comfort and stay of the +just in all ages, Who talked with Abraham, and went before the +children of Israel in a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by +night. God, Who gave manna from heaven, Who spoke by the +prophets, and in the still, small voice on Mount Horeb; Who awoke +Samuel, as he lay sleeping in his little crib in the priest's +chamber, and chose David, the youth, fair and of a ruddy +countenance, to be the prince of His people; and who, in these +last days, hath revealed Himself in His Only Begotten Son, full +of grace and truth. + +{436} + +He it is Who is with you and me, even from our youth unto this +day. O thou who art afflicted, tossed with tempests and not +comforted, what dost thou want?--what wouldst thou have? The +Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath thee are the +everlasting arms. Thou hast but to open thy soul, and floods of +comfort and strength will pour into thee. Art thou weak? He is +thy Strength. Art thou sad and lonely? He is thy Consoler. Art +thou guilty? He is thy Redeemer--the God ready to pardon. Does +the world allure thee? His Beauty will make its attractions pale. +Is thy heart weary and inconstant? He is unfailing and +unchanging. O source of strength, too much slighted! O happiness, +too often blindly rejected! In the presence of God there is +pleasure and life. "_They that hope in the Lord shall renew +their strength; they shall take wings as eagles; they shall run +and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." "For He is a +covert from the wind, a hiding-place from the storm, as rivers of +waters in a dry place, and the shadow of a great rock in a weary +land_." [Footnote 181] + + [Footnote 181: Isai. xl. 31; xxxii. 2.] + +Learn, then, my brethren, to keep yourselves in the presence of +God. To forget God, what is it, but to plunge ourselves into sin +and misery. To remember God, what is it, but to be strong and +happy. "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect," said God to +Abraham. That is the secret of perfection, the way to heaven. It +is not necessary to go out of your own mind. It is not necessary +to lift the eye to heaven, or bend the knee. Closer than the +union of soul and body is the union between God and thee. +{437} +Quicker than thought is the communion between thy soul and its +Maker. "_Thou shalt cry_," says the Almighty, "_and I will +say: Here I am--yea, even before thy call, I will hear, and even +while thou art yet speaking I will answer_." [Footnote 182] + + [Footnote 182: Isai. lviii. 9; lxv. 24.] + +Practise, then, attention to the presence of God. I do not speak +so much now of daily prayers, and of your devotions in the +church. But when you are abroad in the busy world, or in your +homes, accustom yourselves from time to time to think of God. +Complicated pieces of machinery require the care of an overseer +from time to time, lest they get out of gear. So we must think of +God from time to time during the day, and keep the powers of our +soul in harmony with the will of God, lest they fall into +disorder, and the work of life be hindered. It is not a work of +very great difficulty. The chief difficulty lies in its +simplicity. It is so much easier to pray than we think, that +oftentimes we have already prayed when we are perplexing +ourselves how to pray, and busying ourselves with preparing to +pray. God is in us, in the very centre of our soul. He knows its +most secret thoughts, and thus a simple act of the will is enough +to bring us into communion with Him. To realize this is to be men +of prayer, to be as happy as it is possible for us to be in this +life, and to begin here that contemplation of God which will +constitute our everlasting beatitude in heaven. + +----------------------------------------- + + Sermon XXIII. + + Keeping The Law Not Impossible. + + (Ninth Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "I can do all things in Him who strengtheneth me." + --Phil. VI. 13. + + +If I am not mistaken, a very great number of the sins that men +commit, are committed through hopelessness. The pleasures of sin +are by no means unmixed. Indeed, sin is a hard master; and all +who practise it find it so. +{438} +I never met a man who said it was a good thing, or that it made +him happy. On the contrary, all lament it, and say that it makes +them miserable. Why, then, do they commit it? Very often, I am +persuaded, because they think they have no power to resist it. +They feel in themselves strong passions; they have yielded to +them in times past, they see that others yield to them, and so +they come to think it impossible not to yield to them. The law of +God is too difficult, they say. It is impossible to keep it. It +may do for priests or nuns who are cut off from the world, or for +women, or for the old, or for children, but for us who mix in the +world, whose blood is warm, and whose passions are strong, it is +too high and pure. It is all very well to talk about; it is all +very well to hold up a high standard to us, but you must not +expect us to attain it. The utmost that you can expect of us is +to stop sinning, now and then, and make the proper +acknowledgments to God by going to confession; but actually to +try not to sin, to keep on endeavoring not to sin at any time, or +under any circumstances, that is impossible, or at least so +extremely difficult that, practically speaking, it is impossible. +Are there none of you, my brethren, who recognise this as the +secret language of your hearts? Is there not an impression in +your minds that the law of God is too strict, or at least that it +is too strict for you, and that you cannot keep it? If so, do not +harbor it. It is a fatal error. No; it is not impossible to keep +God's law. It is not impossible to keep from mortal sin. It is, I +admit, impossible to keep from every venial sin, though even here +we can do a great deal, if we try. Such is the frailty of human +nature that even the best men, as time goes on, fall into some +slight faults, only the Blessed Virgin having been able, as we +believe, to pass a whole life without even in the smallest thing +offending God. But it is possible for all of us to keep from +mortal sin, at all times and under all circumstances. This, I +think, you will acknowledge when you consider the character of +God, the nature of God's law, and the power of God's grace which +is promised to us. + +{439} + +I say the character of God is a pledge of our ability to keep +from mortal sin. God requires us to be free from mortal sin, and +He requires it under the severest penalties, and therefore it +must be possible for us. You may say, "God requires us to be free +from venial sin too, and yet you have just said we cannot avoid +every venial sin." But the case is far different. A venial sin +does not separate us from God, and does not receive extreme +punishment from Him--nay, those venial sins which even good men +commit, and which are only in small part voluntary, are very +easily forgiven--but a mortal sin cuts us off entirely from God, +and deserves eternal punishment. You know, one mortal sin is +enough to damn a man--one single sin of drunkenness, for +instance, or impurity; a cherished hatred, a false oath, or an +act of grave injustice. One such sin is sufficient to sink a man +in hell, and although we know very little in particular of the +torments of hell, we have every reason to believe that they are +most bitter, and we know that they are eternal. Now, can it be +thought that a being of justice and goodness, as we know God to +be, would inflict so extreme a punishment for an offence which +was unavoidable, or could only be avoided with the utmost +difficulty? Holy Scripture sends us to an earthly parent for an +example of that tenderness and affection which we are to expect +from our Heavenly Father. "_If you, being evil, know how to +give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father +who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask Him_." +[Footnote 183] + + [Footnote 183: St. Matt. vii. 11.] + +What would be the thought of an earthly father who laid upon his +son a command which it was all but impossible for him to comply +with, and then punished him with the utmost rigor for not +fulfilling it? +{440} +You would not call that man a father, but a tyrant; a tyrant like +Pharaoh, who would not give straw to the children of Israel, and +yet set taskmasters over them to exact of them the full measure +of bricks as when straw had been given them. Why, if you were +going along the street and saw a man whipping unmercifully an +overloaded horse, you would not bear it patiently. And would you +attribute conduct so disgraceful among men to our Father in +heaven? God forbid! Far be such a thought from us! It is not so. +We must not think it. At least we cannot think it as long as we +remain Catholics; for when the earlier Protestants proclaimed the +shocking doctrine that though God punished men for disobeying his +law, man was really unable to obey it, the Church branded the +doctrine as a heresy to be abhorred of all men, as most false in +itself, and most injurious to God. No; God loves his creatures +far more than we conceive of: He does not desire the death of a +sinner. He wills truly the salvation of all men. His goodness and +mercy, His truth and justice, are all so many infallible +guarantees of our ability to keep His law. He would not have +given us His law unless He had meant us to keep it. He would not +punish us so severely for breaking it, unless our breaking it was +an act of deliberate, wilful, determined rebellion. + +But there is another source from which I draw the conclusion that +it is possible to keep the law of God--from the nature of the law +itself. The law of God is of such a nature that, for the most +part, in order to commit mortal sin, it is necessary to do or to +leave undone some external act, which of its own nature it is +entirely in our power to do or not to do. For instance, the law +says, "_Thou shalt not steal;_" now, to steal, you have got +to put your hand into your neighbor's pocket. The law says: +"_Thou shalt do no murder;_" to murder, you must stretch out +your hand against your neighbor's life. Nay, it requires +ordinarily several external actions before a mortal sin is +consummated. Thus the thief has his precautions to take, and his +plans to lay. +{441} +The drunkard has to seek the occasion. He seeks the grogshop. +Every step he takes is a separate act. When he gets there, it is +not the first glass that makes him drunk. He drinks again and +again, and it is only after all these different and repeated +actions that he falls into the mortal sin of drunkenness. Now, +here you see are external acts--acts in which the hand, the foot, +the lips, are concerned, and which, therefore, it is perfectly in +our power to do or to let alone. This requires no proof, but +admits of a striking illustration. You have heard of the great +sufferings of the martyrs; how some of them were stoned to death, +others flayed alive, others crucified, others torn to pieces by +wild beasts, others burned to death. Now, what was it all about? +You answer, "They suffered because they would not deny Christ." +Very well; but how were they required to deny Christ? "What was +it they were required to do? I will tell you. Sometimes they were +required to take a few grains of incense and throw it on the +altar of Jupiter; that would have been enough to have saved them +from their sufferings. They need not have said, 'I renounce +Christ;" only to have taken the incense would have been +sufficient. Sometimes they were required to tread on the cross. +Sometimes to swear by the genius of the Roman emperor; that was +all. And the fire was kindled to make them do these things; but +they would not. The flames leaped upon them, but not a foot would +they lift from the ground. Their hands were burnt to the bone, +but no incense would they touch. The marrow of their bones melted +in the heat, and forced from them a cry of agony, but the name of +the emperor's tutelary genius did not pass their lips. Now, will +you tell me that you cannot help doing what the martyrs would not +do to save them from death? They had a fire before them and a +scourge behind them, and they refused; and you say you cannot +help yourself when you are under no external violence whatever! +They died rather than lift a hand to do a forbidden thing; have +you not the same power over your hand that they had? +{442} +They died rather than utter a sinful word; have you not as much +power over your tongue as they? Indeed you have, for you control +both one and the other whenever you will. I say there is no +sinner whose conduct does not show that his actions are perfectly +in his own power. The thief waits for the night to carry on his +trade; during the day he is honest enough. The greatest libertine +knows how to behave himself in the presence of a high-born and +virtuous female. And even that vice which men say it is most +difficult of all to restrain when once the habit is +formed--profane swearing--you know how to restrain it when you +will, for even the heaviest curser and swearer ceases from his +oaths before the priest, or any other friend whom he greatly +respects. Now, if you can stop cursing before the priest, why can +you not before your wife and children? If you can be chaste in +the presence of a virtuous female, why can you not be chaste +everywhere? If you can be honest when the eye of man is on you, +why can you not be honest when no eye sees you but that of God? + +"But," someone may say, "there is a class of sins to which the +remarks you have made do not apply, that is, sins of thought. You +must admit that they are of such a nature that it is all but +impossible not to commit them." No, I do not admit it. I +acknowledge that sins of thought are more difficult to guard +against than sins of action; but I do not acknowledge that it is +impossible to guard against them. To prove this, I have only to +remind you that an evil thought is no sin until we give +_consent_ to it. To keep always free from evil thoughts may +be impossible, because the imagination is in its nature so +volatile, that but few men have it in control; but, though it be +not possible to restrain the imagination, it is always possible +to restrain the will. In order for the will to consent to evil it +is necessary both to _know_ and to _choose_, and +therefore from the nature of the thing one can never fall into +sin either inevitably or unawares. +{443} +And besides, the will has a powerful ally in the conscience, +whose province it is to keep us from sin and to reproach us when +we do sin--so that it is scarcely possible, for one who +habitually tries to keep free from mortal sin, to fall into it +without his conscience giving a distinct and unmistakable report. +And this is so certain that spiritual writers say that a person +of good life and tender conscience, who is distressed with the +uncertainty whether or no he has given consent to an evil +temptation, ought to banish that anxiety altogether and to be +sure that he has not consented. But suppose these evil +temptations are importunate, and remain in the soul even when we +resist them, and try to turn from them? No matter. They do not +become sins on that account; nay, they become the occasion of +acts of great virtue. It is related in the life of St. Catharine +of Sienna that on one occasion that pure virgin's soul was +assailed by the most horrible temptations of the devil. They +lasted for a long time, and after the conflict our Saviour +appeared to her with a serene countenance. "O my Divine Spouse," +she said, "where wast thou when I was enduring these conflicts?" +"In thy soul," he replied. "What, with all these filthy +abominations?" "Yes, they were displeasing and painful to thee; +this therefore was thy merit, and thy victory was owing to My +presence." So that we see even here, where the danger is +greatest, the law of God exacts of us nothing but what in its own +nature is in our power to do or not to do. + +But if you wish another proof of your ability to keep God's law, +I allege the _power of His grace_. I can imagine an objector +saying: "You have not touched the real difficulty, after all. The +difficulty is not on God's side; no doubt. He is good and holy. +Neither are the requirements of his law so very hard. The +difficulty is in us. We are fallen by nature. We have sinned +after baptism. We are so weak, so frail, that to us continued +observance of the divine commandments is impossible." No, my +brethren, neither is this true. +{444} +It is not true from the mouth of any man; least of all from the +mouth of a Christian. "No temptation," says the Apostle, "_hath +taken hold of you but Such as is human: And God is faithful, who +will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able; +but will also with the temptation make a way of escape that you +may be able to bear it_." [Footnote 184] + + [Footnote 184: I Cor. x. 13.] + +The weakest and frailest are strong enough with God's grace, and +this grace He is ready to give to those that need it. At all +times and in all places He has been ready to give His grace to +them that need it, but especially is this true under the gospel. +The Holy Scriptures