ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 6, 7 June 1873, Page 10

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, DUNEDIN.

a- I ™- ay.tue Feast of Pentecost was celebrated with Pontifical deafon^Sv 4O T be " lg 'T^ Rev « J ' O'Connor, as deacon; Key. T., Crowley as sub-deacon, and Eev. J. Lenihan, master of ceremonies. The acolytes, of whom we were glad to W^/t!f ff er at \ endan ? e * han us »al, seemed to have been perfectly trained to the parts allotted them in the sacred function, and seldom have we witnessed the beautiful and imposing rite performed with more solemnity and devotion. Dr. Moran preached an eloqS SoCviv g si° r w bje -* the .g° s P el «* the day, which wasVom J*f ?J t?i i We &J% an im P erfect sk etcb of it. The gospel v»fJ + t he beautl ™ and pathetic discourse of our Sivhie Redeemer on the eve of His passion. The disciples, and some of the Apostles, notwithstanding their intimate relations with the rr dd + £ U - the teacMn g Hehad bestowed on them? remained wedded to their own prejudices, and could not divest SSS M 8M 8 °- i 6 ? V"* J? revailed in thei r nation, that the expected Messiah was to be the founder of a great temporal empire, SSti? l^? Eedeemer had i™* foretold the%ircumstLces of his death; and now it seems as if the Apostles had asked a Question which amounted to this- When will you establish tbisgreat omph-e to which we have so long looked forward? Tt was in answer He said, "If any man love Me he will keep my word, and MyFatheJ will love .him and AYe will come to hi£ and make our abode w7th Him ; thus showing them clearly they had formed quite a mistaken Ktea as to the nature of the empire which He was to establish, as it was to be purely spiritual, and that the heart of a man who keeps the commandments, is the very seat of the empire of God, But S must remark that it is to the loving docile, obedient man, this Sdwelhngof the divinity is promised, and therefore it is not to be w?£S * \ tbat i *, hey Y h r? 1° not kee P the commandments remain without ti.e knowledge of God. "Ana the word which you have Apostles, He says, the ivord you have heard is not merely £ linma'i nZv Jl .""f Tf- t V?" by hmmm Mt «™ olone^-they are 3wnSr«f Hi. t T °f?> O f tl ; i3s ""»B»P^ioatoshowtio tar as your instruction, but though completion my art it ifstiTl amongst many people, and especially among the Jews It £ a sort hi* departure from amongst them; he knew that their sorrow was a S t?i f°T T ' y?* he compassionates them and entreats them to moderate their gncf 5 lie who has a right to coiumai.d, conclcscTnds to entreat; but while He consoles then? He remind, lhen°Smt their love is a selfish love, not a true and perfect charity, for He W - s"K you loved me you vould indeed be glad, because I go Khe Father;' as if he had said you know what a sad and laborious Hfe I Uave ledj you know- what hatred and opposition 1 have encountered

mmwmtm Redeemer seems to say : according to the command of my FatneTl have instructed you I have founded the Church; my partoTthe work %o far is done, but it is to be carried on and perfected by tht coming and abiding presence of the Paraclete, who is to remain with you for ever. The koly Ghost is to be to the Church as tWd^ to the body. Our Divine Redeemer formed the body of the Church! and then the Holy Ghost comes and breathes into it the spirit oT life, and he abides not only in the Church as a body, but like the human soul, he animates and gives life to each individual member of that body Here it may be objected, that in the Chnrch there are bad as well as good people. Is it possible that the Holy Ghostcan take up his dwelling in the souls of the wicked? The answer is, that a member of the Church in a state of sin, is, as it were a member cut off. Now as a member separated from the body, a hand tor example, or an arm, is a dead member, and no longer animated by the soul, so neither is a soul in the state of grievous sin the abode of the Holy Spirit. But a soul in the state of grace is His chosen temple, and he dwells there not alone by power and virture, but this really and substantially. And this isthe teaching of the Catholic Church, a teaching clearly supported by the words of Holy Scripture What a sublime and holy doctrine ! and how calculated to encouraae us m the combat that is before us. If we live according to the teaching of the gospel, the Holy Ghost dwells in us as members of the mystical body of Christ; or as the Apostle Bays, we live, move and have our being in God. irJ\ the evening, Dr. Moran took for the subject of his instruction the Acts in., 1, 11; the report of which we are unable to publish' this week.