OCR Text |
Show WHY THE DIFFERENCE? Protestant clergymen are often sorely puzzled over the fact that while Catholic churches are crowded three or four times every Sunday morning, winter and summer alike, their own places of worship are ordinarily ordi-narily but sparsely attended at the single, conveniently timed Sunday morning service. They have long been trying to master "the art and science of making people come to church," but, as a rule, with indifferent success. A minister in New Jersey, however, has tried a new experiment and with results thus far most gratifying. A short time since, a few pews contained his congregation; now it packs the whole auditorium. Like Ixion's cloud tower, it has grown to the sound of music. Short prayers and sermons, and a magnificent choir have done the work. Votaries of the art divine will go almost anywhere to hear good music. mu-sic. If it can be had at church, so much the better, and so much less are they 'out of pocket in gratifying their cultured predilection. Moreover, More-over, the reverend gentleman above mentioned, has educated the musical taste of his people, and famous oratorios ora-torios are now relished nay, craved by those who were erstwhile well content con-tent with popular hymn tunes. But, it is still asked, what crowds the Catholic churches? Not all their choirs are good, not all their priests eloquent. And the earlier Sunday services, at which the churches are most densely thronged, are conducted entirely without the adjuncts of music mu-sic or imposing ceremonial. What, then, draws the people? Ah, no human hu-man eloquence, no music were it of the angel choirs themselves, could attract at-tract as does old "When I am lifted up, I shall draw all hearts unto myself." my-self." Faith draws us to the veritable renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary. The Church sends us thither, to the fulfillment of an act essential to the Ranctififfltinn nf tho Tnrd'o loir mulas of prayers we may use according accord-ing to inclination, sermons we may or may not attend. But about Mass nothing noth-ing is left vague or indeterminate. We must assist at it. Yet it is love rather than fear that fills our churches on the Sunday from early dawn till noon-day. In the words of a pious ruler in the ages of faith, we, too, go to see our Divine Friend, rather than merely to hear about Him. The sense of our manifold needs, and the certainty cer-tainty that He can supply them, draw us to His feet, for we know that in the Mass we' are offering no poor, imperfect im-perfect formula of prayerful words, but an actual sacrifice of adoration, thanksgiving, expiation and entreaty for ourselves and all that we hold dear the only sacrifice all perfect, all satisfying, and worthy of the Divine Majesty. Catholic Union and Times. |