Mission Sermon at St. Patrick’s Church

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1948, Page 2

Mission Sermon at St. Patrick’s Church

As men lived so they would die, declared the Rev. Father T. Mahoney, C.S.S.R., preaching at St. Patrick’s Church, last evening, when another big congregation attended the Redemptorist Mission which extends over the next fortnight. Father Mahoney taking as his text “In all thy works remember thy last end,” said that death was as certain as night followed day, but the time of death was the most uncertain factor. Inevitably, men and women would die and go to meet their God in Judgment. Some preferred to put aside the thought of death, but the less it was thought about, the more quickly it would come. All efforts made to preserve life were of no avail against the certainty that God had fixed the date of everyone’s death. “A life well lived will find open the doors of Paradise,” said Father Mahoney. “Lif e itself is but a preparation for death, and many who were at the last Mission in this church are not here to-night. Many of you present here, will not be at the next Mission. Not far from here, at this moment, there are souls in their death agony.” Describing the scene of death, Fathei- Mahoney said that all prayers were of no avail if a soul died in mortal sin. Death came when least Q xpect.ed, and many who felt in good health were confronted by sudden death, perhnns by accident. “A good life means a good death, end had living means a bad death,” said Father Mahoney, who pointed nut that those passions which men allowed to grow during their lifetime, would be with them at death. Those accustomed to sinning, would continue doing so even if it was of no advantage. God could not be mocked, however, and men should take heed of His warnings, and not remain in sin. Father Mahoney referred to those who gave in to drunkenness and impurity, and said that parents who adonted birth prevention were living lives of sin. Asking the congregation to apply the lessons to be learned, from his sermon, the M’ssioner concluded by saving that those who lived good lives could, at death, expect to share in God’s joys in Heaven.