Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-06-20
rEsrrrA1 nr conrrs c1Inlsr1.


The solemn festival Of Corpus Chrlsti, com |
mcinorative Of the dogma OF Catholic faith |
which teaches that the humanity Of Christ Is |
really aud substantially present In the host |
consecrated at Mass, and preserved In the
tabernacle upon the altara Of the Catholic
church, was generally celebrated by that
church on Thursday last, but as II may be
celebrated any day within the octave OF the
festival, the time for tho solcmnities was de-
tcrrcd this year ny the clergy Al Georgetown
College until the Sunday within the octave,
The Institution Of the greatest sacrament Of
the Christian Church IN its occlesiastlcal OBJ
scryancc wouldproperly be on Holy Thursday,
hut 30 great Ia the sorrow Of that period, and
80 deep Il her mourning, the church refuses 10
commemorate 30 Joyous and wonderful amys-
terry with that pomp which, but for her bitter
voc, would then be appropriate. H#.#l
Hia French festival In It's origin, and, nj
first local and private, was In 1915 ordered by
q synod held II Licgo 10 have moro solemn
celebration. In 1894 Popo Urban w. made II
q festival Of the universal Church Of equal
solomnity with the greatest fcasts Of the year.
Subsequent Popes and an Ecumencai Council
confirmed the institutlon, and Thomas Aqulnas
wrote the mass and Office Of the day. IL ls
celebrated abroad In Catholic countries with
great pomp and glorious procosslons. But In
this country II Is very seldom that IN outdoor
procession approximatea 70 those witnessed
at this season Of the year In Catholic countries.
Yesterday, the Sunday within the octave Of
this festival, was the day set apart by the Rev.
II. A. Mcguire, 3. j., president Of Georgetown
College, for the celebration Of the festival
and II was announced that the solcmnitics
would take place late in the afternoon. Ar
engagements had been made for carrying out
the ceremonies on the grandest scale, and
carly asfour O'Clock, thousands had assembled
on the college grounds TO witness the obsor-
vance OF the festival Of Corpus Christi. Many
came from Alexandria, and tho street cars TO
Georgetown were crowded during the after
noon with persons On route 10 Georgetown
Heights. Lila.
| Last year II was designed to have grand
| celebration In honor Of the institution Of the
Blessed Sacrament, but at the time dcslg-
mated the rain fell In torrents, preventing the
authorities from carrying out tho programme.
| But this year nature was nttlngly IN keeping
with the spirit Of this great festival. Though
sultry within the city limits a stirring breeSe
/ swept over tho hills about the college refresh
| ing all who had made the pilgrimage 10 the
classic groves Of our neighboring Institution,
while the broad branches Of tho venerable
| oaks which cover the grounds, afforded sufll-
| Client shade for all who had gathered 70 wit
meas the magnificent religious spectacular.
Before describing the scenes witnessed yes
| tertay II may be proper 10 say something Of
the dogma and faith which animates our
Catholic brethren TO enter upon such cclc-
| bration with devotion.
OF the philosophy, theology, and practice
OF Holy Communion, Rev. j. y. Dalgalns,
priest Of the oratory Of st. Philip NeTi Lon
don, who has been On ardent disciple Of the
great doctor OF Catholic theology, 81. Thomas
Aqulnas, says, In speaking Of the "summa"
Of this profound philosopher "lIe seems TO
have been endowed with heavenly wisdom.
Centuries have rolled by since he lived and
| wrote, yet to-day, and perhaps for an indol-
mite time, will the depth and the simplicity OF
his thoughts and expressions be the admira.
/ ton Of those whose reverence Ia only boundo,.
by their desire 10 realize the glory Of the
bcatlnc vision"
| Whatever has intimately concerned, what
| ever relates 10 the memory Of one we have
held near and dear on earth, Is always the
object Of the greatest love. The Protestant
Church royercnccs tho Bible, not only as the
word OF God, but MS the speech Of him "who
spakc never as man spake.' Il Is not wonder
full with no earthly affection higher than this,
i that q spiritual reverence should encompass
\ the divine law, with love akin 10 snpcrnatu-
raj gift. To Catholic heart this therefore l.
aot strange First of all, a belief in the d.
witty Of q Goldman is the foundation Of
Christians there Is not one but what recognizes
In the traditional history Of him who went
about doing good, something moro than man
In his hnman estate. He Is allied 10 the ever
adoraeis Unity, and as speh Is co-eqnai and
Ghost vi ~ his inniSsra Ia not one
he docs not cease to reyerehce his humanity,
vet more ardently believes that under that i'm.
aglnntiyo human form, dwell one who WINS the
creator Of HEAVIER and Garth.
