USA > Kansas > Rawlins County > Beardsley > Souvenir commemorating the dedication of St. John's Church, Beardsley, Kansas, May 31st, 1917 > Part 4
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Even as this first revelation, so also His public life in ge- neral, bespoke kindness and mercy towards all. "Come to me all, that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you". Such is the principle showing forth from His entire life. The Apo- stle expresses it shortly by saying: "Jesus went about doing good to all". He sits at table with sinners and when reproached for it, He replies ; that He is not come for the healthy, but for those who are sick ; a publican who had heard of Jesus, climbs up into a tree, to see Him pass by ; Jesus when coming near, bids him come down and honors Him by a visit, thus giving him occasion to become His disciple. They being before Him a woman, who had grieviously sinned against the law, in order that He pass a severe sentence upon her, and He answers: "He that is without sin, among you, let him first cast a stone at her". His love and mercy extended even to the heartless sol- diers who crucified Him and then mocked Him in His nameless agony ; even upon these He called down the mercy and forgive- ness of His heavenly Father.
Thus this picture of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, Is indeed full of joy and consolation for us; it reminds us, how the whole life of this infant corresponded to His first message to mankind; it reminds everyone that a Saviour has been born unto him, who is offering him mercy and pardon and grace, if he sincerely asks Him for it.
FOURTH NORTH PANEL: THE INSTRUMENTS OF CHRIST'S PASSION.
This picture points to the sacred passion and death of our divine Saviour for the redemption of the world. It represents to the principal instruments which were used at His death, hence it recalls the thrilling events which began in that night when Jesus delivered Himself freely into the hands of His enemies in the garden of Olives and closed with His death up- on the cross on the next day.
The pious Christian, when meditating upon the instru- ments of Christs passion, follows his divine Saviour in deep pity from the garden into the city to judge Pilate, where Jesus was cruelly scourged and a crown of thorns pressed upon His sacred head. Finally Pilate, in his cowardice, passes upon Je- sus the sentence of death, although he had repeatedly declared Him to be innocent. In heartfelt emotion the meditating Chri- stian follows Jesus, as He carries the heavy cross through the city up to the hill of Calvary, where the appalling sentence of crucifixion is carried out. Those hands, which had so often
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been raised to bless and bestow benefits upon men, and which had only in the past night been folded again in prayer for us, those hands are now stretched out by those ruthless soldiers, pierced with large nails and fastened to the cross; likewise His sacred feet, which had made so many steps after the erring sheep for their salvation. Thus Jesus is nailed to the cross, alive, unable to move a limb, who would be able to describe His sufferings? The cross is raised and Christ hangs three hours upon it amidst agonizing tortures. In His burning thirst a sponge filled with gall and vinegar is offered to Him, which instead of quenching His thirst, made it even more painful, hence this sponge is counted among the instruments of Christ's passion as seen on our picture. After three hours Jesus expires, and a soldier, to ascertain His death, thrusts his spear into the side of the sacred body, piercing His very heart, for this rea- son we see a spear represented on our painting. The sacred bo- dy of Jesus was then taken down from the cross and laid into a tomb in a close by garden, there to await the glorious resur- rection of Easter morning.
Such is in short the touching history which the instru- ments of Christ's sacred passion relate to us. The Church re- calls these events to our mind especially during the season of Lent, that we may piously meditate upon them and thereby bring about in our soul a spiritual resurrection, namely the re- surrection from sin and our final salvation, which was the ve- ry aim of Christ's bitter passion and death.
FIFTH NORTH PANEL: REQUISITES FOR MASS.
This picture recalls to a Catholic the most touching proof of our Saviour's love towards mankind; namely the miraculous means, by which He made it possible for Himself to remain among us here on earth truly and substantially, even after visi- bly departing from the world. We call this mercy the institu- tion of the Blessed Eucharist, which took place at the Last Supper, the night before Jesus died.
