SERMON PLANS ROEHAMPTON : PRINTED BY JOHN GRIFFIN. B»^,I)»(5. SERMON PLANS BEING FOUR OUTLINES OF SERMONS. Cl^teflp on tie CpifStltjS anti ®o{(pd)8. FOR EACH SUNDAY AND HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR. BY REV. GEO. EDW. HOWE, Author of the "Catechist." FOURTH THOUSAND. Nunquam sat dicitur, quod nunquam sat discitur. S. FRANCIS OF SALES. LONDON: ST. ANSELM'S SOCIETY, 69, GREAT QUEEN STREET, W.C. 1911 (All rights reserved.) mil ©bstat : T. SLATER, SJ. Censor Deputatiis. ^mpnmatur : ►J- THOMAS GULIELMUS, Episcopiis Hagulstaden. et Novocastren. igjulii, 1903. .^ FRANCISCUS, Archiepus. Westmonast. LOAN STACK PREFACE. The favourable^ reception given to the " Catechist "" a few years ago led the writer to think, that possibly a collection of plans for Sermons on the same lines might not be unacceptable, while a number of corres- pondents who took an interest in the former also suggested the latter : hence the present volume. No doubt, each priest has his own method of putting his subject before his people, and any other may prove awkward for him. Too much, therefore, must not be expected from such a work as this. Failures among sermon books are notorious ; yet, may it not sometimes be that the failure lies rather with the users than with the authors of such books ? In spite of this danger, however, the writer ventures to put forth this further effort to aid his brother priests, who have not always much time for preparation, and especially the younger and inex- perienced among them, by laying before them outlines of sermons drawn up ready to hand. The principle followed has been, first of all, ta give a brief introduction, and then to present two or 78S VI PREFACE three leading thoughts on the subject chosen ; under each of these main points, subdivisions are given, so as to present to the mind an orderly scheme of development on the Virtue, the Vice, or the Truth in question, containing references to Holy Scripture, along with examples therefrom, as well as from the lives of the Saints, thus forming a series of sugges- tions for the preacher. Some of them may be found more lengthy than is always expedient for a single discourse ; but each one can take that only which suits him best, clothing and developing the thoughts according to circumstances. In order that the eye may assist the mind, each sermon is so printed in its various types, etc. on two pages facing each other,* that its plan and contents may be seen entire at a glance, without the interrup- tion caused by turning over a leaf Some deprecate the practice of announcing the divisions of a sermon to the people. Yet, if the chief points, two or three aX most, are made known at the beginning, will this not aid the hearers in following more easily? and will not such a practice help to keep the speaker to the point, and to avoid his wandering into generalities ? It is the old-fashioned custom, and must enable the audience to follow more methodically, and then, to remember more easily what has been said. To make ourselves clear to others, we must have * Owing to this, it was found necessary, during the process of printing, to curtail somewhat a few of the Plans. PREFACE vii clear ideas in our own minds, otherwise we are apt to become inaccurate, faulty in memory, then con- fused ; hence the chartlike form in which these Plans are presented, as more likely to fix them in the memory. Yet no outline of thoughts will be of much use to a preacher, unless he first make them his own by impressing his own mind upon them. Ideas are more easy to remember than words ; if the former, as here presented, are made to sink into the mind, words will hardly fail to follow. The chief hindrance to facility of speech is the want of thinking. We are apt to appropriate other men's thoughts by the memory only, instead of making them our own, through meditation and study ; and the people are not slow to feel whether a preacher is speaking as from himself, or only through his lips. Every true sermon is intended to effect some good, and not merely to be listened to ; it will fail of its purpose, unless it make some truth more clear and certain to those who hear it, or explain and enforce some duty. To this end, the priest must be in earnest, and make the matter his own by careful thought and preparation. Unless he prepare beforehand what he wishes to say, he will throw out statements at random, and utter propositions that are inexact, perhaps even erroneous, while he may easily wander into three or four different subjects, to the great bewilderment and weariness of the people. viii PREFACE These Plans are designed to aid the preacher in keeping before his mind the chief ideas of his subject^ which he must think out for himself, and then develop in suitable expression. Thus they will not relieve him of all preparation, when he has time and oppor- tunity for it, but may give him much assistance in his labour. It has been truly said, that the more it costs the preacher to prepare, the less it costs the audience to listen, and vice versa. This should indeed be a spur to action. It is hoped the Plans ^ with their divisions and texts and illustrations, may be a help towards avoiding emptiness of thought and matter, or verbosity in expression. Some of them may perhaps seem commonplace in subject or design ; yet in this country, we require simple and earnest instruction, "the studiousness of a simple and apostolic preaching," as Father Faber puts it, and much that may seem commonplace may be of extreme practical importance. S. Ignatius is said to have had a horror of long sermons ; these sketches are intended to occupy perhaps some twenty or twenty-five minutes, which will usually be found enough for a morning service. It is well to take generally a low estimate of the intelligence and knowledge of our audience ; this will guard us against speaking over their heads, make us aim at simplicity of thought and diction, and lead us to repeat our explanations, if necessary, the better to secure their reception. At the foot of many of the Plans, an example, a PREFACE ix comparison, or a fact from the lives of the Saints is given, by way of putting into concrete form the lesson referred to in the text. It is exceedingly desirable to adopt such a practice for every instruc- tion, where possible, giving the example a reasonable development. This serves to lighten the subject, to rivet attention, and to impress our teaching on the mind. This was one of the features in the discourses of S. Gregory the Great — an endless store of examples. If these can sometimes be taken from local circumstances, they will be all the more pleasing and effective. It is not sufficient to leave the instruction to produce its own fruit, and it is a mistake to trust to hearts and consciences to make the application of what has been said. We must endeavour to do this, putting the lesson into definite form for use in daily life. Hence, at the end of each plan, two or three practical lessons are suggested, of which one or more may be given by way of conclusion to the sermon. They will help to concentrate and sum up what has been said, and serve as the spiritual nosegay which, holy writers suggest, we should always bring away from our meditations. It is well to especially prepare the opening sentence or two of a discourse, and still more to make sure of an effective close ; the former will give confidence to the speaker, by making a good begin- n ing, while the latter will leave a good impression on his hearers. Some speakers find themselves in the X PREFACE greatest difficulty to hit upon a satisfactory sentence to finish with, and they are painful to listen to as they beat about the bush for a natural and simple ending : a little previous thought will spare us such a trial. If we take this ordinary care with our sermons and instructions, with prayer to God for the divine blessing on our work, our labour herein can hardly fail to produce good fruit in men's souls. The present work does not profess to put forth original ideas on the part of the writer ; they are but notes and analyses of the writings of others, preachers or commentators, gathered together and put into shape, and no attempt can be made to indicate the many sources whence they have been drawn. At first, it was intended to give further sketches, suitable to a number of Feasts throughout the year. This was afterwards found to make the book too long and too bulky, and the idea was abandoned ; hence the present volume contains Plans for the Sundays and Holidays only. By changing the text and modifying the introductory remarks accordingly, the plan set down for one occasion may sometimes be found suitable for another also. If the hopes and ideas here expressed come to anything like realization, and the Clergy are in any way assisted thereby in their arduous and responsible duty of preaching the Word, the labour bestowed on this volume will not have been in vain, for thus will PREFACE it serve to spread the knowledge and love of Religion, which now more than ever are necessary to our People. G. E. H. Tynemouth, November, 1903, BY THE SAME AUTHOR. THE CATECHIST: OR Headings and Suggestions FOR THE EXPLA^NATIOIST OF THE CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, WITH QUOTATIONS AND EXAMPLES FROM SCRIPTURE, And Appendix of Anecdotes and Illustrations^ Thick Crown 8vo, Cloth. TWO VOLUMES: los. NET. (Postage 6d.) FOURTH THOUSAND. Publishers : Messrs. Mawson, Swan, and Morgan, Ltd.^ Grey Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. London Agents : Messrs. R. & T. Washbourne, Paternoster Row. CONTENTS. PAGE 1ST Sunday of Advent: Work for Advent . . , . _ 2 Mortal Sin .... 4 The General Judgment . . , 250 Christ the Judge . : . . 252 2ND Sunday: Spiritual Reading . . . . 6 Hope . . . .8 Miracles ..... 254 Spiritual Diseases . . . 256 3RD Sunday: Joy in the Lord . , , ,10 The Peace of God , , ,12 Self-knowledge .... 258 Mission of the Baptist . . , 260 4TH Sunday: Human Respect . . . ,14 Rash Judgment . . , ,16 Preparation for Christmas . . . 262 God's love in the Incarnation , , 264 Christmas Day : Our Lord's three-fold character . .18 Our Lord's four-fold character . . 20 The Child of Bethlehem . , .266 The Incarnation . . , . 268 xiv CONTENTS PAGE Sunday within the Octave: " The fulness of time " . • Heresies on the Incarnation • The Prophecy of Simeon . • The Divine Infancy • • 22 24 270 272 The Circumcision: A good life . . i Christ, our Redeemer Thoughts for the New Year , The Holy Name . • 26 28 274 276 Sunday after Circumcision: Holy Innocents . • • Love of our Neighbour • S. Thomas of Canterbury . The Flight into Egypt 30 32 278 280 The Epiphany: The Feast of Converts The Conversion of the Gentiles The Gifts of the Magi Prophecy as to Christ the Messiah , 34 36 282 284 1ST Sunday: " Reasonable Service " Constitution of the Church . The three days' loss The hidden life . 38 40 286 288 2ND Sunday: Fervour and Tepidity Cursing ...» Mixed Marriages . Indissolubility of Marriage . 42 44 290 292 CONTENTS page 3RD Sunday: Revenge . . 46 Apostolic Counsels . . 48 The Leprosy of Sin . , 294 The Advantages of Faith • 296 4TH Sunday: Payment of Debts . • • 50 The Decalogue • • 52 The Storm, a type • • 298 The Passions • • 300 5TH Sunday: Purity of Intention • • 54 Music in the Church • • 56- The Wheat and Cockle • • 302 Bad Company • • 304 6th Sunday: Prayer for each other • • 58 The Presence of God , , 60 Parables . , 306 The Mustard seed, a two-fold type . 308- Septuagesima : God's favours to His People 6a The three Enemies of the Soul 64 The Call to God's Service • • 310 Inequahty of God's Gifts • • 313' Sexagesima : Scandal . • , , 66- Joy in tribulation . , , 68 Hearers of the Word . , 314 Relapse . . 316- CONTENTS PAGE Quinquagesima: The Theological Virtues : (Faith and Hope) . 70 « (Charity) . . 72 Spiritual Blindness . , , 318 Self- Examination , . . . 320 1ST Sunday of Lent: Abuse of Grace . , . , 74 '* The acceptable time " . . .76 Temptation . ^ . , . 322 Fasting • 1 . . . 324 2ND Sunday: Sanctification of the Soul , • ,78 Impurity . . • . ■ 80 The Transfiguration . , . 326 Heaven . . . • • 328 3RD Sunday: Covetousness . ^ . . .82 Delusions about Repentance . . . 84 The two Standards . , . 330 Hearing the Word , 1 , 332 4TH Sunday: The Epistle . , . .86 Freedom of the Children of God . .88 Holy Communion . . , . 334 The Gospel Example . . . 336 Passion Sunday: Christ, our High Priest . . 90 Necessity of Sacrifice . , , 92 Patience . , ... 338 Meekness .... 340 CONTENTS xvii PAGE Palm Sunday: The Humility of Our Lord , . 94 The Humiliations of Our Lord . . 96 Our Lord's Sadness . . . 342 Resignation . » , » 344 Good Friday: The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary . 98 The Last Words on the Cross . . 100 The Passion of Our Lord . . . 346 Lessons from the Death of Christ . , 34S Easter Sunday: The Resurrection, a pledge of triumph . 102 Newness of Life . . . > 104 The Resurrection , • . . 350 Joy of the Resurrection • • . 353 IST Sunday: Subduing the passions , , • 106 The three Witnesses . . . 108 Observance of Sunday . . 354 Qualities of Risen Bodies . . 356 2ND Sunday: Christ's principal Virtues . , . no Sheep and men . . . .112 The Good Shepherd . . -358 Unity of the Church , . .360 3RD Sunday: The Christian Pilgrim . ,114 Obedience to Civil Authority . • 116 Confidence in God 362 The Trials of Life . .364 b xviii CONTENTS PAGB 4th Sunday: Hearing and speaking . . 118 Anger . « 120 Death . « 366 Devotion to the Holy Ghost • 368 5TH Sunday: Cahimny. . . • 122 Detraction , . • 124 Prayer . • 370 Quahties of Prayer • 372 Ascension Day: Thoughts on the Ascension . , • 126 Objects of the Ascension . 128 Heaven, our goal . , 374 The Ascension ■ 376 Sunday within the Octave: Prudence and Prayer • 130 Charity to others . . 132 Bearing testimony to Christ . 378 Persecutions of the Church . » . 380 Pentecost : The Tongues of fire • 134 The Holy Ghost . . . 136 Receiving the Holy Ghost . . 382 The Gifts of the Holy Ghost • 384 Trinity Sunday: God's Knowledge . . 138 Effects of our love of God . . 140 The Blessed Trinity • 386 Mercifulness , 388 CONTENTS xix PAGE Corpus Christi: Communion under one kind 143 Bad Communion . 141 Effects of Holy Communion 390 The Real Presence 392 2ND Sunday after Pentecost: The World's Hatred 146 Hatred . 148 Excuses against Communion 394 Holy Mass 396 3RD Sunday: Humility. , . . .150 Providence . . . .152 The Human Soul .... 398 The Sacred Heart . , . 400 SS. Peter and Paul : The Feast . . . . 154 Devotion to the Holy See . . . 156 Institution of the Church . . . ^03 Papal Infallibility . . . 404 4TH Sunday after Pentecost: The trials of Life . . . .158 Our Home in God . . . 160 The Pope .... 406 Uncertainty of earthly things . . ' 408 5TH Sunday: Christian Unity . . . .162 The Presence of God . . .164 The Justice of the Christian . .410 Reconciliation , , , 412 CONTENTS 6th Sunday: The Effects of Baptism The Resurrection of the Body Providence Grounds for Confidence in God i66 i68 414 416 7TH Sunday: Reparation for Sin HeU Good Works The Will of God . 170 172 418 420 8th Sunday: Mortification Fear of God The Stewardship Almsdeeds 174 176 422 4^4 QTH Sunday: The Brazen Serpent The Epistle Beauty of God's House The House of God 178 180 426 428 loTH Sunday: Holiness of Life . • Gifts of the Holy Ghost The Pharisee and the Pubhcan Pride . . . 182 184 430 432 The Assumption: The Feast Types of Mary The Feast Titles of Mary 186 188 434 436 CONTENTS iiTH Sunday after Pentecost: Divine Grace .... 190 Correspondence with Grace . . 192 Spiritual Deafness and Dumbness . . 438 Cure of the Deaf and Dumb , . 440 I2TH Sunday: The Secret Workings of Grace . . 194 Moses, a type of Christ . . .196 The two-fold Precept . . . 442 Parable of the Good Samaritan . . 444 13TH Sunday: Unity of God . t • . 198 Promise of a Redeemer . , . 200 Prayer and Faith of the Lepers . . 446 Sacramental Confession • , .448 14TH Sunday: The Spiritual Combat . . . 202 Religious Sects .... 204 The Study of Nature . , . 450 Over-solicitude • ■ « « 452 15TH Sunday: Bearing one another's burdens . . 206 Support of Pastors . . . 208 Three kinds of Death . . 454 Human Life • • « ^ 456 i6th Sunday: God, Creator of all , , .210 Length, etc. of God's love . . - . 212 Occasions of Sin .... 458 Servile Works » , , 460 xxii CONTENTS 17TH Sunday: Exclusive Salvation . . .214 Unity of Faith . . . ,216 Divinity of Christ .... 462 Humanity of Christ . • • 464 i8th Sunday : Thanksgiving and Praise . • . 218 Perseverance . . , . 220 Sloth . . . . .466 Indulgences • . . • 468 IQTH Sunday: Lying ..... 222 Socialism .... 224 Parable of the Wedding Garment . . 470 Fewness of the Elect . . . 472 20TH Sunday: Time . . ... 226 Drunkenness .... 228 The Existence of Evil . . . 474 Venial Sin .... 476 21 ST Sunday: Good x\ngels .... 230 Evil Spirits .... 232 Purgatory . . . . 478 Forgiveness of Injuries . » . 480 All Saints : The Feast . . . .234 ,^ (2) . . . . 236 Fountains of Happiness . . . 482 Persecution for Justice , . , 484 CONTENTS 22ND Sunday after Pentecost The Particular Judgment Liberality The Use of Images, etc. God and Caesar • 238 240 486 488 23RD Sunday: Sign of the Cross .... 242 Predestination .... 244 Three degrees of Spiritual Death . . 490 Devotion to the Holy Souls . . 492 24TH Sunday: Good Works .... 246 Our knowledge of God . . . 248 Signs preceding the Last Judgment . . 494 The Cross of Christ t . • 496 SERMON PLANS I. ON THE EPISTLES. SERMON PLANS L WORK FOR ADVENT. ••It is now the hour to rise from sleep." Rom. xiii. ii, i. To-day begins a new ecclesiastical year. ii. The four weeks of Advent are a time of preparation for Christmas, as God took some 4,000 years to prepare men for the Messiah. iii. Consider the words of the Epistle, this time of consideration. Rise from sleep : i. Sleep of the soul is the neglect of the things of God. ii. In the past we have perhaps been remiss : for, a. We are all prone to fall from our first fervour. h. We all need to be roused to redoubled piety. iii. It is well therefore to examine the past : e.g. a. Our thoughts, words and deeds. h. Our spiritual duties. c. The duties of our state in life. d. The quantity and quality of our reading. e. The debts and liabilities we have incurred. /, Any evil habits contracted. iv. Our sins, of whatever kind, must not discourage us. This is not the idea of the Apostle : on the contrary, V. We must endeavour this holy season to begin again, with fresh zeal and courage, vi. God's grace to this end will not fail, if duly sought. Works of darkness : i. Wicked deeds that cannot bear the light of day. ii. Sins that bring shame, suited only to the darkness, iii. How terrible and how frequent are such evils: e.g. The crime of Cain : Gen. iv. 8. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrha : Gen. xviii. 2q. The sin of Achab ; 3 Kgs. xxi. ON THE EPISTLES iv. We should now pray for mercy, lest such crimes bring down God's anger on the world. V. Even our own lesser sins are darkness before God. Advent is a time for reflection and repentance. The armour of Light: viz. i. Living Faith : shown in a. Obedience to God's will: Mth. vii. 21. b. Works of mercy : Mth. xxv. 40. c. Victory over the world : i Jn. v. 4. ii. Grace: a. Habitual grace, the supernatural life of the soul. b. Increased by worthy reception of the Sacra- ments. c. If lost, regained by repentance, iii. The Christian Virtues : e.g. a. The Theological Virtues. b. The Cardinal Virtues. e. The Virtues opposed to the capital sins. Lessons : i. See here matter for reflection during Advent. ii. Repent now of past sloth and indifference. iii. Take the Apostle's advice and put on the Lord Jesus Christ.* iv. Prepare your hearts for His coming at Christmas- time. V. Think of the Judgment Day (to-day's Gospel), when He will again come, not in mercy, but in justice. Ecclus. vii. 40. ♦ It was this very portion of S. Paul's Epistle that S. Augustine happened one day to light upon, as he opened the Holy Scriptures, and the words made such an impression on him as led finally to his conversion to God. — Confessions, viii. SERMON PLANS 2. MORTAL SIN. "Cast off the works of darkness." Rom. xiii. 12. i. Works of darkness mean mortal sin of any kind, ii. S. Paul here bids us to abandon sin. iii. To avoid it in future, consider now some effects of mortal sin. Mortal Sin : any grievous offence against the Law of God. i. Kills the soul : a. Depriving it of its supernatural life — divine grace. b. Though the sinner may still appear living, working, etc. iL Cancels past merit : a. As plainly stated by the prophet Ezechiel, xviii. 24. Albert the Great's mechanism.* b. Yet when sin is pardoned, Merit probably revives, iii. Renders us incapable of meriting meanwhile : a. Even miracles, without Charity, avail not for Heaven : i Cor. xiii. 2. b. Yet good works done in sin should not be omitted, for they may lead to repentance : The penance of Achab : 3 Kgs. xxi. 29. The prayer of Manasses : 2 Par. xxxiii. 13. iv. Deserves Hell through its malice : a. Pain of sense, for the Body, in every limb. b. Pain of loss, in the Soul. c. All for all eternity ! V. Involves temporal punishment, even when forgiven, vi. Yet, however great, may always receive pardon, on repentance. ON THE EPISTLES Conditions, that sin may be mortaJ : i. Grave matter : e.g. a. In itself: muider, large theft. b. In the purpose of the Law : Communion after food. c. In its circumstances : small theft from a poor person. ii. Knowledge and advertence : But wilful ignorance does not excuse, iii. Full consent to the act, or to the occasion of it.. Saul at S. Stephen's death : Acts. vii. 57. Lessons : i. Resolve against so great an evil as nosortar sin :: hy a. Daily prayer for strength. b. Frequent reception of the Sacraments.. c. Resisting the beginnings of temptation** ii. Advent is a time of prayer and meditation ; hence, a. Think now of the terrible evil of mortal sin. b. Seek instruction in Christian Doctrine, iii. Advent is also a time for penance : hence, a» Atone for sin by works of penance and mortifi- cation. b. Observe the laws of Fasting and Abstinence c. Deny yourself some pleasure, even though lawful in itself. iv. The more we enter into this spirit of Advent, the greater will be our joys and graces at Christmas- tide. * Albert the Great spent thirty years in making a wonderful piece of work— a human figure, which, by means of certain contri- vances, was made to speak and act as though alive. He thought to give a surprise to a friend, by showing him the mechanism in action. The latter, on seeing the figure move and speak so natur- ally, full of a strange fear, seized a piece of wood beside him and instantly broke the work to pieces. " Stop," cried Albert, too late. " "What have you done ? Thirty years have I laboured to bring that work to perfection, and in a single instant you have destroyed it ! " — So does one mortal sin cancel the merits of a lifetime. SERMON PLANS 3. SPIRITUAL READING. '• What things soever were written, were written for our learning." Rom. XV. 4. i. This text implies the duty of reading the Scriptures. ii. Hereby is inculcated the principle of Spiritual Reading generally. A most effective aid in making our lives truly spiritual. Importance of Spiritual Reading : i. We all need instruction, though perhaps thinking we know enough. Hence, a. In the Old Law, the Scriptures were daily read in the Synagogue. b. In the New Law, the Epistles and Gospels are " written for our learning." c. S. Paul advised his disciple to read : i Tim. _ iv. 13. ii. Spiritual Reading is listening to the voice of God Himself, iii. The Fathers of the Church inculcate its necessity : e.g. S. Athanasius,^ S. Jerome.f iv. Founders of religious Orders all agree in requiring it. v. The common practice of holy persons in the world. Advantages : . i. We cannot at all times hear sermons, but can always read a book, ii. Words of a sermon may pass away or escape us ; but, with a book, we can pause, or read again, iii. Books speak to all alike, without respect of persons, or fear of offence, iv. Books give us the companionship of Saints and Doctors : whose sanctioned words have fed and formed souls to God. v. It gives purity, tranquillity, nourishment and strength to the soul, vi. A wonderful influence to encouragement and perse- verance. Conversion of S. Ignatius : Jly. 31 ; and S.Augustine: Aug. 28. ON THE EPISTLES Method : i. Read slowly. a. Not hurriedly, like a storybook, for pleasure ; but, b. Dwelling on parts that concern us, or affect us. Food does good, only when duly digested. ii. Make an occasional ejaculation, while reading. Thus turning it into real prayer, iii. Little at a time : a. To remember better what is read. b. To make practical application of it. c. Often the same book, if found profitable. S. Francis of Sales read the "Spiritual Combat " for 20 years ! iv. Above all, seek God therein, not mere information or pleasure. Which Books? i. Holy Scripture, especially the Epistles and Gospels. As so many letters from our Father, and our true Home. a. With a desire of spiritual progress. b. In the spirit of humility. c. In submission to the Church's interpretation, ii. The " Imitation of Christ." Containing sweetness, like the manna, for every condition of soul. iii. Books of reHgious Instruction. So necessary in these our days. iv. Lives of the Saints and Martyrs : Example is the best exhortation to sluggish human nature. Lessons : i. Regularly, every Sunday at least, some Spiritual Reading, ii. Procure suitable books occasionally, especially for children's sake, iii. Lead these to adopt the practice in their early years. * " You will see no one truly intent on God's service, who is not also given to reading." — Exhort, ad Relig. + " Let sleep come upon you with a book in your hand, and let the Holy Scriptures receive your declining head." — Ad Eusioch. SERMON PLANS 4. HOPE. "That you may abound in Hope." Rom. xv. 13. Hope: i. One of the theological virtues, by which the soul apprehends God. ii. Firm trust that God will give us all things necessary to salvation, if we do what He requires of us. iii. Virtue necessary to salvation, belonging only to this life. a. If we do not hope, we shall not ask and shall not receive. b. In Heaven, we do not expect, but possess and enjoy God. Motives for Hope : i. The Command of God : " Trust in Him, all ye congregation of people." Ps. Ixi. 9. " Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart." Prov, iii. 5. "Hope in thy God always." Osee xii. 2. ii. The Goodness of God : a. Who is willing and desirous to help. b. Shown forth so often in the past : e.g. 1. Our Creation and Redemption and all spiritual Graces. 2. Temporal blessings without number. c. A pledge therefore of mercies yet to come. iii. The Power of God : a. Who is able to help and can do all things : Mth. xix. 26. b. Examples of such power : The Creation and Preservation of the Universe. The protection of Daniel, and of the three children : Dan. vi. iii. ON THE EPISTLES iv. The Fidelity of God, who will help us. *' Because he hoped in Me, I will deliver him." Ps. xc. 14. " God is faithful." i Cor. i. 9. V. Our own advantages : for, those who hope, a. Gain greater Hght to see the Truth. b. Receive special strength in trial. Example of the ivy.