WAITARA CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 63, 4 March 1908, Page 2

WAITARA CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE OI'KN INC SERMON. ■llls Crave the Archbishop, before commencing his sermon .\t the opening tf tlte new Waitara Church on Sunday, referred to the presentation of the. illuminated address, and said he accepted it, not as a personal honour, but as an honour to the head of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. It gave hi'.u great pleasure to be present to rejoice with the Catholie.s of the district, in the opening of their very beautiful church, well iinished in every way, and sullieient for their needs in respect of size. The altar was a lieautiful pie;-e of work, and due to the charity of one benefactor, who did not wish her name disclosed. The opening of a Catholic church was a great event ill the district, ns it was a centre and source of light and grace and charity. Sunday after Sunday Catholics gathered to be taught the great rules leading to their salvation. The Son of f!od came to teaeli men what to do. There were greal men of old who were called philosophic of trill 1). but thi' Divine Lord siid "I am of truth,'' and he taught the whole circle of truths which Cod had condescended lo reveal to man through llis Son. and, by this, man was enabled to reach a destiny above his rights, above his aspirations, and above his knowledge. This was a marvellous gift, making men the Sons of Clod by adoption. The marvellous mysteries and troths revealed were too great lo be taken in by finite intellects, but our Saviour took the means to preserve and teach them unto Mis second coming, and lie gathered to ilim a certain number of men and said to them. '• As the Father sent. Me, ( also send you. Teach ye all the nations," and this founded a society which existed to-day in the life of the Catholic Church. That Church to-day numbered 200 millions of people, and contained more Christians than all the other Christian denominations put together, jhe unity of the Catholic Church was never so striking as at the present day. TTer position was unassailable; but- some would not consider this, or would not examine her claims, but took up an attitude governed by ignorance, neglect, and inherited prejudice. In the Catholic Church the truths were taught and defended, and the great acts of religion were enabled to be participated in through the sacraments and the sacrifice of the Mass. They had first the sacrifice of the visible Christ on Calvary, and later the same sacrifice with the Christ invisible. There were particular duties laid upon Catholics, namely, the frequent and worthy reception of the sacraments, and regular attendance at Mass whenever possible. The institution of baptism and the Holy Eucharist were mentioned as privileges entitled to be in the Church, and in the building they were in they would also see the uniting of hearts and hands in holy wedlock. Another sacred duty laid upon the priest was, when it came to the last earthly hours of any one Catholic, the sacred oils were taken from the church and extreme unction bestowed upon the dying one. These were amongst the great blessings of the Church, and the Archbishop hoped its members ill the district would cherish them, and regularly attend Mass, taking part in the great act of worship, and paying the greatest homage on their part that tlioy were able to perforin. When Mass was missed. Catholics were prone to beconi" languid in their faith: whereas

regular attendance luiill n|j their faith and -,tr<-iijutlii'iicil thrin. ,u that til.' people could nni lie exhorted too strongly i" it" nil in I heir power to attend .-wry Sunday celebration was made. 'Hie greater the inconvenience, said liis firuce. tlie miiiv merit in the attendance: iiml parents should not lose sight ol tlie tact, that ;i gnoii example was a great step in. itself to preserve the fnilli. 'I lie Arcliliisliop added that the people should conn l fri'i|iii'iitlv to receive the sacraments, and do' that to please Cod, who was worthy of all love. The gift of the immortality of the soul was a wonderful goodness, lint we human beings. said his (.'race, were swimming in bcnelils, and yet some received tlicin without acknowledging (!od. This lbe\ did more from ignorance than malice. In conclusion. his tiraco cnuit'nlulatcd the Catholic people of AVai- J -urn on the culmination of their desires. ' mil he expressed his thanks to all who Kid assisted to bring about the conmiimation. He specially thanked the boir, which rendered the lnu-ic so well, ni! said lhat it had lieen an agreeable urprise to him to have heard such good inging. ll<> hoped the opening of the hureh would lead to the promulgation V a Catholic spirit in the district, and bu! generally the Church would lie of I icalciilable benefit to tlie conmiunil v,