make this the distinguishing characteristic +of the times of the gospel, that they shall abound in grace. +"_Take courage, and fear not_," the prophet says, in +anticipation of the time when Christ should come in the flesh, +"_Behold, God will come and save you. Then shall the eyes of +the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then +shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb +shall be free; for waters are broken out of the desert, and +streams in the wilderness. And that which was dry land shall +become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water_." +[Footnote 185] Such was the promise, hundreds of years before +Christ, of a time of peace, of happiness and grace; and when our +Lord was come, He published that the good time had indeed +arrived: "_The spirit of the Lord hath anointed me to preach +the gospel to the poor. He hath sent me to heal the contrite of +heart. To preach deliverance to the captive, and sight to the +blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the +acceptable year of the Lord_." [Footnote 186] + + [Footnote 185: Is. xxxv. 4-7.] + + [Footnote 186: St. Luke iV. 18, 19.] + +Yes, the great time has come; the cool of the day; the evening of +the world; the time when labor is light and reward abundant. O my +brethren, you know not what a privilege it is to be a Christian! +You enter a church. You see a priest in his confessional. A +penitent is kneeling at his feet. +{445} +The sight makes but little impression on you, for you are +accustomed to it, but this is that "_fountain_" promised by +the prophet "_to the house of David and to the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, for the washing of the sinner;_" a fountain that +flows from the Saviour's side, and not only cleanses, but +strengthens and makes alive. You pass an altar. The priest is +giving communion. Stop! it is the Lord himself! the bread of +angels! the wine of virgins! the food "_whereof if a man eat he +shall live forever_." And not only in the church do you find +grace; it follows you home. You shut your door behind you, and +your Father in heaven waits to hear and grant your prayer. Nay, +at all times God is with you, for you are the temple of God, and +He sits on the throne of your heart to scatter His grace on you +whenever and wherever you ask Him. Do not say, then, Christian, +that you are unable to do what God requires of you. It is a sin +of black ingratitude to say so. Even if it were impossible for +others to keep the law of God, it is not for you. He hath not +done to every nation as he hath done to you. When the patriarch +Jacob was dying, he blessed all his children, but his richest +blessing was for Joseph. So God has blessed all the children of +His hand, but you, Christian, are the Joseph whom He hath loved +more than all His other sons. To others He hath given of "_dew +dew of heaven_," and "_the fatness of the earth_," but +you "_He hath blessed with all spiritual blessings in +Christ_." + +Away, then, with the notion that obedience to the commandments of +God is impracticable--a notion dishonorable to God and to +ourselves. It is possible to keep free from mortal sin--for +all--at all times, under all temptations. Nay, I will say more. +It is, on the whole, easier to live a life of Christian +obedience, than a life of sin. I say "on the whole," for I do not +deny that here and there, in particular cases, it is harder to do +right than wrong; but taking life all through, one who restrains +his passions will have less trouble than one who indulges them. +{446} +Heroic actions are not required of us every day. In order to be a +Christian, it is not necessary to be always high-strung and +enthusiastic. It is not necessary to be a devotee, to adopt set +and precise ways, to take up with hypocrisy and cant--in a word, +to be unmanly. It is just, for the most part, the most matter of +fact, the most practical, the most simple and straight-forward +thing in the world. It is to be a man of principle. It is to have +a serious, abiding purpose to do our duty. It is to be full of +courage; not the courage of the braggart, but the courage of the +soldier--the courage that thrives under opposition, and survives +defeat, the courage that takes the means to secure +success--vigilance, humility, steadfastness, and prayer. Before +this, all difficulties vanish, and this is what we want most of +all. It is amazing how little courage there is in the world. We +are like the servant of Eliseus, the prophet, who, when he awoke +in the morning, and saw the great army that had been sent by the +King of Syria to take his master, said, "_Alas, alas, alas, my +lord; what shall we do!_" But Eliseus showed him another +army--the army of angels ranged on the mountain, with chariots of +fire and horses of fire, ready to fight for the servants of God, +and he said, "_Fear not: for there are more with us than with +them_." [Footnote 187] + + [Footnote 187: IV. Kings vi. 15-17.] + +Why should we fear? Christianity is no new thing. The path of +Christian obedience is not an untried path. Thousands have trod +it and are now enjoying their reward. God, and the angels, and +the saints, are on our side. And there are multitudes of faithful +souls in the word who are fighting the good fight, and keeping +their souls unsullied. We cannot distinguish them now, but one +day we shall know them. Oh! let us join them. Yes, we will make +our resolution now. Others may guide themselves by pleasure or +expediency; we will adopt the language of the Psalmist: "_Thy +Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths_." +[Footnote 188] + + [Footnote 188: Ps. cxviii. 105.] + +{447} + +We will be Christians, not in name, but in deed. Not for a time +only, but always. One thought shall cheer us in sadness and nerve +us in weakness, "_I have sworn and am determined to keep the +judgments of Thy justice_." [Footnote 189] + + [Footnote 189: Ibid. 106.] + +--------------------------------- + + Sermon XXIV. + + The Spirit Of Sacrifice.. + + (For The Feast Of St. Laurence, Martyr.) + + + "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, + that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, + holy, pleasing to God, your reasonable service." + --Rom. XVII. 1. + + +There is, my brethren, among many men who practise Christian +duties to a certain extent, one remarkable want. I will call it +the want of the Spirit of Sacrifice. Compare such men with any of +the saints, and you will see at once what I mean. One saint may +differ a great deal from another, but this is common to them +all--a vivid sentiment of God's greatness and Sovereignty, of His +right to do with us what He wills, and a willing and reverent +recognition of that right. Now the defective Christianity to +which I allude lacks this spirit altogether. It differs from the +Christianity of the saints not only in degree but in kind. Not +only does it fail to produce _as many_ sacrifices as the +saints made for God, but the idea of Sacrifice is completely +strange and foreign to it. It bargains about the commandments of +God, and, when any commandment is difficult, postpones +fulfilment, or refuses it altogether. To prevent any of you from +being content with so imperfect and unsatisfactory a sort of +religion, I will give you this morning some reasons why you +should aim to serve God in the spirit of sacrifice. + +{448} + +First, then, I assert that the spirit of sacrifice is necessary. +God requires it of us. On this point I think some people make a +mistake. They seem to think that a willingness to make sacrifices +for God is one of the ornamental or heroic parts of religion, and +that everyday people are not required to have it. But this is not +so. The Spirit of Sacrifice is required of everyone. I infer this +from the fact that an external sacrificial worship is necessary. +It is frequently said that there is no religion without a +sacrifice. And this is true. There never has been, nor indeed +could there be, a true religion without having some external act +of sacrificial worship. But why is this necessary? Not simply +because we are sinners and need propitiation, for some +theologians have thought that sacrifices would have been +necessary, though man had never sinned. What religion requires a +sacrifice for, is this--to express our sense of God's supreme +Sovereignty. In a Sacrifice there is something offered to God and +destroyed, thus signifying that God is the Author of Life and +Death, our Creator, our Ruler, our Supreme Judge. The excellence +of the Christian Sacrifice--the Sacrifice of the Mass--consists +in this, that the victim offered is a living, reasonable, Divine +Victim, even the Son of God Incarnate, Who by His Life and Death +rendered most worthy homage to the Divine Majesty, and still in +every Mass, continually, offers it anew. + +This, then, is what the Mass is given us for, and this is why we +are required to assist at the Mass, that we may in a perfect and +worthy manner recognize God's Sovereignty and our dependence on +Him. When we assist at Mass, the meaning of our action, if put +into words, would be something like this: "I acknowledge Thee, O +God, for my Sovereign Lord, and the Supreme Disposer of my Life +and Death, and because I am not able worthily to express Thy +Greatness, I beg of Thee to accept, as if it were my own, all the +submission with which Thy Son honored Thee on the Cross, and now +again honors Thee in this Holy Sacrifice." +{449} +Now, it cannot be imagined that we are required to make this +profession to God without at the same time being required to have +in our hearts that sentiment of God's greatness and sovereignty +which we express with our lips. Our Lord did not come to suffer +and die, and give His life [as] a sacrifice to the Father, to +dispense us from the obligation of worshipping God ourselves, but +to give to our worship a perfect example and a higher +acceptability. Without our worship the Mass is incomplete. On our +Lord's part, indeed, the Sacrifice of the Mass is always +efficacious, for He is present wherever it is celebrated; but on +our part it is empty and unmeaning if no one really fears God, +submits unreservedly to Him, is willing to do all He commands, +and acknowledges that all that could be done for Him is too +little. A worship of Sacrifice implies a life of sacrifice. This +is beautifully illustrated in the life of St. Laurence, whose +Martyrdom we celebrate to-day. + +St. Laurence was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome in +the third century of the Christian era. As deacon, it was his +office to serve the Mass of St. Xystus, who was at that time +Pope. "When the persecution broke out under the Emperor Valerius, +St. Xystus was seized and carried off to martyrdom. As he was on +his way, St. Laurence followed him weeping and saying: "Father +where are you going without your son? Whither are you going, O +holy priest, without your deacon? You were not wont to offer +sacrifice without me your minister, wherein have I displeased +you? Have you found me wanting to my duty? Try me now and see +whether you have made choice of an unfit minister for dispensing +the Blood of the Lord." And St. Xystus replied: "I do not leave +you, my son, but a greater trial and a more glorious victory are +reserved for you who are stout and in the vigor of youth. We are +spared on account of our weakness and old age. You shall follow +me in three days." And, in fact, three days after, St. Laurence +was burnt to death, his faith rendering him joyful, even mirthful +in his sufferings. + +{450} + +Now, I do not look on this conversation as poetry. Times of +affliction are not times when men look around for fine ways of +expressing themselves. At such times words come straight from the +heart. I see, then, in the words of St. Laurence the sentiments +with which he was accustomed to assist at Mass. As he knelt at +the foot of the altar at which the Pope was celebrating, clothed +in the beautiful dress of a deacon, his soul was filled with the +thoughts of God's greatness and goodness, and along with the +offering of the heavenly Victim, he used to offer to God his +fervent desire to do something to honor the Divine Majesty, the +color sometimes mounting high in his youthful cheek as he thought +how joyfully he would yield his own heart's blood as a sacrifice, +if the occasion should offer. Martyrdom to him was but a natural +completion of Mass. It was but the realisation of his habitual +worship. + +In the early history of the city of St. Augustine, in Florida, it +is related that a priest, who was attacked by a party of Indians, +asked permission to say Mass before he died. This was granted +him, and the savages waited quietly till the Mass was ended. Then +the priest knelt on the altar steps and received the death-blow +from his murderers. With what sentiments must that priest have +said Mass! with what devotion! with what reverence! with what +self-oblation! So, I suppose St. Laurence, and St. Xystus, and +the Christians of the old time were accustomed always to assist +at Mass, with the greatest desire to honor God, the most complete +spirit of self-sacrifice. Now, I do not say we are all bound to +be as holy as these great saints. I do not even say we are bound +to desire martyrdom; but I do say there is not one kind of +Christianity for the saints and another for ordinary Christians; +one kind, all self-denial for them, and another kind, all +self-indulgence, for us. +{451} +I say God is to us what He is to the saints--our Creator and our +Sovereign; and He demands of us the worship of creatures and +subjects--the worship of _sacrifice_--a willingness to do +all He demands of us now, and a readiness to do greater things +the moment that He makes it known to us that such is His Will. + +How many difficulties, my brethren, such a spirit takes out of +the way of Christian obedience! It cuts off at One blow all our +struggles with the decrees of God's providence. How much of our +misery comes from murmurings against the providence of God! One +is suffering under sickness and pain, another is overwhelmed with +reverses and afflictions, another is irritated by continual +temptations. No one can deny that these are severe trials; but +see how the spirit of sacrifice disposes of them. It says to the +sick man, to the suffering man, what Isaac said to his father +Abraham on the mountain: "See, here is fire and wood, but where +is the victim for a burnt offering? Here are the materials for a +beautiful act of sacrifice. It wants only a meek heart for a +victim, and love to light the flame, to turn the sickbed, the +house of mourning, the soul agitated by temptation, into an altar +of the purest worship, and the language of complaint into the +liturgy of praise. Again: it sometimes happens that a man gets +involved in relations of business or friendship, or becomes +addicted to some indulgence, which threaten to ruin his soul, and +he is required to renounce them, to give up the intimacy, to +change his business, to deny himself that indulgence. The command +of God is distinct and peremptory: "_If thy hand or thy foot +scandalize thee, cut it off and cast it from thee. And if thy eye +scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee_." +[Footnote 190] + + [Footnote 190: St. Matt. xviii. 