Holy Scripture relates the details of this miracle in most clear language; thus we read in the gospel of St. Mathew : "And while they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke and gave to His disciples and said: Take ye and cat, this is My body ; and taking the chalice He gave thanks and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this, for this is My blood of the New Testament." At the same time He empow- ered and commanded also His disciples and their successors to renew this ceremony until the end of time in his remembrance.
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Accordingly, the Apostles as well as their successors in the priesthood down to our own time have changed bread and wine into the most precious body and blood of our Lord. These ceremonies, around which in the course of time, a circle of beautiful prayers was formed, were called the Holy Mass, which name is retained till this very day. This Holy Mass is the centre of our holy religion and pious Christians have ever been anxious to assist at it whenever possible; in the course of time the law was passed that the faithful attend Holy Mass at least on Sundays and certain feast-days.
The main requisites for the celebration of Mass are shown on our picture ; we see the chalice and above it the white host, pointing to the species of bread and wine, which are changed at Mass ; the book, upon which the chalice stands, indicates the Mass book, containing the prayer, said at Mass; the two candle sticks, which appear to bear lighted candles, refer to the can- dles lighted at Holy Mass; the stole lying upon the book is one of the vestments, which the priest wears when saying Holy Mass ; it points to the priestly power to change bread and wine.
Bread is similar to the host on our picture, and also chan- ged at Holy Mass are furthermore preserved in our churches, that the faithful may have occasion to receive the most pre- cious body and blood of our Lord, as He has expressly com- manded it. A Catholic is bound to receive Holy Communion, as the sacred ceremony is called, at least once a year and that at Easter; however, devout Catholics do so oftener. For Holy Communion we prepare ourselves by a sincere confession of our sins, by pious prayers, and as to our body, by abstaining from food from midnight; also the priest celebrating Holy Mass is fasting ; this practice is an act of reverance towards Jesus Christ, who at this occasion of Holy Communion becomes . a heavenly food for our soul.
SIXTH NORTH PANEL: VIATICUM.
This picture shows a cross, in the middle of which a white host appears, surrounded by golden rays; palm leaves from a plain but significant decoration; about the main beam of the cross a ribbon is fastened bearing the Bohemian inscription : "The last Communion".
These words indicate the meaning of the picture. The cross is for the dying Christian an object of the greatest consolation and peace ; he may be troubled by the memory of his past sins, which may have been many and grievious ; but he confessed them sincerely and did true penance for them, hence a look up-
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on the cross will now console him in his sickness; it seems to him, as though Jesus Himself spoke to him from the crucifix : "As I live, I do not wish the death of a sinner, but that he may convert himself and live". The cross reminds him of the Lamb of God, who died for the sins of the whole world; he re- members, how Jesus when hanging upon the cross, heard the last penitent prayer of a dying criminal : 'Lord remember me' and how He answered it by the merciful promise : "Today yet shalt thou be with Me in Paradise"! The pious Christian re- ceives a similar assurance by the lips of the priest and by Je- sus Himself, who comes to him to console him and assure him of His divine grace and mercy.
This is the greatest wish of the dying Christian, once more to receive His Lord and Savior in Holy Communion ; He knows that it is Jesus, to whom they brought the sick, when He was in this world, and He healed them; He can also restore his health, sooth his pains, prolong his life, give him patience to bear his sufferings ; it is Jesus, who has said: "Whoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, shall have life everlasting and I will raise him upon the last day"; "whoever eateth my my flesh and drinketh my blood, remaineth in Me and I in him". We cannot imagine a more beautiful preparation for the hour of death, than the crucifix in the hand of the dying and Jesus Christ in his heart by Holy Communion ; there is no rea- son why he should be troubled; with full resignation into the will of God he can look forward; for him the future cannot have any terrors ; dying he has Jesus in his heart, who will not be a severe judge unto him but rather a kind father who is calling his child home to its eternal peace and happiness.
It is for such a preparation for the supreme moment of death, that a dying Catholic calls a priest to his bedside when severely sick; the priest is the representative of God and as such has the power to administer unto him the grace and for- giveness of God, so that he can with the greatest confidence await the last moment.
