The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-06-09
A Religious Procession in JEFFERSON city.

In the carly ages of Faith religious process
sions were of frequent occurrence, being seer
at all seasons of the, year vending their way
through smiling valleys in, order to invoke
Zoos blessing on the promised harvest OF
winding up the rugged hillside to some saint
Cd grave, that the Master might be gloriied by
| inc honor paid His servant; or passing through
the forest aisles to consecrate some shrine o,
commemorate some event which had been the
| means OF bringing the peoples heart nearer to
the heart Of God.
mere were to be seen the youth and manhood
OF the land, the fair maiden and noble dame
cniionood and old age, all taking part in the
solemn celebration. and humbly following the
guidance OF the GROSS. But to-day these things
are rare, yet because of that rarity none the
less beautiful and edifying when seen. On
iass sunday, June I'd, such ceremony took
piace under the direction Of Father Mandine,
tne pastor OF Bouligny parish. Thh is an an
nuai custom, performed in honor of the Blessed
virgin, in which all classes take part, and the
OBJECT OF which is to obtain from the Divine
Son, through the Mothers intercession.5 all
blessings, temporal as well as spiritual for the
inhabitants of the parish. -. ~, ..,. :
Bearing in mind that o religious procession
is but prayer put into actions tangible Pc
tition which the eyes of men a. wen a. of
angels are witness to-we shall see that the
prayer of the people Of Bouligny for favor
and mercy, was not entirely unworthy of His
acceptance who rewards even the smallest act
performed for His honor and in His holy name
1t Is visible act of worship paid by tho two
natures OF man to the Omnipotent Being who
rules the Universe. Whom we pray in secret,
our fellow-man cannot see the prayer; when
We raise our hearts to God, he knows nothing
OF it; when we acknowledge Him as our King
and ourselves as His subjects, the world knows
1t not. 1t often wonders If we ever turn aside
nom trade and speculation, from anxiety and
care to thin God and the answer 10 given
in actions louder than words, when Christians.
gathered together under the leadership of the
cross, walk boldly forward in the face of all.
proclaiming their dependence upon their Gre
ator and their hope in His eternal meroies.
First in the procession walked the colored
boys of the parish, then the little colored girls
dressed in white with wreaths of roses, followed
by the larger girls and by the congregation of
the Holy Family, all humble and happy, and
recognizing the mother-love of that Church
which gathers in all nations to her bosom in |
order to make them children of God.
linen came the German congregation of ST. |
Henry's Church, the men in bright regalias
the maldens and little girls in white wells and
robes, real st. Joseph's lilies, the mothers of
lne congregation, rs proud of their lovely
Jewels as Cornelia, the Roman matron, was of
hers, while each division bore its approximate
banner and device
Next walked the Society of st. Stephen COM
posed of men who, like st. Stephen of Hun.
gary, wear their faith a crown of honor. and
are more ennobled by our Lady's livery than
~ any royal decorations.
These were followed by the ladies of the
congregation, including the societies of the
ladies' of the Altar, Ladies of Charity. etc,
'earing banners of silk and gold, which pro-
tanned by symbol and inscription their mis-
ION OF zeal for Gods affairs and of love for His
uffering poor.
Then came that society whose name alone is I
patent of nobility, and whose members are
o be found in every land-the Children of ,
lary-a long line of fossy white and silken
'lue, stretching like Gordon of honor over {
he heart of the procession, and shining "a its
brightest ornament s
Then came the jewels of the pa.;sh-tbe
tile children, whose hearts are still 1nstaiued
y sin, and whose adornments reminded one of f
eeoy clouds fecked with rose and crimson E(
,uches. ,r... {
And, last of all, the treasures of the Church, :
portion of that heritage which our Lord said !;
'ould be always with us-the orphan girls of
:. Elizabeth, under the care of the Sisters of o
harity. "
Was this not prayer that went straight up II
God, and from which He could not turn q
Tayf As that graceful procession wendell n
rough the streets of Jefferson City, passing 81
grog-shops, flashing by the scoffers and o.
tiers of the cross, did it not occur to the d
okers-on that it was prayer, a petition, ~ n,
Mt up to God for them3 Perhaps not. And H.
t it may be that some inmate of those drink 81
g-hells found his heart strangely moved by Of
e grave, sweet sight before him, which, later OF
life, may become recollection winning him m
I'm sin and turning him to God or some idle " y,
niger, scofer though he was, received for 4.
9 first time revelation of the beauty and tb
ace of virtue and religion. til
thus closed our annual celebration, That sc
ferSon City has been protected from many al