8.] + +{452} + +How does he receive it? He says: "It is too hard." Too hard! And +is it, then, only God for whom we are unwilling to do any thing +hard? We must make sacrifices of some sort in life, and heavy +ones, too. We cannot get rid of the necessity of making them, do +what we will. The world requires them of us. Our families require +them. Our health requires them. Our pleasure requires them. Nay, +our very sins require them. And what we do willingly for the +world, for our families, for our health, our pleasure, our sins, +shall we refuse to do for the great and good God? for Christ our +Saviour, who did not refuse the Cross to give us an example of +the obedience we owe His Father? + +Or take another example: A person who is not a Catholic finds +much that is reasonable in Catholic doctrine, but makes a great +stumbling-block of confession; or even a Catholic gets a dread of +it, and stays away for years and years from the sacraments of the +Church. Now, of course, in such cases it is only charitable to +show that the difficulty of confession is very much magnified, +and that, like many other things that frighten us, it loses its +terror when we approach it; but, to say the truth, I always feel +something like shame when I hear one trying to prove to such +persons that confession is easy; partly because I know he cannot +succeed perfectly, since confession is of its own nature arduous, +and in particular cases may be very difficult; but chiefly, +because I cannot help thinking if God Himself were to answer +them, it would be in the few strong words He has used in the Holy +Scripture: "_Be still: and know that I am God_." [Footnote 191] +A creature must not parley with his maker, a sinner with his +Judge. + + [Footnote 191: Ps. xlv. 11.] + +{453} + +Yes: we shrink from the very mention of sacrifice, yet it is the +spirit of sacrifice that makes all our duties easy. No doubt it +is our privilege to reason about the commandments of God; and we +shall often see, what we know is always the case, that they are +full of wisdom and goodness; but we need in practice some +principle that is ready at hand always to be used in every time +of trial, in every difficulty, and that is the Spirit of +Sacrifice, a profound reverence for God, an unquestioning +conviction of His absolute right to dispose of us as He will. +Abraham had this spirit, and therefore faltered not a moment when +the command came to sacrifice his son Isaac. Moses had it, and +therefore "_when he was grown up, refused to be called the son +of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer persecution with +the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a +time_." [Footnote 192] + + [Footnote 192: Heb. xi. 24.] + +The Christian saints have had it, and therefore they trampled on +every repugnance, every attachment, when it came in the way of +their perfection. And this principle is the life of the great +religious and charitable orders of the Church. These institutions +are a mystery to Protestants. Soon after the "Little Sisters of +the Poor" were established in London, a Protestant writer, in one +of the periodicals of the day, described a visit he had made to +their establishment, and after giving a most interesting account +of the self-denying labors of the community, he says he was +curious to trace the feelings that actuated these ladies in +devoting themselves to duties so apt to be repulsive to their +class. He supposed that benevolence was the impulse most +concerned, but, on questioning the Sisters, found that this was +not the case, but that the basis of their action was a principle +of self-renunciation for Christ's sake. To him such a motive had +in it something strange and unnatural; but, really, this is +always the sustaining principle of all high religious action. +Every thing fails sooner or later but the spirit of sacrifice. +This is the spirit that does great things for God, that cuts down +the mountains in our road to heaven and fills up the valleys, +making straight paths for our feet. + +{454} + +And how pleasing is such a spirit to God! Even among men such a +spirit is highly esteemed. Who does not admire a generous, +self-sacrificing man? In a family, who is so much loved as the +one whose thoughts are all for others? Where are such tears shed +as over the fresh grave of a self-forgetful friend? What makes +the character of a mother so beautiful but the trait of +self-sacrifice? And so before God there is nothing so beautiful +as the spirit of Sacrifice. A religion which does not centre in +itself, but which centres in God, that is His delight. There is +nothing abject in such a spirit. To serve God is to reign. God +knows our nature, and He requires of us nothing but what gives to +our whole being its highest harmony. The man who has the spirit +of sacrifice is a royal man. How beautiful, my brethren, is an +altar! Every thing connected in our minds with an altar is +beautiful. When we think of an altar, we think of sweet flowers +and burning lights, and smoking incense, and a meek victim, and +worship, music, and prayer. So, in the heart where the spirit or +Sacrifice reigns, there are sweet flowers of piety, and flaming +zeal, and the silent victim of a heart that struggles not, and +the incense of prayer, and the harmonies of joy and praise. Oh, +if there is a sacred place on earth, a home of peace, a shrine, a +holy of holies, a place where heaven and earth are nearest, where +God descends and takes up His abode, it is in the heart of the +man who is penetrated through and through with the sense of God's +greatness, and who walks before Him in reverence and continual +worship. + +My brethren, I covet for you such a spirit. I do not always find +it among Catholics. I remember, some years ago, when collecting +for a charitable object, I called on a man who was engaged in a +large business, and asked for a contribution. He said, Oh yes, he +thought highly of the undertaking, and wished to give a generous +donation, say one hundred dollars. When I called for it at the +appointed time, he asked me if I did not want any goods in his +line. +{455} +They were articles of luxury, such as very few persons have +occasion for, and I told him, no. Then he mentioned a rich +gentleman with whom I happened to be acquainted, and asked me to +secure for him his custom, intimating that this donation of one +hundred dollars depended on my success. Now I do not know that +this person was at all sensible of acting an unworthy part, but I +think you must all feel that this was very far from the spirit in +which one ought to give any thing to God; and yet, my brethren, +inferior motives enter too much and too often into our religious +actions. Selfishness mingles too much with our piety. Oh, how +diluted, how paltry and feeble is our religion, compared with +that of other times! David refused the site for an altar that +Areuna offered him as a gift, saying: "_Nay but I will buy it +of thee at a price; and will not offer to the Lord my God +holocausts free cost_." [Footnote 193] + + [Footnote 193: 2 Kings xxiv. 24.] + +Magdalene took a box of spikenard ointment, because it was the +most precious thing she had, and very costly, and broke the box, +and poured it wastefully on the Saviour's head. [Footnote 194] + + [Footnote 194: St. Matt. xxvi. 7.] + +Those who have examined the cathedrals of Europe that were built +in the Middle Ages, tell us that away up on the outside of the +roof, there is found carving as rich, as beautiful, and as +elaborate as that on the parts in full sight. A human eye would +hardly see it once a year; no matter: it was done for the eye of +God and the angels. Oh that you had such a spirit! I want you to +think more of God. I want you to fear Him more deeply, and to +love Him far, far more fervently. O my brethren, is the service +you are rendering Him at all worthy of Him? Look at the earth and +sky that He has made; look at the glorious Throne of Light from +which He sways the universe, look at the Cross, look into your +own hearts, and answer. "Holy things are for the Holy." "_Great +is the Lord, and greatly to be praised." [Footnote 195] "O Lord +God Almighty, just and true, who shall not fear Thee and magnify +Thy Name!_" [Footnote 196] "_As the eyes of servants are on +the hands of their masters, and as the eyes of a handmaid are on +the hands of her mistress, so our eyes are unto Thee, O Lord our +God, Thou that dwellest in the heavens._" [Footnote 197] + + [Footnote 195: Psalm xlvii. 1.] + + [Footnote 196: Apoc. xv. 3.] + + [Footnote 197: Psalm cxxii. 2.] + +------------------------------------ + +{456} + + Sermon XXV. + + Mary's Destiny A Type Of Ours. + + (The Feast Of The Assumption.) + + + "Mary hath chosen the best part, + which shall not be taken away from her." + --St. Luke x. 42. + + +To-day is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To-day she +entered into the enjoyment of heaven. The trials and troubles of +life are over. The time of banishment is ended. She closes her +eyes on this world, and opens them to the vision of God. She is +exalted to-day above the choirs of angels to the heavenly +kingdom, and takes her seat at the right hand of her Son. I do +not mean to attempt any description of her glory in heaven. I am +sure whatever I could say would fall far short, not only of the +reality, but of your own glowing thoughts about her. Who is there +that needs to be told that the Blessed Virgin is splendid in +sanctity, dazzling in beauty, and exalted in power? But, my +brethren, it is possible to contemplate the Blessed Virgin in +such a way as to put her at too great a distance from us. It is +possible to conceive of her glory in heaven as flowing entirely +from her dignity as Mother of God, and therefore to suppose it +altogether unattainable by us; and, as a consequence of this, to +regard her with feelings full of admiration indeed, but almost as +deficient in sympathy as if she were of another nature from us. +{457} +Now, this is to rob ourselves of so ennobling and encouraging a +part of our privilege as Christians, and at the same time to take +away from our devotion to the Blessed Virgin an element so useful +and important, that I have determined, on this her glorious +Feast, to remind you that our destiny and the destiny of Mary are +substantially the same. + +And the first proof I offer of this is, that the glory of the +Blessed Virgin in heaven is _not_ owing to her character as +Mother of God, but to her correspondence to grace--to her good +works--to her love of God--in a word, to her fidelity as a +Christian. This is certain, for it is the Catholic doctrine that +the Blessed Virgin, like every other saint, gained heaven only as +the reward of merit. Now, she could not merit it by becoming the +Mother of God. Her being the Mother of God is indeed a most +august dignity, but there is no merit in it. It is a dignity +conferred on her by the absolute decree of God, just as He +resolved to confer angelic nature on angels, or human nature on +men. It is no doubt a great happiness and glory for us to be men, +and not brutes, but there is no merit in it; so there is honor +but no merit in the Blessed Virgin's being the Mother of God. +Now, if she did not merit heaven by becoming the Mother of God, +how did she merit it? for it is of faith that heaven is the +reward of merit. I answer, by her life on earth. It was not as +the Mother of God that she won heaven, but as Mary, the daughter +of Joachim, the wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus. It is +impossible to read the Gospels without seeing how careful our +Lord was to make us understand this. He seems to have been +afraid, all along, that the splendor of that character of Mother +of God would eclipse the woman and the saint. + +{458} + +Thus once when He was preaching, a woman in the crowd, hearing +his words of wisdom, and, perhaps, piercing the veil of his +humanity, and thinking what a blessed thing it must be to be the +mother of such a son, exclaimed: "_Blessed is the womb that +bare thee, and the paps that gave thee suck,_" [Footnote 198] +but He answered immediately: "_Yea rather, blessed are they who +hear the word of God and keep it_." No one doubts that the +Blessed Virgin did hear the Word of God, and keep it. So our +Lord's words are as much as to say: "You praise my mother for +being my mother; what I praise her for is her sanctity." In the +same way, when they came to Him on another occasion, when there +was a great throng about Him and said, "_Behold, thy mother and +thy brethren stand without, seeking thee_," He answered, +"_Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And stretching +forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: Behold my mother +and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who +is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother_. +[Footnote 199] + + [Footnote 198: St. Luke xi. 27.] + + [Footnote 199: St. Matt. xii. 48.] + +External advantages, however great, even to be related to the Son +of God, are as nothing in his sight, compared to that in which +all may have a part--obedience to his Father's will. Perhaps, +also, this is the explanation of his language at the marriage of +Cana in Galilee. When the wine failed, and his mother came to Him +and asked Him to exert his Divine power to supply the want, He +said: "_Woman, what hast thou to do with me? My time is not yet +come_." [Footnote 200] + + [Footnote 200: St. John ii. 4 (Archbishop Kenrick's + translation).] + +He does not allow her request on the score of her maternal +authority, but what He refuses on this ground He grants to her +virtue and holiness, for He immediately proceeds to perform the +miracle she asked for, though, as He said, his time was not yet +come. So, too, on the cross He commends the Blessed Virgin to St. +John's care, not under the high title of Mother, but the lowly +one of woman. "_Woman, behold thy Son_." [Footnote 201] + + [Footnote 201: St. John xix. 26.] + +Now, why was this? Did not our Lord love his Mother? Was He not +disposed to be obedient to her as his mother? Certainly; but it +was for our sakes He spoke thus. +{459} +In private, at Nazareth, we are told, he was "subject to her," +but on these great public occasions, when crowds were gathered +around Him to hear Him preach, when He hung on the Cross, and a +world was looking on, He put out of view her maternal grandeur, +in compassion to us, lest there should be too great a distance +between her and us, and we should lose the force of her example. +He wished us to understand that Mary, high as she was, was a +woman, and in the same order of grace and providence with us. We +might have said: "Oh, the Blessed Virgin obtains what she asks +for on easy terms. She has but to ask and it is done. She enters +heaven as the son of a nobleman comes into his father's estate, +by the mere title of blood and lineage." But no: our Saviour +says: "_To sit on my right hand is not mine to give you, but to +them for whom it is prepared by my Father_." [Footnote 202] + + [Footnote 202: St. Matt. xx. 23.] + +It is not a matter of favor and arbitrary appointment; not even +my Mother gains her glory in that way. She must comply with the +terms on which my Father promises heaven to men, and therefore +the Church applies to her words spoken of another Mary: "_Mary +hath chosen the best part; therefore it shall not be taken away +from her._" Oh, blessed truth! Mary is one of us. Her destiny, +high as it is, is a human destiny. And she reached it in a human +fashion. She built that splendid throne of hers in heaven with +care and labor while she was on the earth. She laid the +foundation of it in her childhood, when her feet trod the Temple +aisles. She reared its pillars when with faith, purity, and +obedience unequalled, she received the message of the archangel. +And her daily life at Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth, her holy, +loving ways with Joseph and with Jesus, her perfect fulfilment of +God's law, her interior fervent acts of prayer, covered it with +gold and ivory. + +{460} + +Then, when the blind world was going on its way of folly; while +one King Herod was deluging villages in blood, and another +steeping his soul in the guilt of incest, and of the blood of the +Son of God; while the multitude were doubting, and Scribes and +Pharisees disputing about Christ, the lowly Jewish maiden, with +no other secret but love and prayer, was preparing for herself +that bright mansion in Heaven wherein she now dwells, rejoicing +eternally with her Son. Oh, happy news! One, at least, of our +race has perfectly fulfilled her destiny. Here we can gain some +idea of what God created us for. Here is the destiny that awaits +man when original sin does not mar it; when co-operation with +grace and unswerving perseverance secure it. The Jews were proud +of Judith. They said: "_Thou art the glory of Jerusalem; thou +art the joy of Israel; thou art the honor of our people._" So +we may say of Mary: "O Mary, thou art the pride of our race. In +thee the design of God in our creation has been perfectly +attained. In thee the redemption of Christ has had its perfect +fruit. Mankind conceives new hopes from thy success." Christ, +indeed, has entered into glory; but Christ was God. Mary is +purely human, and Mary has succeeded. Why tarry we here in the +bondage of Egypt? Mary has crossed the Red Sea, and has taken a +timbrel in her hand and sings her thanksgiving unto God. True it +is that she is fleet of foot, and we are all halt and weak; but +even she needed the grace of God, and the same grace is offered +to us, that we may run and not faint. Listen to her song of +triumph. She does not set herself above us, but claims kindred +with us, and bids us hope for the same grace which she has +received. "_My soul doth magnify the Lord, for he hath exalted +the humble, and hath filled the hungry with good things. And his +mercy is from generation to generation to them that fear +Him_." + +{461} + +Another proof that the destiny of the Blessed Virgin is +substantially the same with ours, is the fact that the same +expressions are used to describe her glory and ours. Sometimes +those who are not Catholics, when they hear what high words we +use of the Blessed Virgin, are scandalized; but we use almost no +words of the Blessed Virgin that may not, in their measure, be +applied to other saints. It is true that the Blessed Virgin has +some gifts and graces in which she stands alone--as her character +of Mother of God, and her Immaculate Conception--but, as I said +before, these are dignities and ornaments conferred on her, and +are not the source of her essential happiness in heaven. In other +respects, her glory is shared by all the saints. Thus, Mary is +called "Queen of Heaven;" but are not all the blessed called in +Holy Scripture, "_kings and priests unto God?_" [Footnote 203] +Is she said to sit at the "King's right hand?" and are not +we too promised a place at his right hand, and to "_sit on +thrones?_" [Footnote 204] Is she called the "Morning Star?" +and does not St. Paul, speaking of all the saints, say, "_star +differeth from star in glory?_" [Footnote 205] Is she called a +"Mediatrix of Prayer" and is it not said of every just man, that +his "_continual prayer availeth much?