FIRST SOUTH PANEL: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Turning south at the last described picture, we see on the first panel next to the gallery, the ordinary representation of the ten commandments.
These holy laws of God arise most vividly before the mind of the Christian, who is about to depart from this world; upon the death bed, at the threshold of eternity, where na passions, no temporal considerations influence him any longer, he rea-
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lizes as never before, that man is created for heaven and that the condition, upon which heaven depends, is contained in the ten commandments of God.
They present themselves before the mind of the dying Christian in all their importance; he remembers what he had learned in regard to them, how God Himself wrote them upon two tables, which were then carefully preserved in the sanctu- ary of the Jewish people; he remembers also, how he was taught, that Jesus Christ, the teacher of the New Law, has most solemnly confirmed them as the indispensible condition of man to be saved.
With every commandment the question arises before his mind, as to how he has fulfilled it in the past life ; he thinks of the three first commandments, containing the obligations which form the direct relations of man towards God as his creator, supreme lord and final end; they required of him to worship God in his heart, by his lips and by consecrating to Him a part of his time ; the seven commandments following the first three, contain the duties towards himself and his neigh- bor; from these commandments he knew it was sinful to be impure in thoughts, words and deeds, to injure, shorten or take his own life ; he was also aware, that in his dealings with his neighbor he must be friendly, honest and honorable; and all these various duties will, as it were, ask him; how he has fulfilled them; they were the main task of his life, he sees plainly, that it was of little concern, whether he was renowned or known only to his closest relations, the question arising at this solemn hour is, whether or not he has been a faithful ob- server of God's holy commandments ; no one is exempted from them, they are for all the conditions upon which they will be admitted into heaven.
Such and similar reflections will occupy man's mind in his last moments, when he is about to meet our Lord who gave them to man, to be judged as to how he has fulfilled them ; happy he, who has always endeavored to conform his life to these holy laws; their present memory will not fill his soul with reproaches and remorse, but with sweet peace, firm trust and hope.
SECOND SOUTH PANEL: EMBLEM OF DEATH.
"It is appointed unto man, once to die"; of this truth the second south panel reminds us by representing the ordinary symbol of death ; a skull lying upon a book. This book refers to Holy Scripture, where we read in plain words that we must
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die. "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return," thus God spoke to our common parent Adam; the introductory words to these lines are likewise taken from the sacred pages, and to these could be added many other passages assuring us, that death is the final end of us all. This same holy book in- structs us also, that the hour of our death is most uncertain ; Christ says Himself that at what hour you think not, the Son of Man will come, that is to call man away from the world. At another occasion He admonishes His hearers: "Watch ye therefore, because ye know not the day, nor the hour!"
The skull itself reminds us likewise in earnest terms, that in all history of mankind, it cannot be found, that anyone has ever escaped death, it is even a sure occurence to meet people of some eighty years of age, and these who are found, are weak and liable to die at any time. No power on earth, no medical skill, no care can save anyone against death, the father and husband cannot be saved by the tears of his loving wife and children, nor can the mother's life be preserved or prolonged by the weeping of the poor orphans. The skull teaches us as does Holy Scripture, that no one knows when he will die, some people die at a high age, others while young, some die by acci- dent, others after a lingering illness.
The lesson contained in our picture of death is therefore very earnest. It assures us, that we will also die, but at an hour, which no one knows; hence it admonishes everyone to be at all times prepared for death, since he may actually die at any time. People insure their property against damage so that, if some misfortune would occur, they would be indemnified ; many insure even their lives, so that in case of death their fa- mily would have at least some material compensation. Hence we should also insure our soul against an unhappy death. Death decides man's future in the other world, whether he is to be forever happy or unhappy. If people take such painful precautions for their temporal goods, how great should be their care, that their immortal soul 'be also insured against the calamity of eternal unhappiness! The premium is beyond no one's reach, it consists in the conscientious observance of the ten commandments, of which Christ Himself declares, that they are not hard. For the God-fearing Christian death has no horrors, it ends indeed his earthly life, but God will raise him up to life everlasting.
