We estimate our sins not by their natural malice and heinousness, but by the nature of the evils which they are capable of drawing down upon us. They appear to us more or less enormous in proportion as they are likely to prove more or less fatal to us. Even the very name which we give to great crimes has a relation to our self-interest; we call them mortal, because they inflict death on our souls. But if we consider sin with pure and disinterested eyes we shall perceive in the very smallest an attempt calculated to draw down upon us all the maledictions of the Lord, if his justice did not relax its rights, and accommodate itself to our weakness. JUNE 19-On the Outrage which we offer to God by Sin. I We disobey his commandments. Every sin, therefore, involves an open and daring rebellion. against God. He has said to us : "Love me with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with all your strength;" that is, love me without exception or reserve; love me more than yourself; remember that I am a jealous God, that any division of your heart will displease me, and that I am resolved to punish it. And the sinner answers him: "absolute though your commandment may be it will not be able to arrest my course; I will love any other object as much as you. I will love it even more than you. II. We forget his benefits. Every sin includes, therefore, a monstrous ingratitude towards God. He sets no bounds to his goodness and benefits, and we limit our gratitude and our love. He loads us with blessings, and we look upon an offence against him as a matter of no importance · we owe every thing to him, and yet we fear not to displease him. JUNE 20.-On neglecting to avoid small Faults. I. This negligence should not be confounded with frailty. God knows that we are frail, but he does not permit us to be negligent. He pardons, on account of our weakness, the faults which escape our notice; but he does not extend the same indulgence to the liberty we take of committing them with reflection. "He that despises small faults shall fall by little and little into great ones." Observe, he does not say he who commits them by accident and through frailty; but he who contemns them, that is he who commits them from principle and through habit. II. Difference between the sinner and the just with regard to small faults. Both have the misfortune to fall into them since we are all sinners, and because there is no life so pure and perfect as not to be stained by some blot in the eyes of the Lord; but the just man sins by surprise, and the sinner with reflection. The just man perceives the smallest faults and reproaches himself with them; the sinner does not perceive them at all, or if he do, he does not condescend to pay any attention to them. The one has no sooner fallen than he raises himself again; the other remains contented in his sin; the one corrects himself, the other perseveres. Examine here your conduct and sentiments with regard to trivial faults, and judge whether you ought to be classed with the just or with sinners. JUNE 21.-On the vain Excuses for trivial Faults. I. They are not as excusable as we imagine. Because we cannot excuse them by the extreme violence of the inclinations that induce us to commit them, nor by any important interests which we gain in committing them, nor by the greatness and difficulty of the sacrifice which it costs us to avoid them. On account of their trivial nature they are independent of all these motives. II. Hence, we have reason to fear that those who are guilty of them have a secret inclination to commit much greater sins. For their fidelity to God's law is so limited and restrained that they rather fear to transgress it fully and entirely, without wanting the desire to violate it. A person must be very near great sins when he approaches their limits so, willingly and so often; from this sort of dispute with God would it not seem that he regrets what he has given him? And if he trifles with the law which he observes is there not reason to fear that he loves the sin which he dares not commit ? ·00 "OH! HAD I WINGS LIKE A DOVE!" O had I the wings of a dove, Could I soar where she raises her nest, I would fly to the mansions above The cypress that sorrow entwines, Are read in emphatical lines, And drawn where no painter can dress, The lot that mortality finds; The pains which unrivet and sever, The ties which our liberty binds, For there is no chalice like this, No cloud can their prospect impair, Would ever be known to appear, Could I soar where she raises her nest, CATHOLIC RELIGION. NEW Catholic Chapels, have been opened in Doncaster, in Stamford, in Lincolnshire, in Regent Park, in Bollington, near Macclesfield; at Reddith, at Betston, at Loughborough, at Hartlepool, and in various other parts of England. Several new Catholic works have appeared in England, particularly the Vision of Heresies, and other poems," by a Catholic priest, the "Real Doctrine of the Catholic Church on the Scripture. -A " Glance of a Tract, entitled Popery contrary to the Bible,"-A "Reply to Aristogeiton," by Rev. B. Hulme.