_" [Footnote 206] Is +she called the "Spouse of God?" and does not the Almighty, +addressing every faithful soul, say, "_My love, my dove, my +undefiled?_" [Footnote 207] Is she called the "Daughter of the +Most High?" and are not we too called the "_Sons of God?_" +[Footnote 208] + + [Footnote 203: Apoc. i. 6.] + + [Footnote 204: Apoc. iii. 21.] + + [Footnote 205: I Cor. xv. 41.] + + [Footnote 206: St. James v. 16.] + + [Footnote 207: Can. v. 2.] + + [Footnote 208: I St. John iii. 2.] + + + +The glory of the Blessed Virgin, then, differs from that of the +other saints in degree, but not in kind. She is not separated +from them, but is one of them. She goes before them. She is the +most perfect of them. But she is one of them. And for this +reason, the glory of the Blessed Virgin gives us the best +conception of the magnificence of our destiny. When a botanist +wishes to describe a flower, he selects the most perfect +specimen. +{462} +When an anatomist draws a model of the human frame, he makes it +faultless. So we, to gain the truest idea of our destiny, must +lift up our eyes to the Blessed Virgin on her heavenly throne, +and say: "Oh! my soul, see for what thou art created." Think of +this, my brethren, as often as you kneel before her image, or +meditate on her greatness. You cannot be what she is, but you can +be like her. She is a creature like you. She is a human being +like you. She is a Christian like you. And her joy, her beauty, +her glory, her wealth, her knowledge, her power--nay, even the +mighty efficacy of her intercession--are only what, in their +measure, God offers to you. "_Glory, honor, and peace to EVERY +ONE that worketh good; for there is no respect of persons with +God_." [Footnote 209] + + [Footnote 209: Rom. ii. 10.] + +If these things be so, what greatness it gives to human life. +Perhaps, if you had lived in the times of the Blessed Virgin +Mary, you would never have noticed her; or if you had known her +by sight, what would she have seemed to you but a good little +Jewish girl, lowly and retiring in her manners and appearance? +or, later in life, a poor young woman thrust away, with her +husband, from a crowded inn, or fleeing by night with an infant +child or, still later, the mother of a condemned malefactor, +watching his sufferings in the crowd. Herod did not know her, and +the nobles of Jerusalem were ignorant of her. She was not one of +the friends of the queen's dancing daughters. Even the rustics of +the village of Bethlehem looked down on her. She carried no +servants about with her, and had no palace to live in. But Faith +tells us of angel visits, of union with God, of heavenly +goodness, and an immortal crown. So, in like manner, how our life +becomes grand and dignified when it is lighted up by faith! You +know there are porcelain pictures, which in the hand are rough +and unmeaning, but held up to the light reveal the most beautiful +scenes and figures; so our common, ordinary life, rough and +unmeaning as it often seems, when enlightened by faith becomes +all divine. +{463} +There is a little girl who learns her lessons and obeys her +parents, and tells the truth, and shuns every thing that is +wicked; why, as that little girl kneels down to pray, I see a +bright angel drawing near to her, and he smiles on her and says: +"_Hail! Blessed art thou: the Lord is with thee_." That +young man who, by a sincere conversion, has thrown off the +slavery of sin, and regained once more the grace of God--"what is +his heart but another cave of Bethlehem, in which Christ is born, +and around which angels sing: "_Glory to God in the highest, on +earth, peace to men of good will_." That Christian family, +where daily prayers are offered, and instruction and good example +are given, and mutual fidelity is observed between the +members--what is it but the Holy House of Nazareth?--the Home of +Jesus? Yes, good Christian, do not be cast down because you are +poor, or because you suffer, or because your opportunities of +doing good are limited; live the life of a Christian, and you are +living Mary's life on earth. We have not, indeed, Mary's perfect +sinlessness, but we have the graces of baptism, by which we may +vanquish sin. We have not, as she had, the visible presence of +our Lord, but we have Him invisibly in our hearts, and +sacramentally in the Holy Communion. We are not "full of grace," +as she was, but we have grace without limit promised to us in +answer to prayer. Let us assert the privileges of our +birth-right. We belong to the new creation. Angels claim kindred +with us. God is our Father. Heaven is our home. We are the +children of the saints--yes, of her who is the greatest of the +saints. Let us follow her footsteps, that one day we may come to +our Assumption, the glory of which surpassed even the power of +St. John to utter. "_Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of +God, and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that +when He shall appear we shall be like Him, because we shall see +Him as He is_." [Footnote 210] + + [Footnote 210: St. John iii. 2.] + +{464} + +Every thing depends an our co-operating with grace. How did the +Blessed Virgin arrive at such glory? By corresponding to every +grace. See her at her Annunciation. The angel comes and tells her +of the grace God has prepared for her. If she had not believed, +if she had not assented, what would have come of it? Why, she +would have lost for all eternity the glory attached to that +grace. But she did not refuse. She was ready for the grace when +it was offered. She said: "_Fiat_," "_Be it done to me +according to thy word_." Oh, how much hung on that +_Fiat!_ an eternal glory in heaven. So it is with us. There +are moments in our lives big with the issues of our future. God's +purposes concerning the soul have a certain order. He gives one +grace; if we correspond to that He gives another; if we do not +correspond, we lose those that depended on it; sometimes, even, +we lose our salvation altogether. This is the key of your +destiny--fidelity to grace. You have an inspiration from God: He +speaks to your soul. Oh, listen to Him, and obey Him! To one He +says: "Abandon, O sinner, your evil life, and turn to Me with all +your heart." "_Now is the accepted time, now is the day of +salvation!_" To another, who is already in His grace, He sends +inspirations to a more perfect life, a life of higher prayer and +more uninterrupted recollection. Another, by the sweet +attractions of His grace, He draws away from home and kindred to +serve Him as a Sister of Charity by the bed of suffering; or as a +nun, to live with Him in stillness and contemplation; or as a +priest, to win souls for heaven. Oh, speak the word that Mary +spoke: "_Be it done to me according to thy word_." Are you +in sin? Convert without delay. Are you leading a tepid, imperfect +life? Gird your loins to watchfulness and prayer. +{465} +Do you feel in yourselves a vocation to a religious or sacerdotal +life? Rise up and obey without delay. Tomorrow may be too late. +The grace may be forfeited forever. Why stand we all the day +idle? Heaven is filling up. Each generation sends a new company +to the heavenly host. Time is going. The great business of life +remains unaccomplished. By our baptism we have been made children +of God and heirs of heaven. Labor we, therefore, to enter into +that rest. Mary, dear Mother, lift up thy voice for us in heaven, +that we, following thy footsteps, may one day share thy glory, +and with thee praise forever God the Father. Son, and Holy Ghost. +Amen. + +----------------------------------- + + Sermon XXVI. + + Care For The Dead. + + (Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, + behold a dead man was carried out." + --St. Luke VII. 12. + + +It is not at the gate of Naim only that such a procession might +be met. From every city "dead men are carried out to the +grave"--nay, from every house. Death knocks alike at the palace +and the cabin. It is only a question of time with him. Sooner or +later he comes to all. Yes, my brethren, a day will come to each +home in this parish when a piece of black crape at the door will +tell the world that death has been there. Within there will be +stillness and sadness, and in some darkened chamber, wrapt in a +winding sheet, will lie the cold and lifeless form of some +beloved member of your family--a father or mother; a wife or +husband; a brother or sister; a son or daughter. After a little +while even that will be taken away from you. +{466} +The time of the funeral will come. The mourners will go about the +streets, and the dead will be buried out of your sight. I do not +speak of this to make you sad. On the contrary, what I am going +to say will, I know, be a source, the only real source, of +comfort to you in the loss of your friends. I wish to remind you +of your duties to the dead. Christianity does not permit us to +bid farewell forever to our departed friends. Death, it tells us, +does not sever the bond of duty and love between us and them. We +still have duties toward them, and in the performance of those +duties, while we are doing good to the dead, we are procuring for +ourselves the best solace. What are those duties? + +First: To give back the dead resignedly to God. It is not wrong +to weep for the dead. It is not wrong, for we cannot help it. It +is as impossible not to feel pain at such a separation as it +would be not to suffer when the surgeon's knife is cutting off an +arm or a leg; and, what nature demands, God does not forbid. +Therefore the Holy Scripture says: "_My son, shed tears over +the dead; and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some +great harm_." [Footnote 211] + + [Footnote 211: Eccles. xxxviii. 16.] + +Do you think that poor widow of whom the Gospel speaks to-day +could help weeping? She had known sorrow before, but then she had +one support, a dear and only son. He was a good lad. Every body +knew and loved him. But now he too is gone. It is strange that he +should go and she be left behind, but so it is: there lies his +body on the bier, and she is following him to the grave. See her +as she goes along in her coarse black dress, bent with age and +sorrow. Can you blame her for weeping, as she looks, for the last +time, on that dear form? At least, Jesus did not blame her. He +looked at her, and He sorrowed with her. He was moved with +compassion. +{467} +It is not wrong, then, to weep for the dead, but we must moderate +our grief, banish every rebellious thought from our heart, and +mingle resignation with our sorrow. The Office which the Church +sings over the dead is made up in great part of joyful psalms and +anthems. After this pattern ought to be the sorrow of a Christian +family, a sorrow that is not violent and noisy, a sorrow that +does not pass the bounds of decency, a sorrow, I may say, mingled +with joy. How different it is in some families! You come near a +house and you hear shrieks the most appalling. You go in and find +a woman abandoning herself to the most noisy and violent grief. +Her language is little short of blasphemy. She refuses any +comfort. She is weeping over a dead husband. Perhaps in life she +loved him none too well. Perhaps she made his life bitter enough +to him, and often prayed that some harm might happen to him, and +that she might see him dead. And now she does see him dead. She +will never curse him again, and he will never anger her again. He +is dead; and now she breaks out into the most frantic grief, and +alarms the neighborhood. She cries; she calls upon God; she +throws herself on the corpse. At the funeral her conduct is still +more wild and disordered. Now, what is all this? I will not say +it is hypocritical, but I say it is brutish. It is not to act as +a reasonable being, much less as a Christian. This is the way +with some women. The only time they ever show any love to their +husbands is when they are dead. Let them be: such grief will not +last long. Wait awhile; before her husband's body has well got +cold in the ground she will be looking around for another match. + +Do not imitate such unchristian conduct. When Death enters your +house, do not forget that you are a Christian. Do not +_indulge_ your grief. Call to your aid the principles of +your faith. You are sad and lonely. Well, is it not better to +feel that this life is a state of exile? You have lost your +protector. And has not God promised to protect the orphan? You +have lost such a _good_ friend, such a bright example. +{468} +Well, ought you not, then, to rejoice at his safe departure? The +early Christians used to carry flowers to the grave, and sing +hymns of joy because the toils of a Christian warrior were ended, +and he had entered into rest. Hear what the Church sings: +"_Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord_." Will you weep +because one you love is taken away from sin, from temptation, +from the trouble to come? Will you grieve because he has secured +for himself the Blissful and Eternal Vision of God? But you have +no confidence that he _was_ good, that he did die in the +grace of God. Suppose you are uncertain on that point, is there +any thing better than to go with your doubts and fears before the +Holy God, and while you offer to Him your trembling prayers for +the departed, to adore His Providence and say: "The Lord gave, +and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the Name of the Lord." +[Footnote 212] + + [Footnote 212: Job i. 27.] + +Dry up your tears, then, O bereaved Christian. "Make mourning for +the dead for a day or two," [Footnote 213] says the Holy +Scripture. That is, do not abandon yourself to grief. Do not +think, because your friend is gone, that God is gone, and Christ +is gone, and duty gone. Do not call on others more than is +necessary. Resume your ordinary duties as soon as possible--and +in these duties you will find the relief which God Himself has +provided for our sadness, and His Grace will accompany you in the +performance of them. + + [Footnote 213: Ecc. xxxviii. 18.] + +Another duty to the dead is to perform scrupulously, as far as +possible, their last directions. When the patriarch Jacob was +dying, he called his son Joseph to his side, and said to him: +"_Thou shalt show me this kindness and truth, not to bury me in +Egypt, but I will sleep with my fathers, and thou shalt take me +away out of this land, and bury me in the burying-place of my +ancestors_." [Footnote 214] + + [Footnote 214: Gen. xlvii. 30.] + +{469} + +It was not of itself a very important request; it was, moreover, +an inconvenient one. Yet see how promptly and carefully it was +complied with. As soon as the days of mourning for Jacob were +ended, Joseph went to Pharao and said: "_My father made me +swear to him, saying, Thou shalt bury me in my sepulchre which I +have digged for myself in the land of Canaan. So I will go and +bury my father and return. And Pharao said to him, Go up and bury +thy father. And they buried him in the land of Canaan, in the +double cave which Abraham bought for a burying-place_." +[Footnote 215] + + [Footnote 215: Gen. 1, 4, 5, 13.] + +Would that the same piety were always seen among us! A mother +dies: the last wishes that she expresses to her children are that +they should be true to their holy faith and earnest in seeking +the salvation of their souls, and she sends a message to an +absent son, which will not reach him in his distant home till +long after she is gone, begging him to be faithful and regular in +his duties as a Christian. A father dies, and tells his son of a +debt, strictly due in justice, but of which there is no record, +and where he will find the money to pay it. A poor girl dies, and +confides to some one, whom she thinks her friend, the little +earnings of her hard labor, asking that it may be sent to her old +mother in Ireland. Are these wishes executed? Are these children +faithful Catholics? Is that boy, the object of a mother's dying +tears and prayers, regular at the sacraments? Has that debt been +paid? Did the sad news of the daughter's death go out to the poor +mother in the old country, softened with the evidence of that +daughter's piety and love? or was the money retained and +squandered? What! are you not afraid to add to the sin of +irreligion and injustice the crime of breaking faith with the +dead? Hear what God says in the Holy Scripture: "_The voice of +thy brother's blood crieth to Me from the earth_." [Footnote 216] + + [Footnote 216: Gen. iv. 10.] + + +{470} + +The dead have got a voice, then--a voice that cries to God, that +cries for vengeance against those who injure them. Pay, then, thy +debts to the dead. Redeem the promise thou hast made to the +dying. Fulfil thy duties as an executor or administrator with +fidelity and justice. Be exact. It is a dead man thou art dealing +with. Do not say, he is dead and cannot speak. Hear what the Law +of God saith: "_Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put +a stumbling block before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord +thy God, because I am the Lord_." [Footnote 217] Do you +understand? God hears for those who cannot hear, He speaks for +those who cannot speak; and if thou makest the dead thy enemy, +thou hast