Sermon Xxviii On The Dedication Of The Church: Of The Five Lamps Of The Temple
SERMON XXVIII
ON THE DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH: OF THE FIVE LAMPS OF THE TEMPLE
MY house shall be called the house of prayer, saith the Lord. Beloved brethren, to-day is the solemn festival of the dedication of our Church; which ought to be devoutly and joyously celebrated by all dwelling in this place: and which ought to uplift the minds of those who keep it to the heavenly bliss of the angels. For unto this is every Church built and dedicated: that therein the worship of divine praise be performed: and the prayers of the faithful merit to be more speedily and fully heard by God in the holy place. Now the Church of God is much adorned and illuminated: if these following five acts of worship be exercised therein: and as heavenly lamps be carefully kept that they may give light in the temple of God.
The first that shines forth among other acts of divine worship and lights up the house of prayer: and excites those that enter the Church to pray, and enkindles the hearts of the faithful in divine love; is when priests clothed with the sacred vestments, reverently go up to the altar, devoutly celebrate Masses: and for themselves and for the common people offer the sacrifice supremely pleasing to God, and piously intercede.
The second that chiefly adorns the house of God and gives splendour to the choirs of clerics: is when the canonical Hours instituted by the Church are daily duly rendered in their seasons by clerics and religious: and all things that are to be recited and sung are reverently and beseemingly performed and accomplished to the honour of God: and all levity, noise and disorder are as far as possible strictly avoided.
The third which brings exceeding beauty and light to the house of God: is when the word of God is frequently preached with fervour by priests, pastors and doctors to the Christian people, to kings and princes, to old and young, to small and great, and they are terrified as by a heavenly trumpet with punishments not to sin: and are comforted with eternal rewards not to despair. For holy priests and preachers shall have great rewards, who instruct many by their life and teaching: and by frequent admonition draw and lead them to virtue. Whence of our holy Father Augustine the glorious doctor of holy Church we read and sing: that he preached the word of God in the holy Church unceasingly, readily and mightily, with sound mind and clear intelligence even to his last illness. Who by the help of God lived long in virtue for the salvation of many writing books and teaching the ignorant: and he magnificently enriched, adorned and enlightened holy Church by the multitude of his books. Whom for the excellence of his merits it is right to praise: and with filial affection ever to honour and suppliantly to beseech; that we may be able to follow him on the right path to Christ reigning in Heaven: Whom he so burningly loved and praised in hymns and psalms while he was on earth.
Fourthly the house of God is much beautified and brightened by frequent visiting of the Church to hear the word of God: and to keep the law of life and discipline which leads to the country of eternal radiance and peace. For those who desire happily to attain after death the joys of the heavenly kingdom: should now while they are in health and life, frequently visit the house of God, and willingly hear sermons: often make confession, seek and pray for indulgences. Time is short: and the hour of health uncertain. He therefore who now does not repent and amend; after the door is shut shall stand without and shall not obtain mercy: he shall cry mourning, nor shall he be heard when he weeps. Happy the people and very praiseworthy: which leaving vain sights, hastens betimes to the house of prayer and to the preaching of the divine word: giving thanks to God for blessings received: and praying for more to come. A beautiful sight: to see the temple of God on all sides full of the faithful: and the market at rest from the business of the world.
