The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-03-14
FOREIGN cArHoLIc INrELIIeFNcE.

christmas Dag in Iadia.---A correspond /
emit of the Iado- Ear0pean tCalcnttal Core
spondeRce writes from Belgium; Although /
it might perhaps look rather a common
place affair to speak or write on Christmas !
solemnities and Christmas entertainments, !
/ cannot but say few words about the |
manner in which this great festival was eel
ebrated at Belgium. Several circumstan- /
3ces gave it rather an uncommon and nna-
-suai appearance First, our chapel, which,
q, LIZ n short time before, looked 50 awfnily
tiingy and untidy, had just been thoroughly
repaired and greatly improved, both inside
and outside. In fact. IL is now q real gem,
so tastefully and nicely is every thing done
aud arranged in and about it, Then Mass
had been carefully prepared for the mid
night service, with full orchestral accompa-
ninaent. Besides the band OF the j st Gfen-
aGliers, n. l., there were number Of lnstru.
ments from the 10Sth Regiment engaged
! Al spiendid i'll umibation had been arranged,
and q t6stefullye decorated crib placed in
Erent6f the altar. A large namber of Pro-
testants were present, and even some OF our
/ Hindoo friends assisted, having been at
/ tracted by the fame OF our excellent choir.
| la the afternoon On Christmas day, great
| number of soldiers, mostly OF the l0oth
had -fan-n marty In the chapel
com pound. where a few large tents had
been pitched for the purpose. lnstend OF
SsoiAg tf -eaRteen- or To -off1eT- places OF
/ worldly aissipating amnsementss they sat
J uOHn 10 u GODO blCNty SAtIby SCh@t9~ttss't9
| tea, Christmas cakes, and sweets. Instead
of unbecomiBg songs, they sung Chf1stmas
hymns, and instead of bad conversation
they talked about the great pleasure such
innocent amusement affords. They were SO
much pleased with the whole thing, that,
before they went home, they resolved to
have another tea-party on New. Years day.
I Whilst we TINS engaged ourselves IA tt1ls
holy and joyful season, we did not, howev-
her, forget the poor. A grand dinner r., was as
5egiven to them yesterday December ~ IN
1.-The same tents, at which the members OF
iitIia- st. yincentss Society served as walters.
i1rhey had, together with the poor, received
Holy Communion in the morning. when
also a sermon had been preached on their
behalf, and collection made for their ben
i eft To enhance the happy JOY OF the
poor creatures, the band of the IstGrena-
diers, n. l., had been called In, that not
even table-muzie might be wanting
Conversion of R,@sia.--1n the statistical
, account of the Pontifical army just pub
llished by the OsserrGtore Romano, fifty two
Russians are enumerated, and, TO my ex-
. treme surprise, not o single Pole, although
. there are always many Of the latter nation
{ in the Armies of the Grand Turk. hussla
, fhas urgent need that some, at least, OF hei
/ children should thus gfves themselves
) wholly to God, in order to serve as a oodat'
erpoise to those who refuse himSthe sllgns
4 [ est homage. When / consider the excesse'
a I of my ellow~eouHtrymen, seem ITO heal
: the formidable menace of the pEonhe
1 Amos: 81 viii put them all to the SWORD
i from the first even TO the last, not one shal
. escape.r God still speaks to us in the SAM
{ manner; He tlireateDa, and Bis sthunde
!. rolls above our Iseads. Those who are no
: awakened by the sound Jef His voice, ma.
4 lIte said to he not only asleep, but aiFead.
!, dead It seems tome that the association
L of prayers, founded for the conversion 9
+ Russia, ought to find Jealous adherenf
as=z=.as=9. fsaAA.sklEssl Win
i themselves beginning to profit by what tn