THIRD SOUTH PANEL: SCALES OF JUSTICE.
After man passes out of this life, he must appear before
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the judgement-seat of God, to give an account, how he spent his life. Of this account the painting, above referred to, is an expressive symbol ; it represents a pair of scales, one of which is, as it were, to receive the good works at the judgement, the other scale the bad works. The inscription above the painting is its explanation, it means: The judgement of God. Even though the picture is but a symbol, it is nevertheless to the point, and illustrates the truth of our account after death very vividly, as we learn from Holy Writ; we read here, that at the end of man his works will be disclosed, then again, that we shall be manifested 'before the judgement-seat of God, that everyone may receive the proper things of the body according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil; we learn that even our very words and our innermost thoughts shall be considered at our final account.
All this is recorded in the so called book of life, of which we read in the Revelation of St. John. The principles, accord- ing to which we will be judged , are the ten commandments of God, given to us as our rule of life. Besides the positive action, words and thoughts there will be considered also every occa- sion, by which God called men to His holy faith, every admo- nishment to keep His laws; in the book of life is also entered, whether or not and in how far those were excused from observ- ing God's holy commandments, who evaded them in this life by pretending, that they did not know them. All this will be matter of our final account; and it will, so to say, be weighed on the scales of God's eternal justice as to its actual truth and value.
Hence our painting, representing symbolically man's ac- count before God, is indeed apt to move us to earnest reflection upon our past life as well as also upon our present intentions ; the present is still in our power, and it will be decisive at our last judgement; the future is uncertain, as the picture of death shows to us. Now one knows, how much of it will still be gran- ted to him. The present is the precious time to change a bad life, and make our final account favorable, so that the scale with the good works will outweigh the scale containing the bad.
FOURTH SOUTH PANEL: ETERNITY.
This painting reminds us of eternity, which awaits man, as he passes out of this world ; it shows two scenes, correspond- ing to the two states of eternity. Our attention is first drawn to the golden dome, mounted by a cross and surrounded by
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clouds ; this scene refers to the heavenly Jerusalem, as des- cribed by St. John. Beneath this dome we see flames of fire, which seem to break forth from some chasm. The inscription above the dome and beneath the flames makes the picture clear to every one ; the upper words mean : eternal heaven, the lower read: eternal hell. The painting is therefore a symbolical re- presentation of heaven as the place of eternal reward for the good, and of hell as the place of eternal punishment for the wicked.
Holy Scripture speaks on these two places in the most plain and emphatic language. In regard to heaven we read, that the just shall live forever; and that their reward is with the Lord; we are furthermore told who the just are, Jesus points it out to the young man, who asked Him what he must do to gain life everlasting; Jesus answers, that the ten com- mandments admit man to heaven. At one occasion Jesus de- scribes very vividly the last judgement at the end of the world, how he shall call the whole human race before himself and then pronounce publicly the sentence which shall be decisive for all eternity, the just, He says, shall be called to the eternal joys of heaven, and they shall go into life everlasting.
The same Holy Scripture, that speaks of heaven, teaches us also in most earnest words, that there is a place of eternal torture, called hell; where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And to this place of suffering will be condemned all those, who in their life-time despised the commandments of God. Christ, when speaking on the last judgement, says, that upon them He will pass the fearful sentence: "Depart from Me into everlasting fire"! "And" He concludes, "they shall go into everlasting punishment.
Hence the picture representing the two states of eternity is very instructive, reminding us of our sublime destination af- ter life and of the terrible punishment which awaits those, who will not strive for it. Let the despiser of God's commandments consider well, what he is doing; God is giving him a life-time, that he may save his immortal soul, and He warns him time and again, that the road upon which he is walking will inevi- tably lead to hell. On the other hand, let no one think, that the condition for eternal heaven, as contained in God's laws, is too difficult, time passes by, sufferings in this world come to an end ; sacrifices, self-denials and an occasional contemptuous smile, all this ceases, and eternal joy and peace awaits those who perserved.
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FIFTH SOUTH PANEL: SACRED HEART OF MARY.