* c. Have aptitude for the gifts of Heaven. Qualities of Hope : it must be i. Firm : because of these motives. David against Goliath : i Kgs. xvii. 37, 45. Bl. Thomas More to his daughter, f ii. Unlimited : in all we need for soul or body. Our Lady, at the marriage- feast : Jn. ii. 5. iii. Submissive : resigned, should God defer our petition. Job a model of trust in God : xiii. 15. Lessons : i. Ask God to strengthen your Hope. ii. Consider sometimes the grounds on which it rests, iii. Make an act of Hope each day. iv. In all your difficulties, appeal at once to God ; for, v. God will work within us, according to the hopes we place in Him. — S. Bevnd. * Ivy naturally seeks a trunk, or a wall, to cling to and climb upwards : so human nature, poor and needing all things, seeks the protection and help of God. t " I will never doubt the goodness of God, no matter how weak I feel. Even if through fear I were to fall, as Peter did, I would still hope in God ; I would ask Him to look on me with mercy and raise me up again, to confess once more His truth." SERMON PLANS 5. JOY IN THE LORD. •• Rejoice in the Lord always." Phil, iv. 4 i. Holy writers insist on joy in the service of God. ii. The Saints have ever put this advice into practice, iii. Let us also consider this spirit of gladness and joy. Importance : i. Greater than is sometimes imagined ; for, Joy of heart is no small help in Religion. ii. Shown by frequent references in Scripture: e.g. *• Be glad in the Lord and rejoice. Ps. xxxi. 11. *•' Serve ye the Lord with gladness." Ps. xcix. 2. ** Nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work." Eccles. iii. 12. "Again I say, rejoice." Phil. iv. 4. iii. Shown in the spirit of the Church, bidding us joy, a. In Advent, time of penance : AUeltiiaf throughout the Office. GaudetCf Introit of the third Sunday. h. In Lent even, the season of sorrow : Latare, Introit of the fourth Sunday. c. In Funerals: BenedicitCi Benedictus, or Laiidate Dominum. Examples from the lives of the Saints : S. Francis of Sales, in his daily life, and writings . Jan. 29. S. Ignatius urged his disciples to gladness : Jly. 31. S. Jerome, in the midst of his austerities : Spt. 30. Religious who have left all things for God. Josaphat and the Leper.''^ ON THE EPISTLES if Motives : i. Joy is conducive to God's glory. a. A prince is honoured by the alacrity of his attendants. So is God glorified by our cheerful service. b. We shall obey cheerfully, if we have joy in the heart. c. Our joy will draw others to serve God. ii. Joy perfects our work, and is pleasing to God. a. God loves a cheerful giver : 2 Cor. ix. 7. b. As we also do, and value the manner of a gift, iii. Joy is a help to perseverance : What we undertake with gladness, we willingly continue. Means to it : i. Holiness of life and purity of conscience. Ecclus.i. 12. ii. Humility and meekness. Mth. xi. 29. iii. Resignation to the Divine Will : Taking all as from God's hands, we are happy, iv. Mortification and self-denial. Mth. v. 5. Lessons : i. Strive after joy of heart, through these means, ii. Pray the Holy Ghost for His spirit of Joy. iii. Cultivate it, as a powerful aid, both in spirituals and temporals. A foretaste here of eternal joy hereafter. * Prince Josaphat, hunting in a wood, suddenly heard a voice singing sweetly, and was surprised to find it that of a leper almost dying, who said: "For forty years my soul has been confined in this body, now falling to pieces, as you see. My soul will soon be able to wing its flight to God and His kingdom, and I sing with delight, at the very thought." — Mrs. Herbert. 12 SERMON PLANS 6. THE PEACE OF GOD. "The peace of God . . . keep your hearts." Phil. iv. 7. i. So long as evil exists and the passions last, there must be some conflict and trouble in the heart, ii. Christ came to restore peace to the world, lost through sin. iii. This is the peace the Apostle wishes us this day. Peace : 1. Is reconciliation of man with God through Our Lord. a. Until He came, man was at variance with his Creator. b. Only the " Prince of Peace " could restore the lost friendship of God. ii. Is harmony with our neighbour, through a. Forgiveness of injuries. S. Elisabeth, the great Saint of peace and reconciliation : Jly. 8. b. Charity in all things to all men. S. Ignatius and his Foundations.* iii. Is in mteself, contentment of soul, through a good conscience. " Which surpasseth all under- standing." Phil. iv. 7. a. Which the devil tries to destroy by sin ; or, b. Endeavours to disturb by scruples and doubts ; or, c. Seeks to undermine by the allurements of self- indulgence, iv. Bestowed by Our Lord, through a. A Lesson : the preaching of the Cross and self-denial. Such doctrine sets up a stronghold in the sours centre. ON THE EPISTLES 13 b. A Ministration : the sacramental system : 1. In the wide sense of Sacraments, Sacri- fice and Rites. 2. The ordinary means of gaining peace which the world cannot give. c. A Presence : The Sacred Heart, abode of Peace. Approached by worship and devotion. V. Has beneficial effects : a. Unfailing cheerfulness of mind and heart. b. Measureless confidence in God, in all things. c. Strength against the persecutor and tempter. d. Courage amid temporal trials. Dangers to Peace : i. Temptation against the Law of God. ii. Want of resignation to His Will, iii. Self-opinionatedness with others, iv. Disobedience to Superiors. V. Pride, or anger, vi. Envy, or avarice, vii. Selfishness. Lessons : i. Strive ever to live in grace with God : for, " Much peace have they that love thy Law." Ps. cxviii. 165. ii. After sin, seek immediate forgiveness, iii. In scruples or doubts, consult a prudent confessor. Then will this three-fold peace " keep your hearts and minds." ♦ When founding Colleges and Houses of his Order, S. Ignatius used to place over thera Superiors taken from various nations ; thus the head of the Roman College would be a Frenchman, his object being to secure that most desirable effect, peace among the different nationalities. What more wonderful than to see men from different countries so united by the observance of discipline, that there seemed only one mind among them, while their bodies seemed the instruments of the same mind, which more than anything else excited the admiration of Pope Gregory XIII. — Lohner, SERMON PLANS 7, HUMAN RESPECT. •• It is a very small thing to be judged by you." i Cor. iv. 3. Human Respect: i. Fear of what the world may think or say. ii. A most fertile source of temptation and sin. How many souls are lost through it ! iii. S. Paul emphatically declares against it, (above), iv. Insulting to God : a. Preference given to man's esteem rather than God's will. 1. Yet God is the fountain of all honour. 2. Any mark of His displeasure, greater than any evil. b. As saying, at least in act, " I would serve if convenient ; " or, " Cast me off, if only the world applaud ! " c. The blasphemy of this, if duly considered ! V. Mean and cowardly : a. Abject servitude, to regulate moral conduct by others' opinions. b. Some subjection is honourable : g,g, 1. Inferiors to superiors. 2. In matters indifferent, to refer to others. 3. Certain customs, if not against God's Law. But, c. In matters of Faith and morals, none must intervene, except by divine authority. Moral courage wanting, if we yield in such a case. Occasions of fall; i. The sign of the Cross at meal time, ii. Observance of Friday abstinence. ;iii. Saluting Priest or Church, in passing. ON THE EPISTLES 15 iv. Frequent reception of the Sacraments, even before Catholics. V. A call to embrace the true Faith. vi. Friends wishing us to go to dangerous places. Overcome by : i. The thought of God's presence. As a soldier, under the eyes of his General, ii. The thought of our Lord's words : " He that shall be ashamed of Me . . . the Son of man will be ashamed of him." Mrk. viii. 38. " He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me." Mth. X. 37. iii. Prayer to the Holy Ghost for fortitude, iv. Foreseeing the occasions of danger. " Forewarned is forearmed." V. Studying the conduct of the Saints : David before Goliath : i Kgs. xvii. S. Dunstan and the Nobles : May 19. S. Gregory against the Emperor : May 25.* Lessons ; i. Resolve against Human Respect by these means, ii. Heed not the world, if doing God's will, iii. Be brave in little things : one victory brings another. Fidelity in small things, then in greater. Lke.xvi. i o. * For several long years, S. Gregory VII. sustained a difficult struggle for the liberties of the Church against Henry IV. of Germany. In spite of all the remonstrances and suspicions of the world, the Pontiff boldly obeyed his conscience throughout, and finally died in exile, a.d. 1085. I6 SERMON PLANS 8. RASH JUDGMENT. •• Judge not before the time." i Cor. iv. 5. i. The habit of judging others most injurious to the soul, ii. S. Paul here bids us avoid it. iii. Hence consider the question of rash judgment. For, it may sometimes be even a mortal sin ! Rash Judgment: i. Wilful suspicions without sufficient grounds. ii. Opposed to a. justice : each has a right to his good name till really forfeited. b. Chanty, which 1. Thinketh no evil : i Cor. xiii. 5. 2. Teaches us to love others as ourselves, iii. Committed by a. Conceiving dislikes at first sight. Totila and the Bishop.* b. Attributing bad motives. c. Assuming one addicted to sin, because once guilty. d. Pronouncing guilty, without hearing the defence. Eliphaz against Job iv. 7, XV, Unfortunately, as common now as in the days of the Apostles. Its Guilt seen thus : i. God's word forbids it, "Judge not, that you may not be judged," Mth. vii. i. ii. It shows corruption of heart, they judging most who, are most guilty. **Tbe fool esteemeth all men fools." Eccles. x. 3, ON THE EPISTLES 17 iii. It usually arises from pride, usurping authority to judge. "Who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?" Jas. iv. 13. iv. Often also from jealousy and envy. As in the Pharisees against Our Lord. V. It is most injurious to our neighbour. Unjustly depriving him of his reputation in our mind, vi. It is so easy to be deceived, in passing judgment. Benjamin's brothers and the cup : Gen. xliv. The Pharisee, as to Mary Magdalen : Lke. vii. 39 The Pharisee, as to the Publican: Lke. xviii. 11. Our own past experience. Means to avoid it : i. The practice of humility and charity, ii. The consideration of one's own sins, iii. Believe not every flying rumour you hear ; but, iv. Try to put kindly interpretations on the acts of others. Resolution to avoid this sin, because i. It is the parent of contempt and detraction. ii. It robs God of His right to judge, iii. It will end in our everlasting banishment from God. iv. If we judge not, we shall not be judged severely. Mth. vii. I. * Totila, King of the Goths, in the 6th. c. formed a bad opinion of a holy bishop, named Cassius, on account of his red and fiery complexion, saying he must be a drunkard. God however at once undertook the defence of His servant, for Totila's sword-bearer was suddenly tormented by the evil spirit. The by-standers in alarm carried the possessed man before the Bishop, who delivered him by simply making over him the sign of the Cross. Thereupon Totila retracted his rash judgment, and ever after revered Cassius fis a saint. — S.Gregory the Great. Q SERMON PLANS 9. OUR LORD'S THREE-FOLD CHARACTER. •' God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness." Hebr. '. 9. i. This text, from Ps. xliv. 8, suggests some of the features of the Messiah, ii. He was called Christ, from a Greek word meaning anointed. The Messiah anointed : i. Not with material oil, like His prototypes : ii. But with the fulness of the Divinity, for He was God : and iii. With the " oil of gladness," i.e. : a. In the Incarnation, with grace^ giving gladness to the heart. b. In the Resurrection, with the glory of triumph. iv. Because He fulfils the three-fold office of King, Priest and Prophet : and, V. Among the Hebrews, these were anointed with oil, to denote and support a. In Kings : authority to rule and legislate : I Kgs. xvi. 3 : 3 Kgs. xix. 16. b. In Priests : power to offer sacrifice and prayer : Ex. xxix. 7 : Numb. iii. 3. c. In Prophets : honour as ambassadors, of God : 3 Kgs. xix. 16. vi. Adam's sin contained a three-fold guilt : viz. against God's a. Authority, refusing His command: Hence the weakness of our Will. h. Love, scorning His friendship : Hence the corruption of our Heart. c. Wisdom, believing rather the word of the tempter : Hence the ignorance in our Intellect. vii. Now the Messiah came in a three-fold capacity, in order a. To atone for this three-fold offence against God. b. To repair this three- fold injury done to Man, ON THE EPISTLES 19 As King : Lke. i. 32. ' ' He shall reign . . . and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." Lke. i. 33. i. Having all power in Heaven and on Earth. Mth. xxviii. 18. il. Destroying the empire of the devil, a rebel from the beginning, iii. Making the conquest of men by His Precious Blood, iv. Founding the Kingdom of His Church, on earth. V. Establishing the Kingdom of His Grace, in souls, vi. Regaining for us the Kingdom of Glory, in Heaven. As Priest : Hebr. vi. 20. i. According to the order of Melchisedech : Ps. cix. 4. Offering a sacrifice, with which no other can compare. ii. Immolating Himself on Calvary, for the atonement of sin. iii. Offering Himself still in Mass, to apply His merits to souls. Hence the dignity and value of Holy Mass ! As Prophet: Deut. xviii. 15. i. Giving to man true knowledge of mysteries of Faith, ii. Fulfilling in Himself the prophecies spoken of Him. iii. Knowing all things, as being truly God : e.g. Reading the secret thoughts of men : Mth. ix. 4 : Jn. i. 47. iv. Foretelling future events : e.g. His Passion and Death: Mth. xx. 18, 19: Lke. xviii. 32. The destruction of Jerusalem : Lke. xix. 44. Lessons : i. We are all anointed in Baptism, &c. : hence, each one is a. King, to govern the kingdom of his heart. h. Priest, to sacrifice his passions to the Law of God. c. Prophet, to show by his life and example, his belief in the future. ii. We must remember our three-fold dignity, and not degrade it by sin. iii. Such a resolution, a worthy offering to our new-born Messiah. 20 SERMON PLANS 10. OUR LORD'S FOUR-FOLD CHARACTER. •'Making purgation of sins." Hebr. i. 3. The Text appropriate to Christmas Day : For, i. The Nativity is the visible beginning of our Redeemer's career, ii. To-day He announces the work of purgation of sins. iii. The Prophet saw in vision four faces to the Cherubim. Ezech. i. 10. Typifying the four- fold character of Christ, as oft represented in Art. iv. To-day's Epistle recalls these emblems of the Messiah. Hence consider the four-fold character of our new- born Saviour. L Face of a Man : i. Denoting Our Lord's human nature, having a. A soul, like ours, with all its faculties. b. A body, like ours, with all its senses. ii. Unless He were man, He could not suffer and atone. Human nature sinned : human nature must atone. iii. As man, " appointed heir of all things." As God, He was Creator and Lord of all. a. Sharing the divine glory, (hypostatic union). b. Through Him only, we become heirs of God. c. Hence, the need of Baptism, Faith, &c. iv. The hypostatic union will never be dissolved for all eternity. n. Face of an Eagle ; i. Denoting Our Lord's divine nature, " by whom He made the world." ii. Creation, being an act of wisdom, is attributed to the Son. •'All things were made by Him." Jn. i. 3, di^ THE EPISTLES ai iii. Giving to all His acts infinite merit and value. Hence, equal to atone for the sins of a thousand worlds. iv. " The brightness of His glory," i.e. same substance as the Father. Comparison of the sun and its rays. A Lap. in loc. V. " Upholding all things," i.e, omnipotent Providence. HI. Face of an Ox : i. Denoting Our Lord's priesthood and sacrifice, ** Making purgation of sins." Oxen, in the Old Law, the chief victims of sacrifice, ii. Sin closed Heaven against the human race, iii. All men and angels together unable to open it. Finite creatures, hence finite efforts. iv. Our Lord in mercy came to atone for sin. Himself Priest and Victim of infinite value. IV. Face of a Lion : i. Denoting Our Lord's royalty and triumph ; for, " Sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high." The lion is king of animals, and fears none. ii. Like other men. Our Lord died and was laid in the tomb. His Body adorable there, as to-day in the Crib of Bethlehem, iii. Unlike other men. He rose at once, a pledge of our resurrection, iv. In His Resurrection, through His own will, a. He showed His royalty and power. b. He triumphed over death and all His enemies. Resolution to honour Our Lord's four-fold character of i. God: by adoration and sacrifice, ii. Man : by gratitude and love, iii. Victim : by reparation for sin. iv. King : by confidence and service 22 SERMON PLANS 11. THE FULNESS OF TIME. " When the fulness of time was come, God sent His Son." Gal. iv. 4. i. Words referring to the day fixed by God for the Incarnation. ii. Perhaps about the year 4,000 of the world's creation, iii. During these long centuries of time, I. God promised a Redeemer, seven times over : viz. to i. Adam and Eve : Gen. iii. 15. ii. Abraham: Gen. xxii. 18. iii. Isaac : Gen. xxvi. 24. iv. Jacob : Gen. xxviii. 14. V. Juda: Gen. xlix. 10. vi. Moses: Deut. xviii. 15. vii. David: 2 Kgs. vii. 12. II. God gave types of the Redeemer : e.g. i. Abel : as the man of suffering : Gen. iv. ii. Noah: as the Saviour of men from the deluge of sin : Gen. vii. iii. Isaias : as Victim for sin : Gen. xxii. iv. Moses : as Deliverer of his people : Ex. xiv. V. Manna : as Food of our souls : Ex. xvi. vi. Brazen Serpent : as raised on the Cross, to heal us : Numb. xxi. III. God's Prophets foretold : e.g. i. His birth of a virgin: Is. vii. 14: Lke. ii. ii. His birth in Bethlehem : Mich. v. 2 : Mth. ii. i. iii. His flight into Egypt : Osee xi. i : Mth. ii. 14. iv. His resurrection : Ps. xv. 10 : Mth. xxviii. 6. IV. God prepared the World for Him : i. From eternity, God decreed three great designs ; and, ii. To fulfil these, He raised four great empires: Dan. ii. 36. ON THE EPISTLES a3 First Design : The Jews were to be the depositaries of the true ReHgion. First Empire : The Assyrians : To punish the idolatry and infideUty of the Jews. Second Design: Birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem: Mich. V. 2. Second Empire : The Persians. i. To release the Jews from the captivity of Babylon, ii. To enable them to settle again in Palestine. Third Design : The spread of the Gospel : Ezech. xviii. 23 : Dan. ii. 44. Third Empire : The Greeks : to prepare men's minds, i. By spreading their language, in which the Gospel was to be written. ii. By scattering the Jews, e.g, in the army, as mission- aries of truth. Fourth Empire : The Romans : to prepare the earth, i. By bringing all nations under their rule: Gen. xlix. 10. ii. By opening out roads, to facilitate communication. Conclusion : i. Then came the " fulness of time," and God sent His Son into the world, ii. The long delay of thousands of years a. Taught man his helplessness and misery. b. Showed him the need and cost of a remedy. c. Implies an eternal design in the mind of God. d. Shows how Religion goes back to the very beginning of time. iii. Recognize how God holds in His hands the reins of empires, and makes all things serve the accom- plishment of His designs. iv. Confide therefore in God; know you are in His keeping, and under His watchful care. 24 SERMON PLANS 21. HERESIES ON THE INCARNATION. " God sent His Son, made of a woman." Gal. iv. 4. i. Almost every doctrine of the Church has been attacked, ii. The mystery of the Incarnation no exception : e.g. by a. The Arians, on the Divinity of our Lord. b. The MonotheHtes, on His Humanity. c. The Nestorians, on the Union of the two natures, iii. To study these errors helps to elucidate the dogma of the Incarnation. I. Arians: i. Named from Arius, priest of Alexandria, 4th c. who ii. Held Our Lord to be a creature only, with divine power, iii. Denied thus His divine nature, and His equality with the Father, iv. Were condemned in the Council of Nicaea, a.d. 325. a. The Nicene Creed : Consubstantialem. b. All turning on one letter in a Greek word. (pfjioovcrio';, not o/xolovctloS') V. Denial of the Divinity is also denial of the Redemption, vi. Hence the need of exactness in matters of dogma. The death of Arius.* II. MonotheHtes : i. From Greek words meaning * one will.* ii. Held Our Lord had but one will — the divine. a. Hence, that He was not truly man. b. Yet, He was " made of a woman," i.e. human, with a human will. iii. Condemned in the Council of Constantinople, a.d. 680. ON THE EPISTLES " 25 iv. In Christ there are two wills, viz. a. Human: " Remove this Chalice from Me." b. Divine : **Not My will, but Thine be done." Lke. xxii. 42. V. The two always in perfect union, though truly distinct. The Human ever subject to the Divine, as in the Agony. III. Nestorians: i. Named from Nestorius, Bp. of Constantinople, 5th c. ii. Held there are two persons in Christ. iii. Denied thus the hypostatic union. iv. Taught therefore that Mary is not " Mother of God," But of Christ, as man only. V. Condemned in the Council of Ephesus, a.d. 431. a. Solemn definition of the title " Mother of God." b. Rejoicings thereat throughout the city. Lessons : i. The Church has had heresy to oppose all through her history, ii. This warfare such that she could not survive, except under the protection of the Holy Ghost. iii. Confidence therefore in the Church, as the work of God. iv. Importance of knowing well the true teachings of the Church. This, only through instruction and good books. * Arius had many followers and was with them preparing one day to be forcibly received back into the Church. With much parade, they formed a joyful procession, when suddenly their leader was seized with frightful spasms which compelled him to retire. After some delay, he was found on the floor, his blood and intestines strewn around him : his body had burst asunder, like that of Judas. — Theodoret. SERMON PLANS 13. A GOOD LIFE. "We should live soberly and justly and godly." Tit. ii. 12. i. Text most suitable to the beginning of a new year. ii. Suggests how we must live henceforth ; viz. in a. Sobriety f as to ourselves : h. Justice^ as to our neighbour, and c. Religion^ as to God. I. Soberly: i. Duty regarding our own lives. ii. Avoid excess in food, and especially in drink. What sins of drunkenness during the year past ! iii. But sobriety here implies the cardinal virtue of Temperance, i.e. a. Moderation in all things, even lawful. h. Restraint of the senses. c. The spirit of self-denial. iv. Effects on ourselves : a. Brightness and cheerfulness. h. Evenness of disposition. c. Health and strength of body. d. Perseverance in the practice of virtue. v. A first maxim with all holy persons : e.g. Judith viii. 6. Daniel x. 3. S. John the Baptist : Mth. iii. 4 : Lke. i. 15. S. Peter of Alcantara: Oct. 19. II. Justly: i. Essential duty we owe to our neighbour, ii. How great the sins of injustice in the world ! e.g, a. Theft and robbery. l. Fraud and deceit in every form. c. Injury to name and character in any way. ON THE EPISTLES 27 iii. How irreparable often the evils that follow ! e.g. a. Hatred and dislikes. b. Lawsuits and quarrels. c. Hardness of heart. d. Even bloodshed and murder. iv. How binding, yet how difficult, the duty of restitution ! III. Godly: i. Words embracing all our duties to God. ii. How great, how widespread the neglect of them ! iii. Yet the first and foremost duty of each one. •' Seek ye first the kingdom of God." Mth. vi. 33. iv. Observance of God's commandments. V. Obedience to His Church, vi. Resignation to the Divine Will. vii. The Sacrifice of the Mass, on Sundays and Holydays. viii. The Sacraments, channels of Grace to souls. Lessons : i. To-day we begin a new year of life. a. Shall we see the end of it ? b. Thousands certainly will not ! ii. Need therefore of good resolutions on these three points, iii. " A good beginning is half the work." Hence start well, with God's grace. iv. Then look with hope for the " coming of the glory of God." 2d SERMON PLAN^ 14. CHRIST, OUR REDEEMER. " Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us." Tit. ii. 14. i. We not only believe that Christ became man for us, ii. But we also know the object of His birth — our redemption. Redemption : i. Idea of a Redeemer seen in one who ransoms a slave.* ii. Need of a Redeemer. a. Adam's sin closed Heaven to man. h. Malice of this sin against God infinite. c. Thus man, a finite being, could not repair it. d. Hence the need of a God-man to do so. iii. Effected by Our Lord's shedding His Blood for us. a. He offered Himself to God, as Priest and Victim. h. Sacrifice of infinite value, because of the dignity of His person. iv. Universal, i.e. for all men : *' Propitiation for the sins of the whole world." i Jn. ii. 2. "Christ died for all." 2 Cor. v. 15. ** Who gave Himself a redemption for all." i Tim. ii. 6. a. For those living before the Incarnation, through faith in the future Redeemer. h. For those coming afterwards, by living up to His teachings. Benefits of the Redemption : i. Delivery from sin. "Redemption through His Blood, the remission of sins." Eph. I. 7. "Who washed us from our sins." Apoc. i. 5. ON THE EPISTLES 29 ii. Hence, delivery from Hell, the punishment of sin. •'Who hath delivered us from the wrath to come." i Thess. i. 10. iii. The grace of election : " The Father chose us in Him " (Christ). Eph. i. 4. jv. The grace of justification, i.e. sanctifying grace. "The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." I Jn. i. 7. a. " By which we remain in Christ, and He in us." Jn. XV. 4. b. Which makes our works pleasing to God. c. By which they become the works of Christ Himself. As branches receive nourishment from the trunk. d. Which makes them meritorious of V. Eternal glory : "Whom He justified, them He also glorified." Rom. viii. 30. "The grace of God, life everlasting." Rom. vi. 23. " He became the cause of eternal salvation." Hebr. v. 9. Lessons : i. Deep love of gratitude to our most holy Redeemer, ii. Observance of His Law, as proof of our love. " If you love Me, keep My commandments." Jn. xvi. 15, iii. Charity to all men, redeemed like ourselves. Otherwise our love of God is not genuine : i Jn. iv. 20. iv. To effect our salvation, we must believe and lovff, '• Faith that worketh by charity." Gal. v, 6. * To free their brethren from slavery and to buy them their liberty has ever been looked upon by Christians as one of the greatest of good works. S. Paulinus, of Nola, even himself became a slave to redeem another, and S. Exuperius sold the sacred vessels, in order to have means to fulfil this merciful duty. 30 SERMON PLANS 15. HOLY INNOCENTS. History; i. Our Lord was persecuted, as soon as He came among men. Hence we may not expect better treatment: Mth. X. 24, ii. Herod, King of Judaea, was a monster of iniquity and cruelty. Having put to death his mother, mother-in-law, two sons and many friends. Hi. Hearing the Magi's enquiry about Christ, he was troubled : Mth. ii. 3. a. Hence he resolved on the death of the Child of Bethlehem. b. He feigned a wish to go and adore the new born King: Ibid. 8. With dagger in hand, to slay Him ! But, c* God admonished the Magi not to return to Herod to report. d. He also ordered S.Joseph to carry the Child into Egypt. 