the Living and Eternal God for a Foe. + + [Footnote 217: Levit. xix. 14.] + +Another part of our duty to the dead is to treat their bodies +with respect, and to give them decent burial. We do this for two +reasons: for what they have been, and what they are to be. Their +bodies have been the casket which held their souls, and we love +their bodies for what their souls have been to God and to us. We +love the eye that looked upon us with affection, the mouth that +spoke to us words of truth and kindness, we love the ear that +listened to our sorrows, and the hand that soothed and blessed +us. We love that body which was the soul's instrument here in her +works of piety and Christian charity. And we love that body for +what it shall be. We see it as it will be when it springs from +the grave on the morning of the Resurrection, sparkling with +light, beautiful and immortal. And this is why we follow the dead +to the grave. We go with them as we go part of the way home with +a cherished guest. We go with them in token that the love that +united us is not severed by death, but that we are still joined +to them in hope and charity. Oh yes, it is right. Let the body be +laid out decently; the limbs composed; the eyes closed for their +long sleep. And when the time of burial comes, let all the +ceremonies of the Holy Church lend their aid. +{471} +Walk slow; let the priest in surplice and stole go before; light +the candles and hold the cross aloft; sing the sweet and solemn +chant; carry the body to the church and lay it before the Altar +of God; bring incense and holy water, and let there be High Mass +for the repose of the soul. Fitting ceremonies! "Beautiful and +touching rites! chosen with a heavenly still to comfort the +mourner and to honor the dead. But alas! alas! how do we see this +duty to the dead sometimes fulfilled! A Catholic is dead. It is +true there are candles and holy water, but where are the pious +prayers? The neighbors are gathered together, but it is not to +pray. The glasses and the pipes speak of a different kind of +meeting. Yes, they have come there, there to that chamber, the +Court of Death and the Threshold of Eternity, to hold a drunken +wake. The night wears on with stories, sometimes even obscene and +filthy, and as liquor does its work, curses and blasphemies +mingle with the noisy, senseless cries and yells of drunken men. +Are these orgies meant to insult the dead? Do these revellers +wish to make us believe that their departed friend was, body and +soul, the child of Hell as much as they? So the wake is kept, and +now for the funeral. The man died early in the week, but of +course he must be buried on Sunday. Sunday is the worst day of +the week for a funeral, because it is the day appointed for the +public worship of God, and it is wrong to draw men away from the +church on that day without necessity, yet a funeral must by all +means be on a Sunday. And why? Because a greater crowd can be got +together on that day, and the object is to have a crowd, and to +make people say, such a one had a _decent funeral_. The +family are poor, nevertheless a large number of carriages are +hired, and filled with a set of people who regard the whole thing +as a picnic or excursion. Some of them have already "taken a +drop," and so little sense of religion have they left, that +sometimes at the grave itself, sometimes in returning from it, +they raise brawls and riots that bring disgrace and contempt at +once on the man they have buried and the faith they profess. +{472} +Do you call this a decent funeral?" I say it is a sin. A sin of +pride and ostentation. A sin of scandal and excess. A sin of +robbery and cruelty--of robbery and cruelty toward the poor +children from whose hungry mouths and naked backs are taken the +extravagant expenses of this ambitious display. How much better +to have a small funeral! a funeral remarkable for nothing but its +modesty and simplicity, to which only the few are called who knew +the dead and loved him, who follow him to his long home with +serious thoughts, like thinking men and Christians, remembering +that before long they must go with him into the grave and lie +down beside him, and who return home to remember his soul before +God as often as they kneel down to pray. + +And this brings me, in the last place, to speak of the duty of +praying for the dead. It is a most consoling privilege of our +holy faith. Death indeed fixes our eternal condition irrevocably. +"_If the tree fall to the south or to the north, in what place +soever it shall fall, there shall it be_." [Footnote 218] + + [Footnote 218: Eccles. xi. 3.] + +But the good do not always enter heaven immediately. If the sharp +process by which God purifies His children on earth has not +wrought its full effect, it must be carried on for a while longer +in that hidden receptacle in which faithful souls await their +summons to the presence of God. And during this period our +prayers in their behalf are of great avail. No part of our +religion has more undeniable proofs of its antiquity. As far back +as the fourth century of the Christian era, St. Cyril testifies +that it was the custom "to pray for those who had departed this +life, believing it to be a great assistance to those souls for +whom prayers are offered while the Holy and Tremendous Sacrifice +is going on." [Footnote 219] + + [Footnote 219: St. Cyril, Cat., lect. v., n. 9.] + +{473} + +The tombstones of the early Christians attest the same practice, +and St. Augustine, speaking not as a doctor, but recording a +chapter of his own history, lets us into the innermost feelings +of the Church of his day on this subject. In his Confessions he +tells us that his mother St. Monica, shortly before her death, +looked at him and said: "Lay this body anywhere, be not concerned +about that, only I beg of you, that wheresoever you be, you make +remembrance of me at the Lord's Altar." And the saint goes on to +tell how he fulfilled this request, how after her death the +"Sacrifice of our Ransom" was offered for her, and how fervently +he continued to pray for her. But his own words are best: "Though +my mother lived in such a manner that Thy Name is much praised in +her faith and manners, yet * * * I entreat Thee, O God of my +heart, for her sins. Hear me, I beseech Thee, through that cure +of our wounds that hung upon the Tree, and that sitting now at +Thy Right Hand maketh intercession for us. I know that she did +mercifully, and from her heart forgave to her debtors their +trespasses; do Thou likewise forgive to her her debts, if she +hath also contracted any in those many years she lived after the +saving water. Forgive them, O Lord, forgive them. * * * Let no +one separate her from Thy protection. Let not the lion and the +dragon either by force or fraud interpose himself. Let her rest +in peace, together with her husband; and do Thou inspire Thy +servants that as many as shall read this may remember at Thy +Altar Thy handmaid Monica, with Patricius her husband." +[Footnote 220] + + [Footnote 220: St. Augustine's, Confessions, book ix., c. + 13.] + +Are we as faithful to pray for our departed friends, and to get +prayers said for them? They wait the time of their deliverance +with painful longing. They cannot hasten it themselves. They +cannot merit. Their hands are tied. They are at our mercy. The +Church indeed prays for these in her litanies, her offices, and +her Masses, but how little do we, their friends and relations, +pray for them. +{474} +The patriarch Joseph, when he foretold to Pharao's butler, his +fellow prisoner, his speedy restoration to honor, said to him: +"_Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me +this kindness to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this +prison_." [Footnote 221] + + [Footnote 221: Gen. xl. 14.] + +But the butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his +friend. So we forget our friends in the prison of Purgatory. They +linger looking for help from us, and it comes not. Oh, pray for +the dead. Death does not sever them from hope, from prayer, or +from the power of Christ. Did not Martha say to our Lord in +reference to her brother Lazarus, who was already dead: "_I +know that even NOW whatsoever thou wilt ask of God (in his +behalf) He will give it thee!_" [Footnote 222] + + [Footnote 222: St. John xi. 22.] + +Yes, Christ's mercy and Christ's Bounty reach even to the regions +of the shadow of death. Christ has in His hands gifts even for +the dead--gifts of Consolation, of Refreshment, of Quiet, and of +Rest. Ask those gifts for those you love. With the widow of Naim +carry your dead to the Saviour, let your tears and prayers in +their behalf meet His Compassionate Ear and Eye, and He will +speak to the dead: "Young man, I say to thee Arise." And the dead +shall hear His voice, and shall rise up, not yet to the +Resurrection of the Body, not yet to be "delivered to his +Master," but to the company of the Angels, to the spirits of the +Just, to the home of God, where they shall be "_before the +Throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His Temple, and He +that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell over them. And they shall +not hunger nor thirst any more; neither shall the sun fall on +them, nor any heat_." [Footnote 223] + + [Footnote 223: Apoc. vii. 15, 16.] + +{475} + +I have endeavored to-day, my brethren, to speak for the dead. +They cannot speak for themselves, but they live, and feel, and +think. And sure I am that, if they could speak, their words would +not be in substance very different from what I have spoken. They +would say: "I want no costly monument. I want no splendid +funeral. Still less do I wish that God should be offended on my +account. I ask a remembrance mingled with affection and +resignation, the rites of the Holy Church, a quiet grave, and now +and then a fervent, earnest prayer. And I will not forget you in +my prison of hope. I will pray for you, and oh! when the morning +comes, and my happy soul is called to Heaven, my first +intercession at the throne of God shall be for you, whom I loved +so well in life, and who hast not left off thy kindness to the +dead. + +------------------------------- + + Sermon XXVII. + + Success The Reward Of Merit. + + (Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "What things a man shall sow, + them also shall he reap." + --Gal. VI. 8. + + +To judge by the complaints which we hear continually around us, +we might conclude that the commonest thing in the world is for +men to fail in their undertakings. Now, I admit that it is a very +common thing indeed for men to fail in obtaining what they +_desire_. There are many men who have some darling object of +ambition which they cannot reach. But I do not think it is a very +frequent thing for men to fail in attaining an end which they +steadily aim at, and which they take the proper means to attain. +I believe the rule is the other way. I believe success is the +ordinary result of well-directed endeavor. I know indeed that the +Holy Scriptures tell us that "_the race is not to the swift, +nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches +to the learned, nor favor to the skilful: but time and chance is +all_." [Footnote 224] + + [Footnote 224: Eccles. ix. 11.] + +{476} + +But surely all that this means is that the providence of God, for +its own purposes, _sometimes_ interferes to thwart the +best-concerted measures, and to crown feeble attempts with +unexpected success. The race is not always to the swift, but +ordinarily it is. The battle is not always to the strong, but +when it is not, it is an exception to the rule. The rule is, that +success commonly attends the employment of proper and judicious +means. The experience of life proves that this is true. Let us +look around and see if it is not so. + +We will look first at the business world. Here at first sight a +succession of the most surprising changes meets our eye. Men that +were rich a few years ago are now poor. Men that then were poor +are now rich. The servant and his master have changed places. If +you return to the city after a few years' absence you will find +the same handsome houses lining our avenues, but the occupants of +many of them will be changed. The same gay carriages roll along +the street, but there is always a new set of people riding in +them, and they that used to ride now go afoot. What wonder is it +that men have imagined Fortune to be blindfold[ed], and the ups +and downs of life the chance revolutions of her wheel? But when +we look closer, we see this is not the case. For the most part +each fall and each success has had an adequate history. There has +been a rigid bond of cause and effect. It is only a metaphor when +we say that riches have wings. Gold and silver, and real estate, +and most kinds of personal property, are solid and substantial, +and do not melt away in a night. So, on the other hand, fortunes +are not made by accident. The rich man becomes rich by aiming at +it and striving for it. He does not need any extraordinary genius +perhaps, but he bends his talents, such as they are, to the task. +He rises early, he is constantly at his place of business, he +keeps himself informed of all its details, he thinks about it. +When a favorable opening comes, he takes advantage of it. +{477} +When a reverse comes, he is not discouraged by it. Other men +would be discouraged, but he is not. Perhaps he is in middle +life, perhaps he has a growing family, but he looks out for a +fresh field of enterprise, and begins anew to battle with the +world, and he becomes rich again. His success is owing in part, +if you will, to favorable circumstances, but largely to his own +energy and industry. These were the conditions, without which no +amount of mere external advantages would have insured success. + +Again, if we look to the world of Literature and Art, we find the +same thing. Disappointed authors and artists often talk as if +they were the victims of the world's stupidity or malice; as if +men were unable or unwilling to appreciate them. Now, I know it +is said that such things have been. There have been men of rare +promise, but of a sensitive nature, who have been crushed by +coldness and neglect, or by the hard and unfair criticism with +which their first attempts were met. But this is far from being a +common thing. The world likes to be amused and pleased. It is +really interested in having something to praise. This being so, +how is it possible for a man of real merit to remain long +unrecognized? Who can imagine that the great masterpieces of +painting, or the great poems that have come down to us from the +past, _could_ have failed to excite the admiration of men? +In fact, human judgment, when you take its suffrages over wide +tracts and through the lapse of ages, is all but infallible. In a +particular place it may be warped by passion; in a particular +time it may conform to an artificial standard; but give it time +and room, and it is sure with unerring accuracy to detect the +beautiful and true. It is as far as possible, then, from being +the case that celebrated authors or celebrated artists have +become great by accident. There may have been favorable +circumstances. There were undoubtedly great gifts of nature; but +there was also deep study and painful, persevering toil. +{478} +I have been told that the manuscripts of a distinguished English +poet show so many erasures that hardly a line remains unaltered. +The great cathedrals of Europe were the fruit of life-long labor. +And these are but instances of a general rule. When we go into +the workshops in which some of the beautiful articles of +merchandise are manufactured, we see a great fire and hear the +clank of machinery, and men are hurrying to and fro, stained with +dust and sweat. Now, something like this has been going on to +give birth to these beautiful creations in Letters and Arts which +have delighted the world. There has been a great fire in the +furnace of the brain, and each faculty of the mind has toiled to +do its part, and there have been many blows with the pen, the +pencil, or the chisel, until the beautiful conception is +complete. Such men were successful because they deserved it. The +approbation of the world did not create their success, it only +recognized it. + +I will take one more example of the rule I am +illustrating--personal character, reputation. I believe, as a +general rule, it is pretty nearly what we deserve. We reap what +we sow. People think of us pretty much as we really are. I am not +unmindful of the occasional success of hypocrites, nor of the +instances, happily not very frequent, of innocent persons +overwhelmed by a load of unjust accusation and calumny. Again, I +know that when people are angry with us they sometimes say +spiteful things which they do not mean, and when they wish to +flatter us they say things more complimentary, but just as false. +But notwithstanding all this, I affirm that the judgments which +people who know us form of us are very nearly correct. Indeed it +must be so, for we cannot disguise ourselves altogether, or for a +long time. We cannot always wear a mask. An ignorant, ill-bred +man may go to a tailor's and dress himself out in fashionable +clothes, but the first word he