CATHOLIC MISSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1937, Page 6

CATHOLIC MISSION

MOTHER OF GOD A LUCID SERMON The first solemnity of the Catholic Mission now being conducted by the Marist Fathers at St. Mary's Church took place last night, when devot.ons in honour of the Mother of Gocl were held. There was a crowded congregation. The Children of Mary, In regalia, entered the church singing the traditional Lourdes hymn. In addressing a few brief remarks to the congregation prior to the sermon, Rev. Father Joyce extended an invitation to non-Catholics to atLend the mission, assuring them at the same time that no words calculated to offend their religious conviccrons would be uttered from the pulpit. He announced that the first moral sermon of the mission would be given to-night, when the subject would be “The Sins of Society.”

A forceful and lucid explanation of Catholic devotion to the Mother of God was given ’by the Rev. Father O’Leary. He said the reasons of Mary’s greatness was her divine maternity. Since her child, Jesus, was God, she was the Mother of God. The divine maternity was the root from which all her other prerogatives sprang. Mother of God, she was me sinless one of the race. They di.l not pay her the same honour as they Gid her Divine Son, but they offered her a minor worship in keeping with her exalted dignity.

Devotion to the Mother of God down the ages, amongst all classes, has been one of the greatest spiritual and moral influences that the world has known. It has permeated Catholic life, art, and literature; it has enobled women, inspired men and women with lofty ideals, prompted works of religion, charity, education. In every land the shrines of Our Lady have been the centres of religious life, and the scenes of woncerful intervention of Divine Power, a.: witness to-day at Lourdes. rhe Catholic Church could never separate devotion and love for the mo:her from their worship of her Divine Son. In concluding his sermon, the preacher exhorted his hearers to increase their devotion to the Mother of God, and pray for the grace to imitate her virtues.

Following the conclusion of the sermon the whole parish was solemnly and impressively consecrated to lhe Mother of God, after which Benediction was given.