1. A journey of some 200 miles. 2. Tradition as to the idols falling. Is. xix. i. 3. Fulfilment of the prophecy of Osee xi. i. iv. Obedience of S. Joseph : prompt, blind, courageous. a. He was not told how long to remain there. A constant anxiety : yet was he ever resigned. b. The gold of the Magi was a help during the exile. V. Thus frustrated in his design, Herod was exceeding angry: Mth. ii. 16. a. He therefore resolved to slay all male children under 2 years in and around Bethlehem. b. Soldiers sent to massacre all, perhaps over 100. 1. Obedience and harshness of the military. 2. Suflferings and shrieks of the children and their mothers. ^» Yet happy was the death of these children ! I. Just receiving life, and already losing it for Christ. ON THE EPISTLES 3I 2. Their special glory : to die instead of Him. 3. How few might otherwise have escaped the evils of life ! d. Their mothers thought not of this, hence their lamentations. As we oft regret accidents, though blessings in disguise. vi. How blind and furious a passion is ambition : see Herod ! vii. Misery and misfortunes of his last end : a. He survives the massacre by only a short time. He would have committed suicide, had he been allowed. b. Sickness and sufferings intense, in the body. 1. Worms were breeding in his very wounds. 2. The stench thereof drove away even his best friends. c. Torture of mind, through remorse and despair. 1. Yet amid all, he had a son executed in prison ; and, 2. Ordered some Jews to be executed after his own decease ! d. At length, he died miserably, cursed by all the people. See the angered Justice of God in these punishments. Reflections : i. Parents are bound to see their children devoted to God. a. Imprinting the best sentiments on their young minds. b. Instructing them thoroughly in their religion ; for, c. Without knowing God, we cannot love or serve Him. ii. Great too should be the zeal of children and others to hear of God. The eternal truths ; and our various duties. iii. Do not unduly lament the death of innocent children: for, a. If baptized, they are at once united to God for eternity. b* Could a greater blessing ever be given them ? 32 SERMON PLANS 16. LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR. "If God bath so loved us, we also ought to love one another." I Jn. iv. II. i. The epistles of Christmastide full of the subject of charity; for, ii. The Love of God appeared to us in the Incarnation. Hence, iii. S. John argues we must love one another. We must love our neighbour : i. All persons, even our enemies : ii. In God and for God, as a motive, iii. Because: a. God so commands : "Thou shalt love thy neighbour." Mth. xxii. 39. "A new commandment : that you love one another." Jn. xiii. 34. b. We are all children of God, and brothers of Christ." Mth. xxiii. 9. c. In loving them, we love God: Prov. xix. 17. d. It is a powerful means to obtain mercy : i Pet. iv. 8. e. Without this, we cannot truly love God : i Jn. iv. 20. iv. This love of others makes earth a foretaste of Heaven. V. This one law, if observed, would dispense with all human law. This brotherly love : i. Makes us regard our neighbours' interests as our own. a. The very spirit of Christianity. b. Opposed to the spirit of env^. ON THE EPISTLES 33 ii. Produces : a. Peace and concord. b. Willingness to act and suffer for others. c. Readiness on their part to do likewise, iii. Shown by : a. Sincere congratulations on success. b. Sympathy in trial and sorrow. c. Repression of rancour and ill-feeling. d. Not giving offence. e. Not taking offence. /. The Works of Mercy, corporal and spiritual. iv. Exemplified in : Abraham towards Lot : Gen. xiii. 8. David and Jonathan : i Kgs. xviii. Our Lady towards her cousin : Lke. i. 39. S. John, throughout his Epistles. Founders of Orders, making it an essential point of their rule. V. Attained by : a. Love of God first, of which it is a part. b. Considering that 1. Envy makes us resemble the deviL 2. We are all brothers in God. c. Speaking well of others and defending them. d. Helping a neighbour. g. Seeing Christ in all men. Lessons : i. Appreciate the spirit of the Church at this season of love, ii. In imitation of the love of Bethlehem, show love to others, iii. Mere philanthropy is not the Christian love of our neighbour. For it has no motives higher than this earth, iv. Practical and detailed resolutions for the year just begun. D 34 SERMON PLANS 17, THE FEAST OF CONVERTS. "The Gentiles shall walk in Thy light." Is. Ix. 3. L The three Kings were the first Gentiles to visit Bethlehem. ii. They were the first converts to walk in the light of faith. iii. To-day thus becomes the Feast of Converts. iv. Consider some points of resemblance between the Kings and Converts. The Kings : i. Their life before they saw the Star : a. Seeking the true God, yet with uncertainty. b. Anxious to remain at home, God now calling elsewhere. ii. The Star arses : Kth, ii. 2. a. Their heart tells them to follow it. b. Friends blame and expostulate ; but, c. They are faithful to the call, and set out. iii. The Star at one time disappears, a. As they near Jerusalem and its crowds. b. But this only quickens enquiry : Mth. ii. 2. c. False counsels given, which they do not follow : Mth. ii. 8. iv. The Star reappears : a. To their intense joy. b. They persevere on their way. c. And reach Bethlehem in safety. V. They find the new-born Saviour: Mth. ii. 11, a. Their adoration and three-fold offering. b. Perhaps they embrace the Divine Child; and, c. Enjoy sensible sweetness, a strength to the faith, vi. They return home by another road : Mth. ii. 12. a. To escape the treachery of Herod. b. Living now by the light they have received. c. Becoming missionaries among their countrymen. d. Their peaceful and happy death. ON THE. EPISTLES 35 II. Converts: i. Life before conversion : . - a. Often truly conscientious, according to their lights. 6. Content with their state, though doubts sometimes arise. ii. Some circumstance in life arrests their serious attention. &.g. A reverse of fortune, a sermon, an accident, etc. a. They feel drawn to examine their position. b. Friends hearing this, treat it as folly. c. But they are determined, and seek advice. iii. The voice of conscience sometimes dies down : a. Perhaps through worldly cares and preoccupa- tion. h. Anxious friends encourage the indifference. c. Yet faithful to God, they correspond to their grace, iv. Then the true path seems more clear than ever. ' a. Their conscience once more at ease. b. They continue instructions, reading, etc. c. Final resolve to embrace the Catholic Faith. v. Baptism and other Sacraments : a. Fervour and devotion. b. Often spiritual sweetness as encouragement. vi. They continue their routine of life. a. Avoiding however discussions on Religion. b. Rejoicing in true peace of mind. c. Influencing others by their example d. Good life and holy death. Lessons : i. Gratitude for the gift of Faith, ii. Fidelity to grace. iii. Zeal to obtain the same for others. 36 SERMON PLANS 18. CONVERSION OF THE GENTILES. " The strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee." Is. Ix. 5. i. To-day's lesson prophetical of the world's conversion. Isaias lived some 700 years b.c. ii. Read to-day, the Christmas Day of the Gentiles. a. The three Kings, the first called among them. b. As the Shepherds were among the Jews. iii. "The strength of the Gentiles," i.e. great and powerful nations, iv. " Shall come to thee," i.e. to the Church, here called Jerusalem. V. Consider some examples : I. Early Conversions : i. Rome alone in the 4th c. had already 40 Churches, ii. Most of Italy converted by the disciples of S. Peter, iii. Gaul, in the ist c. by disciples of other Apostles. In the 3rd c. it had as many bishoprics as large cities, iv. The north of Africa, in the 2nd c. 70 Bishops at the Council of Carthage, end of 2nd c. V. Conversion of Spain, a.d. 250. n. Ireland : 5th c. i. S. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. a. Early carried into slavery. b. On his release, his studies in Rome. • c. Sent as missionary by Pope Celestine. ii. Eagerness with which he was listened to. Source of the veneration still shown to him. Tradition of the shamrock-leaf, iii. Success of his apostolic labours. a. Foundation of monasteries innumerable. b. Conversion of the island. c. Its fidelity to the Faith. ON THE EPISTLES 37 III. England; 6th c. i. Christianity from the time of the Apostles, even, ii. Increased by the conversion of King Lucius, a.d. i8o, S. Alban, our proto-martyr, a.d. 303 — June 22. iii. Permanently established through monks sent from Rome, viz. iv. S. Augustine and 40 companions, a.d. 597. a. The landing in Kent. b. Interview with Ethelbert under the oak.* c. Conversion of the King and of many of his people. d. See of Canterbury established, with the primacy^ V. Flourishing state of Religion till the i6th c. vi. Catholic revival of the present time. IV. Missionary enterprise nowadays : e.g, i. In China, by the Jesuits. ii. In India, by the Jesuits and Dominicans, iii. In Africa, by the Oblates of M.I. and the White Fathers. Lessons : i. The Epiphany is oitr Christmas Day, we being Gentiles, ii. Gratitude for the call to the true Faith, iii. Zeal to extend this grace to others : a. By prayer, that the prophet's words may be fully realized. b. By contributions to missionary societies. * The Saxon prince. Ethelbert, received the missionaries under an oak, in an open field, at the suggestion of his priests, who had told him that in such a situation the spells of the foreign magicians would lose their influence. Ethelbert at first refused to abandon the gods of his fathers, but the missionaries were allowed to preach without molestation, and were supported at his expense. On the feast of Pentecost in the following year, he himself received Baptism. — Ltngard. 38 ■ SERMON PLANS 19- "REASONABLE SERVICE." "A living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God." Rom. xii. i. i. Sacrifice ever an essential to public worship. a. In the Old Law, sacrifices of animals. b. In the New Law, the sacrifice of the Mass. ii. In private devotion also, sacrifice is necessary. The Apostle asks the sacrifice of our bodies. I. Living Sacrifice: i. S. Paul alludes to the olden sacrifices, animals slain. ii. With these he contrasts living victims, our bodies, as they are : ii Living, because a. Still inhabited by the soul, not slain and dead. b. Animated by vivifying works of the spiritual life : e.g. Christian virtues, almsdeeds, prayer. C. Especially, mortification makes it a living victim ; and is 1. A sort of death, the death of concupiscence. 2. In some degree, necessary to all men. Though in its perfection, only of counsel. 3. The way to sanctity ; it may even fit for martyrdom, iv. Three kinds of sacrifice of ourselves to God : viz. a. Of the mind, by prayer. b. Of the body, by mortification, etc. c. Of our works, by almsdeeds. S. Cyprian to the convicts.* J I. Holy Sacrifice: The Jewish victims sacred, and not to be touched by the unclean : Lev. i. 3. i. Holy, because a. Dedicated to God in Baptism. b. Thus separated from things profane : e.g. pride, ambition. ON THE EPISTLES 39 c. Especially, it must be kept free from impure sin, 1. So directly opposed to the holiness of God. 2. Chastity according to one's state essential to holiness, ii. Keep thus holy the body that is to be offered to God. III. Pleasing Sacrifice: The Jewish victims were as an odour of sweetness to God: Lev. i. 17. i. Pleasing, when truly a holy and living sacrifice, (as above) if, e.g : a. The eyes refrain from sinful looks. b. The tongue, from uncharitable language. c. The hands, from unlawful gains. d. The feet, from leading us to sin : S. Chvysostom, ii. On the contrary, our sacrifice is not pleasing, if we are a. Proud and rebellious against God. h. Jealous and envious of others. c. Given to unlawful pleasure. d. Guilty of injustice in any form. If such be our state, no sacrifice of ours can please God. Lessons : i. Ever then present your bodies to God, a sacrifice worthy of Him. ii. Thus will you give Him your " reasonable service," i.e. a. Service dictated by reason and discretion. h. Not mere outward service, like that of the Jews. c. But a spiritual worship of the soul guiding the body, iii. Such service will assuredly bring you a blessing, here and hereafter. * S. Cyprian consoled those who, for their Faith, were condemned to work in the mines, by telling them that, though deprived of the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist, they could ofifer to God a victim, pleasing to Him and meritorious for themselves, by bearing their painful trials in patience, a sacrifice of their bodies offered night and day unceasingly, holy, living and pleasing, according to the words of the text. 40 SERMON PLANS 20. CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH. "We being many are one body in Christ." Rom. xii. 5. i. The Apostle compares the Church to the human frame. ii. As the body has a complex formation, so too the Church, iii. Consider then its Constitution. I. The Head : i. The human body has a head. Body without head is a contradiction. a. Seat of the directing power — the Intellect. b. United with the various members of the body. ii. The Church also has a head. a. Jesus Christ, its Founder, the invisible Head, in Heaven. h. The Pope, His Vicar, its visible Head, on earth. The Church, a visible society, needs a visible head. c. This two-fold headship not a contradiction. King and Viceroy exist for the same de- pendency of India. d. No society can exist without a head. e. From this Head flows all power and authority ; /. To it all final appeals are made. II. The Members: i. The body has various members ; (hands, feet, etc.) a. Each has its own work and function : Eyes, to see ; feet, to walk. h. Yet in union and sympathy with each other. c. All subject to the head and its commands, ii. The Church too has various members and grades. a. Each its own duty to fulful : e.g. Bishops . . Priests . . I'aithful : i Cor. xii. 29. CM THE EPISTLES 4* b. All in union with each other, by 1. The interior link of Faith and Grace. 2. TheexferiorWnkoi Sacraments and Worship^ c. All united to the Head, by Love, reverence and obedience. HI. The Soul: i. The body has a soul to animate it. a. Without it, the body is a corpse, helpless, etc. b. This soul gives life and energy to its every part^ ii. The Church also has a soul — the Holy Ghost. *'In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,"" I Cor. xii. 13. a. Our Lord's work incomplete, till the Spirit descended on it. b. Powers of the Apostles in abeyance, till He came upon them. c. His love and grace unite the members together^ and give them spiritual increase and sancti- fication. d. He thus animates with divine life the mystical body of Christ. Conclusion : i. Thus does the human body truly typify the Cnurch. ii. This briefly the Constitution of the Church, of which a. The invisible Head and Soul are divine. b. The visible Members, human. iii. We are members of this mystical body ; hence, a. Be grateful for so signal a grace. b. Live lives worthy of such a vocation. Eph. iv. i^ c. Pray that others also may share it.* * The Holy Ghost declares the absolute necessity for all men- to be, as members of a body, in perfect union with the Church, in order to be in union with Christ. Separation from her, if culpable, is irreparable folly, for separation from her, the Body, means separation from Christ, the Head, and the Holy Ghost, the Soul. The result of such separation is, that spiritual life is impossible for one in such a state — as impossible as is natural life for a limb dissevered from the body. — Duke. 42 SERMON PLANS 21. FERVOUR AND TEPIDITY. "In spirit fervent." Rom. xii. ii. i. S. Paul bids us be fervent in the service of the Lord of Lords: Whose eyes are ever upon us in the homage we do Him. ii. Consider then the subject of Fervour, and of its opposite, Tepidity. Fervour : i. An ardent and efficacious desire of living up to our vocation. a. The state of the Saints upon earth. b. Should be the state of all who aim at perfection. ii. Motives : a. The greatness of God's goodness to us. b. His liberality to His faithful servants. c. The shortness of time allotted to us for work. d. The joy of heart which Fervour brings. aii. Means : a. Meditation on such motives. b. The thought of the uncertainty of life.* c. See the zeal of worldlings in their pursuits. d. Remember the greatness of future rewards, iv. Fruits : a. Great courage for good. b. Self-distrust. c. Love of mortification. d. Holy indifference. e. Peace of heart. V. Examples: King David, in the service of God : i Par. xxix. 2. S. Ignatius, whose face seemed inflamed in prayer : Jiy- 31- S. Stanislaus Kostka, who died of fulness of divine love: Nov. 13. ON THE EPISTLES 43 Tepidity : i. The very opposite of Fervour, a canker in the soul, ii. Recognized by such symptoms as : a. Facility in omitting exercises of religion. b. Negligence in those we do perform. c. Acting without any kind of intention. d. Seeking comfort and distraction in earthly things. e. Contempt of small things, and opportunities for good. /. Thinking rather of the good we have done, than of the good left undone, iii. Most hateful to God, who condemns it so forcibly, in a passage without any parallel in Scripture: Apoc. iii. 16. iv. Effects : a. The forming of a false conscience. b. Fear to undertake too much for God. c. Irreverent use of the Sacraments. V. Examples : They are tepid and lukewarm, who, e.g. : a. Are patient, when they have nothing to suffer. b. Are gentle, when uncontradicted. c. Are humble, when honour is untouched. d. Wish to be saints, without trouble or struggle. e. Are willing to do many things, but not to take Heaven by violence, vi. Remsdies: a. Quicken your Faith, by meditation on the eternal Truths. b. Don't have too many things to do. c. Preserve silence, without singularity. d. Persevere in spiritual exercises. e. Practise bodily penance and self-denial. * If thou wouldst oftener think of thy death than of the length of thy life, no doubt thou wouldst more fervently amend thyself. — Jiiiit. I. xxi. SERMON PLANS 22, CURSING. " Curse not." Rom. xii. 14. i. The Epistle to-day a continuation of last Sunday's. ii. S. Paul continues his instructions to his Roman converts, iii. In them, much for us also to learn : to-day on cursing. Sin very common nowadays: hence, worthy of consideration. Cursing : i. Praying evil on ourselves, or any of God's creatures^ ii. Sin of diabolical malice, because a. Directly opposed to the Law of God, 1. Who tells us to love one another. 2. While the curser hates his neighbour. b. Opposed to the very object of the Incarnation. 1. Which is the salvation of men. 2. The curser prays for their damnation. c. It usually gives bad example. Mth. xviii. 6. Especially in parents, masters, etc. d. He shows ingratitude, who curses his tools,. cattle, etc. 1. All these are God's gifts, deserving of thanks. 2. No wonder if such a one does not prosper I e. Cursing is the language of Hell ! iii. Scripture gives four cases where cursing is answered : a. The poor cursing the rich who oppress them. " The prayer of him (the poor) that curseth thee shall be heard." Ecclus. iv. 6. h. Widows and orphans cursing their oppressors. " The widow's tears . . . the Lord will not be delighted with them." Ecclus. xxxv. 19. ON THE EPISTLES 45 c. Parents cursing their children — How common a sin ! "The mother's curse roolelh up the foundation." Ecclus. iii. II. A mother's curse.* d. People cursing themselves. " He loved cursing, and it shall come unto him.** Ps. cviii. 18. The Jews in the wilderness : Numb. xiv. 3, 29. The Jews on Calvary : Mth. xxvii. 25. Guilt of cursing: i. Mortal sin, when a. The evil is great and adverted to ; or, b. The habit is continued. ii. Venial sin, where a. The evil is not great, or deliberate ; or, b. The habit is being corrected. Lessons : i. Realize the evil of this sin : a. So hateful to God. b. So injurious to His creatures. c. Yet so common in the world ! ii. Renounce this shocking and anti-Christian practice. iii. Avoid coarse and profane language of any kind, iv. Make reparation to the Holy Name of God herein abused : e.g. a. To say the Litany of the Holy Name ; (to-day.) b. To say the Divine Praises. • A rich widow, in Florence, had two children, whom she loved even to weakness, never refusing them anything. One day however she was constrained to refuse some unreasonable request ; but this so irritated them that they raised their hand and struck her. In her anger, the poor mother cursed her children, praying the devil to seize them. At that very moment, he did so, and they began to fight like wild beasts, ready to tear each other to pieces. It was only on the prayer of S. Zenobius, Bishop of Florence, that they were healed, and their conversion effected. — Delmas. 46 SERMON PLANS 23. REVENGE. " Not revenging yourselves, my dearly beloved." Rom. xii. 19. i. S. Paul warns his Roman converts against revenge. ii. A sin common in the world, to be now considered. Revenge ; and spite. • i. Returning evil for evil. ii. Most sinful, as directly opposed to the Law of God. **If one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other," Mth. v. 39. ** Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you.' Mth. v. 44. **Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.' Rom. xii. 21. S. John Gualbert observed these commands : Jly. 1 2 iii. Arrogates God's attribute to itself. ** Revenge is mine, and I will repay." Deut. xxxii. 35. *'He that seeketh to revenge himself shall find vengeance fiom the Lord." Ecclus. xxviii. i. a. A great evil to be the object of God's anger. *' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebr. x. 31. b. For God's anger is terrible in its effects : e.g. The Deluge : Gen. vii. The destruction of Sodom : Gen. xix. 24. €. Therefore, instead of revenge, show pity to a victim of God's displeasure. Effects of taking revenge : i. It bars the way to God's forgiveness. ** If you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you." Mth. vi. 15. ON THE EPISTLES 47 ii. It makes the Otir Father a mockery on our lipo. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive." A nun's revenge.* iii. It unfits us for the Sacraments. "Go first to be reconciled to thy brother." Mth. v. 24. • iv. It leads to injustice, calumny, even murder. V. It destroys peace of mind. Like a splinter left in a wound. Remedies against revenge : i. Meditation "on the injury sin does to God, who so punishes it. ii. Thought of His readiness to pardon and forgive. *' I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked* turn from his way and live." Ezech. xxxiii. ii. " \Yho niaketh His sun to rise upon the good and bad.'* Mih. V. 45. iii. Prayer for those for whom we feel ill-will — most efficacious. "Pray for them that persecute you." Mih. v. 44. iv. The sight of Our Lord on the Cross. "Father, forgive them." Lke. xxiii. 34. V. Thus will you avoid a sin — so hateful to God, so injurious to others, and so ruinous to your own soul. * During the cholera epidemic in Paris, in 1832, a Sister of Charity, going into the hospital, was rudely insulted by a passing workman. One morning a new patient was brought in whose condition seemed desperate. " No more room," was the answer of the person in charge : but the Sister was there, recognized the- patient and exclaimed : " Do not refuse him : I'll find him a corner somewhere, and will tend him myself." And without neglecting her other patients, she cared for this one so well that in eight or ten days he was convalescent : but one morning she was missed from his side : she died of the cholera taken in attending the one who had insulted her : she revenged herself on him after the manner ot the Saints. — Gvillois. 4$ SERMON PLANS 24. APOSTOLIC COUNSELS. i. How strange we are no better than we are ! ii. It is not through lack of instruction, for we have a. Moses and the Prophets. b. Our Lord's divine teaching. c. The example of Our Lord and the Saints. d. S. Paul's epistles these weeks past. Let us try to profit by all these. iii. To-day again three plain lessons are inculcated, viz: I, True self-knowledge : " Be not wise in your own conceits." Rom. xii. l6. i. Perfect self-knowledge lies in true humility. ii. Humility is a true estimate of ourselves. a. It does not imply falsehood : e.g. Saying we have no talent, if we really have. b. But refers all merit to God alone. c. It acknowledges its own weakness and is net puffed up. •iii. Sometimes men have overweening ideas as to their own judgment. a. FooUshness of this : for, b. Their past mistakes and the experience of the world should make them diffident. iv. Fear not to seek counsel and advice from others. V. What it takes years of experience to learn, grace can teach quickly, if we follow the Apostle's advice : Rom. xii. i6. '11. Forgiveness of Injuries: "To no man rendering evil for evil." Rom. xii. 17. i. You may expect injury at the hands of others : for, In this world good and evil are mixed. ON THE EPISTLES 49 ii. If you expect it, be not troubled when it conies. a. " Forewarned is forearmed ; " thus, b. You are better fitted to meet it. iii. Evil tends to beget evil. a. To return it is folly and sin. b. It multiplies the miseries of life. c. It recoils on ourselves. iv. Therefore overcome evil by doing good : Rom. xii. 21. a. Forgiving injuries. b. Praying for them that persecute you : Mth. v.44. ill. Good Example : ** Providing good things ... in the sight of all men." Rom. xii. 17. i. Further means of fighting against evil. ii. Not to be done for vanity or applause ; but, iii. As Christians, men are entitled to expect good from us: Mth. v. 16. iv. Hence fear not to do good before others : e.g. a. To lead a practical Catholic life. b. To do works of mercy, etc. V. Good example tends to right the balance of good, as against evil in the world. Conclusion: i. What a blessing to learn but one lesson every Sunday ! ii. During Mass, ask, through S. Paul, the grace to profit by his teachings to-day. iii. Then we shall improve and make some progress. 