The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-05


ant spectator at Catholic worship-the whole
congregation, without exception, observe
the etiquette of the occasion. When kneel-
ing is in order, all kneel; when it is the
etiquette to stand, all stand; when the
prayer-book, says bow, every head is low.
These peculiarities are cause and effect
A Protestant child often has some reason to
doubt whether saying its prayers is, after
all, "the thing" since it is aware that some
of it's most valued friends and relations do
not say theirs. But among Cathoiesthere
is not the distinction, ESQ familiar to u.s.
and those who do not !; still less the distinc-
ton, (hearly as familiar in some commune
ties between believers and unbelievers.-
From the hour of baptism, every Catholic
is IL member of the church, and he is ex-
pected to behave as such. This is evidently
one reason for that open, matter-of-conrse
manner iii which all the requirements OF
their religion are fulfilled. No one is
ashamed of doing what is done by every
one in the world whom he respects, and
what he has himself been in the habit of
doing from the time of his earliest recollec-
ton. A Catholic appears to be no more
ashamed of saying his prayers than he is of
eating his dinner, and lie appears to think
one quite natural m action as the other.
1t was not till seventeen minutes past six
that the priest entered, accompanied by two
slender, graceful boys, clad in long red
robes, and walked to his place, and knelt
before the altar. All present, except one
to their knees with a. pleasant noise, and
remained kneeling for some time. The
silence was complete, and waited to hear
it broken by the sound of the priests voice.
But not IL sound came from his lips. He
rose, he knelt, lie assembled the steps of the
back to the people, he turned his face to
them, he changed from one side of the altar
to the other, he made various gestures with
his hands-but he uttered not an audible
word. The two graceful lads in crimson
garb moved about him, and performed the
usual services, and the people sat, stood,
knelt, bowed, and crossed themselves in ac-
cordance with the ritual. But still not IL
word was spoken. At the usual time the
collection was taken, to which few gave
more than cent, but to which erery one
gave cent. \ little later, the priest ut
tered the only words that were audible dur
ing the whole service: Standing on the left
side of the altar, he said in an agreeable,
educated voice: "Tne Society of the Holy
Rosary will meet this afternoon after YES
pers. Prayers are requested for the reposc
of the souls Of; then followed the names
of three persons. The service was cOntln-
ued, and the silence was only broken again
by the gong-like bell, which announced by
IL single stroke the most solemn acts OF the
mass, and which, toward the close of the
service, summoned those to the altar who
wished to commune. During the intense
stiffness which usually followed the sound
of the bell, IL low, eager whisper of prayer
could occasionally be heard, and the whole
assembly was lost in devotion. About
twenty women and five men knelt around
the altar to receive the communion. Soon
after this had been administered, some OF
the women began to hurry away, as if fear
ing the family at home might be ready for
breakfast before breakfast would be ready
for them. At ten minutes to seven the priest
put on his black cap and withdrew; and
soon the congregation was in full retreat
But by this time another congregation was
assembling for the seven o'clock mass; the
people were pouring in at every door, anC
hurrying along oil the adjacent streets to-
ward the church. Seven o'clock being 1
much more convenient time than six, thu
church is usually filled at that hour; as i
is, also, at nine o'clock mass. AT half-pas
ten the grand mass of the day occurs, ant
no one who is in the habit of passing
Catholic Church on Sunday mornings a
that hour needs to be informed that TIN
kneeling suppliants who cannot get In
would make IL tolerable congregation o
themselves.
What an economy is this The parish o
st. Stephens contains & Catholic population
of twenty five thousand, of whom twent.
Thousand, perhaps, are old enough and wei
) enough to go to church. Asfhe churc
: will seat four thousand persons, all thi
t multitude can hear mass every Sunda
il morning. AS many as usually desire it ca
D attend the vespers>in the afternoon. Th
Q church, too, ip>the intervals of service, an
v during the week, stands Hospitality oper
j and is usually fulfilling i'll some way tn
Y end of it's erection. How different with on
# churches! There is st. Georges, for exam
o pie, the twin steeples of which are visibl
|, to the home returning SON of Gotham q
e soon as the Sound steamer has brought hil
e past Blackwelrs Island. In that stated
d editice half million of dollars have bee
l. invested, and it is in use only four hours
e week. No more; for the smaller occasion;
IL meetings are held in another building
= chapel in the rear. Half million of do
e lars is !. large sum of money, even in Wa
W street, where it figures merely as part