ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1927, Page 4

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION.

ADDRESS BY FATHER AIGRATII. (Lyttelton Times). Congregations reaching record proportions continue to timing the Catholic Cathedral on the occasion of the Jubilee Alission, and the Alarist .Mis. sinners express great satisfaction with the earnestness of the parishioners. On Tuesday evening the devotions were conducted by Father Al’Grath. The speaker announced that the number of communicants bad not yet quite rein bed the four figures expected, and hoped that their expectations would early he realised. In mentioning the .subject of that night’s discourse—“ The Besetting Sins of .Model n Society,” Father M'Grath said that such sermons were eagerly listened to, for they were of an intensely practical character. Alere listening,

however, was not sufficient. ‘‘Blessed are they who hear the word of. God and keep it." The Roman governor Felix was almost persuaded to become a Christian when St Paul withered his mean and carnal soul with a sermon on chastity, but Drusilla was a stumbling block. Many to-day were almost persuaded, but not finally, for the same reasons of sensuality, which

were being weakly condescended to. The missioner stated that Thursday and Friday are set down for special procession solemnities. Father Joyce was the occasional preacher, and spoke from the text: ‘‘Take heed that thou consent not to sin nor transgress the commandments of the Lord thy God." The evil of sin was represented ns the greatest of all evils; ,in fact it was the only real evil. Temporal misfortunes, such as loss of health, wealth and human friend-shin, when accepted in a right spirit were material for virtue and stepping stones to the higher life in the kingdom of God. That alone should he considered an evil which could strike at man’s immortal soul, separate him from the friendship of God here on earth and His Society hereafter.

Sin had such disastrous consequences for many reasons. It. was an act of revolt against the. law of God; an opposition of the human will to tiie Divine will. Tt- implied a contempt of God, the choosing of some creature in preference to Him. “I will not give my glory to another,’’ was God's own commentary on ibis attitude.

It was a common heresy of the age to minimise the seriousness of sin, to regard it as a pardonable weakness, but the Cross would ever stand in condemnation of such a view. God became incarnate, suffered, and died, because of sin. Tt was most appalling to observe liow the sense of sin was being lost in the modern world. One tiling alone could rescue mankind from this 'dangerous state—a deeper spirit of reflection on the great truths of religion and especially oil the arresting thought of Christ crucified.

The missioner in his peroration appealed for a. sincere return of everyone to the spirit of faith and sacrifice, that God’s viewpoint might ever prevail in their lives, however seductive the allurements of worldly wisdom might he.