50 SERMON PLANS 25. PAYMENT OF DEBTS. " Owe no man anything." Rom. xiii. 8. i. There is one debt we can never fully pay — the debt of charity Z''' ii. All other debts we must try to discharge. " Owe no man anything." iii. Too often neglected is this precept of the Apostle. We must pay our debts : i. When goods are bought, the price of them belongs to the seller. He parts with them, on the understanding we pay him their value. ii. To refuse payment is an unjust keeping of what belongs to another. a. Now, all unjust keeping is forbidden by the 7th Commandment. b. It is always sinful, therefore, to some degree. c. Hence, we must pay our debts. iii. Under this heading come wages, loans, interest, rent, etc. a. They are all real debts of justice. b. But how often is there unnecessary delay in paying them. iv. We must economize, so as to be able to meet our liabilities.! Evils of delay : i. Inconvenience and loss to creditors. a. Tradesmen have goods to buy, for resale. b. These they must pay for. c. But how do it, if their own dues be withheld ? d. All know the inconvenience of want of money. ii. Sometimes such delay may spell ruin. a. Tradespeople being thus unable to pay their way, further goods are refused them. b. What responsibihty in us, to place them in such a position ! iii. Necessity of having to make restitution, founded on. a. The Natural Law, implanted in the heart. b. The Divine Law of God : Ex. xxii. 5 : Mth. xxii. 21. ON THE EPISTLES 51 c. The Civil Law of nations. d. Duty most strictly binding, where possible. e. Duty oftentimes as difficult as it is essential, e.g. Through human respect, fear of detection, etc, iv. Ill-feeling between neighbours : a. Men thus defrauded naturally resent the evil. h. Ill-feeling may then spring up, which 1. May deepen into hatred, and 2. Lead to detraction, calumny, etc. c. Thus is scandal produced. V. Scorn and ridicule brought on Religion : for, a. Too often "Good church-goers are bad debt- payers." h. Too often they run into debt for mere luxuries. c. Too often they borrow, without prospect of being able to repay ; d. Too often they take offence, when asked to settle accounts ! e. All this is opposed to simple honesty and true Religion. Hence the contempt into which Religion is brought. Lessons : i. Ever show real honesty in all your dealings with others. ii. Be thoughtful to pay your just debts within reason- able time, iii. If bound to restitution, make it at once. Conscience cannot rest till this be done. Better still— iv. Avoid the difficulty of restitution, by avoiding the cause of it. v. All this will be easy, if we make Christian charity our guide. * I always owe charity to others, which alone when paid leaves- me still their debtor. Mutual love I willingly give, and gladly receive. When I receive it, I still demand it, and when I pay it, I still owe it. — 5. Augustine. t Let no man ever think that economy is meanness, or that it is to be despised. It is he who saves that caij afford to give ; and nothing is mean which is honest, and which enables us to do justice to others. 52 SERMON PLANS 26. THE DECALOGUE. i. S. Paul tells us charity is the fulfilment of the Law: Rom. xiii. lo. ii. He then goes on to recall a good part of this Law. lii. Take this occasion to speak on the Decalogue. The Decalogue : i. So called from the Greek, meaning " ten words." ii. Comprises the ten Commandments, given on Sina : Ex. XX. a. A compendium of Morals, as the Creed is of Faith. b. Explicit statement of the laws of truth, order, and justice, iii. Like God Himself, they are Holy . . . True . . . Just . . . Unchangeable, iv. Necessary for salvation. a. Our first duty to God is belief in His Reve- lation. Delivering the Mind from ignorance. b. Our second duty is observance of His Laws. Delivering the Heart from concupiscence. c. Need of knowing these laws, through instruc- tion, etc. V. Not a burden, but a benefit to man, even here. The parapet.* vi. Divided into a. Positive : requiring a thing to be done : e.g, the 4th. b. Negative : forbidding a thing to be done : e.g. the 7th. The stream and its banks, t ON THE EPISTLES 53 vii. Binding a. On all men, unlike human laws. b. Each and every commandment : " Whosoever shall offend in one point is become guilty of all." Jas. ii. lo. One instrument out of tune destroys a whole concerted piece. One weak link weakens the whole chain, viii. Therefore possible to all. a. God is wisdom, goodness, and justice. b. He does not, can not, exact the impossible. c. Grace is given to enable us to observe His Law. d. The Saints have kept it, so may we. ix. Confirmed by Christ in the New Law : a. By His teaching and doctrine. b. By His example in life. c. By His sending the Holy Ghost. Lessons : i. Learn, understand and love the commandments. ii. Humility, in submission and obedience to them, iii. Petition for grace in temptation against them. iv. Heaven the reward of observing them. * If on a narrow plank, crossing a ravine, a parapet is raised on either side, so that a traveller cannot fall into the abyss, unless he deliberately leap over it, no one would consider its erection a piece of tyranny, or an unreasonable curtailment of his freedom and liberty : on the contrary, it is a benefit bestowed to secure his safety. So with man, on his way to eternity, the Commandments are a protection to him, as he passes along the plank of life, guarding him against falling into the deep abyss of Hell. — Gaume. t The positive precepts are like so many different streams, conveying the ridhes of a fountain to various parts of the earth. The negative are like banks, hindering the passions from troubling the waters, and turning them out of their course. — Gaume. 54 SERMON PLANS 27. PURITY OF INTENTION. " All things do ye in the name of the Lord." Col. iii. 17. i. God created all things for His glory, ii. We should do all for the same motive. iii. Such practice useful to our own souls also. The Glory of God : i. Much of it is lost on earth, a. By the sins of men. b. Through forgetfulness of God. c. Even good people giving God the second place. Under show of moderation, human respect, etc. ii. Zeal of Our Lord to procure His Father's glory: e.g. His stay among the doctors : Lke. ii. 49. His labours for souls. His agony over sin : Mth. xxvi. iii. We also should seek God's glory : e.g. by Purity of Intention: i. Doing even our most trifling acts for God : e.g. a. Rising, eating, labour, pain, pleasure. Z>. No matter how trivial the act, heavenly motives sanctify it. ii. Through the offering we make of them to God : a. On waking, for the whole day. b. And again before our chief actions. iii. Principle grounded on Our Lord's promise. The cup of cold water : Mth. x. 42. iv. Turns all we do into merit for eternity. A true "philosopher's stone." a. Most of the Saints sanctified through their common actions. ON THE EPISTLES 55 b. These done with extraordinary fervour and good motive. c. We thus " pray without ceasing." i Thess. V. 17. V. If the Saints could grieve, it would be over loss of glory, through neglect of this practice. vi. The pity we should fail in this ! a. Our labours have to be performed. b. Our sufferings have to be borne. Why not thus sanctify both ? c. Our pleasures in no way diminished by it. S. Charles playing chess.* vii. This spirit of oblation begets tender familiarity with God. The childlike freedom of the Saints springs from it. Lessons : i. Adopt this truly Catholic and simple practice. The habit of making the morning offering easily acquired. ii. Apply it in practice to the whole day, to '* All whatsoever you do, in word or in work." iii. Atone to God for the glory He is robbed of. The " A.M.D.G." of S. Ignatius.f iv. So increase daily your merit for eternity. * When others were saying what they would forthwith begin to do, if they knew that they should die within an hour, S. Charles Borromeo said he should go on with a game of chess he was engaged in, for he began it simply for God's glory, and he desired nothing better than to be called away in the midst of an action begun for the glory of God. — Faber. t To excite himself and his disciples to do all for God, S. Ignatius ever kept before him the words: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam— the motto now of the Society of Jesus. 56 SERMON PLANS 28. MUSIC IN THE CHURCH. " In hymns and spiritual canticles, singing ... to God." Col. iii. i&. i. The fine arts thrive best as handmaids of Religion. ii. Among them all, the Church especially interests herself in Music. iii. The voice of Praise, the earth's answer to its Maker's word of Creation. Music (Vocal and Instrumental) : i. Always, and everywhere part of Divine Worship. Expressing gratitude, joy, sorrow, etc. ii. Common among the Hebrews : e.g. The Canticle of Moses, the oldest recorded. Ex. xv. Especially David's psalms, called the " Book of Praise." Choirs of Levites in the Tabernacle : i Par. xxiii. 5» Dedication of the Temple : 2 Par. vii. 6. Harps, cymbals and trumpets : i Par. xiii. 8. iii. The Christian religion has always used Music : e.g. The Introit, Kyrie, etc., in the Liturgy. Vespers, Benediction, etc. a. As authorized by Our Lord. Angels sang at His birth : Lke. ii. 14. " Hosanna," on His entry into Jerusalem: Jn. xii. 13. He rebuked the Pharisees for condemning this: Mth. xxi. 16. I. Recommended by the Apostle : S. Paul to the Ephesians, v. 19: to the Colossians, iii. 16. S. John's vision of Heaven : Apoc. v. 9. iv. The Church has a style of Music her own : As shown by many decrees and regulations. a. Plain Chant, parts coming down from the days of the Temple. ON THE EPISTLES 57 b. Chorale Style, after the Palestrina school, 16 c. c. Figured music tolerated, if grave and devotionaL S.Cecily, Patroness of Church Music: Nov.22. V. Objects of using music in Church Services : a. To give glory to God. b. To give edification to our neighbour. Experience of S. Augustine.'''' c. To devote all our talents to the service of Hirrj who gave them, vi. All should take part, if possible, in the singing in Church. a. God's praise and love must of course come from the heart. But, b. Our voices are from God, therefore use them to His glory. c. He requires the homage of the whole man, body and soul. d. Hence prayer in song the best form of praise. Qui bene cantat bis orat. e. Congregational singing much to be desired : 1. Expressing spiritual joy of the hearts of the Faithful. 2. Exciting to fervour and devotion. /. Even if we understand not the words, we know their object. A statue gives honour to God's house. Lessons : i. Join in the public singing and prayers of the Church, ii. Consider it a privilege to take a share in the services, iii. Exert your influence in favour of true ecclesiastical music. " Psallite sapienter." Ps. xlvi. 8. * " What tears did I shed, under the powerful emotion caused by listening in Thy Church to the hymns and canticles sung to the glory of Thy name ! While these sounds struck my ears, Thy Truth flowed into my heart, exciting within me the deepest piety." — Confess, ix. 58 SERMON PLANS 29. PRAYER FOR EACH OTHER. "Making a remembrance of you in our prayers." i Thess. i. 2. i. The Apostle here gives us the example of thoughtful charity. ii. Consider this practice of praying for each other. We are all brethren : i. All children of the same Father. ii. Hence the wants of others should be to us as our own. When one member of our body suffers, all suffer, iii. In the epistles, the Faithful are styled *' Brethren." iv. We should help each other as members of the same family. This especially by prayer. Prayer for others: i. Recommended a. By Our Lord's own words. " Our Father," (not " my ") : Mth. vi. 9. h. By the Apostle : " Pray one for another : " Jas. v. j6. c. By the practice of the Church : " Pray for us," (plural) in the Litanies, ii. Avails more than prayer for ourselves only. Because thus accompanied by charity for others, iii. This intercessory prayer a. Tends to advance the glory of God. b. Brings many graces to souls. iv. Persons for whom we should pray : a. Those in sin, or outside the Church. Practice of S. Teresa.* ON THE EPISTLES 59 b. Those in lukewarmness or tepidity. c. Those in sorrow, spiritual or temporal. d. The sick and the dying. How much depends on the hour of death I e. Our relations, friends, and benefactors. /. Even our enemies : Mth. v. 44. V. Founded on the dogma of the Communion of Saints. Hereby the Faithful may assist each other by prayer and good works. Examples; Job prayed for his friends : Job xlii. 8. Judith, asking for prayers: Jud. viii. 31, Jeremiah, for Israel: Jer. xiv. 11. The Church, for S. Peter : Acts xii. 5. S. Paul asks for prayers : Rom. xv. 30. Our Lord, for His disciples : Jn. xvii. 1 1. Also for His enemies : Lke. xxiii. 34. S. Stephen, for Saul : Acts vii. 59. Lessons : i. Imitate this practice of the Apostle, ii. Hesitate not to ask for prayers. iii. When promising prayers to others, don't fail to say them. * S. Teresa gives this as a reason for founding her convents that, as there are so many that offend God, nuns ought to pray for their conversion, especially for the defenders of the Church, for preachers and learned men who maintain its truth. She spent whole nights praying and weeping for the conversion of souls, especially those infected with heresy. — Faber. 6o SERMON PLANS 30. THE PRESENCE OF GOD. "Before God and our Father." i Thess. i. 3. i. S. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of their work " before God," i.e. of their work as done in God's presence, ii. Take occasion to consider the practice of the presence of God. Motives ; i. Equity: a. We must not forget a friend. ** Forget not thy friend in thy mind." Ecdus. xxxvii. 6, b. Still less, God to whom we owe so much, Jas. i. 17. ii. Examples of the Saints of all ages : Henoch walked with God : Gen. v. 24. Noah, in like manner : Gen. vi. g. Abraham and Isaac: Gen. xlviii. 15. The Patriarchs ever spoke of God. " Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Mth. xii. 34. Saints of the New Law, as seen in their lives and writings. iii. A restraint in temptation : a. Impossible to commit grievous sin, if we remember God's presence, 1. Who sees our every action and thought. 2. Who holds in His hand the thread of our lives. 3. Who has powertocastus into Hell: Lke. xii.5. No one would dare to break the law under the very eyes of his King ! ON THE EPISTLES 6i b. How should we act in presence of some great one of the earth ? Even the pagan Seneca recognized the force of this thought. c. If God manifested Himself visibly, who would dare to resist ? d. Yet Faith should remind us of His real presence, though invisible, and so restrain passion. Joseph under temptation : Gen. xxxix. g. Conversion of S. Thais : Oct. 8. iv. Powerful incentive to virtue.* " Walk before Me and be perfect." Gen. xvii. i. a. God sees also and will reward our good works. The cup of cold water : Mth. x. 42. b. Such thought encourages to do good. c. Especially helpful in prayer, against distraction. V. A great comfort in affliction. a. God watches our combats with evil. S. Antony amid temptation : Jan. 17. b. He beholds our sufferings and trials. Job and his many crosses. c. If borne for God, these too become meritorious. d. God seeing us thus, tempers the trial : i Cor. x. 13. Lessons : i. Exercise the presence of God, by a. Remembrance of Bethlehem, or Calvary, or the Blessed Sacrament, etc. b. Lively faith in His real presence around us. Especially in temptation and trial, ii. Make occasional use of pious ejaculations, iii. Morning offering of all to God. iv. Have some special occasions for thinking of His presence, each day. * No building can be raised to any great height, unless it rest on a solid foundation. In like manner, the practice of Perfection can never rise to any high degree, except it be based on the ground- work of the Divine Presence, ever borne in mind. — Saint Jure. 6a SERMON PLANS 31. GOD'S FAVOURS TO HIS PEOPLE. i. The epistle names some of God's mercies to His people. ii. These typical of His mercies to us. Our fathers were all under the cloud : i. The cloud spoken of in Exodus xiii. ii. A cloud by day, against the sun's rays in the desert. iii. A pillar of fire by night, to give light. iv. For forty years it went before the Jews as their guide. An angel in charge of it, to direct its movements. V. Leaving Egypt under its guidance, the Jews reached the sea. All passed through the sea : i. The N.W. arm of the Red Sea. ii. The cloud standing between the Jews and the Egyptians. To the former a light ; to the latter, darkness. iii. Moses stretched his rod over the sea, and the waters divided. iv. The Hebrews crossed safely during the night. V. In the morning, the Egyptians seeing this, followed ; but, vi. The waters closed in, and not one of them escaped, vii. Canticle of Moses, the most ancient recorded : Ex. xv. All were baptized in the cloud and the sea : L The cloud, type of the Holy Ghost. a. The light of God to our path, as the cloud was to the Jews. b. The love of God, cooling our passions, as the cloud did the sun's rays. ii. Passage of the Red Sea, type of Baptism, in which a. Our souls are reddened in the Blood of Our Redeemer. ON THE EPISTLES 63 b. Concupiscence and passion are cooled down. c. Moses is type of Our Lord, the leader of His people. d. The rod a type of the Cross. e. Pharao and his Egyptians, type of the Devil and his angels. /. Israel represents those who receive Baptism. All received the same spiritual food and drink : i. Good and bad fed on the manna. Type of the Holy Eucharist, our spiritual food, ii. Good and bad drank the water from the rock. Type of the Precious Blood, quenching passion and sin. iii. The spiritual (typical) rock is Christ Our Lord.''^ With most of them God not well pleased : i. In spite of such mercies, the Jews often rebelled. ii. Hence God was not pleased with them : a. Only two of their great number reached Cana : Numb. xiv. 30. b. The carcases of the rest were strewn in the wilderness : Numb. xiv. 29. iii. Lessons for ourselves. a. God bestows many blessings on us of every kind. But we must not presume on His favours of the past. b. Let us be grateful, and order our lives accord- ingly. c. Especial care due to the Bl. Eucharist, to be received shortly. d. Otherwise we may commit sacrilege and perish. Being excluded from the true land of Cana Heaven. * A Jewish tradition says that the rock struck by Moses miraculously followed the Hebrews and wandered about with them, supplying them with water for their daily wants, till they reached the Promised Land. Numb, xxi. 16. «4 SERMON PLANS 32. THE THREE ENEMIES OF THE SOUL. i. S. Paul reminds the Corinthians of their famous pubHc games. Most expressive to them of the value of a prize. ii. From this idea he exhorts them to strive for the eternal prize, iii. We also have to struggle and fight : our chief enemies are three, viz. : I. The Devil: i. Created in innocence, but subjected to a trial. ii. Fall of one-third of the Angels, and their punishment: 2 Pet. ii. 4. iii. Now suffering the pain of loss and fire, for ever, iv. Occupied a. In cursing and blaspheming God. b. In tempting men to sin, 1. Through hatred of God. 2. Through envy of man. 3. Through enmity to all that is good. c. In accusing souls before the Judgment Seat. T. They tempt unceasingly to all and every sin. a. Those especially who are aiming at perfection. b. According to the inclinations of each one tempted. c. With the cunning and experience of long ages, vi. To be resisted by prayer, and the sign of the Cross. II. The World: i.e. i. The maxims of the world : e.g. a. Earthly pleasure man's true happiness. b. Wealth to be got at any price. c. Injuries to be returned. d. Poverty to be despised. ON THE EPISTLES 65 ii. Society of those who love vanities, riches and pleasures more than God. iii. Maxims which are false and opposed to those of the Gospel. iv. To be overcome by contempt for worldly custom, by moral courage. III. The Flesh: i. Our own bodies and the senses, ii. Hankering after ease and forbidden pleasures, iii. Corrupt from the time of Adam's fall, iv. Most dangerous, because a. Always with us. b. Alluring most powerfully to sin. V. Yet we must not be discouraged, for a. Such temptations may result merely from past sin. b. If borne in patience, they atone for sin. c. They are perhaps the punishment of our pride. d. Many Saints have been assaulted by them. S. Paul : 2 Cjr. xii. 7. S. Mary of Egypt : Apl. g. S. Jerome: Sept. 30. S. Francis of Assisi : Oct. 4. vi. To be subdued by mortification and penance. Lessons : i. Know well the enemies of the soul ; then, ii. To overcome them, a. Watch against occasions of sin. b. Pray for God's aid and strength. c. Fight by positive efforts at resistance. iii. " So run that you may obtain." €6 SERMON PLANS 33. SCANDAL. " Who is scandalized and I am not on fire ? " 2 Cor. xi. 29. i. To take the bodily life of another is a crime crying vengeance, ii. To destroy the spiritual life of the soul, a more grievous crime. For the soul is more precious than the body, iii. Well may the Apostle display his anguish at the thought of scandal, iv. Yet scandal is a most common sin, worthy of serious consideration. Scandal : i. Any word, deed or omission, calculated to lead others to sin. ii. Most sinful, because of our proneness to imitate evil, iii. They are guilty of scandal, who a. Counsel evil, or provoke to it : e.g. Anger through raillery ; or theft, etc. b. Teach or suggest evil : e.g. By indecent dress, act or language. c. Ridicule piety and virtue in others ; Which advances the reign of wickedness. d. Give bad example to those under their charge : Parents, by cursing, quarrelling, etc. iv. The grievousness of scandal seen thus : a. It does the work of Satan, who tries to ruin souls. h. It undoes the work of Christ, who came to save them. c. It contains a two-fold guilt : viz. against 1. The love we owe to God and our neighbour. 2. The virtue violated, or likely to be. ON THE EPISTLES 67 d. Its effects may extend to all time, as ripples spread on the water. Examples of Luther, Henry VIII. Irreligious and immoral writings. e. Hear the curses uttered against it : "Wo to that man by whom the scandal cometh." Mth. xviii. 7. "Wo to you . . . because you shut the kingdom of Heaven." 3. xxiii. 13. V. Nothing causes greater fear in death than the thought of scandal given. Berengarius."^ Yet how common in the world, in various forms ! Reparation of Scandal : i. As necessary, where possible, as in the case of injustice. ii. Often most difl&cult, as the evil can seldom be reached, iii. Yet something may and must be done : e.g. a. Retractation of the evil committed. b. Good example for the future. Mth. v. 16. c. Prayer for the scandalized ; and d. Penance and self-denial, to appease God's anger. Lessons: i. Try to realize the terrible nature of Scandal ! ii. Know that it may be given by the open neglect of Religion: e.g. Omission of Sunday Mass, Easter Communion, iii. Make what reparation you can for the past. iv. Avoid it now, for the future : our own sins are enough for us ; and, V. Pray for the success of Our Lord's work in souls. * Berengarius, in the xith c. denied the Real Presence and brought many others into his error. On his death -bed, he was seized with a great fear. " I am about to appear," he exclaimed, " before the judgment seat of Christ : for my own sins I hope for pardon : but for the sins I have made others commit, I have the greatest fear : I tremble lest I be lost, for I know not how to repair the evil I have done." — Power. 68 SERMON PLANS 34. JOY IN TRIBULATION. " Gladly will I glory in my infirmity." 2 Cor. xii. 9. i. These the words of S. Paul, after relating his trials and God's promise of grace, ii. We also should endeavour to rejoice in trials, iii. Two kinds call for consideration. I. Spiritual Trials : e.g. temptations : i.g, i. Whatever may lead us to offend God. ii. Not sinful in themselves, but only when consented to. Our Lord Himself was tempted : Mth. iv. iii. Of various kinds : viz. from the Devil, the World, the Flesh, iv. Serve many good purposes : e.g. a. To keep us humble. *' Lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me." 2 Cor. xii. 7. b. To show our weakness and the power of grace. " What doth he know that hath not been tried." Ecclus. xxxiv. 9. c. To enrich us: every temptation overcome means fresh merit. Saints have prayed for temptations and grace to bear them. d. To atone for past sin, from which they sometimes spring. An encouragement to bear them. V. Thus, though a trial, they must not depress or discourage. '* Count it all joy when you shall fall into divers temptations." Jas. i. 2. Because of the good they may do you. " Blessed is the man that endureth temptation." Jas. i. 12. ON THE EPISTLES 69 II. Temporal Trials : e.g. i. Sickness and Suffering : a. Robust health not always the best thing for holiness. S.Teresa: Oct. 15.* b. The soul often stronger and more detached in weak health. C, God's power made perfect in our infirmities, by His grace enabling us to bear them. Job, in his many trials. S. Lidwina, in sickness for 38 years. Apl. 14. ii. Our daily toil : a. We all have something to bear. Rich and poor alike ; high and low. b. Each one has duties to fulfil and corresponding difficulties. c. Here also God's Grace will strengthen and assist us. d. No state of life in which God's power may not shine forth : e.g. Kings : S. Louis, Aug. 25 : S. Edward, Oct. 13. Servants : S. Zita, Apl. 27. Soldiers : S. George, Apl. 23 : S. Maurice, Sept. 22. High Bafik : S. Jane de Chantal. Aug. 21. e. Perfection consists in doing our ordinary actions extraordinarily well, iii. Similarly, other trials: e.g. loss of fame, wealth, friends, etc. Rejoice and be glad in their midst, like the Apostle. Lessons : i. As trials are the lot of each one, bear them cheerfully. a. So to sanctify them and render them meritorious. b. So to lighten their weight. ii. Grace will enable us to bear them all. iii. Grace given to those who rightly seek it. * S. Teresa had a great desire to die, that she might be speedily united to God, but this her desire was tempered by an ardent longing to suffer for His love. Her prayer was: "To die or to suffer : I beg no other thing for myself." Her request was granted, and by years of patient suffering in mind and body, she rose to great heights of sanctity. — Her Life. 76 SERMON PLANS 35. THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. "Faith, Hope, Charity." i Cor. xiii. 13. i. These the three theological virtues. ii. The greatest of these is Charity ; for, in Heaven, a. Faith will be exchanged for vision. b. Hope, for fruition and possession ; but, c. Chanty shall remain for ever, iii. Consider now the first two of these. Theological Virtues: i. So called (from the Greek), because relating imme- diately to God. ii. Placed at the head of the virtues, as the noblest of all. iii. Infused into the soul in Baptism. iv. Strengthened by the worthy reception of other Sacraments. 'V. Excel all other virtues, which must find their root herein. vi. Acts of these virtues should be made, e.g, a. When we come to the use of reason. b. Frequently in life. c. In temptations against them. d. In the hour of danger and death. Faith : i. Supernatural belief in God and His revealed truth, ii. Absolutely necessary for salvation. *' He that believeth not shall be condemned." Mrk. xvi. 16. *' Without faith it is impossible to please God." Heb. xi. 6. iii. Lost by apostasy, heresy and wilful doubts. Oftentimes not regained. ON THE EPISTLES 71 iv. Exercised by a. Formal acts of the virtue. b. Acts of Religion : e.g. attendance at Church. c. Open profession of it : e.g. observance of fast-days. V. Effects of Faith : a. It is a foundation of the other virtues. b. It gives merit to our good deeds. c. It is the source of our victory over the world. I Jn. V. 4. vi. Examples: Abraham, sacrificing his son : Gen. xxii. 8. The Martyrs, dying rather than deny it. The Confessors, suffering for professing it. Hope: i. Supernatural confidence that God will give us salvation and all means necessary to it. ii. Necessary for salvation : *' Without Me you can do nothing." Jn, xv. 5. "We are saved by hope." Rom. viii. 24. iii. Lost by grievous sins of presumption and despair. iv. Exercised by : a. Formal acts of the virtue. b. Prayer and petition. c. Courage and patience in trial. V. Effects of Hope : a. Resolution in the service of God. b. Triumph over temptation and difficulty. c. Peace of mind in trouble and pain. vi. Examples: Job, in his trials : Job xiii. 15. David, throughout the psalms. The woman, touching Our Lord's garment. Mth. ix. 21. Resolution to exercise these virtues, as necessity may require. 