Fifthly the Church of God is decked and illumined by the frequent and common prayer of many, both of the clergy and of the whole Christian people, urgently beseeching God: for the divers intentions and needs of all in want, sound and sick, living and dead. These five lamps are very necessary and useful in every Church; they excellently adorn the house of prayer: and as five burning lights illuminate the temple of God: and show the right way to the Jerusalem above and the heavenly dwelling. Wherever therefore in the Church these devout and holy offices are reverently and diligently performed in their due time: there God dwells, there He presides, teaches and rules: as blessed John says in the Apocalypse: “Behold the tabernacle of God with men: and He will dwell with them.” Having therefore shut out all noise and gossip with jesting: it is befitting and right to do naught else in the house of prayer and the holy place; save what most pleases God and edifies the neighbours: and belongs especially to the divine worship. What things then that aid the grace of devotion, and the sweetness of the canticles and the understanding of the words: these should be weighed in the heart, and with rejoicing mouth uttered to the praise of God. All vicious and idle discourses are everywhere to be shunned: but nevertheless especially in the temple of God, in the court of the sovereign King, in the sanctuary of the Holy Ghost, in the sight of the angels and the heavenly citizens, in the presence of the spirits above. Highly venerable therefore is this place foreseen from eternity by God, and chosen and set aside to serve Him with His ministers and sacred vessels: and in the time preordained, by the hands of the Bishop consecrated and adorned with many holy relics. In which place indeed human things are united with divine, the lowest with the highest, earthly with heavenly: through the sacraments of Christ which are there handled and celebrated by the priests in Masses. What the holy angels do in Heaven, this also the faithful ought to do on earth: to wit, praise and bless God with all their strength: and magnify Him above all saints and creatures, for His gifts and blessings. And if not with such dignity and cheerfulness as the angels: nevertheless ever yone should strive to do according to the power of his weakness and fit himself, that he may always praise God perfectly with the angels: love Him above all, and in all things bless. If thou canst not make music with the lips of thy mouth: thou shouldst cry to God with the sighs of the heart. If thou art hoarse or unmelodious, cease not from praise: nor withdraw from the divine worship; but listen to what is sung and recited by others: and rejoice with them that sing well. If thou canst not sing so beautifully as the larks and nightingales: sing and praise mournfully like the crows and the frogs in the marsh: who sing as God has given and nature has allowed. Be not puffed up, jackdaw, for the loudness of thy voice: for thou knowest not how long thou shalt last and sing high. The voice indeed of a humble and contrite heart: sounds well in the ears of God almighty, Who hears all things. Sing and praise God in the voice of exultation, mindful nevertheless of thy own vileness with fear of trouble to come. Sing humbly with holy David in the psalm: “Let my heart rejoice that it may fear Thy name.” Who so faithful in all things as David going forth at the bidding of the king; who was a soldier by day fighting valiantly, a monk by night rising cheerfully and praying devoutly? If thou canst not with St. John the evangelist contemplate things lofty and divine: fall down with Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus humbly imploring pardon and weeping for thy sins: that thou mayest receive remission of the many sins, whereby thou hast often offended God. If thou canst not with St. Paul fly to the third Heaven: thou shouldst remain with him by Jesus crucified, not glorying in the flesh: but crucifying the flesh with its vices and concupiscences. If thou hast not the wings of an eagle which flies to the stars of Heaven; have the wings of the simple dove which builds her nest in the rock: daily meditating the most holy wounds of Jesus. For humble Francis found more holiness and sweetness in the Passion of Christ: than a subtle astronomer in gazing upon the stars of Heaven. Forsaking therefore things vain and useless, study in the Life and Passion of Christ: and it will profit thee more than all the arts of the world. If thou wishest to be comforted from Heaven: flee men and the news of the world. Be willingly alone with the Lord: and seek solace within in devout prayers and holy meditations. Nothing is more wholesome, nothing sweeter, nothing more pleasant; than to praise God in hymns and psalms: and to have the heart aloft with the angels in Heaven, leaving aside all things below. Such a one may say in rapture of spirit: “I was mindful of God alone in the joy of my heart.” Truly the Lord is in this place: this is naught else but the house of God and the gate of Heaven. Open to me the gates, ye holy angels: and I will sing with you the name of the Lord my God for ever and ever. But woe to him, who knowingly thinks of vain things amid divine: and with a perverse mind turns over things offensive. Woe to him who fancies unclean idols: and neglects the precious wounds of Christ: and fears not to suffer the torments of hell. Woe to him who there is silent and sleeps: where he ought to watch and pray. Woe to the idle and dissolute, and to the late comers; who look round the walls with roving eyes: and heed not the sweet psalms. Woe to them that often think of food and drink: and consider little and rarely mourn for the pains of the souls in Purgatory. If any one was there for an hour he would never feel weariness in choir: nor sadness in fasting: nor fatigue in toil. Blessed all religious and devout servants of God, cheerful in divine worship, studious in reading and writing books: who restrain themselves and others from light words: and faithfully pray for their benefactors and all the troubled and tempted: whose number is very great: better known to God than to men. Whoever then is thankful and faithful in small and present gifts: he shall be worthy to receive greater from God in Heaven. To do aught negligently in the Divine Office: will not go unpunished. Take care and fear lest the alms cry out against you that they have been ill spent: and the Hours often heedlessly recited and accomplished. From which evils may Jesus Christ deliver us; forgive us all our trespasses: and after the perils of this life happily lead us to the heavenly kingdoms. Amen.