Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost.
The Grounds of Faith.
" Unless you see signs and wonders you believe not." — John iv. 48.
SYNOPSIS.
Ex. : I. St. Januarius's blood. II. Seeing and believing. III. Thomas and Peter.
I. History: 1. Miracles often useful. 2. Capharnaum. 3. Nazareth.
II. Towns: 1. Prerequisites for miracles. 2. Nazareth rejects Him. 3. Woe to Capharnaum.
III. Persons: 1. In Samaria and Capharnaum. 2. Mary. 3. Faith always demanded.
Per. : 1. Modern miracles. 2. Proper attitude. 3. Invisible miracles.
SERMON.
Brethren, in the old Italian city of Naples there is a vial of St. Januarius's blood, which, though hard and dry on all other occasions, is miraculously liquified on the saint's festal day. I remember standing for hours by the side of an infidel watching and waiting for the miracle. At length it took place, but having, unfortunately, turned aside for a moment, I saw it not; my companion saw it and believed. Behold herein the mercy and the justice of God. By carnal means He would fain have enlightened, howsoever imperfectly, that darkened soul with some glimmer of faith in Christ, but from me, a Catholic, a priest, He exacts that higher and more perfect faith which, independent of signs and wonders can turn to Christ, and on the sole testimony of His word confess that verily He is the Son of the living God. And so it is and ever has been. The