7^ SERMON PLAN^ 36. CHARITY. "The greatest of these is Charity." i Cor. xiii. 13. i. The whole of to-day's Epistle sings the praises of Charity. ii. Its excellence is established on the ground of a. Its necessity for salvation : (verses i, 2, 3). b. Its utility: (4 — 7), and c. Its perpetuity even throughout eternity : (8 — 13). iii. Study this "Queen of Virtues," in its two-fold branch: viz. I. Charity towards God : i. Supernatural love of God above all things. ii. Essential to salvation. " If I have not charity, it profit eth me nothing." i Cor. xiii. 3. iii. Lost by any grievous sin, but especially by hatred of • God. iv. Exercised and shown by : a. Formal acts of the virtue. b. Observance of God's commandments: Jn.xiv. 15. c. Obedience to the laws of the Church: Lke. x. 16. d. Frequent thought of God: Mth. vi. 21. e. Willingly speaking of Him : Lke. vi. 45. /. Opening the heart to Him : Judg. xvi. 15. g. Doing His will : Jn. xiv. 31. h. Repentance for sin. v. Effects : a. Zeal for God's honour and glory. b. Sorrow for sin. c. Esteem of grace. d. Joy, strength and merit. ON THE EPISTLES 73 vi. Examples : Abraham, offering his son : Gen. xxii. Joseph, preferring prison to sin : Ibid, xxxix. The three children, refusing to adore idols : Dan. iii. Susanna, in temptation : Ibid. xiii. Magdalen's repentance : Lke. vii. 47. II. Charity towards man : i. Love of our neighbour in and for God. ii. As necessary as love of God. "Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself." Mth. xxii. 39. *• I command you, that you love one another." Jn. xv. 17. iii. Lost by grievous sins of hatred, envy, injustice, etc. iv. Shown by : a. Exercise of the works of mercy. b. Congratulation, or sympathy, with others. c. Willingness to oblige. d. Repression of rancour, ill-feeling, etc. V. Examples: Abraham and Lot : Gen. xiii. David, fighting for his people : i Kgs. xvii. 36. Judith, before Holophernes : Jud. xiii. Esther, interceding for her people : Esth. vii. Mary, visiting S. Elizabeth : Lke. i. 39. S. Martin, ready to live and labour : Nov. 11. Lessons : i. Observe this beautiful law of Charity. *' There are two precepts, but only one Charity." S. Aug. ii. It is a matter, not of counsel but, of strict obligation, iii. Salvation depends on the observance of it in its two- fold form. SERMON PLANS 37. ABUSE OF GRACE. "Receive not the grace of God in vain." 2 Cor vi. i. i. Words appropriate to the time of Lent, " an accept- able time." ii. They should lead us to spend it in the right spirit. Actual graces : i. Transient divine influences, enabling us to avoid evil and do good. ii. Of two kinds : a. Exterior : e.g. a mission, good example, sermons : Nathan, in regard to David : 2 Kgs. xii. 7. Jonas, as to the Ninevites : Jon. iii. h. Interior: e.g. inspirations of the Holy Ghost, • remorse, iii. Of these we have all received in abundance : e.g. Calls of the priest. Warnings of sickness or misfortune. This Lent, a further grace. iv. What profit have we drawn from them ? a. Have we improved ? h. Are we resolved on a better future ? V. God has numbered the graces of each one. "Thou hast ordered all things in measure and number and weight." Wisd. xi. 21. a. He numbers the flowers, the insects, the births of men, etc. b. So also His graces, to some more, to others less. To all suflicient, and in all justice, vi. Hence the need of the warning given in the text. ON THE EPISTLES 75 Abuse of grace : i. Many neglect the graces offered them : e.g. They heed not the voice of the priest.* They seize not the occasions of mercy : e.g. Lent. They stifle the voice of conscience. ii. A time comes when God will give no more. Pharao, after repeated warnings, was ruined, iii. Threats of God against this abuse : The ungrateful guest : Mth. xxii. 13. The barren fig-tree : Lke. xiii. 7. Jerusalem : Lke. xix. 44. iv. Let us then beware. a. This Lent will be the last for thousands. b. To all it is a time of grace ; therefore, "Harden not your hearts." Ps. xciv. 8. V. Abuse of grace hardens the heart. a. Grace makes no further impression. b. Further graces are withheld ; then c. Final impenitence follows, and eternal loss. Lessons : i. Pray God to impress upon you the value of grace, ii. Resolve to spend Lent well : so, a. To repair the past ; and b. To guard against future relapse. iii. Profit by this time of grace, and deserve others. These will lead to final perseverance and eternal salvation. * During a mission given in a large town of the north of England, one great sinner was repeatedly urged to attend it, and make his peace with God — one more grace offered to him. Despite all entreaties, however, he refused and never went near. Only a fortnight after the mission was ended, he took very suddenly ill, and sent for the priest. The latter hastened to the house with all speed, but only to find, on his arrival, that the unhappy man had already breathed his last ! SERMON PLANS 38. THE ACCEPTABLE TIME. •• Behold now is the acceptable time." 2 Cor. vi. 2. Now the acceptable time ; i. The present moment: but when will men under- stand ? ii. They put off their conversion to God, a. Thinking some future day more befitting. Yet St. Paul distinctly says " now." b. Thinking conversion will be easier. 1. Yet the older the tree, the deeper its roots. 2. So also with our passions. c. Presuming on the mercy of God. But He has not promised mercy to the presumptuous, iii. Danger of delay. a. When grace calls, then is the acceptable time. b. It is often given only for a moment, and must then be seized. ^, If not accepted, it is lost, and another may not be given. Death in the Hospital.* d. Hence the warning — not to receive it in vain. iv. Therefore delay not. a. The present is all we can call our own. b. Death-bed repentance is seldom sincere. Lent an acceptable time: i. God, however, chooses certain times, as seasons of special grace, ii. Lent is one of them, in which conversion is easier: a. In the springtime, when all things revive. A time for fresh beginnings on our part. ON THE EPISTLES 77 b. Special graces given to the united penance and prayer of the whole Church. c. Special invitation to repentance, through the command to receive the Sacraments. d. Often special services and instructions. iii. A time for penance and repentance. iv. Christian penance means, broadly, repentance for sin. a. Internal: 1. Detestation of sin in the past. 2. Resolution against future relapse. 3. Conversion of the heart to God, as with the Prodigal. b. External : 1. Watchings, fastings, daily toil. 2. Sickness and suffering, anxieties. V. Penance necessary to all : Lke. xiii. 3. a. No sinner ever entered Heaven, except through penance. b. The lost in Hell are there through lack of it. c. Thus the sinner must choose between repent- ance and damnation, vi. Because of its special helps, Lent truly an " accept- able time." Lessons : i. Resolve to utilize this holy Season. a. Practices of prayer, fasting, almsdeeds. b. Attendance at services and instructions. c. Worthy reception of the Sacraments. ii. Do not risk salvation, through delay of repentance. This may be the last offer of divine mercy ! * A priest, visiting one day the wards of a hospital, came across a patient for the first time who was evidently seriously ill; he admitted having neglected all religion for over 30 years, yet persistently refused to make his confession ; after repeated endeavours to this end, the priest at last had to leave : but an hour later, that man was dead, and had answered to God for that neglected grace I 78 SERMON PLANS 39. SANCTIFICATION OF THE SOUL. " This is the will of God — your sanctification." i Thess. iv. 3. i. The whole duty of man is to do God's will, ii. God's will is that we sanctify and save our souls, iii. See some motives and means of doing this. Motives for Sanctification: i. The fact of our Creation imposes this duty on us. a. The very object of our existence is that we may attain to God. b. God, as our Creator, demands sanctity of us : *' Be ye holy, because I . . . am holy." Lev. xix. 2, ii. Our Redemption requires it. a. Our Lord came from Heaven to secure salvation. b. He delivered Himself for the Church, that He might sanctify it : Eph. v. 26. c. He calls us to perfection : "Be you perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Mth. V. 48. d. To aid us herein, He has given us 1. His own example to copy. 2. The Sacraments, as channels of His grace. Especially those of Penance and Holy Eucharist. 3. The Sacrifice of the Mass. 4. His Church, with all its varied helps, iii. Our future Glorification presupposes it : a. The promise made to Abraham holds for us. "Be perfect ... I am thy reward exceeding great.'* Gen. xvii. I : xv. i. b. The greater our perfection here, the greater our glory hereafter. c. The Saints appreciated this truth : hence their strenuous efforts at sanctifying their souls. ON THE EPISTLES 79 Means to Sanctincation : i. To desire it ardently : a. We never attain to,a thing, unless we desire it. b. It is the hungry that God fills with good things: Lke. i. 53 : Mth. v. 6. ii. To seek it earnestly : a. Acting like the man finding the pearl: Mth. xiii. 46. b. Taking practical steps about it, e.g. 1. Fervent prayer: Wisd. vii. 7. 2. Spiritual Reading : Conversion of S. Ignatius : Jly. 31, Conversion of S. Augustine : Aug. 28. 3. Study the example of the Saints.* "What these have done, canst thou not doj my soul?" S. Avg. iii. To persevere in pursuit of it : a. When a man has found a mine, he does not then cease to labour. b. S. Paul thought not of the past, but stretched forth to the future: Phil. iii. 13. c. Not to go on is to lose ground. Like the boat on the rapid stream. Lessons ; i. Consider well the absolute necessity of salvation, ii. Naught else avails without it : Mth. xvi. 26. iii. To secure salvation hereafter, sanctification is neces- sary now. iv. Practical thoughts on this, during Lent. * Noah, on the testimony of the Scripture itself, was a just and perfect man, and therefore found grace before the Lord : Gen. vi. 9 — David was declared to be a man according to God's own heart : Acts xiii. 22— So great was the veneration of S. Francis Xavier for S. Ignatius, that he always wrote to him kneeling — S. Francis himself was so greatly esteemed for his sanctity of life, that imme- diately after death he was looked upon as a Saint, by Christians and Pagans alike. 8o SERMON PLANS 40. IMPURITY. " God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification," I Thess. iv. 7. i. Impurity the ruin of innumerable souls, ii. As common now as in the days of the Apostle, iii. Therefore, like him, the priest too must raise a warning voice. Impurity : i. Criminal affection for the pleasures of the flesh. Whether in thought, or word, or deed. ii. Directly opposed to the sanctity of God, hence so hateful to Him. The Deluge : Gen. vii. Destruction of Sodom : Gen. x.ix. Death of Onan : Gen. xxxviii. 10. iii. Opposed to holy purity, so dear to Jesus, who a. Chose a Virgin Mother : Lke. i. 27. b. Loved a Virgin disciple : Jn. xiii. 23. c. Is followed by Virgins in Heaven : Apoc. xiv. 4. iv. Always a mortal sin, when consented to. "They who do such things shall not obtain the Kingdom of God." Gal. V. 21. "Shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire." Apoc. xxi. 8. V. Effects: a. Blindness in the Intellect to the truths of God. b. Hardness of Heart against grace. c. Weakness of the Will in temptation. d. Sacrilegious Confessions and Communions. e. Ruin of bodily health and strength. A doctor's opinion.''' /. Domestic unhappiness. ON THE EPISTLES 8 J g. Cause of other sins : e.g. Of murder, in David : 2 Kgs. ix. 15 — In Herod; Mth. xiv. 10. Of Idolatry, in Solomon : 3 Kgs. xi. 5. h. Despair and final impenitence, vi. Remedies : a. Flight from occasions of every kind. ** In this warfare, cowards win the day." S. Philip. b. Resist with vigour the first attacks of tempta- tion.! c. Prayer and frequentation of the Sacraments. d. Mortification and bodily penance. . e. Occupation of mind and body. /. Practice of the presence of God. g. Humility and self-distrust. h. Great devotion to Mary, " Queen of Virgins." Lessons : i. Conceive a love of holy purity. "O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory." Wisd. iv. I. ii. Conceive a horror of the opposite vice. iii. Avoid the causes of it : e.g. a. Idleness. b. Excess in food and drink. c. Bad books and companions. * A medical man of renown, in a large industrial centre, one day maintained that one of the most destructive battles cf Napoleon, frequently repeated in that town, would not destroy as many victims as did debauchery and sin. — Franco. f S. Benedict one day rolled himself among briars and thorns, to repel and overcome an impure temptation — For the same purpose, S.Bernard plunged into a pool of water, in the depth of winter — This was real resistance to evil. 82 SERMON PLANS 4L COVETOUSNESS. "No covetous person hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. Eph. V. 5. i. S. Paul calls avarice a serving of idols, ii. Too many nowadays make this their God. iii. Hence the importance of the subject. Covetousness, or Avarice : i. An excessive love of the goods we possess or wish to possess, ii. Poor as well as rich may be guilty of it. iii. Increases, the more it is gratified : in old age especially. Making men wretchedly poor in the midst of plenty. iv. Displays itself in a. Hardness of heart to the poor, even to relations. h. Niggardliness to one's self. c. Indifference to all good works. d. Hoarding up money. e. Paying debts begrudgingly. f. Uneasiness at even trifling losses. v. Of its nature a grievous sin ; for, "No covetous person hath inheritance in the kingdom of God." Eph. V. 5. vi. One of the capital sins, and cause of a. Fraud, theft and injustice. b. False oaths. c. Meanness and treachery. d. Oppression of others {e.g. sweating). e. Worry and anxiety. /. Even murder. ON THE EPISTLES 83 vii. Examples: Achab, coveting Naboth's vineyard : 3 Kgs. xxi. Judas, selling our Lord : Mth. xxvi. x\nanias and Saphira : Acts v. A miser buried alive.* viii. Remedies : a. Liberality to the Church and the poor, espe- cially in Lent. b. Consideration of 1. The vanity of things that pass. 2. The shortness of life. 3. The evils of covetousness. c. Study of the first Beatitude : " Blessed are the poor in spirit." Mth. r. 3. Lessons : i. Think over these points and guard against all form? of avarice. ii. Confidence in God's Providence, along with reason- able care. iii. Teach children generosity, and train them a. To share pleasures with companions, and b. Their pence with the poor. iv. Lent is a time for almsgiving. v. Follow the advice of the Gospel : *' Lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven." Mth. vi. 20. • It is related that a miser once had a subterranean cellar made, with an iron door so cleverly concealed that no one could notice it. Thither he used to retire to contemplate his gold and silver, of which he made his god. One day he forgot to take his key with him, and as the door did not open from within, he was unable to get out, unable even to appeal for help. The missing man was long looked for, when a locksmith remembered making him a special safe, and made the case known. The place was broken into, and there lay the miser's body, all putrified and eaten with worms. — Baudrajid. SERMON PLANS 42. DELUSIONS ABOUT REPENTANCE. " Walk as children of the light." Eph. v. 8. i. Our Lord is the true light of the world : Jn. i. 9. ii. Sinners love darkness rather than the light: Jn. iii. 19. iii. See some of the delusions which mislead them : First Delusion : God will easily forgive me. i. Truly, God's mercies are above all His works: Ps. cxliv. 9. a. He freely pardons the repenting sinner. h. Pie restores him His grace and friendship. c. He continues to shower down many blessings. ii. But He does not promise grace to those who abuse it. "Then shall they call upon Me and I will not hear." Prov. i. 28. "The hope of the wicked shall perish." Prov. x. 28. "God is not mocked." Gal. vi. 7. iii. No greater folly therefore, than to offend God, because He is merciful. a. You don't throw money into the river, because you may get it again. h. Why plunge the soul into sin, hoping for an uncertain repentance, iv. Repentance is God's gift, which may be refused. Second Delusion : Repentance will be easier later on. i. A fatal error, opposed even to common sense. a. A young tree is easily uprooted ; not so an old one. h. So, temptations yielded to grow stronger as time passes : Jer. xiii. 23. ii. A later day may never be ours : Prov. xxvii. i : Mth. XXV. 13. a. Death often takes men suddenly : 1. How many sudden deaths come under our own notice ? 2. Youth and health are no proof against his calls, ON THE EPISTLES 85 b. Why may not this happen any day to ourselves ? c. How criminal to risk salvation on an uncertain future ! iii. God forbids such delay. " Defer it not from day to day." Ecclus. v. 8. " Tarry not in the error of the ungodl}'," Ecchis. xvii. 26. iv. To listen to such delusion has been fatal to many. Death in the hospital. (Ex. p. 75). V. On the contrary, the present is " the acceptable time." 2 Cor vi. 2. a. God is willing to pardon us noziJ, if we repent: 2 Par. XXX. 9. b. Grace is not refused to those who ask aright : Mth. vii. 7. vi. In any case, death-bed repentance is always uncertain, often insincere. Third Delusion ; God will bear with me. i. Thus the devil lulls the conscience of the sinner. But the Holy Ghost warns us against such pre- sumption: Ecclus. V. ii. God numbers the sins He will pardon to each one. As He numbers' the flowers and insects on the earth, lii. When that number is reached, He will at length chasLise. The longer the delay, the more terrible the punish- ment. King Antiochus : 2 Mach. ix. iv. One more sin may fill up the cup of your iniquity. *' Evil-doers shall be cut off." Ps. xxxvi. 9. '* I will repay them in due time." Deut. xxxii. 35, V. How terrible to fall into the hands of the living God ! Heb. X. 31. Lessons : i. Ponder well such important truths, this holy season. ii. Resolve to 1 enounce sin now, the time of mercy, iii. Delay in repentance may bring you God's vengeance 1 Gen. xix. 15. iv. Fulfil, therefore, worthily the Easter precept. 86 3MRM0N PLANS 43. THE EPISTLE. i. Though not so from the beginning, custom permitted more than one wife. a. Partly, the patriarchs were not content with one only. b. Partly, this promoted increase in Israel. ii. Abraham had two wives, of which the epistle speaks, iii. Study this difficult passage, which is allegorical. Abraham had two sons: i. Ismael, by a bondwoman, Agar : According to the flesh, in the ordinary course of nature. ii. IsaaCj by a freewoman, Sara. Through the promise made to Abraham: Gen. xvii. ig. These (Agar and Sara) are the two testaments: i. The Old Testament of Mt. Sina, represented by Agar, a slave. a» Sina, a barren, rugged mountain of Arabia. b. Law engendering unto bondage. Children of slaves were themselves slaves. c. Slaves living under the law of fear. Fear of temporal evils and punishments. d. Herefrom a numerous people sprang up : Gen. xvii. 20: xxi. 13. ii. The New Testament, promulgated in Jerusalem, typified by Sara. a. Sara, aged and barren, when God made His promise. b. The New Law is the law of grace and love. c. The Church teaches the highest and purest motives of action. d. The Church has flourished and spread. Hence: " Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not." Is. liv. i. i. Words prophetic of the Church in the New Law. ii. During the early persecutions, unable to increase and multiply. OM THE EPISTLES 87 iii. Yet even then Christians were found in the Imperial palace, iv. " i lie blood of Martyrs is the seed of Christians." l^ertnllian. V. Compared with the Synagogue, the Church has been fruitful indeed. We, as Isaac, children of promise : i. Isaac, promised to Abraham and Sara in old age: Gen. xvii. 19. a, Ismael, the elder brother, hated and perse- cuted him. h. Though probably reconciled on the death of their father : Gen. xxv. 9. ii. We also are the children of promise. We inherit the promises and graces of the New Law. a. Jews and others have ever persecuted the Church. h. Possibly they may be reconciled at the end of time: Jer. xxxi. 31 : Dan. xii. i. One of the signs of the approach of the last day. What saith the Scripture? i. Ismael and Agar cast forth from the house of Abraham : Gen. xxi. 10. a. The Jews and their Synagogue rejected in the New Law. ii. Ismael excluded by law from the inheritance which fell to Isaac, i. The Jews deprived of the inheritance of the Church. iii. Isaac, son of the free woman, Sara. c. We are children of the freedom acquired by Christ, iv. The service of the Old Law 1. P'orced men to obey through fear, and 2. Imposed ceremonies and laws in them- selves useless to salvation. d. The liberty of the New Law 1. Leads us to serve God in spirit and truth and love. 2. With sacraments and ceremonies, having power to help us. Gratitude to God for such favours I 8S SERMON PLANS 44. FREEDOM OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. "The freedom wherewith Christ has made us free." Gal. iv. 31. i. On Calvary, Our Lord purchased for us our freedom. Man became once more truly the Child of God. ii. Consider the meaning of this freedom. 1. Freedom from sin and hell. '* He washed us from our sins in His own Blood." Apoc. i. 5, i. Adam's sin a most grievous offence against God : a. Sin in knowledge and light. b. Sin without concupiscence impelling. c. Sin of deep ingratitude. ii. Adam's sin affected all mankind. " All men sinned in Adam." Rom. v. 12. a. All men are born in sin, slaves of the devil. b. Men also sin of their own free-will ; and, c. All share the consequences of sin, in time and eternity, iii. Adam's sin involved a two-fold punishment : a. As to the Soul : 1. Loss of divine grace. 2. Closing of Heaven's gates. 3. Eternity of Hell. b. As to the Body : 1. Sorrows and suffering: Gen. iii. 16. 2. Toil and labour: Gen. iii. 17. 3. Death : Gen. iii. 19. iv. Our Lord, by His Passion and Death on the Cross, a. Has atoned for all sin. b. Has given us 1. Baptism, against original sin. 2. Penance, against personal sin. 3. Other Sacraments for other wants. ON THE EPISTLES 8g c. Has softened the asperity of punishment. 1. Bearing our infirmities in Himself. 2. Submitting even to death. d. Has reopened the gates of Heaven for us. Thus redeeming us from sin and hell. H. Freedom from the devil: "That through death, He might destroy the devil." Heb. ii. 14. i. In olden times, the devil often possessed even the bodies of men. Sarah, daughter of Raguel : Tob. xii. 14. The woman held eighteen years : Lke. xiii. 16. ii. He still has power to tempt and possess souls. ' * As a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." i Pet. v. 8. iii. Formerly an object of worship: Deut. xxxii. 17: I Cor. X. 20. Even now again, in Luciferianism.* But, iv. The Incarnation of Christ a. Has greatly curbed the devil's power over soul and body. b. Has merited us strength to resist him. c. Yet for our good, he is still allowed to tempt us. Lessons : i. Thankfulness that we are members of God's Church. Therein we share in this freedom of Christ. ii. Frequent use of the means of grace thus bestowed. iii. Compassion and prayer for those deprived of such blessing. • Mgr. de Segur states that in 1848 there was a Masonic Lodge in Rome, where the " mass of the devil" was celebrated in the presence of men and women ; each deposited in a ciborium a consecrated host, purchased or received in Church : the sacred elements were stabbed by the whole assembly, who afterwards gave themselves up to orgies, like to the pagan mysteries of old. — Waitf. 90 3ERM0N PLANS 45. CHRIST, OUR HIGH PRIEST. "A high priest . . . and mediator of the New Testament." Heb. ix. II, 15. i. Explain the idea of Priest and Mediator, ii. Christ is both, according to the Apostle. Priesthood befitted Our Lord: i. A special office of priesthood is to be mediator between God and man. a. A priest imparts things divine to men : Mai. ii. 7. h. A priest offers the people's prayers to God and atones for their sins: Heb. v. i. ii. Thus priesthood was most becoming Our Lord, because a. Through Him, divine things are given to man : 2 Pet. i. 4. h. Through Him, mankind are reconciled to God : Col. i. 20. Christ both Priest and Victim : Eph. v. 2. i. Man needs sacrifice for three ends : a. For remission of sin, which separates from God: Heb. v. I. h. For preservation of grace, in which is peace and salvation. c. For perfect union of the soul with God in glory, ii. These three things are ours, through Christ, a. Who was delivered up for sin : Rom. iv. 25. h. Who became the cause of eternal salvation : Heb. V. 9. c. Who acquired for us the fulness of glory: Heb. X. 19. iii. Thus Christ is both Priest and Victim — Holocaust : Sin-offering : Peace-offering. a. Freely He offered Himself to the Father : Is. hii. 7 — Priest. h. The sacrifice He offered was His own body — Victim. ON THE EPISTLES gi Christ's sacrifice expiates sin : Heb. ix. 14. i. For remission of sin, two things are required : a. The stam to be blotted out, and the heart turned to God. b. The punishment to be forgiven by satisfaction being made, ii. The sacrifice of Christ effects both these : a. By Him justifying grace was bestowed : Rom. iii. 24. h. He fully atoned for our transgressions : Is. liii. 5. iii. Christ then had power to expiate sin : a. He was priest, not as God but, as man. b. But the Divinity and Humanity are united in the one Christ. c. Hence His sacrifice is of the highest efficacy, being of infinite value. iv. The sacrifice of the altar differs from that of Calvary only in form. The Priesthood of Christ is eternal : Ps. cix. 4. i. In the priestly office, two things may be considered : a. The offering itself of the sacrifice. b. The perfection of the offering — gaining the object sought for. ii. The object of Christ's sacrifice is, not temporal but, eternal good. a. In Heaven, He still presents the Father the satisfaction made; b. And is ever dispensing the graces obtained for men. iii. His priesthood thus lasts for time and eternity, in its character and effects. iv. According to the order of Melchisedeck : Ps. cix. 5. a, The name Melchisedeck signifies King of Justice. Christ the Just One : Acts iii. 14. b, Melchisedeck was King of Salem, i.e. of Peace. Christ is the Prince of Peace, Is. ix. 6. c, Melchisedeck offered bread and wine in sacrifice. Christ, in these, offers the sacrifice of the Mass. During Passiontide, meditate on the Priesthood and Sufferings of Christ. 