speaks, and the first movement he +makes will betray his want of education. +{479} +So, while we are trying to pass ourselves off for something else +than what we are, to a keen observer our habitual thoughts and +character will pierce through and discover our true selves. Even +what our enemies say about us, when they say what they think, is +very likely to be true. Men have no need to invent bad things +about us. We have all got faults enough. They have only to seize +these, exaggerate them a little, caricature them, separate them +from what is good in us, and they will make a picture bad enough, +but not too bad to be recognized as ours. Their description of us +is like a photographic likeness. It takes away the bloom from the +cheek, and the brightness from the eye, and the rich tints from +the hair. It notes down each imperfection, each frown and wrinkle +and crookedness of feature, and there it is, a hard, severe, but +not an untrue likeness. In fact, my brethren, one of the last +things I would advise any man to attempt would be to try to seem +something he is not. He is almost sure to be unsuccessful. There +is a law in the world too strong for him--the law of justice and +truth, the law that binds together actions and their +consequences, the law that attaches honor to what is good and +right, and contempt to what is base and false. + +Thus we see on every side illustrations of the rule that our +success is in proportion to our merit. We sow what we reap. Much +more is this true in regard to religion. You have observed that +hitherto I have been obliged to make some qualifications, to make +some exceptions in each of the instances I have brought forward. +God may prevent our becoming rich, however legitimately we may +labor for it, because He sees that riches would not be good for +us. Or He may allow our talents to remain unappreciated, and our +name to be covered with obloquy, in order to drive us to seek His +Eternal Praise. But in religion our labors are sure to meet with +success. There is absolutely no exception. Our success will be +infallibly in proportion to our endeavors, neither more or less. +{480} +You know, my brethren, that a doctrine may be familiar to us, but +may not always make the same impression on us. We may hear it +many times and assent to it, but on some special occasion, it may +enter our mind with such force, take such a lively hold of our +imagination and heart that it seems new to us. This is what we +call _coming home to us_. Now, I remember an occasion when +the doctrine I have just stated thus came home to me. It was on +hearing the words of St. Alphonsus: "With that degree of love to +God that we possess when we leave this world, and no more, will +we pass our eternity." Any thing more startling and awakening I +do not remember ever to have heard. Not the thought of the pains +of hell, or the horrors of sin, or the bliss of paradise, ever +seemed to me so loud a call for action. All of heaven that we +shall ever see, we acquire here. Perhaps you too, my brethren, +have not realized this sufficiently. The truth is, I think many +men act in regard to religion as children and weak-minded persons +do in regard to the things of this world--they build "castles in +the air." This is a very favorite occupation with some people. +They spend hours and even days in it. It is a cheap amusement, +and they who follow it do not usually stint themselves in the +warmth and color of their pictures. The only difficulty is, to +fix a limit to their imaginary splendors. They imagine themselves +very rich, worth, say fifty thousand, or a hundred thousand, or +five hundred thousand dollars, with beautiful houses and +furniture, and all the elegancies of life. Or they imagine +themselves very famous, with a reputation as wide as the world, +and admiring crowds shouting their praises wherever they go. Now +something like this, equally silly and unsubstantial, passes in +the minds of many Christians in regard to their hereafter. They +imagine that, somehow, one of these days, they will find +themselves caught up to the third heaven, borne by angels to the +throne of God, crowned with a jewelled crown, seated on a golden +throne, with palms in their hands, to sing forever the song of +the redeemed. +{481} +They may be now in mortal sin, they may be in the habit of mortal +sin; they may be the slaves of passion, drunkards, impure, +dishonest; they may be unwilling to renounce the dangerous +occasions of sin; or they may not be so bad as this: they may +belong to that class who have their periodic spells of sin and +devotion, and are saints or sinners according to the time of the +year you take them; or they may belong to a still milder type of +ungodliness, those who are negligent and cold-hearted, with a +host of venial sins about them, and at intervals, now and then, a +mortal sin--no matter: somehow or other, by some kind of a +contrivance, all--the relapsed sinner and the habitual sinner, +the drunkard, the impure, the dishonest and the profane, the +worldly and tepid, the prayerless and presumptuous--all are going +to heaven. O miserable delusion! Does the Bible teach us this? +When it speaks of a "way" to heaven, does it not mean that all +must walk in that way to reach there? When it tells us that "the +Judge standeth at the door," does it not mean, to judge us by our +actions! Which of the saints was ever wafted to heaven in this +passive way? Ah! the apostle tells us, "they were valiant in +fight," they fought with the wild beasts of their passions, and +put to flight the armies of hell. No: it is an enemy that hath +sown among you this Calvinistic poison--yes, this worse than +Calvinistic poison, for the Calvinists did but assert that a few +elect were saved by a foregone decree, while this practically +extends it to every one. Do not believe it. "_What a man soweth +that shall he reap_." "_He that soweth to the flesh shall of +the flesh reap corruption, and, he that soweth to the Spirit +shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting_." [Footnote 225] + + [Footnote 225: Gal. vi. 8.] + +{482} + +Our days are like a weaver's shuttle, and, as they quickly come +and go, they weave the web of our destiny. Each step we take is a +step in one of the two paths that fill up the whole field of +human probation. Ask the Psalmist who of us shall see heaven, and +he will answer you, "_Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, +or who shall rest on Thy holy hill? he that has clean hands and a +pure heart_." [Footnote 226] + + [Footnote 226: Ps. xiv. 1; xxiii. 4.] + +Ask the Gospel, Who is that servant whom his Lord at His coming +will approve? and it answers: "_Even he whose loins are girt +about, and whose lights are burning, as a man that waits for his +Lord_." [Footnote 227] + + [Footnote 227: St. Luke xii. 35, 36.] + +Would you know who, at the end of the world, shall reap a rich +harvest? "_They that sow in tears_"--in the holy tears of +compunction, of the love of God, and of the desire of heaven-- +"_shall reap in joy. And he that now goeth on his way weeping +and bearing good seed, shall come again with joy, and bring his +sheaves with him_." [Footnote 228] + + [Footnote 228: Ps. cxxv. 5, 6, 7.] + +Let us pause a moment before we conclude to try ourselves by this +doctrine. "All the rivers run into the sea;" so all our lives are +carrying us on to eternity. Should our lives be cut off at this +moment, of what kind of texture would they be found? "_In those +days_," says the prophet, "_Israel shall come, they shall +make haste and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to +Sion, their faces thitherward_." [Footnote 229] + + [Footnote 229: Jer. i. 4, 5.] + +Are our faces, my brethren, turned toward the heavenly city? Are +we hastening thither, acknowledging ourselves strangers and +pilgrims on the earth? These careless confessions, these +heartless prayers, these darling sins, these aimless lives, this +tepidity, this indifference and procrastination in spiritual +things, what do they indicate? We look at the sky to judge of the +weather. We read the newspapers to find out the condition of the +country. We watch our symptoms to ascertain the state of our +health. Ah! there are indications far more important, to which we +ought to take heed. +{483} +Indications of salvation or reprobation, symptoms of spiritual +health or decay, earnests of heaven or hell, marks of Christ or +Satan. You remember the story of the old monk who was observed to +weep as he sat watching the people going into church, and, being +asked the reason, said he saw a man enter, followed by a black +demon, who seemed to claim him as his own. So, if we could look +into the spiritual world, we should see some men attended by +angels who have come to "minister to them as heirs of salvation," +while others are surrounded by evil spirits, "come to torment +them before their time." Yes, eternity does not wait for the last +day. It presses upon us now and here. Each day is a Judgment Day. +Each evening, as it falls, finds us gathered at Christ's right +hand, driven to His left, or wavering between the two. Why do we +not take our place at once, where we shall wish to be found at +our Saviour's coming? It is not very long since death took from +among us a convert to our holy faith, [Footnote 230] whose life +had been rich in good works, who had been a mother to the orphan, +and a sister to the outcast and abandoned; and a priest, who +visited her on her last illness, told me that he had said to her: +"If God were now to raise you up and restore you to health, I +would not know how to give you any other advice, than to resume +your good works at that point where sickness compelled you to +leave them off." Beautiful testimony to a holy life! Cut the +thread wherever you will, it is all gold. Stop the Christian +where you will, he is on his way to heaven. Be such a life ours. +I have said each day is a Judgment Day: let each day merit the +approval of Christ. Let our life be a constant preparation for +Eternity, remembering that the only heaven the Christian religion +offers us, is a heaven that is won by our labors here. + + [Footnote 230: Mrs. Geo. Ripley.] + +------------------------------- + +{484} + + Sermon XXVIII. + + The Mass The Highest Worship. + + (Twenty-first Sunday After Pentecost.) + + + "What shall I offer to the Lord that is worthy? + Wherewith shall I kneel before the High God?" + --Mich. VI.6. + + +Such is the question which mankind have been asking from the +creation of the world. God is so high, so great, so good, so +beautiful. He made us. He created us by His Word, and we hang +upon His Breath. How shall we worship Him? How shall we express +the thoughts of Him that fill our souls? Alas! the words of the +lips, the postures of the body, are all inadequate. What shall we +do? Shall we, like Cain, gather the fairest fruits and flowers, +and bring the basket before the Lord? Or, like Abel, shall we +take the firstlings of our flocks, and slay them in His honor? +Shall we dress an altar, and pile upon it the smoking victims? +Shall we make our children pass through the fire in His Name? Or, +like the Indian devotee, shall we throw ourselves under the +wheels of the car that carries the image of the Divinity? Such +have been the ways in which men have tried to express their +devotion to God, but all have been either insufficient or vain. +Man's thoughts about God have found no fitting expression. A fire +has burned in his heart which no words can utter. Now here, as in +so many other ways, Christianity comes to our aid, and places +within our reach a perfect and all-sufficient mode of expressing +our devotion, a perfect worship. Do you ask me to what I allude? +I answer, to the Sacrifice of the Mass. + +{485} + +Let me remind you what the Sacrifice of the Mass is. We Catholics +believe that in the Mass Jesus Christ offers His real Body and +Blood, under the species of bread and wine, to His Eternal +Father, in remembrance of His Death on the Cross. Our Lord's +Death on the Cross was in itself complete, and all-sufficient for +the purpose for which it was undergone, and need not, indeed +could not, be repeated; but His Priestly Office was not exhausted +by that offering. In the language of Scripture: "_He ever +liveth to make intercession for us_." [Footnote 231] And, +"_He is a Priest forever_." [Footnote 232] + + [Footnote 231: Heb. vii. 25.] + + [Footnote 232: Ps. cix. 4.] + +In what, then, does our Lord's Priesthood since His Crucifixion +consist? In heaven, it consists in presenting Himself to His +Father directly and immediately, to plead the merits of His Death +and Passion in our behalf; but on earth it consists in +representing that Death and Passion in the mystical action which +we call the Eucharistic Sacrifice or the Mass; thus fulfilling +the words of the prophet in reference to our Lord: "_Thou art a +Priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec_." [Footnote 233] + + [Footnote 233: Ibid.] + +The offering, then, which takes place in the Mass is the very +same that was made on Calvary, only it is made in a different +manner. On the Cross, that offering was made in a direct and +absolute manner, it was a bloody Sacrifice; in the Mass, it is +made in a mystical and commemorative way, without blood, without +suffering, without death. Therefore, in order to understand what +takes place in the Mass, we must go back to the Cross. What was +it that took place on the Cross? You answer, perhaps, Christ shed +His Blood there for the remission of sins. True: the Blood of +Christ was the material cause of our Redemption, but that which +gave the Blood of Christ its value, that, indeed, which made it a +Sacrifice, was the interior dispositions of the Soul of Christ. +The Blood of Christ, taken as a mere material thing, could never +have effected our reconciliation. What does the Scripture say? +"_Sacrifice and oblation Thou didst not desire. Burnt-offerings +and sin-offerings Thou didst not require. Then I said: Lo, I come +to do Thy will O God!_" [Footnote 234] + + [Footnote 234: Ps. xxxix. 7, 8.] + +{486} + +It was by the _obedience_ of Christ, an obedience practised +through His whole life, but of which His Death and Passion were +the fullest expression, that Christ, as our elder brother, +repaired our disobedience. While our Lord was hanging on the +Cross, He exercised every Divine virtue which the soul of man can +exercise. He loved. He prayed. He praised. He gave thanks. He +supplicated. He made acts of adoration and resignation. In one +word, He performed the most perfect act of _worship_. + +Well, it is just the same in the Mass. It would be the greatest +mistake to think of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Mass as a +sort of dead offering. It is living, and offered by the living +Christ. Christ is the Priest of the Mass as well as the victim. +It is Christ who celebrates the Mass, and He celebrates it with a +warm and living Heart, the same Heart with which He worshipped +the Father on Mount Calvary. It is this that makes the Mass what +it is. If it were not for this, the Mass would be a carnal +sacrifice, infinitely superior, indeed, to those of the Old Law, +but of the same order. It is this which makes the Sacrifice of +the Mass a reasonable service, a Spiritual Sacrifice. + +And now you are prepared to understand my assertion that the Mass +supplies the want of the human soul for an adequate mode of +approaching God. As a creature before its Creator, you are +oppressed with your own inability to worship Him worthily. Do you +want a better worship than that which His Eternal Son offers? In +the Mass, the Son of God in His Human Nature worships the Father +for us. He prays for us; asks pardon for us; gives thanks for us; +adores for us. As He is perfect man, He expresses every human +feeling; as He is perfect God, His utterances have a complete +perfection, an infinite acceptableness. Thus, when we offer Mass, +we worship the Father with Christ's worship. It seems to me that +the Catholic can have a certain kind of pride in this. +{487} +He may say, "I know I am weak and as nothing before God, yet I +possess a treasure that is worthy to offer Him, I have a prayer +to present to Him all-perfect and all-powerful, the prayer of His +Only-Begotten Son in whom He is well pleased." + +Nor is this all. Christ worships the Father for us in the Mass, +not to excuse us from worshipping, but to help us to worship. You +remember how, the night before our Saviour died, He took with Him +Peter and James and John, and going into the garden of +Gethsemane, He said to them, "Tarry ye here, while I go and pray +yonder." And how, being removed from them about a stone's cast, +He began to pray very earnestly, so that He was in an agony, and +the drops of blood fell from His body to the ground; and how He +went to them from time to time to urge them to watch and pray +along with Him. The weight of all human sorrows was then upon His +soul. He was presenting the necessities of the whole human race +to His Father, but He would have the apostles, weary as they +were, borne down by suffering and fatigue, to join their feeble +prayers with His. So, in the Holy Mass, He is withdrawn from us a +little distance, making intercessions for us with