Sermons by the Fathers of the Congregation of St. Paul the Apostle, Volume VI

In Short

This volume is a compilation of homilies delivered by the Paulist Fathers in New York City in 1871. It addresses the practical and spiritual challenges faced by their parishioners, ranging from the necessity of personal piety and the sacraments to the social sins of the era, such as intemperance. By blending rigorous theological instruction with urgent moral appeals, the book offers a snapshot of Catholic life in post-Civil War America, emphasizing the struggle to maintain religious identity amidst an increasingly secular and skeptical society.

The Story

The progression of these sermons mirrors the rhythm of the liturgical year and the trajectory of a Christian life. It begins by establishing the necessity of gratitude, urging the reader to recognize the "tender mercies of the Lord" as the foundation for a renewed spiritual commitment. This foundation allows for a deeper examination of the life of Christ, from the humility of the Nativity to the profound sacrifice of the Paschal Supper. The sermons move from these contemplative moments into the active duties of the faithful, contrasting the "shadow of happiness" offered by worldly vices—specifically the degradation caused by the liquor trade—with the true, enduring peace found in spiritual labor.

As the narrative of the sermons advances, the focus shifts to the urgency of preparation. The reader is presented with the stark reality that life is a limited opportunity for merit; the "wedding garment" of divine grace must be kept unspotted, and the "talents" bestowed by God must be cultivated before the final hour arrives. The authors do not shy away from the somber reality of judgment, yet they balance this with an emphasis on the comforting, restorative power of the Holy Ghost and the sacraments.

The latter portion of the book broadens its scope to address the role of the Church in the public sphere. It frames the defense of the Pope’s temporal sovereignty not merely as a political struggle, but as an essential element of the Church’s mission to maintain order and morality in a chaotic world. The argument culminates in a call to arms for the individual believer: to stand fast in the faith, to resist the influence of a skeptical press, and to recognize that the Church is the "ark of safety" for humanity. By the end, the sermons move from the internal life of the heart to the external duty of the citizen-believer. The final message is one of persistent, active charity, urging the reader to treat all neighbors with a love that reflects the divine patience and kindness of Christ, thereby ensuring that every small action serves as a step toward their final destination in the kingdom of heaven.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of gratitude The opening sermons establish a tone of reflective praise, encouraging the reader to review the past year’s blessings as a catalyst for future spiritual growth. This initial focus on God’s mercy sets the stage for the personal obligations that follow.

The call to reflection and repentance The sermons shift to the liturgical seasons of Epiphany and Lent, demanding a move away from superficial observations toward a deep, inward commemoration of the Passion. Readers are urged to treat these times as critical windows for soul-searching and the mending of past failures.

The critique of modern society A central section confronts the specific social ills of the 19th century, identifying the "dram-seller" as a primary engine of ruin and despair. This section contrasts the false promises of material excess with the sobering, eternal consequences of a life lived for physical gratification.

The defense of the Church The discourse moves toward the nature of authority, arguing for the necessity of the Papacy as the visible anchor of divine truth. It positions the reader as a participant in a grand, historical struggle for the preservation of faith against secular indifference.

The final preparation The concluding sermons return to the individual, emphasizing the urgency of using one's remaining time on earth to prepare for eternity. They leave the reader with a practical guide to living, highlighting virtues such as modesty, patience, and the importance of fraternal charity.

The People

The central figures are not fictional characters, but the archetypes of the Catholic moral landscape. The "Dram-seller" represents the calculated, profit-driven indifference that threatens the community, serving as a foil to the "faithful Christian" who is called to resist him. The "Sovereign Pontiff" is presented as the vital, divinely appointed guide whose authority is the bedrock of the believer's security.

The most poignant figure is the individual "soul," portrayed as a traveler on a precarious journey. This soul is constantly tempted by the "shadows of happiness" but is given the tools—the sacraments and the guidance of the Church—to find its way back to its Creator. The "priest" also emerges as a key figure, acting as the necessary representative of Christ, tasked with the "edification of the body of Christ." Finally, the image of "St. Paul" looms large, not as a remote saint, but as a model of how to glory in one's own infirmities, proving that human weakness is no obstacle to the power of the Gospel. These figures collectively illustrate a world where everyone is a participant in a high-stakes drama of salvation.

In Its Own Voice

"I will remember the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the Lord for all the things that the Lord hath bestowed upon us."

This verse from Isaiah serves as the guiding principle for the opening sermon on the importance of gratitude.

"The dram-seller lives and thrives with us, too--the vender of the shadow of happiness, and dealer in ignorance, disease, degradation, poverty, ruined reputations, strifes, jealousies, insanity, delirium tremens, and dishonored and early graves."

The author uses this blistering description to characterize the social impact of the 19th-century liquor trade on the urban poor.

"There is a strange beauty about that face, a beauty which at once attracts and awes the beholder, and, what is more, the countenance tells of the hidden beauty of his soul."

This reflection on the appearance of Jesus during the Paschal Supper captures the reverence inherent in the book’s Christological meditations.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is an inquiry into the nature of true versus false happiness. It argues that the modern world—characterized by its focus on material progress, secular education, and the abandonment of traditional authority—is fundamentally incapable of satisfying the human soul. The sermons propose that the only path to genuine fulfillment lies in a total, humble submission to the divine will as mediated through the Catholic Church. The underlying questions are existential: Does life have a purpose beyond the immediate? How does one maintain a spiritual identity in a culture that treats the afterlife as a fable? The book answers these with an unwavering insistence that the individual’s daily choices are the literal building blocks of their eternal destiny.

Why Read It Today

This volume will appeal most to readers interested in the history of American religious thought and those who appreciate the rhetorical power of the 19th-century pulpit. It offers a rare, unfiltered look at how religious leaders communicated with their flocks during an era of significant social upheaval. The prose is earnest, rhythmic, and uncompromising, often reflecting the stark moral binaries of its time.

A modern reader should be prepared for the book's intense focus on the social problems of the 1870s, particularly its aggressive stance against the "dram-seller," which reflects the specific temperance movements of the period. The language is formal and occasionally ornate, consistent with the Victorian oratorical style. While some readers may find the insistence on ecclesiastical authority and the harshness of the warnings about mortality challenging, these features are essential to understanding the book’s integrity. Reading this is an act of historical observation; it feels like sitting in a pew in a bustling New York parish, hearing a voice that is both deeply concerned for the welfare of its listeners and entirely confident in the truth it presents. What stays with the reader is the persistent call to look past the fleeting nature of daily life and consider the weight of the eternal.