The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-07-16

LEFTK1 IRON THE PA1IsH OF u. JAMES.
FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION AT
ST. .MARY.JEFFERsON COLLEGE, THE CON-
VENT or THE SACRED HEART AND THE
PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL-ARCH-
BISHOP PERCHE,s VISIT TO ST. JAMES,
Editors Morning Star and Catholic Messenger:
His Grace, the Archbishop, the exponent
amopg US Of our living Faith, and the wit
nss Of IL %ooss ,bs ss nss
The Mass for the First Communion was
celebrated at O'Clock, by the Rev. Father |
Gouvenaud, the Archbishop's chancellor,
and that most important event of mans
H1ef' time Of the . body and Blood Of the Lord
was achieved by twelve Of the students.
The great work accomplished, 1T is un-
necessary to say that tie greater part OF
the rest of the day was devoted by the
graduating him on the happy issue Of his
journey to the Holy City. The day was in
fact a gala until the hour appointed for
| Confirmation, though it must be observed
that the festivity of the First Communl-
cants-kept apart from the other students,
as they had been, for several days pre-
vious-was of subdued character, con-
sistent with the sanctity of the duty they
had for the first time accomplished.
At P. NJ. the students, professors, pre-
fects, and several visitors, formed pro.
cession, of which the Archbishop, attended
by the President and other dignitaries of
the Church, was, Of course, the central
| figure, and the fine music of the brass band,
the principal secular feature. On reaching
the vestibule of the chapel the President
read to his Grace very affecting address,
to which the Archbishop responded with
his wonted felicity aud tenderness. Then
advancing up the aisle, and imparting his
benedictiOn on the way, he ascended the
altar-steps and applied himself with all the
vigor of young man to an exposition of
ton and of the gifts ef wisdom, under
standing, counsel, fortitude, knowledge,
piety, and the fear of the Lord, with which
it infallibly endues those that worthiiy re-
ceive it. His Grace dwelt particularly ON
"the spirit of Darkness" to whose ruling
fold errors, it's cOnfusions, contentious and
infidelities, is so grievously committed ;
and exhorted his hearers to be true and
earnest in everything-true, first to their
Creator, next to their country and, in
every relation of life, unflinching in that
/ grand cause which the world so generally
ignores-yight.
Twenty three of the students received
the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Arch
bishop then felicitated them on their hap
piness, referring especially to one OF to iae
: number, who, having been baptized IN the
, early morning, had the marked distinction
, of being the recipient of the the three Holy
i, Sacramento on the same day. =,
The ceremonies were concluded by the
,, Papal Benediction and the Benediction o.
|, reformed, the Archbishop resumed hi
: privacy, the "boys" their amusement, b9
3 the labor aud triumph of this remarkable
q day were not yet ended.
8 About 2 O'Clock the windows looking o1
: the spacious balcony were ablaze will
: lights. and soon after the stirring strains o
the brass instruments announced the com
Q mencement of the ovation specially de
d signed by the young gentlemen themselves
~ Master George Rapier, Of New Orleans
u replete with flial love, adorned with man,
o. graces of rhetoric, and admirably we'll read
10 This was in English, and was very credit
J. able to our young friend George:
er An address in FreDch (metricaD evident
at ly we'll prepared and clearly enunclates
was subseque ueptly delivered by Master Ed
a. win Beauvais, d child of ten years OLE
W. the con of Judge Beauvais, OF this parish.
a. His Grace's responses werc adapted
re the sociable character of the gathering
colioquial, affable and paternal. He az
- precated the " too flattering" compliment
he as his humility designated them, but at
he mitted that if an earnest solicitude IL
Id their welfare and that of his whole hoc
a could merit them, they would be merlte'
The next feature Of the ovation was
pyrotechne display Sy the st pr
cd Mary Jefferson College. and operated /
OF them with amazing effect. "Vive MOI
as seigneur," and cave Maria," were CO.
m. spicuous among the many illuminated
ita vices that threw their lustre miles aroun
~, making the inhabitants marvel at the r
:" sources of al Institution which, only fe
sa years ago, before it fell into the hands
nd tbe MaTist Fathers, was generally look
.ry upon as q useless pile of bricks and morts
;es Laudate Dominumf
nat From the College the Archbishop pr
70, ,' ceeded to the Convent of the Sacred Hea
'he distant about a mile. There, twenty-s
ear were confirmed ON Saturday, the 9Th, a
m twenty-nine were admitted to First Col
munion q few weeks before. We had 4
Of the pleasure of witnessing the proceedin
~. at the Convent; but the zeal and devotl
anS of "The Ladies' of the Sacred Heart
der too we'll known to need any assurance frt
MI US that their pupils were well trained
,fer the Importance Of the solemn duties th
- had to discharge, and duly prepared fo
A. - ~, II IN1r Go0r an