The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-16
CATHOLIC FESTIVAL YESTERDAY

Expla natiOn Of the Feast OF the Assump-
ton OF the Blessed Virgin by Rev.
Father Kearney-St. Stephens Church,
st. Alphonsus', St. PatricIk's Cathedral
and St. Francis Xavier's.
The Catholic churches Of this city celebrated the
Feast OF the Assumption Of the Blessed Virgin yes
terday with becoming devotion and solemnlty, 1t
being the greatest OF all the festivals which the
Church celebrates In her honor, In commemoration
of her happy departure from this life and transla
ton into the kingdom OF her Son. Despite the op-
pressive heat large congregations threnged the
churches at every mass The celebrations at St.
stephens, st. Alphonsus' and st. Francis Xavier's
churches were carried out in an edifying and at
tractive manner. A large and fashionable congre.
cation were present at
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
at half-past ten O'Clock mass, the early masses
being also attended as numerously as on sundays.
The almost insupportablc heat OF the day was, no
doubt, one OF the first reasons why the spacious
edince was not filed TO 0vernowing.
THE REV. FATHER KEARNEY
oflciated as ceebrant assisted by the acoytes
The mass, M0zart's 18th, was rendered with un-
usual power and effect A devotional spirit seemed
nizablc and impressive at the thrilling, murmnr-
THE '.INcARNATus Rsr.n
After the conclusion OF the mass Rev. Father
Kearney gave the following pithy
EXPLANATION OF THE FESTIVAL.
After Christ assembled into heaven His blessed
mother remained at Jerusalem under the prOtec-
ton OF St. John the Evangelist, to whom she was
entrusted by her Son upon the Cross. Hence IL Is
inferred by some that at Jerusalem she paid the
common debt OF nature from which none OF the
children OF Adam have been excepted. Tillemon,
however, conjectures, from the writings OF the
preates assembled at Ephesus In 49,, that she died
In that city. Others think, and with more appar-
ent reason that she died at Gethsemane, where
her supposed tomb has been frequently visited. 10
is, however, o Evolutionary piOus belief that the
body OF the Blessed Virgin was raised by God soon
after her death, and assumed to glory by singular
privilege before the general resurrection OF the
dead. This is mentioned by the learned Andrew Of
Crete In the East, IN the seventh, and BY st.
Gregory OF Tours In the West, in the sixth cen.
tury. Whether this assumption was Of her soul
only or of both soul and body, is part OF faith.
The latter Is the truth, but were IL not 30
the object of the festival is the same This feast OF
her assumption was celebrated with the utmost
solemnty at Jerusalem In the fifth and sixth ages
as appears nom the life Of st. Theodoslus. ST
Procius on this day OF her festival In 42s delivered
his famous sermon against Nestorfus-fn ms pre-
sence proving the virgin Mary to he the mother o
God In ancient martyrologies the solemnity u
promiscuously called the assumption passage o.
with great solemnity both Ia the Greek and Latin
Churches az early as the sixth, and even the fifth
century; and, indeed IL has always been set apar'
by the wise regulations OF the Church AZ day De
voted specially to the honor OF the Blessed virgin
Churches have sprung up everywhere under the title
OF this festival beth In Europe and America. II
the duty then, OF every pious Christian to honor
and commemorate, as the Church requires, the
event of 30 glorious privilege az the assuming
the Immaculate mother 81 God into the Kingdom o.
her Son.