Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-03-31 | Page 4 | Delay of Conversion Mistake, Priest Says

DELI! OF HERS! iSTMESTSM'S The Rev. Patrick Boland Makes Plea to Live Better Bet-ter Christian Lives. Speaking on the "Mercy of God" in a sermon delivered at the mission services In the Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine Made-leine last night, the Rev. Patrick Boland, C. M., made a strong plea to the big- congregation con-gregation to live better Christian lives, and not to delay conversion if they were : leading lives of sin. The missionary warned against the hope of a conversion late In life, because he said God did not perform such miracles for sinners. "Few there are who at some time or other do not want to turn away from the life of sin," Father Boland said. "We all seek happiness, and no one desires misery. The sinner seeks happiness in sin, but he tries to feel that he will escape es-cape the punishment of sin by some day making amends. This is a great delusion, delu-sion, because putting off conversion does not make it easier, but rather makes it more difficult. Sinners must depend upon the ordinary graces of God for conversion, conver-sion, and the longer they put off their conversion, the harder they will find it to quit a life of sin for a life of virtue. The sinner may say that he can repent when he feels like abandoning the pleasures pleas-ures of sin. but he may not be given that opportunity." Father Boland, in concluding his sermon, ser-mon, recalled some of the famous conversions conver-sions of history, and made note of the fact that no matter how serious had been the offenses, they were forgiven by God. It was the same today, he said, as God was ready to forgive all repentant sinners.