groanings which +cannot be uttered, and He would have us kneel about the temple +aisles, adding our poor prayers to His. Our prayers, by being +united to His, obtain not only a higher acceptance, but a higher +significance. Our obscure aspirations He interprets. What we know +not how to ask for, or even to think of, He supplies. What we ask +for in broken accents, He puts into glowing words. What we ask +for in error and ignorance, He deciphers in wisdom and love. And +thus our prayers, as they pass through His Heart, become +transfigured and divine. + +Oh, what a gift is the Holy Mass! How full an utterance has +Humanity found therein for all its woes, its aspirations, its +hopes, its affections! How completely is the distance bridged +over that separated the creature and the Creator! +{488} +It was to the Mass that our Lord alluded in His conversation with +the woman of Samaria. You remember the incident. The Samaritans +were a schismatical sect. They had separated from the Jews, had +built a temple on Mount Gerazin, in opposition to the temple of +the Jews at Jerusalem, and there they offered sacrifices. Now, +this Samaritan woman, when our Lord had entered into conversation +with her, put to Him the question which was then in controversy. +Which was the right temple? Which was the acceptable sacrifice? +Which was the place where men ought to worship--Mount Gerazin; or +Mount Sion? And how does our Lord answer her? "_Woman, believe +Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain nor +yet in Jerusalem adore the Father. The hour cometh and now is, +when the true worshipper shall worship the Father in Spirit and +in Truth_." [Footnote 235] + + [Footnote 235: St. John iv. 22, 23.] + +The time is coming when a new Sacrifice, a new worship, shall be +established, a worship of Spirit and Truth, a worship that shall +put to rest the controversy between Samaria and Jerusalem, for it +shall be offered in every place. What is that sacrifice? What is +that worship? The prophet had foretold it long before: "_From +the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof, My Name is +great among the Gentiles, and IN EVERY PLACE THERE IS SACRIFICE, +and there is offered to My Name A CLEAN OBLATION_." [Footnote 236] + + [Footnote 236: Mal. ii. 11.] + +And the whole tradition of the Christian Church, from the very +first, tells us that this _clean oblation_ is no other than +the Eucharistic Sacrifice, a worship of "Truth," if the presence +of Christ can make it true; and of "Spirit," if the Heart of +Christ can make it spiritual; a worship that meets all man's +wants and befits all God's attributes. + +{489} + +With this conception of the Mass in your minds, you see at once +the explanation of some of the ceremonies attending its +celebration which seem to Protestants strange and senseless. A +Protestant enters a Catholic Church during the time of Mass. The +Priest is at the Altar. You cannot hear what he says, he speaks +so low and rapidly; and perhaps it would do you no good if you +could, for he speaks in Latin; and you say: "What mummery!" "What +superstition!" "What an unmeaning service!" But stop awhile. Take +our view of the Mass, and see if our custom is so strange. We +believe that there is an invisible Priest at the Mass, Christ, +the Son of the Living God, Who offers Himself to His Father for +us. You know it is related in the Old Testament, that on one day +in the year the Jewish High-Priest used to enter into the Holy of +Holies, which was separated from the temple by a veil, and there +in secrecy perform the rites of expiation, while the people +prayed in silence without. So it is at the Mass. You see the +Priest lift up the Host before the people. Well, that is the +white veil that hides the Holy of Holies from our eyes. Within, +our Lord and Saviour mediates with the Father in our behalf. Oh, +be still! Speak low! Let not the priest at the altar raise his +voice, lest he drown the whispers from that inner shrine. What +need for me to know the very words the priest is using? I know +what he is doing. I know that this is the hour of grace. Earth +has disappeared from me. Heaven is open before me. I am in the +presence of God, and I am praying to Him in my own words, and +after my own fashion. I am pouring out my joys before Him, or +opening to Him the plague of my own heart. + +Yes, the Catholic Church has solved the problem of worship. She +has a service which unites all the necessary conditions for the +public worship of God--a common service, in which all can join; +an external service, which takes place before our eyes, which is +celebrated with offerings which we ourselves supply, and by a +Priest taken from among ourselves; an attractive service; and yet +a service perfectly spiritual. +{490} +The Catholic does not come to church to hear a man pour forth an +_extempore_ prayer, and be forced to follow him through all +the moods and feelings of his own mind; nor to join in a set form +of prayer, which, however beautiful and well arranged, must, from +the very nature of the case, fail to express the varying wants +and feelings of the different members of the congregation; but he +comes to join, after his own fashion, in Christ's own prayer. At +the Catholic Altar there is the most complete liberty, the +greatest variety, combined with the most perfect unity. + +Come, then, children, come to Mass, and bring your merry hearts +with you. Come, you that are young and happy, and rejoice before +the Lord. Come, you that are old and weary, and tell your +loneliness to God. Come, you that are sorely tempted, and ask the +help of Heaven. Come, you that have sinned, and weep between the +porch and the altar. Come, you that are bereaved, and pour out +here your tears. Come, you that are sick, or anxious, or unhappy, +and complain to God. Come, you that are prosperous and +successful, and give thanks. Christ will sympathize with you. He +will rejoice with you, and He will mourn with you. He will gather +up your prayers. He will join to them His own Almighty +supplications, and that concert of prayer shall enter heaven, +louder than the music of angelic choirs, sweeter than the voice +of those who sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, more piercing +than the cry of the living creatures who rest not day or night, +and more powerful and prevailing than the intercession of the +Blessed Virgin and all the saints of Paradise together. The Mass +a formalism! The Mass an unmeaning service! Why, it is the most +beautiful, the most spiritual, the most sublime, the most +satisfying worship which the heart of man can even conceive. + +{491} + +And here, too, in this idea of the Mass, we have the answer to +another perplexity of Protestants. They cannot understand why we +make such a point of attending Mass. They see us go to Mass in +all weathers. They see us so particular not to be late at Mass. +They see us on Sunday, not sauntering leisurely, as if we were +going to a lecture-room, but pressing on with a certain +eagerness, as if we had some great business in hand; and they ask +what it all means. Is it not superstition? Do we not, like the +Pharisees, give an undue value to outward observances? May we not +worship God at home just as well? Ah! if it were really only an +outward observance. But there is just the difference. There +stands one among us whom you know not. We believe that the +Saviour is with us, and you do not. We believe this with a +certain, simple faith. Come to our churches, and look at our +people, the poorest and most ignorant, and see if we do not. It +is written on their faces. They may not know how to express +themselves, but this is in their hearts. You think we come to +Mass because the Church is so strict in requiring us to do so; +but the true state of the case is that the law of the Church is +so strict because Christ is present in the Mass. You think it is +the pomp and glitter of our altars that draws the crowd. Little +you know of human nature if you think it can long be held by such +things alone. No, we adorn our altars because we believe Christ +is present. This is our faith. It is no new thing with us. It is +as old as Christianity. It was the comfort of the Christians in +the catacombs. It was the glory of St. Basil and St. Ambrose and +St. Augustine. It was the meaning of all the glory and +magnificence of the Middle Ages. And it is our stay and support +in this nineteenth century of knowledge, labor, and disquiet. +Yes, strip our altars, leave us only the Corn and the Vine, and a +Rock for our altar, and we will worship with posture as lowly and +hearts as loving as in the grandest cathedral. Let persecution +rise; let us be driven from our churches; we will say Mass in the +woods and caverns, as the early Christians did. We know that God +is everywhere. We know that Nature is His Temple, wherein pure +hearts can find Him and adore Him; but we know that it is in the +Holy Mass alone that He offers Himself to His Father as "the Lamb +that was slain." +{492} +How can we forego that sweet and solemn action? How can we +deprive ourselves of that heavenly consolation! _The sparrow +hath found her an house and the turtle a nest where she may lay +her young, even thy altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my +God!_ Man's heart has found a home and resting-place in this +vale of tears. To us the altar is the vestibule of heaven, and +the Host its open door. + +Yes, and to us the words of the prophet, when he calls the reign +of Antichrist "_the abomination of desolation_," because the +Daily Sacrifice shall then be taken away, has a peculiar fitness. +It is our delight now to think that, as the sun in its course +brings daylight to each successive spot on earth, it ever finds +some priest girding himself to go up to the Holy Altar; that thus +the earth is belted, from the rising of the sun unto the going +down of the same, with a chain of Masses; that as the din of the +world commences each day, the groan of the oppressed, the cry of +the fearful and troubled, the boast of sin and pride, the wail of +sorrow--the voice of Christ ascends at the same time to heaven, +supplicating for pardon and peace. But oh! when there shall be no +Mass any more, when the sun shall rise only to show that the +altar has been torn down, the priests banished, the lights put +out; that will be a day of calamity, of darkness and sorrow. Then +the beasts will groan, and the cattle low. Then will men's hearts +wither for fear. Then will the heavens overhead be brass, and the +earth under foot iron, because the corn has languished, the vine +no longer yields its fruit. The tie between earth and heaven is +broken; _sacrifice and libation are cut off from the House of +God_. + +Such be our thoughts, my dear brethren, about the Holy Mass. I +have alluded to the efforts which mankind have made to offer a +worthy offering to God, sometimes to the extent, even, of +sacrificing their own lives and their children. +{493} +While we abhor these excesses, let us not forget the earnestness +which inspired their misguided devotion. And we, to whom God has +given a perfect worship, a worship not cruel, but beautiful, +inviting, consoling, satisfying, shall we be less devout in +offering it? No! come to Mass, and come to pray. When the Lord +drew near to Elias on the mount, the prophet wrapped his face in +his mantle; so when we come to Mass, let us wrap our souls in a +holy recollection of spirit. Remember what is going on. Now pray; +now praise; now ask forgiveness; now rest before God in quiet +love. So will the Mass be a marvellous comfort and refreshment to +you. You know the smell of the incense lingers about the sacred +vestments worn at the altar long after the service is over; so +your souls shall carry away with them as you leave the church a +celestial fragrance, a breath of the odors of Paradise, the token +that you have received a blessing from Him whose "fingers drop +with sweet-smelling myrrh." + +----------------------------- + + Sermon XXIX. + + The Lessons Of Autumn. + + (Last Sunday After Pentecost.) + + "All flesh is grass, + and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. + The grass is withered and the flower is fallen." + --Isaias XL. 6, 7. + + +It is but a few weeks since you were told that the natural world +has lessons of deep spiritual importance to teach us. Our Lord, +as we see in the Gospel, sometimes drew the text of His discourse +from the flowers of the field, sometimes from the birds of the +air; and it must be evident to any reflecting mind that this was +not done as a mere exercise of fancy on His part, but was the +Divine Interpretation of these messages of love which from the +beginning He had commissioned Nature to tell us. Nature, then, is +really _intended_ by God to be our Teacher. It is my purpose +this morning, to direct your thoughts to one part of its +teaching--that is, the spiritual instruction suggested to us by +the season of Autumn. + +{494} + +Here, in the Church, where we have always the same doctrines, and +the same worship, we might forget how all things without are full +of change and decay, were it not that the Church uses Nature as a +handmaid, and calls her within the sanctuary to adorn the Altar +with her gifts. We miss today the flowers that have been so +plentiful all summer, and this tells us what is going on without. +The crown of flowers which the Spring brought forth to grace our +Easter festival, and which were the truest type of the +Resurrection, which made that feast so joyful, have all perished. +The rose of Whitsuntide, the floral wealth of Corpus Christi, the +white lily of midsummer, have all gone their way. "The glory of +Lebanon is departed; the beauty of Carmel and Sharon." In the +garden and the field, where so lately there was every kind of +fruit and flower that is pleasant to the eye and sweet to the +smell or taste--there are now but a few dried leaves, and the +skeletons of trees and shrubs shaking and rattling in the wind. +Nothing green is left except "the fir-tree and the box-tree and +the pine-tree together," patiently enduring cold and snow so as +to be on hand when the Holy Night comes round, and the Heavenly +Babe is born, to make his humble home glad and beautiful with +their green wreaths and branches. The birds that peopled the +woods and made them merry with their music have gone south, +leaving their summer home silent and desolate. The days are +short. Clouds flit across the sky. The air is strong and keen, +and men shut it out and make all warm and snug within. Yes, the +little time that has elapsed, since we began to number our +Sundays from Easter, has been a full cycle of being in the +vegetable world. Spring has given place to summer, and summer to +autumn. Seed-time and harvest have followed each other, and now +the dreary winter has commenced. "The grass is withered and the +flower is fallen. + +{495} + +And what does all this mean to us? I am sure all of you +understand it well. This season speaks to us in tones that reach +every human heart. It tells us that we are dying. It is strange +how slow we are to realize this. I look around this church, and I +see many dressed in the dark garments that tell they are mourning +for the dead. In what house, indeed, is the family unbroken? +Where is there not a vacant seat at the table? Who of us has not +lost a friend? And yet we rarely think that we too are soon to +follow them. Now, God wishes us to think of this. He tells us of +it by our reason, He tells us of it by our vacant hearths and +homes; He tells us of it by sermons, and by His word, but, not +content with this, He makes the natural world, heir with us of +the sentence of mortality, a monitor to us of this great truth. +"_Day unto day uttereth speech if it, and night unto night +sheweth knowledge of it_." [Footnote 237] + + [Footnote 237: Ps xviii. 3.] + +But at certain seasons He tells us of it more distinctly and in a +greater variety of ways. Would you know what the Autumn teaches? +Hear the Holy Ghost, Himself interpret it: "_The voice said, +cry; and I said, what shall I cry? All Flesh is grass and all the +glory thereof as the flower of the field: the grass is withered +and the flower is fallen_." [Footnote 238] "_In the morning +man shall grow up like the grass; in the evening he shall fall, +grow dry and wither_." [Footnote 239] "_Man born of a woman, +liveth for a short time, and is filled with many miseries. He +cometh forth as a flower and is destroyed; he fleeth as a shadow +and never continueth in the same state_." [Footnote 240] + + [Footnote 238: Isaias xl. 6, 7.] + + [Footnote 239: Ps. lxxxix. 6.] + + [Footnote 240: Job xiv. 1, 2.] + +Oh, do not require God always to speak to you in a voice of +thunder: listen to Him when He speaks gently. Open your eyes and +ears, and receive instruction from the sights and sounds of +Nature. We are dying: the sighing winds tell us so. +{496} +We are dying: the falling leaf tells us how Death will soon +_have power over us as a leaf carried away by the wind, and +pursue us as a dry straw_." [Footnote 241] We are dying: the +harvest-man is discharged, so "_our days are like the days of +an hireling, and the end of labor draweth nigh_." [Footnote 242] +We are dying: the short days tell us that to us "_the sun +and the light and the moon and the stars will soon be +darkened_."