“True National Honor”: A Sermon by Cardinal James Gibbons (1834-1921)

Last updated on: July 22, 2012 at 9:09 am by Pat McNamara

“True National Honor”: A Sermon by Cardinal James Gibbons (1834-1921) 2012-07-22T09:09:25-06:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. “CHRIST THE ONLY ENDURING NAME IN HISTORY AND THE GREAT REFORMER OF SOCIETY.” Matt. xxiv., 15-35. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus Christ is the only vital and enduring name in history. He exerts today a paramount influence on the political and social, as well as on the moral and religious world, such as was ever wielded by any earthly ruler. In contrast with the founders of empires, of systems of religion, and of the framers of laws, we may say of Him in the language of Holy Writ: “They shall perish, but Thou shalt remain, and of them all shall grow old as a garment. And a vesture Thou shalt change them and they shall be changed, but Thou, O Christ, are always the self-same, and Thy years shall not fail.” Kings and emperors have sought in various ways to perpetuate their name and fame. But their deeds and personality have faded away in the lapse of ages; or they have left after them the shadow of a once mighty name, which now invokes no enthusiasms and inspires no lofty sentiments. Other leaders have captured cities; Christ has captured the citadel of the heart. Christ, then, is not merely a man of history. He is not like other great men who have appeared on the theater of life, have played their part and have disappeared from view. He is not a meteor that flashed across the firmament of the world and was suddenly extinguished. No; He is the Sun of Justice shining on men down through the ages, enlightening their minds, warming their hearts, and causing the fruits of sanctification and grace to grow in their souls. Countless multitudes of hungering souls are following Our Saviour today, as they followed Him of old into the desert, and are receiving from Him the bread of heavenly consolation. Oh! How many a desolate heart cries out to Him in its anguish with Peter and says: “Lord, to whom shall we go but Thee! Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Christ is the only living force that can regenerate society. He is the only genuine social reformer. The nation is sick, and the malady is all the more dangerous because the patient is unconscious of the disease. We are so intoxicated by material prosperity that we are become indifferent to the higher aspirations of the soul. If Christianity is the highest type of civilization and who can deny then is it not true that we are retrograding instead of advancing on certain lines? Thou, who art the Father of Light and the Dispenser of every good and perfect gift, cast a ray of Thy Divine Light on our beloved country, that the spiritual and moral growth of the nation may keep pace with its material prosperity. Teach us to realize that saving knowledge consists in knowing and worshipping Thee, “the only true God and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent.” Teach us that he alone is free who enjoys the glorious liberty of the children of God, and that freedom which delivers us from the bondage of sin; that he alone is truly rich who abounds in grace and righteousness; that he alone is great who is virtuous. Abov all, may we learn from Thee that true national honor and glory and genuine imperialism is found in the empire of the soul over its passions, and “that greater is he who conquereth himself than he who taketh cities.”

James Cardinal Gibbons, Discourses and Sermons, for Every Sunday and the Principal Festivals of the Year (Baltimore: J. Murphy Company, 1908), 518-525.

NOTE: James Gibbons was Archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 to 1921.

Bishops

Maryland Catholicism

Sermons

Previous Post

July 21, 2012

Catholic Poetry

Next Post

July 23, 2012 Eliza Allen Starr (1824-1901), Convert and Poet

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul Jesus Peter Moses