CHRISTMAS SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 13144, 28 December 1908, Page 6

CHRISTMAS SERVICE.

Masses were celebrated at St. Patirck's Basilica, South Dunedin, at 7, 8, 9, aiid 11 a.m. on Christmas Day. A large number communicated at the early masses. The Rev. Father O'Neill preached at the eleven o'clock mass, taking for bis subject 'Faith enlivened by good works.' He took for his text the words from the first chapter of St. John : " The Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us." He said that the festival of Christmas brings directly before our minds the fundamental , doctrine of Chrjstian faith—viz., the belief that Christ is true God and true man. The fact of Christ's divinity is demonstrable to human reason; not so all the teachings of Christ. These we believe because they are the teachings of God, for Christ is God. But we must not be content with the mere intellectual concession to the truths of faith, for faith must be fruitful in good works, ior, as St. Paul says, "as the body without the spirit ii also faith without goods works is dead," and the Savious says : "Not everyone that sayeth to me 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But he that doetb the will of my Father, who is in Heaven, he shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." The choir sang a Gregorian Mass at the eleven o'clock service. The ' Adeste Fideles' was sting at the'offertory. Miss Tonar presided at the organ.