The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-16
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
The Feast of the ARnunciatiOn-The Cclebra.
ton Of this Catholic Festival in Europe and

The Feast Of the ARnunciatiOn-The Cclebra.
ton Of this Catholic Festival in Europe and
America.
The 18th day of August is day Of great festivity
with all Catholics in the world, and also with two
nations ON the European Continent for an additional
and specific reason. The Catholics hail it as the
festive day OF remembrance OF the annunciaton to
Virgin Mary by the Angel OF God that she was des.
tined for the mother Of the Son of Man. The founda.
ton of this feast is found in the first chapter OF st.
Luke, commencing with the twenty-sixth verse; as
follows
26. And in the six month the Angel Gabriel was
sent nom God unto city OF Galilee named Naza-
reth.
~. To virgin espoused to a man whose name
was Joseph OF the house Of David; and the virgins
name was Mary.
IS. And the angel came unto her. and said Hail.
thou art highly avored the Lord is with thee blessed
20. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his
saying and cast In her mind what manner Of sauta-
tOn this should be.
for thou hast found favor with God
81. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bring forth son, and shall call him Jesus.
This holy announcement by special messenger
from God to the mother OF the "Son of the Highest
is remembered throughout the world by all Catholics
and EpIscopalians the 18th day OF August In the
United States, 1t being the most worldly country OF
all-that Is. as here no purely religious holidays are
recognized by the government-the several religious
bodies conne the celebration of this festivty to
emones inside Of their church edices. Otherwise It
is In Catholic countries in Europe, and in Pro-
testant communities more outside show is made on
Of ts as i Seg he one
of God Himself.
In two countries OF Europe strongly Catholic where
national renown Is connected with religious soem-
In france since the accession to imperial power Of
the present Emperor tine birthday oil the first Ma
poleon has become national holiday. and since he
was born on the 18th day Of August, 1859, and had
during the days Of his reign Instituted that day
national holiday-it concIding with his vanity TO
have his birthday connected with the feast OF the
annunc alton Of the birth OF the SaviOur-and his
nephew, the present Emperor. reinstated the day
an occasion Of fesivy and for sixteen years France
for the French people had been specially born on
that day. Very probable 1t is that we may hear by
cable kilograms OF the numerous festivities through
out the empire had yesterday In honor Of the nrst
Napoleons birthday; but 1t would be just az safe to
and their strict adherence to Biblical traditions were
about as operative in the celebration OF the feast OF
the Annuncaton as Of that Of the birth OF the uncle
In Hungary the origin OF the festival Is different
and more rational one, although the religious cere-
came TO Europe in The ninth century and up to
the tenth, or rather the beginning OF the eleventh,
the western and Roman world. Stephen at last sue.
ceedea m making his people Christians by the help
| Of the Beneuctine monks, and being elected King
In year 1000 eight hundred and sixtyeght years
ago. The day OF the nrst institution Of kingdom
OF Hungary under King stephen, being the same on
which the Catholic Church celebrates the day OF the
| annunciation to virgin Mary, resulted In making
the Mother OF God" patron saint OF the land, and
hence these enthusiastic fesuvas are yearly held In
Hungary on the same day.
In Ibis city yesterday not much outward show was
INDUCED in The material tendency Of the people Is
| not such that procession or other public demon
stration Of purely denomnational character, on q
/ day when the weeks labor eliminates, would have
any influence upon the crowds that throng the
streets or make snge convert to the faith Of the
Church. Nearly all the churches Of the Catholic per-
suason confined themselves 20 inside service In the
early morning, rs well as In the later forenoon, and
to hearing the confessions Of the penitent In the
1 afternoon. In the most prominent churches no
other services were held and In some even the usual
| sermon was dispensed with on account OF the
| warmth Of the day. Thus 10 was ut the Church OF
the Immaculate Conception on Fourteenth street, at
st. stephens church on Twenty ninth street. ut st.
Marys church on Pitt street, but In all the churches
| the attendance from early mass TO high mass was
| crowded a. never before on holiday In the middle
| OF the week.