Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost.
The Necessity of Religion.
" Young men, I say to thee, arise." — Luke vii. 14.
SYNOPSIS.
Ex. : I. Widow and son. II. Miracle. III. History's repetitions.
I. Causes and objections : 1. Religion and irreligion. 2. Ignorant pride, human respect, vice. 3. Old, change, civilization.
II. Indispensable : 1. All peoples. 2. State of infidel. 3. Crime against God.
III. Results of irreligion : 1. Picking and choosing. 2. Man minus religion. 3. Death-bed.
Per. : Pray that miracle may be repeated.
SERMON.
Brethren, the Gospel of this morning's Mass presents to my mind a picture and a subject for discourse. A picture — that of Christ meeting the funeral of the son of the widow of Nairn; a subject for discourse — the necessity of religion. As Our Lord was entering the town, behold a dead man was carried out — the only son of his mother and she was a widow. And seeing the poor mourner the tender heart of Christ melted with pity and He said to her: " Daughter, weep not." And touching her son He said: "Young man, I say to thee, arise," and the dead sat up and began to speak, and He gave him to his mother, and the astonished multitude cried out: " A great prophet is risen up among us and God hath visited His people."
Alas! brethren, how history repeats itself. Here to-day in many of you I see that picture reproduced;
