OCR Text |
Show : ' Tatber Kkb On i : 1 . ; j moral Reforms i Kev. Father KieJy prenched at St. Mary's cathedral on Xev Year's. He t.iid in part: "V"hat( ver thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work noj- device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave,' whither thou goest." .. i::10. Time quickly passes. Centuries have jar-sel since God, the Creator, tirst ):.!. -d man in this world. For what purpose? To love and serve Him. V hi-n? Say not tomori-ow, or when age lias uectvasl the se'ises of the ias-sions. ias-sions. There is no temietrrow for us. In vain will yuu wait for the cooling f the passions to obtain peace. Age strengthen- the passions, and if vice is not suppressed, maturer years will t-cal it with a stronger seal. Heneath gray hairs aize dees not quench the thirst of the drunkard, subdue the pas-sion pas-sion of lust, nor lessen the greed of the miser. On the contrary, free indulgence eif these passions in the heydey of life i will lead to starving and degradation in old age. What, then, must we do? Love and serve God. Standing on the threshold thres-hold of the Xew Year, commence to do good. It may cost you a great deal, hut the effort does not count when compared com-pared with the reward. It is a mistake to depend on the future for reform, fer old age brings to all but the maturity matur-ity of their vices 'T their virtues. There may be exceptions. We read eif such, but these only prove tjie rule, viz.: "That as a man lives so shall he die." As the clock tolled the midnight . hour last night we stood, as it were, on the bridge that separated not only two distinct dis-tinct years, but two eternities, one past, in which we have lived only our present age, the other in which we shall live forever. Remember those words, "forever." "for-ever." though death may come soon. How soon it will come no one knows; but we are all certain it will come. With it there is no compromise. The wise as wll as the foolish, the conqueror conquer-or of many battles, as well as the conquered, con-quered, the rich and poor alike, are its victims. Its reality is seldom realized, j Why? Hce'aus-e self-interest, passion j and grevd are man's natural propelling I force. In substituting theso or any of j them for conscience, which points out I our duty, the final end is forgotten. I Yt't compare results in the history of I individuals, or nations,- where self-in- tertst, greed and passion and not duty swayed their actions, aiid what do we learn? That the former have produe'e-d the most miserable results, whilst the I latter, that is duty, has accomplished the most marvelous works of every age. In the name of conscience, then, I speak to you at the commencement of the Xew Year, which for aught we know may .be your last do your duty. Be temperate, not because infamy succeeds pleasure and premature death follow; but because you have within you an immortal soul, created by the Almighty, which you dishonor in drunkenness. Be chaste, not because lust destroys the innocent, limpid beauty of a pure soul, leads to premature wrinkles or causes the light of your glance to grow feeble; fee-ble; but because you have a mother and sister whom you love, and love truly because they are chaste: because, ! too, your soul is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and God loves the pure heart. Finally, because you lapse one day to give your undivided affections to some one, who treasures: up for you the priceless price-less gem of virginity, and who in silence si-lence trusts your honor and fidelity. Be truthful, honest and charitable, not because be-cause lying, dishonesty and greed make you an object of scorn and reproach; but because these are natural virtues which all should possess and bring down upon you the blessings of God and humanity. Do all this, not through interest as the world would encourage you to, but through conscience, because it is your duty. You have entered "upon another new year. To every thoughtful soul, it is a time of good resolutions. ' The old year is forever gone and buried in the grave of the past. But the records or tne old year are not aoomea ro ae-cay. ae-cay. They will come up on the other side of the grave and will testify against us. When time ceases, and eternity begins the books shall be opened, "and another book opened, which is the book of life and the dead judged out of these things which were written in the book according to their works." Rev. xx, 12. "What is your record during- the past year? Go back still further to the time when you knew the difference between ' vice and virtue. What a black and shameful record would not your sins of the tongue, intemperance, lust, anger, dishonesty and pride make. Some are long since forgotten, others were committed com-mitted with the sanction of a perverted conscience. Add to these the sins' of this year, notwithstanding your good resolutions today. All will come to light on. the morning of your eternity. Your account may be closed this year. Begin it as if it were to be your last, and say with the penetent thief 're- : member me O Lord, when thou contest unto thy Kingdom.' In answer to that, prayer Jesus said 'this day thou s-halt be with me in Paradise."' Love not this world, live not for this world, love God and serve Him, for He alone is worthy of your love. Keep away from places of sin, avoid all dangerous occasions of sin. Remember Re-member the proverb: "Tell me your company ana i win ieu you wnat you I are." also "Evil communications- corrupt cor-rupt good morals." Be not tex confident confi-dent of your own work for "no one knows whether he is worthy of love or hatred." Do not promise yourself Heaven unless you work to reach it." '"With fear and trembling work out your salvation." Jesus died for all wished to save all, because he loved all; but he could not save you without your own co-operation. Let the resolution reso-lution made- today be a landmark in your life, then this new year's day will be one of peace, joy and happiness, and one to wrhich you can alw-ays refer with pleasure. That it may be all this and much more are my new year's wishes for you today. |