Part 1
[Transcriber's note: This production is based on https://archive.org/details/fiveminutesermon02unknuoft/page/n6 Pages 46 and 47 are missing from the image file. Additional citations indicated by "USCCB", are based on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Bible found at http://usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible.]
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Five-minute Sermons
for
Low Masses
on
All Sundays Of The Year,
By
Priests Of The Congregation Of St. Paul.
Volume II.
New York: The Catholic Publication Society Co.,
9 Barclay Street.
London: Burns & Oates. 1886
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Copyright, 1886, by I. T. Hecker.
All Rights Reserved.
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Preface.
Repeated and urgent requests from both clergy and laity have induced the publication of this second volume of Five-Minute Sermons. They have all been preached in the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York, and published weekly in the _Catholic Review_. Choice has been made of such as are really little sermons, since there are many excellent manuals from which purely doctrinal instructions may be prepared. Yet they all contain, it is hoped, a solid basis of doctrine plainly put and appropriately illustrated. The main object is, however, to edify, to quicken the moral perceptions, and to move in a reasonable degree the religious emotions.
Nearly all of these sermons may serve as skeletons for discourses of greater length; a fuller treatment of the topics, by means of familiar illustrations and more copious extracts from Scripture, will fit them for use at High Mass, or on Sunday evenings.
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Contents.
First Sunday of Advent: Sermon I. The Spirit of Advent, 14 Sermon II. The Graces of Advent, 16 Sermon III. St. John the Baptist, 18
Second Sunday of Advent: Sermon IV. Fair-weather Christians, 23 Sermon V. The Immaculate Conception, 25 Sermon VI. The Total Abstinence Pledge, 28
Third Sunday of Advent: Sermon VII. Bad Company, 32 Sermon VIII. The Voice in the Wilderness, 34 Sermon IX. Penance, 37
Fourth Sunday of Advent: Sermon X. Fruits of Penance, 41 Sermon XI. Preparation for Christmas, 43 Sermon XII. Christmas Eve, 46
Sunday within the Octave of Christmas: Sermon XIII. Christmas Joy, 50 Sermon XIV. New Year's Eve, 52 Sermon XV. The Feast of the Holy Innocents, 55
The Epiphany: Sermon XVI. The Testimony of the Spirit, 59 Sermon XVII. Following God's Guidance, 63
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First Sunday after Epiphany: Sermon XVIII. The Christian Home, 67 Sermon XIX. Jesus Teaching in the Temple, 70 Sermon XX. How our Saviour takes away Sin, 72
Second Sunday after Epiphany: Sermon XXI. Profanity, 76 Sermon XXII. The Sin of Cursing, 79 Sermon XXIII. Reverence for the Name of God, 82
Third Sunday after Epiphany: Sermon XXIV. Practical Faith, 86 Sermon XXV. Living up to our Faith, 89 Sermon XXVI. The Sacrament of Matrimony, 91
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany: Sermon XXVII. The Ingratitude of Children, 95 Sermon XXVIII. Love of our Neighbor, 98
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany: Sermon XXIX. The Christian Family, 102 Sermon XXX. The Duty of Good Example, 105 Sermon XXXI. Bearing one another's Burdens, 108
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany: Sermon XXXII. How to make Converts, 113 Sermon XXXIII. The Blessings of the Faith, 116 Sermon XXXIV. Good Example as a means of making Converts, 118
Septuagesima Sunday: Sermon XXXV. Bodily Mortification, 123 Sermon XXXVI. Sudden Death, 126 Sermon XXXVII Life's Purpose, 129
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Sexagesima Sunday: Sermon XXXVIII. Perseverance after a Mission, 134 Sermon XXXIX. Good Seed but no Harvest, 137 Sermon XL. The Uses of Temptation, 140
Quinquagesima Sunday: Sermon XLI. The Qualities of Christian Charity, 144 Sermon XLII. Delay of Repentance, 147 Sermon XLIII. Lenten Obligations, 150
First Sunday of Lent: Sermon XLIV. The Merit of Pasting and Abstinence, 154 Sermon XLV. Difficulties of Fasting, 157 Sermon XLVI. Wasted Opportunities, 159
Second Sunday of Lent: Sermon XLVII. The Joy of Penance, 164 Sermon XLVIII. Christian Perfection not Impossible, 167 Sermon XLIX. The Divine Presence in our Churches, 170
Third Sunday of Lent: Sermon L. Immodest Language, 174 Sermon LI. Honorary Church-Members, 177 Sermon LII. Half-hearted Christians, 180
Fourth Sunday of Lent: Sermon LIII. The Happiness of True Penance, 184 Sermon LIV. Liberty of Spirit, 187 Sermon LV. The Lust of the Eyes, 190
