CATHOLIC MISSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 16 May 1925, Page 3

CATHOLIC MISSION.

The first week of the Catholic mission was auspiciously closed last evening when Father McCarthy preached a brilliant sermon, rich in doctrine and impassioned appeal on “The Mass—what it is and why it matters.” The grand central act of the Catholic religion was featured in all its aspects. The Mass was in the divine plan, the only efficacious, way of fulfilling man’s great responsibility to his Master, said the speaker. The fourfold duty of adoration, reparation, supplication and thanksgiving devolved on every Christian. No work of any worth could' be offered to the Deity save by and through the Mass. Sacrifice was designed by God as His own service. It was reserved to Him. It persevered throughout tho old land by Divine command. It was prescribed in all its detail. When defiled by man’s ungenerous offerings of the poorest gifts for the altar, God by His prophet Malochias foretold the cancellation of the old time sacrifices, and the substitution of another and more worthy one. In every part of the globe it would be offered “from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.” Prophecy, which must needs be fulfilled, found its realisation in the only Christian claimant, to the place promised by Divine prediction, the Catholic sacrifice of the Mass. There Christ Himself was the victim, there lie offered in behalf of man the fourfold duty owed by His ransomed children to the Eternal God. For two thousand years the altar was the centre of Catholic Faith. For the Mass their forefathers had lived and died. Twelve million martyred hearts had testified to its ascendant and abiding worth. “Woe worth the day when Catholics proved recreant to Christ and to the memory of their illustrious ancestry.” The theme of to-night’s sermon will be “The amende honourable confession. Tomorrow promises to be the greatest day of all in the mission course. Masses will be celebrated at 6.30, 7.30, 9 and 11. At Ashhurst., Mass will be at 9. In the afternoon at 2.30, a great Eucharistic procession, in which it 'is expected 2000 will participate, will be held. llis Grace the Archbishop of Wellington, the oldest Bishop in the Catholic Church, who is deeply interested in the progress of the mission, will participate and at "3 o’clock wiil bless the foundation stone of the new convent.

In the evening at 7, Father McCarthy will preach on “The Victory that overcometh the World—the Catholic Faith.” The masterly treatment of this —to nonCatholic minds—ambitious subject, it is stated, won many converts to the Catholic Church and strengthened those weakening in faith. The large new church has been furnished with extra seating accommodation to cope with the vast congregation that is assured. The mission exercises will continue throughout next week.