CHURCH OF ST. MARY IMMACULATE GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1497, 9 October 1886, Page 3

CHURCH OF ST. MARY IMMACULATE GERALDINE.

The (concluding service in connection with ,the jubilee mission of the Rev. Father Le jtfenant De« Ohesnaw at this Church was held oh Thursday afternoon. The rev. gentleman was assisted by the Rev. Father ;Brown, of Timaru, and the Rev. Father *Bowere, Pastor of the Church at Geraldine. ' The Church was crowded to excess, and a number of little girls dressed in white and wearing wreaths and long white veils looked very nice. The rev. missioaer took for his text the words «Hold fast that which thou hast that no man take thy crown.” The rev. gentleman prefaced his remarks with an incident that occurred during the reign of Agrioola. A decree having been issued that all Christians that would not, within a certain time, give np Christianity should be cast into prison and there'he put to death amid the worst of tortures, forty young soldiers, Christians, who had greatly distinguished themselves on .-the-battle field intimated that they would sooner die than abjure their faith. Every ' means were used to shake their resolution, but in vain, and it being winter time it was resolved to expose them nude on a frozen lake ' until they died or recanted. A large fire was also lighted, and a warm bath prepared for those who should give up their faith and nrav to the image of Jupiter, which was also set up During the night the sentinels on duty beheld a pasty of angels, cash with a crown, of which there were 39. While watching this and perplexed at there being only thirty-nine and yet forty martyrs they observed one of the latter making signs that ho had recanted. He was put into the warm bath, but died, and one of the sentinels who - had been an observer of all that was taking " place stripped off his clothes and declared .- himself a Christian, and the determination to Win the crown lost by the coward just died. Going out upon the ioe bc remained with the other*. In the morning the martyr* not being dead a *arge bonfire was lighted and they Wars thrown into it with ths exception

of one young man, a universal favorite, whom the guards resolved to spare. When hia mother, however, who had been watching the whole thing, saw that he was left, she went to him and, encouraging him, urged upon him not to forfeit his crown, and herself put him upon the chariot that conveyed the martyrs to the fire, and he perished with the reel. The rev. gentleman said that to a certain extent those who had attended the mission so regularly had to a certain extent imitated i hose Christian martyrs. They had come to the jubilee misricn in spite of the heavy rain, the muddy roada, and the swollen creeks and rivers. They had made their peace with God, and notwithstanding the hatred and contempt of the world they had openly declared that they wished to remain till death the dutiful children of God, and the faithful servants of Christ, and to obtain the crown of immortal glory which Christ had prepared for those that love him. But in order to obtain that crown they must continue in the way in which they had begun, they must fight and suffer for Christ until they obtained the crown that Christ was holding out to them and saying " Hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown,’ “ Behold I come quickly and My reward is in My hand. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” It was a gretit thing to haye come to the mission, and to have got rid of their sins and remorse of conscience, but they had a long journey to go yet, they had to fight against their own evil inclinations, and to resist all the dangers of the world. Christ would have brave and courageous soldiers to serve him, and to walk in his footsteps. Christ showed them bis crown of thorns and His hand and feet pierced with nails, and He said to them, “ Now, if you want to come after Me and follow Me, are you willing to have that crown of thorns upon your forehead, are you willing to be spit upon, and laughed at; if not come after Me and be Mv disciple.” He did not wish to keep them long that day, but would tell them in a few words what he would have them do if they wished to lead a holy and Christian life. First, they were to walk in the presence of God—to remember constantly that God was everywhere. They were surrounded with as a fish in the sea was surrounded with water, and God could see every action, and evsry thought of their lives. They should always endeavor so to live es to. do nothing that would be displeasing to the eye of God. They must be faithful eyery morning upon waking up to give their hearts to God, and never go to work without having said their prayers and offered to Him the actions of the day. They must never retire without saying their prayers. If they neglected them only once it might be the cause of their damnation, but if they never neglected their prayers he ceuld answer for their salvation. While saying their prayers they could examine their hearts and find out the evil they had done, and if they then asked God to forgiye them He would do so, and not let them die in their sins. It was when a man had been drinking, gambling, keeping bad company, stealing, lying, blaspheming God’s name, that be would go to bed like a brute without saying his prayers, and God bad a right to strike him dead. If he were to wake up in hell and ask God why He did not give him time to repent and do penance, God would say “ Miserable man, jou bad been drinking, swearing, quarrelling, fighting, showing a bad example to your children, keeping bad company ; you had been stealing and indulging in wieked and ariminal pleasures 5 and to-night you did not go down on you knees and ask My pardon. If you had prayed to Me I would have had compassion upon you, but if you are lost it is your own fault. Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” Always go to the Maes on Sunday. God baa given us sit days in order to provide the needful food and clothes, but He has set apart a day for Himself, and as a father likes to see his children in his house, and silting down at his table, and listening to what he has to tell them, so Almighty God allowed them to do what they pleased during the week, but on Sunday He wanted them to come together in His house and to listen to the explanation of His holy law, and to receive Bis blessing for the whole of the week. When they kept away from Mass on Sunday they were cut off fiom God for that week, and He was displeased at it, and declared that if they kept away from Mass without very good cause He would also keep them away for ever from His beautiful palace in heaven. On the contrary, if they were legitimately prevented from coming to Church they must keep the Sunday holy ; they must meet together at home, and in common with those at the Church form a little chapel both morning and evening in their own homes. They were not prevented from taking a little walk and recreation, but they must do so gently and as the innocent children of God. They must attend the Sacraments regularly. He could not understand ■ their being careless in this respect. They should like to receive them, and not as it ware have to be dragged up to them, If they went six months without washing their bodies, or cleaning their houses, both would be in a frightful condition. But this was the state of many Christians, Once a year, or perhaps twice, they coma to the Sacraments. If they wanted to keep their souls pure and spotles*, if they wanted God to give them His graces they must go frequently to the Sacraments, the more often the better, and at any rate never be more than three months without purifying their soula and without nenance. Another thing be would urge upon them was to have nothing to do with wieked people and wicked amusements. It was impossible for them to frequent bad company and remain good, St. Augustine was one of the greatest of men, he was very learned, and knew that which was right, and had very little inclination for evil, but he tells us that when he was with the young men of Africa and Italy, and they plunged into all sorts of sin, he followed them. And so they might rest assured that if they went with the wicked they would be wicked. A man might as well put his hand into a fire and expect to escape burning ; or lie down in a ditch and expect not to be soiled j er play with a viper and expect not to be stung as go with bad companions and expect to remain good. They must not expect that God would help them it they ran into danger, bnt if they happened to fall into it unavoidably, and cried to God for help, He would help and deliver them even if He had to send an angel to accomplish it. Another thing, they must be very careful what they read. Now-a-days every little boy and girl knew how to read. Education was a very good thing if they made a good use of it, but if they made a bad use of it it was more dangerous than they supposed. A great number of books and periodicals scattered abroad were either immoral or irreligious. They must not imagine that they could read such books and papers without being hurt by them. Everything they read produced au image in the mind, and fixed an impression on their soul, and they must be exceedingly careful what they read, and also what they left lying about for their children to get hold of. He strongly nrgad tham to have nothing to dc with either books or papers that were of ft« immoral or irreligious tendency. The rev, gentleman concluded an excellent sermon, which was listened to with great attention, and also the jubilee mission by thanking those who hod come and taken part in it so re l gularly, and also the choir for their assistance The rev. gentleman went south yesterday to opto a mission at Waimate,