The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-06-24
The Catholic Institute - Festival of
Corpus Christi.

1v.uss.n.s'.zplaisuts
The Catholic Institute - Festival of
Corpus Christi.
Particulars are given on the first page, of
ceremonies incident to the laying, yesterday,
of the foundation stone of n costly and capa-
cious edifice TO be erected on the lot adjoining
the Mechanics Institute on Vine street. The
day being a holiday of the church, was adopt
ed as suitable one for commencing the new
enterprise.
THE DAY CELEBRATED,
Corpus Christi, Latin word, meaning the
body of Christ, is a festival which has been
observed in all Catholic countries with ceremo-
nies and rejoicings since the 18th century,
when it was established by papal bull of Pope
Urban ~. All who took part, were, by spe-
cial favor, granted absolution for from forty
to one hundred days.
1t owes its origin to the vision of a nun of
Liege, named Juliana, in 1880, who, while
looking at the full moon, saw gap in its orb;
and by peculiar revelation from heaven,
learned that the moon represented tho Chris
tian Church, and the gap the want of certain
festival-that of the alteration of the body of
Christ in ike consecrated host--which she was
to begin to celebrate and announce to the
world.
In 1864, while priest at Bolsenn, who did
not believe in the change of tho bread into the
body of Christ, was going through the cere-
mony of benediction, drops of blood fell on
his surplicej and when he eudeavored to con
ceal them in the folds of his garment, formed
blood images Of the host. The bloody sur
plice, as a relic, is claimed TO be still in ex-
istence.
THE SOLEMN HIGH MASS.
At 1O11 o'clock st. Peters Cathedral, Cd
Plum street, was crowded by devotees and the
curious to witness a solemn High Mass-thc
actions of the officiating priest being COM
pete allegory of the passion of Jesus Christ.
Archbishop Purcell oficiated in person, hav-
ing been attended from his Episcopal residence
adjoining, by Father ColliDs--looking very
venerable with his flowing beard, e lward
Purcell and other priests, deacon and sub dea-
con bearing crosier, mitre and Roman missal,
with several aeolytes, bearing torches, who
had properly disposed the Episcopal vestments
on the distinguished official. A procession was
formed, lead by the incense bearer. The In
troit having been sung, a chant of children
family was heard, when tho procession slowly
passed down the middle aisles, the master of
ceremonies at the head, who at every few steps
would give a signal and. all would fall on
tbo;r Lno A &c -, T.. Il: n.
head -wreaths, would, from baskets slung be-
fore them, cast flowers towards an imposing
part of the procession, which was the Arch
bishop in his Episcopal robes, carrying the
Host, walking under a costly canopy of yellow
silk, wrought into figures of flowers of great
beauty and brilliant colors, which was carried
by standards at the four corners, by laymen
of character in the Church. The procession
moved slowly around, every one in a rovcrent
attitude. The deep-toned organ sounded, and
the choir chanted in full chorus. The coul,
d'eiI was an effective picture. thousand
worshippers were at devotion. On each side
the long fretted ceiling had for supports dou-
BILE range Of eight Corinthian columns; the
subdued light camo dreamily in through stained
glass windows, rich in deep colored representa-
tions Of ecclesiastical emblems on the walls
oil paintings vivid with portraiture of Scrip
ture story, designed in the highest style of the
old masters, silently spoke Of the alteration OF
the Blessed Virgin, or glowingly pictured the
Son of Mans triumphal entry into Jerusalem, OF
suffering his death on the cross. Before you the
high altar, itself an emblem of spotless purity
is of Parian marble; upon it were vases of Row-
ers, and lofty tapers in great numbers brilliant
with stellar brightness; corruscaton of gas JET
were flaming with glory around the COLDER
sun which exhibited the consecrated wafer be-
tween its crystals. On each side of the ALTA
those kneeling marble statues-the angels un'
folding their wings, were mistily revealed
through the thin lace-drapery, which in deeI
folds encircled the wall within the chancel.
At the close of the Mass the Archbishop an
nounced that on next Sabbath one of the mos
interesting services of the year would be oele
brated, the reception of the sacrament by tn
members of the various English Catholic socie
ties Of the city.
The sacred music of this Mass was divine
enchanting ravishment. With the poet ma,
be said.
n0f all the arts beneath the heaven
That man has found, or God has given,
None draws the soul so sweet away,
Az musics melting, mystic lay;