This picture as well as the following refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary ; a beautiful statue of whom decorates our south side altar. We see here a heart, from which flames of fire seem to be breaking forth ; a wreath of roses surrounds it and forms a beautiful decoration. Every Catholic knows this picture and holds it in great veneration, because it reminds him of the great love, with which Mary's heart was burning as with a su- pernatural fire.
It was above all God, whom the Blessed Virgin loved most fervently. Her immaculate heart was never disturbed by any inordinate attraction or inclination to this world, hence her love towards God was in no way limited or lessened; yes, Mary was truly the first creature since the original sin came into this world, who fulfilled the command of God completely ; she was the first who loved God from her whole heart; this pure undivided love is expressed on our picture by the wreath of roses which seems to be laid about the heart; Mary loved God from her whole heart as young maiden in the temple of Jeru- salem, as original spouse of St. Joseph, mostly, however, when by the miraculous operation of God she became the mother of the sacred child Jesus. Before she loved God as His creature, now she loves Him as His mother, and as mother Jesus is all to her, the life of her life. She cares for His needs during His hidden life in Nazareth, she follows Him in motherly solicitude in His public life, not conspicuously but nevertheless so as to know of her dear son; even at the end of His earthly life, when He hung upon the cross, forsaken and mocked by all, His mo- ther approaches the cross, even though not able to help Him, at least to offer Him some consolation by her devout love and pity.
With this ardent love towards God, Mary united the most tender love towards us; for our sake she consented to become the mother of Jesus, that He may redeem us from sin; love towards us gave her the necessary resignation, when at the end of 30 years Jesus left her home to begin His mission, the end of which would be the cross; she offered Him up for us, that by His work of redemption we may obtain eternal life. Even now, that Mary is in heaven, she extends to us her most tender care and love ; as she once offered her dear son Jesus for our salva- tion, so she is ever most anxious, that the great sacrifice, which she and Jesus brought for mankind, may not be in vain ; Mary is invisibly caring for us and protecting us from on high,
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her most ardent wish being, that we may safely reach the su- blime destination, which cost her dear son such nameless suf- ferings.
SIXTH SOUTH PANEL: THE NAME OF MARY.
This panel is directly above the altar of the Blessed Vir- gin Mary, for this reason it represents her holy name.
The name of Mary is to us the name of the purest and most perfect creature, that ever came forth from the creative hand of God. Even from the first moment of life she was holy, immaculate, untouched by any shadow of sin, and in this ori- ginal holiness she grew just as she grew in years, her spotless heart being ever turned to God in most pure love and adora- tion.
The name of Mary is to us the name of the most holy vir- gin, who was promised in Paradise as the great woman who would crush the head of the infernal serpent. Her day was hailed by the entire Old Law as the begining of a glorious epoch in the history of mankind. The prophet Isaias spoke of her a thousand years before her birth: "Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be Emanuel" She was to become the mother of the long expected Messiah of the world and nevertheless remain a spotless virgin. By the will of God she was indeed espoused to St. Joseph, to have his protection and help during life, but she remained always the pure virgin, Mary immaculate.
As it was foretold, Mary became the original Mother of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the world, and this sublime honor makes the name of Mary again most venerable to us; she saw Him grow to boyhood and then to manhood, and into her arms was placed His lifeless body on Mount Calvary.
The name of Mary finally recalls to us the unspeakable honor to which the virginal mother of God was raised in hea- ven; I mean the dignity of queen of heaven and earth; we think of the praises and the homage, which the angels and saints offer to the glorious mother of God; and we joyfully and hopefully think of her, as our most powerful protectress upon the part of this life; her beautiful name is to us like a star, shedding its mild light upon us, reminding us always of her most holy life while on earth, and filling our heart with courage and holy resolutness to raise ourselves also to the su- blime virtues which made her so dear to God.
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COLLECTION FOR THE NEW CHURCH.
In the early spring of 1916 a collection was taken up, and the following subscriptions show, how generously the parishio- ners contributed for the noble purpose :
Čáhoj S. $ 150.00
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