The Portland daily press., 1871-06-09

CORPUS CHR1s1I DAY.-Yesterday was one
of the great feast 5 of the Roman Catholic
| Church, set apart by Pope Urban about l26S,
and confirmed by the council of Vienna in
1871, in honor of the doctrine of the Real Pres
ence, or as it is more commonly known, the
doctrine of Transubstanlation. On this day
those who have been baptized "and are arrived
at years of discretion" receive their first &C m
| munion and the rite Of confirmation. These
| cere monies were observed with due solemnity
at the cathedral of the Immaculate Coneep-
| ton on Cumbs rland street in the forenoon in
the presence Of a very large congregation. AT
| o'clock the procession entered the church
| from the vestry of st. Aloysius. 1t consisted
| of nearly 800 boys and girls and few adults
| The girls were robed in pure white, with Vei's
| and white gloves. The boys wore padges Vi
| white ribbon tied around the left arm ana all
| o.r,;od NAV tana,s First came an attendant
| priest and a banner, and the boys division was
lid &, the same manner. The long line
| ooved down the east aisle and up the central
massage. and took Sc ats in the nave, with &C.
companying music from the large choir. At
ter the preface the tapers were lighted, and
the Bishop partook of the Eucharist. He then
addressed the candidates briefly, explaining TO
them the nature and significance of the sacra-
ment they were about to receive, aud then pro-
ceeded to the ordinance. The sacrament of
confirmation followed, the candidates kneeling
at the altar rails, and receiving the imposition
OF hands by the Bishop, and being annointed
with crism. Each received a slight stroke up
on the cheek in remembrance of the Saviour
sufferings and a token of the bufetings and re-
ptoaches which they would meet with at er
confessing Him publicly before men. The
Bishop again addressed them at length, in
structing them in Christian duty and ebion-
ing upon them daily prayers as safeguard
and support. The service occupied little
over two hours, and was made very solemn and
impressive. ,..~ .v~ g
In the evening the Festival of the Blessed
Sacrament was celebrated with all the spen-
dor that belongs to the Roman Catholic ritual.
Besides Bishop Bacon aud the resident clergy
there we're present and participated in the GER
emonies the following priests from other parts
of the diocese: Fathers O'Callaghan of Ban
gor, Barry Of Concord, N. H., Eagan of Exc
ter, N. H., Lucey Of Lewiston. Brady of Bidde.
ford and Lewis of Bath. At this festival the
newly confirmed children renew their vows.
Before the hour appointed for the service the
spacious church was completely packed, and
tie fine large choir was supplemented in the
musical part of the exercises by the Portland
Band in uniform. Even before the beginning
of the service the church had an air of peculiar
beauty and impressiventss. The iangling of
the sweet toned bells in tbs tower, the last
rays of the setting sun streaming through the
painted windows, the soft subdued tones of the
organ, and the brilIiancy of the altar, COM
bined to inspire devout and holy feeling in
the breast of the most careless spectator. The
procession from the chapel was similar to that
OF the morning; the girls dressed in white be-
ing preceded by the banner Of the Sacred
Heart, and the boys following that of st.
Patrick, the band bringing up the rear. These
moved down the eastern and up the central
aisle to seats in the nave, while the procession
of priests, accompanied by cross.bearers. the
crOsier and the acolyt entered the sanctuary.
A brief devotional service followed, and then
the Bishop addressed the congregation briefly,
and preparations were made for the grand
Procession of the Host. The maln altar blazed
with hundreds of gas jets. High'up toward the
point of the arch was the monogram, 1. Fl. S.,
and below this the words, 80 Iesu M,'' COM
posed of tongues of fame. The altar of St.
Alnysius was enclosed with two arches OF
light, while the table and super-altar bore
hundred lighted candles. The altar of the
Blessed Virgin was surmounted by radiant
semi circle supporting the words "Aue Maria
and over the head of the Virgin glowed halo
Of brilliancy and at her feet on either hand
was similar profuse display. The altar of
st. Joseph, on the opposite side OF the high
altar, also burned with hundred lights, and
the coronels around the pillars of the nave
added to the almost overpowering magnif-
cence of the scene. ~ 10
After the alteration of the Host BIZ the peo-
pie, the procession was formed, composed OF
boys who had just received the sacrament, with
tapers, acolytes, giIls bearing baskets of flow
ers, which were strewed in front of the clergy.
The Bishop, bearing the Sacrament, walked
beneath gorgeous canopy of white silk heavi
ly embroidered and fringed with gold; and so
the pageant moved slowly to the chapel OF St
Aloysius, to the music of the bald. As the
Host was placed on the altar the choir sang
"Idntum Ergo" and after benediction the
other affairs were visited in succession and the
same ceremonies observed. When tie process
sion had reached the high altar, the choir
sang hymn and the services closed with the
Papal benedlctiOn. So ss..+.sss..sss rs