VISIT OF MOST REV. DR. MORAN TO MOSGIEL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 19 September 1890, Page 19

VISIT OF MOST REV. DR. MORAN TO MOSGIEL.

On Sunday, the 14th inst.,the Most Rev. Dr. Moran visited Mosgiel for the purpose of conferring ihe Sacrament of Confirmation. High Mass, coram yontifice, was celebrated at 11 o'clock, Rev. Fathers O'Neill, Lynch, Adm., and O'Doncell, being, respectively, celebrant, deacon and sub-deacon. At the conclusien of the Mass, his Lordship preached on the gospel of tbe day. He explained the nature of faith, and its necessity, pointing out the marks by which the existence of a real supernatural faith in the soul is known. He drew from the physical constitution of man lllustrafons of tbe impossibility of leading a Christian life without the ground woik of faith. Man deprived of the use of bis eyes is powerless to ccc ; deprived of the use of his limbs he is incapable of walking. So in the spiritual order, man without f'im canoot exercise meritoriously the other supernatural virtues. "Without faitb it is impossible to please God." He exhorted bis hearers to the practice of those good works which must always accompany lively faitb. Faith without good works was of no aval , in the same way as good work", If not enlivened by faith, were of no value in the sight of God. The man who led a life ot faith was known by frequenting the saaramentß, by regular attendance at Mass, and by scrupulous observance of ali the duties of a Christian. His Ljrdship commended the congregation for their attendance at the ceremonies of the day. He then proceeded to instruct those who were about to receive Confirmation, as to tbe nature of that great gift and its effect on their souls, after which he administered the sacramtnt to tbirty-fiee candidates. Ths music of the Maßß was rendered by a choir composed of the members of the Milton and Mosgiel choirs, with the assistance of Muß Popplewell from Dunedin. The " Ecce sacerdos " was sung as the bishop approached the al;ar. Ihe Mass proper was one of Webb's devotional compositions. An offertory piece, 'O Jieu, was very sweetly sung by Mrs King, cf Milton, and Mies Popplewell. In «he evening solema vespers commenced at s'x, after which an artistically engrossed address of welcome was presented to the Bishop

by a committee of the congregation. The addresd was read by Mr. Knott, and was worded as follows :—: — " My Lord, — We desire to convey to you our sense of the happiness it affords us to see yon once more in the enjoyment of yonr accustomed health. Since you were last here on the occasion of the opening of our new chnrch, yon have been to the See of Peter to render an account of your stewardship, and you have also visited the historic Island of Saints for the purpose of obtaining recruits for tbe work of this mission. In both these works you were eminently successful. Ton were enabled to lay before the Holy Father a consoling account of the state of religion in your diocese, which must have gladdened his heart in the midst of the continued troubles. ¥ou were also abla to procure a large number of consecrated labourers for the vineyard of your diocese. Your Lordship will be pleased to learn that here satisfactory financial progress has been made, and that the spiritual wants of the congregation are well attended to. We trust you may be spared for many years to rule over your devoted flock, and lead them by word and example along that road that leads to the kingdom of heaven, which is the goal towards which we all strive.—We are your Lordship's faithful children, the Catholics of Mosgiel. In replying the Bishop said it gave him great pleasure indeed, to receive this address. Ha had been, as they reminded him. at the Holy See to give an account of his stewardship. And he was happy to tell them that the Holy Father had made very many inquiries regarding the faithful here, to all of which he (the Bishop) was able to give satisfactory answers. Leo XIII. asked him if the people of his diocese were devoted to their religion, and approached regularly to the sacraments, if they carefully looked after their children and saw that they were brought np in the knowledge and love of God. if they were generous to their clergy, and zealous in the promotion of the work of piety. He (the Bishop) had the great pleasure of informing the Holy Father ttiat in all these matters his people were most exemplary. During his visit to Ireland he visited many places, and found no difficulty in procuring priests ready to volunteer for the work of the mission in his diocese. He could have obtained without trouble twice the number he had brought, if he had occasion for the services of more. This diocese had a good name in Ireland. His Lordship concluded by thanking them for their expressions of regard for his welfare. He congratulated pastor and people on the state of religion among them, and hoped that at some future time they would be in a position to establish a school in which their children would be free from all dangers cf perversion from their faith. The Bishop added a word of thanks to the choir for the very beautiful music they had given, which, he said, would do credit to far more pretentious places.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)