The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-14
The Ceremonies at the Cathedral.

The Ceremonies at the Cathedral.
Last Sunday will be ever memorable
in Louisiana a. the day Of the conservation
Of this Diocese to Our Lady of Lourdes.
That ceremony took place at the Cathedral
in the presence of an immense congrega-
ton. We have never seen the grand old
building more densely crowded, not o par
ticle Of vacant space, apparently, being
left. Large numbers of persons were un-
able 70 effect an entrance at all and occu-
pied the street In dense mass.
About S o'clock P. n. the Archbishop,
proceeded by large body Of clergy and
escorted by members Of both Councils Of
the Catholic Union, entered the Church.
Rev. Father Neithart, c. sS. r., preached
o abort but forcible sermon In English,
after which the Most Rev. Archbishop ad-
dressed the audience in French. At the
conclusion Of his discourse no knelt and,
all present kneeling, read the following act
of conservation
o, Mary, conceived without sin, Thou hast
been willing to confirm the dogmatio defni-
tion of the glorious privilege of Thy Immscu-
late Conception by numerous prodigies accom-
wishing to honor and invoke Thee In q special
manner, under that title, henceforth so dear to
every Catholic heart, of our Lady of Lourdes,
Thee PROSTATE at the foot of this monument,
which we have erected IN Thy honor as an
imperfect token Of our confidence and love.
and of all the faithful, I oonsecrate to Thee
this diocese which was always SO happy and 80
proud of being devoted to Thee.
However unworthy we may be, renew for us,
| nj Int fhnun mir r1aa hSnhT Nh<nv,
hast worked for SO many of our brethren, who,
no doubt, were more worthy of such favors.
Look down upon us, Mary! with one of those
exhanstible source of graces and blessings.
Grant that all sinners may be converted. that
the just may be strengthened in the belief and
all Of ua the precious gift of final perseverance.
Avert from our dear country, so severely
tried, the soourges of the Justice of God, which
was 50 90 often provoked ~ our aitiss in
spiritual favors for which we will be indebted
to Thy Motherly care and protection, We may
serve Thee with q zeal and fervor every day
contemplate and praise Thee, with Thy Divine
Son Jesus, in the splendors of glorious eternity.
Amen.
Immediately after this conservation His
Grace accompanied by the procession in
the same order as that maintained in en-
tering the Cathedral, left the sanctuary
and approached the side altar around
which is built the beautiful "Grotto OF
Lourdes." Here theimpressive ceremonies
of blessing the statue were performed, the
procession returned to the sanctuary and
the solemnisies concluded with the intona-
ton Of the Ts Dcuus. .... no.
1t 10 unnecessary for ne to speak of the
rare beauty of the statues of Our Lady and
of the little girl Bernadette, or Of the ma.
tural appearance given to the grotto by
the skilful artist who constructed it
Every one gifted with either devotion Of
curiosity will, probably, have seen theu
for himself by this time. For Ne the beauty
of the shrine, the loneliness Of the statues
the harmony of the musio which echoed
so grandly through the venerable pile, ant
even the magnificent ceremonial of thu
Church, were not the principal features
of the occasion. They were all sec.
ondary to the profound devotion which
we recognised as actuating the vas
assemblage, and to the evidence be
fore our eyes that Mary's image wal
enshrined in the hearts of our people ani
that the Church ceremonial was but Oh
outward expl ession of a living worship
which made sanctuary in 90 many human
hearta.