Passion Sunday: Sermon LVI. The Precious Blood, 194 Sermon LVII. Christ's Passion, 197 Sermon LVIII. Dangerous Companionship, 199
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Palm Sunday: Sermon LIX. Hardness of Heart, 203 Sermon LX. Spirit of Holy Week, 205
Easter Sunday: Sermon LXI. Easter Joy, 210 Sermon LXII. Easter and the Love of God, 212 Sermon LXIII. The Triumph of Christ, 215
Low Sunday: Sermon LXIV. How to use God's Gifts, 219 Sermon LXV. The Christian's Peace, 222 Sermon LXVI. True and Lasting Peace, 224
Second Sunday after Easter: Sermon LXVII. The Good Shepherd, 229 Sermon LXVIII. Dead Faith, 232 Sermon LXIX. Suffering False Accusations, 234
Third Sunday after Easter-- Feast of the Patronage of St. Joseph: Sermon LXX. Devotion to St. Joseph, 240 Sermon LXXI. Christ and the Church, 242
Fourth Sunday after Easter: Sermon LXXII. Evil Conversation, 246 Sermon LXXIII. Temptation, 248
Fifth Sunday after Easter: Sermon LXXIV. Sins of the Tongue, 252 Sermon LXXV. Perseverance in Prayer, 255
Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension: Sermon LXXVI. After a Mission, 259 Sermon LXXVII. Bearing Witness for our Lord, 261 Sermon LXXVIII. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, 263
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Feast of Pentecost, or Whit-Sunday: Sermon LXXIX. The Holy Ghost in the Church, 268 Sermon LXXX. The Guidance of the Holy Spirit, 271 Sermon LXXXI. The Easter Duty, 273
Trinity Sunday: Sermon LXXXII. The Divine Majesty, 277 Sermon LXXXIII. The Mystery of the Holy Trinity, 279 Sermon LXXXIV. The Divine Judgment, 282
Second Sunday after Pentecost, and Sunday within the Octave of Corpus Christi: Sermon LXXXV. Holy Communion, 286 Sermon LXXXVI. The Sacred Heart of Jesus, 289 Sermon LXXXVII. Ingratitude, 291
Third Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon LXXXVIII. Sinful Amusements, 295 Sermon LXXXIX. Divine Providence, 297 Sermon XC. How to Bear Burdens, 300
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon XCI. How to Suffer, 304 Sermon XCII. Good Works done in Mortal Sin, 306 Sermon XCIII. Fishing for Men, 309
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon XCIV. Forgiveness of Injuries, 314 Sermon XCV. Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, 316
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon XCVI. The Divine Bounty, 321 Sermon XCVII. Feast of St. John the Baptist, 324 Sermon XCVIII. Idleness, 326
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Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon XCIX. Mortal Sin the Death of the Soul, 330 Sermon C. False Prophets, 332 Sermon CI. The Last Sin, 334
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CII. Spirit and Flesh, 339 Sermon CIII. The Business of the Soul, 342 Sermon CIV. The Judgments of God, 344
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CV. Justice and Mercy, 349 Sermon CVI. Neglect of Divine Warnings, 351 Sermon CVII. Living from Day to Day, 354
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CVIII. Sympathy for Sinners, 358 Sermon CIX. Morning Prayers, 360 Sermon CX. Feast of St. Mary Magdalen, 363
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXI. Want of Confidence in God, 367 Sermon CXII. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, 369 Sermon CXIII. Gratitude, 373
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXIV. The Good Samaritan, 377 Sermon CXV. Our Neighbors, 380 Sermon CXVI. Occasions of Sin, 382
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXVII. Thanksgiving, 387 Sermon CXVIII. Shamelessness in Sinning, 389 Sermon CXIX. Dangers of Venial Sin, 392
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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXX. The Poverty of Christ, 396 Sermon CXXI. Brotherly Love, 399 Sermon CXXII. Religion for Week-Days, 401
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXXIII. The Fruits of a Bad Life, 406 Sermon CXXIV. Sins of Parents, 408 Sermon CXXV. The Law of Charity, 411
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXXVI. Christian Humility, 415 Sermon CXXVII. Vanity, 418 Sermon CXXVIII. Behavior in Church, 420
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXXIX. Prayer for Sinners, 425 Sermon CXXX. The Christian Vocation, 427 Sermon CXXXI. Erroneous Views of Vocation, 430
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXXXII. Presumption of God's Mercy, 435 Sermon CXXXIII. Drunkenness, 437 Sermon CXXXIV. The Dignity and Happiness of Obedience, 440
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXXXV. Lying, 444 Sermon CXXXVI. Truthfulness 447 Sermon CXXXVII. White Lies, 449
