THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2137, 20 March 1886, Page 2

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION AT HAMILTON.

The Mission services at S. Mary's Church, Hamilton, conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers, continue to be largely availed of by the Roman Catholic population of the district, and the ministrations of the fathers seem to be thoroughly appreciated. The usual morning services took place on Thursday and yesterday. On Thursday evening the Rev. Father Hegarty preached a most effective sermon on the duty of parents towards their children. He took for his text Exodus 2 chap, i) v., "Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." Even as Pharaoh's daughter had given the child Moses to his own mother to nurse for her, so had God given children to parents. The obligation which people undertook when they became fathers and mothers was a deep and solemn one. The children born to them were created by and belonged to God, and they ought to be brought up for Him. If parents did their duty in this respect they would receive their wages, but if they neglected the task they would assuredly be punished. People thought that when they had made ample provision for the temporal needs of their offspring, provided them with food and raiment, and given them what they called "a good education," they bad fulfilled their duty, but they were committing a grievous error. They ought not for a moment to forget that they were born not for this world, where they could at best dwell for a few short years, but for Heaven, and no education which did not make provision fur the needs of their spiritual life in eternity was worthy of the name. It was necessary to feed^ their bodies, but it was infinitely more important to feed their souls. The rev. father then dwelt on the importance of home training. The prisst and the nun might do a great deal, but they never could take the place of the mother. The lessons learned at the mother's knee sank deeper into the heart, and exercised a greater influence over the destiny of mankind than any amount of teaching in afterlife. Mothers could not over-estimate the gravity of the responsibility which Almighty God had imposed upon them. They should do their utmost, both by precept and example, to lead their children in the right path, taking care to instil into their infant minds the principles of religion. The slightest leanings towards sin should be corrected. They should teach their babes to make the sign of the Cross, their lisping infants t» utter the blessed words " Jesus " and " Mary," and as soon as understanding awoke in the child's mind, it should go to confession. Thus it would acquire pious habits, which after - contact with the world would not break down. Speaking of mixed marriages, the rev. father said he did not wish to cast any reflections upon the religion of other people, but it was his duty to state clearly and unmutakeably the teaching of the Chnrch upon this point. When a Catholic of either sex married a person belonging to another Church, it wan their duty to take such measures as would ensnre the whole of the children being brought up in the Catholic faith. It would not do to say " Oh, you can have the girls and I will take the boys,' or vice versa, the Church said they must take all. The Church admitted no equal, no rival, and would make no compromise in the matter of faith. She held ? the true faith, and no Catholic parent could allow his or her children to run such a risk as was involved in their beinp trained up in a false religion. In concluding, the rev. father again Rtrongly impressed upon his hearers the necessity of setting their children a good example. It was of no use for a father to send his children to Mass if he neglected to go himself. He knew of boys who said " Father doesn't go to Mass, and when I get big I won't po either." All thoir teaching would be vain if they did not give a good example. If they wanted their children to pray, they must pray themselves ; if they wished them to go to Church, they must go there with them ; if they wished them to be good, to be acceptable in God'a night, they mast show them the w*y. The wviqo. concluded with

the Benodictum of the Ble.^ed Saci.uiiunt, the Rev. Futher O'Neill lvm n ' the celebrant. Father Hetrarty preached last night on the Blessed Sacrament, taking for his te\t S. John, chap. I, 2(5 v. Kven as John the Baptist had told the Jews that tlioro was one standing amongst them whom they knew not, «o he might say that thcro was one in that Church whom in my knew not. The rev. father then proceeded to expound the Church's doctrine of Tiansiibstantiation, or the Real Pir«enceof Clnist in the Mis«, dividing his subject into three heads-, vi/.: (1) The Mystery of Faith, (2) the Mjsteryof Love, and (3) the M\-tery of Outrage. The <setiii<«n wis thoughtful and earnest, iind was listened to with tho closest attention. There was a Ln tc-i congregation, including many members of other Churches. The spivh-i> closed with the Benediction of the Bles-rd Snt, the Rev. Father O'Neill being celcbiant.