The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-30
BILE blood which on Calvary was paid as the
price Of our redemption.

III f1edSen VIII lClOTc LEQC DlOOQ whose IOuU-
taip-head was this Sacred Heart. Whatwas
the Sacred Heart3 The hoiest of affairs,
whence assembled 10 the Father in Heaven
acts of alteration and infinite value. Do
you wish to know what was the Sacred
Heart? Go in spirit to the scene at the Last
Supper, and hear the love Of that heart eX-
pressed in those touching words: g With
desire have l desired to eat this Passover
with YOU" Yea; this Blessed Heart had
yeurned for the hour when He should insti-
tute that sacrament which the church SO truth.
fully calls the sacrament of His love. Do
you wish 10 know what was the Sacred
Heart? Go to the cross and behold in the
gaping wounds-in that blood.bedecked
body-how greatly that heart hath loved U.S.
The Holy Church, therefore, holds up the
Heart of our Saviour God as the worthy OBJ
ject Of our alteration and of our tenderest
love. She moreover holds up to her chill.
dren tina: Blessed Heart Us
THE MODEL FOR Us ALL;
or. rather, has not Jesus himself held up that
Blessed Heart as our highest and most beau-
tiful model. Learn of me. for am meek
and humble of heart" To us all that Heart
Is perfect model. On all occasions it can
serve as model. Does fortune smile upon
us? Docs the world flatter us? Oh! we can
learn from that Heart to listen in humility
10 its loud hosannas. Does the world cast hui
initiation and contempt upon u? Go, then, in
spiritto Jerusalem and learn lesson ofsweet-
ness and meekness from that Blessed Heart,
when placed on level with q Barabbas.
Are We stung TO the heart at the ingratitude
of those who persecue u.s. Behold that
Heart which, on the cross, makes its last
praTer--a prayer for its Prosecutors
" Father. forgive them, for they know not
what they do" Therefore. in dedicatiuy
you this tlay to the Sacred Heart Of Jesus,
your beloved bishop wishes to place you in
the surcst, the safest spot-the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, In dcdicating You to that Sacred
Heart, your dear bishop wishes 10 hold up
to your view that highest and sweetest of
models for imitation--thc Sacred Heart Of
Jesus.
PRAYER FOR VIRGINIA.
"ln conclusion" the bishop said. "per.
nit me on this beautiful occasion 10 express
wish for this great State. 4 son OF a sister
State (Mary ryland), hope and pray that Vir-
einia, which has placed its maine SO high on
the c>cutchcon of honor, may take place
in the Adorable Heart of Our Lord. May
the sous and daughters of Virginia take This
nobicst model Of every virtue and copy il
we'll May this Blessed Heart be to you ali
Of this great State secure and happy place
OF abode during life, your comfort and solace
in death. And may this Blessed Heart love
you and bc loved by you for all eternity in
Heaven"
Chastc and beautiful rs was the language
of the Right Rev. Bishop, yet his manner of
delivery added great charm TO his discourse.
With u countenance gifted with all the marks
Of benevoeuce and noblcncss, it seemed dll.
ring his address iilumined by some bright
ray from the subject he so beautifully paint
cd to a congregation who listened with an
all.absOrbiug attention.
The mass was then continued, and at its
conclusion, the Bishop having changed tie
chasuhlc for the cope, the Blessed Sacrament
was exposed. After the choir had sung the
90! .SulutdriS Hostid," Bishop Gibbons,
facing the congregation, and, assisted by the
GcaconS, read i'll clear and distinct tone
full of devotional spirit, the following
ACT OF CONSIDERATION.
O mos. amiable and adorable Heart OF
Jesus! o Heart infinitely compassionate
and merciful! Our refuge in all dangers,
our hope in all trials. our comfort and con.
sniation in all sorrows! Behold us PROSTATE
before Thee, to implorc Thy mercy, to claim
Thy protection, and to offer ourselves ell.
tircv to Thee! Thou sccst the dangers thai
surround Us. the storms by which we are
aS>ailcd. The powers of darkness have
arisen against Thy Holy Church and against
Thy unworthy but devoted servants
They have laid waste Thy inheritance, they
have overturned Thy altarS, they have
prosecuted those who love and honor
Thy Sacred Name. They glory in the evil
which they have done, and vanly boast that
they have triulnphed over Thee and Thy
Holy Church, and they have strven to de.
strov Thy worship from the face of the
earth. But Thou art Almighty, and who
shall resist TheeY Thou wilt arise in Thy
power, and Thy enemies shall perish from be.
fore Thy face. Thou wilt command the winds
and the waves, and there shall be q great
calm. Animated with this confidence in Thy
power and in Thy love, o Divine Heart, we
present our supplcaton on this day Of oul
Solemn Conservation TO Thee. Delgn to re.
ceiye our offering, unworthy as it is, and grant
our PRAYER for the Church and for Thy dc.
voted children who now solemnly dedicate
themselves to Thy honor. o, Mercifu
Jesus! ever ready to admit us into the So.
cred and secure asylum of Thy Sacred
Heart, we, Thy unworthy but loving SER
wants, wishing to give Thee proof of oul
devotion, and to receive from Thee the as
sistance and protection which, in these ca
lamitous times, we need, for Thy Holy
Church, for the Apostolic See, and for our
selves, do, on this day, publicly and solemn
" consecrate ourselves entirely to Thee; ou
lives and our labors; our thoughts, words
actions. and sufferings. We pledge oursel1 e.
to Thee as Thy devoted servants forever
We consecrate to Thee our Churches, oul
Missions, our Congregations, and all those fol
whose spiritual good we labor III Thy ser
vice; that Thy spirit may reign over them
Thy love sustain them, Thy grace sanctif.
them, and make them at all times pleasing il
Thy sight. 0, Sweet and Adorable Hear
of Jesus accept this holocaust which ~
offer; consume it with the flames Of Th.
divine love, that 1t may ascend before The
in the odor OF sweetness, and that, unltet
with Thy infuite merits, it may bring dow
upon Us, upon Thy Holy Church, upon ou
Holy Father the Pope, aud upon a'
the members of our congregations, mla
sions, schools, religious houses, and il
stitutions of charity the abundanc
of Thy blessings, the heavenly shower o
Thy graces, the rich treasures which Thou
hast promised to those who love and homo
Thee. Defend us, o Lord, Thy servants
with the shield of Thy protection; guard Il
against the malice of the wicked, who hat
Tly Church because it is Thine, and VIII
persecute us because we love and adore Th
Sacred Heard and defend the honor OF Th
Most Holy Name. Let us find in Thee ou
refuge, our consolation, our hope. Be Thou
o Sacred Heart of Jesus, our support in life
onr confidence in death, our perfect ant
eternal happiness in Heaven. Amen.
During the reading, tho faithful kneelc'
with bowed heads. The Idnt,m Ergo wa
then sung and the Bishop impaired the bene
diction OF the Blessed Sacrament.