The New York herald., 1873-10-16
A DAY OF SOLEMN DEVOTION.
The Roman Catholic Diocese COnse-
Grated to the Sacred Heart.
SERMON BY FATHER INQUIRE.
/" We Are Made Spectacle to the World,
to Angels and Men,"
a GRAND ACT OF DEVOTION

The Cathedral OF st. Peter and st. Paul has been
all day long the scene OF sacred and solemn rites.
II has been the occasion upon which large assem-
bage of Christians. In q peculiar manner. have
called down upon themselves the blessing and the
mercy OF CODA ceremony such as has never be-
fore been witnessed In America, but which will
doubtless hereafter be regularly enacted In the
yearly devotions OF the Church. and ceremony,
too so solemn and SO sacred that the presence OF
the Divine spirit at oil moments seemed assured.
This morning was fine, and the sun, laying touch
of splendor upon the massive dome OF the Cathe-
dral, threw sheen OF glory upon the grand, old
trees OF Logan Park, located directly opposite and
gentle wind wandering among their branches
tarned gave their leaves thousand autumnal
tints. About the park large concourse had
gathered until pavement and street grew dingy
and solemn with Its moving mass Of human forms.
The faces OF the people wore not the merry look Of
those who had come from different quarters to
indulge in holiday for every countenance seemed
softened and subdued by
TENDER RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT.
Before the side altar OF the grand Cathedral a
fresco seen upon the wall which tells the history
OF the origin OF this day. 1t shows a woman pros
trate upon the earth. 1t is the form of Mary
Margaret Of Alocoque; above her, ex-
tending His hands and looking tenderly
down upon the trembling woman Is the
Sacred Heart, the holy and immaculate Son OF Cod;
and as the woman gave her soul and service to
Him on that day SO this diocese gives itself up to
His care and protection upon this. At ten O'Clock
the edifce was filed TO It's utmost capacity ana a
few moments after, through a grand entrance at
the south side, came in the religious orders OF
women. The Nuns of the Good Shepherd, the Sis
OF st. Joseph, Sisters OF the Immaculate Heart
OF Mary, Sisters OF N0tre Dame Sisters OF the Third
order OF ST. Francis, Sisters OF Mercy Sisters OF the
Holy Child Jesus and Little Sisters OF the
Poor. Slowly and solemniy they marched
down the broad AISLE to the tune OF
no anthem, to the sound OF no music,
but In that silence and soemnity consistent with
the hour Black dresses, long lowing wells, in the
folds Of which CLEANED q simple cross-such was
their significant costume.
While the Sisters kneeled before the central altar
and proceeded to their places
VERY TENDER INCIDENT
was being enacted upon the other side of the
Cathed Immediately connected with the rectors
residence. In the arms OF the Very Rev. G. J. II.
Carten Very Rev. P. Maber Rev. n. Cantwen and
Rev. A. J. McConomy reposed the invalid form of
who for long time has been confined at MS
home and who upon this day was
part in the imposing Gee ceremonies re- They tenderiy
conducted him TO a seat under Respondent can
opy and left him there. Then the grand orchestra
broke forth in brilliant prelude. which, when
rising to the grander measures, llled the edidce
with gush OF the richest melody. In the body of
the melody, swayed to and fro ike the trees OF
mighty forest. Jus at this time, under the main
entrance, in front, poured stream or young men
OF the diYerent educational and ecclesiastical
academies, each organization arrayed in the COS
IN solid, compact body Down The principal aisle,
1t was --., s..ess -. = -~rrsT' =
~. 4 GRAND MoNEzss;T.' MoNzs; .'-s-----.s-.ass-4-.'
sitar tonnn candles naring above the prazen,
light falling from the window, the fresco iit up
win the golden sunlight, the seninariam IN cas-
simple costumes OF their private chapels. the
clergy ID eharuoles the very reverend in copes
With amice, girt about their shoulders, and the
Right Rev. James M. Wood, ceebrant, in both cope
and mitre attended by the priests deacon OF honor
and other ministers, and with all the solemnity
which brOoded over and pervaded all wrought up
the scene to pointed richness and splendor such
as has been rarely witnessed. Then began
THE TWELFTH MASS or MOZART.
Imagine the effect or the grand orchestra and
chorus, relieved at moments by the no less sublime
strains OF the mighty organ. The singers seemed
inspired by the people, the people seemed inspired by
the singers and the opening measures OF the kyrie
were never more tenderly or more eloquently rem
lowing persons took part:-Celebrant, Right Rev.
Bishop O'Hara, Scranton, Pa. Assistant, Very Rev.
Thomas Hopkins. Philadelphia Master or Ceremo-
MES, Rev. A. J. McConomy, rector. assisted by X.
J. X. Dillon, OF Philadelphia. Then ,after a short
THE suBLrMEsr MOMENT OF ALL.
II was when all the candles were lighted and when
under their radiance the chancel seemed solid
mass OF fire.; when young children, dressed IN
garments OF pure white, kneeled before the altar;
when at the sound OF the gong that immense con-
gregaton fell PROSTATE to supplcate the mercy OF
God, and when the music ringing under che arches
and along the corridor seemed Ike the choruses OF
angels. All hearts were touched; the cool, the
careless the Indifferent, could not help catching
the impress OF that sacred hour, while down the
broad aisle many hands were clenched in prayer
and the upturned face OF many Christian was
wet with contrite tears. For two hours this sol
emn mass was conducted, and at every point,
save when the divines spoke, or the music
sounded, silence reigned in the Cathedral like
that OF death.
The seminarlam then sung in chorus, after which
Father Mcclure, OF Philadelphia, delivered ser.
mon, In which was comprehended the following
remarks. His text was i. Corinthians iv.. o.
FATHER INQUIRIES SERMON.
We are assembled to-day before the eyes OF all
the world and OF the angels to consecrate to the
Sacred Heart the faithful spirits OF the diocese OF
Philadelphia. When see around me so many who
many who have come rom different quarters OF
our country; so many brethren assembled for edu-
cation, so many Sisters banded for charity 50 many
scene appals me and fills me with CONSERVATION
ana fear, and | hardly dare TO become the
so imposing and grand AS this. ave are made a
spectacle to the world, to angels and men, The
down from their gided abodes and win hover over
and bless the solemn hour. We intend to present
Christ Jesus, the power and wisdom OF God, to
this unbeleving age. The great mission OF the
Church is TO bear witness to the truth. Tho poison
OF materialism and sensuality exists in every
quarter, and the boast Is made that the influence
Of the Church is being decreased. Still, 10 was
never more united nor more prosperous than to-
day. Christ still reigns, and the Church proclaims
His glory In
THE WORSHIP OF THE SACRED HEART
tne Cnurcn shows It's union and sets forth its doc
trines concerning the Son OF God. Christ Is human
and divine at the same time, and every part is
made up OF this same mysterious union, so that
every part Is equally worthy OF homage and wor-
ship. either the head or the foot the brain or the
heart. We consider the heart TO be the seat OF all
the honest anectlons ana hence connect the heart
ana soul together, not as an abstract material
combination, but as a legitimate object OF adora-
ton. This Is the heart OF God and worthy OF SUI
preme human homage. The heart Is a symbol OF
love- and hence the Church selects this as an object
TO which to offer its devotion. All the saints, in
their burning and tender words, paid their re-
spects to thIs though It's origin dates rom the
seventeenth century, when Christ appeared TO q
holy woman or France ana showed her HIS sacred
heart and spoke to her In tenderness and words