Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-02-16

Bles.iua the statlsase 81 the Cross--A Beau.
tlfnl Ceremouy -TouchisG Diseeurte BY
Pather MaRuire.
An immense congregation Of ladies and
gentlemen, among them many non-C catholics,
gathered In the commodlous basement Of ST.
AloYsius' church on the evening OF Ash
Wednesday to witness the Interesting core
mOny Of blessing a series OF beautiful pie
lures, fourteen In number, representing the
most striking sceuos In the passion and death
Of the Saviour Of the world, and Familiarity
known as the Stations or Way Of tho Gross.
The pictures are Of handsome huish, and
were recently procured by the confraternltles
attached to the church 70 aid In the devo.
tlonal exercises OF the ienten season Just
opened.
The ceremony was opened with process
sion around the interior Of the sacred odince,
a number Of children bearing the pictures,
with large cross In advance. Upon return
Ing TO the altar, which was brilliantly lighted,
Rev. Father Mcguire, assisted by Rev. Father
Roccofort, proceeded TO bless In solemn
manner the cherished mementos Of faith,
which were then suspended at appropriate
Intervals around the walls Of the chapel.
At the close OF thls ceremonial, Father
Mcguire preached beautiful and touching
discourse explanatory Of the nature and o6-
isct of the devotion.
We will not attempt 10 follow the reserehd
father In hls very eloquent and impressive
sermon, because we could hardly do him or
the subject full Justice, not having taken any
notes. He remarked, however, that As there
were many people, aud probably somo non
Catholics among the audience, who regarded
such ceremonies as "Poplah superstltons,"
no deemed it proper TO explain the meaning
Of the devotion known az the Way OF the
Cruss. Il was Intended to commemorate the
sufferlngs aud death Of our blessed Saviour
nninaf aanNanTN hU pllala n a
bloody tragedy on Calvary's summit
In the earlier ayes Of the Church Chris
tIans OF all nations we're accustomed TO visit
the sacred spots believed with the tears and
blood OF the Mau-God; but since then the
saracens had seized upon the Holy Land,
and Christians were not permitted TO enter
the places hallowed by the footsteps and
sanctlned by the suiferings OF the Saviour,
except ct the risk Of mourning the rigors OF
Mahommedan cruelty. Hence, about the
middle OF the fourteenth century, the deyo-
ton OF the Stations Of the Gross was instituted,
and the same spiritual graces were, BY proper
eccleslastcal authority, attached to Il as II
peultents actually performed the long jour
nuy to Palestine. From that time 10 the
present II had been ono OF the most cherished
devOtiOus Of the Church.
Among the psasanta OF Bavaria 1t was the
custom every ien years 70 perform, TOT the
In WHOM were repr.~entod the promInsnt N.
cIdents in the life OF our Saviour, from tie
mangrr Al BethIehein 10 the oro,s an calvary.
For 1--we hundred wears thIs decennIai custom
had prevalled-one established 10 accordance
with q promise made by the peasants that II
ood vnnId avert from them the horrors Of
| m. playue thew would Keep In continual re-
n,,,nphrsnrr Through the ages 10 come tho
life snffsrinys. and death OF Hl. Divine san,
| He was pleased 10 accept their promise. and
falthfully mad they fulallcd II through the
ionv ispse of Ave ccnturie,. People from ali