THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1803, 16 October 1888, Page 3

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, TEMUKA.

' The Right Kev. Dr Grimes, Romar Catholic Bishop. of ChfistcHliroh, arrived ia Tetnoks by the express train laitSatur day, and was received by the Eev. Father Fanrel at the train and conveyed to the ehurob, the peal of bells ringing a joyoue welcome the while. On Sunday be preiebed both at Mast and Vespara, and administered the Sam men t of Confirmation to 43 beys and 55 girls. At |M3O o’clock. Jthe cbnrcb was eroded, and Maw was. celebrated by the Kev. j-Fatber Fauvel, All the beautiful -'.ornaments) of the church were brought 'i ■ into requisition, and it looked really .-'■plendid; His Lordship, : sfter the •is Gospel, ascended the pulpit, and said « it wai with feelings of great satisfaction found himself once more in their by the practical proof the examinations he bad conducted /<nHhe ;proT|oas day had given him of the leal and devotion of these who consecrated their lives to the teaching of their children, whom be found grounded in the sublime tralhs of their holy religion. He also felt pleased at ~the great effort they had put forth for the propagation of the f«iith, a« ihisy had sent from that church more for that noble object than frem any other church in the diocese. Taking bis text Iroin the Book of Proverbs, “Son, give Me thy heart,” he preached a beautiful 'sermon on- devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.*' ' The Church was the focus ef divine love. It was said that devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was a modern institution, but this he denied. At the stable at Bethlehem, the devotion to the Siorcd Heart commenced with the Blessed Mother of our Redeemer, and with St. Josepbj and with- tba angels who told the -ahepherds of the birth of Our Lord,,and , riwith' tbe wise.xnen. In the. early persecations of the Christians, martyrs said 'l, they, felt the blood of the Stored Heart oozing upon them.; His Lordship then i--’gave many instances ef devotion: to the Cecred Heart of Jesus, and told how Jesus appeared to a nun in a churoh with Hie heart exposed, aa seen in the pictures, and expressed to her His desire to see " - devotioD ’tbUhe Saqredi Heart practised in the Chnrob. The promises Jesus made on the occasion were .as follows |—“ 1. I will give them all the graces necessary in ., v ,ttieir etata ef life. 2. I will establish j' peace in their houses. ; 3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions. 4. I will be ! their secure refuge during life, and above all in death, 6. I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings. 6. Sinners shall fiad in My Heart the aouree and the infinite ocean of mercy. • 7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent. 8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection. 9, 1 will bless every Slace where a picture of My Heart shall t set up and honoured. 10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts. 11. Those who shall - fpromote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart never ; to be blotted, eut.” After having referred at considerable length to tbe efioaoy of prayers to the Sacred Heart, Mis Lordship said that once the city of Marseilles, in Fratce, was visited by a plague, which carried people away by thousands, until the Bishop ot the diocese consecrated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, after which the plague ceased. Other dioceses were ooasecrated to the Sacred Heart, with similar results, and it was ho w the; desire of the Church to consecrate the whole Catholic world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. With this object in view, their pastor had already, as might be seen at the door of the church, resolved to establish the League of the Sacred Heart in the parish, and after Mass those who desired to join would receive the badges, '* ' • il ‘-After Mass His Lordship explained the /-■'! heVeihonies of Confirmation. His Lordship ' ? ! explained that the Bishop washed; bis ’ bands to denote the angelic purity and cleanliness with which the sacrament should be approached, and that the imposition of bands was practised from the earliest tiroes—and even by Jestis Christ Himself. Ho read the prayers offered for .- the occasion, end said they had the promire of Jesue Christ Himself that fj (graces would be given to them—and heaven and earth should pass sway, but Christ’s word would The sign of the cross was made on their forehead with holy oil, and the Bishop gave them a stroke en the cheek, and said, "Peace be with you,” to show they should bear the trials of the world. Those who were confirmed then went up to the altar railings, and after the ceremony was over His Lordship again addressed them. He ' said that in the early ages of the Church a, 1 youth who had just been confirmed was dragged before a tyrant, and asked to • .-trample on a crucifix. He was promised ’ ~ wealth and boner and titles if he would ; do so, and was told that io the event of his refusing bo woald be put to death. He refused to do so, and told them that before be would deny his God he would •offer to have bis flesh torn to : i’ pieces, and if this ware done they would find the nsma of Jesus written an his heart. Ha was put to death, and His Lordship urged upon those who had been confirmed tbat day to remain equally steadfast in their holy religion. They had notv become the temples of the Holy Gbost, and not only heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, but sworn soldiers of Jssus Christ. Were they going to remain faithful to Him I Were they going to remain ; true to their promisee and perservere io their holy religion I To do so they must si,:; avoid bad company and lewd literature. Before reading books they ought to submit them to their parents or their pastor. Their first act in the morning and last act , . at night should be to make the sign of the ’ cross en themselves. They should con- . secrate all their actions to. God, and always seek the protection ef their guardian angels. After a most earnest exhortation, Hia Lordship gave them hia ’ Blessing, and the ceremony terminated. Hia Lordabip next biased the statue of . Jesua Christ which baa recently been P ‘ erected in Hie charch, and also the badges ef the League of the Sacred Heart, and invited auoh as desired to do so to come forward to receive the badges and join the League. Nearly the whole congregates responded to the invitation, and received the badges from the hands of the Biahop, i' ' This brought the proceedings to a close. ; At Vespers His Lordship again preached but before doing so he expressed himseli highly pleased and edified at the largr number who bad joined the League ol the iSacred Heart in the morning. Hr hoped they would all do so. Hi* Lordship then took for bis text th<

Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Luke, i., 46, to 49; “My soul doth magnify the Lord ; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour : because He bath regarded the humility of His handmaid ; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me Blessed, for He that is.raighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name.” His Lordship delivered a very eloquent sermon on this text, urging that never was a prophecy more truly fulfilled, for all generations bad since called her Blessed. He referred to the angelic salutation, “Hail full .of graoe, the Lord is with thee ; Blesaed art thou amongst women,” and pointed out that nothing could exceed the state of grace she was in. He also referred to her visit to her cousin, Elisabeth, and to the inspired manner in which the latter addressed her, and said it. was chon the first miracle in the order «f the iacarnatioa was performed. His Lordship then showed that from the earliest time the Mother of God had been honored amongst Christians, and urged that to hor honor was due. At the close of the sermon His Lordship gave the people bis Apostolic Blessing, and the proceedings wound up with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The choir sang the following music:— Before Mass | Hymn to the Sacred Heart and “Asperges. At Mass; “Kyrie” and “Agnus Dei,” from Est’s Mass; “Gloria,” “Credo,” “Sanctos,” and “Benedictas,” from Winter’s Mass; Webbe’s “0 Jesu, Deus,” at the Offertory. Before the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation “ Yeni Sancte Spiritus,” and while the congregation were being enrolled “ 0 Sacred Heart ” was sung. At night : Vespers, choir and children alternately. The “0 Salutaris” and “Tantum Ergo ” were arranged specially for the occasion ; hymn before Benediction, “ Miriam, ora pro nobis.”