[Footnote 243] + + [Footnote 241: Job xiii. 25.] + + [Footnote 242: Job vii. 1.] + + [Footnote 243: Eccles. xii. 2.] + +We are dying: the earth hath already wrapped itself in its +winding-sheet of snow, to foretell to us the time when, stiff and +cold, we shall be dressed for the grave. We are _all_ dying. +Are you young? Well, the young are dying. Life is but a lingering +death. _As soon as we are born, we began to draw to our +end_. Every path in life leads straight to the grave. Are you +old? are you sick? Ah! then, there is a voice within you which +repeats the warning from without. You are not as strong and well +as you once were. Time was you felt within you a fount of health +and strength that defied danger and despised precaution. What a +strange, fierce joy it was for you to struggle with the +buffetings of the wintry blast! But, somehow, you know not how, +either it was an accident or an imprudence, there came over you +now and then a pain, a cough, a strange weariness, and the raw +wind steals away from your cheek the bloom which once it +imparted, and sends a chill to your heart. What does it mean? I +will tell you. It is the shadow of mortality. You are dying. Men +do not realize this. They do not realize it of themselves, and +they do not realize it of others. Death is always a surprise and +an accident. It is one of the things in the world on which men do +not count. + +It is something which has nothing to do with us until the doctor +stands over us, and says we have but a few days or a few hours to +live. We speak of the dead with pity, as if they were the victims +of some unlucky chance which we had escaped. This ought not to be +so. "_It is appointed for man once to die_." [Footnote 244] + + [Footnote 244: Heb. ix. 27.] + +{497} + +Because we are living, therefore we must die. Adam in Paradise +might have escaped death if he would, but since Adam's sin and +our loss of integrity, the sentence of death has passed upon all. +There is no reflection which a man can make more certainly true +than this: I must die. The time is fixed. There shall come to me +a day that knows no setting, a night that knows no dawn. The +lights shall be lit in the church; the pall spread over the bier; +the priest singing Mass at the altar. My body shall lie under +that pall, and my name be mentioned in that Mass. From the church +my body shall be carried to the grave, and my soul be happy or +miserable according to the deeds it hath done on earth. I do not +know _when_ I shall die. Youth is no protection against +death. Health is no protection against death. I do not know +_where_ I shall die. No corner of the earth can hide me from +His summons. I do not know _how_ I shall die, whether at +home, among my friends, with the rites of the Church, with my +reason, with a quiet mind--or abroad, or suddenly, or without the +last sacraments, or with a heavy load of sin on my soul, or in a +state of insensibility. All these things are uncertain; this only +is certain, that I must die--that I must die, that _my_ turn +shall come; and others shall speak of me as I speak now of those +already dead. + +But some of you may say, why tell us this? Life is short at the +best, why vex ourselves with thinking of that which we cannot +prevent. We have got many projects in hand, many pleasures in +prospect, and we do not want to paralyze our energies and sadden +our days by meditating always on death. No, my brethren, I do not +ask you to think of death in order to paralyze your energies, but +to direct them aright; not to sadden your days, but to make them +calm and tranquil. I know that a celebrated modern writer has +made it a matter of reproach against Christianity that it sends +men to learn the solemn lessons of the grave. +{498} +But surely this reproach is unreasonable. It cannot be denied +that men do die. The earth has already many times seen an entire +generation of her inhabitants pass away. There are many more +sleeping in the ground than live on its surface. Now, if this be +so, if death is an inevitable fact in our history, and a fact on +which much depends--if this life is not all, but after this life +there is an Eternity dependent on our conduct here, it is plain +that reason requires us to think of death, and he is foolish who +forgets it. Besides, the thought of death is enjoined upon us by +the Almighty, as a sure means of salvation: "_In all thy works +remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin_." [Footnote 245] + + [Footnote 245: Eccles. vii. 36.] + +And I will say more. The thought of death really contributes to +our comfort, because it is the only way of getting rid of the +fear of death. Suppose you do refuse to listen to the warnings +which Death suggests, are you therefore free from anxiety? Is +there no trouble in your conscience? Is there nothing frightful +to you in a sleepless night, or a sickbed? would you hear with +equanimity that you had a hopeless disease? No, it is the coward +that will not think of death, who "_all his life through fear +of death is subject to slavery_." Act like a man. Face this +King of Terrors, and you disarm him. His countenance is stern, +but his words are kind and friendly. Listen to him, and you will +find that he can relax his grim features and smile upon you; and +there is nothing can give you such comfort, as for death to come +to you with a smiling face. The sting of death is sin: be careful +to avoid sin, and then at his coming you can exclaim: "O death, +where is thy victory! O death, where is thy sting!" [Footnote 246] + + [Footnote 246: I. Cor. xv. 55.] + +{499} + +Oh, it is a shame and a disgrace that Christians think so little +about death. Why, death is our best friend and our wisest +counsellor. A London anatomist once placed over his +dissecting-rooms this inscription: "_Hic mors juvat succurrere +vitæ;_" "Here death helps to succor life." You see the +meaning. The physician takes a dead body and studies it, spends +days and nights over it, repulsive as it is, in order to learn +the secrets of the living frame and how to minister to its +complaints. So let the Christian look at death and learn from it +how to keep his soul in health, how to secure its everlasting +life. It is nothing very terrible that death has to tell us now. +The time will come, if we refuse to hear him now, when his words +will be terrible; but now, though solemn, though calculated to +make us serious and thoughtful, they need not make us gloomy. He +says, you have a great work to do, and little time to do it +in--time enough, but none to spare. He says to the young: Look at +me, look into my face, and see the value of beauty and of +pleasure. He says to the proud: Come and see how kings and +beggars lie side by side in my dominion. He says to the covetous: +Come, open a grave, and see what a man carries away with him when +he dies. And he says to all, you must die alone; what you are, +what you have made yourself, so must you appear before God, to +receive a just and final sentence. This is the sermon of Death, +that he has been preaching from the beginning. It never grows +old. It has converted more sinners than all missionaries and +preachers by any other means. It has made more saints, induced +more to embrace a religious life, sent more souls to heaven than +any other sermon ever did. Oh! Death is a great preacher. There +is no answer to his reasonings, no escape from his appeal. He +speaks not, but his silence is eloquent. He makes no gestures, +but that motionless arm of his is more expressive than the most +impassioned action. There is a story told of a certain man named +Guerricus, which shows how powerfully death preaches. This man +was a Christian, but one who loved the world too well, and one +evening he strayed into a church when the monks were singing +matins. +{500} +The hour, the place, all invited to reflection, and as he stood +and listened, one of the monks came forth, and in a loud, clear +voice sang the lesson of the day. It was as follows: "_And all +the time that Adam lived, came to nine hundred and thirty years, +and he died. And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and +seven years, and all the years of Seth were nine hundred and +twelve years, and he died. And Enos begat Cainan. And all the +years of Enos were nine hundred and five years, and he died. And +all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he +died_." [Footnote 247] + + [Footnote 247: Gen. v. 5.] + +So it came at the end of every period, the same melancholy +cadence, _Et mortuus est_, "and he died." The words rang in +the ear of Guerricus. "So then," said he, "that is the end of +all. The longest life ends with that record--_and he died_. +So it will one day be said of me." And with this reflection on +his mind, he went away and distributed his wealth to the poor, +commenced a life of mortification and prayer, and began in good +earnest to prepare to die. Happy those who after this example are +led by the thought of death to enter on a really devout life! +They will not be confounded in the evil day. They will not be +afraid of any evil tidings. When the great prophet Elias was +about to leave this world, the sons of the prophets came to tell +Eliseus of it as a piece of afflicting news, saying: "_Dost +thou know that the Lord will take away thy master from thee +to-day?_" [Footnote 248] And he said: "_Yes, I know it, hold +your peace._" So when the good Christian's last hour comes on, +and sorrowing friends approach his bed to break it to him that he +is dying, he can say, Yes, I know it. It is no news to me. I have +long known it. I have expected it. _Dying_, you say. "So +then," I can exclaim with St. Teresa, "the hour is come!" the +hour I have so long been waiting for, the hour I have labored +for, the hour that is to end my exile here, and unite me for ever +to my Saviour and my God! + + [Footnote 248: I. Kings ii. 3.] + +{501} + +I tried just now to describe to you the desolation that is now +spread over the face of Nature; but a few weeks ago the scene was +quite different. The fields were laden with a golden harvest, and +the husbandman was gathering it in with joy. He knew that winter +was coming, and he prepared for it. In the morning he sowed his +seed, and in the evening he withheld not his hand. He labored in +the chill, uncertain spring, and in the hot days of summer, and +when autumn came, he gathered his fruits into the garner, safe +from the frosts of winter. So he who thinks of death makes the +most of the spring-time of life, takes care in his youth to plant +in his heart the seeds of piety, and to tear up the weeds of +vice, guards his soul in the storms of temptation, labors +untiringly through the heat and burden of life, and, when his +last hour arrives, lies down in peace, confident that he shall +enter into those fruits of righteousness which, by patient +continuance in well-doing, he has laid up for the time to come. + +I commend these thoughts to you all, my brethren; but there are +some among you to whom I commend them especially, those, namely, +who are to die soon. When the captains of Israel were assembled +together at Ramoth-Galaad, the messenger of Eliseus appeared in +their midst and said, "_I have a message to thee, O +prince._" And they answered, "_To which one of us all?_" +[Footnote 249] So I feel this morning as if I had a message to +some of you in particular, though I do not know who they are. The +message is that which Jeremias the prophet sent to Hananias: +"_Thus saith the Lord, this year shalt thou die_." [Footnote 250] + + [Footnote 249: IV. Kings ix. 5.] + + [Footnote 250: Jer. xxviii. 16.] + +{502} + +How many of those who were alive a year ago are now dead! How +many of those who listen to me now will be dead before another +year rolls round! Now, to these persons it is a question of the +most pressing urgency, "Am I now as I would wish to be when I +die? When Death comes, it will not wait because you are laden +with sins or unprepared. It will not wait for you to send for the +priest or finish your confession, or to receive absolution. At +the moment that sentence is given, you must yield up your soul, +in whatever state it is. Now, then, is the time to put your house +in order. Perhaps you are not a Catholic. You are lingering +outside the Church, with misgivings in your heart that only in +her fold you can secure your salvation. Will those misgivings +help you to die easily? Will those ingenious and far-fetched +arguments, by which you fortify yourself against conviction now, +give that peace to your soul, which the broad, strong, plain +evidence of the Faith imparts to the soul of a Catholic? Would +you not like, as you go out of this world, to step on the firm +rock of Peter? To go hence "with the sign of faith," with the +blessing of the Mother of Saints upon you, and the grace of her +sacraments within your heart? + +Or, you are a Catholic, but a careless one. You have the load of +years of sin on your conscience. When you come to die, will you +not wish to have those sins blotted out? Will you then forego as +you do now those absolving words which our Lord has promised to +ratify in heaven? Will you trust all to the uncertain chance of +confession in that hour, or to a doubtful contrition? + +Or it is a cloud of venial sins--a veil of worldliness, and +selfishness, and unfaithfulness, of omissions and neglects, that +darkens your soul. Do you wish to die with that veil not taken +away? Do you wish to go before God as careless and as sensual as +you are now? Are you spending your time as you would wish to +spend the last year of your life? Oh! be diligent. The night +cometh. Work while it is day. "_Whatsoever thy hand is able to +do, do it earnestly; for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, +nor knowledge shall be in the land of the dead whither thou art +hastening_." [Footnote 251] + + [Footnote 251: Eccles. ix. 10.] + +Receive instruction. Be not of the number of those who have +foolishly thrown away their salvation. + +{503} + +There are stories of men's passing through grave-yards on dark +and stormy nights, and hearing dismal sounds, as of a restless +and unhappy soul complaining of its torments. You say it is the +wind. Suppose it is: may not the wind be speaking for the dead? +Is not the earth for the elect? Does not Nature sympathize with +man? Does not every creature groan and travail for our +redemption? [Footnote 252] Did not the prophet call upon the +fir-trees and the oaks to "howl" for the destruction of +Jerusalem! [Footnote 253] + + [Footnote 252: Rom. ix. 22.] + + [Footnote 253: Zacb. xi. 2.] + +Did not the sun hide its face at the crucifixon of our Lord, and +the earth tremble under His Cross? And when He comes to judgment +will not the stars fall from the sky and the heavens be parted as +a scroll? Is not, then, that instinct of humanity right which has +understood the fearful sounds and sights of Nature as Divine +utterances--pictures and voices of a woe that is unspeakable and +indescribable. There is a bird in South America with a cry so +melancholy that it is called _The Lost Soul_. And Nature, +that speaks there to the hearts of men by that dismal cry, tells +the same story to us by the storm at sea, and the moaning and +sighing and shrieking of the wind on a winter's night. What +aileth thee, O sea, tossed and driven with the waves? Let the +Scriptures answer. "_The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, +the God of majesty hath thundered, the Lord is upon many +waters_." [Footnote 254] + + [Footnote 254: Ps. xxviii. 3:] + +Why does the winter come upon us with desolation and storm? Let +the Holy Scripture answer again: "_The vineyard is confounded, +and the fig-tree hath languished. The pomegranate-tree, and the +palm-tree, and the apple-tree, and all the trees of the field +shalt wither because joy is withdrawn from the children of +men._" [Footnote 255] + + [Footnote 255: Joel i. 12.] + +{504} + +Yes, there are sad things in nature because there is death and +reprobation among men. The days grow short out of sorrow for the +lost children of God, and the wintry heavens "are black with +clouds, and winds, and rain," because to many "_the harvest is +past, the summer is ended, and they are not saved_." +[Footnote 256] + + [Footnote 256: Jer. viii. 20.] + +----------------------------- + + THE END + + +{505} + + Various Works By The Paulist Fathers. + + For Sale By + + Lawrence Kehoe, + + Nassau Street, New York + +------------- + + Sermons of the Paulist Fathers, for 1861 $1.00 + Sermons of the Paulist Fathers, for 1862 $1.00 + Sermons of the Paulist Fathers, for 1863 $1.00 + Sermons of the Paulist Fathers, for 1864 $1.50 + + Questions of the Soul. By Rev. I. T. Hecker $1.00 + Aspirations of Nature. By Rev. I. T. Hecker $1.00 + Guide for Catholic Young Women. By Rev. G. Deshon. $0.90 + Catholic Hymns and Canticles, together with a + complete Sodality Manual. By Rev. Alfred Young $0.80 + + ------------------------- + + Any of the above Books sent by mail, + postpaid, on receipt of the price. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sermons Of The Rev. Francis A. Baker, by +Rev. A. F. Hewit + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58812 *** |