This Is really the great difference between
I the faith Of Protestant aud a Catholic; the
one believes In the inspired words and gospel
teachings Of the Redeemer Of mankind M re-
corded In the book divine while on the other
hand Catholics readily admit that they do not
go TO the texts Of scripture for their devotion
as others do who are out Of the unity OF the
Church. The reason cannot lie better given
than In the words which history ascribes to
one Of the English kings. II Is said that
IIrnTy III, Of England, asked ~ o.
Louis, Of France, why he went so often 10
mass and 40 seldom 10 the sermon. lie an
face with my friend thnn hear about him. -
II Is this consciousness OF the presence OF
Jesus God and man In the blessed sacrament
Of the altar consecrated at mass, and pre-
served In the ciborlum Of the tabernacle,
which draws all eyes 10 the point where he Is
personally present In this the devout Cath
Ollie "a firmly believes, as the Protestant does,
that the Bible Ia the inspired word Of God.
| st. Augustine says that the scriptures arc the
cPlstles Of the king sent to us. But when the
King Is with rs VIC lay up his cplstlcs and
speak with him, a. friends read the letters Of
an absent friend, bull turn to him when lie Is
among them. tG
So the Catholic Church draws no disllnc
tlQn between It's faith In him Of whom the
| goApels spcak and the eplsIlsE' teach and him
who Is b9nI and eFucllled anew every day
| from tho rialng 90 the settling of the sun. INV
flesh Is mdat Indeed and my blood il drink
indeed" Such arc the words with which ouT
| dear Lord announced the wondrOus fact lie
musi needs anticipate the time for fully re-
voallng the beautiful secret Of his sacred
bcart. lie win sufier none TO doubt his love.
lie erects II nj once into dogma, and all
must believe that literally and really they were
to cat his flesh and drink his blood, II they
arc lncreinlOus they must leave him. "WIll
yo too goi' he said to his apostles. Happy
Tor them that they answered through Peters
mouth, "Lord, to whom shall we go2 Thou
hast the words Of everlasting lie" They
know not then what they said, but they knew
Il afterwards and we know II now.
After having been emptiod Of blood In tho
passion, the heart Of Jesus Is not satisfied yet
He cannot bear TO take his flight 10 heaven
and leave his poor children upon earth. lie
mnst be with them still, and be united with
each Of them In bonds OF which tho nearest
earthly tic Is mere faint symbol No type
Or figure will content him; II must be himself.
Grace Itself Is bnt nm inadequate bOnd for
after all grace Il not Jesus. Not even union
oi soul TO soul is enough; Jesus must give all
that he s-body, soul, and Godhoad. Insa-
Table Lord Eighteen hundred years ago he
became our Saviour by dying on tho cross;
but Ills heart cannot rest I'LL he Ia really
united to each single human being Of us ali
the end Of time. Is ii wonderful, then, that
the faith OF Catholic, repOslng In this gift |
Of peace on cart, should surround II with all |
the pomp and splendor which human iuge- |
nully can devise, or the affection Of grateful |
hearts suggest.
II was TO celebrate the Institution Of the |
Adorable Sacrament Of the Real Presence that |
The ceremonies ON the grounds OF Georgetown |
College took place yesterday afternoon. On |
the lawn, near the entrance 10 tho college |
grounds, had been erected, under the tasteful |
care OF the ladies Of Trinity church, George |
town, beautiful altar, decorated with flowers \
and surmOunted with the loyclicst Of floral |
tributes. mile from this spot, near the end |
OF the woods, another altar had been erected |
by the nuns OF the Convent OF Visitation, and
placed on the brow Of q gentle slope. The
third altar decorated by the students Of The
college was erected between the college
buildings.
The hour Of 3 o'clock had been fixed for the
formation Of tho procession, but Il was de-
iefrod until 6i3O O'Clock, when the ostensorIum
containing the sacred host was seen emerging
Issll n. a ~ I