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXXXVIII. Christian Marriage, 453 Sermon CXXXIX. Mortification of our Lower Nature, 455 Sermon CXL. The Value of Time, 458
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Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXLI. Forgiveness of Injuries, 462 Sermon CXLII. Gossiping, 465 Sermon CXLIII. Mixed Marriages, 467
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXLIV. Obedience to the Civil Authorities, 472 Sermon CXLV. Thanksgiving Day 475 Sermon CXLVI. The Communion of Saints, 477
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CXLVII. Mixed Marriages, 481 Sermon CXLVIII. Imitation of the Saints, 484 Sermon CXLIX. Heaven, 486
Twenty-fourth or Last Sunday after Pentecost: Sermon CL. Marrying out of the Church, 491 Sermon CLI. Joy in God's Service, 494 Sermon CLII. Forgive and be Forgiven, 497
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_First Sunday of Advent_.
Epistle. _Romans xiii._ 11-14,
Brethren: Know that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light; let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel. _St. Luke xxi._ 25-33.
At that time Jesus said to his disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves, men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved: and then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass look up and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand. And he spoke to them a similitude. See the fig-tree, and all the trees: when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
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Sermon I.
The Spirit Of Advent.
_It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep._ --Romans xiii. 11.
This life of ours is made up of beginnings. After the rest of the night we have on each succeeding day to begin again our round of work, and then comes the night again, when our work must be laid aside. So, too, does the life of our souls consist in great part of beginnings, though in the great work of saving our souls there should be no such thing as rest. This work must be unceasing, until that night comes wherein no man can work, the night of death, when our great Master shall demand of us an account of our labor. On this day, then, which is the beginning of the Church's year, it is well for us to pause and ask ourselves how we are fulfilling the task that is set before us. Are our souls asleep? Have our consciences been lulled into a false security concerning the state of our immortal souls? Are we careless or indifferent about the one thing needful for us--our soul's salvation?
To each and every one of us to-day come the warning words of the Apostle, "Brethren, know that it is now the hour for us to arise from sleep." Now is the time for us to shake off our slothfulness, to rouse ourselves from our dangerous state of idleness and inactivity, to cast off the works of darkness and clothe ourselves in the armor of light, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and, arrayed in the strength which he gives, to walk honestly as in the day. "The night is passed," says St. Paul. {15} God grant that for each one of us the dark night of mortal sin may be for ever past and gone; that its terrible gloom may never again settle down upon our souls, shutting out the light of heaven, the pure and radiant light of God's grace. For "the day is at hand," the day of reckoning, the day of wrath and terror, when we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. The Church to-day warns us of the approach of that time. Year by year, day by day, hour by hour it is drawing nearer. "For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
Yes, our salvation if we have been faithful, or our eternal damnation if God's judgment overtake us in the state of mortal sin. Therefore it is that the Church, upon this first Sunday of Advent, lifts up her voice to warn us of the coming of our Lord, telling us of his near approach, and bidding us to prepare to meet him. Will you heed this warning, or will you still put off the day of your conversion to God? Beware! God's warning may be given you to-day for the last time. "Behold, now is the acceptable time"; "it is now the hour to rise from sleep." There is still time for you to turn from your sins and begin again to serve God. Perhaps you have tried before and then have fallen back into old ways and habits of sin. Begin again. We must always be beginning if we would make any progress. We must examine our consciences at the end of each day, and find out how we have offended God, make earnest resolutions for the morrow, and then begin each day with the determination to avoid the faults of the day before. This is a sure means of perseverance.