92 SERMON PLANS 46. THE NECESSITY OF SACRIFICE. i. The conclusion of the Epistle shows the need of an atoning sacrifice, ii. Suitable occasion for speaking on the sacrifice of the Cross and the Mass. Definition of Sacrifice.* Necessity of an atoning sacrifice. i. From the beginning, man v/as bound to offer sacrifice to God, for Adoration : Thanksgiving : Petition. ii. After the Fall, a further obligation arose, viz. Satisfaction for sin. iii. This atonement for transgression must equal the offence. a. The offence, as against an infinite God, infinitely great. ^. No finite being can make atonement of infiniie value. c. Nothing then remained for man, but the prospect of eternal ruin ; for iv. Adam and Eve, though repenting of their sin, were quite unable to repair its effects. Sacrifice of the Cross: i. God, in compassion, offered to man the means of reconciliation : His own divine Son, victim of infinite merit: I Jn. iv. lo. ii. This Son of God offered Himself a willing victim : Is. liii. 7. a. Dying, not through weakness of nature, etc. b. But through violence ab extra. ON THE EPISTLES 93 iii. It was expedient that Christ, becoming man, should die : Jn. xi. 50. a. To satisfy for the human race condemned to death: Gen. ii. 17. b. To prove the reahty of His human nature. c. To diminish our fear of death : Heb. ii. 15. d. To induce us to die spiritually to sin : Rom. vi. 1 1. e. To triumph over death by rising again. /. To give us a hope of a similar resurrection, iv. All this, Christ did by His sacrifice on the Cross. Atoning for sin, and purchasing redemption for man. Sacrifice of the Mass : i. This general redemption requires application to individual souls. ii. The great means for this is the Sacrifice of the Mass. Continuation of that of the Cross, though differing in form, iii. Through this most holy Sacrifice, a. \Ve pay to God due homage, as His creatures : Adoration: Thanksgiving: Petition: Satis- faction. b. We apply to ourselves the fruits of the Redemption. c. We obtain contrition and forgiveness of sin. d. We gain graces for the Church Militant, e. We bring relief to the Church Suffering, f. We give joy to the Church Triumphant. Lessons : i. Gratitude to Our Lord for the Sacrifice of atonement, ii. Show this gratitude practically, by a. Appreciation of the Holy Sacrifice. b. Sympathy with His sufferings this Passiontide. c. Sorrow for sin, their sole cause. d. Prayer that the effects of this Redemption may extend, iii. Realize the need for this atoning Victim, and the utter helplessness of man without it. * Sacrifice is an ofifering of some sensible thing, by a lawfully appointed minister, to acknowledge, by its destruction, real or equivalent, the majesty and sovereign power of God, and to proclaim His absolute dominion over every created ihin^.— Rock, 94 SERMON PLANS 47« THE HUMILITY OF OUR LORD. •' He emptied Himself." Phil. ii. 7. i. Our Lord submitted to many humiliations from without. ii. But before that, in becoming man, He humbled Himself in three ways : viz. I. He emptied Himself of Glory: i. Christ Our Lord was God from all eternity. But He was in time made in the likeness of men. ii. He was the King of Majesty and Glory in Heaven. *' King of Kings and Lord of Lords : " Apoc. xix. 16. But, He took the form of a servant on earth. iii. He did not thereby lose His Glory. a. This was impossible, for He cannot cease to be God. But, b. He veiled that glory under the form of His humanity, iv. He did not empty Himself through external compul- sion. But, a. Of His own free-will and through love of us. h. To teach us love of contempt and dishonour. » II. He emptied Himself of Power: i. In His divine nature. He was the God of all power and might : Is. ix. 6. In His human nature, He became helpless and weak, as the servant of God. ii. He was the Creator of all things, visible and in- visible; but, He became one of the creatures of God. iii. As Creator, His name is : " I am who am." Ex. iii. 14. As creature, it is : "I am not." For creatures are, and have, nothing except from God, ON THE EPISTLES 95 iv. The creature, unless sustained by the Creator, would return to nothingness. As light disappears, when the sun withdraws. V. This annihilation consists : a. In receiving all and everything from God. As rays of light receive their being from the sun. b. (In rational beings,) in obedience and reverence to their Creator. c. Both these may be predicated of Christ, as Man. vi. Especially in His Passion, does Our Lord's weakness appear : a. Abandoned by His Apostles. b. Forsaken even by the Father: Mth. xxvii. 46. c. Subject to the insults and power c f man. vii. All, to instil into us a love of abjection. III. He emptied Himself of Riches: i. In Heaven, Our Lord possessed all treasures and riches. But, ii. On becoming man, a. He was born in poverty and want. b. He was exposed to the inclemencies of the weather. c. He lived in hardship and toil at Nazareth. d. He was often without a place of rest. Mth. viii. 20. e. On the Cross, He died in nakedness and priva- tion, iii. He taught poverty, as a virtue most dear to Him : Mth. V. 3. iv. Who was ever born, or lived, or died as poor as He ? To teach us to despise riches. Lessons : i. Our Lord emptied Himself a. Of Glory : Who then shall be proud ? b. Of Power : Who then shall be harsh or domi- neering ? c. Of Riches : Who then shall despise poverty ? ii. In imitation of Our Lord, practise the virtues He practised.* * "All human glory, indeed all temporal honour, all worldly grandeur, compared with Thy eternal glory, is vanity and foolisli- ness, O my God." — Jmii. iii. xl. 96 SERMON PLANS 48. THE HUMILIATIONS OF OUR LORD. " He humbled Himself." Phil. ii. 8. i. Humility, the beloved virtue of Our Lord, ii. He gives us examples of it in His life-long humilia- tions. iii. Consider some now, especially in the history of the " Great Week." Humility of Our Lord : i. In His Incarnation : Lke. i. 38. a. Uniting Himself to nothingness, misery and sin. b. Retaining the marks thereof through all eternity, in His humanity. ii. In His Birth : Lke. ii. 7. a. From a human being. b. In poverty and want, though God of all things. c. In a home for animals, and that not His own. iii. At Nazareth: Lke. ii. 51. a. His foster-father was a poor artisan. b. His mother ignored and unknown, though of the royal race. c. His life hidden and toilsome, iv. In His Ministry : a. He was baptized, as though a sinner. b. Twelve poor fishermen were His friends : 1. Their waywardness and contentions: Lke. xxii. 24. 2. His patience with them all. 3. His washing their feet : Jn. xiii. 5. c. Insults and opposition from the Scribes, etc. v. In His Passion and Death : a. The betrayal by Judas : Mth. xxvi. 49. 1. The pain of such treachery. 2. Humiliation of being sold for money. 3. By a friend too, and to His enemies, ON THE EPISTLES 97 b. Jesus receives a blow : Lke. xvii. 64. 1. Indignity of this public insult, so unjust and cruel. 2. Yet He receives it without anger or resent- ment. c. His condemnation : Lke. xxiii. 24. 1. Bound as a malefactor. 2. Unjustly accused of crime. 3. Bearing all, in patience and silence. d. The Scourging, and the Crowning with thorns : Mth. xxvii. 26, 29. 1 . Apart the pain, see the ignominy and shame. Disgraceful character of both insults. 2. Derision and mockery of the crowd, e. The Crucifixion : Mth. xxvii. 35. 1. Form of death reserved only to slaves. 2. Jesus put on a level with thieves: Mth. xxvii. 38. 3. Further blasphemies and insults from His enemies. 4. Instead of striking them dead, He prays ; Lke. xxiii. 34. Lessons : i. Such thoughts suitable to Holy Week. a. Jesus had always taught humility in word. b. This week especially, He gives examples of it. ii. Humility, the virtue He tells us to learn of Him: ]\Ith. xi. 29. iii. Consider Our Lord's sufferings and humiliations, a. As an encouragement in the midst of your own. b. As a help towards overcoming pride. c. As a proof of the greatness of His love. iv. ^leditate on the Passion during these few days. 98 SERMON PLANS 49. SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY. . i. To-day the day of suffering for Our Lord. ii. Fix then your minds awhile on His chief sufferings : * They constitute the five sorrowful mysteries. iii. Such meditation a remedy for our repugnance to suffer. I. The Agony in the Garden: Mth. xxvi. 39. i. In Gethsemani, at the foot of Mount Olivet. Adam sinned in a garden : Christ repairs the evi) in a garden. ii. He kneels and becomes sorrowful unto death, because of a. The countless sins of men. i. His love for man and His Father. c. His approaching sufferings and death, iii. A mysterious sweat of blood bathes His whole body. iv. Hence His repeated prayer : *' Let this Chalice pass from Me." Human will, shrinking from suffering. "Not as I will, but as Thou Wilt." Human will, ever subject to the divine. V. Lesson : the spirit of Prayer. a. None can overcome great temptation without grace. b. Grace is usually given only in answer to prayer. c. Pray then in every form of trial. II. The Scourging at a pillar : Mth. xxvii. 26. i. Punishment reserved only for the worst of criminals^ So ignominious that no Roman might submit to it. ii. Violence of the soldiers, bribed for the work. a. Revelations say Our Lord received 5,000 stripes;. though, b. The Jewish Law allowed only 39. iii. Borne by Our Lord to expiate our sins of the flesh.. ON THE EPISTLES gg. iv. Became the origin of taking the discipHne. V. Lesson : the spirit of Mortijication. a. As a means of reparation for the past. b. As a help to perseverance in the future. III. The Crowning with thorns : Mth. xxvii. 29.. i. By the soldiers, but on their own authority only. ii. To expiate our sins of thought of many kinds, iii. Conceive the intensity of pain it must have caused. iv. Lesson : the spirit of Fortitude^ To bear the crosses and thorns in our path through life. IV. The Carrying of the Cross: Jn. xix. 17. i. Type: Isaac, bearing the wood for the sacrifice: Gen.. xxii. 6. ii. In the form of a Latin cross, of heavy, rough oak. iii. Journey of about a mile. Its various incidents constitute the " Way of the Cross." iv. Lesson : the spirit of Patience in crosses and trials. The path of suffering is the only safe way to Heaven. \'. The Crucifixion : Mth. xxvii. 38. i. Type : the Brazen Serpent : Numb. xxi. 9. ii. Cruelty and roughness of the executioners, iii. The agonizing pain of the Five Wounds. iv. The ignominy of such a death, between two thieves. V. The death of Christ completed the work of our Redemption. Many wonders in the natural order accompanied it- vi. Meditation on the Crucifixion a great help to con- trition. vii. Lesson : the spirit of Self-sacrifice for God : our neighbour : our own soul. Let the thought of your Saviour's sufferings fill your minds this day : it will prepare you for a fuller share in the joys of the Resurrection. SERMON PLANS 50. THE LAST WORDS ON THE CROSS. i. Our Lord spoke seven Words, as He hung on the Cross in death, ii. Consider some of them, as suitable to the anniversary of that death, iii. Listen with reverence, and learn some lessons therefrom. " Father, forgive them." Lke. xxiii. 34. i. Exceeding love of Our Lord shown herein ; for, a. In the very midst of His sufferings, He prays for His executioners ; and, b. In them, for us and for all sinners. ii. God punished the Angels' sin immediately and eternally ; while, a. For us intercession is made ; but, b. Revenge may be taken, if we abuse grace to sin the more. iii. While admitting its necessity, do we practise forgive- ness of others ? a. This is not a counsel, but a command. b. If we forgive not, we pass sentence against ourselves. ** Forgive us, as we forgive." Mth. vi. 12. iv. What an encouragement given here to fulfil the precept ! S.John Gualbert: July 12. '* Behold thy son . . . Behold thy Mother.' Jn. xix. 26, 27. i. Our Lord's sufferings increased by the presence of Mary and John ! Their tears as bitter to Him as the loss of His own Blood. ii. He here commends His virgin Mother to the virgin Disciple. a. Showing His preference for the state of virginity b. Yet, all states are good and may approach the Cross. Thus, ON THE EPISTLES iii. Three women were near Jesus, as He died : a. Mary Magdalen, type of beginners, h. Mary of Cleophas, of proficients, c. Mary, Mother of Jesus, of the perfect, iv. Mary stood by : Stahat Mater a. In grief : as a mother near her suffering child. b. In constancy : as Mother of God, and full of grace. . c. Thus pictures wrongly present her as falling, etc V. The happiness and honour of S. John thus given to Mary's care ! We, as represented by him, are also her children.. vi. Show then devotion to her thus given to us by our dying Jesus. a. Imitating her virtues, in our various stations in life. b. Devotion to Mary, a pledge of salvation. " I thirst." Jn. xix. 28. i. Literally: through a. Want of food, tasting nothing since the last supper. b. Exhaustion, and loss of blood. ii. Figuratively: a. Longing to complete the work of Redemption. b. Desiring more suffering and even death. iii. Pain, borne to expiate our sins of the palate. iv. Desires are well-named thirsts : if for a. Heavenly things, the source of purest joys even here. 6 . Earthly things, such thirst is truly a torment. V. St^nd amazed at Christ's thirst for your salvation, while you are perhaps so indifferent to it ! vi. Where your treasure is, there also your thirst will be, "Into Thy hands I commend My spirit." Lke. xxiii. 46. i. Returning His soul to the hands of its Creator, ii. As we also should do, in the hour of death. iii. A good practice to do it every night before sleep; for, There are dangers for both body and soul, even at night. 102 SERMON PLANS 51. THE RESURRECTION A PLEDGE OP TRIUMPH. " Christ, our pasch, is sacrificed." i Cor. v. 7. i. Christ had been sacrificed, but He is risen, ii. On Friday the Church wept over her Saviour on the Cross, iii. To-day she sings "Alleluias" of joy over His Resurrection, iv. Celebrate this, the greatest Christian mystery, as a pledge of I. Triumph for the Church : for i. It proves Christ to be God, and His teaching divine. a. He wrought many miracles during life : e.g. . . . b. But He ever appealed to this one, as proof of His divinity. ii. On this mystery is the Church's teaching based: hence truly, "If Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain." I Cor. XV. 14. iii. In the miracle of to-day, recognize the power of the Omnipotent. a. The power of man may be great in the arts and sciences : e.g. . . . b. But he cannot restore life: God alone can do this. c. Thus the Resurrection puts the seal of aiithority on Our Lord's message, iv. The Apostles go forth to announce it to the world : a. Preaching a Saviour crucified, but risen again. b. God's power accompanies them, supplying their deficiencies. c. Great therefore is their influence over men. V. Yet their work was not in peace : Our Lord's word is verified : Jn. xvi. 20. a. Their progress was through conflict and perse- cution. b. The Church has ever had foes, but has triumphed over all. ON THE EPISTLES lo^ vi. Our risen Jesus has triumphed for 1,900 years ! a. Go to His tomb, where His power seemed buried. b. He is risen, and has gone forth in triumph : and, c. MilHons to-day celebrate the glory of His Resurrection, (I. Triumph for the Christian soul : for, i. Jesus died to save us : and He rose that we might share His glory. a. As cause of our resurrection, through the same power of God. b. As model, if we comply with His conditions, ii. Most consoling thought for all : a. Poverty, sorrows and hardships pass away ; and, b. If we die in grace, we shall rise in glory, iii. To do this, two things are needed : viz. : a. To rise from sin by repentance : for, 1. As in time of grief, rejoicing is unbearable, 2. So, if any be now in the sorrow of sin, not theirs the joy of to-day. a. They are daily nearing death and hell. y8. Despite success and wealth, honours and friends. y. What are these, if sin be in the heart ? 3. I3e wise in time and reflect : Rise from sin, then can you rejoice in the Resurrection. b. To persevere in grace: 1. Only to perseverance has reward been promised: Apoc. ii. 10. Many in hell once repented, but per- severed not. 2. What avails a long fight, if it end in defeat ? 3. In the world, defeat does not always imply disgrace. But, 4. In the fight for Heaven, failure means eternal misery. iv. Thus is Easter day a pledge of triumph for each of us. |04 SERMON PLANS 52. NEWNESS OF LIFE. " Feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." I Cor. V. 8. i. To understand the force of this short Epistle, remember : a. The Jews annually observed the feast of the Pasch : Ex. xii. 14, 25. In memory of their deliverance from Egypt. h. The festival lasted seven days : Ex. xii. 15, and, c. No leaven was allowed in the house during that time. d. Children were Instructed, as to the origin and purpose of all this : Ex. xii. 27. ii. These things were figures of the New Law : i Cor» x. II. Thus, a. The Paschal Lamb was a figure of Christ, immolated for us. Thereby redeeming us from sin. h. The spiritual "seven days" imply the whole time of life. c. During this time, no leaven of sin must be found in us. iii. We also require instruction on these points. Hence : I. Unleavened bread of " Sincerity " : i. Unleavened bread means : life without admixture of sin, ii. " Sincerity " here a. Opposed to " malice," i.e, sin in general ; and, b. Means sanctity and goodness of life. For, iii. Christ, our Pasch, has been sacrificed for this end ; and, a. In His Blood, we are cleansed and saved : As the Jews were spared, through the blood of the lamb. b. In this Blood, we are delivered from the devil and sin. As the Jews were, from the destroying angel. c. In this, we are strengthened against future assaults. d. This Blood given to our souls especially in Holy Eucharist. ON THE EPISTLES 105 iv. This " bread of sincerity " implies a. Sorrow for " malice " in the past. Without which there can be no real sincerity, h. Resolution against sin and its occasions. Nothing more suitable to this Festival. V. In Lent, we prayed and did penance for our sins. fl. We must not therefore return to them now : 1. Otherwise we can have no true resurrection ; and, 2. God's vengeance may overtake us: i Ccr. xi. 30. b. "Sincerity" will give us the joy befitting this day. '* Let us be glad to rejoice therein." Ps. cxvii. 24, II. Unleavened bread of " Truth " : i. Unleavened bread means again, life without sin. ii. "Truth," here, a. Opposed to "wickedness," sins of fraud and deceit. b. Means Christian honesty, in its widest sense. iii. How common are sins of injustice in the world : e.g, a. Thefts, bribes and extortion. b. Frauds in buying and selling. c. Waste of time, or goods, or money. d. Calumny and other sins of the tongue. e. Cheating, gambling. /. Unprincipled strikes. iv. Possibly, we have been guilty of such in the past. If so, a. Sincere repentance now, on beginning a new life. b. Restitution and reparation, to the best of our power. V. Feast now in the unleavened bread of " Truth " : Ever showing scrupulous honesty, in word and act. Lessons ; i. Fresh courage from the beauty and joy of the Feast- ii. Resolution to remain, by God's grace, " a new paste," Holy and pure, free from all leaven of sin. ic6 SERMON PLANS 53. SUBDUING THE PASSIONS. " Whatever is born of God overcometh the world." i Jn. v. 4. i. We are born of God by Faith and Charity in Baptism, ii. If we would show this, we must overcome our passions, iii. Consider three means to this end : viz. I. The armour to put on; ' i. Confidence in God : a. David rejected Saul's armour, trusting in God ; I Kgs. xvii. 39, 45. b. In the spiritual combat, imitate David, not trusting to self, ii. Confidence grounded on a. The divine Goodness and Power. b. The promises of God : *' God is not as a man that He should lie." Numb, xxiii. 19. "My words shall not pass." Mth. xxiv. 35. iii. This full confidence we must have, in order a. To fight with success. b. To protect ourselves, as with a shield. c. To make us irresistible. •' If God be for us, who is against us?" Rom. viii. 31, [I. The Weapons to use: i. With his confidence in God, David also took necessary arms : i Kgs. xvii. 40. ii. We too need arms, viz. : the faithful discharge of religious duties : a. Meditations, or instruction. b. Daily prayers, for strength. c. Mass on Sunday ; and oftener. d. Frequentation of the Sacraments. e. Spirit of restraint and self-denial. . ON THE EPISTLES 107 iii. These may seem commonplace : yet they are essential. None can succeed without them. HI. The plan of warfare: i. Attack the predominant passion : i.e. the King of the passions, ii. This being overcome, the others are more easily subdued. Their chief being slain, the Philistines fled : i Kgs. xvii. 51. When Achab, the king, was killed, the fight ended : 2 Par. xviii. 34. iii. The predominant passion is that a. Which exercises the strongest influence over our inclinations. b. Whose tertiptations are most frequent. c. Which, though light in itself, is strong for us. d. Which the Devil, therefore, uses most to our disadvantage. e. Which most holds us back in spiritual progress. The Remora.* iv. The predominant passion varies with each one. To be discovered by self-examination, and con- fessor's advice. V. We nmst ever struggle against this, on our way to Heaven. Like Israelites fighting their way to Cana : Deut. vii. Conclusion: i. By this three-fold method, victory will be ours. ii. The present, an appropriate time for begmning again. iii. Courage in the battle, God Himself fighting for us. Jos. xxiii. 10. * The Remora is a small fish which, by means of a sucker-disc is able to attach itself to smooth surfaces. The ancients imagined that it could thus arrest the course of a ship in full sail. Such fable is at any rate an image of the ruling passion, which can most certainly hold us back in the pursuit of virtue loS SERMON PLANS 54- THE THREE WITNESSES. "Three give testimony in Heaven ... on Earth." i Jn. v. 7, 8. i. The Apostle gives evidence that " Jesus is the Son'. of God." ii. His witnesses in Heaven and Earth agree as to Our Lord's nature. iii. These witnesses above exception, and therefore- worthy of credence : viz. : Three in Heaven : i. The Father : a. At Our Lord's Baptism: Mth. iii. 17. h. At the Transfiguration: Mth. xvii. 5. c. At Our Lord's prayer : Jn. xii. 28. ii. The Word : by a. His teaching : •* I and the Father are one." Jn. x, 30. ** He that seeth Me seeth the Father also.'' Jn. xiv. 9. b. His miracles: e.g. Change of water into wine : Jn. ii. 9. Feeding the multitudes : Mth.xv.37: Jn.vi. !!► Raising the dead to life : Lke. vii. 15 : Jn. xi.44^ His own Resurrection : Mth. xxviii. c. His prophecies '.e.g. The betrayal of Judas: Mrk. xiv. 18. The denial of Peter : Mth. xxvi. 34. The destruction of the Temple : Mth. xxiv. 2. iii. The Holy Ghost : a. At Our Lord's Baptism: Mth. iii. 16. h. At Pentecost, according to Our Lord's promise :. Jn. xvi. 7 : Acts ii. 3. iv. These three are one : a. In their divine nature and essence — God. Though distinct in the Trinity of Per?ons. h. In the effect of their testimony: the Divinity of Christ. ON THE EPISTLES 109 Three on earth: i. The Spirit : a. The soul, which Our Lord commended to the Father : Lke. xxiii. 46. Real human intellect, memory and will. b. The Holy Ghost, sent on earth at Pentecost : Acts ii. 3. Working through the Sacraments — a divine work, ii. The Water: a. Which issued from Our Lord's side on the Cross : Jn. xix. 34. b. Typifying the washing of the soul in Baptism — a divine work, iii. The Blood : a. Shed throughout the Passion of Our Lord. b. Issuing from His side in death : Jn. xix. 34. c. Its merits applied therein to souls. d. The Holy Eucharist especially — a work of divine love and power, iv. These three are one : a. Earthly and created witnesses. b. Alike in their testimony to Christ being Mediator and Redeemer. c. Showing also the sanctification of our souls. d. Water and Blood testify to the Humanity animated by the Spirit. Conclusion ; i. Christ the Messiah is truly God and Man : a. As Marij He suffered and died. b. As God, His sufferings had infinite merit. ii. He is our Redeemer promised from the beginning, iii. Worthy of our adoration, our gratitude and love. no SERMON PLANS 55. CHRIST'S PRINCIPAL VIRTUES. "Leaving you an example that you should follow His steps.** I Pet. ii. 21. i. Christ came on earth for three objects : viz. a. To redeem us by His death. b. To teach us His doctrine. c. To give us the example of virtue. ii. Consider three of Our Lord's chief virtues : viz. I. Meekness : i. Virtue preventing or moderating the impulses of anger. ii. Founded on Humility, which a. Reminds us of our own defects, and b. Makes us allow for those of others. iii. Practised by Our Lord, in a. His dealings with little children: Mth. xix. 13. b. His bearing with the roughness of the Apostles. c. The sufferings and insults of the Passion. Is. liii. 7. iv. Recommended in Holy Writ : e.g. Ecclus. iii. 19: Mth. v. 4: xi. 29: Jas. i. 21, V. Effects : a. Peace of mind amid trial. b. Influence and power with others. c. Foundation of Patience. vi. Shows itself in gentleness of temper and patient forbearance. II. Humility: i. Virtue teaching us to refer all good to God. ii. Founded on a. Knowledge of our own nothingness and sin- fulness. h. True appreciation of all things. ON THE EPISTLES in iii. Practised by Our Lord : a. In the Incarnation. b. In His obedience to His own creatures: Lke. ii. 51. c. During the humiliations of the Passion. IV. Recommended in the Word of God : e.g. Ecclus. xiii. 9 : Mth. xi. 29 : Lke. xxii. 26 : i Pet. v. 5* V. Effects : a. Foundation of meekness and all virtue. b. Charity and consideration for others. c. Resignation to the divine Will. vi. Seen in readiness to yield and oblige, and acceptance of humiliations. III. Obedience: i. Virtue making us submit to other*?, for God*s sake, ii. Grounded on a. Humility, recognizing our own inferiority. b. Faith, seeing God in our superiors. Lke. x. i6. iii. Practised by Our Lord : a. Coming on earth, because of His Father's WilL Ps. xxxix. 8. b. Being subject to Mary and Joseph : Lke. ii. 51^ c. Submitting to the Law: Mth. v. 17. iv. Commanded of God : e.g. Ex. XX. 12 : Eph. vi. i : Col. iii. 22 : Heb. xiii. 17,- V. Effects : a. Merit in all we do. b. Security against sin. c. Peace and temporal happines§. d. Concord and welfare of society. e. Preparation for the office of Superior. Lessons : i. Let each one apply these thoughts to himself, ia practical form. ii. Invoke Our Lord's help to " follow His steps " herein.. 112 SERMON PLANS 56. SHEEP AND MEN, *' You were as sheep." i Pet. ii. 25. i. St. Peter reminds the Faithful, in his Epistle, a. That they had strayed, as sheep, from God and the path of salvation. b. That they had given themselves to sin and perdition. c. How the Shepherd of their souls had rescued them. ii. See points of resemblance between sheep and men. Learn therefrom lessons of practical use in daily life. Sheep and Man: i. Sheep are social and gregarious animals. 