—“ Letters to the Rev. G. W. Newenham," by Rev. T. J. Browne, &c. Catholic Cathedrals, at Prior Park near Bath, and Birmingham, are expected to be built. The Right. Rev. Dr. Baines, it is reported, is devising plans at Rome, for the former; and the Righ Rev. Dr. Walsh, successor to Dr. Milner, has already made exertions to forward the latter. The Right. Rev. Dr. Doyle, we are grieved to find is so ill, that at his Lordships request, his clergymen, on the 21st April, met to name a coadjutor, if not a successor. Rev. Dr. Nolan, of Carlow College, was named first; the Rev. Dr. Flanagan, P. P. Ballina, next; Rev. Mr. Lawlor, P. P. Hacketstown, last. To show the facility with which the anti-Catholic journals can publish the most unfounded lies, they have unblushingly asserted that this illustrious prelate "has become a Protestant!!" For their information we will tell them that all his works are preparing or rather have been prepared under his immediate direction, for publication, in which his devotion to the Catholic faith and his undying opposition to the novelty of the 16th century are manifested. The new Catholic seminary, Belfast, lately opened under the patronage of the Right. Rev. Dr. Crolly, has received from Mr. Henry Murney, a present of a clock, of such size and construction, as to serve the public as well as the seminary. The Tuam Cathedral, now nearly completed, has received per the late Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, donations from Lady Eliz. Russel, of £15, and from James Daly Esq. Great Charles-street, Dublin, £5. We trust soon to be able to give a correct architectural view with an accurate account of this which will be the first Catholic Cathedral, in point of elegance, symmetry, taste and beauty, in the empire. St. Jerlath's, Catholic College, Tuam, is receiving that degree of public support, it so justly merits. The Rev. Mr. Browne, principal, and the professors, show extraordinary care and attention to its interest. Mr. Stack, the gifted professor of elocution, is employed in giving a series of lectures to the students there. The monks of Melleray Abbey near Waterford, have received additional aid from the charitable and religious Earl of Shrewsbury. A new Catholic Church, is about to be erected on the Circularroad, near Baggot-street, by the parishioners of Irishtown. The first stone of Adam and Eve, new Church, Merchantsquay, was laid by the Rev. H. Hughes, on Wednesday 16th April. Particulars with the substance of the Rev. M. Dowling's discourse on the occasion in our next. Letters announce the pleasing intelligence that his Holiness has conferred (an honour never before given to an Irishman,) the dignity of Cardinalship on the Right Rev. Dr. England, on account of his great virtues, zeal, and talents. -00 NOTICE. THE Gospel for Whit or Pentecost Sunday, was inadvertently omitted in its proper place; by adhering too closely to Baker's Sunday Monitor, printed by Blenkinsop, under approbation, which leaves it entirely out. We insen it here to complete our series. -00 LAITY'S DIRECTORY FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. June 15.-SUNDAY, 4th after Pentecost. Mass as in the Missal: commem. of SS. Vitus, &c. MM.-Green. In the archdiocese of Tuam, Mass of St. Anthony of Padua, commem. of Sunday, and gospel of Sunday at the end.- White. In the D. of Dromore, Mass of St. Basil, (from the 14th,) conmem. as above.-White. In the D. of Derry, commem. of Octave. June 16.-MONDAY. Mass of St. John Francis Regis, C.-White. June 17.-TUESDAY. Mass of St. Venantius, M. (from 18th ult.)—– Red. In the archdiocese of Tuam. Mass of the S. Heart of Jesus.- White. In the DD. of Kildare and Dromore, Mass St. Paschal, Baylon, (from 17th ult.)-White. In the diocese of Derry, Mass of St. John Francis Regis, C.-White. June 18.-WEDNESDAY.-Mass of St. Peter Celestine, P. and C. commem. SS. Marcus and Marcellianus, MM.-White. In the archdiocese of Tuam, Mass of St. Paschal Baylon, (from 17th ult.) In the DD. of Kildare, Derry, and Dromore, Mass of St Venantius, M. (from 18th. ult.)- Red. June 19.-THURSDAY. Mass of St. Juliana de Falconeri, V. commem. of SS. Gervase and Protase, MM.-White. June 20.-FRIDAY. Mass of St. Gregory VII. P. and C. (from the 25th ult.) commem. of St. Silverius, P. and M.-White. In the archdiocese of Tuam, Mass of St. Venantius, M. (from the 18th ult.)-Red. In the DD. of Kildare, Derry, and Dromore, Mass of St. Peter Calestine, (from 19th ult.)- White. In the DD. of Ardfert and Clonfert, Mass of St. John Nepomucene, M. (from 21st ult.)-Red. June 21.-SATURDAY. Mass of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, C.-White. DUBLIN: Stereotyped, Printed and Published, by T. & J. COLDWELL, 50, Capel-street, Sold also by the Catholic Book Society, 5, Essex-Bridge; R. Coyne, 4, Capel-street; R. Grace aud Son 45, Capel-street; J. Coyue, 24, Cook-street; Willmer and Smita Liverpool; D. Kennedy, Glasgow; J. O'Donnell, Edinburgh, &c. &c. |