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And this beginning of the Christian year is a good time to take a fresh start in the affairs of our souls. During Advent the Church brings to our minds the consideration of the four last things. Death and judgment, heaven or hell are awaiting us. Begin this day, then, as though it were to be your last day on earth, and on each succeeding day for the rest of your life keep up this practice. "For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness" now at the beginning of this holy season. Drunkenness, impurity, contention, and envy are, alas! far too common amongst us. "Let them be not so much as named among you, as becometh saints," mindful of your high calling in Christ. Then when the Judge appears, he will find you ready to meet him. Having begun each day with the intention of serving God, you will then be ready and fit to begin that day which shall have no end in that heavenly city which "needeth not sun nor moon to shine in it; for the glory of the Lord hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof."
Sermon II.
The Graces Of Advent.
_The night is past, and the day is at hand. Let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ._ --Epistle of the Day.
To-day, dear brethren, we enter upon the season of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. For "the night is past and the day is at hand." "The day-spring, the Brightness of the everlasting Light, the Sun of righteousness," is come "to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
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To give light to them that have been unfaithful to God's grace, to call them back--to turn them to a new life--this is the mission of our Saviour; and this is the call he makes upon us to-day--that we should return to him, "the Ruler of the house of Israel, who didst appear to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law in Sinai."
You, dear brethren, were taught that law when the first rays of the light of reason lit up your soul. God wrote it on your hearts; you heard it from your parents lips; your teachers bade you love it and keep it. But have you done so? Have you not become like those whom of old God taught, and who would not listen, but went after false gods, who bowed down before idols of gold and silver, of wood and clay?
Have you not bowed down like them when you preferred money-getting to serving God; when you were willing, for the sake of gold and silver, to risk the loss of your immortal souls? Have you not bowed down when you chose to gratify your lower instincts at the cost of your spiritual ruin? Have you not bowed down to idols of clay when you have steeped yourselves in drunkenness, in impurities, in the many sins of the flesh? Oh! surely you have need of the "wisdom that cometh out of the mouth of the Most High" to teach you "the way of prudence." Oh! surely you have need of "the Orient from on high," for you "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
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But, dear brethren, "the night is past." "Let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness"; "let us walk honestly." Oh! "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." "Behold Emmanuel, our King and Law giver," he for whom the nations sighed and their salvation, has come to save us--to save men whom he has made from the dust of the earth.
Dear brethren, shall we be slow to go to him who comes with healing for our immortal souls? Tell it out among the people, and say, "Behold, God our Saviour cometh. Emmanuel is his name, and his name is great. Behold, he is my God, and I will glorify him; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord our Law-giver, the Lord our King, cometh to save us."
Begin this day to prepare for the joyous feast of Christmas. Cleanse your hearts by prayer and fasting; come to the sacraments and be washed in the blood of your Redeemer; come to his table and break the bread of true friendship, that the joy of your heart may be full when we shall celebrate that day of days, when the Word which "was made flesh dwelt among us." Truly "we have seen his glory," and "of his fulness we have all received." Let us never forget his mercy; let us remember "that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep."
Sermon III.
St. John The Baptist.
_The angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John; and thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth._ --Luke i. 13.
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These words, my brethren, were spoken by the Angel Gabriel to Zachary, the father of St. John the Baptist, while he was engaged with his religious duties in the temple at Jerusalem. Before giving the account of the angel's visit St. Luke informs us that Zachary and his wife, Elizabeth, were both acceptable to God and obedient to the divine law. There are few who have received such commendation in the pages of Holy Scripture. It might have been surmised that Zachary led a good life, practising the virtues and avoiding the vices, since he belonged to the Jewish priesthood. Yet we find that his wife, Elizabeth, is mentioned as deserving equal praise with himself, for it is stated that "_they were both_ just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame."
Such is the brief account that St. Luke has given of the parents of St. John the Baptist. Though brief, it is enough to show that any son might well feel proud of parents such as they were--blameless in the sight of God. For many years they had lived together in the hill-country of Judea, conscientiously performing their duties, and cherishing the hope that they would be rewarded for their good actions. Like the rest of the Jews who remained faithful to the laws promulgated by Moses and the prophets, which God had made for Israel, they prayed earnestly for the coming of the Messias, the Orient from on high, who was ardently expected to descend from his throne in heaven in order to enlighten those in darkness and in the shadow of death, directing their steps into the way of peace. While serving God by strict fidelity to the commandments, they did not anticipate that an angel would be sent to visit them; they did not know until advanced in age that a son would be born to them who would be called the prophet of the Most High, the precursor of the son of David, appointed to prepare his ways.
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