1. They live and graze in company. 2. They assemble together in danger. a. Man is made for society. 1. Living and dealing with his fellow-beings. 2. Having one end in view — security and mutual help. ii. Sheep easily wander away : 1. They constantly leave the fold when able. 2. They follow each other in straying. h. Man easily strays from the right path. " I have gone astray like a sheep." Ps. cxviii. 176. "All we like sheep have gone astray." Is. liii. 6. 1. How often do men sin and stray from God's love. Our own experience must convince us. 2. Evil example easily leads them away, iii. Sheep easily become a prey to wolves. Only the watchful dog can drive them off. c, Man falls an easy prey to the devil and sin. 1. God's minister is his guide and protector. Through Sacrifice, Sacraments, Exhor- tations, etc. 2. The priest's duty to rescue and recall ths Faithful. ON THE EPISTLES 113 iv. Sheep often bring forth monsters : More frequently perhaps than other animals. d. So in the moral order among men. 1. Monsters of cruelty to children and animals : e.g. Many of the Roman Emperors. 2. Some 10,000 murders on earth each year! Now you are converted: i. Not through your own power or merit. ii. But by God's grace, drawing you to Himself. "No one can come to Me, except the Father draw him." Jn. vi. 44. " It is God who workeLh in you." Phil. ii. 13. iii. From sin and evil to grace and good life. TV. Daring Lent especially, a time of grace and repent- ance. V. Though Lent be past, the spirit of penance must ever be with us. Shepherd and Bishop of Souls: i. Christ our Lord is the Shepherd of our souls (To- day's Gospel) : a. Who has done and given so much for their welfare. Even feeding them with His own Body and Blood. b. Him we must love and hear. ii. As if to typify this, He brought to His crib a. The watchers of sheep — the Jewish shepherds : Lke. ii. 16. b. The shepherds of nations — the Gentile kings : Mth. ii. II. iii. Christ is the bishop of our souls. a. Who has redeemed them with His Blood. b. Who watches over them and provides for them. c. To whom we owe obedience, reverence, grati- tude. Acknowledge all this by perseverance in conversion. 114 SERMON PLANS 57. THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM. "As strangers and pilgrims." i Pet. ii. ii. i. Man is made for Heaven, his final home. ii. On earth he is therefore as a " stranger and pilgrim." iii. See how pilgrims should act, then act accordingly. I. A pilgrim must know he is a pilgrim: i. Sometimes travellers, away from home, a. Grow enamoured of the strange land they are in ; and b. Seem to forget their own country, to which they must return. ii. So too acts the Christian pilgrim, who a. Engrosses himself in the goods and pleasures of time. Houses, wealth, servants, horses, etc. b. Forgets the object of his creation and position on earth. c. Neglects the affairs of his soul and the interests of eternity. Even the pagans recognized the folly of all this. iii. His first duty will be to correct this and recognize his position. II. A pilgrim has much to bear on the way: i. Besides pleasure, a journey also entails difficulties. Cold and heat, danger and fatigue. a. The traveller must set out prepared for these. b. On his return, he delights to relate his experi- ences. ii. The Christian too has trials to bear."*^ a. Spiritual difficulties: temptations, passion, tepidity, etc. b. Temporal crosses : sickness, misfortune, etc. c. These he must meet with fortitude and courage : 2 Cor. iv. 17. d. On reaching his true home, he will exclaim with S. Peter of Alcantara : "O happy trials, which have brought me so great a reward.'^ iii. A second duty will be courage amid difficulties. ON THE EPISTLES 115 III. Often the pilgrim is laughed at: i. His language and habits are strange to the natives of other countries. But he passes on and takes no notice. ii. So is the Christian pilgrim despised by the world. " We are made as the refuse of this world." I Cor. iv. 13. a. His practices of piety are ridiculed. b. His virtues thought odd and against fashion. c. But he must be independent and heed not the world. *' A small thing to be judged by you." i Cor. iv. 3. For we are "Fellow citizens with the Saints, and the domestics, of God." Eph. ii. 19. d. Thus have holy men ever acted : e.g. S.Gregory against Henry IV. (see p. 15). Saints and Martyrs before their persecutors, iii. The Christian pilgrim must be proof against human respect. IV. The pilgrim longs for his country: i. On his journey, he enjoys lawful pleasure and distraction. Yet he often thinks of those at home, and will long to return, ii. So let the Christian pilgrim oft think of his true home — Heaven. a. There God, with His Angels and Saints, awaits him. b. There, friends and relations long for him. Secure of their own salvation, anxious for his. iii. Unless he longs for Heaven, he will not take meani^ to reach it : for, A real desire of salvation is a first step towards obtaining it. Lessons : i. Detach your hearts from this land of exile. ii. Fix your minds on Heaven, for which you are striving. * God has the goodness to put some of our purgatory into each day ; let us embrace the cross thus presented to us. Gold is put into the crucible to be purified, and soon it will shine on the brows of kingif, and on the altars of the living God. The cross effects the same in our regard : it is our crucible. — 3e Kavignan, II 6 SERMON PLANS 58. OBEDIENCE TO CIVIL AUTHORITY. ■*' l^c }c .subject ... to the King ... to Governors." i Pet. iii. 13. i. Words addressed to the early Christians by S. Peter : for, a. Many Jewish converts thought themselves free to disobey pagan rulers ; and, b. They inclined to rebel against the Roman Emperors. ii. Words fully applicable to our own day ; for, a. The spirit of independence and disobedience is abroad. b. Rebellion against law and order is so common, iii. Consider then the duty of submission to civil authority. Be ye subject: i. Subjection is the order of nature : e.g. Children, to parents ; pupils, to teachers, etc. ii. Similarly, obedience to Civil Rulers is a natural duty; for, a. Thus only can unity of order be preserved in the world. b. Such obedience of citizens becomes the stability of the State, iii. In laws and regulations not opposed to the Divine Law; for, "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts v. 29. To the King . . . Governors: i. The King : i.e. the Head of the State. a. Whether King, Emperor, President, etc. b. The living representative of God on earth. ii. Governors : i.e. all in subordinate capacity, entrusted with authority. Magistrates and such as carry on the civil govern- ment of the country. iii. Secular authority is supreme in its own sphere. a. In temporal matters, in temporal government. b. Its authority, like all other, is from God. ON THE EPISTLES 117 IV. Even to the wicked and impious : As was Nero, when this Epistle was written. V. Kings and magistrates are agents of God, to carry- on His work : The maintenance ot the life of Society, for the good ot all. vi. The corollary of Authority is Obedience to them that wield it. vii. Human authority is thus consecrated, as represent- ing the Divine ; and, Obedience is honoured, as shown to God in His representatives. For God's sake : i. It is God who established all civil authority ; for, " There is no power but from God." Rom. xiii. i. •'By Me Kings reign." Prov. viii. 15. Numa and Eycurgus.* ii. For the love of God : a. Whom the Civil Authorities always represent. b. Motive suggested by S. Paul to all who obey. Making reasonable and meritorious the service we pay. c. That others seeing, may glorify God: Mth. v. 16.* iii. Who will punish disobedience shown to His represen- tatives : Rom. xiii. 2. Lessons : i. Ever therefore show due obedience to all lawful authority, ii. Guard against the spirit of insubordination now so common, iii. If grievances exist, seek redress by constitutional means only. iv. Inculcate obedience in children, while young, and for high motives. * Numa and Lycurgus feigned to converse with the gods and to- receive from them the laws they made for Rome and Sparta, so as to give them weight and authority, as Plato relates. t Eusebius avers that moved by the example of patient obedience in a christian slave, the Iberians of Spain were brought to the knowledge of God and the true Religion. ii8 SERMON PLANS 59. HEARIxNG AND SPEAKING. " Swift to hear, but slow to speak." Jas. i. 19. i. The early part of the Epistle speaks of the gifts of God. ii. These words suggest means to obtain them. How so and why? i. Hearing is a means to learning. " A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser." Prov. i. 5. a. Students learn, by hearing the teaching of a master. S. Thomas of Aquin.* b. But speaking is rather the work of a teacher. 1. It is more safe and useful to hear than to speak. 2. No man can teach well that has not first learnt well. c. S. James here enforces this idea ; because he found 1. Some of the early Christians preferred to teach rather than to learn. 2. Are there not many nowadays the same ? ii. God, who is all wise, gives an example : a. For countless ages. He was infinitely happy in Himself alone. b. Slowly only, viz., at the beginning of time. He spoke His first word. The Jiat that brought all things into being. c. During nearly 6,000 years, God has seldom spoken. 1. Only what Holy Scripture contains. 2. Man speaks more in one year than God in a thousand. d. They best imitate God who are slow to speak, iii. Our Lord in the Incarnation similarly : a. During 30 years, He listened much and spoke but little. b. Only in His 30th year did He begin to teach. And how few His words compared with His wisdom ! ON THE EPISTLES 119 iv. Example of the Angels, who most approach God in intelligence : a. How few their words, as recorded in the Sacred Pages : Raphael to Tobias : Tob. v. Michael to Daniel : Dan. x. Gabriel to the B.V.M. : Lke. i. b. Among themselves, they intercommunicate as by acts of the will. V. Nature itself would seem to suggest the same : a. The more intelligent animals use their voice but little : The elephant, the horse. b. Many birds of beautiful song sing only at stated times. The nightingale and blackbird. c. The others are ever chirping : The swallow, the sparrow. d. Man has two ears, only one tongue. The former ever open, the latter enclosed. vi. Talkativeness is a sign of foolishness ; silence, of wisdom. Prov. xvii. 27 : xxix. 20 : Ecclus. xxi. 29. vii. Wise men have ever taught the same : e.g. among a. Pagans: Zeno, Demosthenes, Solon. b. Christians : S. Gregory Naz. : S. Basil : S. Bernard. Lessons from the text : • i. " Swift to hear." a. Be willing to listen and learn. In sermons, lectures, reading. b. Try to retain and digest what is learnt. ii. " Slow to speak : " a. Be not too ready to talk ; but, b» Weigh well and consider what you say : for, 1. The spoken word cannot be recalled. 2. Thus may you spare yourself many regrets. * In his student days, S. Thomas was so silent that he was named the Dumb Ox. But Albertus, his master, soon reahzed his genius and exclaimed : "You call him a Dumb Ox, but a day will come, when he will bellow so loud by his learning, that he will be heard the world Gver."-~JIis Zt/e, Mch. 7. SERMON PLANb 60- ANGER. " Let every man be slow to anger." Jas. i. 19. i. S. Paul says anger excludes from Heaven." Gal. v. 20. ii. It must therefore of its nature be a grievous matter, iii. Hence the advice of S.James to-day: "Be slow to anger." Anger : i. A feeling of displeasure at real or supposed injuries, with a desire to punish the offender. ii. Causes : a. Pride, at being thwarted or opposed. h. Envy and jealousy of others. Cain against Abel : Gen. iv. 5. iii. G uilt : a. Directly opposed to the spirit of Christ and the Gospel. ** Whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment." Mth. v. 22. h. Varying according to the degree of passion, or evil done. c. Excluding from Heaven : hence in se mortal. d. The source of other sins, one of the "capital sins." Saul, slaying the priests: i Kgs. xxii. 18. Absalom, killing Amnon : 2 Kgs. xiii. 28. Henry II. and the Martyrdom of S.Thomas: Dec. 29. iv. Effects (apart the sinfulness) : a. Ridiculous looks and gestures : Julian the Apostate, foaming, when in anger. Queen Elizabeth, striking her attendants. b. Bodily disease and insanity. Valentinian and the ambassadors.*^^ ON THE EPISTLES I2i C* Misery and unhappiness in self and others. The wasp, in stinging, destroys itself. A passionate man is unfit for society, dreaded by all. " Who can bear the violence of one provoked ? " Prov, xxvii. 4. d. Blindness of intellect, unreasoning obstinacy. Therefore do not act under the influence of passion. V. Yet, anger may sometimes be lawful — true zeal. " Be ye angry and sin not." Ps. iv. 5. Moses, against Israel : Ex. xxxii. 19. Heli, punished for lack of it : i Kgs. iv. Our Lord's indignation in the Temple : Lke. xix. 45 . Lessons : i. Consider well the nature and the evils of passion, ii. Use remedies against it : e.g. a. Daily morning prayer for strength. b. Forestall occasions of provocation. " Forewarned is forearmed." c. Practice of humility. d. Study examples of meekness. Our Lord, in life and death : Mth. xi. 29. Our Lady, Infer otnnes mitis. Moses, the meekest of men : Numb. xii. 3. S. Francis, naturally hasty, become so gentle : Jan. 29. iii. Show lawful anger, in due seasop. Otherwise, great evils may arise, and equal responsibility. * The Quadri, defeated by Valentinian, sent ambassadors to sue for mercy. When they presented themselves, the Emperor saw that they were poor men, coarse and ill clad. Thinking this an insult offered to himself, he grew so angry and passionate, that he broke a blood-vessel and died shortly after — death, the result of anger ! SERMON PLANS 61. CALUMNY. "Not bridling his tongue." Jas. i. 26. i. Man has three hves : a. The Spiritual Hfe of the soul : injured by sin. b. The Temporal Hfe of the body : injured by wounds, etc. c. The Civil Hfe of good fame: injured by un- bridled tongues, ii. Among sins of the tongue, a most grievous is calumny. Calumny : [^j i. Imputing crimes and faults to another untruly. 1 a. By word of mouth, by letter or action. b. Whether through malice or interest, ii. Exaggerating his real faults or defects, iii. Denying his good qualities or actions. iv. Most odious and malicious sin, against a. Truth : saying knowingly what is false. b. Charity: showing absence of all Christian feeling. «'' . ■ ^ - ^*< y^^a^ $r%^f Crm^t (Ij^y^y c. Justice: endangering another's tempOTal prospects. *^ *^>Mr^^ t^^ j i^oCyfvM r/ ^fi/\8^ d. Religion: which is vain, where the; tongue is unbridled, ^-vuo A-t? . ^*/ *t^ dW '^ • itweU. Mth.v. 12. ^K>sX h^A'l ^ .^ ■'^^i^T\ ON THE EPISTLES 123 vi. Reparation must be made, where possible. Otherwise there is no true sorrow, and the sin cannot be forgiven. The tongue must be bridled: i. Our tongue is as that of Christ. S. Chrysosiom. On it, is Our Lord received in Holy Communion.* ii. The tongue is a most dangerous member : Jas. iii. Of which we are so prone to make evil use. iii. The unbridled tongue causes a three-fold grievous injury : a. To God : destroying His work in souls. b. To neighbours : 1. Giving scandal and encouragement in evil (as hearers). •• Evil communications corrupt good manners." i Cor. xv. 33. 2. Endangering also their temporal interests (as victims). c. To the Speaker himself, through his sin. "The tongue of the fool is his ruin." Ecclus. v. 15, iv. The tongue, a chief instrument for mischief employed by the devil. Lessons : i. Take to heart S. James' reminder this day ; for Too many disgrace their Religion by neglect of it. ii. Endeavour to bridle the tongue, against calumny, by a. Prayer for aid, together with humility and watchfulness. b. Thought of the presence of God. Lke. xxiv. 17. c. Thought of the account we must give of our words. Mth. xii. 36. iii. Unless this be done, religion will little avail us. * A magnificent horse was once lent to one of the Popes. Havuig •once borne the Supreme Pontiff, it would never allow any one else to mount it. The tongue of the Christian, which so ofien bears Our Lord in Holy Connnunion, ought never to serve any other master. — J^adgr. 124 SERMON PLANS 62. DETRACTION. "Not bridling his tongue." Jas. i. 26. i. Many evils follow the unbridled use of the tongue Hence this warning of the Apostle, ii. Among common sins of the tongue is Detraction. iii. Consider this, lest our religion prove vain. Detraction : i. Consists in a. Making known without cause the secret faults of another. By word of mouth, insinuation, writing, etc. b. Imparting uncharitable news, even as a secret. c. Hinting there are things others know not of a neighbour : or, d. Seeking to lessen the merit of his good works. ii. Often a grievous sin ; " The detractor is the abomination of men. " Prov. xxiv. 9. "Detractors, hateful to God." Rom. i. 30. a. Against Chanty : 1. Doing an act of hatred or dislike. 2. Exposing a neighbour to ridicule or contempt. 3. Causing him pain, should it reach his ears. b. Against Justice : 1. Robbing another of the esteem he enjoys. 2. Exposing him thus to temporal losses. c. Against the Example of Christ, Who would not name the one that was to betray Him. d. Committing, as it were, a three- fold murder : 1. In the soul of the Detractor himself. 2. In the soul of the Listener. 3. In the civil life of the Victim. ON THE EPISTLES 125 iii. The guilt of the Detraction depends on a. The character and position of him 1. Who speaks the evil: and 2. Of whom the evil is spoken. b. The nature of the fault revealed. c. The number of those who hear it. d. The injury thus caused. iv. Forbidden also in regard to the dead. a. They still have a right to their good name. b. Surviving friends are also affected by the detraction. Wolves and the dead.* V. Reparation necessary where possible. According to the nature of the sin, and the circumstances of the case. Lessons : i. We have faults enough of our own, without troubling about those of others. ii. Avoid detraction as mean and dastardly. The frogs and the dark.f iii. Remember the evils of this sin, often irreparable : e.g. Hatred, misunderstandings, temporal and eternal loss, iv. Be not deceived: a detracting tongue and true religion are incompatible. V. Endeavour to be kindly, in thoughts and words about others. * Wolves sometimes tear up the soil of graves, to prey on the bodies of the dead. Detractors are sometimes so keen of evil, that they spare not even friends and others deceased. f Frogs are usually silent during the daytime, but in the darkness of the night they croak and make noise enough. Detractors dare not speak evil openly before their victim, but only in the dark, as it were, and behind his back. 126 SERMON PLANS 63. THOUGHTS ON THE ASCENSION. "A cloud received Him out of their sight." Acts i. 9. i. Each mystery of Our Lord's history presents thoughts and lessons. ii. Consider some in reference to His Ascension. He was taken to Heaven : i. Not by the hands of Angels. ii. But by His own divine power, as God-Man. By the " agility " imparted to His glorified Humanity. iii. Opening to man the gates of Heaven, closed by Adam's sin. iv. Why at the early age of 34 ? a. Christ came to offer His life to redeem us. 1. Befitting that this should be in the fulness of age ; for, 2. Adam was created, and sinned, in perfect manhood. 3. Christ repaired this evil at that same age. h. He had completed the work He came to do : viz. : 1. The preaching of His doctrine. 2. The practising of all virtues. 3. The working of many miracles. 4. The founding of His Church on earth. c. Heaven thus now due to His sacred Humanity. As it is also promised to His followers. d. To teach us not to desire long life, but Heaven rather. Forty days after the Resurrection: i. The number 40 is sacred and of frequent use in Scripture : The deluge lasted 40 days : Gen. vii. 4. Moses was 40 days on the mount: Ex. xxiv. 18. Our Lord fasted 40 days : Mth. iv. 2. ON THE EPISTLES 127 ii. Fulfilling types of old : a. God showed Himself 40 days to Moses, in giving the Old Law. Christ spent 40 days with the Apostles^ completing the New Law. b. The Jews wandered 40 years in the desert^ journeying towards Cana. 1. Christ remained 40 days before returning to Heaven. 2. This also denotes our whole life of exile on earth, iii. A recompense ' to His Apostles, for His 40 hours' separation from them, in death. iv. Gradually weaning them from His visible presence, V. Showing His liberality in bestowing consolation : a. For 40 hours' withdrawal, He gives 40 days of His presence. b. Thus does He also deal with souls : joy after pain^ Speaking of the Kingdom of God : i. The Kingdom of Heaven and its glory. The eternal reward for which all must strive. ii. The Kingdom of the Church on earth : a. Where God reigns in souls by His grace. b. Which is the way to the Church in Heaven, iii. Giving the Apostles instructions, as to a. The constitution of the Church. b. The preaching of the Gospel to men. c. The Sacraments and Sacrifice. d. The Christian virtues, leading to Heaven. e. The spiritual trials and persecutions to come i Mth. xi. 12. iv. Teaching us to think and speak of Heaven : a. Heaven, our support in trial. S. Felicitas and her children : Jly. 10. b. Heaven, the reward of our fidelity. Faith in which will make us strong in God : Heb. xi. Let us to-day fix our eyes and hearts on Our Lord ascending to Heaven, (whence He came to redeem, us) which we must all strive to gain. 128 SERMON PLANS 64, PURPOSES OF THE ASCENSION. *' Beholding Him going up to Heaven." Acts i. la. Objects of Our Lord's Ascension: i. To receive the reward of His merits : a. Heaven only is the place befitting a glorified body. h. During life Christ suffered ignominy and pain. c. The reward of this is bestowed to-day. ii. To triumph over enemies, spiritual and temporal. As a prince returns home after his victory, iii. To reopen the gates of Heaven to man. a. Adam's sin had closed these gates for ever. h. All men together unable to reopen them. c. On this day He ascended, accompanied by the souls in Limbo. iv. To rejoice and adorn the kingdom of Heaven : Apoc. xxi. 23. a. The angels acclaim Him in gladness and joy : Apoc. V. 12. h. He is seated in glory, on the right hand of the Father. c. The Sacred Humanity, one of the joys and beauties of Heaven. V. To show that His kingdom was not of the earth : Jn. xviii. 36. a. The Apostles thought He would establish a kingdom here. h. Their minds and hearts at first fixed on things of earth. But, c. Vanity, self-love, etc. cannot ascend to Heaven, vi. To confirm the divinity of His doctrine : a. He taught that He came from Heaven to deliver it. h. He visibly returned thither in proof of this. ON THE EPISTLES 129 vii. To send down the Holy Ghost : Jn. xvi. 7. a. To be the light of the Church. b» To be the strength of the Apostles and the Faithful. We should therefore prepare for the coming Pentecost. c. To complete Our Lord's work in the Church, viii. To prepare a place for us: Jn. xiv. 2. a. According to the merits and sanctity of each one. b. Here at least is ambition truly lawful — to strive for a high place. S. Martin in death.* ix. To be our Mediator : ** We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just. • I Jn. ii. I. " He is the propitiation of our sins." I Jn. ii. 2. "Christ . . . maketh intercession for us." Rom. viii. 34. X. To be able to remain with us in the Most Holy Eucharist. Visible presence with sacramental presence would seem incongruous. Lessons : i. See here reasons to rejoice on this Festival. ii. Our Lord's Ascension, a pledge of our own. iii. These thoughts should help a. To strengthen us in temptation and trial.t b. To revive our courage in despondency. c. To make us despise things of earth. d. To make us long for God's glorious kingdom. * Full of confidence in the consoling thought, that Our Lord by His Ascension had gone to prepare a place for us, S.Martin, on his deaih-bed, kept his eyes fixed on Heaven, as in an ecstasy. His •disciples suggested he should turn on his side for relief, but he replied : "Leave me to contemplate Heaven rather than the earth, and to medi- tate on the path my Saviour took to Heaven, which path I hope my soul will shortly follow to go and be united to my God." — His Life: Nov.ii. t Struggle, labour and suffering are the three elements of life here below : they are painful and often discouraging. But happy we, if w.i have a larger share of them, for they will bring us in closer union with •Christ, in the glory which results from them. J I30 SERMON PLANS 65- PRUDENCE AND PRAYER. *'Be prudent, and watch in prayers." i Pet. iv. 7. i. This three-fold advice always seasonable. ii. Yet especially so, between Easter and Pentecost : a. That we may guard the peace gained through our Easter confession. b. That we may prepare for the coming of the Holy Ghost. iii. We can easily lose this peace : the Holy Spirit will not enter a soul in sin : Wisd. i. 4. iv. Consider then the three duties of 1. Prudence: i. Virtue dictating what is best to be done, to act according to God's will. The guide of all the other virtues. S. Bernd. ii. Office of prudence : a. To discover good and the means to it. h. To judge all the circumstances of a case. c. To direct the will to do right. iii. Means to obtain it : a. Fervent prayer : *'Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me, and teach me Thy paths." Ps. xxiv. 4. h. Willingness to take advice : " Seek counsel always of a wise man. Job. iv. 19. *' My son, do thou nothing without counsel.'*' Ecclus. xxxii. 24. c. Subdue the passions, which blind the intellect. iv. Examples : King Solomon : 3 Kgs. iii. 12. The five wise Virgins : Mth. xxv. n. Watchfulness: "Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Mth. xxvi. 41. i. Avoid occasions of sin : Person place or thing. ON THE EPISTLES 131 ii. Guard the senses, avenues of sin to the soul,. especially the eyes. iii. Foresee occasions of danger, and prepare for them, iv. Unless we watch, prayer will be like tempting God. V. S. Peter was taught by the experience of his triple fall : Mth. xxvi. Hence his advice herein. III. Prayer: i. Under prayer would come : a. Fervent petition to 1. God, for grace and strength. 2. Bl. Virgin, for protection and aid. 3. Angel Guardians, and Patron Saints. b. Ejaculations in time of need. c. Reception of the Sacraments, as fountains of strength. The practice of the Saints and holy souls. d. Meditation, or instruction on the eternal truths, ii. Especially this week, for the gifts of the Holy Ghost. a. Like the Apostles, making the first novena in the Church. b. The greater our fervour, the greater the abundance of these graces. Lessons : i. Some at Pentecost will displease the Holy Spirit by their sin. a. Wanting in prudence: walking on the very brink of hell. b. Devoid of watchfulness: throwing themselves into every occasion. c. Careless of prayer: feeling not the need of divine help. ii. We at least must imitate the Apostles this week : a. In pntdencc : withdrawing occasionally from the world. b. In watchfulness : controlling and mortifying the senses. c. In prayer : preparing ourselves for the Holy Ghost. Then will He come with the abundance of His Gifts. 132 SERMON PLANS ^ 66. CHARITY TO OTHERS. " Have a mutual charity among yourselves." i Pet. iv. 8. i. Our Lord has shown the greatest love in our regard. Incarnation : Passion and Death : Bl. Sacrament, ii. Such love S. Peter desires us to show to each other. IVIotives of Charity : i. Our neighbour is the object of God's eternal love : Jer. xxxi. 3. a. His immortal soul is redeemed like ours, and dear to God. b. God's love for it compared to that of a mother for her child: Is. xlix. 15. c. We all have the same Father, and are destined for the same Home. d. How fail to love what God loves so well : I Juo iv. II. e. Mere philanthropy is not the Christian virtue of Charity : 1. Seeking chiefly the good of the body. 2. Based, too often, on mere human motives, ii. The command of God : " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Mth. xxii. 39. a. The love of our neighbour is like to the love of God. b. It is declared to be the fulfilment of the law; Rom. xiii. 10. c. Without it, love of God is not genuine. iii. Christ calls this precept His own special command: Jn. XV. 12. iv. Our lot for eternity is made to depend on it: Mth. XXV. : e.g. a. Our union with God in Heaven : 1. What we do to others, we do unto God. " I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat," etc. 2. This the reason of our great reward. ON THE EPISTLES 133 b. Our separation from God in Hell : 1. What we fail to do to others, we fail doing, to Him. " I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat," etc.. 2. This the reason of the soul's damnation. r. No duty could be more strongly enforced. Charity requires i. Intelligence : a. Recognizing the reasons for loving one another,, (above). b. Avoiding love based on mere sentiment, or fancy c. Reasoning on the excellence and beauty of every soul. ii. Devotedness : a. Readiness for self-sacrifice : In time, wealth, goods, personal service. b. Every day brings opportunities for this. iii. Restraint of the tongue : a. Criticism and discussions ruin Charity b. Tale-bearing, ignoble tittle-tattle, etc. cause endless mischief. c. A tongue without restraint is the tongue of a. viper : 5. Bernd. Manner of showing Charity : i* We must love all without exception. As God makes His sun to rise upon all r Mth. V. 45. a. Relatives, friends, benefactors. b. Fellow-countrymen and co-religionists : Gal. vi. 10. c. Even our enemies, like Our Lord on the Cross : Lke. xxiii. 34. ii. In practical form : i Jn. iii. 18 : e.g. Through the works of mercy, spiritual and corporaL iii. In a kindly and cheerful spirit : Ecclus. xxxv. 11. iv. The good, unselfish spirit is everything. Lessons : i. Examine your conduct as to brotherly love, ii. Repair the past, by good resolutions for the future, iii. Charity brings its own reward both here and hereafter. •* Charity covereth a multitude of sins." (Ep. to-day.) 134 SERMON PLANS 67. TONGUES OF FIRE. ** Parted tongues, as it were, of fire." Acts ii. 3. i. Three appearances of the Holy Ghost in the world : a. As a dove, at Our Lord's Baptism: Mth. iii. 16. b. As a cloud, at His Transfiguration : Mth. xvii. 5. c. As tongues of fire, on Pentecost : Acts ii. 3. ii. Consider to-day the meaning of this last. Parted tongues; i. Numerous, one over each of those assembled together, ii. Denoting the multitude of the gifts to be bestowed. "There are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit." I Cor. xii. 4. iii. The tongue enables us to distinguish between bitter and sweet. The Holy Ghost, between things earthly and spiritual. iv. We need the Holy Spirit, to rule and sanctify the tongue. V. Denoting the gift of tongues in the Apostles : a. Necessary, to enable them to preach the new Gospel to all men. Men of every nation understood them: Acts ii. 8. h. Some Saints have also had this gift.* vi. Implying the ministry of the Word, and the duty of preaching. Success of the preaching of the Apostles: Acts ii. 41 : iv. 4. As it were: i. Implying the likeness to fire, not the reality, ii. No real dove at Our Lord's Baptism ; only the appearance. Fire : i. The Old Law given amid thunder and lightning: Ex. xix. The New Law, under this form of fire, ii. The Law of Christ was to be a la^v of fire, (Charity and zeal). ON THE EPISTLES 135 iii. As the Holy Spirit had strengthened the Prophets by fire, so now the Apostles : e.g. Isaias vi. 7. Jeremias: Lam. i. 13. iv. Denoting the effects of the Holy Ghost : e.g. a. Fire purifies : e.g. metals from their dross. The Holy Ghost cleanses the soul from imperfections. b. Fire consumes what comes in its way. The Holy Ghost consumes our hearts with love. c. Fire gives light : the Holy Ghost 1. Is the light of God, to show us the path to Heaven. 2. Is to be invoked in doubt, and difficulty of any kind. d. Fire gives heat : The Holy Ghost animates the soul with practical charity. Lessons : i. We too all need the Holy Ghost : Be convinced of this, and seek His gifts, ii. Confirmation especially bestows them ; and supplies the need, iii. Pentecost a. Renews His graces. Not in miraculous form, yet most truly in the soul. h. Hence the benefit of its annual observance, iv. Devotion to this Holy Spirit a. Preserves His gifts within us : hence, b. Aspirations of love, hymns, etc. in His honour. * S. Vincent Ferrer (Apl. 5) always preached in Spanish or Latin, yet was understoi d by French and Greeks, Germans and English, who flocked to hear him — S. Dominic (Aug. 4) was desirous of teaching the true religion to some Germans whom he met, but was unable to do so, not knowing their language : he prayed to God for a knowledge of it ; his praytr was heard, and for some days together he instn cted those Gern;ans — S. Anthony of Padua (June 13) had the gift of languages, and by the light of the Holy Ghost was able to read the state of men's souls— So in like manner, S. Francis Xavier (Dec. 3), among the various peoples of India. I3C SERMON PLANS 68, THE HOLY GHOST. "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts ii. 4. i. The event of to-day is a. The beginning of a new hfe in the Apostles. b. The completion of the foundation of the Church. ii. Consider three truths, concerning the Author of such work. First Truth : The Holy Ghost is the third person of the Bl. Trinity, i. A person is a complete substance : a. Endowed with reason. b. Existing in itself. c. Responsible for its own actions. ii. The Holy Ghost is truly a person : because, a. Fulfilling the conditions of the definition. b. Called so equivalently in Holy Scripture. " He shall give you another Paraclete^ Jn. xiv. 16. "I will send Him to you. Jn. xvi. 7. r. Scripture attributes to Him the acts of a person. "The Holy Ghost will tcack^oVi all things." Jn. xiv. 26. " The Spirit Himself asketh for us." Rom. viii. 26. iii. Third in the order of the Divine Persons : Mth. XX viii. 19. Second Truth : The Holy Ghost proceeds from Father and Son. i. As from one principle. CI. of Florence. a. Called the Spirit of the Father: Mth. x. 20: Spirit of the Son : Gal. iv. 6. I, Said to be sent by the Father : Jn. xiv. 26 : by the Son : Jn. xv. 26. ii. Two modes of procession in the Divine Persons: by way of a. Knowledge, (generation), as with the Son, b. Love, (spiratioTi), as with the Holy Ghost. ON THE EPISTLES 137 iii. The Holy Ghost not later than Father or Son : a. The mutual love of these is eternal. b. Hence the Holy Ghost is eternal like them. Third Truth : The Holy Ghost is equal to the Father and the Son. i. The Holy Ghost is called God. "The Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these- three are one." I Jn. v. 7. •' The Spirit of God dwelleth in you." i Cor. iii. 16. Ananias lying *o the Holy Ghost lied to God: Acts V. 3, 4- ii. Scripture gives Him divine attributes : e.g. a. Omniscience: **The Spirit searchelh all things: yea, the deep things of God." I Cor. ii. 10. b. Omnipresence : "The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world."' Wisd. i. 7. c. Omnipotence : " The Holy Ghost shall come upon Ihee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee." Lke. i. 35. d. Miracles: " I by the Spirit of God cast out devils." Mth. xii. 28. iii. Thus the Holy Ghost is the same Lord and God a& the Father and the Son, and is equal to them in^ all things for ever. Lessons ; i. Pentecost will repeat the event it commemorates : In different form, yet as truly as with the Apostles.. ii. The Holy Ghost will come to us also, if we avoid a. Mortal sin, which excludes Him from the souL b. Venial sin, which grieves Him. iii. Cultivate special devotion to the Holy Spirit, as a. The Light of God, to guide us. b. The Grace of God, to strengthen us. vi. Invoke Him in times of trial, doubt and difficulty,. ISS SERMON PLANS 69. GOD'S KNOWLEDGE. ■*" O the depth of the riches of the knowledge of God." Rom. xi. 33. i. God's knowledge far surpasses that of all angels and men : it is a. From eternity and incapable of increase. b. At the same moment : we proceed from know- ledge to knowledge. c. From Himself : not through creatures. ii. Consider to-day this infinite knowledge of the triune God. God knows and sees all things : i Jn. iii. 20. i. All things known and knowable : e.g. a. Actual, i.e. now existing : e.g. Every grain of sand, every flower, ir sect and being. b. Possible, i.e. that might exist but do not : " God calleth those things that are not, as those that are." Rom. iv. 17. c. Past : 1. The good and bad acts of men from the beginning of time. 2. The details of all men's lives. d. Present : "All things are naked and open to His eyes." Hebr. iv. 13. 1. All the actions of men now doing in all parts. 2. All events now occurring throughout the universe. e. Future : 1. Events good and bad yet to occur. Jesus knew who was to betray Him. . Jn. vi. 65. 2. Things yet to come into existence. The predictions of Christ and the Prophets. 3. The future free acts of men. ON THE EPISTLES 139 /. Conditional Future, i.e. what would be, under certain conditions : David's danger, if he went to Ceila : i Kgs. xxiii. 12. The repentance of Tyre, if it had had the graces of Corozain : Mth. xi. 21. ii. Even our most secret thoughts. " I know their thoughts." Deut. xxxi. 21. " The Lord knovveth the thoughts of men." Ps. xciii. II. Hidden from all, in the depths of the heart. Jesus read the thoughts of the Scribes : Mth. ix. 4. He knew the heart of Nathaniel. Jn. i. 47. iii. This knowledge does not destroy man's free-will : a. Man does not act, because God knows and sees the act. h. But God knows and sees the act, because man will do it.* iv. Mystery explained by the Eternity and Immensity of God. V. The source of God's unerring justice. Fatalism holds that i. Everything that is must be. ii. Nothing can be otherwise than it is. iii. Man therefore is not free to act. iv. God cannot therefore justly punish or reward. V. Man need take no precautions in sickness, etc. vi. There is no Providence. All which teaching favours passion and justifies crime ! Lessons : i. As God sees all, so must we, as His images, see a. The Past, to humble ourselves and return thanks. h. The Present, to profit by it. c. The Future, to prepare for it. ii. God sees me ! these words well meditated prevent more crime than all preachers together, iii. The thought that God sees us should also comfort us in trial. * If, standing by the banks of a river, you see a log of wood up the water floating towards you, you know that in time it will reach the place where you are standing and pass before you. The log however does not come down to you because you see it, but you know it will pass you, because it is coming. I40 SERMON PLANS 70, EFFECTS OF THE LOVE OF GOD. ** His charity is perfected in us." i Jn. iv. 12. i. True love is ever fertile in results. ii. The stronger the flame of God's love within us, the more perfect its effects. Effects of the love of God : i. It purifies the soul from earthly desires : a. The heart is made to love, and must find an object to love. b. The more we fix it on God, the more we detach it from things of earth. ii. It leads the soul to do all for God : i Cor. x. 31. a. Whoso loveth God, eats, not for pleasure's- sake but, to please Him. b. Sleep, study, labour, etc. are all in like manner for God. c. Love is thus a link of union between lover and- beloved: e.g. Jacob and Benjamin : Gen. xliv. 20. Jonathan and David: i Kgs. xviii. i. The early Christians, through love, had all- things in common : Acts iv. 32. iii. It makes the soul desire and do great things for God : e.g. The Apostles rejoiced to suffer for Christ : Acts v. 41.. S.Paul thought his trials but light: 2 Cor. iv. 17. Undertakings of missionaries, in spite of all dangers. Things not easy in themselves, but easy to them that love. iv. The same love tends to increase daily in the soul. a. The salamander was supposed to live on fire. Symbol of the lover's heart. b. God's love is as a flame ever burning within. c. Some Saints seem to have been all consumed with love : e.g. S. Francis of Assisi : Oct. 4. I. Who saw God in all things. ON THE EPISTLES 141 2. Who burned with love to the Blessed Sacrament. 3. Who was rewarded with the Stigmata. S. Philip Neri : May 26. V. It makes the soul try to spread love in others : e.g. S. Paul, writing to the Corinthians : 2 Cor. v. 20. The Saints wept to see God so little loved. The efforts of holy men to bring souls to God. " He that hath no zeal hath no love." S, Bcnid. vi. It gives the soul power with God : Jacob wrestling with the angel : Gen. xxxii. 28. S. Francis of Assisi commanded the brute creation. The Saints, through love, worked miracles of power. They read the hearts of men, and knew the future, vii. It brings peace and joy to the soul : Job, amid all his trials : Job i. ii. David ever sang the praises of God : Ps. xxxiii. 2. S. Lawrence's joy on the gridiron : Aug. 10. " Enough, O Lord, enough," exclaimed S. Francis Xavier : Dec. 3. viii. It makes the soul to languish and die in God. Our Lady died, not of disease, but of pure love of God. The ecstasies of the Saints. Lessons ; i. Appreciate the beauty of this love of God, true beauty of the soul.* ii. Take means to obtain it : e.g. a. Strive for a more perfect knowledge of God. It is just their knowledge which makes the " charity " of the Blessed so full. b. Consideration of one's own nothingness. c. Purity of heart and detachment from creatures.* d. Longing desires to possess it : Wisd. vi. 21. iii. One of our most important occupations should be the exercise of expHcit acts of love. * Unless a coal be inflamed and burning, it has no beauty , so ©either has the soul, except it burn with love for God. — S. Bernardiiie, 1^2 SERMON PLANS 71. COMMUNION UNDER ONE KIND. "Whosoever shall eat ... or drink." i Cor. xi. 27. i. In the Holy Eucharist, the Body of Our Lord is not separated from His Blood. But, ii. The Whole living Christ is contained under each species. Hence, iii. Whoever receives under one kind only receives the whole Sacrament. Communion under one kind: i. Christ is received in every consecrated particle the world over. One man speaking may be heard by a thousand. A broken mirror reflects an object in each of its pieces. The soul is whole and entire in all our members. ii. Hence the priest may divide particles when necessary. iii. The same promises are made to those who eat only, as to those who eat and drink : "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever." Jn. vi. 52. ** He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood hath life everlasting." Jn. vi. 55. iv. S. Paul declares him that eats or drinks unworthily guilty of the Body and the Blood, i Cor. xi. 27. V. From the very times of the Apostles, Communion was often given under the form of bread only : e.g. a. To the faithful, to take to their homes during persecution. S. Tharcisius.* b. To prisoners, infants and the sick. Serapion ; and Queen Mary.f c. To anchorets, to communicate themselves in the desert. vi. Common in England in the 7th c. : general in the West in the 12th c. a. Because of accidents and abuses. b. Because of the difficulty of giving 'the Cup to crowds. ON THE EPISTLES t^\ c. Many cannot bear the taste of wine. d. For the sake of greater reverence. vii. Definitely laid down in the Council of Constance : A.D. 1414. a. Against the Hussites, maintaining the necessity of the Cup. h. A matter of discipline only, which may vary as needed. viii. The belief of the Faithful guards them against thinking this a loss. ix. Practice agreeable to Holy Scripture : a. As seen from the words of C)ur Lord. (iii. above).- b. The Eucharist often described as the breaking of bread. Lke. xxiv. 30, 35 : Acts ii. 46. C, Probably the opposite is often held through pride only, rebelling against regulations made by authority. X. Thus is the Church justified in continuing her present practice. Conclusions : i. The custom of the Church, in preserving the Holy Eucharist under the form of bread, shows her belief in the permanence of the Real Presence. ii. Her whole practice ever in consonance with Scripture^ iii. How unfounded then the objections against Com- mu lion under one kind. iv. Reipect and obedience due to the Church's wisdom in such matters. • S. Tharcisius was arrested by the Pagans, as he was carrying the Bl. Sacrament to his home, and stoned to death, because he would not betray It to them. — Ltfe: Aug. 15. + A certain old man named Serapion, when at the point of death,, despatched a youth for the priest, who, happening also to be confin'ed to bed by sickness, sent to the dying Serapion a particle of the BI. Eucharist. He directed the messenger to moisten It with water, and then put It into the mouth of the old man, who expired shortly after receiving l\.. — Ezisebius. When Mary, Queen of Scots, was- imprisoncd by Elizabeth, and no priest allowed near her. Pope S. Pius V. permitted her to administer Communion to herself, witk Sacred Ilcsts brought to her by a faithful attendant. :444 SERMON PLANS 72, BAD COMMUNION. ** Eateth and drinketh judgment to himself." i Cor. xi. 29. i. From the time of the Apostles, bad Communions have been made. It was even an Apostle that made the first one. ii. The Church to-day recalls words for our warning and meditation. Bad Communion : i. Communion made with the consciousness of mortal sin in the soul. Bringing Our Lord and the devil to dwell together! ii. A sacrilege of the deepest dye : a. To turn a church into a stable would be a crime. b. To profane sacred vessels, like Baltazzar, the same. c. What then to receive Communion into the filth of sin ! Like tying the martyrs to putrid corpses ! iii. Usually caused by a previous bad confession. Hence the Apostle bids us prove ourselves i I Cor. xi. 28. iv. As a sacrilege, a. It tends to harden the heart. The robber's advice.* b. Often punished even in this life : Remorse and despair, as in Judas : Mth. xxvii. 5. Sickness and premature death : i Cor. xi. 30. The Donatists and their dogs.f ^'. Does not discern the body of the Lord : i.e. a. Does not distinguish between this heavenly food, and our daily food. b. Treats both as on an equal footing. c. And so eateth and drinketh judgment, t.f. punishment, ^i. Battel no Communion, therefore, than a bad one ! ON THE EPISTLES 145 Means to avoid bad Communion: i. Lively faiths through meditation : a. ReaHzing well what it is we receive. This divine mystery offers a wide field for thought and study. h. Leading us to approach with all reverence, ii. A good confession : a. As the means of blotting out mortal sin. b. As a means of exterminating, or weakening, evil inclinations. c. The channel of abundant grace to the soul. The more the soul is thus adorned, the greater the fruits received, iii. Careful preparation : a first result of lively faith. a. Remote : in the practice of a good life. b. Proximate: in prayer, acts of desire, actual devotion, iv. Worthy thanksgiving . a further effect of lively faith. a. At least a quarter of an hour in prayer. b. The soul then has three precious advantages. 1. Her acts are more fervent and efficient. 2. She obtains more ready answers to her petitions. 3. She is transformed into the likeness of Jesus more efficaciously. c. A great help towards a good Communion next time. * To a young robber, whose sense of right had not yet been stifled, the chieftain of the band said : "Go and make bad Communions, and you will no longer fear ! " Unfortunately the young robber followed this advice, and indeed soon found how sacrilege hardens the heart, for he became the most desperate of the lot. — Caf. en Ex. t The Donatists, 4th c. used to invade the Catholic churches and throw the consecrated particles to their dogs. But one day the Justice of God overtook them, for the dogs, suddenly becoming furiously mad, rushed upon their owners and almost devoured them, thus avenging the sacrilege committed against the Bl. Sacrament. — S. Optatus. K X46 SERMON PLANS 73. THE WORLD'S HATRED. "Wonder not, if the world hate you." i Jn. iii. 13. i. Contraries hate one another : Black is opposed to white ; activity, to sloth. ii. Thus the followers of the world ever hate the children of God. As in the very beginning, Cain hated Abel : Gen. iv. Grounds of this opposition : i. The difference between worldlings and the Saints. a. Worldlings love honours, riches and pleasure. The Saints practise humility, poverty and self-denial. b. Likeness and resemblance are the roots of mutual love ; while Dissimilarity begets hate and dislike. c. Testimony ©f Holy Writ : "He is grievous unto us . . . for his life is not like other men's." Wisd. ii. 15. "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim. iii. 12. d. In the animal kingdom similar feuds are found : e.g. Between wolf and lamb ; hound and hare. e. Wonder not, then, if hatred exist between the followers of the world and those of Christ, their aims being so different. ii. Envy and jealousy : a. Men swayed by passion cannot rise to the virtue of the Saints. b. They see the Saints in the path to Heaven, while they themselves are on the road to Hell. c. This creates envy, and then begets opposition. As the devil and the damned envy and hate the Blessed in Heaven. d. Hence sinners hate those who practise religion, iii . The world sees the Saints separate themselves from its ways. " He abstaineth from our ways, as from filthiness. " Wisd. ii. 16. ON THE EPISTLES 147 a. It thus regards them as traitors and deserters. b. Our Lord Himself assigns this as a cause of persecution. "Because you are not of the world . . . the world hateth you." Jn. xv. 19. iv. The Saints are a reproach to the ways of the world. a. Vain reasonings of the wicked from the beginning : ' * He upbraideth us with transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way of life." Wisd. ii. 12. b. A good life is a silent condemnation of a bad one. 1. The Saints cling to God and His Law, in spite of all. 2. They suffer prison, slander, etc. for justice* sake. c. Men resent such rebuke, however indirect. d. Hence their persecution of those who give it. Lessons : i. If we are trying to serve God, we may look for hatred and opposition. ii. Our Lord suffered such before us : Jn. xv. 18. As His disciples, we must expect the same: Mth. X. 24. iii. This hatred of the world will help a. To detach our hearts from it. b. To obtain us God's special love and protection.* c. To secure us a magnificent reward hereafter: Mth. V. 20. iv. This way of the Cross is the safest road to Heaven.f * In the lives of the Saints, are found many instances of the miraculous manner in which God has extended His protection to those who serve Him, in spite of the hatred and opposition of men : the natural laws suspended in their favour ; wild beasts subdued at their feet ; the whole of nature obedient to their word. £.^. : S. Martina, Jan. 30 ; S. Venantius, May 18 ; S. Francis, Oct. 4 ; S. Daria, Oct. 25. + Walk where thou wilt, seek what thou wilt, and thou wilt 5nd no higher way above, no safer way below, than the way of the holy Cross. — Imi^. 2. xii. 148 SERMON PLANS 74. HATRED. ** Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." i Jn. iii. 15. i. A chief object of S. John's Epistle is to inculcate the need of good works. ii. Love of our neighbour is a necessary and meritorious good work, iii. Hence his frequent reference to Charity and to the avoidance of all that may wound it. iv. To-day he speaks of hatred, directly opposed to love. Hatred : i. Deep, permanent resentment for injury received; enmity. ii. Most sinful, as a breach of the two-fold law of Charity. "Love your enemies." Mth. v. 44. " He that hateth his brother is in darkness." i Jn. ii. 11. ** If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he i« a har." i Jn. iv. 20. iii. Dislike is not hatred, but, if not controlled, may lead to it. iv. Signs of : ' a. Taking opportunity to inflict injury in any way. The Egyptians against Israel: Ex. i. 13. b. Grieving at an enemy's success. c. Rejoicing in his misfortune. d. Refusing him the ordinary marks of civility. V. Guilt of : a. Varies with the intensity and deliberation. b. Oftentimes a mortal sin. vi. Causes of : a. Ill-feeling not suppressed, but encouraged. b. Dislikes not resisted. c. Jealousy and envy. Joseph hated by his brethren : Gen. xxxvii. 4^ ON THE EPISTLES 149 \-ii. Effects of : a* It hardens the heart, and closes It to grace. S. Nicephorus and Sapricius ; Saints' Lives : Feb. 9. b. It destroys the power of meriting : ** If I should deliver my body to be burned, and have no^ charity, it profiteth me nothing." i Cor. xiii. 3. c. It destroys our own peace of mind : Producing gloom, restlessness and misery. ^. It causes dissensions and quarrels. " Hatred stirreth up strifes." Pro v. x. 12. Whoso hates another is a murderer: i. Not always in act and deed, ii. But in will and desire. Esau, hating Jacob, thought to murder him: Gen. xxvii. 41. Aman, preparing a gibbet for Mardochai: Est. v. 14. iii. He murders his own soul by his grievous sin. iv. Yet so terrible a sin is not uncommon : a. Not always in its most ugly form. b. But in its lesser degree, often. V. Hence the need of speaking on the subject. Lessons : i. Reflect on the grievous nature of this sin. ii. See if it lurk not in the soul in any degree. As judged by the signs given above, iii. If so, resolve at once on removing it. iv. Though difficult to cure, it can be done, by aid of a. Divine grace, obtained through prayer. b. The thought of God's mercy to us, in spite of our sins. 150 SERMON PLANS 75. HUMILITY. '• Be you humbled under the mighty hand of God." i Pet. v. 6. i. Who, if only he reflected, would not humble himself before God ? a. Who holds the universe in His palm : b. Whose hand is mighty to destroy : c. Who hurled forth the proud angels from Heaven, ii. Consider the virtue of humility, so becoming the creature. Humility ; i. Virtue by which, through true self-knowledge, man appears vile in his own eyes : S. Lawr. Just. ii. Does not consist a. In speaking ill of ourselves, which is often pride in disguise. h. In merely acknowledging to God we are sinners. But, iii. Consists essentially a. In acknowledging ourselves to be really what we are. h. In esteeming ourselves accordingly, and wishing others so to esteem us.